Merle Bixby Hale 1913-1921

HALE, BIXBY, MANNIN

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 10/31/2011 at 00:43:08

Auto Kills Merle Hale
Ford Sedan Driven by Mrs. Earl Markley Knocks Boy to Pavement
Skull Fractured Cause Death
Boy Ran Across Street in Front of Car When Called by Sister and Other Girls
Merle Hale, the eight year old son of J.M. Hale of North Sixth street, was killed instantly on Monday evening at 8:30 when struck by a Ford Sedan driven by Mrs. Earl Markley of this city. The affair was an accident, pure and simple, according to those who saw it, and no lack of care is attributed to Mrs. Markley, although she is a new driver of the auto. Mr. Hale was at the lakes on a fishing trip at the time and knew nothing of the sad accident until he rushed into his home about an hour after it happened.

It seems the older sister Lola with some other girls had gone to the woods in the early evening to pick some flowers. When she returned home she went out and called the boys home. Merle was climbing a telephone pole across the street, and when he heard her, he dropped off the pole and started to run across the street. Mrs. Markley was driving down the hill on North Sixth and was close to the curb. The boy came off the pole which was also close to the curb, so suddenly that Mrs. Markley could not stop the car in time to prevent hitting him. She got out of the car and picked the boy up and then fainted and did not regain consciousness for several hours. The boy was carried home and Dr. Birney called at once. He arrived in a few minutes but Merle was beyond medical assistance.

Mr. Hale is prostrate over the accident. Merle is one of the Hale twins, Merle and Henry. Their mother died when they came to bless the home. Immediately after Mr. and Mrs. Hale were united in marriage, Mrs. Hale’s father died. In eight years Mrs. Hale passed away and in eight more years the boy is gone, and all about the same time of the year.

The funeral services are to be held from the home Thursday afternoon at 2:30 according to present arrangements.

Mr. Hale has the heartfelt sympathy of the entire community in this time of trouble. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, May 18, 1921)

Young Boy Killed; Hit With Auto
Merle Hale Almost Instantly Killed on Sixth Street
The Funeral Thursday
Mrs. Earl Markley Driver of Car – No Blame Attached to Accident
Merle Hale was almost instantly killed near his home on north Sixth [line missing] called to him from the other side of the [line missing] was struck by a car driven by Mrs. Earl Markley and thrown to the pavement. His skull was fractured just above the left temple and death resulted just a few moments after the accident. He was the son of J.M. hale one of the popular mail carriers of this city and his tragic death cast a cloud of sorrow over the entire city. The accident happened about have past eight in the evening just at dusk.

So far as we have been able to learn there is no blame attached to the driver of the car. The accident occurred in front of the Clark home just at the foot of the hill on north Sixth street. A crowd of children were playing on the north side of the street. Some of the boys had been climbing a telephone pole, the little Hale boy being one of them. Someone called to him from the other side of the street and it will never be known whether he slid off the pole or stepped from behind it just in time to be struck by the passing car. The car was moving slowly at the time according to all reports, and had honked the horn several times to warn the children. Mrs. A. R. Markley who was in the car with Mrs. Earl Markley said that they could feel when the boy was struck. They went only a short distance when the car was stopped. Mrs. Markley is prostrate over the accident fainting shortly after it occurred and being in a serious condition for some time afterward.

The car evidently did not pass over the boy as there were no bruises found on the body that would indicate that this happened. The only injuries were the fractured skull just above the left temple and the skin scraped off that side of the face. He was a bright little fellow, full of life and a general favorite by all who knew him. He was near eight years of age and leaves a twin brother who is prostrate with grief, his sister, father and grand-mother. His mother passed on to the better land shortly after his birth, and Mr. Hale and the grandmother, Mrs. Bixby had spent their lives in bringing up of the little family. It is a sad blow to all of them and they have the deepest sympathy of the entire community. Just why this little bud should be cut down so suddenly is more than can be understood. The workings of an all wise Providence is beyond human conception but some day it will all be made clear to us and then we will know it was for the better. Just now it seems as though the hearts will break under the great load. But the memories of this little life will in the future break through the clouds of sorrow and like rays of sunshine, point toward that final meeting with beckoning hands and hold out to all the hope of a life in which there is no death and sorrow.

Merle Bixby Hale was born Tuesday, July 22, 1913 at 2:15 p.m. and passed to his reward Monday evening, May 16th, at 8:30 p.m. His mother passed on to a better world shortly after the birth of his twin brother and himself. He is survived by his father, sister, twin brother and grandmother who has been a mother to him all his life. Funeral service will be held from the Baptist church Thursday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. Dr. J. Arthur Hurley in charge. The family have the deepest sympathy of the entire community in their great loss. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, May 18, 1921)

Merle B. Hale is Killed by Auto
Seven-Year-Old Son of Murray Hale Loses Life in Auto Accident Near His Home
One of the saddest accidents it has been our lot to record occurred on Monday evening at the Meadows corner on North Sixth street, when a Ford sedan, driven by Mrs. Earl Markley struck and almost instantly killed little seven-year-old Merle B. Hale, son of Murray Hale, one of our best known mail carriers. The accident occurred about 8:30 in the evening, and as it was raining at the time, it was almost impossible to see through the windshield. Merle had been sent after milk and was playing with a couple of playmates. He had climbed a telephone pole, when called by his sister. He slid down the pole, and as near as can be discovered, must have run directly in front of the approaching car, without looking for possible danger. The other boys had crossed the street in safety just ahead of him.

Mrs. Markley was coming down Sixth street at a moderate speed, and as she turned the corner she saw the other lads cross the street, but did not see Merle until just as the car struck him. Mrs. Markley is in poor health, and the accident caused a fainting spell, from which she did not regain consciousness for about three hours, and since then has been in a serious condition because of the nervous strain.

The blame, if any there, can only be laid to the thoughtlessness of childhood, and because of the condition of the weather.

Mr. Hale, in company with Rev. L. R. Phillips, pastor of the Christian church, had started that afternoon on a fishing trip. They had planned to go to the river, but after leaving home, had decided to go to the lakes. And it was on his return after a pleasant day that he received the news of the terrible accident. No one at the home knew just where to find him, although friends of the family were trying to locate him.

Merle is one of twin brothers and are motherless, Mrs. Hale having died at their birth. A sister-in-law, Mrs. C.M. Bixby, has been caring for the family since the mother’s death.

Funeral services will be held from the Baptist church tomorrow (Thursday) afternoon at 2:30.

Relatives of the family who will be present at the funeral are: Mrs. A. E. Mannin, an aunt, Waterloo; Mr. and Mr. B. Bixby, Clear Lake, S.D.; Mr. and Mrs. Harry Bixby, Ft. Dodge.

Merle was a favorite among his many playmates, and his passing is a distinct shock, though his happy disposition will long be remembered. (Estherville Democrat, Estherville, IA, May 18, 1921)