Clara A. Brittain (1904)

BRITTAIN

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson
Date: 7/12/2006 at 21:28:22

The Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, April 21, 1904

PERISHED IN FLAMES

John Brittain's Residence Burns and With it Their Daughter Aged Three Years

Clara A., little daughter of John and Clara Brittain, living near the North River U. B. church, was burned to death on Wednesday, April 13th. The parents were in the field not far from the house for only a short time. The two oldest children were at school, and the three youngest on, as babe, and the oldest only four years old, were in the house. A fire started in the house, with only slight alarm, the father ran to the house and found the second room all aflame inside. Little Clara was found inside the door burned almost to death, so that the child died in about two hours. The little infant was lying in the center of the bed, well wrapped and was carried out in the burning clothing unharmed. The largest child had come part way to the parents trying to give the alarm. Everything in the house was burned.

John Brittain is the son of Alfred Brittain, an old settler and one of the best known in this part of the country.

Funeral services at the U. B. church on Thursday, with interment at the McDonald cemetery.
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The Madison County Reporter
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, April 14, 1904
Page 3

Child Perishes in the Flames

The house of John Brittain, in Union township, burned with its contents Wednesday afternoon, and in which his little three-year-old daughter was a victim. The mother left the children, one five years, one three and a baby in the house while she went to her husband who was working in a nearby field. During her absence the children got to playing with matches from which the fire was started. The oldest girl ran to the field and gave the alarm. Mr. Brittain rushed to the house and found the interior all aflame. He rescued the baby who suffered no injury, but the girl of three years was so badly burned that she died in about two hours. The funeral took place this afternoon.
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The Madison County Reporter
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, April 21, 1904
Page 5

McBride

One of the most saddest deaths that ever occurred was the death of little Clara Brittain, the three year old daughter of John Brittain of Union township on April 13, 1904. The mother had gone to a field some distance from the house where her husband was working and left the three children aged five and three years and a baby. While she was absent the children secured some matches and built a fire in a bucket in the yard close to the house from which the fire started. The oldest girl went to the field and told her parents that little Clara was afire. Mr. Brittain ran to the house and found the interior all aflame. He rescued the baby who was almost suffocated. Dr. Davenport was summoned but little Clara was past all medical aid. She was burned so badly that she died within about 2 hours. The funeral took place Thursday afternoon at 2 o’clock. She was laid to rest in the McDonald cemetery. The house and contents were consumed by the fire. The family have the sympathy of the entire community in their sad bereavement.

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