Quail, Tom Andy, died 1914 age about 55

QUAIL, JOHNSON, FRISTAD

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 3/26/2012 at 20:34:09

KILLED IN RUNAWAY
Two Supposed Brothers of Deceased Refuse Him Burial

A fatal accident occurred at the Henry and John Keehn place three and a half miles southeast of Hawarden last Saturday afternoon [May 9] when a five horse team hitched to a gang plow ran away and the driver, Tom Andy Quail, lost his life.

Quail was about 55 years of age and a comparative stranger here, coming from some point in Nebraska only a week before. He at once secured employment with Keehn Bros. on the farm and went to work on the Monday preceding. Another man came with him from Nebraska and went to work for Jud Wheeler, near Ireton. Henry Keehn who operates the farm, came to town Saturday afternoon and left Quail plowing in the field some distance from the house. Late in the afternoon Mrs. Keehn noticed the horses had returned to the barn with the harness all missing except the collars. She at once mistrusted that something was wrong and immediately phoned to town for Mr. Keehn to return at once. Mr. Keehn hurried home after first telephoning Dr. McAllister to go out at once. When they reached the field where Quail had been at work they found the plow first and the body of Quail was found about a quarter of a mile away, but life was extinct. How the accident occurred will never be known as there were not witnesses but he had apparently been dragged about for a long distance and been badly trampled by the horses. Four ribs on the right side were broken from the breast bone, his shoulder blade was broken and there was a bad bruise behind the right ear.

He was brought to Sumner's undertaking parlors Saturday evening when Dr. McAllister was deputized as coroner and a jury composed of L. F. Osterday, W. W. Steele and C. E. Gantt was empaneled. They found that his death had been purely accidental. Quail had mentioned having brothers living near Decorah, Iowa, and the sheriff there was notified of the circumstances and took up the search for his relatives. Two men by the name of Quail arrived Wednesday afternoon from Decorah. They stated that they had not seen their brother for 28 years and that they understood he owned property in Nebraska. They were unable to positively identify the dead man as their brother, but from information concerning his relatives which he had dropped from time to time which tallied so minutely with what the two men acknowledged to be the facts and his physical resemblance of them, there was little room left for doubt regarding his identity. But when they learned that the dead man only had 75 cents in his possession they remarked that he couldn't be their brother because he always had $400 or $500 in cash about him. And apparently because the pockets of the unfortunate man were not lined with coin of the realm the two Quails from Decorah fluttered out of town, refusing to have anything to do with his burial. No burial arrangements have yet been made and the remains are being held pending further inquiry regarding acquaintances and his property interests in Nebraska. The deceased had spoken of having a sister in Lime Springs, Iowa, and the brothers admitted having a sister there. She has been asked to come and view the body but no reply has yet been received.

Source: Hawarden Independent, May 14, 1914.

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Tom A. Quail Buried Here

Tom A. Quail who met his death in a runaway accident a week ago Saturday on the Keehn place, southeast of town, was buried in Grace Hill cemetery Friday afternoon, after the two men from Decorah refused to identify him as their brother and no further trace of relatives could be found. Part of the expense of his burial was borne by the county and the balance made up by local contributions. Rev. John Erb, pastor of the Baptist church, had charge of the burial services at the grave.

Source: Hawarden Independent, May 21, 1914.

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Convinced of Identity

C. O. Quail of Brookings, S.D., was in the city Sunday and Monday making further inquiry regarding the identity of T. A. Quail who met his death in a runaway accident on the Henry and John Keehn farm a few weeks ago. The visiting gentleman is a nephew of the deceased, being a son of Knute Quail, who resides in Canada. After making thorough inquiry here he became positively convinced that the man who met his death here was his uncle and a brother of the two men from Decorah, Iowa, who came here and then refused to bury him. He was very much incensed at the action of the two Decorah men and agreed to see that things were made right. Mr. Quail is in the clothing business at Brookings, has the appearance of being a gentleman in every respect and is of a vastly different type of manhood than his two uncles.

Source: Hawarden Independent, May 28, 1914.

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No Doubt of Identity

Mr. and Mrs. L. Johnson of Lime Springs, Iowa, and C. E. Fristad of Decorah, Iowa, were in the city Wednesday afternoon inquiring further into the identity of Andy Quail who was killed in a runaway accident about a month ago on the Henry and John Keehn place, southeast of town. Mrs. Johnson is a sister and Mr. Fristad a nephew of the deceased. After making a thorough inquiry, submitting photographs of the deceased taken several years ago which were readily identified by those who had seen him and learning from Henry Keehn of some of the things which Quail had told him, they became positively convinced of his identify. They seemed very desirous of learning the facts in the case and especially the attitude of the two brothers who were here and viewed the body and then refused him burial. They seemed more shocked than surprised at the things they learned regarding the behavior of these two men.

Source: Hawarden Independent, June 11, 1914.