Claud/Claude Fountan/Fountain (ca. 1882-1908)

FOUNTAN, FOUNTAIN, ETCHENSON

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 3/12/2017 at 13:53:41

From Nevada Representative July 6, 1908

Killed by Train

The six o'clock p. m. passenger from Des Mones, when about one mile south of Ames, on what is known as Graves hill, ran over a man who was on the track. He was either dead when found or died soon afterward. No clue to his identity had been obtained but he is thought to be a tramp. It is rumored that two other men were seen with him a short time previous, and foul play is hinted at but your correspondent was unable to verify the rumor. Later: A man is on his way here from Mason City, supposed to be a brother-in-law of the man killed. He came to identify him.

From Nevada Representative July 8, 1908

The man who was killed by the train Saturday evening near Ames, proved to be Claude Fountain, formerly of Mason City. His body was badly disfigured and cut up and the clue to his identity was found in a newspaper clipping in his pocket The clipping contained an account of a set to which he had some months ago with Chief of Police Lock of Mason City while he was being taken to jail for intoxication by that officer. Ames authorities after the accident called the chief by telephone and he was able to identify the dead man. The father of the latter lives in northern Minnesota. Two sisters living at Mason City came to Ames Sunday night and took charge of the remains. Fountain was a large, powerful man, noted for his physical strength. Several had seen him in Ames before the accident, but none knew him.

SUBMITTER'S NOTE: The death record of the deceased lists him as Claud Fountan, died 4 July 1908 in Ames, Story County, Iowa. His father's name listed Henry Fountan and mother's Etchenson. Burial was at Northwood, Worth County, Iowa.