Samuel M. Ives (ca. 1830-1879)

IVES

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 3/6/2012 at 17:27:45

From Nevada Representative January 29, 1879

Burned to Death.

Boone can justly be termed a city of tragedians. Only a few years ago Charley Hogan, one of the most genial citizens of that city, committed suicide. Less than a year ago J. K. Bolt and daughter were killed in a railroad accident a few miles east of Des Moines. Two or three weeks since, Brownie Hews, a merchant tailor, committed suicide at Ogden, and last Thursday evening, Mr. S. M. Ives, an old citizen of Boone county, lost his life in the burning of a one story building used as a bowling alley and target gallery. The fire broke out about 10 o'clock; Mr. Ives, who resided in the second story of a building about 50 feet from the bowling alley, was among the first to get to the fire. He owned a pair of scales just in front of the alley building, kept his scale books there as the most convenient place. He first made an effort to get in the front door to secure his books by trade, but was prevented by the intense heat. He then passed around to another side of the building and that was the last that was seen of him. The fire was extinguished and all danger to other buildings passed, and the crowd returned to their homes before he was missed. Not returning to his residence, his wife became uneasy and a search was commenced. As a last resort some of the fireman comenced raking over smouldering embers, when one of them hit something with his foot that was soft, and upon procuring a light it was discovered to be the remains of Mr. S. M. Ives. His was found lying upon his back, with both arms burned off near the elbows, eyes burned out and face burned away, so that only the skull remained, and bowels protruding and partly consumed. The remains could only be identified by a portion of the clothing that remained about the chest and bunch of keys.

Mr. Ives has resided in Boone since 1854 or '55, was a well known old citizen to nearly everybody in Boone county, formerly owned a portion of the town plat of Boone, but divided with the railroad company when the depot was located there, and a dozen years ago was probably worth $20,000. But of late he had been unfortunate in business, and at the time of his death, possessed, comparatively nothing that he could call his own. He leaves a wife, a most estimable lady, and one son 22 years old, to mourn his loss. He was a member of the Tuscan Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, and his remains were taken in charge by the Masonic fraternity by whom they were given a respectable burial. The affair is one of the saddest of the many tragedies that have happened to Boone citizens, and will be long remembered as a fearful warning to venturing too much in a burning building.