HENKLE, Marion

HENKLE

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri (email)
Date: 9/9/2013 at 14:24:41

MARION HENKLE LOSES LIFE WHILE HUNTING

The lifeless body of Marion Henkle was found Friday morning near Selma after an all night search was made by about one hundred and fifty men and boys.

Mr. Henkle had gone hunting on Thursday afternoon about two o'clock. On his failure to return to the farm in time for supper, the alarm was given, but it was then quite dark and the hunt could be made only by lantern, flashlight or torch.

The body was found on the Henkle farm about a mile northeast of Selma near the coal mine. He was lying near a barbed wire fence and the gun on opposite side of the fence. A gunshot wound had been made in his neck and death had been almost instantaneous. The gun was a double barrelled(sp) hammer shot gun.

Coroner Burnett was called Friday morning and the facts of the death seemed so evident that he did not think it necessary to call a coroner's jury, giving it as his verdict that the deceased came to his death by a gunshot wound in an accidental manner.

Sheriff Bostock and Deputy Pickard were present, having been assisting in the search.

Mr. Henkle was about fifty years of age. He is survived by his wife, one son and two daughters. He had been formerly in the mercantile business at Selma, the store having been destroyed in by fire. His residence in Selma had also been destroyed in recent months. A short time ago Mr. Henkle had a public sale of livestock, etc., on the farm and moved to Fairfield where he was engaged in the gasoline and oil business, having erected a new station.

Several people from Douds and Eldon joined with Selma people in the Thursday night search for the missing hunter. He was found only a short distance from where he had left his car and within thirty or forty feet of a gate in the fence which had been used many times during the night by various members of the searching party. His body was partially hidden by grass.

He was found about 8:45 on Friday morning. Evidence indicated that his death had occurred on Thursday afternoon. The body and the gun were not disturbed until after they had been viewed by the coroner.

The Henkles had moved to Fairfield about a month ago and were living on the Samuelson property on the corner of Second and Adams street. Mr. Henkle was the owner of the Croyell filling station near the Roosevelt school building in west Fairfield.

His married daughter, Mrs. Florence Crawley, lives at Selma. Dwight and Arlene are with their parents in Fairfield.

Members of the family knew that he took his gun with him and that he intended to hunt on Thursday afternoon. He told the operator of the coal mine on the farm that he was going to shoot a couple of rabbits and that he would see him again before he left for Fairfield.

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book C, Page 228, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA