Lawrence Marion Rush (1906)

LEWIS, RUSH

Posted By: Treva Patterson
Date: 3/17/2007 at 10:34:53

The Winterset News
Winterset, Iowa
Friday, October 26, 1906

CRUSHED BY WHEELS-Lawrence Rush Killed Under Coal Wagon.

FATAL ACCIDENT ON LAST SUNDAY

Chain Breaks and Pushes Heavy Wagon on Horses. Jerked Under Wheels by the Lines. Leaves Wife and Children Destitute.

Lawrence Rush was instantly killed Sunday by falling under the wheels of a wagon, heavily loaded with coal. The accident occurred on the hill just west of the old Cox farm a mile east of the city. Rush was dragged under the heavy wheels ten or fifteen feet. His head was crushed and his neck was broken when the wheels passed over him. Rush and his sixteen year old son were hauling coal to the tile works east of the city, having been hired to take the coal down by the men who have the contract to deliver the coal to the company.

Just as the road to the tile works leaves the St. Charles road is a steep hill and in order to get down easy, Rush chain locked one of the hind wheels. When fairly started down the hill, the chain snapped and Rush was either dragged under the wheels by a jerk of the lines or slipped and fell as the load neared the bottom of the hill, his head falling directly under the wagon wheels.

The mark on the road indicated that Rush was pushed before the wheels ten or fifteen feet; when the wheel passed over him it crushed his jaw and dislocated his neck. The team ran on down to the tile works where the wagon was ditched and the harness broken. The boy, who seems to be rather dim witted, after seeing his father was dead, followed the team and was found there by Virgil Pender and Mail Carrier Davis who were driving cattle.

The boy asked them to help fix the harness, saying that his father was dead up the road and he wanted to take him back to town. The body of Rush was discovered laying in the road by Mr. and Mrs. Thos. Hays who were out driving. Seeing that the man was dead and not knowing who he was or what killed him Mr. Hays turned his horse around and hastened to Mr. Grout's house nearby and telephoned to Sheriff Dicksteader to come and bring the coroner.

The men from the tile works were soon on the scene and after questioning the boy and finding the facts as above, the body was brought to Winterset. The funeral occurred at the home in the east part of the city Tuesday.

Rush was about forty years old. He had lived in the country a long time. He was mixed up with the wolf scalp forgers who were sent to the penitentiary by his testimony. The family is destitute, and five children and the widow are without means of support.

From the Winterset Oct. 25, 1906

Lawrence M. Rush run over & killed by a loaded wagon while hauling coal to brick plant last Sun. afternoon. He was buried on Tuesday. Mr. Rush was born in this county March 1, 1861 & was married to Mamie M. Lewis, Aug. 18, 1890. He leaves beside the widow, 5 children, brothers and sisters and an aged father.

From the Reporter Oct. 25, 1906

(It told about the accident. I am just giving you a little other info from the Reporter. LK)

He was hauling coal for Jim Pender. The funeral was at the home at 10 o'clock on Tuesday morning conducted by Rev. N. D. Gordon and he was laid to rest in the Rock City Cemetery.
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Madison County Reporter
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, October 25, 1906
Page 3

Obituary

Lawrence M. Rush was born in Madison county, May 1st, 1861 and died Oct. 21st, 1906. He was united in marriage to Minnie M. Lewis, August 18th, 1890. He leaves to mourn his departure a wife and five children, an aged father, two sisters and three brothers. The funeral occurred Tuesday from the home at 10 a. m. conducted by Rev. N. D. Gordon and the interment took place in the Rock City cemetery.
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Coordinator's note: Middle name taken from 1890 Madison County Marriage Record.

Gravesite
 

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