Iowa Old Press
Ottumwa Daily Courier
Ottumwa, Wapello, Iowa
Friday, January 2, 1903
HUNTING ACCIDENTS - Alarming Number of
Fatalities This Season in Iowa.
Many hunting accidents have occurred this season of two months
sport, resulting in the death of ten persons and the injuring of
thirteen, some of which are very badly if not permanently
disabled. Following is a list of the fatalities in Iowa during
the last two months caused by hunting accidents:
ARTHUR WILLHITE, Muscatine
HERMAN UNDERBERG, Humboldt
CLARE BAKER, Ottumwa
FRANK PERKINS, Mt. Zion.
STEPHEN WAY, Norwalk.
EDWARD OLESON, Fort Dodge.
ERNEST RED, Ruthven.
EDDIE MEEKS, Madrid.
JAMES SHANNON, Nashua.
PETER SOER, Victor.
The Injured:
The following serious injuries have been reported during the same
time.
Neil Bump, Iowa Falls, shot in the hip..
Asa Noe, Eddyville, lost one hand.
J. Fothergill, Lost Creek, charge of shot in one leg.
Frank Cejka, Cedar Rapids, bullet in spine.
Herman F. Garrity, Lansing, shot in head.
Fred Landphier, Peoria, shot in arm.
Herbert Jackson, Burlington, shot in left leg.
Clarence Smith, Atlantic, left leg and foot badly lacerated.
John Gilmore, Deep River, shot in face.
C. F. Drake, Fort Dodge, lost left foot and leg.
Fred Moore, Bridgewater, lost a foot.
Henry Johnson, Grundy Center, lost an eye.
Fred Harding, Iowa Falls, shot in hip.
This makes a total of ten deaths and thirteen injured as the
result of hunting accidents, so far as have been reported in the
daily papers. There have undoubtedly been a number of less
serious accidents, accounts of which never got into the Press.
The deaths, many of them, occurred in a peculiar manner. Willhite
and Baker were young boys and were killed by the accidental
discharge of guns in the hands of companions about the same age.
Baker was killed by Arthur McCune, who, while a crowd of boys in
were out in the woods, suddenly in a sportive way, raised his gun
and pointed it point blank at Baker, saying: “I have a bead
on you.” In some way the gun was discharged and Baker fell
dead.
Underberg is supposed to have come to his death because of an
exceedingly large amount of whisky and alcohol which he drank. He
started out on a hunting trip while in an intoxicated condition
and was found some five miles from home dead, his face downward
in a pool of water.
Ernest Reed ventured out on this ice while hunting and broke
through, drowning in six feet of water.
Way was accidentally shot in the knee by William Talbott. He died
from the effects of the amputation, which was performed in an
attempt to save his life.
James Shannon laid down his gun upon a stack of chicken coops
before starting upon his trip, and picked it up muzzle toward
him, cocking the trigger.
The Meeks boy was accidently shot by his grandfather, S. S.
Zenor, former sheriff of Boone county. Zenor was so prostrated
over the affair that there came near being two lives lost by the
accident.
Olsen shot a 22-calibre revolver bullet into his brain.
Soer was shot by companions, a hole as big as two teacups being
torn through his breast.
Perkins was out alone and caught the trigger upon some vines or
foliage, discharging the contents into his body.
MANY ACCIDENTS.
An epitome of the accidents which did not result fatally shows
the loss of one leg, two feet, one hand and one eye. Two received
charges of shot in the hip. One carries a bullet in the spine,
which resulted in paralysis and may leave the victim a cripple
for life. Two others had their lower limbs filled with shot and
badly torn and lacerated. Two had charges of powder and shot
blown into their faces, disfiguring them for life.
Irish Bend, [Van Buren Co, Iowa], Jan. 1
- Miss Addie Leach is spending her vacation at home.
- Miss Rebecca Rambo spent Christmas with friends in Douds.
