Florence Donaho 1855-1936

DONAHO, HURST, OSBURN

Posted By: Connie Street (email)
Date: 8/14/2002 at 14:01:07

Aged Mt. Sterling woman perishes in blazing home

Body found in kitchen after fire dies down at about 10 p.m. Wednesday night

The charred body of Mrs. John Donaho, 80, was found in the ashes after her home, located about one and one-half miles southwest of Mt. Sterling, was destroyed by fire Wednesday night. The aged lady lived alone since the death of her husband a few years ago. The house was located immediately north of the Iowa-Missouri state line.

The fire was discovered at about 7:30 by Isaaac Davis and his wife, who live south and in Missouri about two miles, and who were coming north.

They were the first to arrive at the scene of the fire, and when they came the flames had made so much headway that it was impossible to enter the house.

Davis then threw water into the kitchen window, pouring it incidentally upon the spot where Mrs. Donaho later was found to be lying.

It was 10 o'clock that evening before the fire had cooled down sufficiently to allow the ruins to be searched. It was then that the body was found, lying between the cook-stove and where the kitchen cabinet had been.

Funeral services were held Friday in the Mt. Sterling M.E. Church conducted by Rev. F.M. James. Burial was in the Harness cemetery, near Mt. Sterling.

...
(Mrs. Donaho was the former Florence Hurst, daughter of William and Mary Osburn Hurst)
This item is from the collection of Hazel Alexander is probably from the Van Buren County Register.