Sharp, Arnold, 1899-1920

SHARP

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 10/7/2016 at 16:23:25

From the Hawarden Independent, September 2, 1920: Ireton and Vicinity

Arnold Sharp, a young man aged 21, employed at the Ira Levering home northeast of town, was found dead in the yard Monday afternoon by neighbors. Mr. and Mrs. Levering were away visiting in Minnesota and Mr. Sharp was left in charge of the farm. His body was found lying near the gas tank which is kept in the yard. A deep cut over the forehead showed that he met instant death. The supposition is that he went to get some gasoline, which in some way ignited and exploded, the top of the barrel being thrown about a hundred feet. The neighbor's children were getting cows from a pasture on Sunday evening when they heard an explosion, but did not think much about it. It is supposed that is when the accident happened, as Mr. Sharp had been over at the neighbors, Mr. Vande Brake's on Sunday afternoon and returned home in the evening to do the chores. The young man's home was in New York. The coroner was called and the body taken to Orange City waiting the arrival of relatives. He had been working for Mr. Levering for about a month.

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From the LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel, September 7, 1920:

KILLED BY EXPLOSION
Farm Hand Near Maurice Is Victim of Accident

Maurice Times: Arnold Sharp, an employee at the Ira Levering farm was found dead in the farm yard last Monday afternoon with his forehead cut open, his nose broken and his teeth chipped off. George E. Vande Brake, in passing the farm noticed the man lying in the yard but thought nothing of it until he had passed when he reflected that if nothing was wrong the chickens would not be hovering around the body and upon investigation the tragedy was readily revealed to him. He hastily summoned neighbors and Dr. Oggel and Coroner DeBey were called.

A gasoline barrel nearby with the head blown out and the grass charred beneath it was almost conclusive evidence that the man was a victim of a gasoline explosion. A burned match was also found near the barrel and it is thought that he struck the match on the barrel in passing and the fumes from the barrel ignited. It is said the barrel contained a small amount of gasoline. The fact that the grass beneath the body had turned color it is thought that the accident must have occurred in the afternoon or evening of the previous day. Mr. and Mrs. Levering were visiting in Minnesota at the time and the young man was alone.

The deceased is survived by his father, who lives in Vermont and an invalid sister, whom he is supporting. While at Rochester with his sister last fall he met George Vande Brake and it was through him that he secured employment in this vicinity.

The body was removed to the Orange City undertaking parlors to await instructions from the father, and on Tuesday it was shipped to his home in Vermont. Members of the American Legion acted as pall bearers.

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The story was also covered in several other area newspapers.

Despite the statement in the above article that his body was shipped to Vermont, the Sioux County Cemetery Index has an entry for "Sharp, Arnold, d. 19 Aug 1920, Cem Maurice? WPA Index." The "Cemetery Records of Sioux County" on Ancestry.com has Arnold Sharp, died 29 Aug. 1920, buried in Sioux County (no cemetery given), and citing the Maurice Times, 02 Sep 1920. However, the article in the Times of that date (partially blurred) appears to be the same as reprinted in the LeMars paper, and it too says the body was shipped to Vermont. FindaGrave.com has Arnold Wallace Sharp, 1899-1920, buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Rutland, VT.

In January 1920, the U.S. census has an Arnold W. Sharp, age 20, working as a hired man on a dairy farm in Rutland, VT. The (May) 1910 U.S. census has Arnold W. (11) as one of several children of widowed farmer William R. Sharp. Vermont Vital Records on Ancestry.com has a card for Arnold Wallace Sharp, born Sept. 12, 1899 in Rutland, VT, to Carrie Newton and Wm. R. Sharp.