Cleaves, Lorinda 1829-1895

CLEAVES, MASON, MOLLEY

Posted By: Geo Clinton (email)
Date: 4/6/2016 at 17:06:01

July 5, 1895 - Storm Lake Pilot - Mrs. L.M. Cleaves was fatally burned last week Thursday morning by the explosion of a lamp in her bedroom. Charley was awakened about five o'clock by a noise down stairs, and heard his mother call for help. He hurried down and found the house filled with smoke, and flames in the bedroom, while his mother was in the sitting room. With the help of Effie Molley, the fire was put out and he asked if she was hurt and she replied "A little."

He went upstairs to dress and called a physician, but heard his mother scream a few moments later. Running down, he found her in the bedroom door with her night clothes all ablaze. They tore the clothing from her body and wrapped her in a blanket. He carried her upstairs to a bed and went for the Dr Johnson. It was found that she was severely, but it was not thought dangerously, burned.

She told clearly that she woke up and saw the lamp burning in the bowl and undertook to throw it out the window, but it struck the bed and broke. She insisted that she could not get well and made every arrangement for the future before they used chloroform to relieve her suffering. Until Thursday night it was thought that she could recover, but then it was noticed that she had trouble in breathing, and it is thought that she inhaled the flames into her lungs.

All hope was given up, and her sons, Al, Frank, and Fred, sent for. She died about five o'clock Friday evening. Everything possible was done to mitigate the pain, and kind friends ministered to her during life, and assisted in the last sad ceremonies, which, at her request, assumed the simplest form, conducted Sunday afternoon by her pastor. Dr. Wilson.

Charley is of the opinion his mother was not burned at first but went into the bed room for something and that her clothing probably saturated with the oil caught from some smoldering fire in some feathers on the floor or from a chair which was badly burned. She was not strong and the shock had more to do with her death than the burns.

Lorinda Mason Cleaves was born at Westport, New York, March 15, 1829, being 66 years, 3 months, and 13 days old. In early childhood she removed to Stockholm, N.Y. where at the age of 15 she united with the M.E. Church. The following year she removed to McHenry County, Illinois, where on January 6, 1848, she was united in marriage to Russell Mason, one daughter, Idella, being born to them. This daughter, the late Mrs. A. Molley, died July 26, 1892, leaving six children.

Russell Mason died in 1855. October 15, 1857, at Elgin, Illinois, the subject of this sketch was married to Christopher C. Cleaves, and removed to Monroe Co., Wis. Five children were born to them, four sons and one daughter. The daughter died in infancy. The four sons, Albert J., Frank E., Fred M., and Charles W., survive. The family came to Storm Lake in 1874.

C.C. Cleaves died January 31, 1884.