Daniel Germond Filkins Sr. (1866-1921)

CUPID, FILKINS, KUBITSCHEK, MCGRATH, TREADGOLD, TYCK, WOOD, YOUNG

Posted By: Eileen Reed (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:43

March 31, 1866 --- September 1, 1921

Dan’l G. Filkins Killed By Engine

Steps in Front of Backing Engine While Watching Train About to Pull Out.

D. G. Filkins was instantly killed at the crossing at the C. & N.W depot here last Thursday noon. He was walking west on Broadway and his attention was apparently directed to the west train which was preparing to pull out and he did not see the engine backing toward him which was to be coupled to the Elmore train. He was knocked down and the tender passed over him. The body was taken out from between the driving wheels. Death was instantaneous. There was no serious mutilation of the body a blow on the head causing his death.

Number of Eye Witnesses

There were a number of eye witnesses, including the two little Rhiner girls and the little Williams girl, Carlin Henneberry, Engineer Long and Marshal Allen of Goldfield and Car Inspector Nels Olson. Almost the instant before Mr. Filkins stepped in front of the engine he had been talking to four little girls. Previous to that he had been talking to Carlin Henneberry. He was a few feet in front of Henneberry and the Goldfield marshal. The little girls, who were Ordella Williams, Dorothy and Isabella Rhiner and Anna Tollefson, tell substantially the same story of the accident as Carlin Henneberry with a few more details. As he passed the girls he pointed his finger at them and counted them, “One, two, three, four,” as he walked along. Almost the same instant he stepped on the track he saw the engine and tried to grab hold of something that he could hang on to, but failed and fell forward across the rails.

Coroner’s Inquest

The coroner’s inquest could not be held until Tuesday and the jury returned a verdict of purely accidental death. The law requires that the coroner view the body and then release it to the relatives, which was done, and the inquest may be held at any time. The jury comprised George F. Cline, Ole Kirketeg and H. C. Willert.

Has Relatives Here

Mr. Filkins is a brother of Miss Fannie Filkins and Mrs. Oscar Young of this city. He was in the ministry until ill health compelled him to find less exacting work.

Funeral services were held at the Filkins home on Sunday afternoon at 3 o’clock, conducted by Rev. Tyler. The house was filled with sympathizing friends many being old time acquaintances of the family. Prayer was offered by Rev. Muhleman of the Methodist church. A quartette consisting of Messrs Baker and Duer and Mesdames Hird and Shanor, accompanied by Mrs. Everett Platt, rendered several selections with fine effect, and in a comforting way. Rev. Tyler took for his text a passage in John, chapter 14, verse 17, which Mr. Filkins was heard to repeat the evening before the day of his death as he came up the walk to the home. Rev. Tyler spoke some very beautiful and consoling words from the text and spoke feelingly of the deceased. At the conclusion of the service he announced that the burial would be on Monday in the family lot at Belle Plaine. The family, after as brief service on Monday morning, left on the 7:20 train south with the body. The pall bearers were Messrs L. J. Clarke, F. B. Andrews, J. W. McGrath, John Paine, Sam Wood, Geo Tyck and Everett Platt.

The members of the funeral party that went to Belle Plaine were Mrs. Lillian Filkins, the widow; Miss Fannie Filkins; Mr. and Mrs. O. A. Young; Mrs. and Mrs. J. W. McGrath; Mr. and Mrs. George Tyck; Sam Wood, Mr. Kubitschek and Rev. Tyler. They were met at Belle Plaine by a large number of friends, many being old time acquaintances of the family. Services were held at the grave by Rev. Tyler.

Mr. Filkins’ father and mother were early settlers in Belle Plaine, going there about 1860. Mr. Filkins senior helped to lay out the beautiful cemetery about a mile out of town that has a commanding view of all the surrounding country. Besides the parents, two brothers and a sister had previously been buried in the family lot. The tender associations and memories were all alluded to by Rev. Tyler in his well chosen words. After the services the funeral party remained at the Trueblood and Mosnat homes, old time friends of the Filkins family, until the evening train brought them home.

Obituary

Daniel G. Filkins was born at Belle Plaine, Iowa, March 31, 1866. He attended the schools of his native city and afterward entered Western College at Toledo, Iowa, from which he graduated in 1888. He entered the Methodist ministry in 1897 and continued to preach for six years, when his health failed. After residing in Eagle Grove for two years, he moved to Mandan, N. D., where he entered the real estate business, May 17th, 1899, he married Lillian M. Treadgold of Emmetsburg, Iowa, sister of Mrs. J. W. McGrath of this city and to them were born two sons, Douglas C., now nine years old, and Daniel G. now seven years of age.

Those of his immediate family who survive him are his wife; two sons; Miss Fannie M. Filkins, a sister; Mr. and Mrs. O. A. Young, Mrs. Young being a sister, and Miss Margaret Young, a niece.

Eagle Grove Eagle --- Eagle Grove, Iowa
September 8, 1921

Transcriber’s Note: Middle name for Daniel Germond Filkins was taken from the U. S. Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970. His Birth Date: 31 Mar 1866 Death Date: 1 Sep 1921 Father: John Wesley Filkins Mother: Margaret M. Cupid Spouse: Lillian M. Treadgold Children: Douglas Cupid Filkins. The Illinois Society of The Sons Of The American Revolution Application For Membership Of Douglas Cupid Filkins, descendent of Isaac Filkins. Application filed 16 Sep 1932 and approved 20 Sep 1932. Daniel also had a second son Daniel Germond Filkins Jr.