Edwin O. Nelson 1885-1913

NELSON

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 11/20/2010 at 22:24:22

Meets Tragic Death
Edwin O. Nelson Dies From Injuries Received in Threshing Machine
Left Arm Torn From Socket
The Accident Happened Friday Afternoon and the Unfortunate Young Man Died Saturday Morning

The saddest accident that has happened in this county for some time was that of Edwin O. Nelson of Maple Hill on last Friday. Mr. Nelson was doing threshing in that section of the country with a new gas tractor threshing machine. He was working at the time at the Chas. Va Dane farm about two miles west of Maple Hill. Early in the afternoon one of the belts that operate the cylinder of the machine broke and Mr. Nelson and his brother, Oscar, had spliced it and placed it on the machine. This part of the machinery was operated by these belts on the left side of the machine. After the two brothers had everything in readiness to start the machine Oscar went over and started the engine and went around to the right side of the machine where he had a load of bundles and started to pitch them into the feeder. He had not pitched long when he noticed the belt on the top pulley was about off. He at once stopped the machine. Just at that instant he heard a crash and saw the belt fly off the machine. He jumped across the feeder in time to see his brother flung to the ground with his left arm torn from its socket and broken in many places. The arm was lying about three feet from the body. On examination the body was found badly bruised about the chest and one very bad bruise behind the ear. The body was taken in his auto that stood close to the threshing machine and taken home. Medical attendance was sent for at once and on his arrival Dr. Bachman advised bringing him to the city hospital where he died Saturday morning at three o’clock never having regained consciousness.

Edwin Nelson was a man of more than average ability in the management of his affairs and while only twenty-seven years of age he was possessed of considerable farm land and a great deal of personal effects. He was a young man of good habits and very industrious.

However, he was always pleasant and mixed his work and pleasure to such a degree as to make life enjoyable. In a business way he was a most agreeable young man with whom to deal, with never a fault to find with any one. All these qualities make it only the harder for his relatives and friend to bear the loss.

Edwin O. Nelson was born in Five Points, Wis. twenty seven years ago. He was the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. H. P. Nelson, who have resided near Maple Hill for many years. He is survived by father and mother and five brothers, Phillip, Oscar, Albert, Lewis and Ferdinand, who mourn the loss of their elder son and brother.

As an indication of his thoughtfulness and love of his mother, he carried $12,000 worth of life insurance in her favor. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, September 10, 1913)

Meets A Tragic Death
Edwin O. Nelson Almost Instantly Killed Last Friday
Arm Torn From His Body
Was Caught in the Machinery of His Thresher and Left Arm Dismembered From Body

This community sustained another shock Friday afternoon, when word was flashed over the wire that Edwin O. Nelson, a young man who resided with his mother on a farm near Maple Hill, had met with a horrible accident while operating a threshing machine at the Chas. Vadane farm, in that neighborhood. No one witnessed the accident, and as the victim, who was rushed to the hospital in this city, never regained consciousness, the exact cause of the deplorable affair will probably never be known. He was working around the machine near a chain belt that runs perpendicular and in some manner caught his left arm in the chain, which threw him around the circuit of the chain with such force as to dismember the arm at the shoulder. Companions working on the thresher saw the body flying around the circuit and hastened to his aid. He was brought to this city with all possible speed and given prompt medical attention, but the shock was too much, and at 2;30 o’clock Saturday morning he breathed his last without having regained consciousness.

Edwin O. Nelson was twenty-seven years of age, and leaves a mother, Mrs. Carrie Nelson, and five brothers to mourn his untimely demise. He was an honest, hardworking young man, and bore an excellent reputation in the community which he called home.

Only a few weeks ago he took out an insurance policy for $8,000 payable to his mother.

Funeral services are being held at the family residence this afternoon, conducted by Rev. Severson, of Gruver, after which the remains will be laid to rest in the Oak Hill cemetery.

The Democrat joins a host of friends of the sorrowing ones in extending sympathy in their hours of bereavement. (Estherville Democrat, Estherville, IA, September 9, 1913)

E. O. Nelson Met Fatal Accident
Caught Sleeve of Jacket on Separator Shaft While Threshing Friday Afternoon. Arm Severed From Body
Died at City Hospital Saturday
Was a Prosperous Young Farmer Residing Two and One Half Miles Northwest of Maple Hill

Edwin O. Nelson, a farmer living two and one half miles north of Maple Hill, met with a horrible death Friday.

Nelson was threshing on the Chas. VaDane farm two miles northwest of Maple Hill, when the sleeve of his jacket caught on a shaft of the separator, which he owned, and broke his arm near the shoulder and then tore it loose from the socket. He was thrown under the hay rack and his arm fell ten feet from his side. He was rushed to the Estherville hospital where he died Saturday at 3 a.m. He never regained consciousness.

He was the second son of Mr. and Mrs. N. P. Nelson and was a very unassuming young man. He was very energetic, ambitious and faithful in all work which he undertook. At the time of his death he was carrying twelve thousand dollars life insurance.

Edwin O. Nelson was born December 22, 1886, at Five Points, Wisconsin, and moved to Estherville four years ago and has farmed with his parents near Maple Hill since that time. There are left to mourn his untimely death his parents and five brothers, Phillip, Oscar, Albert, Ferdinand and Lewis.

Funeral services were held from the residence Tuesday afternoon and interment made in Oak Hill cemetery. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, September 10, 1913)