Wilcox, Herbert Waitstell (1846-1902)

WILCOX, HILLS

Posted By: Linda Linn (email)
Date: 3/15/2011 at 22:57:29

LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
9-30-1902

Death of H. W. Wilcox
H. W. Wilcox, one of the pioneer residents of LeMars, died at St Joseph's hospital in St. Paul on Friday morning from the result of an accident which he sustained on Wednesday. September 17.

Mr. Wilcox was engaged with C. A Tyler and a number of others in putting up hay on Tyler's land which adjoins Mr. Wilcox's near Clontarf Minn. He was operating the hay loader and Tyler was driving the horse attached to the rig. The clevis on the singletree broke just after the hay had been elevated and dumped on the stack, and the loader fell back. The rope whizzed passed Tyler's head and he called out to Mr. Wilcox to look out Mr. Wilcox looked up to see what was wrong and stepped hastily back, but not in time to get out of the way of the descending loader.
He was knocked down and one of the teeth struck him in the back. He was picked up and taken to Clontarf and later to the hospital in St. Paul, and his wife summoned from LeMars to his side. It was found that his spine was badly injured, the lower portion of the body was paralyzed. Mr. Wilcox told Mr. Tyler a day or two previous to the accident that be had a presentment that something was going to happen and after being hurt asked Mr. Tyler if he remembered
his speaking of the premonition. The remains were brought to LeMars on Friday for interment at his old home, accompanied by his wife and his brother, A. E. Wilcox, of Chicago.

The funeral was held on Sunday at the Congregational church and was one of the largest funerals ever held in this city. The services were conducted by Rev. L. G. Kent assisted by
Rev. W. T. McDonald and Rev. W. H Ensign; Rev. Kent preached the sermon, taking the text from the eleventh chapter of Acts, at the twenty fourth verse. The members of Mower Post, G. A R., and the firemen of the city attended the funeral in a body and marched at the head of the long funeral cortege.

The pall bearers were old friends of deceased, Thos. Adamson, P. F. Dalton, M. Hilbert , G. W. Peck," John Cooper and C. A Tyler.

The floral offerings were numerous and beautiful, the gifts of many friends and organizations of which he was a member.

His brother, A. E. Wilcox, of Chicago, his son George, of Missoula, Montana. Mrs. Hurd, of Howard, Neb., a sister of Mrs. Wilcox, and Dr. Putnam, of Sioux City, were in LeMars to attend the funeral.

Henry Waitstell Wilcox was born Setpember 1, 1846, at Saxton's River, Vermont He came west to Crete, Ill, with his parents in 1853 and later moved to Wheaton. Ill From there he came to Sioux City in 1870 and to LeMars in 1871. He was a member of the 105th Illinois regiment during the civil war. He was married in the year 1870 to Miss Ella A Hills. His eldest son, Bernard, lives in Milwaukee, and Warren, Frank and George are engaged in business at Missoula, Montana. Miss Maude Wilcox lives at home.

Mr. Wilcox has lived in LeMars for about thirty years and was engaged in the hardware business and was well acquainted with nearly everybody in the county. He was a representative citizen and was at all times closely identified with the interests of the city. He was a member of Mower
Post G. A. R., and has been a member of the fire company ever since the town was incorporated, and was chief for a number of years. He was a good man, and honorable and upright citizen and his sudden death is keenly regretted by a very large circle of friends who extend their sympathy to the family in their bereavement. He was a deacon in the Congregational church at the time of his death, and his work in that organization will be
greatly missed.

Mr. Wiicox sold out his hardware business in LeMars a short time ago and this summer was engaged in looking after his farm in Minnesota near Clontarf where he met the accident
which resulted in his death.

Civil War Record
 

Plymouth Obituaries maintained by Linda Ziemann.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen