George Nockling (1871-1896)

NOCKLING

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 6/11/2006 at 09:04:21

The Roland Record, Roland, Story County, Iowa, August 14, 1896.

A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT
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George Nockling Drowns While Bathing Saturday Evening
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Our little city was thrown into great excitement and was the scene of one of the saddest accidents that has ever occurred here, Saturday evening. The news that George Nockling was drowned in the small creek south of the tile factory was a terrible blow to us all.

Saturday evening immediately after supper, George Nockling our photographer, Lewis Shafland an intimate friend and companion, and George Holland, with whom these two gentlemen boarded, made their way across the pasture to the small creek near the tile factory to enjoy a bath.

Messrs. Holland and Shafland were the first to enter the water. They both crossed the stream and heard Nockling splash into the water. After waiting a short time and not seeing him, Mr. Holland turned around, only to see nothing of his companion. He at once called for Shafland who had gone up the stream and they made haste to discover Nockling's whereabouts. Holland who was quite a strong swimmer, dove several times for the body, but in vain. A couple of small boys, who appeared at this time were immediately dispatched to the house of Jake Burritts for help. After Mr. Burritts arrived, the three friends worked for some time before they were able to locate the body and take it from the water. Life was apparently extinct when the body was recovered. Dr. Rice and a large number of citizens were soon on the scene and for two long hours willing friends labored hard to bring back the spark of life that had apparently flown. The task was then given up as useless, and the lifeless body of George Nockling was tenderly bourne, by his friends, back to his studio, from which he had departed but three short hours before, in his usual healthy condition and excellent spirits.

From the condition of the body and circumstances connected with the death, Dr. Rice expresses the opinion that there would have been little hope of saving the young man's life, even had he been taken from the water in a short time after going down. His heart is known to have been affected, previous to the accident. As the day was extremely warm, and the water rather cold, it is altogether probable that death was almost instantaneous, caused by strangulation, hastened on by the severe shock his heart received. Had such not been the case the body would have rose to the surface before death would have occured, unless it had been fastened in some manner, in the bottom, but such was not the case as it was easily brought to the surface when found.

OBITURARY.-George Nockling was born in Nokling, Bömel Island, Norway in September, 1871. Died at Roland, Ia., Aug. 8th 1896, age 25 years.

He emigrated from the old country in February 1891 and stopped in Chicago until October 1893 when he came to Roland where he has since made his home. While in Chicago he learned the photographers business and in December 1894 he put a gallery in this place. He was a proficient and careful workman and by hard work he succeeded in building up a large and lucrative business. He was known by his business associates and friends to be an honest, upright young man, and one who endeavored to fulfill each and every contract he made. In society he as a leader, and loved and respected by all.

The funeral services were conducted by his pastor, Rev. Holter, Sunday afternoon at four o'clock. The services were conducted in both Norwegian and English. The funeral is said to be one of the largest ever held in Roland. The church was crowded, both auditorium, pulpit and gallery, and large crowds standing outside unable to gain an entrance. The remains were interred in our cemetery where they were accompanied by a large number of friends despite the fact that a raging storm was threatening and a drenching rain had just fallen.

Mr. Hockling leaves a brother, Paul, who is the only near relative he had on this side of the broad Atlantic, whose home is in Roland. In the Fatherland he leaves a father, mother, two brothers and a sister. To all of these sorrowing relatives, the community at large extend their earnest sympathy and words of comfort. Although the death seems so untimely to us, yet it was undoubtedly the will of the Divine Master.