Jacobs, Henry Charles 1876 - 1959

JACOBS, EVERSON, GRAVES

Posted By: Cindy Maust Smith (email)
Date: 11/12/2020 at 21:57:36

The Sibley Gazette-Tribune, Thursday, April 30, 1959, Sibley, Iowa, Page 1

Fire Claims Life of Melvin Man Early Saturday Morning

Third Person to Die In Fires in Melvin Area This Past Month

Henry Jacobs, an 83-year old retired Melvin carpenter, died early Saturday morning, April 25, when flames destroyed the interior of his one-room house in the northwest section of Melvin.

Services for Mr. Jacobs were held in the Melvin Methodist church Monday afternoon. He is survived by one sister, Mrs. Lillian Graves of Melvin; three brothers, Earl of Sibley, Ed of Ashton and George of Worthington.

It is believed that Jacobs was attempting to light a gas stove and either he didn't strike the match soon enough or the first match went out and he attempted to light a second one when the gas exploded setting fire to a curtain above the stove. His body was found on the floor beside the small stove by firemen when they were able to get the fire under control enough to enter the building. Until that time it was not known for sure that Jacobs was in the house.

The fire was discovered by Lyle Mullenburg who noticed smoke coming from the building shortly after 5 o'clock. Mullenburg kicked in the front door of the small house and tried to enter but was driven back by the smoke.

The fire was put out in a little over a half hour after the Melvin fire department was called.

County coroner and Deputy Sheriff Howard Dunn were called to the scene and the state fire marshall was called.

Jacobs, who had a bad hip and used a cane, had been burned a short time before while working with the gas burner according to relatives. He was the third fire victim in the Melvin community during the past month.

Jacobs was born at Argyle, Wisconsin, May 13, 1876 and came to Iowa as a young child living first at Ashton and later at Melvin. He never married and was planning to move into a rest home within a few days.

NOTE: Henry Charles Jacobs was the son of Halvor "Albert" and Mary (Everson) Jacobs.