Laura A. (Pritchard) MCGREGOR

MCGREGOR, PRITCHARD

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 8/19/2007 at 19:28:18

Belmond Independent
February 23, 1928

Laura A. Pritchard was born at Alden, Iowa, August 26, 1875, and died at Belmond, February 14, 1928, aged 52 years, five months and 18 days. Her parents moved to Belmond when she was a small child, and she received her public school education in our schools. After a year at Grinnell College she taught for two years in the country schools near Belmond. On December 7, 1905, she was united in marriage to A. P. McGregor. Their wedding day was the thirty-fifth wedding anniversary of Mrs. McGregor's parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Pritchard [nee Florine (Bloom) Pritchard]. Mr. and Mrs. Pritchard's was the first wedding in this community at which Father Sands officiated; Mr. and Mrs. McGregors's was the last. The first six years of Mr. and Mrs. McGregor's married life were lived at Indianapolis, Ind.; Norway and Vinton, Iowa. The next 7 years were spent in Belmond and for the past ten years they have been living in Des Moines. Mrs. McGregor joined the Belmond Congregational church when in her teens and remained a member until she transferred her membership to the Central Presbyterian church of Des Moines. She was one of the charter members of the Eastern Star and also of the Progress club of Belmond. She was very active in all the work of the church and of the different societies of which she was a member.

She leaves to mourn her departure her husband, A. P. McGregor, two daughters, Bloom, a teacher in the high school at Keokuk, Marylaura, a high school student in Des Moines; two brothers, R. H. Pritchard of Chicago and W. S. Pritchard of Garner, and her father, of Los Angeles, California. Her happy disposition and her kindliness made for her sincere friends of all those who knew her. Belmond for Mrs. McGregor was home--the dearest spot on earth. She was vitally interested in all the concerns of the community and when there were any special community gatherings she was here if at all possible. The church and the community has lost one who was a real inspiration and help in all its undertakings Funeral services were held at the Congregational church Thursday afternoon and were conducted by Rev. S. U. Leinbach, assisted by Rev. B. B. Wright.

The Belmond Independent
February 16, 1928; front page, column 5:

Mrs. A. P. McGregor Instantly Killed Tuesday Morning
The people of this community have experienced much sorrow within the past two weeks, while the Grim Reaper has stalked about, taking his toll from one family, then another, leaving sorrow in his wake, curshing hearts, breaking family circles, severing earthly ties. And on Tuesday morning, February 14th, Death again visited this community, taking from us a wife and mother, Mrs. Laura Pritchard McGregor. Mr. and Mrs. A. P. McGregor had been in Belmond to attend the funeral of Walter Ramsay, and about ten o'clock Tuesday morning, left the A. E. Martin home west of Belmond, on the return trip to their home in Des Moines. When near the H. O. Stockseth farm, on the main graveled road running east and west past the St. Olaf church, the car which Mr. McGregor was driving, struck a rut, the back end of the car skidding off the grade, and turned over. Mrs. McGregor, who was in the front seat with her husband, was pinned beneath the car, and killed almost instantly. Mr. McGregor was unable to extricate himself from the wreck, and summoned aid from the Stockseth family, by sounding the horn of the car. Several other men were called to assist, and under the direction of Mr. McGregor, they lifted the heavy car, freeing him and without assistance from the others, Mr. McGregor lifted the body of his wife from beneath the car. The body was taken to the home of Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Martin, there to await the arrival of their two daughters, Miss Bloom who teaches at Keokuk, Iowa, and Mary Laura, younger daughter who attends high school in Des Moines. Mr. McGregor suffered no serious injury, aside from the severe shock, but was considerably bruised about the body where the heavy car rested upon him. This is indeed a sad incident, and the sympathy of the entire community goes out to Mr. McGregor and the two daughters, who will feel most keenly the loss of a devoted wife and mother. Funeral services will be held this afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, in the Congregational church. An obituary will be published next week.