John Wilson 1840-1898

WILSON

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 1/12/2011 at 21:26:22

John Wilson Killed
John Wilson, a farmer living near the Emmet bridge, was found dead last evening under the top of a tree that had recently been cut down. His back was broken and also his right leg below the knee. Coroner Myrick impaneled a jury, consisting of Melvin Jarvis, Wm. Maxwell and Tom Pullen, which held an inquest last night. Verdict rendered was death by accident. Mr. Wilson left home Tuesday noon and not returning that night search was made the following day. He was found in the woods near J. A. Lamb’s residence in a sitting posture under a tree as above stated. He had borrowed an axe at Mr. Lamb’s Wednesday afternoon with which to cut down the tree that killed him. He was about 58 years old and leaves a wife, three sons and a daughter to mourn his untimely death.

He carried $2,000 life insurance written by Little and Davis, three years ago.

Funeral services will be held tomorrow from his residence. (Emmet County Republican, Estherville, IA, November 3, 1898)

A Tree Killed Him
John Wilson, of Emmet Grove, Met Death While Chopping Wood
The startling news came to town last evening that John Wilson, of Emmet Grove, had been found dead under the trunk and branches of a tree in the grove on his farm. Coroner Myrick was summoned and immediately hurried to the scene of the accident, accompanied by County Attorney Crim, Sheriff Pullen and other citizens to assist in conducting the investigation. No definite testimony could be had but the circumstantial facts showed plainly that the death was wholly accidental. Mr. Wilson had been chopping wood and posts all day with an axe borrowed from a neighbor. About 5 o’clock in the afternoon the ax was needed by the owner and a child was sent for it. The child brought the ax home and reported that Mr. Wilson’s coat and vest were hanging on a stump and that something that looked like a bundle of clothes could be seen under a fallen tree. The child’s mother suspected an accident and summoned assistance. An investigation proved that an accident had occurred and the victim was already dead. The family and the coroner were at once notified. After careful investigation of the position of the body and other things about the scene, the coroner and jury became satisfied that Mr. Wilson chopped the tree in such a way as to have it fall down a hill; that he concluded, when the tree began to weave before falling, that it was going the other way; that he started to walk away in the direction in which he had first intended the tree to fall and was caught and crushed in the branches.

Mr. Wilson was born in Canada, and was about 59 years of age. He removed to the states early in life and served in the union army through the Civil War. He came to Emmet county from O’Brien county about ten years ago. He was one of Emmet township’s most highly respected citizens, and his death and the frightful manner in which it occurred will bring much sorrow to the community in which he lived.

No definite arrangements as to the funeral have been made at this time. (Weekly Northern Vindicator, Estherville, IA, November 3, 1898)