Westbrook, Merritt 1898-1935

WESTBROOK

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 9/12/2006 at 10:46:02

Former Newton Man is Killed
Transfer Crane Strikes Merritt Westbrook in Head This Morning

Waterloo, Ia., Aprl 18 --AP--Merritt Westbrook, 38, formerly of Newton, was killed at 5 a.m. today, when he was struck in the head by a transfer crane in the foundry at the John Deere Tractor Co. plant.

He suffered a fractured skull and died almost instantly.

Westbrook, who leaves a widow and two small children, had been employed at the tractor plant since last November.

Merritt Westbrook was a graduate of Newton High School.

Mr. Westbrook's surviving relatives include his widow, two children, Duane, 8, and Charlene, 5, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Westbrook of near Newton and an aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. C.B. Westbrook, Newton.

Mr. and Mrs. W.S. Westbrook, Miss Imogene Westbrook and Mrs. C.B. Webstrook left for Waterloo early this morning. No funeral arrangements have been announced. ~ Newton Daily News, Thursday, April 18, 1935, page 1

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To Hold Rites Satruday for M. Westbrook
Funeral services for Merritt Westbrook, 36, of Waterloo, former local resident, will be conducted from the Murdoch funeral home in Newton Saturday at 2 p.m. by Dr. John W. Bickett, pastor of the local United Presbyterian church. Burial will be made in the Sugar Grove cemetery.

Mr. Westbrook, graduate of the local high school, was killed Thursday at 5 a.m., when he was struck in the head by a transfer crane in the foundry at the John Deere Tractor Co. plant at Waterloo. He suffered a fractured skull.

Surviving relatives include his widow, Mrs. Jeanette DeKoning Westbrook, two children Duane, 8, and Charlene, nearly 5, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. W.S. Westbrook of near Newton, his maternal grandfather, C.O. Rider of Colfax, and seven ants and three uncles. ~ Newton Daily News, April 19, 1935, page 9.

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Former Nashua Resident Killed in Accident at John Deere Co.

Merritt Westbrook, former resident of Nashua, was almost instantly killed Thursday of last week, when a portion of an overhead crane in the core department of the John Deere foundry in Waterloo, came loose from its track and fell on him. He suffered a fractured skill and died within a few minutes.

Mr. Westbrook and his wife and son and daughter, lived in Nashua for more than a year, moving to Waterloo last fall, after he secured employment at the Deer factory.

He was born near Newton, 36 years ago, and a graduate of the high school at that place. Funeral services and burial were held at Newton Saturday. ~ The Nashua Reporter, Nashua, Iowa, Wednesday, April 24, 1935., page 1