Crabtree, Irwin died 1907

CRABTREE

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 3/18/2013 at 23:38:17

Postville Review, Fri., 1 Feb. 1907. Taken from the Decorah Journal.

By the Decorah Journal we learn that on Saturday last Irwin Crabtree, a son of Arnold Crabtree, while sawing wood on the DeCow place, two miles northeast of Ossian, was killed in a shocking manner. He was working around a buzz saw, when the saw broke and a portion of it struck young Crabtree on the head, mutilating him in so frightful a manner that he died an hour afterward.

Source: Decorah Republican Jan. 31, 1907, P7 C4

A terrible accident happened Saturday in which Irving Crabtree met his death. He was with a crew of men at DeCow’s near Ossian, sawing wood, and had just exchanged work with Eber DeCow when the saw broke, a piece striking him on the side of the head, rendering his unconscious and he passed away about half an hour later. He is the second son of Mr. and Mrs. Arlo Crabtree, who live four miles southwest of town, and is about 18 years of age. The funeral services will be held this afternoon at 1 o’clock at the Centennial church with interment at the same place. The sympathy of the community is extended to the grief stricken parents.

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The worst accident that has ever happened in Ravena occurred at the home of Walker DeCow Saturday afternoon. While sawing wood with a circle saw the saw blade burst. Irvin Crabtree, who was throwing the wood away from the saw, was struck on the head and also received other injuries of such a severe nature that he died within two hours without regaining consciousness. The cause of the accident is not definitely known. The sympathy of the entire neighborhood is extended to the bereaved parents and friends. The funeral will occur at the Centennial church with interment in the Greenwood cemetery.

Source: Decorah Republican Jan. 31, 1907, P7 C5

A most shocking accident occurred Saturday by the breaking of a defective power wood saw, which was in operation at the home of Walker DeCow, resulting in the death of Irvin Crabtree. The machine had been condemned as unsafe for some time and the owners had been warned against running it, but in the face of it all it was still operated with the above result. A broken section of the saw struck Mr. Crabtree, who was throwing wood away from the saw just back of the ear, crushing the skull and causing his death shortly afterwards. The sawing outfit was owned by Mr. Bloxham, and he is blamed with gross carelessness in allowing it to be operated. Irvin Crabtree was seventeen years old and is survived by father, mother, four sisters and six brothers to mourn his tragic death. The funeral occurred from the Centennial church, Rev. Freie officiating. The church was crowded to its utmost capacity by neighbors and friends, all of whom deeply sympathize with the sorrowing friends in their great sorrow.

Transcriber’s Note: His gravestone shows his first name as Irving and that he was born in 1889. Also his father’s name was Arlo.