Clem N. Peterson 1879-1929

PETERSON, THORSON, WALKER

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 7/22/2011 at 00:42:18

Clem Peterson Succumbs to Gas
Is Found Dead in Kitchen by His Daughter
Clem N. Peterson, 50, was found dead Tuesday [October 22, 1929] afternoon at 4:45 p.m. in the kitchen of his home by his daughter, Marion, 13, when she returned from school A gas burner of the range was turned on, the fumes causing his death. Dr. C. E. Birney stated upon examining the body that he had been dead more than twenty minutes.

It is not known definitely where Mr. Peterson took his own life by turning on the gas burner or whether it was the result of an accident. Mrs. Peterson and close friends of the family are inclined to believe that his death was purely accidental.

Found By Daughter
When his daughter, Marion, arrived at the home, --south – street she entered the – and went immediately to the kitchen. On – she saw her father [copy too faint to read].

She ran downstairs to the apartment on the first floor where she told Mrs. Sheldon/Sheridan what had happened. Mrs. S- called in several neighbors, including Glen --, who was – the house at the time.

The group then went upstairs and after turning off the gas removed Mr. Peterson’s body to the bedroom.

Dr. C. E. Birney was called. The physician attempted to revive Mr. Peterson with a pulmotor but the efforts were without avail as he had been dead too long.

Teakettle Warm
Marion, and women who first entered the kitchen after Mr. Peterson had been found, declared that a teakettle was on the stove and that it was still warm, lending strength to the theory that the kettle might have boiled over, extinguishing the gas flame.

The fact that the doors were all closed was not significant, Mrs. Peterson believes, as he has often sat in the kitchen in a rocking chair to read, as it was warmer there.

Mr. Peterson told his wife at noon that he planned to wash the dinner dishes and urged her not to bother with them. Mrs. Peterson then left for Shadle’s store where she is employed and their daughter went to school.

Mr. Peterson went down town after dinner and called at the Elks club house, where he visited with --, secretary. He told Mr. – that he intended to attend the Elks dinner to be held that night at the club.

Stops His Paper
He then went to the Gardston Drugstore and asked that a daily paper which he had been taking be stopped. Mrs. Peterson indicated later that at the dinner table they had discussed cutting down expenses and in as much as they were taking three daily newspapers it would be best to discontinue one of them.

Mr. Peterson closed his grocery store on East Lincoln street last month because it was not paying out and he decided to rent the building and procure another position. He had not been in good health, suffering from a poisoning resulting from bad teeth.

Sometimes Paralyzed
Several months ago he had his teeth extracted and was in much better health during the past few weeks than he had been previously. However, it is understood that he occasionally suffered from temporary paralysis and at times was unable to move his feet or hands and was unable to talk.

Friends declare that he was gaining in weight lately and that he was less troubled from the effects of the --- the infected teeth. However, Mrs. Peterson states that he was still subject to a sort of sleeping sickness, often falling off in sound slumber when he would sit down on a chair.

Mrs. Peterson and other members of the family believe that he dozed off to sleep while heating water to wash the dinner dishes and that the kettle boiled over extinguishing the fire. The dishes had not been washed.

Was Born in 1879
Clem N. Peterson was born March 4, 1879, at Estherville, where he has always made his home. He was married Oct. 5, 1910, to Miss Mable Thorson and they had one child, Marion, 17, who is in high school. At an early age he went into the grocery business with his father and brothers, later buying out their interest. For a time he operated a grocery on the west side of the river, but two years ago sold it out and started a grocery in his own building next door to the Emmet County State bank.

He was a member of the Catholic church and a devout worshiper. He had commented on suicides, declaring that he could not understand why people took their own lives. He was a member of the Elks lodge.

Mr. Peterson is survived by four brothers, Ernie, Charles, and Joe of St. Cloud, Minn., and Frank of Winona, Minn., and a sister, Mrs. Ross Walker of Milwaukee, Wis. His parents and another brother are dead. (Estherville News, Estherville, IA, October 24, 1929)
Note: the first part of this article was very faint & some words impossible to decipher.

Three Hundred at Services for Clem Peterson
Nearly 300 persons attended funeral services for Clem N. Peterson Friday morning at St. Patrick’s church, with the Rev. William Veit officiating. Burial was made in the Catholic cemetery.

Pall bearers were Carl Moser, Francis Shadle, Jay Dunham, G. H. Ralfe, Ralph Rousseau, and Tom Thompson. Business houses were closed between 10 and 11 a.m. during the services, and the attendance at the funeral was made up largely of Estherville business men. Mr. Peterson had been in the grocery business in this city many years, losing his life in his own home from gas fumes.

Those from a distance who attended the funeral are: Mr. and Mrs. Frank Peterson of Winona, Minn., Ernie, Joe and Charles Peterson of St. Cloud, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Walker of Milwaukee, Emil Cranholm of Ipsick, S.D., and Mr. and Mrs. John Thorson, Mr. and Mrs. Forrest Gibbons, Mr. and Mrs. John O’Neill, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Gibbons, Mrs. Herman Mangle, Miss Harriett Olson of Armstrong. (Estherville News, Estherville, IA, October 31, 1929)