Harold Arthur Backus (1907-1942)

BACKUS, COONE, BATES, DUESENBERG, CHEVILL, SHEARER

Posted By: Gail and Dennis Bell
Date: 5/19/2005 at 22:28:46

NEVADA EVENING JOURNAL, NEVADA, IOWA FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1942, PAGE 1. "Double Funeral for Backus Fire Victims Sunday - Double funeral services for Arthur Backus, 63, of Ames and his son, Harold Backus, 35, of south of Ames, victims of a tragic farm home fire, will be held at the United Bretheran church at Ames, Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock, with Rev. C. E. Lookingbill in charge, assisted by Rev. Riggs. Burial will be in the Nevada cemetery. Deaths occurred at the Mary Greeley hospital in Ames Thursday at 9:20 a. m. as a result of burns suffered in a fire at the Harold Backus farm home, four miles west of Shipley, on Skunk river, early Wednesday morning. No telephone service was available from the farm at the time and the family was alone in their tragedy for some time, before any assistance arrived. The fire was discovered by Harold Backus in the kitchen of his home when he arose during the night for medicine. He rushed to the upstairs to warn his father, Arthur, and remove two daughters, Lois and Marie, who were sleeping in second story bedrooms. After both daughters had been removed from the house, Mr. Backus noticed that his father had not yet made his exit from the kitchen. At that moment an explosion, thought to have occurred from combustion of fumes, shook the house and Harold, assisted by his nephew, Howard, found the father on the living room floor. In rescuing the father who had succumbed to the flames, from the burning room, the clothing of the son, Harold, caught fire, causing burns on the upper parts of his body. Both the father and son were rushed to Mary Greeley hospital in Ames, where they died almost at the same time, Thanksgiving morning at 9:20. Mrs. Harold Backus and one other daughter, Shirley, were able to escape from a first floor bedroom without injury. The house was totally destroyed. Officials were unable to determine the cause of the blaze as there had been no fire in any part of the house during the night. There was no telephone available and the house burned to the ground before aid from any nearby fire department could be summoned. Arthur Backus, a resident of Ames had gone out to help his son pick corn for the past week and Howard, a nephew, had lived at the Backus home since early fall. The fire occurred on his 18th birthday. Arthur Backus is survived by his widow, two sons, Cecil, Kansas City and Forest of Elleston, one daughter, Mrs. Andrew Bates of Ames, and ten grandchildren. Surviving Harold are his widow and three daughters, Lois, Marie, and Shirley. Coroner Mills was not notified of the deaths and no inquests were held over the bodies of the two fire victims. The Backus family had originally lived in the vicinity of Peoria City, southeast of Maxwell and were for many years well known in that neighborhood."

NEVADA EVENING JOURNAL, NEVADA, IOWA MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1942, PAGE 3. "Double Funeral Services for Fire Victims - Funeral rites were held at the United Brethren church, at Ames, Sunday afternoon, for Arthur Backus, 68, and his son Harold Backus, 35, both of whom died at a hospital in Ames, Thursday morning, as a result of burns suffered in the tragic fire early Wednesday morning, which destroyed the Harold Backus farm home, four miles west of Shipley. The church was crowded with relatives and friends and many stood outside in the November cold during the double service, which was conducted by the Rev. C. E. Lookingbill of Nevada, assisted by the church pastor, Rev. Riggs. The songs were by Rev. and Mrs. Franklin. The following obituaries were read during the service: Obituary of Arthur Backus - Arthur Backus, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Backus, was born in England. At the age of 9 years, with his parents, he came to America and they located southeast of Maxwell, Iowa, in the north part of Polk county, where he grew to manhood. He was united in marriage to Ida Mae Coone in the year 1901, and to this union were born 4 children: three sons and one daughter - Cecil, Harold, Forrest and Mrs. Andrew Bates. With his father, Harold passed away from burns suffered when his country home burned to the ground at the same time to the minute his father passed away, at the Mary Greeley hospital in Ames. Arthur Backus was born in the year of 1876, departed this life at the Mary Greeley hospital in Ames, Iowa, November 26, 1942 at 9:10 a. m., age 66 years. He leaves to mourn his departure, his widow, 2 sons, Cecil of Kansas City, Missouri, Forrest of Ellston, Iowa, and daughter Mrs. Andrew Bates of Ames, 10 grandchildren, two sisters, Mrs. Thomas Duesenberg**, of Maxwell and Mrs. George Chevill, of Rhodes, other relatives and a host of friends. He was a kind husband and a loving father. Obituary of Harold Arthur Backus - Harold Arthur Backus, son of Arthur and Ida Backus was born in Story county, Iowa, May 4, 1907. He grew to manhood and lived in Story county until his tragic death. He was united in marriage to Edna Shearer at Ames, May 29, 1928. To this union were born 4 children, one of who preceded him in death. He departed this life November 26, 1942 at 9:10 a. m. at the Mary Greeley hospital, Ames, Iowa, age 35 years 6 months and 22 days. He leaves to mourn his departure his widow, three daughters, Lois, Marie and little Shirley: his mother, Mrs. Arthur Backus, 1 sister, Mrs. Andrew Bates of Ames, 2 brothers, Cecil of Kansas city, Missouri and Forrest of Ellston, Iowa, many relatives and a host of friends. Burial in Nevada - Following the service at the church, the funeral party accompanied the bodies to the Nevada cemetery where the two bodies of the father and son, together in life and death, were laid to rest side by side. Pallbearers for the father were Sam Switzer, John Barrett, Tom Stensland, Marshall Allen, Harry Shelby and Will Peterson. Those carrying the casket of Harold, the son, were Clarence Davice, Oley Eide, Johnnie Barrett, Floyd Baldus, Cleo McColley and Guy Miller."