Henrietta Preston Donner

DONNER, PRESTON, CONE, OAKES, ROODELL, STOENNER, ROODELL, LEECH

Posted By: Ruth McDowell (email)
Date: 5/7/2010 at 16:10:50

Afton Star Enterprise: Thursday, November 4, 1920

MRS. S.C. DONNER DIES AS RESULT OF ACCIDENT Former Afton Lady Dies as a Result of being Run Over by an Engine in Yards at Creston. Mrs. S.C. Donner Sunday morning at 8:30 o'clock passed away at the Greater Community hospital in this city following injuries received when she and her husband were struck on the Elm street crossing by a railroad engine.

The accident occurred about 6:55 o'clock Saturday night. Mr. and Mrs. Donner were walking across; the crossing and did not see the engine backing towards them with the result that they were hit. Mrs. Donner had both legs severed just below the knees and sustained a fractured skull. Mr. Donner was injured about the chest and otherwise bruised, but not seriously. An ambulance rushed the injured people to the hospital where Mrs. Donner's death came Sunday morning.

The engine that struck them was the engine from the Creston Cumberland branch train, which was backing towards the roundhouse after uncoupling from the train. M. Buoey, engineer, saw Mr. and Mrs. Donner and applied the air, but was unable to stop his engine in time. It is said, however, that the engine moved but a few feet after hitting them before it was stopped.

It was also said that the gates to the crossing were down and that the engine whistle was sounded, as was also the bell in the tower at the crossing.

Deceased, formerly Henrietta Preston, was born near Springfield, Illinois, on June 1, 1963. She was 57 years of age. The early part of her life was spent in Illinois. She was married to S.C. Donner on October 22, 1882 at Mason City, Illinois. To this union was born six children, all of whom with the husband and father survive. The children are Mrs. A.L. Roodell, Creston; Mrs. E.E. Leech, Oskaloosa, Iowa; Mrs. W.A. Stoener, Creston; Mrs. F.C. Cone, Shannon City; R.L. Donner, Creston; and Mrs. L.E. Oakes, Shannon City.

After a number of years they moved from Illinois to Union county Iowa, where most of the remainder of her life has been spent. Mr. and Mrs. Donner have been residing at 318 Livingston Avenue in this city for some time.

Deceased was a devout Christian woman, good, true, loving wife and mother, being converted some25 years ago at Salem, Illinois, at the time joining the United Brethren church, later joining the Methodist Episcopal church in this city.

Besides her husband and family she leaves one half sister; two half brothers and numerous other relatives and friends, who will mourn her loss. The funeral services were held at 231 Myrtle Street at the home of Mr. and Mrs. A.L. Roodell on Tuesday afternoon at 1:30 o'clock with Rev. F.N. Redinger of Walnut, Iowa and Rev. Elias Handy of this city officiating. Interment was made at Greenlawn cemetery in Afton.