Henry Pelham 1837-1917

PELHAM, CLEMENT, DANN, METCALF, AMES, GIBSON

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 5/23/2021 at 17:43:30

12 April 1917 - The Clinton Advertiser page 1

HENRY PELHAM, AGED LOW MOOR FARMER, KILLED
CAUGHT IN CABLE WHILE ON DREDGING MACHING
FOUND UNDERNEATH MACHINE
Working on Big Brophy Creek Drainage Ditch--Funeral to Be Held Friday Afternoon
(Special to the ADVERTISER)
DeWitt, Ia., April 12--Henry Pelham, aged 79 years, a farmer residing four miles west of Low Moor, was killed about 8:30 o'clock last evening by being caught in the cable of a dredging machine while with a night shift on the Big Brophy Creek drainage ditch on his farm.

Mr. Pelham had been standing on the dredging machine, and it is believed he lost his footing and was caught by the cable. He had been missed for about 20 minutes, but not much was thought of his absence. The big cable of the machine continued to slip off the wheel and when the men investigated to find the cause, they found the aged man under the machine, his head crushed and his right leg broken.

He was a widower and was 79 years of age December 18th last. Surviving him are four sons, Rolla, Bruce, Nealey and Jay, all living near Malone; two step-daughters, Mrs. Thos. Clement of DeWitt and Mrs. William Dann, residing near Lost Nation; one brother, Cyrenus Pelham, living on an adjoining farm.

The funeral will be held Friday afternoon with interment in the Malone cemetery.

14 April 1917 - The Clinton Advertiser page 5

Funeral services for the late Henry Pelham were held Friday afternoon, conducted at the home by Rev. P. N. Dwello of Low Moor. Friends who acted as bearers of the pall were I. Higgins, R. L. Davy, Harry Blake, G. Howson, John Everett and Geo. Cousins. Interment was made at the Cherry Wood cemetery near Malone. Mr. Pelham was an old and respected resident of this community, having lived in the county since 1855 and had resided on his homestead for forty-two years. He was born in Middleton, Delaware county, New York, Dec. 18th, 1837. He came to Clinton county with his parents when 17 years old. He was married to Mrs. Margaret Gibson, Oct. 19th, 1873. To this union were born four sons, Cornelius H. of Blairstown, Iowa, Rolla E. and Jay of Malone, Ia., and Bruce L., who lived at home with his father, Mrs. J. W. Dann of Calamus and Mrs. Thos. Clement of DeWitt are step daughters and they pay Mr. Pelham a high compliment by saying that no one could have fulfilled the ministeries of a father more fully and more faithfully than he had done for them. He also leaves two sisters and one brother, Mrs. Esther Metcalf and Mrs. Margaret Ames both of Oakland, California, and Mr. Cyrenus Pelham of Malone, and three grand children. Mr. Pelham has held numerous political offices of the community acceptably and with ability. He has won for himself the confidence, respect and esteem of a very large number of friends and neighbors. In his passing away the community suffers a material loss. He passed away at the age of 79 years, 3 months and 23 days. Mrs. Pelham died July 17, 1901.

page 10
Low Moor, Iowa, April 14--The funeral of Henry Pelham, an old and respected resident of Eden township, who met such a tragic fate, was held from his late home yesterday afternoon. Mr. Pelham met instant death at the "Drainage Ditch" near his home on Wednesday night at about nine o'clock. He and his son, Bruce, as was often their custom after supper, went over to watch the ditching machine work.

As Mr. Pelham went to leave the machine he must have become entangled in the cable part of the machinery and been killed instantly, No one saw the accident. Soon after, the workmen while trying to find why the machine did not work as usual found the lifeless mangled form of Mr. Pelham not three feet away. Bruce had gone home soon after his father left the machine thinking he was home and in bed. This came as a terrible shock to the family.

Mr. Pelham leaves to mourn his loss four sons, Neal of Belle Plaine, and Jay, Rollie and Bruce, all residing near home, also two step daughters, Mrs. Tom Clement of DeWitt, and Mrs. Will Dann of Lost Nation.