Poorbaugh, Eva – 1897-1918

POORBAUGH

Posted By: Diana Wagner
Date: 7/13/2021 at 21:35:38

Tragic Death of Miss Poorbaugh
It was difficult to imagine a more sad situation than that befell Mr. and Mrs. Poorbaugh of Mingo last Saturday in the fatal burning of their daughter Eva and the total loss of their home.
(A large portion of the newspaper is missing) home, the school children of Mingo in a body, along with many friends of the family, congregated for a sad farewell.
Thence to the church at Valeria where services were held in charge of Father Sheehee. The large concourse then came to Colfax for burial.
Miss Poorbaugh was one of the Mingo teachers, was a popular and exemplary young lady of twenty years and will be greatly missed.
The sympathy of many friends goes out to the bereaved family.
Source: The Colfax (IA) Clipper; Thursday, April 4, 1918, col, 3

A Fatal Accident; Gasoline Explosion, Community Sorrow
Eva, Twenty-year Old Daughter of S. W. Poorbaugh, Mingo Teacher, Society Favorite, Dead
All Mingo Mourning
Home Totally Destroyed and Family Bereft – Tribute From Neighbors and Friends.
Word was phoned into Colfax Saturday afternoon that Mingo was burning and asking for help, to come at once.
The mayor had the alarm whistle sounded and soon a number of cars were on the way. Fifty or more Colfax men were on the scene in less than half an hour, but the flames had been put under control.
It was the residence of Mr. S. W. Poorbaugh, manager of the Mingo Mercantile Co., who lived on the hill south of the business section. His daughters, Eva and Katharine, were cleaning some fabrics with gasoline. Katharine had placed the liquid in a bucket with lid on, and set it in a pan of water. She had bone out of the room and was returning when her sister screamed and burst open the door, running into the yard with her clothing all ablaze.
J. L. Barclay, a neighbor, saw her danger and ran to her, tearing away outer garments, his own clothing instantly catching on fire. He controlled the blaze and threw off his coat to save himself. Miss Poorbaugh who is a teacher in the Mingo schools was burned severely about her body but not about the face and head. She was taken immediately to a Des Moines hospital, her father and M. F. Berkley making the trip and leaving the neighbors to take care of the burning house.
Some of the household goods were saved but the house went down (paper was torn, a piece was missing) and family.
The house and goods were partially covered by insurance.
“Misfortunes never come singly” was proved Saturday for on the way out to Mingo we saw the home of Mr. I. G. Pease falling into the cellar, it being on fire. Their son and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Claire Pease, was living with them. The fire started from the smokehouse in the rear where they were smoking meat. Had there been water handy when it was discovered it could have been controlled but the supply was too far away. Nothing was saved but the piano and a few articles of furniture and bedclothes. It was a seven-room modern home.
The Bauer home across the road on the east caught on fire four times but by prompt action the fire was not permitted to gain headway.
The Pease home was insured with Hahn & Stouffer.
Neighbors were very kind and helped at both these conflagrations.
Source: The Colfax (IA) Clipper; Thursday, April 4, 1918, col, 4

In Memoriam
On Saturday afternoon, March 30, an explosion of gasoline set fire to the home of our friend, neighbor and merchant, S. W. Poorbaugh. Despite heroic fighting on the part of the citizens of Mingo the house burned to the ground. Of course our sympathy for our friends was great. But as we sadly watched the fire eat up the last timbers of the home, we were soon to know that the venomous tongue of the fire had claimed a far more precious victim than any material home. For this was the whispering that went the rounds of the crowd: “Isn’t it too bad about Eva being burned.” We all said “yes,” though not one of us knew how badly she was burned. Even those who ministered to her did not realize her suffering, for her brave spirit would utter no groan or a complaint. She was rushed to Mercy hospital in Des Moines where, despite the best efforts of science and love, her sweet spirit passed to her eternal reward on Sunday afternoon.
All Mingo promptly went into mourning and the audience at the church Sunday evening, bowed in silent prayer, for her home, for she was greatly beloved by all who knew her. We are reminded of the words of Browning, as he reverently looks up to God, “Thou needest man, he knows not why, he thinks he was not made to die, and thou hast made him – thou are just. Ashes to ashes and dust to dust was not written of the Soul.”
While her physical powers were destroyed by the cruel fire, that same fire was utterly unable to harm the soul of her, for her treasures were laid up ‘where fire cannot burn, nor moth and rust corrupt, and where thieves cannot break through and steal.”
Our friends, Mr. and Mrs. Poorbaugh and Joe and Katheryn are heartbroken and sad in the presence of this great unexplainable mystery. “We cannot now understand, but in the coming years, it may be in that better land, we will read the meaning of our tears, and then – and then we’ll understand.”
Therefore, be it resolved that inasmuch as God hath called back to himself the sweet, tender spirit of our beloved teacher, friend and comrade, we, the members of the board of education of Mingo therefore desire to express our sincere appreciation of her and her work in our schools and with our children, as she held before them the very best and finest ideals of womanhood and culture. Moreover, we desire to extend our deepest heartfelt sympathy to her parents and family in this their deep and sad affliction, praying that God may guide their footsteps, comfort their souls and preserve their lives until that day when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall be clothed in immortality, and we shall cry, “O, death, where is thy sting; O, grave, where, is thy victory?” Thanks to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ, and we shall see him face to face, and tell the story “Saved by Grace”
Reverently and prayerfully signed, Rev. Arthur H. Adams; Members of Board - __ Berkley, ___ Poorbaugh, ___Ch__ Heberer, Hes__ Baker, J. L. Coughlan. (text torn)
Source: The Colfax (IA) Clipper; Thursday, April 4, 1918, col, 4

Obituary
Eva A. Poorbaugh was born August 14, 1897 in Collins, Iowa, coming to Mingo with her parents in February 1901.
Her earliest school days were spent in Mingo, and later she went to school in Des Moines, at St. John’s school, and to the three first years in high school, graduating from North High in Des Moines in 1915. After taking a course at Cedar Falls she had (paper was torn, a large piece was missing) her first communion in St. Ambrose church in Des Moines, since which she has been a faithful soldier of Jesus Christ.
The sad accident which caused her death has cast a gloom over the whole community. She leaves to mourn her loss her father and mother, one brother, one sister and a large number of relatives and hosts of friends.
To know Eva was to love her. Our loss is her gain, but we humbly submit to the will of our Heavenly Father.

Card of Thanks – Words are too futile for us to express our thanks and appreciation for the great kindness and sympathy shown us during the darkest hours of our lives. Especially do we wish to thank the friends who so kindly offered the use of and ministered to us in their homes, and for the many beautiful floral offerings tendered in honor and appreciation of our dear daughter and sister Eva. We can only assure you that you have endeared yourselves to all of us in a manner that can never be forgotten. S. W. Poorbaugh, Mrs. S. W. Poorbaugh, Joe Poorbaugh, Kathryn Poorbaugh.
Source: The Colfax (IA) Clipper; Thursday, April 4, 1918, col, 5