Eliza & Rozanna Davidson d. 1967

DAVIDSON, SUTTON

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 5/17/2016 at 09:16:04

8 June 1967 - The North Cedar Press

Mrs. Arch (Eliza) Davidson and her daughter, Rozanna, 22, were burned to death June 5, when a fire destroyed the Davidson farm home about 1 1/2 miles south of Stanwood. The fire started about 2 a.m.

The bodies of Mrs. Davidson and her daughter were found at about 4:30 a.m. by the Stanwood and Mechanicsville firemen and peace officers. Rozanna was found in a bedroom at the southeast corner of the house. She had been bedfast for many years.

The body of Mrs. Davidson was found in a dining room, near a telephone. Her body was partly covered by magazines and other material that had been stored in the room and which fell on her body.

Officials who investigated the fire said Monday that they thought the fire started in the bedroom where Mrs. Davidson and her daughter slept. There is no electricity on the Davidson farm and it is possible that a kerosene lamp started the fire.

Mrs. Davidson called the Stanwood fire department a few minutes before 2 a.m. She stated several times that "there is a fire at the Arch Davidson farm" and "there are 4 of us in here".

At approximately this time Mr. Davidson and the Davidson's son, Jay, who had returned home from his first year at Drake University, were roused by the sound of Mrs. Davidson's screams. Mr. Davidson, in his night clothing, rushed through the kitchen and into the dining room where he tried to get his wife to leave. She refused, saying that Rozanna "is in there" meaning the bedroom, which was a mass of flames.

Jay, wearing only his shorts, jumped out of a window at the northeast corner of the house and got on a tractor, intending to go to a neighbor to call for help. He did not know that his mother had already called the Stanwood fire department.

He was part of the way to the neighbor's house when he saw the fire truck coming. He returned to the house with them.

Meanwhile, Mr. Davidson had run through the flames that had engulfed the bedroom and kitchen and received first, second and third degree burns. He is in a Cedar Rapids hospital.

The Mechanicsville fire department was called to the farm and Sheriff Richard Barden and Highway Patrolman Virgil Smith, along with County Medical Examiner Walter Kopsa, also arrived at the scene of the fire.

The entire ground floor was on fire when the fire department arrived, and the south part of the house, particularly the women's bedroom, engulfed in flames. It was not until 90 minutes later that firemen were able to enter the house.

Rozanna's body, badly burned, was found on the bed where she had spent most of her life. Her mother's body, not as badly burned, was almost completely covered with the water soaked debris.

Funeral services were held at the Stanwood United Presbyterian church June 7 for Mrs. Davidson and her daughter. The Rev. Ralph Schenck officiated. Burial was in the Stanwood cemetery.

Eliza Esther, daughter of John and Emma Sutton, was born Dec. 20, 1910 at Plymouth. She graduated from State College of Iowa, Cedar Falls and came to Stanwood to teach in 1936. She was married to Arch Davidson at Plymouth June 24, 1942.

She was a member of the United Presbyterian church in Stanwood and active in the Sunday school. She was also a member of the American Association of University Women and the Stanwood Federated Woman's club.

She is survived by her husband and her son; also 4 brothers and a sister.

Rozanna Mary Davidson was born at Cedar Rapids July 8, 1944 and spent her entire life on the family farm near Stanwood.