Decatur County Journal

November 29, l906

The little village of Van Wert was shocked and shrouded in gloom Sunday,

November llth, as the message to LESTER GOULD flashed over the wires

bearing the sad news of the death of his son, LAWRENCE B. GOULD, who in

company with his wife only a few short weeks before, had gone west to

work on the railroad. They first went to Utah, near Salt Lake City,

where he secured employment and remained there a short time when they

concluded to go on farther west, which they did, arriving in San

Bernardino, California, about September 22, where he again secured work

as brakeman on the Santa Fe railroad and in which occupation he was

still engaged when he so suddenly and unexpectedly met his death in a

rear end collision between two freight trains near Victorville,

California.

All hearts beat in sympathy with the bereaved little wife so far away

among strangers and the almost distracted parents and brother and

sister, MRS. GOULD was accompanied on her sad journey home by friends,

MR. and MRS. NICHOLS, of San Bernardino, California, as far as Kansas

City, where they were met by her mother, MRS. ANNA FIERCE, and two

brothers-in-law, CLYDE GOULD and RALPH HOADLEY, who accompanied them on

to Van Wert, where they arrived on the afternoon train, Friday. They

were met at the depot by a large crowd of relatives and friends and also

four B. of R.T. men from Des Moines, the lodge of which the deceased was

a loved and honored member, who took charge of the body remaining there

until after the burial. As the casket was silently taken from the car

and placed in the waiting hearse, the tear of sympathy was seen to flow

down the cheek of almost every one present.

It was pitiful indeed to hear the almost crazed father talking to the

body that once contained the spirit of his beloved son.

The remains were taken to the home of his father, north of town, until

Sunday afternoon, when the funeral services were held in the Christian

Church. After singing by the choir and a solo sweetly rendered by Mrs.

Dr. Lindsay, followed by prayer by Rev. Mitchell, of Weldon, the Pastor,

Rev. Regan, of Des Moines, delivered a sermon full of comfort for the

mourners. The casket and altar were beautifully decorated with floral

designs silently speaking of the respect and esteem in which the

deceased was held.

LAWRENCE B. GOULD, second son of LESTER and SARAH CRAFT GOULD, was born

near Van Wert, Decatur County, Iowa, January 29, l883, being at the time

of his death, 23 years, l0 months and ll days old, all of which with the

exception of the past few weeks were spent in this vicinity. He was

married to MISS BERTHA E. FIERCE, October 23, l902, and the few short

years spent together were very happily passed. He confessed his faith

in Christ and joined the Christian Church during the meeting conducted

by Rev. Stevens, a number of years ago. He was a kind and dutiful son,

a loving and indulgent husband, an affectionate and true friend.

He leaves besides his almost heart-broken wife, a father and mother who

are almost crushed beneath their burden of sorrow, a brother, sister and

numerous relatives and friends to mourn his untimely death. When the

death angel enters our homes at any time and bears away our loved ones

in his icy arms and leaves the vacant chair, it seems so hard, but when

he comes and with one stroke of his scythe or without a moment's

warning, cuts them down in the full strength and vigor of their young

manhood, it seems doubly hard to bear, let us try to say, "Thy will not

mine be done."

A large concourse of sorrowing relatives and friends followed the

remains to their last resting place in the beautiful cemetery south of

town.

A. FRIEND.

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Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert

September 23, 200l