HIXSON, Omar Arthur a/k/a Jack LOVELL 1918 - 1934

HIXSON, LOVELL, TRACEY

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 11/24/2024 at 19:33:08

"The Fairfield Daily Ledger"
Monday, March 12, 1934
Front Page, Column 1

JACK LOVELL IS WOUNDED BY .22 CALIBRE PISTON
Weapon Accidently Discharged on Hike; Condition Good Today

Jack LOVELL, 15-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry LOVELL, is in the Jefferson county hospital today, suffering from an abdominal wound, caused late Sunday afternoon by the accidental discharge of a .22 calibre pistol.

The bullet entered Jack's body about the middle of the abdomen and travelled downward for nearly six inches, attending physicians reported today. The bullet was removed by an operation at the hospital about 8:00 last night. Today Jack's condition was reported as being "pretty good," but doctors said that a wait of several days would be necessary to see if complications or infection set in.

The accident happened on the Walton Golf course, near the eighth tee, as Jack was walking along on a Boy Scout hike, accompanied by his father, the troop scoutmaster, and six other scouts.

Mr. LOVELL said today that the group was walking along, going out to eat supper, when Jack took the pistol out of the breast pocket of his jacket and fired at something. This was the first he knew of Jack's having the gun. Then he told the lad to put it away and not to reaload it. As Jack was putting the gun back in the breast pocket of his jacket, it is supposed that the hammer caught on the flap and that the gun was discharged in this manner.

Jack did not fall when he was wounded, but those who were with him rushed to his side. His father and Robert Stortz carried him over to the Walton club house, sending the other five scouts--Charles Stortz, John Goodman, Vern Hix, Robert Roth and John Catlett--on ahead to call a doctor and to make other arrangements for taking care of the wounded lad.

No vital organs were touched by the bullet in its downward course, but a large amount of tissue in the front abdominal wall was destroyed.

Jack is a member of the Fairfield High school sophomore class. His father, Harry LOVELL, is manager of Walton club.

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"The Fairfield Daily Ledger"
Tuesday, March 13, 1934
Front Page, Column 3

WOUNDED LAD PASSED AWAY THIS MORNING
Pneumonia, Other Complications Cause Death Of Jack LOVELL

Jack LOVELL 15-year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry LOVELL of Fairfield, died early this morning from the after-effects of an accidental gunshot wound received about 5:00 o'clock Sunday afternoon.

Death was caused by pneumonia and toxic poisoning affecting the heart, and came at 2:00 o'clock this morning while the wounded lad was a patient in the Jefferson county hospital. Until 9:00 o'clock last night, Jack's condition appeared to be satisfactory, but from that time on it grew steadily worse.

Jack was wounded in the abdomen on a hike over the Walton Golf club grounds late Sunday, a pistol he was carrying beiig (sic) accidentally discharged as he was putting the weapon into a breast pocket of his jacket. The .22 calibre bullet travelled downwrad (sic) through the abdomenal wall, and did not touch any vital organs the doctors reported. An operation to remove the bullet was performed at the hospital about 8:00 o'clok (sic) Sunday night.

He is survived by his parents Mr. and Mrs. Harry LOVELL, and by the following brothers and sister: George of North Branch Kans., Elmer and Gertrude of Packwood, Gilbert and Vera of Fairfield and Irma of Oskaloosa.

The funeral services will be held at 2:00 o'clock on Thursday afternoon at the Fairfield Presbyterian church, with Dr. Gilbert Voorhies pastor of the church, in charge. The body is now at the Hoskins Funeral Home and will be taken to the church at 1:00 o'cock (sic) Thursday afternoon.

Jack was a sophomore student at Fairfield High school,. He was a member of the Fairfield High school orchestra, aid (sic) was active in other school activities. He was a member of the Presbyterian church and was president of the Christian Endeavor group in that church. He had long been interested in Boy Scout work and had advanced to the rank of Star scout at the time if his death (sic).

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"The Fairfield (Ia.) Daily Ledger"
Tuesday, March 13, 1934
Page FIVE, Column 1

Locals

... --Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert HIXSON spent Sunday at the home of Mr. HIXSON's parents, Mr. and Mrs. John SINGER of Packwood. They were called to Fairfield on Sunday evening on account of the accident to Jack LEFFEL (sic - LOVELL), who is a brother of Mr. HIXSON. ...

... --Mr. and Mrs. Elmer HIXSON of Packwood were called to Fairfield Sunday night by the accidental shooting of Jack LOVELL, Mr. HIXSON's brother. ...

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*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.

Note: Buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Fairfield, IA, in Lot 3rd.173, with no gravestone. Jack was born Omar Arthur HIXSON, the son of Pearl HIXSON and Nellie L. TRACEY HIXSON, on June 30, 1918. Nellie died in 1919, and Omar was adopted by Harry and Eugenia LOVELL.