Gerritsen, Wallace, 1905-1926

GERRITSEN

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:34

From the Rock Valley Bee, May 21, 1926:

YOUNG MAN KILLED IN RUNAWAY ACCIDENT

Wallace Gerritsen, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Gerritsen, former residents of Rock Valley, but now located at Inwood, met with an accident last Thursday which caused his death three days later.

The young man was working on a farm near Inwood. At the time of the accident he was driving a team of horses hitched to a wagon. The tongue of the wagon came down and the horses became frightened and ran away. The young man was thrown to the ground with such force that his neck was broken. He was rushed to the hospital at Hull, where everything possible was done for him, but he died early Monday morning.

His father, W. H. Gerritson, was at Hollandale, Minn., at the time. He arrived at his son’s bedside just a few moments after the young man had passed away.

Wallace Gerritsen was about twenty-two years of age. Practically all his life had been spent in Rock Valley with the exception of a few years in Minnesota and at Inwood. He was a young man who was well thought of by all who knew him, and his bereaved parents and brothers and sisters have the sympathy of many friends in their bereavement.

Funeral services were held at the First Reformed Church at Inwood, Wednesday afternoon.

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From the Hawarden Independent, May 27, 1926:

Walter Gerritsen, aged 21 years, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Gerritsen onf Inwood, was fatally injured in a runaway accident May 13th while he was working at the Earnest Rentschler farm near Inwood. He was driving a team hitched to a wagon and when they ran away the tongue came down, causing the box to be thrown violently from the running gear. It is not known just how the youth was injured but he thought that he was hit by the wagon box. He was taken to Inwood and his injuries were not considered as serious at first but when he continued to suffer greatly he was removed to the hospital at Hull. It was thought that an operation would save his life but before it was performed brain fever set in. He died early the morning of May 17th. He had suffered a broken vertebrae in his neck.

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From the Alton Democrat, May 28, 1926, Rock Valley news:

Friends here received word Tuesday of the fatal accident of Wallace Gerritsen, son of Mr. and Mrs. Will Gerritsen, on Thursday May 14 which caused his death last Monday, May 17. The young man was working on a farm near Inwood driving a team of horses hitched to a wagon. The neck yoke came loose, letting the tongue fall down, frightening the horses and causing them to run. The tongue of the wagon stuck into the ground, throwing the wagon over the lad, striking the ground with such force as to break his neck. He was rushed to the Hull hospital where he was given treatment but could not be helped and passed away on Monday morning. His father who was at Hollandale, Minn. at the time of the accident arrived a few minutes after the lad had passed on.

With the exception of a few years in Minnesota and Inwood, Wallace had lived in Rock Valley all his life and had many friends in this city. He leaves his father and mother and two sisters, Winnie and Jennie and brother Gilbert of Inwood and also several [other?] brothers and sisters. Funeral services were held at the First Reformed church at Inwood on Wednesday afternoon, burial taking place in the cemetery there.

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The index to the Richland Township Cemetery, Inwood, on the Lyon County GenWeb site has Wallace Gerritsen, 1905-1926. (It also has his probable father, William H. Gerritsen, 1870-1951.)