Latcham, Paul Joseph 1891-1960

LATCHAM, NELSON, FIGLAND, WILKINS, SOUTER, ALERTSEN, ALBRIGHT, ALLEN

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 11/5/2010 at 14:18:56

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register; Oct. 13, 1960

PAUL LATCHAM KILLED IN FARM TRACTOR MISHAP

Removing Stumps When Machine Overturns Wednesday Afternoon

Paul J. Latcham, 69, Grinnell, was killed Wednesday afternoon when the tractor he was driving overturned and rolled on him at his farm about two miles northwest of Ewart.

County Coroner Rex Bramer estimated the time of death at somewhere between 1 and 2 p.m. and said Latcham had been dead about two hours before his body was discovered.

SAW WHEELS

Wilbur Allen, who farms south of Ewart, was passing the intersection just west of the Latcham farm at about 3:45 p.m. when he noticed the wheels of an overturned tractor. Stopping to investigate, he found Latcham pinned beneath the machine.

Allen then rushed to the Earl Alertsen farm west of the site and notified Sheriff Bill Welsh. An ambulance was also summoned from Grinnell.

Latcham, who lived in Grinnell at 1316 Fifth Avenue, had gone to the farm that day to do some work. His son, Leonard and his family lives at the farm but they were gone at the time.

HIT STUMP

The elder Latcham was using a tractor to push out some stumps in a lot west of the house. Stumps are located on the slope of a hill and it is speculated that one wheel struck a stump, causing the machine to overturn. Coroner Bramer speculated that Latcham was probably knocked unconscious upon initial contact.

The lot in which he was working slopes away from the east-west road and can only be clearly seen when approaching it from the north. It is probable that several cars passed the scene earlier without noticing the accident.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Grinnell Methodist church with Dr. G.S. Bruland, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Hazelwood cemetery with graveside rites to be conducted by Focht-Tennant Post No. 53, Grinnell American Legion.

Friends may call at the Smith Funeral Home.

Born May 30th, 1891, near Ewart, he was the son of Leonard Bailey and Sarah Nelson Latcham and received his education in the Ewart schools. From June of 1918 to June of 1919 he served with the U.S. Army with overseas duty in France.

On Oct. 29th, 1919, he was united in marriage with Anna Luella Figland at the parsonage of the Rev. W.S. Wilson of Grinnell. To this union were born three children: Leonard, who farms near Ewart; Lavern, and Mrs. Robert (Louise) Wilkins, both of Grinnell.

In addition to his wife, Anna and his children, he is survived by two sisters and one brother: Mrs. Olivia Souter of Montezuma, Mrs. Lee Albright of Eldora, and Howard Latcham of Grinnell; and many other relatives.

Mr. Latcham was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Clark.

He had farmed in the Ewart area most of his life before retiring in Grinnell.

He was a member of the Grinnell Methodist church, belonged to the American Legion, and was a member of the World War I organization, Hopeful Barracks No. 1368 of Grinnell.