NELSON, Ralph Diedrick, 1900-1961

NELSON, ROSS, SWAILES, JOHNSON, PETERS, KRIEGER

Posted By: Betty Hootman (email)
Date: 2/5/2012 at 14:10:23

Fairfield (IA) Ledger
Front page
Monday, 30 October 1961

Stockport Victim
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Farmer Killed In Three-Car Mishap

STOCKPORT, Ia. ---- Ralph NELSON, 61, Stockport farmer, was killed Sunday afternoon in a three-car collision on newly-paved Highway 16 near Utica.

Nelson, standing on the shoulder of the highway, was struck by a car driven by Charles Holmes, Fairfield. Mr. and Mrs. Holmes and eight children escaped injury when their car plunged into a deep ditch after being sideswiped by another vehicle.

The mishap occurred about 2:45 p.m. in northern Van Buren county about seven miles east of the junction of Highways 1 and 16.

Left Auto

Van Buren county Sheriff's officers said Nelson got out of an eastbound car driven by his niece, Mrs. Helen ROSS, Bonaparte. As the ROSS car pulled away at a slow rate of speed it was passed by another eastbound car driven by Viola Hinkle, 18, Birmingham.

According to officers, Miss Hinkle sideswiped the westbound Holmes car while in the act of passing the ROSS car. The Holmes car veered to the left after after the impact, glancing off the ROSS car and striking Nelson as it left the roadway, Holmes is district Iowa Highway Commission.

Both the Hinkle and the Holmes cars were heavily damaged. Neither vehicle overturned.

Ambulance Called

NELSON was taken to Memorial hospital in Keosauqua by ambulance. He was pronounced dead on arrival. Miss Hinkle, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Hinkle, was also taken to the hospital for treatment of shock. Ronald McCarty, 10, Birmingham, a passenger in the Hinkle car was not injured.

Mrs. ROSS told officers that NELSON was planning to pick up nuts in a nearby timber when he left the car. The accident was the first to occur on Highway 16 since it was paved about two months ago.

NELSON was born April 15, 1900 at Canton, Ill. He was married to Elsie SWAILES who died 15 years ago. On Oct. 13, 1961 he was married to Mrs. Nina JOHNSON, also of Stockport.

Survivors include his wife and one son, George NELSON, Stockport. Also surviving are three grandchildren and the following brothers and sister, Leo NELSON, Farmington; Earl NELSON, Hillsboro; Caryl NELSON, Canton, Ill.; Snowdon NELSON, Antioch, Ill.; and Mrs. Hazel PETERS, Hampton, Ill.

The body is at Burnett-Catcott funeral home where arrangements are pending.
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Mount Pleasant (IA) News
Tuesday, 31 October 1961

Ralph NELSON Rites Wednesday

Ralph NELSON, 61, Stockport farmer, fatally injured near Utica Sunday, while walking along the highway was struck by an automobile which had been involved in an accident.

NELSON was born at Canton, Ill. on April 15, 1900 and was first married to Elsie SWAILES of Stockport, who died about 15 years ago.

He married Oct. 13 to Mrs. Nina JOHNSON.

He farmed near Stockport. Besides his wife, he is survived by a son, George NELSON, Stockport, and three grandchildren; four brothers and a sister, Snowden NELSON, Antioch, Ill., Caryl NELSON, Canton, Ill., Leo NELSON, Farmington and Earl NELSON, Hillsboro, and Mrs. Hazel PETERS of Hampton, Ill.

Mr. NELSON is a brother-in-law of George, Roy and Charles SWAILES, and Mrs. Ramond KREIGER, all of Mt. Pleasant.

The body is at Burnett-Catcott Funeral Home.

Services will be at the Stockport Christian church at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 1.

Transcribed for genealogy purposes.