Harmon Akerman

AKERMAN

Posted By: Ken Funk (email)
Date: 2/26/2007 at 19:47:46

Published in the Fremont, IA Gazette - 8 May 1919

FALL IS FATAL
Harmon Akerman Meets Death as Result of Accident
Occurred at Springer Garage Yesterday Forenoon.

Harmon Akerman, the oldest native-born resident of Fremont, died last evening as the result of a fall through a coal chute at the rear of the Springer Motor Supply Co. garage The accident occurred about 11:15 yesterday morning and no one was a witness to it.

Mr. Akerman left his home at about ten o'clock yesterday forenoon, came up town and went to the barber shop and got shaved. About eleven he went out of the shop and walked to the garage but no one saw him about the place until after the accident. Mr. Springer was in the office and the workmen were all absent. The theory is that he was looking at a car Mr. Springer had recently purchased and stepped backwards into the inside coal chute which was open. In falling he struck the back ofhis head on a large steam pipe, cutting a bad gash which took four stitches to close, and from the large swelling on the top of his head, it is surmised that he must have fallen head first. He struck on the cement floor, and from the pool of blood there must have lain there a short time. His knife and keys were afterward found near where he fell. He got up and walked upstairs and called for help. His nephew, who owns the garage, heard his cries and rushed to his assistance. He was in a groggy condition and Mr. Springer took him to the front door and started towards town but the injured man said that he could not walk to the doctor's office so Mr. Springer took him to his own home next door and medical and medical aid was immediately called. Mr. Akerman soon lapsed into unconciousness and although everything was done that could have been done, he died at 7:20 o'clock, Wednesday evening, May 7, 1919, from concussion of the brain. He was never unconscious after he lay down, and after two o'clock never uttered a sound and passed away calmly and apparently without pain. His death is a great shock to the community.

The funeral will take place at the M. E. church on Saturday afternoon, May 10th, at 2:00 o'clock, and burial will be made in the Cedar Township cemetery.

Harmon Akerman was the oldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Akerman, and was born in Fremont, April 4, 1859, being 65 years 1 month and 3 days old at the time of his death. He is survived by his wife, three sons, E. H., of Fremont, J.L., of Route 4, Oskaloosa, and Fred, of Ottumwa all of whom were present when dissolution came. One brother and three sisters are living--Geo. W. Akerman, Mrs. L. A. Springer and Mrs. C. N Neil, of Fremont, and Mrs. S. E. Heinzman, of Long Beach, Calif.