Wiltgen, John 1888-1918

WILTGEN, KOLKER, BEAVER, BURKE, HENNRICH

Posted By: Ethel Cunningham (email)
Date: 5/4/2023 at 08:31:13

Fall Proved Fatal
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John Wiltgen Killed When Jolted From Wagon
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Wheels Passed Over His Body
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Deceased While Driving to Barn, After Day's Work, Meets With an Accident in Which He Receives Internal Injuries Causing Death
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John Wiltgen, aged 32, teamster for the Consumers Ice company, was fatally injured about six o'clock on Wednesday evening, dying five hours later at the city hospital from internal injuries received in a fall from the wagon.

He was found lying in the road near the Le Mars Bottling works in a wooden culvert. A wheel of the wagon struck the edge of the culvert and Wiltgen was thrown from the seat and fell underneath the wagon in the wheels went over him crushing the lower part of his body. He was taken to the hospital. He was able to recognize friends before his death but could give no account of just how the accident happened.

The first intimation that anything was wrong was when John Wellops, an employee of the works, noticed the team and wagon going towards the barn without a driver. Wiltgen has conversed with the bookkeeper, John P. Eilenbecker, a few minutes before in regard to delivery orders.

The unfortunate man leaves a wife and a little daughter.

John Wiltgen was a son of Mr. and Mrs. John Wiltgen, of Ashton, Iowa. He was born on a farm in Plymouth county thirty-two years ago. His parents lived subsequently near St. Kilian, Minn., and then moved to Ashton.

John Wiltgen had lived in LeMars and vicinity for some years. He was married to Miss Annie Kolker, daughter, of Mr. and Mrs. Hermann Kolker, living east of LeMars about seven years ago.

He leaves to mourn his death besides his wife and child, his parents and several brothers and sisters, who are Peter, in Montana; Nic Wiltgen, of America Township; Paul of Camp Dodge, Mrs. John Beaver, Woodstock, Minn.; Mrs. John Burke, Waterloo; Mrs. Martin Hennrich, Wilmont, Minn.; Josephine, Leo and Eddie, living at home in Ashton.

The funeral will be held on Saturday morning at St. Joseph's church in the city.

(Le Mars Semi-Weekly Sentinel - Friday, October 11, 1918)