Ralph W. Peterson, 1868-1919

PETERSON, VAN WERT, BIKSEN, SCHAFFER, KRUSE, LEWIS, HEIKENS

Posted By: Clay County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 9/30/2012 at 11:45:47

Drowned in Water at Roadside When Car Skids Off Grade

Fostoria Man Loses Life on Dangerous Grade, Narrow and Full of Ruts

Body in Car; Head in Water

Ralph W. Peterson Loses Life When Car Skidded Down 8-Foot Grade into 14 Inches of Water

Ralph W. Peterson, for twenty-one years a resident of Summit township, Clay county, and since last winter a resident of Fostoria, was killed Thursday night, June 26th, at about 10 o'clock on the grade six miles west of Fostoria. Mr. Peterson, with his wife, were returning to their home in Fostoria, after spending the evening at the Rev. DeVries home west of Fostoria. He was driving a Buick Six roadster. The grade there is very narrow--there being only about nine feet of safe grade to drive on. The road was rough. While driving over the grade at leisurely speed the car skidded off the side, going over the 8-foot embankment, turning over at the same time. The car landed in the ditch at the side, the ditch containing some fourteen inches of water, pinning Mr. Peterson's head and shoulders under the water, his body below the chest remaining in the car. Death was due to drowning.

Coroner's Inquest

"We find that the said grade is about nine feet in width for safe travel, that the grade is about eight feet high, that the bottom of the ditch contained about fourteen inches of water, and that the said Ralph W. Peterson was pinned under the car.

We, the jury, find the said grade is dangerous on account of being too narrow and full of ruts."

The road is a township road and is considered dangerous because first, it is too narrow, and second, it is full of ruts.

In the accident, Mrs. Peterson's [sic] was badly crushed, and she is suffering from the shock.

Mrs. Peterson called for help, her cries being heard by Mr. Richard Heikens, who lives close by. He was in the barnyard at the time. Mr. Heikens huried [sic] to the scene and tried to lift the car but could not. He then summoned aid, getting his son, Robert, Minor Kruse, Rasmsus Peterson and Dean Lewis, and the five managed to get Mr. Peterson's body out of the water.

The body was taken to the home of Mr. Peterson's son, Roy, a mile south and a half mile west of the scene of the accident. The farm now operated by the son was owned by Mr. Peterson and was his home up to the time of his retirement and moving to Fostoria last winter.

Mrs. Peterson was taken to the Richard Heikens home nearby. She was removed to the home of her son Saturday morning, being able to sit up with the aid of props. Physicians said the shoulder is so badly crushed that nothing could be done with it for about five days.

County Coroner Dr. J.M. Sokol of Spencer held an inquest on Friday afternoon, June 27th. The coroner's jury was composed of George Heikens, M.L. Kratz and William Follon. The coroner and jury went to the scene of the accident, went over the grade and took the testimony of several witnesses.

Were Driving Slowly

The testimony of Mrs. Peterson was that her husband and she were driving slowly across the grade. Suddenly she felt the car slipping and exclaimed to her husband, "We are slipping off the grade!" Just then the car went over. She managed to get out of the car, but Mr. Peterson was pinned in. She could hear him struggling under the water.

Richard Heikens testified that he was on the scene of the accident very shortly after it took place and that he found the body of Mr. Peterson, head and shoulders under the water, the car resting on his chest. Mr. Peterson's lower extremities being in the car, and that Mr. Peterson was dead, when he, with the aid of others, got him out of the car. The lights were still burning on the car after the body was taken out.

The jury brought in a verdict that death was caused by drowning and reported that the grade "is dangerous on account of being too narrow and full of ruts."

Ralph Weiland Peterson was born September 28, 1868, at Polo, Ogle county, Illinois, and grew to manhood in that county and state. In 1889 he moved to McCook county, South Dakota, on Christmas day, December 25, 1891, he was united in marriage to Miss Angel Schaffer. They resided in South Dakota for three years and have lived in Summit township for twenty-five years.

Last December Mr. and Mrs. Peterson retired to Fostoria, after having a farm sale. He leaves his stricken wife, three sons, Roy, Harry and Bennie, two brothers, Rev. J.W. Peterson of Webb, and Peter B. Peterson of Spencer, and three sisters, Mrs. Grave Van Wert of Canistota, South Dakota, Mrs. Hans Biksen of Morris, Minnesota, and Miss Lean Peterson, to mourn his untimely death.

Mr. Peterson was a good farmer and his farm in Summit township is one of the good farms there. His death may be said to be directly due to bad road.

Funeral services were held Monday at the Evangelical church west of Fostoria.

Source: Spencer Reporter, Spencer, Clay County, Iowa; July 2, 1919.

Interment in First Reformed Church cemetery
 

Clay Obituaries maintained by Kris Meyer.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen