Wilson, Fred

WILSON

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 12/8/2010 at 09:49:03

The Grinnell Herald; Friday, June 25, 1920

BODY IS DECAPITATED

Fred Wilson, of Deep River, Falls Under a Freight Train Tuesday Afternoon.

ONE OF BEST KNOWN STOCK MEN IN COUNTY.

Had Been a Stock Buyer all His Active Life And Had a Wide Acquaintance.

Fred Wilson of Deep River, one of the best known stock men in the county was run over and decapitated by a Northwestern freight train Tuesday afternoon. He had been engaged in business in Deep River all his active life and was known all over the county. He had retired from active business recently, but during the days of his activity was one of the county's largest stock buyers.

No one knows just how the accident occurred. The depot in Deep River is down a hill and then across the track. The train had just pulled in and almost past the crossing. The trainmen saw Mr. Wilson coming down the hill and waved a greeting to him as he was well know to them. When the train pulled past the crossing the corpse was found, the head on one side of the track and the body on the other. One theory is that Mr. Wilson started to climb through between the cars and was thrown under the wheels when the train started. Another is that he was overcome by a stroke of apoplexy and fell forward with his head across the rail. He had one stroke some time ago.

Mr. Wilson is survived by a wife and two grown daughters.