Rombough, Harry M., 1875-1939

ROMBOUGH, MALCOMB, BUTTKE, RIPLEY, GILE

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/27/2021 at 11:58:30

From the Sioux County Index (Hull), November 17, 1939:

Harry Rombough Is Fatally Injured at Salem, Oregon

Word was received by friends in Hull the first of the week of the death of Harry Rombough, one of the pioneer settlers of this part of Iowa, at Salem, Oregon, on Wednesday, November 8. Mr. Rombough was seriously injured in a head-on collision with a truck about a week before his death. Other particulars are meager at this writing, and we are looking for a more complete account of the accident for our next issue. The Index wishes to join with his many old time friends here in extending sincere sympathy to the bereaved wife and family.

[No further obituary was found in the Nov. 24 issue of the Index.]

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From the Spirit Lake (Iowa) Beacon, November 23, 1939:

OBITUARY – Harry M. Rombough

Funeral services for Harry M. Rombough, 62, who passed away at the Salem [Oregon] General hospital Wednesday morning were held at 2 o’clock Friday, November 10th at the Clough-Barrick chapel with Rev. Harrison, pastor of the M. E. church officiating and rites by Chemeketa Lodge No. 1, I.O.O.F. Watson Dutton sang “Nearer My God to Thee” and “Abide With Me.” Burial was in the Belcrest cemetery with graveside rites by Hal Hibbard Camp No. 5 of Spanish American war veterans.

Harry Rombough was born at Hopkins, Mo., February 14, 1877, and at the age of three years moved with his parents to Hull, Iowa, where he grew to manhood. After finishing high school there he chose to become an educator.

His work was interrupted by the call to colors serving our country during the Spanish American war in which he was made sergeant. Upon his return home he devoted the ensuing 33 years to education. He completed his college education at State college of Iowa at Ames and during his school years brought about many innovations that today are included in the school curriculum. He taught at Hull, Boyden, Nemaha and Libertyville, all of Iowa. His pupils have prospered by his thorough training they received and still cherish kindly memories of their beloved instructor and superintendent. All who knew him spoke of his homespun logic and sincere good will that was outstanding in his character.

Being a religious man he was an active member of the M. E. church and engaged in their functions throughout his life. He taught Sunday school classes and was a close friend and helper for boys and girls.

Gifted with fellowship he joined the I.O.O.F. lodge at an early age, becoming a life long member. His untimely death cut short 40 years of successful lodge work that his fellow members will remember and cherish. It was during his return home from lodge meeting on November 1st when his car collided head on with a truck and load weighing over 25 tons sustaining injuries so great as to prove fatal November 8th, one week later.

Mr. Rombough had moved two years ago with his family from Des Moines, where he was engaged in the grocery and market business for three years, to Salem, Ore., to build a home and retire among peaceful surroundings. He had chosen well for their home is indicative of his true character; a lovely place near the city of Salem overlooking the beautiful Willamette Valley. His last efforts toward a final goal that meant security and comfort for his wife and family.

He is survived by his loving and devoted wife, who was with him constantly during his stay at the hospital, and daughters, Mrs. Lyrl Conklin and Miss Violette Gile.

Mr. Rombough formerly resided in Spirit Lake, and lived for six years in the house now owned by Dr. Don Rodawig. Although he moved from here about six years ago he still was a member of both the Odd Fellows and Rebekah lodges here. While Mr. Rombough lived in Spirit Lake, his first wife passed away.

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From the Capital Journal (Salem, Oregon), November 9, 1939:

Rombough Funeral Set for Friday

Funeral services for Harry M. Rombough, 64, who was fatally injured in a motor vehicle collision on the 12th street cut-off the night of November 1, will be held Friday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the Clough-Barrick chapel with rites at the I.O.O.F. lodge at the chapel and with Spanish-American war veterans at the grave sie.

Mr. Rombough was injured when his automobile collided with a heavily loaded truck driven by A. P. Heintz of Portland. The total weight of the truck and its load was 25 or more tons. The two vehicles were almost welded together by the impact and officers and aids had much difficulty removing Rombough from the wreck.

He is survived by his widow, Lyrl Rombough; and two daughters, Mrs. L. Conklin and Violette Gile, of Salem.

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RESEARCH NOTES

A brief note on his death in the Alton Democrat (November 17, 1939, Hull news) says that he was a soldier in the Spanish-American War with Company E, 51st Regiment.

His FindaGrave.com page gives his full name as Harry Malcomb Rombough, birth date 14 Feb 1875 in Missouri, buried in Belcrest Memorial Park, Salem; and adds his parents, William Barza Rombough (1852-1912) and Mary Elizabeth Malcomb Rombough (1841-1921); first wife Anna Pauline Buttke Rombough (1877-1933); second wife Lyrl Ripley Rombough (1888-1967). There is a photo of his headstone.

(The FindaGrave.com page for his wife Lyrl shows her first husband to have been Claude Gile, with daughters Lyrl I. Gile and Violette M. Gile.)

The obituary of his first wife, Anna (posted separately) gives some additional family information.

His World War I draft registration card (Sept. 1918) also gives his birth date as February 14, 1875; resident of Boyden, Iowa; occupation, school superintendent, Boyden Independent District; nearest relative Anna Rombough; medium height and build, blue eyes, dark brown hair.