Orville Griswold (1950)

GRISWOLD, KIVETT, WALTER, MCKENZIE, WARNOCK, BRINEGAR

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler (email)
Date: 2/5/2007 at 13:26:19

Winterset Madisonian - April 19, 1950
Winterset, Iowa

ELDERLY MACKSBURG MAN BURNED TO DEATH THURSDAY

Orville Griswold, Aged 72, Had Been Burning Trash in Field

Orville Griswold, aged 72, of Macksburg, was burned to death last Thursday afternoon when his clothing caught fire while he was burning trash in a corn field.

Griswold, who lived on an acreage in Macksburg, was at home alone at the time. While he was in the field his wife had gone to a store. After returning home, she was unable to see him about the place, but thought that he also might have quit work and gone down town.

When her husband failed to show up for dinner that evening, Mrs. Griswold became worried and called neighbors. They organized a searching party, which promptly found his body a short distance from the house.

All of Griswold's clothing had been burned from his body. It was evident that he tried to reach the house from the field after his clothing had caught fire.

Coroner Paul E. Eggleston of Winterset was notified, and investigated the death. He said that no inquest would be necessary.

Mr. Griswold was born in Madison county April 28, 1877, a son of Alvin and Mary Griswold. He was married in 1899 to Mabel Kivett. They were the parents of nine children, one son, Darwin, dying in infancy and another son, Rex, at the age of 25 years.

Surviving are his wife; seven children, Leonard Griswold of Des Moines, Clarence Griswold, of Creston, Carl Griswold of Kearney, Nebr., Mrs. Nell Walter of Lenox, Mrs. Nina McKenzie of Winterset, Ralph Griswold of Los Angeles, and Mrs. Pearl Warnock of Des Moines. He also leaves a brother, Richard Griswold of Macksburg; a sister, Mrs. Elmira Brinegar of Hiawatha, Kan., 19 grandchildren; and two great grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Sunday from the Macksburg Methodist church, in charge of the Revs. W. R. Howard and B. F. Hamilton. Burial was made in the Kivett cemetery.