William Clinton Post 1872-1934

POST, SIEVERS, ELLIS

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 2/21/2012 at 21:43:29

Wm. Post Killed By Auto At Arnolds Park
Found Dead on Paving Later by Autoists
Was at Lakes to Celebrate New Year’s – Funeral Services Friday
New Year’s festivities took its tragic toll from the ranks of Estherville’s citizens. Wm. Post, 62, Rock Island engineer was killed by a hit and run driver at Arnolds Park at about 9:30 Monday [December 31, 1934] night, when walking along the pavement, after his car had gone into the ditch.

Mr. Post had gone to the park in the afternoon to take part in the night’s celebrations. Some time after nine he left Red’s Hamburger shop, entering his car. It is supposed that he missed the second curve of the paving after passing the ball park and his car went into the ditch off the old gravel road. He was unhurt and going back to the highway hailed a car, asking the driver, Maynard Smith of Okoboji to send a wrecker back to put his car on the road. Details following this are mere conjecture but it is thought that instead of waiting he had started back to the park on foot and was struck and killed. About fifteen minutes later his body was hit by a car going to the Park. It lay close to the side of the road and the driver was unable to miss it entirely. The occupants of this car and one following closely reported the death to Dickinson county officers, then returned and remained with the body until it was claimed. In the cars were Wilma Kohnk, Mildred Scharuberg, Erwin Ott, and Walter Koenke all of Everly and in the second car, Bill Cook of Terril.

Sheriff Cliff Frederickson of Emmet county and Harry Brown of the Iowa State Highway patrol were called to the scene as was Fred Sternborg, coroner of this county. The death blow inflicted several major breaks and injuries several of which could have caused death. The skull was crushed, both hips and both legs were broken, the left arm and collar bone fractured, and there were internal injuries. ON the right leg was a deep cut and there were three head cuts and a broken jaw bone.

The watch of the dead man was stopped at nine thirty indicating that was the time he had been struck. In his pocket book was $180.

Mr. Post had made his home in Estherville for 36 years, coming here from Worthington, Minn. His father William T. Post was a pioneer engineer on the B.C.R. and N. and Mr. Post entered the service of that company at the age of 18 years. Born June 25, 1872 at Viola, Lynn county, he lived there with his parents until seven years old. The family then moved to Worthington where he grew to manhood, attending the schools of that place, and for several years kept a run as fireman between Worthington and Estherville. He was married at Worthington on Sept. 22, 1894 to Miss Louise Sievers.

Surviving his untimely death are his aged mother, Mrs. Rebekah Ellis of Springville, his wife, and two sons, Dr. Claire Post of Mitchell, S.D., Dr. Raymond Post of Van Nuys, Calif., and one granddaughter, Marlyn Post.

Mr. Post was very popular with his fellow employees on the Rock Island. He was a member of the engineers’ brotherhood and of the Masonic orders. His home on the west side was his great pride and he spent most of his waking hours when off his run in caring for the lawn and garden. He was an excellent neighbor and devoted to his family.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday from the home and at 2:30 from the Presbyterian church. Rev. A.G. Bailey will be in charge. The body will be taken overland by Fred Sternborg to Remsen where interment will be made. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, January 3, 1935)