Wooden, Alfred 1837-1906

WOODEN, ABBOTT, MCMICHAEL

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 4/28/2017 at 10:59:41

Elkader Register, Thur., 16 Aug. 1906. McGregor column. From the N. I. Times, undated.

Alfred Wooden was born in St. Louis sixty-eight years ago. He came to this locality when a young man. He was honorably discharged from the army after two years of faithful service, during which he participated in many battles. He carried a bullet pouch, which had a bullet imbedded in it, done while the pouch was on his person. He had many other thrilling adventures, and was wounded in some of them.

Deceased leaves a wife and daughter, Mrs. Abbott, of North town, to mourn his untimely death. He was a good citizen and his death caused universal regret.

The funeral was held from the house Monday, Rev. F. O. Barz, of Giard, officiating. The G.A.R. attended in a body, and gave their fallen comrade a burial fitting his bravery.- N. I. Times.

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Elkader Register, Thur., 16 Aug. 1906

Fire and Death at McGregor.

Alfred Wooden, a pioneer citizen, met death Saturday evening in the electrical storm.

Rain fell during the day and evening and there seemed a great deal of electricity in the atmosphere, though no brilliant flashes or hard thunder were apparent. Many saw the sparks flying along the wires early in the evening, and continuing with the culmination about midnight, when McMichael's large barn was found to be on fire. It was totally destroyed, with contents. The loss is partially covered by insurance. The theory is that the lightning bolt followed the wires in to the end of the circuit and then caused the fire.

While the firemen were working on the barn, it was found that Alfred Wooden's house, next door, was also on fire, having been started by the electric light wires in the cellar. The floor was burning, and dense smoke filled the house. It is supposed that Mr. Wooden started down the cellar with the hope of putting out the fire, but it is not known, as he did not tell of his intensions and no one knew where he was until, when he was missed, search was mad for him, with the result that his body was found at the foot of the cellar stairs. A live wire had burned through his trousers and into the leg just below the knee. The fire had been extinguished by the water from the hose, and Mr. Wooden's head and shoulders were in the water. It will never be known how he came by his death - whether by electricity, suffocation, or that shock caused heart failure. He was in very poor health and not able to withstand much of a shock.

Mrs. Wooden is in critical condition, caused by the severe strain and nervous shock.

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Notes: Alfred Wooden served in Co. I, 36th WI Inf during the Civil War. The 1900 U.S. census gives birth as January 1837.