Fred Ellwood Gowin (1934)
GOWIN, NYSWONGER, WACHT, YOUNG
Posted By: Kent Transier
Date: 11/8/2023 at 18:03:14
Dallas County News
Adel, Iowa
Wednesday, August 15, 1934
Page 1, Column 1Fred Gowin Killed by Electricity at Pit
Company Employe Met Instant Death Here Thursday
Fred Gowin who has made his home in Adel for many years and who was known to many people was instantly killed Thursday afternoon about 4:30 when 440 volts of electricity passed through his body.
Although every effort was made to revive him by a doctor and fellow workers at the plant of the United Brick & Tile company plant, where he was employed they were unable to do so.
Mr. Gowin was given work when the plant reopened last week and was assigned to the pit crew, with Art Barnes, George Connelly and G. L. Burgess.
At the coroner’s inquest it was brought out that the insulator on a hanger which holds the trolley wire at the clay shed was broken, presumably when the car was run into the shed at the pit ready for loading.
Art Barnes, who was driving the car at the time, felt a slight shock and saw a blue flame issue momentarily from the control. He called to Gowin to be careful and not touch anything. An investigation was started by Barnes, but he did not discover the broken insulator. He was confident, however, that there was a short circuit somewhere and stepped up into the cab to continue the search. Luckily he did not try to set the brake, or he too, would have been killed.
Mr. Gowin, in boarding the car after Barnes, took hold of the handrail and at the same time put his other hand on a steel beam connected with the shed. The broken insulator had caused a short and the full force of the electricity went into the beam. When Gowin touched it a circuit was formed and he was caught.
Barnes turned around just after Gowin touched the beam. He realized at once what had happened and while he knew that any attempt to get his friend loose might result in his own death, he placed his foot against Gowin’s chest and pushed him away breaking the circuit.
Dr. W. E. Scott answered the hurried call sent in for a doctor. In the meantime Barnes together with L. E. DeCamp, plant superintendent, and others worked hard for about an hour trying to revive the man by means of artificial respiration but without avail.
Saturday evening coroner L. H. DeFord with the assistance of County Attorney Curtis W. Gregory, conducted in inquest at the sheriff’s office. Witnesses examined were Art Barnes, George Connelly, G. L. Burgess, L. E. DeCamp and Dr. Scott. The jury was composed of H. H. Thornton, A. R. Reynolds and Elmer Reynolds.
Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at the Christian church, conducted by the pastor, Rev. H. M. Sipple. Musical numbers were given by a quartette composed of W. D. Valentine, R. H. Murray, M. J. Evans and Y. Allyn. Pallbearers were B. F. Weems, William Prouty, Charles Franklin, G. W. Williams, Ford Smith and John Brock. Burial was in the Odd Fellows cemetery east of Adel. Members of the I. O. O. F. conducted the ritualistic burial services at the grave.
There were many friends in attendance, called there by the sadness of Mr. Gowin’s death and by the fact that he was well liked by all. His death breaks up a home which has already had more than its share of misfortune and the sympathy of everyone goes to the wife and three sons. Mrs. Gowin, whose health has been poor for about two years will go back to the sanitarium in Oakdale in a short time to resume treatments for tubercular trouble.
At the services the following brief sketch was read: Fred Ellwood Gowin, son of Jesse and Clara Gowin, was born in Madison county, June 13, 1891 and died at his home in Adel, Iowa, August 10, 1934. He was married on June 3, 1914 to Mary Young.
He leaves a loving wife and three sons, Kenneth, Dale and Ivan, also and aged father of Green Bay, Wisc. and three sisters, Minnie Wacht, of Redfield, Iowa; Etta Nyswonger of Green Bay, Wisc., and Eleanor Young of Licking, Missouri.
He united with Friendship Lodge, No. 96 of Adel on Oct. 12, 1922 which she has been a very active and attentive member.
Farewell Fred, how we miss you none can tell.
It was God’s will not ours, and he doeth all things well.
Link to Gravestone Photo
Madison Obituaries maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
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