McBride, George G. 1896-1939

MCBRIDE, DENZLER, HOYLE, NIELAND, ALLEN

Posted By: S. Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 4/5/2014 at 17:53:26

Marengo, Ia. - Pushed down a flight of steps by a two-ton safe which crushed him when it hit the bottom, George McBride, 43, Marengo building contractor, died late Tuesday after an automobile wrecker crane had lifted the strongbox from his body. He died 20 minutes after the accident in an ambulance in which he was being taken to an Iowa City hospital.

An experienced man in moving safes, Mr. McBride undertook the task of moving the safe from the old Masonic temple to the new building which was recently completed. Two men, Guerdon Hoyle and Walter W. Nieland, were assisting him. With the aid of the helpers, he had moved the strongbox onto heavy planks, laid on the stairs, and was preparing to let it down the incline gradually. He stepped below the safe to help guide it down the boards, expecting the friction of the wood to keep it from slipping. Instead, the heavy steel box began racing down the planks, pushing McBride ahead of it and finally landing on his head and body, crushing them.

Mr. McBride is survived by his widow and a daughter, Kathryn, a senior in the Marengo high school; his mother, Mrs. Mary McBride; one sister, Eva McBride, and one brother, Forest, all of Marengo.

~Iowa City Press-Citizen, January 17, 1939

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Marengo - Funeral services will be held Friday at 2 p.m. at the Methodist church for George G. McBride, 43, who was killed Tuesday afternoon when a two-ton safe fell down the stairs in the old Masonic temple, crushing him. The Rev. George G. Hunt will be in charge of the services. Burial will be in the I.O.O.F. cemetery with military services at the grave.

Mr. McBride was born January 11, 1896 in Victor, Iowa. He was the son of Harry L. and Mary McBride. He came to Marengo when eight years old and graduated from the Marengo high school in 1914. On March 24, 1916, he joined the Iowa National Guard. He arrived home February 20, 1917. He was mustered into service again July 15, 1917. He passed some time in a hospital in England, suffering from pneumonia, and was there when the Armistice was signed. He came back and was in a hospital in New York until March, 1919, then sent to a hospital in Camp Dodge.

In May, 1921, he was married to Mildred Denzler. He worked one year for Charley Allen in the carpenter work, then he started as a building contractor for himself.

He was the first commander of the American Legion in Marengo when it was first organized and served two years as city councilman.

Surviving in addition to his wife, Mildred, and daughter, Katherine, are his mother, Mrs. Mary McBride, one sister, Eva, and one brother, Forest.

~Iowa City Press-Citizen, January 19, 1939