Carrie Cordelia Braden (1878-1903)

BRADEN, CAMERON, FURROWS, LELAND, STOAKES, YARNELL

Posted By: Eileen Reed
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:52

Saturday evening Miss Carrie Braden of Goldfield was driving to Eagle Grove in company with Miss Cameron and when about half way, near the McCleery home, the horse gave a sudden spring from a fright, throwing Miss Braden from the buggy. Miss Cameron reined in the horse and returning to her companion found her lying in the road insensible. Mr. McCleery was called and carried her to his house and her parents and physicians were summoned by phone. They arrived soon after but in a short time life was extinct and consciousness was never regained. It was found her skull was fractured and a vertebra of the neck was broken.

Miss Braden was about 25 years of age, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jas. Braden of Goldfield, and niece of Mr. and Mrs. M. D. Braden of this city. She was an active member of the Presbyterian church of Goldfield, a young lady of lovely character and universally esteemed and loved. Her death is a sad affliction to her parents and every acquaintance feels a personal bereavement.

The funeral was held at Goldfield Tuesday.

From Goldfield Correspondent

One of the saddest endings of human life that we have ever had to report is the death, by accident, of Miss Carrie Braden of this place. The accident occurred last Saturday evening about 5 o'clock while Miss Braden and Agatha Cameron were driving to Eagle Grove to meet Miss Braden's intended, Mr. Furrows, of Iowa Falls. While driving along the road near Mr. McCleery's farm, a number of loose horses in the road, belonging to some farmer near this place, frightened their horse, and as she turned abruptly to the side and began to run the two girls leaped from the buggy. Miss Cameron cleared herself of the buggy and robes and came out unhurt, but Miss Braden became tangled up in the robes and was thrown out upon her head, and resulting in breaking a cervical vertebra. She lived about four hours after the accident, being unconscious during the entire time. Miss Carrie Braden was the youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jas. Braden of this place, where she was born and has grown to womanhood in the town and vicinity. She has a host of friends besides father, mother, brother and sister, and her soon to be husband. E. C. Furrows and other relatives who will deeply mourn her loss.

The funeral ceremonies were held at the U. P. church Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock, Rev. G. I. Findley conducting the services and preached a very fitting sermon.

The display of flowers was the finest ever known at this place. The body was interred in the Glenwood cemetery. All are anxious to extend to the bereaved their heart felt sympathy at this time of bitter grief and to all the intimate relatives and to Mr. Furrows who feels the loss so keenly.

Mr. and Mrs. Leland and Mr. and Mrs. Stoakes from abroad were present, also Mrs. Furrows and daughter of Dysart, Iowa.

The Eagle Grove Eagle
Eagle Grove, Iowa
Thursday, December 10, 1903
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The citizens of Goldfield were shocked on Sunday morning to hear of the death of Miss Carrie Braden, one of the most loved and respected young ladies of our town. Few had heard of the accident which occurred the night before and which caused her death, and the fact of her death could hardly be realized.

On Saturday evening, about supper time, Miss Braden accompanied by Miss Agatha Cameron started with Mr. Braden's horse and buggy for Engle Grove, where they expected to attend to some small errands and meet Mr. E. H. Furrows, Cashier of the Homes Savings Bank, of Iowa Falls who was to arrive at Eagle Grove on the eight o'clock train. The pony which has been Mr. Braden's family horse for some, time, had never shown any disposition to be unruly and was always supposed to be perfectly gentle. On this occasion the horse went along all right until they had passed Mr. McCleery’s house, south of town, when about halfway between the house and the corner where tbe road turns south, a drove of loose horses came running down upon them from the east. The horses were driven by a man who was following them in a wagon. The night was very dark at this time and it was impossible to recognize any object even close by. At the approach of the galloping horses, in front of him, tbe horse driven by the young ladies. became unmanageable and whirled around quickly, breaking one side of the shafts, on tbe buggy. This break no doubt frightened the horse the more and he commenced to kick and plunge. At this the young ladies thought they had best get out of the buggy if possible. Miss Braden who was seated on the left side of the buggy, was the first to jump. Miss Cameron getting out soon after, apparently unhurt.

Her first thought was of her companion and she ran back and found her lying in the road, unconscious. She at once called for help and Mr. and Mrs. McCleery responded. Miss Braden was carried into Mr. McCleery's house and medical aid summoned. Her mother, father and brother also came as soon as they heard the news of the accident.

Dr. Green of this place, and Dr. McCall, of Engle Grove, the physicians summoned arrived as soon as possible, and after an examination, found that the bone in Miss Braden's neck at the base of the skull had been broken by the fall she received and that her chances for recovery were only one in a thousand, Symptoms of pneumonia were also detected. She seemed to suffer no pain at all and at 10:20 passed away peacefully without regaining consciousness.

Miss Carrie Braden was the second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Braden and belonged to one of the oldest and most highly respected families of our town. She was born at Goldfield on Christmas day 1878 and had she lived but a few days longer she would have reached her twenty fifth year. She attended the Goldfield public schools from which she graduated June 8, 1894, at the age of fifteen years. She attended Des Moines College at Des Moines, Iowa, for about one year. Since then, she has made her home with her parents.

She was one of four children, The oldest, Lois, died April 4th, 1876, aged 12 years, The father, mother, and a sister, Mrs. H. E. Stoakes, of Valeria, and a brother, Will of this place are left.

The body was taken to the home in Goldfield, where it was viewed, until the funeral, by sorrowing friends. The funeral occurred at the U P. Church, where the deceased had been a faithful attendant, and the services were conducted by Rev. Findley. The funeral was largely attended and many were unable to gain entrance to the church. The floral tributes were many and beautiful and the arrangements were very nicely carried out.

The deceased having lived in Goldfield all of her life was known by everyone and was a universal favorite because of her many good qualities. She was a great favorite with the little ones because of her kindness and attention to them. Her friends and schoolmates loved her because she was a true friend and was always ready to share the sorrows and troubles aa well as the joys of our every day lives. To the old people she was always held dear because of her thoughtful ways and pleasant manner toward them. She was indeed a popular young lady and her untimely death is mourned by all.

The Goldfield Chronicle
Eagle Grove, Iowa
Friday, December 11, 1903
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[Transcriber’s Note: She was also survived by her sister-in-law, Allie Yarnell Braden, wife of her brother William Braden.]