Tobias Severtson/Severson (1830-1913)

SEVERTSON, SEVERSON, REINERTSON

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 7/16/2016 at 16:26:18

From Nevada Representative December 23, 1913 (front page)

BURNED WITH HOUSE

Toby Severson Victim of Fire Near Huxley

A fire in the small hours of Monday morning at the home of Anfin Ryerson* northwest of Huxley resulted in the death of the father-in-law, Toby Severson and in minor injuries to other members of the family, as well as in the entire destruction of the house and its contents. The members of family were awakened by the fire in the night and had all they could do to get out themselves and get each other out without getting out any of the goods. Indeed, as noted this was a little more than they could do; for Mrs. Ryerson and Mr. Severson did not wake up; but she was carried out, while he could not be reached. Further details of the accident were told in Monday's Ames Times as follows:

The family retired early Sunday evening Mr. and Mrs. Ryerson and Mr. Severson occupying rooms on the lower floor, while Marie, Esther, Clara, Emma and Genevieve Ryerson, and Miss Emma Thornille, a school teacher, occupied the upper floor. About two o'clock Mr. Ryerson woke up to find the room filled with smoke and house enveloped in flames. He reached over to wake Mrs. Ryerson, but she was already overcome by the smoke and he could not arouse her. He called the rest of the people in the house and took his wife out doors.

He went back in the house to waken Mr. Severson, but the fire had completely surrounded and filled the room, and he was unable to arouse him. The girls up stairs upon being awakened, found the stairway a mass of flame, and were compelled to jump from the windows onto the frozen ground, some of them escaped without injuries; sustaining sprained wrists and ankles, and many bruises.

Ryerson escaped with a few burns and scratches. Mrs. Ryerson was unconscious for number of hours this morning from the effects of the smoke she inhaled. []t she will recover without difficulty

Mr. Severson, when the fire had burned out sufficiently to allow investigation, was found lying on the burned remnants of his bed, indicating that he was overcome while asleep, and never woke up. His body was burned beyond all recognition. Mr. Severson was Mrs. Ryerson's father, and had been making his home with the Ryersons for some time. He was a man between seventy and eightly years of age and was an invalid.

Miss Emma Thornville, who was []o up stairs and jumped from the window is the school teacher, and was boarding with the Ryersons. Her injuries are not severe and while she will not be able to teach for a day or two, will recover nicely. The daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Ryerson, while injured, will all recover.

Neighbors who saw the light issued by the fire arrived on the scene shortly after Mr. Ryerson was awakened and everything possible was done to rescue Mr. Severson, and to check the fire, but was then beyond control.

*SUBMITTER'S NOTE: This should be Anton Reinertson, who was married to the daughter of Tobias "Toby" Severtson/Severson, Emma Matilda Severson.

From Nevada Representative December 26, 1913 (front page)

The Fire at Reinertson's.

Further reports of the fire early Monday at the home of Anton Reinertson between Kelley and Huxley does not throw any light on the origin of the fire in which Tobias Severson, the aged father of Mrs. Reinertsons, lost his life. The family, excepting Mr. Severson, escaped with their night clothes only, but have been care dor by friends and relatives. The daughters of the household were schoolteachers who had just drawn their pay for the full term and who lost it with their other belongings. Mr. Severson was born in Norway April 3, 1830 and was therefore in his 84th year. He had been in Story county since 1865, having previously spent ten years in Illinois. He and his wife broke up house-keeping two year ago and she died on June 21 last. His funeral was conducted Tuesday at Cambridge.