Clarence D. Chapman (1904)

CHAPMAN, STIFFLER

Posted By: Pat Thomas
Date: 1/16/2005 at 15:46:43

The Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, March 3, 1904, page 1

Death By Accident

Clarence Chapman Is Killed By Falling Tree

Sawed The Tree Into and It Rebounds With Fatal Results.

Unfortunate Young Man Lived But Five Minutes.

Clarence Chapman, a young man, twenty-six years of age, met a violent death by accident yesterday afternoon about 3 p.m., while felling timber on the old Hoyles farm just northeast of the city. He and a younger brother, Robert Chapman, were working up cord wood for E.E. McCall, the owner of the farm. They used a crosscut saw in felling the timber and after felling a large tree they stepped to each side to watch it fall. The tree fell full length and rebounded to one side with terrible force, striking Clarence on the side of the head. His skull was fractured and he died within five minutes without gaining consciousness. The unfortunate young man was a son of J.W. Chapman, who formerly resided in Scott township and last year moved to Winterset.

He had been married to Leta A. Stiffler, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Loren C. Stiffler of this place. The funeral services will be held from the home Friday afternoon at two o’clock.
_______________________

The Madison County Reporter
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, March 3, 1904
Page 3

Killed by Falling Tree

A sad accident occurred Wednesday on the farm of E. E. McCall one mile and a half northeast of town, in which Clarence Chapman was almost instantly killed by a falling tree. He was felling the tree and was caught underneath it in its fall and crushed, dying in a few minutes thereafter. Clarence was a young man, son of J. W. Chapman, of this city, and was married last August to Miss Leata Stiffler, daughter of L. C. Stiffler, of this place. The remains were brought to his home in town and the funeral will be held Friday.

Mr. Chapman was a young man of high character and exemplary habits and well liked by all who knew him, and his sad and sudden death is a blow to his many friends. The stricken young wife, and the family have the deepest sympathy of the community in their bereavement.
_______________________

The Winterset News
Winterset, Iowa
Friday, March 4, 1904
Page 1, Column 3

KILLED BY A TREE

Clarence Chapman Killed by Falling Tree

DEATH CAME ALMOST INSTANTLY

Had Tree Nearly Down When it Bucked and Struck Himon the Head. Skull Crushed Like an Egg. Was Married About a Year Ago.

Clarence Chapman, a young man about Twenty-six years old, was almost instantly killed Wednesday afternoon by a tree crushing his goal.

Chapman and his brother and Bud Young were chopping in the timber on the old Boyles farm east of the city for E. E. McCall, the present owner. In the middle of the afternoon they came to a big dead oak tree and started to cut it down. Chapman had got it nearly off and after pushing it with his ax two or three times started to walk around the tree when it suddenly broke. The butt of the tree shot up and out, bucking the choppers call it, and struck him on the head. Chapman evidently tried to dodge but was too late, the tree striking him with terrific force on the side of his head crushing his skull
He fell to the ground and never spoke again.

His brother called to Young who was working near them and they tried to revive him but of course could not do it. Young immediately started after Ren Bishop and: Owen Kale who were out hunting and had passed there a few minutes before. He soon came with them and asked them to go for a physician. Men came to town as fast as they could and telephone from east and for a physician, but their run was useless as Chapman died five minutes after being struck.

Chapman came to Winterset four or five years ago with his brothers from Nebraska. He was married about a year ago to Leta Stiffler, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lauren Stiffler. He was a very industrious and exemplary young man. He was a good farmer and was very successful on the Rogers farm where he worked two or three years. The past year he has been working in town.
_______________________

Coordinator's note: Buried in the Winterset Cemetery March 4th per the cemetery ledger.

Gravesite
 

Madison Obituaries maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen