Frank Oscar "Oscar" Holcomb 1884-1917

HOLCOMB, WEIR, OSBURG, OLDENBURG, BROOKS

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 11/13/2011 at 01:25:49

Young Man Found Dead In His Bed Sunday Morning
Oscar Holcomb Passed Away Sometime During the Night
Heart Trouble the Cause
Was a Carpenter by Trade – Had Not Been Feeling Well for Some Time
The body of Oscar Holcomb was found cold in death, early Sunday [July 29, 1917] morning when the A.F. Krantz family went to call of the young man. He had been rooming at this home on north Seventh street for some time and when he did not rise as early as usual, the family thought nothing of it. He had complained the night before of not feeling well and it was supposed that he was just sleeping late. About eight o’clock, however, they attempted to arouse him and found that the spirit had fled to its Maker and that he had been dead for some time. Coroner Wilson was at once notified and he gave the verdict of death due to heart failure.

Mr. Holcomb was a carpenter by trade and had been working with Sim Collinson the past few weeks. For some time he has not been feeling well and on the Saturday night preceding his death did not come down town at all retiring about nine o’clock. That was the last time he was seen alive. Some of the members of the Krantz family thought they heard the young man get up about four o’clock Sunday morning but saw nothing to attract attention, the young man apparently being asleep. It will never be known the exact time of his death but he had probably been dead two or three hours when found. There were no signs of a struggle and it is thought that he passed away while asleep, probably never fully realizing that the death angel was hovering o’er him.

Those who knew him best say that he was a hard worker, honest young fellow without any bad habits and that he was surrounded by a host of friends with whom he was a favorite. He was of a retiring disposition, but genial and happy with his friends. He is survived by his aged parents and the shock to them was a great one. He was not staying at home at the time of his death, his parents living in East Lawn which was quite a distance from his work.

Frank Oscar Holcomb was born in Axtell, Nebraska, March 21st, 1884, and lived there until the time he was three years of age. In 1887 the family moved to a farm near Emmetsburg and there the young man grew to his majority. In early life he was converted and united with the Congregational church. In latter years, when the family moved to this city to make their home, Oscar came with them and though he sought other places of employment, he always called Estherville his home. He had lived here continuously for the past three years. He had not been in the best of health since a severe attack of the grippe some six months ago but had continued at his work. At the time of his death he was helping to erect a barn on the Crawford Dairy farm west of this city. On the afternoon before his death he had quit work about four o’clock complaining of the heat.

Funeral services were held from the Methodist church Tuesday morning, Rev. Frederick F. Case preaching the sermon. The services were largely attended by the many friends of the family and of the young man. Besides the aged parents, Mr. and Mrs. H.W. Holcomb, he leaves to mourn his loss, two brothers and six sisters. They are Edward of Halfa, Iowa, and William of this city, Mrs. Henry Weir, of Dunnell, Minn.; Mrs. Theo. Osburg of Dunnell, Minn., Mrs. Henry Oldenburg and Mrs. Wm. Brooks of Dietrich, Idaho, and Misses Hulda and Lulu Ruth of this city. In this hour of sudden grief and shock, the entire community joins us in extending sincerest sympathy of the loss of a worthy son and brother. (Estherville Democrat, Estherville, IA, August 1, 1917)

Young Man Dies Suddenly
Frank Holcomb, a Carpenter Here, Found Dead in Bed. Had Been in Good Health
The Book of Books informs us that “We Know Not What a Day May Bring Forth.” Certainly the thought of death was far from the mind of Oscar Holcomb when he left his friends on Saturday evening but he was destined never to speak to them again. He was found about eight o’clock on Sunday morning dead in his bed.

Frank Oscar Holcomb was born March 21, 1884, at Axtell, Nebraska. When he was three years of age the family moved to a farm near Emmetsburg and here Oscar grew to young manhood. He early gave his life to the Saviour and united with the Congregational church. When the family moved to Estherville Oscar came with them and though he sought employment in other places he called Estherville home and he had lived here continuously for the past three years.

He was engaged in carpenter work and was working on a barn being erected on the Crawford Dairy Farm west of town. Saturday afternoon he gave up work at about four o’clock complaining of the heat. He ate his supper as usual and retired rather early. Failing to appear at breakfast he was called and when no response was made his bedroom door was opened and he was found dead.

The funeral was held Tuesday morning from the Methodist Episcopal church and was attended by a large number of friends of the family.

Rev. Frederick F. Case, D.D. preached the sermon, the interment being made in the east side cemetery.

Frank Oscar Holcomb was a son of Mr. and Mrs. H.W. Holcomb of this city, and besides the aged parents that survive him he leaves to mourn his loss two brothers, Edward of Halfa, Iowa, William, of this city and six sisters, Mrs. Henry Weir and Mrs. Theo. Osburg of Dunnell, Minn., Mrs. Henry Oldenburg and Mrs. William Brooks, of Dietrich,, Iowa [Idaho?] and Miss Hulda and Lulu Ruth.

The family has the sympathy of the entire community. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, August 1, 1917)