Textrum, Herman Erick (1907-1916)

TEXTRUM, LUNDQUIST

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 12/12/2020 at 10:52:00

Stratford Courier
November 30, 1916

The home of Mr. and Mrs. John [Selma Lundquist] Textrum of Ames was saddened by the sudden death of their youngest son, Herman, Saturday night when he was electrocuted by a live electric power wire which lay on the ground in the alley in the rear of their home. The nine-year-old lad was playing near the family residence when the accident happened which snuffed out his young life.

Earlier in the afternoon Mr. Textrum, while in a room in the upper part of the house noticed a lineman working on the lines in the alley. He saw the live wire fall to the ground but paid no further attention to it supposing that the workmen would take care of it.

Herman had been playing with some boys north of the house when his brother called to him to come home that some of the relatives were expected to arrive. He replied that he would go home right away and the brother went on about his work. At supper time Herman had not put in an appearance so the father and oldest son went out to look for him and found his body lying in the alley in the rear of the house his little hand seared to the bone by the live wire.

Mr. Textrum took hold of the body to remove it and he received a shock that nearly keeled him over. He recovered just in time to warn his oldest son, who was about to take the wire away from his brother's hand. By grasping the clothing they managed to get the body away from the wire but it was learned at once that the boy had been instantly killed.

The home is indeed one of sorrow and their many friends in Stratford and vicinity condone with them in this sad hour and extend to them their deepest sympathy.

The remains were shipped to Stanhope yesterday and after a service in the South Marion M.E. church, were laid to rest in South Marion cemetery.

Herman Erick Textrum was born on a farm five and one half miles southwest of Stanhope July 23, 1907. He moved with his parents to Ames in March, 1915 where he died November 25, 1916.

The funeral over the remains was held from the home at Ames Tuesday forenoon with Rev. Wee of the Lutheran church in charge and the large home was crowded with sympathizers and friends of the boy. The superintendent of the Ames schools dismissed the room which the boy had attended and the scholars and teachers attended the funeral services in a body marching from the house to the depot and they carried the dozens of floral pieces which kind friends had sent to the bereaved parents. The remains were shipped to Stanhope and then taken to the South Marion church where Rev. Nels Pearson preached over a text taken from Sam. 1:20-3. Rev. Johnston of Dayton also preached a short sermon. The remains were laid to rest in the South Marion cemetery followed by about fifty automobiles filled with old neighbors and friends of the deceased paying their last respects to a young life so suddenly taken away. The pall bearers were Myron Anderson, Donald Erickson, Roy Sudderberg, Floyd Swedlund, Carl Erickson and Carl Anderson.