son of William Penn Spencer & Eva Underwood Spencer; aged 3y 9m 7d
Hopkins Journal (Hopkins, Missouri), Thursday, October 18, 1900
Horrible Accident
The Three-Year-Old Son of W. P. Spencer Burned to Death Last Tuesday
Word reached Hopkins last Tuesday afternoon of one of the most shocking accidents that has occurred in this vicinity for some time—the burning to death of Fred, the three-year-old son of W. [illiam] P. [enn] Spencer, who resides on the Wilson farm about four miles north of this city.
Just how the accident happened is not known. It seems the grandfather of the baby had been burning brush on the farm during the forenoon and had gone to dinner, when the child was missed, and a search revealed the dead body half a mile distant from where the brush was burning. The child may have been playing in the fire and carried away with it a burning stick which afterwards ignited its clothing, or it may have carried matches from the house and set fire to itself. The child had not been seen by the grandfather while he was at work, and just how its clothing came to catch fire will never be known.
When found, the remains were burned to a crisp, all the clothing being consumed, save the shoes and the crown of the cap the little fellow wore.
The funeral was conducted at the house yesterday forenoon by Rev. John, after which burial took place in the Hopkins cemetery.
It is hard for parents to give up their little ones when taken away by natural causes, but it is ten thousand times harder to part with them under such circumstances as this, and the parents have the fullest sympathy of the entire community. Words of condolence from human lips are inadequate—the saddened hearts must look to Him for comfort who has given and taken away, and who says, “Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of Heaven.”
TAYLOR COUNTY, IOWA HISTORY, 1981, page 382: "Freddie, who burnt to death while his father was burning corn stalks when 3 1/2 years old..."
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additional info from Jared Olar #47701897
Freddie's death was reported (with a few slight errors) on page 4 of the Thursday, 18 Oct. 1900 Bedford Free Press as follows:
"Tuesday morning the little four year old son of Pen Spencer, living seven miles southeast of Bedford, while playing around a brush fire made by his grandfather, was burned to death. When found, the little fellow was dead. The funeral was held yesterday. This was indeed a sad occurrence for the loving parents."
Freddie was actually 3 1/2, not 4 years old, and the farm was southwest, not southeast, of Bedford. This report also says it was Freddie's grandfather (Emanuel Lewis Underwood) who started the fire, whereas the Taylor County history says it was Freddie's father. I'm guessing that may not actually be a contradiction, since it was Penn Spencer's farm and Lewis presumably started the brush fire with Penn's permission or at his direction.
Hopkins Journal (Hopkins, Missouri), Thursday, October 18, 1900
Horrible Accident
The Three-Year-Old Son of W. P. Spencer Burned to Death Last Tuesday
Word reached Hopkins last Tuesday afternoon of one of the most shocking accidents that has occurred in this vicinity for some time—the burning to death of Fred, the three-year-old son of W. [illiam] P. [enn] Spencer, who resides on the Wilson farm about four miles north of this city.
Just how the accident happened is not known. It seems the grandfather of the baby had been burning brush on the farm during the forenoon and had gone to dinner, when the child was missed, and a search revealed the dead body half a mile distant from where the brush was burning. The child may have been playing in the fire and carried away with it a burning stick which afterwards ignited its clothing, or it may have carried matches from the house and set fire to itself. The child had not been seen by the grandfather while he was at work, and just how its clothing came to catch fire will never be known.
When found, the remains were burned to a crisp, all the clothing being consumed, save the shoes and the crown of the cap the little fellow wore.
The funeral was conducted at the house yesterday forenoon by Rev. John, after which burial took place in the Hopkins cemetery.
It is hard for parents to give up their little ones when taken away by natural causes, but it is ten thousand times harder to part with them under such circumstances as this, and the parents have the fullest sympathy of the entire community. Words of condolence from human lips are inadequate—the saddened hearts must look to Him for comfort who has given and taken away, and who says, “Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of Heaven.”
TAYLOR COUNTY, IOWA HISTORY, 1981, page 382: "Freddie, who burnt to death while his father was burning corn stalks when 3 1/2 years old..."
--------
additional info from Jared Olar #47701897
Freddie's death was reported (with a few slight errors) on page 4 of the Thursday, 18 Oct. 1900 Bedford Free Press as follows:
"Tuesday morning the little four year old son of Pen Spencer, living seven miles southeast of Bedford, while playing around a brush fire made by his grandfather, was burned to death. When found, the little fellow was dead. The funeral was held yesterday. This was indeed a sad occurrence for the loving parents."
