Floyd Backous (1898-1922)

BACKOUS

Posted By: Gail and Dennis Bell
Date: 5/19/2005 at 22:50:01

THE MAXWELL TRIBUNE, Maxwell, Iowa, Thursday, January 12, 1922, page 1, column 6. "FLOYD BACKOUS DEAD. - Floyd Backous, age twenty-three, son of John Backous, of the Cambridge community, died Saturday afternoon at a hospital in El Paso, Texas. The news of the death of the young man came ___ ___ ___ __ a letter very recently received which told of his improved condition. Saturday morning came a message telling of his serious condition and summoning the father to his bedside, but before the father was able to leave here on his sad mission, another message was received telling of the death of the boy. Mr. Backous left Saturday and was not able to reach El Paso until some time Monday and it is not thought that the body can reach home ** that the funeral services may be held before Saturday of this week. Floyd died of tuberculosis of the lungs. He had spent the past three years in the west and south for the benefit of his health. He was the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Backous and leaves one sister, Mrs. Barney Harker. He at first went to New Mexico where he entered the Homan hospital. He returned home about a year ago feeling well and very optimistic over his condition. He was advised, however, to return to the south to escape the rigerous** winters of Iowa and after he had been there a short time the disease again appeared. He was at home again the past summer for several weeks and the indications then were that the disease again had full sway and was about to claim its victim, and when he left for the south again relatives and friends realized that he would probably never return home alive." **Editorial note - article typed exactly as in the original newspaper.

Nevada Public Library obituary file, Nevada, Iowa. NEVADA JOURNAL, January 1922. “CAMBRIDGE MAN DEAD. Floyd Backous Passed Away in El Paso, Texas. Special to the Journal. Cambridge, Jan. 9 – Floyd Backous, age 23 …” (same article as in the MAXWELL TRIBUNE.)

BURIAL: Iowa Historical Library, Des Moines, Iowa. STORY COUNTY, IOWA GRAVE MARKER INSCRIPTIONS, Vol. VIII, Union Township, City of Cambridge, Cambridge Cemetery, page 433. South section, row 32, lot 3, Floyd T. BACKOUS - Jan. 20, 1898 - Jan. 7, 1922.