Fannie A. Irwin Goldsberry 1871-1910

GOLDSBERRY, IRWIN, PIERCE, NELSON, BROOD

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 10/29/2011 at 01:06:43

Met Instant Death
Mrs. John E. Goldsberry Killed in Auto Accident Friday Morning

Party on Way to Armstrong

Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Person and Miss Lera Christopher Were Severely Injured

This vicinity was the scene of a serious automobile accident last Friday morning about ten o’clock, in which Mrs. J. E. Goldsberry was killed instantly and other occupants of the auto, O. E. Person, Mrs. C. E. Person, Miss Lera Christopher and J. E. Goldsberry were more or less severely injured.

The accident happened about three miles west of Armstrong as the party was bound for Armstrong to take in the carnival. Mr. Person was driving the auto, and Mr. Goldsberry was sitting beside him in the front seat. The three ladies were sitting in the rear seat. At the time of the accident the auto was running along at the rate of about twenty miles an hour. Somehow it turned to the right and in turning back in the road the hub telescoped the right front wheel, and the auto turned turtle, or nearly so. Everyone was thrown out of the car, and Mr. Person and Mrs. Goldsberry were thrown under the car. Mr. Person soon released himself from the wreakage and all assisted in lifting the car an d removing Mrs. Goldsberry from under the right front fender, which was across her body. She was dead when removed from under the car. From a severe bruise on her head it is presumed that injury was the immediate cause of her death. Mrs. Person was thrown a considerable distance and had three ribs broken over her right lung, and was otherwise severely injured. Miss Christopher had one bone broken in her right arm. Mr. Person had his right shoulder blade broken and also his right leg just above the ankle. Mr. Goldsberry was severely bruised but suffered no serious injury.

In speaking of the accident Mr. Person said in part: “We were going to Armstrong to see the carnival when the accident happened. As near as I could judge we were running about twenty miles an hour. When about half way between Gridley and Armstrong the car somehow took a sudden turn to the right, and in turning the car back onto the road the right front wheel was telescoped by the hub and the turned almost upside down. We were all thrown out instantly. I was partly under the car and got out as soon as I could. We all helped remove the car from Mrs. Goldsberry. She was dead when we removed her and had apparently died instantly. No one was in sight when the accident happened. I cannot account for the incident in any other way than that the wheel was weak. As we were running along I was looking in front at the road, as I always did when running the car. We may have struck a bump of some kind that swung the car to the right a little. But I cannot understand how in turning the car just a little to the left the front wheel broke down. It must have been a defective wheel. After the accident there was no one in sight. Mrs. Persons went to a neighbor’s house for help, and phoned to Armstrong and Estherville for doctors. When help was secured, Mrs. Person, Miss Christopher and myself were then taken to a neighbor’s home where the doctors dressed our wounds.”

Mr. and Mrs. Person and Miss Christopher are gradually recovering from the severe injuries received.

The accident was the first serious accident in that vicinity.

In the death of Mrs. Goldsberry, the community loses a most estimable woman. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L. Irwin of this city. Mr. Irwin rode from Estherville to the Goldsberry farm near Gruver, with Mr. Person and saw the party start on their fatal trip.

The funeral of Mrs. Goldsberry was held in the Gruver church Monday with Rev. Edward Campbell officiating. Burial was made in the East Side cemetery. Fannie A. Irwin, second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L. Irwin was born at Ponca, Neb., Dec. 8, 1871. She came to Emmet county with her parents when a young girl. In 1893 she united with the Presbyterian church. Miss Irwin and John E. Goldsberry were united in marriage April 4, 1894. Two sons were born to this union. Floyd Goldsberry, aged 15 years, surviving, and – Goldsberry who died in infancy.

Mrs. Goldsberry leaves husband, son, father and mother, three brothers and three sisters, besides other relatives and friends to mourn her untimely death. Her brothers and sisters are: Mary E. Pierce, of St. Paul; John C. Irwin, of Gruver; Wm. S. Irwin, of Dallas, S.D..; Asa O. Irwin, of Gruver; Carrie A. Nelson, of Schaller, Iowa, and Anna B. Brood of Estherville. All brothers and sisters were present at the funeral except W. S. Irwin, who was unable to come.

Mrs. Goldsberry was held in high esteem by all. She was a noble woman.

The entire community grieves with the family in sorrow. (The Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, October 19, 1910)