Clarence Sturman (1916)

BARR, FORNEY, FREEL, STURMAN, TRIMBLE

Posted By: Mary Welty Hart
Date: 2/12/2011 at 09:45:59

The Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Wednesday, October 4, 1916
Page 1

CLARENCE STURMAN

Exposure While in Alaska Causes Sickness, Tried to Save Life of Companion

Clarence Sturman, whom all the people in and about Winterset knew some thirty years ago, died at Murray, Iowa, last Saturday. His remains were brought to Winterset last Sunday and buried in the family lot in Rock City cemetery.

During the past quarter of a century Clarence lived in the far west. He first went to Colorado when that country was the chosen field for mine explorers. After a period spent in prospecting in Colorado, and other western parts of the country, he went to Alaska. He remained in that far off country seventeen years and his leaving there was due to a fatal trip he and his partner made, 500 miles north of Cape Nome. They were overtaken in an unusually severe snow storm, Mr. Sturman's partner froze to death, although the former tried to save him by covering him with some of his own clothing while carrying him to a road house and thereby became badly frozen himself. His face, especially, was so seriously affected that it finally resulted in a sore, something similar to a cancer. With his face in this condition, he traveled 2,000 miles to the then nearest open port and finally arrived in this county. During the time of his arrival here and his death he tried every possible means to alleviate his suffering. He spent much time at hospitals, among others, the Mayo hospital at Rochester, but all means were unavailing. During most of this time he made his home with two of his sisters: Mrs. Forney of Winterset and Mrs. Freel of Murray, who did everything in their power to make him comfortable.

Clarence, in former times, was a restless and adventuresome young man; he was generous to a fault and would do anything in his power to help others in time of need, all of which he fully illustrated during that last fatal trip in Alaska.

A large number of old acquaintances about Winterset and especially from his old home north of the city, joined the bereaved friends at the cemetery and manifested their deep and sincere sympathy for the bereaved. The services at the Grave consisted of the reading of the 90th Psalm, prayer and the impressive ritual service of the Methodist church.

He was born at the Thomas Sturman home north of Winterset, Dec. 17, 1862, and consequently, was about 54 years old. He was patient and cheerful during his last days, professed his faith in his Savior and died with hope. He leaves as immediate relatives: Mrs. C. O. Freel of Murray, Ms. J. W. Forney of Winterset, Mrs. Geo. Barr of West Hope, N.D. And Mrs. G. S. Trimble of Toppenish, Wash.

Gravesite
 

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