Chandler, A. A. 1833 – 1910

CHANDLER, WHEELER, FISHER, BOUTON, STILSON, KENNEDAY

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/19/2023 at 14:57:13

Source: Decorah Republican July 28, 1910, P2 C4

FELL FROM WINDMILL TOWER
A. A. CHANDLER VICTIM OF DISTRESSING ACCIDENT
Ascended Ladder to Fix a Loose Board and Ladder Gives Away Under His Weight.
As the result of falling from the windmill tower at his home in the fifth ward, A. A. Chandler died Saturday evening at 8:30 o’clock about an hour and a half after the accident occurred.
The facts as we learn them from B. A. Chandler, are these: The windmill tower was an old one and was in the process of being taken down. The top part had been sawed off, and across the bents near the top a loose board had been left that was in a dangerous position, being so nearly off at one end that it would require only a good gust of wind to send it crashing to the ground. Attention was called to this and Mr. Chandler remarked that it ought to be fixed or removed.
Getting up from the supper table, Mr. Chandler went out and immediately climbed up the ladder to fix the board. The ladder had also been loosened at the top so that it swayed somewhat. Mrs. B. A. Chandler called her husband’s attention to his father and he tried to get his father to come down, but before he could either get the board fixed to comply with his son’s request the ladder fell backward, borne down by the weight of Mr. Chandler. In the fall he sustained a fractured arm and a general shock which caused death as above stated.
Dr. Woodward was called to attend Mr. Chandler, who was still lying on the ground when he arrived, his injuries being so painful it was difficult to move him. After making a hasty examination the doctor directed the removal of his patient to the house, but death ensued in a few moments.
The task of making the board safe was one which Mr. Chandler should not have attempted. He was a man past seventy-seven years and aside from his advanced age the structure on which he climbed was not in a safe condition. Of this he might not have been aware, however.
Mr. Chandler was born in Erie county Pennsylvania, on February 23, 1833. When a lad of ten or twelve years the family moved to Michigan where they lived for several years, when they came to Wisconsin. In 1854 they passed through Winneshiek on their way to Big Springs just across the Minnesota line and from that time on until his death Mr. Chandler’s life was more or less continuously connected with this county. After living at Big Spring he came down into Canoe township and for seven years was foreman of the saw mill that was run there for many years. It was on Jan. 20, 1860, while engaged in this mill that Mr. Chandler was married to Mary Matilda Wheeler, Rev. F. Adams performing the ceremony. Returning to Big Spring they bought a farm where they lived until 1865, when they moved to Franksville and lived for a year, then coming to Decorah. Here Mr. Chandler has since lived, engaged most of the time in the pump and windmill business. Mrs. Chandler died several years ago. Besides his children—Mrs. Alice G Fisher and Mrs. Alta Bouton of Chicago, and Byron A. Chandler of Decorah—Mr. Chandler is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Louisa Stilson of Bethel, Wis., and Mrs. Salina Kennneday of Washington, D. D. Neither of these was able to be at the funeral which was held Tuesday afternoon at the residence. Rev. W. M. Lemen officiated and interment was made in Phelps cemetery.

Transcriber’s Note: Find a Grave shows he died July 23, 1910.

Phelps Cemetery
 

Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Jeff Getchell.
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