BLACKBURN, Merle: Died 1939

BLACKBURN, VANDERGRIFF, LASLEY, CANADY

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 8/30/2013 at 05:26:38

**Handwritten above picture; May 20 1939
**Heading above picture:
Where One Died, Three Were Hurt

**Below picture: Merle Blackburn, 18, of Selma is dead and three of his companions were injured-two of them seriously-when their car (above) turned over twice on the Eldon-Selma road near the latter town early Saturday night. In the picture above, farmers of the Selma vicinity watch while Highway Patrolman Hans Aldershof makes an official investigation of the accident.

**Handwritten: Selma Boy

Dies as Car Turns Over

Van Buren County's 21-month record for deathless highways was ended last Saturday evening when Merle Blackburn of Selma was killed in an auto wreck.

(unreadable) were injured but it is believed all will recover. They were Alvin Van????, Stanley Lasley and Don ?????

Funeral services for Blackburn, 18, were held Monday. A short service, attended by nearly the entire Selma community was held at the home at 12:30 p.m. followed by full services at Center Chapel.

Four youths were riding toward Eldon on the river road above Selma when the accident occurred.

It is believed that they were traveling at a high rate of speed when the car driven by Lasley, got out of control, probably because of a blow-out. The driver apparently applied brakes and the car swerved right and left and ??? turned over and over.

All the boys were thrown clear of the vehicle, a roadster with the top down. Two boys were in the rumble seat.

The boys quickly seen to be seriously hurt were rushed to the Ottumwa hospital. Blackburn lived only a few minutes after reaching the hospital. He was never conscious.

Vandergriff, least seriously injured has been discharged from the hospital. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. ???? Vandergriff, who live south of Selma.

Stanley Lasley, believed to be the most seriously injured of the three youth, who survived, he wreck is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Percy Lasley, who live four miles southwest of Selma.

Don Canady is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Fed Canady of Selma.

Lasley and Canady were both injured about the head as well as the body.

The roadster in which the boys were riding was a complete wreck. The car apparently hit the road as it turned with great force for it made a large hole in the hard surface of the road. Some believe that it turned end-to-end at least once for the right had side of the car apparently hit the read when it first rolled indicating that it was headed toward the river when the crash started. The car was faced way from the river right side up when it stopped.

Merle Balckburn, who was killed, was the second son of Mr. and Mrs. Cliff Blackburn of Selma. he was 18 years old on January 26. He graduated from the Selma high school in 1936.

He is survived by his parents, an older brother, Bruce and a sister, Helen, and his grandmothers, Mrs. Emmett Morrison and Mrs. Walter Blackburn of Keosauqua.

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book C, Page 204, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA