Poland, Spencer, 1896-1937

POLAND, VANDESTEEG, NAGLE, NAGEL

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:37

From the Alton Democrat, February 26, 1937:

PASSES AWAY FROM INJURY

Relatives here received word Wednesday morning stating that Spencer Poland, druggist at Milford, Iowa, had been seriously injured in a car accident at Des Moines while enroute there to attend the Iowa State Druggist’s convention held there this past week.

Relatives here received the following account of the accident: Mr. Poland in company with Mr. and Mrs. L. E. Williams of Arnold’s Park, Iowa left late Tuesday evening for Des Moines to attend the meeting Wednesday morning. Just as they were entering the City, at about 3 o’clock in the morning, their car was struck in mid section by another car driven by Wendel Paul Carver of Des Moines, who in company with a group of young companions had been drinking and failed to stop at the highway intersection. Mr. Poland was taken to the Iowa Methodist hospital where it was learned that he had received several broken ribs, which punctured his lungs, causing his death early Saturday morning.

Mrs. Poland passed away about five weeks ago from pneumonia. A small adopted daughter is the only survivor, besides relatives and many friends who mourn his departure.

Funeral services were held at Milford Tuesday afternoon. Many friends and relatives from here attended the last rites.

Manslaughter charges were filed against the drunken driver according to the municipal judge. Miss Evelyn Rogers, who was a passenger in the Carver car, was also seriously injured.

* * * * * * * * * *

From the Sioux County Capital, March 4, 1937:

SPENCER POLAND DIES SATURDAY IN D. M.
Suffered Fatal Injuries in Automobile Accident Wednesday

Spencer C. Poland passed away early last Saturday morning at the Iowa Methodist hospital in Des Moines as the result of injuries suffered in a motor accident early Wednesday morning. News of his death came as a shock to the entire community.

His condition at first was not considered critical. As stated last week, he was on his way to attend the state drug convention in Des Moines with Mr. and Mrs. L. E. Williams of Arnolds Park. The three left Spencer late last Tuesday night after Mr. Williams had finished checking at a theatre.

On the outskirts of Des Moines their car, with Mr. Williams at the wheel and Mr. Poland in the back seat, was struck by a car driven by Wendel Paul Carver, 24 years old. who gave his address as 1520 Woodlawn avenue, Des Moines. A charge of driving while intoxicated was brought against Carver. An additional charge of manslaughter has since been brought against him.

Mr. Williams reported that the Carver car failed to stop for an arterial highway sign and crashed into him. Mr. Williams was not injured, but Mrs. Williams suffered cuts and bruises. A girl in the Carver car, Bernice Palser of Lucas, Ia., was critically injured and is in the Broadlawns general hospital in Des Moines. Another passenger of the Carver car was A. E. Calder, 27 years old, 1355 Twenty-fourth street, Des Moines. Calder was also charged with being intoxicated.

Shortly after the accident, a representative of the Des Moines Drug Company called Frank Merritt to tell him of the accident. The Des Moines man said Mr. Poland had been removed to the Iowa Methodist hospital and was being given the best of care. It was at first thought that he had only suffered fractured ribs and a painful back injury, but his condition was not considered dangerous.

William S. Poland, father of Spencer, went to Des Moines shortly after the accident, but returned home the next day. The young Mr. Poland’s condition at that time became critical. Medical examination revealed that one of his lungs had been punctured by one of the fractured ribs and that there was danger of pneumonia developing. The lung was deflated and Mr. Poland later placed under an oxygen tent. It was painful for him to talk and visitors, including his father, were permitted to remain with him only a short time.

Mr. Poland realized the seriousness of his son’s condition when he returned to Milford. He reported then that he was in a bad condition, but no one realized that his condition was as grave as it really was.

At about 3:30 o’clock last Saturday morning Mr. Merritt received a long distance telephone call for Mr. Poland to come to Des Moines, that the young Mr. Poland’s condition had become critical. Mr. Poland left on the early morning train and he had hardly been gone an hour when Mr. Merritt received another long distance call telling him of the young man’s death. Mr. Poland did not know of his son’s death until he arrived in Des Moines about noon where he was met by his daughter, Mrs. R. C. Booth of Marion, Ia.

The passing of Mr. Poland leaves a wide gap in the community. He had a strong influence and was determined in anything he set out to do. He operated one of the finest drug stores in the state of Iowa for a town this size. His shelves were always filled with fresh stock and strangers were often surprised at the great selection of merchandise he carried. He had everything in the drug line and prided himself on a fresh, complete stock.

Some years ago when the CCC still was in its infancy, the government proposed to make a great many improvements in the lake region if a suitable location could be found for a camp site here. Mr. Poland, as many others, decided the camp would be a very good thing for the town and community generally and set out to look for a site. Those who watched him work know how much time and effort he spent trying to find a suitable site. He made frequent trips to Spencer and contacted various officials. When a site was finally found, it developed that the government wanted free rent for at least six months. The amount was about $100. Mr. Poland got enough pledges for the amount in the matter of about a half hour.

He was often in the front ranks in various community activities. The Christmas trade program last November and December was due mostly to his own efforts and organization. He got the various business places together, had meetings, worked out the details of the plan and generally saw it through to the end.

His life had not been easy in the past several years. His wife, Mrs. Vivian Poland, who preceded him in death by a month and twelve days, became gravely ill about two years ago and was in a Sioux City hospital for several weeks. He was greatly devoted to her and made frequent trips down there to console her in her illness and suffering. Her suffering caused him much more grief and sorrow than even some of his most intimate friends realized.

After she came home, she often suffered severe sick spells and he was always on hand to help her as much as he could and to ease her burden in every way possible. He often remained away from the store and his business to help take care of her. Her death was a great shock to him. It is doubtful whether he had fully recovered at the time of his death.

The sympathy of the entire community goes out to his aging father and the surviving orphaned daughter, Lois Maxine Poland.

Mr. Poland’s body was brought back Sunday evening. Al Leyson started to Des Moines Saturday to bring it back, but became stalled in snow drifts and had to remain in Jewel, Ia. Saturday night until the roads on south were opened.

The funeral services—and that will remind the community that Mr. Poland was usually one of a quartette to sing at funeral services in the church from which he was buried—were held at 2:30 o’clock in the Federated church with the Masonic lodge in charge. The Rev. Wayne Stauffer officiated. Burial was in the Spirit Lake cemetery beside his wife, little son and mother, who passed away November 20, 1926. The Rev. Stauffer read the following obituary at the service:

Spencer Poland was born May 25, 1896, in Spirit Lake, Iowa. He lived with his parents, William S. Poland and Mary Nagle Poland in Spirit Lake until he moved to Milford in 1919. Milford has been his home since 1919.

Mr. Poland was graduated from the Spirit Lake high school and attended Morningside college for one year. He was graduated from the Pharmacy school in Des Moines in 1919. For the past seventeen years he has been a druggist in Milford. On June 17, 1920 he was united in marriage with Miss Vera Vivian Vande Steeg of Orange City, Iowa. Mr. Poland was a past master of the Masonic Lodge at Milford, and was an honored member of the Order of the Eastern Star. He was a member of the Methodist church in Milford. Mrs. Poland preceded him in death on January 8, 1937. One son Edwin also died in early childhood.

Death came as a result of an automobile accident at Des Moines, Iowa, on Feb. 20, 1937. His father, William S. Poland, one daughter Lois Maxine, and one sister Mrs. R. C. Booth of Marion, Iowa remain to cherish his memory, besides a host of friends and business associated.—Milford (Ia.) Mail.

* * * * * * * * * *

RESEARCH NOTES

His wife was Vera Vivian (Vande Steeg) Poland, an Orange City native. See her obituary, posted separately, for additional information.

His death certificate has Spencer C. Poland, resident of Milford, Iowa, a druggist for 17 years; widower of Vera Vivian Poland; age 40, born May 25, 1896 at Spirit Lake, Iowa; parents William S. Poland and Marie Nagle; died in the Iowa Methodist Hospital, Des Moines, at 6:20 a.m. February 20, 1937; cause, respiratory infection due to punctured lung; due to an auto collision, Hi-way Beaver and Hickman, fractured ribs and punctured lung.

FindaGrave.com shows him buried in Lakeview Cemetery, Spirit Lake, Iowa; parents William Spencer Poland (1866-1945) and Marie Margaret Dorothy Nagel. Husband of Vera Vivian Van De Steeg, married June 17, 1920. Children Spencer E. (1923-1923) and Lois Maxine.

His World War I draft registration card (June 1917) gives his full name as Spencer Carlyle Poland; present occupation, rodman, employed by Dickinson County, Spirit Lake, Iowa; medium height and build, blue eyes, dark brown hair.