Iowa Old Press
Northwood Anchor
Northwood, Worth co. Iowa
November 9, 1921
Serious Accident
Master Morris Olson, ten-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Severin
Olson, of Northwood, met with an accident Thursday afternoon of
last week which proved to be more serious than at first thought.
Morris and his older brother Carl accompanied Helmer and William
Olsen, sons of Ole A. Olsen, to the Iver Bidne farm, six miles
southwest of town, for a load of wood, the trip being made in the
big truck belonging to the Olsen ships.
The wood was loaded on the truck and with Helmer driving the
vehicle was headed through the timber field towards the main
road. The driveway in the timber was lined with small stumps
which, in addition to the softnes of the ground, caused Helmer to
run on the powerful low gear so that he could go slowly and
safely through the difficult trail.
Morris, who was walking with his brother Carl and William Olsen,
was close by the side of the truck when he stumbled over a stump
and fell with his head towards the front of and parallel with the
vehicle. It is thought the hind wheel caught and crushed him in a
pinching way and beofre he could roll away his foot was caught by
the chain gear and the sole of his shoe torn loose before the
machine could be stopped. Had the wheel revolved a few inches
farther the foot would undoubtedly have been crushed to a pulp.
William saw the accident and immediately took steps to alarm
helmer, the driver. The truck was stopped quickly and Morris
heoped to his feet. The little fellow said he was not badly hurt
and insisted that he would be all right after he reached home and
rested a while. He rode on the truck six miles to town but when
he alighted was unable to walk so was taken home by the older
Olsen boys.
Dr. Hurd was called at once and after examination decided that it
was a hospital case so the little fellow was taken to Mason City
that same evening and is there now under surgical and medical
attention. Late news from the hospital is tha the is doing as
well as the nature of the injuries will permit, but that his
condition as regards future physical well being is still in
doubt.
The accident is regrettable and the older boys, while not in any
way to blame, are deeply concerned about the condition of the
injured boy. They have been to call on him at the hospital in
Mason City and together with other citizens of the community
sincerely hope the little chap will come out all right in the
near future.
Husk Corn for Knudtson Bros.
A husking bee which included twenty-three men and sixteen teams
took just five and one-half hours last Saturday to get all the
corn out of the 25-acre field for the Knudtson brothers, Iver and
Knudt, southeast of town. The workers consisted of neighbors and
friends of the boys who gladly turned out to get the crop cared
for s both Iver and Knudt are unable to work, the former being
confined to his bed with typhoid fever and Knudt having suffered
a stroke last spring from which he has not recovered sufficiently
to be able to walk. It was a real spirit of neighborliness and
the brothers appreciate it greatly.
New M.W.A. Clerk
R.C. Richmond, who has been clerk of the Modern Woodmen camp for
a number of years, has resigned the position on account of
leaving Northwood, and Gus Johnson has been named in his place.
Mr. Johnson served in the same positon before very acceptably and
will handle the business in good shape.
Mrs. Reube Not Implicated.
The trial of Mrs. Carl Reube, 70 years old, one of the
participants in the St. Ansgar shooting affair of two weeks ago,
was held before Justice Stoughton at Osage and resulted in Mrs.
Reube's dismissal under a $1,000 peace bond. It will be
remembered that Mrs. Reube's husband, a former Deer Creek
township man, shot a neighbor's wife at St. Ansgar and then
killed himself.
Honor First Dead of Local Heroes
Private William T. Smith, the first soldier from Worth county to
make the supreme sacrifice, was laid to rest in Charles City last
Sunday, Nov. 6, 1921. Fifteen members of the Northwood Legion
Post made the trip by automobile to assist in rendering the last
honors to the man for whom has been erected the finest memorial
any soldier can have, the perpetuation of his name as the name of
the American Legion Post. The flag, which draped his casked on
its long journey from France to its final resting place was given
by his mother, Mrs. Belinda Smith, to the local post, and now
occupies a place of honor in the new club quarters of the William
T. Smith Post, Number 144.
The funeral was in charge of the Charles City Post of the
American Legion, and the services were held at the English M.E.
Church.
William T. Smith was killed in action on March 5, 1918, and on
Sunday morning, April 7, 1918, the 11:00 o'clock worship at the
Charles City English M.E. Church was given over to a Memorial
Service in his honor. A similar service was held in the Northwood
M.E. Church and was attended by a very large number of persons.
