CARROLL, Charles W.

CARROLL, WEAVER, MAPES, AKES, BRADY

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 4/10/2015 at 07:00:07

Obituary ~ Charles W. Carroll
September, 1845 ~ May 30, 1913

The Leon Reporter
Leon, Decatur County, Iowa
Thursday, June 05, 1913, Page 1

DIED IN THE BASEMENT
Charles Carroll, Janitor of the South School,
Found Dead in Basement on Friday Evening.

_____________

Charles Carroll the well known janitor of the south school building, was found dead in the basement at the school building last Friday evening shortly after six o'clock, and had evidently been dead since the previous evening.

Mr. Carroll was working around the school house as usual on Thursday, and neighbors noticed him mowing the yard about 8 o'clock. soon after they noticed a light in the basement, where he had a living room, doing his own cooking. On Friday the neighbors missed seeing him and in the evening Elmer Weaver and Wm. Mapes who live adjoining the school house went to look for him. They found the basement doors open and went in and looked through the basement and also through the school rooms, but could not find him. Just as they were coming out of the basement they saw his feet behind a barrel which stood against a partition, and when they found he was dead they summoned assistance.

The light which he had burning the previous evening went out about 10 o'clock, burning out of oil, so it is supposed that he was stricken soon after he went into the building the previous evening, as he had not prepared his supper. In the barrel behind which he was found he kept oal for his range and it is supposed that he was in the act of getting coal to start a fire when he was stricken with paralysis of the left side and fell over between the barrel and the wall, and was unable to get up. The floor of the basement showed where he had kicked up the dirt with his right foot considerably, evidently in an effort to arise, but as his arm was double under him he could not get up and laid there alone until he died.

Mr. Carroll was born in Germany in 1845 and was about 69 years of age. When a lad he came to America and lived for a time in St. Louis, and when the civil war broke out he enlisted in the union army and was sent to Jefferson Barracks. He came to Leon in 1869 and for a number of years worked as a wagon maker, being an expert workman. In later years he was employed as janitor of the court house and of the school buildings. He was a very quiet and industrious man and a good citizen.

He was married after coming to Leon to Miss Etna Akes who died about five years ago. One daughter was born to them, Mrs. Minnie Brady, who resides at Los Angeles, California. He is also survived by a half brother who lives at St. Louis, Mo.

The deceased was a member of the G.A.R. Post, the Odd Fellows and Masonic lodges. Funeral services were held at the M.E. Church Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock. Voices from the church choir sang three selections and the pastor, Rev. Guy J. Fansher, gave a short funeral address. The Odd Fellows and Masons attended in a body and his comrades of the G.A.R. Post acted as body guard. The services at the grave were in charge of the Odd Fellows.

[Interment was made at Leon Cemetery.]

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, March of 2015