J. W. A. Goeldner

GOELDNER, LINNEKAMP, PETERSON, MERTON, STRIEGEL, JAMES

Posted By: Sue R. (email)
Date: 3/26/2015 at 18:50:33

Ottumwa tri-weekly courier, October 10, 1911

MAN FALLS INTO
WELL AND DROWNS
---
J. W. A. GOELDNER OF HARPER
MEETS DEATH WHILE RE-
PAIRING WELL COVER.
---
Sigourney, Oct. 9--J. W. A. Goeld-
ner of Harper was found dead in a
well on him farm Saturday evening
about 5:30 o'clock by John Linnekamp.
The body was found hanging over a
cross brace, the face being submerged
in the water.
Saturday morning about 8 o'clock
Mr. Goeldner left his home in Harper
for his farm northeast about three
miles ,where he informed his wife he
would repair the covering of an old
well, which had a board covering and
as the boards were considerably de-
cayed he feared the stock might run
onto it and fall in. He first went to the
farm house where he procured the
necessary planks to make the new cov-
ering and then went to the well about
half a mile in the field. He had re-
moved the old covering and sawed all
the planks for the new covering, had
nailed on two of the planks and had
driven the first nail partly through
the next plank when he fell head fore-
most into the well, which was about
eight feet deep, and the water stand-
ing within two feet of the top. In the
well there were two cross braces
about ten inches under the water and
the body hung over one of these cross
pieces, head down, and the body al-
most entirely submerged. As near as
can be figured out he fell into the well
about 10 o'clock in the morning. When
he did not come home for dinner, and
then waiting until the latter part of
the afternoon, his wife asked the
renter on the place to look for him.
The renter, Mr. John Linnekamp, went
to the well immediately and to his
amazement discovered the body in the
well. It was then about 5:50 o'clock in
the evening. He procured help and re-
moved the body from the well, and it
was taken home. County coroner W.
W. Eastburn was notified and went to
the scene of the accident Sunday
morning and after examining two or
three witnesses, concluded an inquest
was not necessary.
Had he lived two days more, he
would have been 62 years of age. Be-
sides his wife he leaves three daught-
ers, Mrs. Peterson and Mrs. Merton,
both of Great Bend, Kas., and Mrs.
Earl Striegel, of Harper; also one
brother, T. L. Goeldner of Webster and
one sister, Mrs. Mike James of near
Council Bluffs, Iowa, and a host of
other relatives and friends to mourn
his untimely death.
He was always of a jovial disposi-
tion, a good citizen and held in the
highest respect by his fellow citizens.
While definite arrangements have not
been made for the funeral, it is ex-
pected that it will take place from the
home in Harper, on Tuesday after-
noon.