Merton B. Holmes 1889-1914

HOLMES, BECKER

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 4/1/2011 at 21:43:42

Morton O. Holmes Meets Death in an Auto Motor Cycle Collision
Milton O. Holmes, the oldest son of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Holmes of this city, was killed in an automobile motor cycle accident near the city of Milford on Sunday last. He had been in this city spending the day with his parents and about half past four in the afternoon he started for his home. The roads being poor he went by the way of Spirit Lake. From the lakes he went south to Milford and it was as he was rounding a corner where the corn and weeds were high that he suddenly collided with a large automobile driving by Mr. Green of Humboldt. Both were going at a fair rate of speed and as the big car bore down on the young motorcyclist it pinned him to the radiator of the car, the brass work striking him in the abdomen and tearing him asunder, breaking his collar bone and paralyzing one of his limbs. The young man was rushed to the hospital at Milford and everything was done that could be both in the medical assistance and care but to no avail the injuries were too great and recovery was impossible. He was conscious to the last and exonerated Mr. Green of all blame.

His parents were taken to him at once and were with him at the last.

Milton O. Holmes was twenty-four years of age at the time of his death. He was a young man of exceptional good habits and was very fond of his home and parents and remained with them until he was of age. He was a Christian and an active worker in the M.E. church at Spirit Lake where he was a member. He was very industrious and at the time of his death was farming near Spencer. The remains were brought here for burial and laid to rest in the Oak Hill cemetery, the Rev. G. L. Gerkin, his pastor from Spirit Lake officiating, assisted by the families pastor, Rev. G. F. Whitfield, of this city. He leaves a father, mother, three brothers and a sister to mourn his untimely death. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, August 12, 1914)

Meets Horrible and Instant Death
Merton B. Holmes Collides With Automobile While Riding a Motorcycle
Was on His Way to Spencer After Spending a Day With Parents
Again we are summoned to sympathize with a home in our city which has been called to mourn the unexpected and seemingly untimely departure of a young man. Merton B. Holmes, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Holmes of this city, was born October 6, 1889 in Freeport, Ill. He was an industrious and faithful boy in the home and remained under the parental roof until he became of age when he accepted positions which he filled with acceptance to his employers in every case. This last spring he took a place on a farm near Spencer and was industrious and faithful. Last Sunday morning he came to spend the day in his home in this city. After a day of rest and quiet he started on the return journey for Spencer when about two miles north of Milford on a motorcycle he collided with an automobile. The drive of the automobile stopped and found the young man on the radiator of his car. He was hurried to the hospital in Milford where he was operated upon for internal injuries. It was found that from the beginning he was seriously injured and little hope if any was entertained of his recovery. He rallied from the first sinking spell and a little hope was had but the intense suffering and great loss of blood was too much for his strong frame. On Monday evening at eight o’clock the call came from another world came and was heeded and he passed away after a full day of intense suffering and great pain. The sad news came to the parents and family and they hurried to his bedside and were there when he passed way, April 10, 1914. He was a young man of good habits and religious principles. When 18 years of age he found his savior in a series of special meetings at Harrisburg, S. Dak. He united with the Methodist Episcopal church and transferred with his family to the Spirit Lake Methodist Episcopal church of which he was a faithful and useful member at the time of his demise. In the closing moments of his life he bade the members of his family goodbye and said, “It is all done, the world is coming to an end.”

He leaves to mourn their great loss a father, mother, three brothers and a sister. Funeral services were held at the First Methodist Episcopal church conducted by Rev. E. L. Gerkin, his pastor at Spirit Lake assisted by Rev. G. F. Whitfield of this city. He was laid to rest in the West Side Cemetery.

Those from out of town to attend the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Holmes of Lena, Ill., Mr. John Becker of Freeport, Ill., and a large number from Spirit Lake. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, August 12, 1914)

Fatal Accident Near Arnolds Park
Merton Holmes Died From Injuries Received in Motorcycle-Auto Accident
Merton B. Holmes, the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Holmes, of Estherville, who formerly resided on the old Lindquist farm east of Spirit Lake, was fatally injured when his motorcycle collided with an automobile just south of Arnolds park late Sunday afternoon and he passed away at the Milford hospital Monday evening at 8 o’clock.

Mr. Holmes, who has been employed by Chas. Huston, near Spencer, the past year, had spent the day with his parents at Estherville, and was on his way home when the accident took place. He was driving the motorcycle at a very high rate of speed and instead of taking the right hand side of the road when he made the turn at the corner just south of the monument, he took the left. Owing to the embankment and the corn growing close up to the fence the observation was shut off and he did not see the approaching auto until he had gotten partly around the corner and beyond the point of averting an accident.

It is thought the fender struck him, cutting a long wound across his abdomen and throwing him up against the windshield. The car, driven by a Mr. Greene of Humboldt, was stopped as soon as possible and took him to the Milford hospital where all medical assistance possible was done for him.

Mr. Holmes was conscious up to the last and was emphatic in taking the blame upon himself for the accident, as he was driving at an excessive rate of speed and was also on the wrong side of the road.

The family were notified at once and were at the hospital during Sunday evening when an operation was performed in hopes of saving his life, and also up until the time of his passing away.

Merton B. Holmes was born at Freeport, Illinois, October 6, 1889, and passed away at the Milford hospital August 10, 1914. When twelve years of age he moved with his family from Freeport to Sioux Falls, S.D., where they resided nine years, moving to Dickinson county about four years ago. The family moved to Estherville the past spring when Merton accepted a place with Chas. Huston, near Spencer, for the season. He was a member of the Spirit Lake M.E. church and also of the Epworth League. He was a reliable, clean, trustworthy and very capable young man, and the members of his family have the sincere sympathy of their many friends and acquaintances.

Besides his parents he leaves three brothers, Paul, Harold and Joe, and one sister, Evelyn.

The remains were shipped to Estherville, where the funeral was conducted from the M.E. church on Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 by the Rev. G. F. Whitefield and Rev. E. T. Gerkin of this place.

A large number of the members of the Spirit Lake Epworth League and friends from Spirit Lake attended the funeral. (Spirit Lake Beacon, Spirit Lake, IA, August 13, 1914)