Florence Lillian Jacobson (1898-1912)

JACOBSON, HEGLAND

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:11

From The Roland Record, Roland, Story County, Iowa, Thursday, April 25, 1912.

FLORENCE JACOBSON KILLED BY AUTO

Terrible Accident Takes Place at Noon On Tuesday, When School Girl is Struck By Automobile, Death Resulting Almost Instantly

One of the most tragic accidents that has happened here, was when Florence Jacobson was killed by an automobile at noon on Tuesday. The school children were playing Norwegian ball in front of the Iverson residence on the street running north and south, when just a few minutes before one o'clock, an automobile came from the west. Florence Jacobson was in the field and was back of what is called the base, and thigh brought her south of the traveled east and west road. At the approach of the auto, the children scattered to give it a chance to pass and thinking the road clear, the driver of the car, opened the exhaust with the intention of speeing up the care again when without a moments notice, the girl stepped in front of the car, when it was within a few feet of where she stood. She was thrown violently to the ground and the auto passed over the body, before it could be stopped. She was picked up and Dr. Rice was called, as were the grandparents of the girl, Mr. and Mrs. M. Hegland, but she just breathed her last after the arrival of the physician. The skull had been crushed and the body was otherwise bruised up. Florence has been making her home with her grandparents since the death of her mother, eleven years ago, and was as one of their own children, and they are now prostrated with grief as a result of the terrible accident.

The coroner, Dr. A. H. Glann, of Colo, was called and an inquest was held, and a few witnesses examined, among which were the occupants of the car, E. G. Hodges, owner, H. C. Stevens, S. B. Lusby and J. P. Fenlon, all traveling men of Marshalltown. The verdict of the jury was that the deceased came to her death while playing ball in the street by being accidentally struck by an automobile occupied by E. G. Hodges, H. C. Stevens, S. B. Lusby and J. P. Fenlon. From the evidence as submitted, there was no other verdict that could be drawn, altho these men had been known to exceed the speed limit of the law prior to the accident.

Florence Lillian was born in Roland, July 26, 1898 and died April 23, 1912, being 13 years, 8 months and 27 days at the time of her sudden demise. She was a daughter of T. C. Jacobson, who moved from here two years ago to a farm near Forest City. When Florence was less than three years of age, her mother died and she was taken into the hearts and home of her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. M. Hegland where she has had every advantage that a child of theirs has had. Her grandparents are nearly prostrated with grief, as are the other near relatives and playmates of the young girl. She leaves to mourn her death, besides her grandparents, father and step mother, four brothers, Walter, Rufus, Ruben and Herbert and two sisters, Mabel and Frances and numerous other relatives to whom the news of her death came as a terrible shock.

Florence was a quiet and unassuming young girl and was a favorite with her playmates and teachers. She was very studious and was sincere in anything that she undertook, thus winning the good will of all with whom she came in contact.

The funeral service will be held at three o'clock tomorrow afternoon from Bergen church, after which internment will take place in the Roland cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. T. C. Jacobson and children, Mabel, Walter and Frances arrived last evening to attend the funeral.

The most heartfelt sympathy goes out to the stricken families.