The dead soldier boy is well remembered in Northwood, although
his residence here was not for long. He was pleasant and
agreeable and honorable in every way. Before enlisting in the
army he went to Charles City to work and the people of the
household in which he lived pay him the following tribute:
"He was a real joy in the home. Never a harsh word or an ungentlemanly act came from him. He was always careful and considerate of the feelings and rights of others. His life and namhood constantly showed forth the deeds of a Christian. How thoughtful he was of his mother and sisters. He was never away from his home more than two months at a time until he went with his company to Des Moines. Half of his meager pay he sent home every month to his mother and he kept up war insurance in her favor."
Out of town relatives who were present at the funeral services
in Charles City Sunday were: Mr. and Mrs. Martin Schow and G.W.
Smith, of Bricelyn, Minn.; Mrs. Arthur Uschner, Norwalk, Wis.;
Mr. and Mrs. Carl Hildreth, Lake Mills, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. Frank
Manahan, Mrs. Cora Pickell, Mr. and Mrs. Levi Cornick, Northwood.
Those residing at Charles City are: Mrs. Belinda Smith, the
mother; Arthur P. Smith, Mildred, Myrtle, Clarence and Neva
Smith.
The name of William T. Smith will go down to posterity as one of
the noble boys who died that the world might be safe for future
generations. In Worth county children yet unborn will hear his
name and honor it. His surviving comrades who form the Legion
post will never let his memory perish and their children's
children will know the William T. Smith was the first of the
Worth county heroes to give up his life for a just cause.
Mrs. Levi Cornick, of Northwood, is one of the surviving sisters
and with her husband and little girl was present at the services
in Charles City Sunday.
Card of Thanks
To the members of the Northwood Legion Post we are sincerely
grateful for their many kindnesses and their help. We greatly
appreciate your attendance at the last sad rites and the respect
and thoughtfullness shown us at all times.
Mrs. Belinda Smith and Family
Mr. and Mrs. Levi Cornick
E.B. Farmer Buried Sunday
Earnest B. Farmer was born in Northwood, Iowa, October 31, 1869,
and died at his home in Bowbells, N.Dak., November 4, 1921. He
was united in marriage to Della Siverling on May 1, 1895. Born
and reared in Northwood, he had the advantages of school, church
and sunday school, where he was a faithful attendant. In his
early manhood; after finishing school, he taught in the rural
schools of Worth county several years, finally taking employment
with E.C. Hall in the hardware business, where he continued until
Mr. Hall went out of business here. After a short time he went to
Mt. Auburn where he was manager and later the partner of W.A.
Call in hardware and furniture. When his firm sold out he
accepted a position in Vinton as manager of the Cole hardware
store until his health failed.
He then went to Bowbells, N. Dak., where he owned a farm. There
he and his wife remained until his death. No man loved home more
than he. Of splendid physique and noble mind, no man doubted his
worth or questioned his word. He was the soul of honor and his
friendship steadfast. He was a devoted son, and was the mainstay
of his parents for many years, considering it a privilege rather
than a mere duty to care for them. After the death of his father
he took his mother to his own home and cared for her with filial
love as long as she lived.
As a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows he
exemplified th eprinciples of friendship, love and truth in his
daily life. Therough all the years of his failing health he
manifested that patience which is one of the chief virtues of
such a character as his, ever thoughtful of others, and supremely
devoted to his companion.
His wife is left to know the loneliness of a life without her
beloved husband. He also leaves to mourn his departure an invalid
sister, Ada, one uncle, Villeroy Abbey, several cousins; and many
friends.
His mortal remains were brought to Northwood, accompanied by his
widow, and were interred in Sunset Rest cemetery on Sunday
afternoon, November 6th, after funeral services at the home of
Villeroy Abbey, conducted by Rev. T.P. Shaffer, pastor of the
Methodist church.
Lien-Calgaarden
A marriage license was issued by Clerk Christiansen to mr.
Christian Lien and Miss Mable Calgaarden last Monday forenoon. We
have been unable to get particulars of the ceremony for this
week's issue of the Anchor.
Manahan-Hunt
Last Wednesday afternoon at th ehome of Mrs. Cora Pickell in
Northwood occurred the marriage of her niece, Miss Edith M. Hunt,
and Mr. Frank H. Manahan, Rev. A. Robertson performing the
ceremony. There were present only a few relatives, including mrs.
May Peterson, of Minneapolis, and Arthur Smith, of Charles City.
The couple was attended by Mr. and Mrs. Levi Cornick. The Mrs.
Pickell home was beautifully decorated for the occasion. Mr.
Manahan's home is at San Denito, Texas, but during the past
summer and fall he has been employed near Northwood. The bride is
a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R.E. Hunt, of Deer Creek township,
were she has made her home for some time. Mr. and Mrs. Manahan
expect to leave by auto before the roads close up for the Texas
town where they will make their home.
[transcribed by S.F., July 2007]