Oden, William F. 1878-1900

ODEN, JOHNSON

Posted By: Paul Van Dyke-volunteer
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:32

Source: Hawarden Independent (5-3-1900)

Born: November 21, 1878
Died: April 24, 1900

William F. Oden, the eldest son of Lawrence B. and Sophia (Johnson) Oden, residing two miles west of town, was killed instantly last Friday morning at Whitten, Iowa, being run over by a freight car and tender. He was a brakeman on the Northwestern Railroad, having been in the employ of the company for about nine months, and was in the discharge of his duty at the time the accident occurred. Just how it happened no one seems to know. The train was switching at Whitten and he was seen to go between the cars to make a coupling and when next discovered the foreman saw him beneath the wheels of the engine tender and he only breathed a few minutes after being taken out. How he came to get beneath the car will probably never be known.

The remains were brought to Hawarden for interment and were taken in charge by the Woodmen of the World, of which benevolent order he was a member. The funeral was held Sunday afternoon and a large concourse of people followed the remains to the grave.

William F. Oden was a bright boy, just past the age of 22, and his sudden death comes as a severe blow to his father and other near relatives. The Independent extends them its sincere sympathy in their hour of deepest sorrow.