HICKENBOTTOM, Robert Chester 'Bobbie' 1938 - 1943

HICKENBOTTOM, FLINSPACH

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 9/29/2024 at 15:42:18

"The Fairfield Daily Ledger"
Monday, November 1, 1943
Front Page, Column 1, and
Page 3, Column 7

Special Drug Rushed By Plane Arrives Too Late To Save Child

Five-year-old Robert HICKENBOTTOM dies of rare disease

In spite of the desperate attempt to save the life of five-year-old Robert Chester HICKENBOTTOM, son of Mr. and Mrs. Marshall E. HICKENBOTTOM, route 1, Fairfield by rushing a special medicine by plane from Washington, D. C., the young victim of acute lymphatic leukemia succumbed Sunday morning.

The plane carrying Dr George W. Karels from Washington, D. C. to Des Moines was struck by lightning about 20 miles from Des Moines, reports state. The doctor was rushed to Knoxville by the State Highway Patrol where he was met by members of the family and brought to Fairfield.

The youngster, however, was failing rapidly by the time the doctor arrived, and the special drug was not administered.

Evidences of the disease in which the red blood cells are deteriorated by an over production of the white cells were discovered by a local physician attending the young victim on April 13 of this year.

Since that time he had received various treatments under the supervision of physicians at Rochester, Minn., Ottumwa and Fairfield.

The boy died at 11:25 Sunday morning at the Jefferson county hospital where he had been taken the preceding evening.

Dr. Kareles is first assistant to Dr. Keene of the Casualty hospital in Washington, D. C., the eminent physician who discovered and perfected the treatment administered for Rocky Mountain or Spotted Fever.

Dr. Keene has been working on and believes he has now perfected an effective treatment for leukemia it was stated.

Word was received here last week by Chester HICKENBOTTOM, the boy's grandfather, that Dr. Kareles had administered this treatment in Cleveland, Ohio and that it was proving successful. Negotiations were immediately made to secure the treatment for young HICKENBOTTOM.

It was stated that recovery from the heretofore fatal disease depends largely upon getting the treatment to the victim soon enough.

Robert Chester HICKENBOTTOM was born Sept. 14, 1938 in Jefferson county and had lived in this community during his short life.

He is survived by his parents, a brother, Jerry Lee, his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Chester HICKENBOTTOM, great-grandfather, Perry HICKENBOTTOM, four uncles and two aunts.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. at the Hoskins funeral home in charge of Rev. S. P. Williamson. Burial will be in Evergreen cemetery.

~~~~

"The Fairfield (Ia.) Daily Ledger"
Thursday, November 4, 1943
Page FOUR, Column 5

Robert Chester HICKENBOTTOM

Robert Chester, oldest of the two sons of Marshall and Berenice FLINSPACH HICKENBOTTOM was born on September 14, 1938. He passed away on Sunday morning Oct. 31st when six weeks over five years of age. To mourn their loss he leaves his sorrowing parents, his brother Jerry Lee, his grandparents Mr. and Mrs. Chester HICKENBOTTOM, his great-grandfather Perry HICKENBOTTOM, two aunts and four uncles and a wide circle of sorrowing relatives and friends. Bobbie, as he was called, has been ill for a long time but was always uncomplaining and cheerful. All of the resources of medical skill and loving hands were expended in the effort to control the disease that laid hold upon him but to no avail. He passed peacefully away at 11:35 last Sunday surrounded by his loved ones.

Funeral services were held from the Hoskins Funeral Home on Tuesday afternoon, conducted by S. P. Williamson, minister of the First Christian church of Fairfield. The hymns "Safe int he Arms of Jesus" and "God Be With You" were sung by Mrs. Williamson with Mrs. Amy Parisho at the piano. Pallbearers were Alvin Hiatt, Charles FLINSPACH, Clifford Unkrich and Roy Jewell. The remains were laid to rest in Evergreen cemetery.

~~~~
Copied with permission from The Fairfield Ledger, Inc. IAGenWeb Bylaws PROHIBIT the COPYING AND RE-POSTING OF THIS MATERIAL IN ANY PUBLIC VENUE such as Ancestry or Find A Grave without WRITTEN permission from the submitter ~ copyright restrictions apply.
*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.

Note: Buried in Lot 3rd.097.