GOODER, Wilbur J. 1878-1924

GOODER, GUTH, STEVENS, DELLAGE

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 12/3/2011 at 00:35:19

ITEM #1:

DR. GOODER KILLED IN
ROAD ACCIDENT FRIDAY

JERKED OVER FRONT OF WAGON
WHEN TEAM LUNGED AND
WAS RUN OVER

Friends of Dr. W. J. Gooder (and they are many) were caused to reflect on the uncertainties of life when the news spread Saturday morning that the doctor had died at about 8 o'clock the night before from injuries sustained late Friday afternoon in a road accident.

Mr. Gooder had left his farm home, west of Mitchell, with a load of grain, taking it to St. Ansgar to be ground.

One of the horses he was driving was a colt, not thoroughly broken to road work. When driving up to the mill the colt lunged, unbalancing his driver, who fell over the front of the wagon under the wheels.

A small boy saw him fall and hastened into the mill to tell his father, who came out in time to see the doctor crawling from under the wagon. The injured man lapsed into unconsciousness almost at once.

He was taken immediately to his home and medical assistance called, but his injuries were fatal. He passed away at about 8 o'clock, having regained consciousness sufficiently, just before dying, to enable him to tell how the accident occurred.

Dr. Gooder leaves the memory of an extremely active, hard-working and ambitious young man. Beginning with nothing and making his own way for himself he had accumulated a sizable estate, making progress through good times and bad alike.

He practiced veterinary from Osage for a dozen years or so, and built up a tremendous volume of practice. He worked tirelessly, answering distant calls any time of night or day, and devoted himself assiduously to his clients. Several years ago he bought a farm and began to retire from practice. Since that he had changed locations several times, always working his farms personally and practicing his profession on the side. For several years he has owned and operated a place west of Mitchell.

Wilbur J. Gooder was born January 26, 1878, at Dover, Racine County, Wisconsin. He came to Iowa at the age of 16 and resided with his parents at McIntire.

He was educated in the Cedar Valley Seminary and later attended the Chicago Veterinary College for three years from which he was graduated as a doctor of veterinary medicine. After his graduation he located in Des Moines and practiced his profession there for about five years with Dr. Talbot, of that city.

On April 9, 1907, he was united in marriage with Mary Magdalene Guth, of Des Moines. To them four children were born: Luverne Nagel, who passed away at the age of 2 years; Eugene, Mary and Wilbur Jr.

Shortly after their marriage Dr. and Mrs. Gooder moved to Mitchell County, locating at Osage, where he practiced his profession for about twelve years, serving part of this time as assistant state veterinarian. Because of poor health he was compelled to give up his practice in Osage and about four and one-half years ago he purchased two farms near Mitchell, on one of which the family now resides.

Dr. Gooder, with his family, was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Osage. He was a man of great ambition and vitality, anxious to get ahead in life, but withal a great lover of his family, with whom he loved to spend his time. His greatest ambition in life was to see his family comfortable and well provided for and to this end he bent his efforts. A lover of children he was always willing to stop his work long enough to greet a child with a kindly word. Those who had closest contact with him knew best the largeness and kindness of his heart.

Beside his wife and children Dr. Gooder is survived by his father and mother, two sisters, Mrs. Claude Stevens, and Mrs. Frank Dellage, two brothers, Elmer and Clayton, together with a host of friends and acquaintances among whom his untimely death is a source of genuine sorrow and regret.

[Mitchell County Press, Wednesday, December 3, 1924]
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#2:

Wilbur J. Gooder

Birth: January 26, 1878
Rochester, Racine County, Wisconsin.

Death: December 1, 1924
Mitchell County, Iowa.

Parents:
John Gooder (1847-1929)
Eliza Bell Gooder (1854-1926)

Spouse:
Mary Magdalene Guth Gooder (1879-1968)

Children:
Eugene Russell Gooder (1912-1966)

Burial: Osage Cemetery, Osage, Mitchell County,
Iowa.

( Credit: DM Scott )