Edward Walter Cox 1874-1904

COX, DAKE, RANKIN, HUFF

Posted By: Marian Cox (email)
Date: 10/2/2001 at 14:38:07

A FATAL ACCIDENT

EDWARD W. COX KILLED WHILE OPERATING A SAWMILL.

On Friday afternoon of last week, about 3 o'clock, Edward W. Cox was so severely injured that he died at 8:20 o'clock the following morning. He was operating a portable saw mill on his farm in Vernon Township, and at the time of the accident was sawing an elm log. It was ten feet in length and he had squared it up and had sawed two boards of size used in fencing.

James and Clyde Rankin and Everett Huff were assisting Mr. Cox when the accident occurred, but were not looking at him when the blow came that took his life; but his little five year old son, who was close to the father, says; "I was looking right at Papa when a board climbed up over the saw and hit him in the face."

Two boards, as we have stated, had been cut, and were lying on the frame by the side of the saw, when Mr. Cox, who was operating the saw, backed the carriage up to make another cut. It is thought that when the saw came to the
log, one of the boards had tilted over so that the saw caught it, and the speed of the saw was such that it hurled the board against Mr. Cox, the end striking him on the chin and right side of the face, crushing his jaw into
fragments and fracturing his skull. The instant the accident occurred the change in sound of the saw caused the three assistants to look towards Mr.Cox and they noticed him falling. James Rankin, who was operating the
engine, immediately shut off steam, and all three hastened to Ed. At first breathing could not be noticed and they thought him dead, but he soon began to show signs of life. He was conveyed to his residence, about forty rods
distant, and it was not long until Drs. Craig and Russell of Keosauqua were in attendance. Everything possible was done by them, but the crushed head and face meant death, and the previous good health caused him to live as long
as he did, and it was merciful that if he had to die that death came without suffering.

He probably knew not that he was hurt, as he manifested no indication of consciousness after he received the terrible blow, and it is a consolation to the living relatives and friends to realize that no one is to blame for what might be said to be an uncontrollable accident.

Ed Cox was a good man. Everybody for miles around knew him and respected him, and the late republican county convention honored him by making him a delegate to the state convention to be held the 18th of this month. He was born near where he died and always lived in this county.

We knew him here at Keosauqua where he went to school in his young manhood. The boys all liked him and the rest of us liked him. He worked hard and had nearly paid for his little home.

He was 30 years, 1 month, and 4 days old when death came.

April 15th, 1896, he married Miss Pearl Dake, and she, with three little boys, the oldest 5 years, are left. Sad it is for the mother, as well as for the children old enough to realize the calamity.

Sad it is for his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Alonzo Cox, and for his brothers and sisters, and other relatives.

The funeral was held Sunday at 2 o'clock at Center Chapel. The attendance was very large, over two hundred teams taking the people to the services.

The sermon was by Rev. J. W. Carson, and the burial was in Chapel cemetery near his childhood home.

It is not known who wrote this or the name of the paper it was in.