Charles Pritchard (1917)

PRITCHARD, DISER

Posted By: Mary Welty Hart (email)
Date: 1/4/2008 at 20:31:15

Winterset Madisonian, Winterset, Iowa
September 4, 1918

CHARLES PRITCHARD

Charles Pritchard of Booneville was born in Lee township, July 20, 1896, a son of Elias & Sarah (Diser) Pritchard. He died April 17, 1917 in an automobile collision near Valley Junction. He was a member of Co. B, 168th Infantry.
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Winterset Madisonian, September 19, 1917, pg 3
Winterset, Iowa

Charles Pritchard

Charles Pritchard was born July 18, 1896, and died Sept. 6, 1917, being past 21 years old. He was the son of Elias and Sarah Pritchard. He leaves his parents, two brothers, and six sisters to mourn his loss.
Charles was one of our soldier boys, being one of the first to enlist from Van Meter. It was an act of patriotism to see him and his two brothers, Samuel and Elias, all enlist at once.

He had been down in the neighborhood to see his girl friend and was on his way back to camp when the car in which he and his brother, Elias, were riding was upset and both boys were pinned underneath. Charles was instantly killed and Elias is still in critical condition.

Charles was a jolly good hearted boy, and would have made a good soldier. He had a host of friends. He will be greatly missed. He was waiting daily for his country’s call to go to the front. But He, who knoweth all things, had planned differently. May we look to Him for strength and comfort today.

The funeral services were held at Union Chapel, 5 miles southeast of Van Meter. Rev. N. F. Hicks had charge of the services. Chaplain Jones of the first Iowa regiment spoke and Charles was buried with military exercise at the grave. More than 300 persons were present.
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Winterset Madisonian, September 12, 1917
Winterset, Iowa

KILLED UNDER AUTO
Two Pritchard Boys Pinned Under Capsized Car. One Killed and Other Seriously Injured

One of the most distressing fatalities that has yet occurred in this vicinity took place between Booneville and Valley Junction on last Thursday evening, when Chas. Pritchard was instantly killed and his brother, Elias was seriously, in not fatally injured, when their Ford roaster struck a dog and turned turtle.

The two young men, with another brother, were members of Company B, encamped at the state fair grounds. On the night of the accident, Charles and Elias drove to their home south of Booneville and were returning to camp when the accident took place. Owing to the paving in progress at Valley Junction, they had taken a cross road north to the White Pole, and there being little travel on this highway, they were not discovered until about 7:30 Friday morning, when a farmer on his way to work was attracted by the injured man’s cries for help. What he suffered during the long night can be imagined. Both were pinned under the car.

Charles was instantly killed by injuries about the face and head. Elias was injured internally, but made a desperate effort to excavate himself by digging with his hands. He was taken to a Des Moines hospital, where he is receiving every possible care. Funeral services for Charles Pritchard which were held at the U. B. Chapel near Booneville on Sunday were attended by on of the largest crowds ever assembled in that community.

The affair is one that has brought to the bereaved family, the fullest measure of sympathy from friends and neighbors, and is the more deeply felt because of the splendid patriotism of the three brothers who had volunteered their services to their country.

Gravestone Photo
 

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