PARSONS, Jerry 1845-1904

PARSONS, CULLENS, HAM, WILTSE

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 1/8/2013 at 01:21:59

LABORING MAN DIES SUDDENLY

JERRY PARSONS PASSED AWAY
WHILE AT POST OF DUTY
IN WESTFIELD ADDITION

WAS EMPLOYED BY KEMP MANUFACTURING COMPANY

Man Appears to Have Worked Beyond
His Strength - Was An Old Soldier

Jerry Parsons, a man employed about the factory of the J. B. Kemp Manufacturing company in Westfield addition, dropped dead yesterday afternoon about 4:30 o'clock while at his work. Heart failure is supposed to have been the cause of death.

At the time when death came the man was engaged in wheeling the ashes from the boiler room outside of the building with a wheelbarrow. He had been engaged at this task for several hours, and on returning to the room at the time stated above he remarked to C. A. Callander, foreman of the factory, who was standing nearby, that he was not feeling very well and believed he would rest a little.

Suiting the action to the word he sat down on the edge of the wheelbarrow, and had no more than taken his position when he fell over backwards, apparently in a faint. He made no outcry, but Mr. Callander and those who noticed the man, ran to his side and assisted him to his feet He was limp and helpless, and the body appeared to be without life. Every method to revive him failed, and when a physician viewed the remains he gave it as his opinion that death came almost instantly.

Mr. Parsons had been employed by the Kemp people only since yesterday morning and was not very well known by the men under whom he was working. He applied for work a day or two ago, and a vacancy having occurred in the boiler room he was put to work there yesterday morning until he could be given a position about the factory that was better suited to his strength and ability. Early in the day he spent several hours In shoveling snow away from around the building entrances, and the afternoon he devoted his time to clearing the boiler room of ashes that had accumulated there the past several day.

Being an old soldier, and not strong, it is thought that the man overworked and produced heart failure that caused his sudden death.

Previous to his engagement with the Kemp people, Parsons had been employed by John Young, the coal dealer, on Bluff Street. He took a position with Mr. Young early in the summer and continued In his employ until a few days ago, giving Mr. Young the excuse that the work in the wagon was too hard for a man of his strength, and he believed he would seek lighter employment He was a good workman and Mr. Young stated this morning that the man always worked beyond his strength.

Obituary of the Man

Mr. Parsons was born in Baltimore; Maryland, fifty-nine years ago the fourteenth day of last September. When but a boy his parents came to Iowa and took up their residence in Charles City.

The next important step in young Parsons' life was when the war of the rebellion broke out and President Lincoln called for men to defend the flag. Parsons was only sixteen years of age at that time, but he laid his life on his country's altar, and went forth to right for the cause of the north. He served through the war and at its close he returned to his home in Charles City, where he was married to Miss Amelia Wiltse.

To this union two children were born. They are, Mrs. B. T. Cullens of Waterloo; Mrs. Nettie Ham of Osage.

After twelve years spent in Charles City Mr. and Mrs. Parsons parted, the deceased coming to Waterloo where he was married to Eva Russell, about eight years ago.

He leaves one son by his second wife. Mr. Parsons also leaves one brother, Joseph, and a half sister, Miss Alice Ewing, both of Washington, D.C., where they are employed in the government service. Both his wives are still living in Waterloo.

The funeral service will be held at the home, 303 Locust street, Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock. The service will be in charge of the O.A.B. of this city, of which organization deceased was a member. Chaplain Skinner will preach the sermon, and the remains will be laid to rest in Fairview Cemetery.

[Semi Weekly Reporter, Friday, December 30, 1904, Waterloo, Iowa]