- Israel Strait and family attended the reception given George
Plowman and his bride December 25 by the groom's father at
Chequest.
- Bob Kerr was at Keosauqua on business recently.
- H. Morrison and wife were at the parental Craig home for a
visit.
- Wilson Bros. departed for their home last week.
- George Hissem and his mother of Chequest attended a Christmas
dinner and Christmas tree at the home of Samuel Rush December 25.
- A. Carter and family of Douds visited at the George Rambo home
over Sunday.
- Jesse Marshall delivered hogs at Douds one day last week.
- Luther Plowman is moving to the farm he purchased of Mr. Milam
near Kilbourne.
- Harry Stout is working for Henry Akey this week husking corn.
- George Hissem was here recently on business.
IS FOUND DEAD IN HIS WAGON
Aaron Oldham, Prominent Farmer Near Eddyville
Meets Sudden Death.
DO TO HEART FAILURE
Had Been Gathering Corn During the Day.
WAS DISCOVERED BY NEIGHBOR.
Came to This County at an Early Day As Pioneer and Resided Near Eddyville Almost Continuously –Wife and Seven Children Survive.
Eddyville, Jan. 2. –(Special)—Lying in the bottom of a wagon near a corn crib where he had just finished cribbing a load of corn, Aaron Oldham, a prominent farmer who resides four miles northeast of this city, was found last evening about 5 o’clock cold in death, his demise having apparently been caused by an attack of heart disease. Mr. Oldham was one of the oldest settlers in this part of the county. No arrangements have yet been made for the funeral, as several relatives are expected to arrive soon, but it is probable that the services will be held either Saturday or Sunday.
HAD BEEN GATHERING CORN.
Mr. Oldham has for many years been a farmer. Though quite well advanced in age, he was still very active and yesterday with the assistance of a neighbor, Mr. Ward, had been engaged in gathering corn. Shortly after 4 o’clock, he had driven to the crib and unloaded his load. He then drive from the crib to make way for Mr. Ward. Mr. Oldham did not return to the crib, but thinking he had gone about some other duties, Mr. Ward finished cribbing his load. As he drove from the crib, he noticed the team and wagon of Mr. Oldham near the barn just as it has been driven from the crib. Going to the wagon, he discovered Mr. Oldham lying prone in the bottom of the wagon bed and upon attempting to arouse him, he found that life was extinct.
SUFFERED FROM HEART DISEASE.
Mr. Oldham had been complaining considerably recently from some affection of the heart and it is supposed that his death was caused by a sudden attack of that disease.
AN OLD SETTLER.
Aaron Oldham was one of the pioneers of this vicinity. Having come here in an early day, he has resided on his farm continuously with the exception of a few years which he spent at Greenfield, in Adair county, during the nineties. The deceased was a member of the Christian church in Eddyville, in which church he has held his membership for many years.
Mr. Oldham is survived by his wife and seven children. His son, Robert, resides in Greenfield; Mrs. Belle Scott, of Kansas City, Mo.; Mrs. Marion Snyder, Fred and Bert Oldham, who reside east of Eddyville, Harry Oldham of this city and Miss Noma.
[transcribed by C.J.L., October 2005 & additional articles transcribed by L.Z., May 2018 & Apr 2021]
Ottumwa Daily Courier
Ottumwa, Wapello, Iowa
January 21, 1903
Irish Bend, [Van Buren Co, Iowa], Jan. 21
- Messrs. Bazil and Jake Frazee were at Keosauqua on business
Friday.
- Miss Anna Forbes, teacher at the Mathias school gave her pupils
a spelling bee Thursday evening.
- Israel Strait is hauling a large quantity of cord wood to
Keosauqua.
- James Milam of Kilbourne is moving onto the farm he recently
purchased of Henry Worden.
- John Boyer of Leando passed through here with a fine drove of
sheep he purchased of his brother near Keosauqua Saturday.
- Frank Sulavan and family visited relatives at Leando Friday.
[transcribed by C.J.L., October 2005]