Freddie was actually 3 1/2, not 4 years old, and the farm was southwest, not southeast, of Bedford. This report also says it was Freddie's grandfather (Emanuel Lewis Underwood) who started the fire, whereas the Taylor County history says it was Freddie's father. I'm guessing that may not actually be a contradiction, since it was Penn Spencer's farm and Lewis presumably started the brush fire with Penn's permission or at his direction.
son of William Penn Spencer & Eva Underwood Spencer; aged 3y 9m 7d
Hopkins Journal (Hopkins, Missouri), Thursday, October 18, 1900
Horrible Accident
The Three-Year-Old Son of W. P. Spencer Burned to Death Last Tuesday
Word reached Hopkins last Tuesday afternoon of one of the most shocking accidents that has occurred in this vicinity for some time—the burning to death of Fred, the three-year-old son of W. [illiam] P. [enn] Spencer, who resides on the Wilson farm about four miles north of this city.
Just how the accident happened is not known. It seems the grandfather of the baby had been burning brush on the farm during the forenoon and had gone to dinner, when the child was missed, and a search revealed the dead body half a mile distant from where the brush was burning. The child may have been playing in the fire and carried away with it a burning stick which afterwards ignited its clothing, or it may have carried matches from the house and set fire to itself. The child had not been seen by the grandfather while he was at work, and just how its clothing came to catch fire will never be known.
When found, the remains were burned to a crisp, all the clothing being consumed, save the shoes and the crown of the cap the little fellow wore.
The funeral was conducted at the house yesterday forenoon by Rev. John, after which burial took place in the Hopkins cemetery.
It is hard for parents to give up their little ones when taken away by natural causes, but it is ten thousand times harder to part with them under such circumstances as this, and the parents have the fullest sympathy of the entire community. Words of condolence from human lips are inadequate—the saddened hearts must look to Him for comfort who has given and taken away, and who says, “Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of Heaven.”
TAYLOR COUNTY, IOWA HISTORY, 1981, page 382: "Freddie, who burnt to death while his father was burning corn stalks when 3 1/2 years old..."
--------
additional info from Jared Olar #47701897
Freddie's death was reported (with a few slight errors) on page 4 of the Thursday, 18 Oct. 1900 Bedford Free Press as follows:
"Tuesday morning the little four year old son of Pen Spencer, living seven miles southeast of Bedford, while playing around a brush fire made by his grandfather, was burned to death. When found, the little fellow was dead. The funeral was held yesterday. This was indeed a sad occurrence for the loving parents."
Freddie was actually 3 1/2, not 4 years old, and the farm was southwest, not southeast, of Bedford. This report also says it was Freddie's grandfather (Emanuel Lewis Underwood) who started the fire, whereas the Taylor County history says it was Freddie's father. I'm guessing that may not actually be a contradiction, since it was Penn Spencer's farm and Lewis presumably started the brush fire with Penn's permission or at his direction.
Hopkins Journal (Hopkins, Missouri), Thursday, October 18, 1900
Horrible Accident
The Three-Year-Old Son of W. P. Spencer Burned to Death Last Tuesday
Word reached Hopkins last Tuesday afternoon of one of the most shocking accidents that has occurred in this vicinity for some time—the burning to death of Fred, the three-year-old son of W. [illiam] P. [enn] Spencer, who resides on the Wilson farm about four miles north of this city.
Just how the accident happened is not known. It seems the grandfather of the baby had been burning brush on the farm during the forenoon and had gone to dinner, when the child was missed, and a search revealed the dead body half a mile distant from where the brush was burning. The child may have been playing in the fire and carried away with it a burning stick which afterwards ignited its clothing, or it may have carried matches from the house and set fire to itself. The child had not been seen by the grandfather while he was at work, and just how its clothing came to catch fire will never be known.
When found, the remains were burned to a crisp, all the clothing being consumed, save the shoes and the crown of the cap the little fellow wore.
The funeral was conducted at the house yesterday forenoon by Rev. John, after which burial took place in the Hopkins cemetery.
It is hard for parents to give up their little ones when taken away by natural causes, but it is ten thousand times harder to part with them under such circumstances as this, and the parents have the fullest sympathy of the entire community. Words of condolence from human lips are inadequate—the saddened hearts must look to Him for comfort who has given and taken away, and who says, “Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of Heaven.”
TAYLOR COUNTY, IOWA HISTORY, 1981, page 382: "Freddie, who burnt to death while his father was burning corn stalks when 3 1/2 years old..."
--------
additional info from Jared Olar #47701897
Freddie's death was reported (with a few slight errors) on page 4 of the Thursday, 18 Oct. 1900 Bedford Free Press as follows:
"Tuesday morning the little four year old son of Pen Spencer, living seven miles southeast of Bedford, while playing around a brush fire made by his grandfather, was burned to death. When found, the little fellow was dead. The funeral was held yesterday. This was indeed a sad occurrence for the loving parents."
Freddie was actually 3 1/2, not 4 years old, and the farm was southwest, not southeast, of Bedford. This report also says it was Freddie's grandfather (Emanuel Lewis Underwood) who started the fire, whereas the Taylor County history says it was Freddie's father. I'm guessing that may not actually be a contradiction, since it was Penn Spencer's farm and Lewis presumably started the brush fire with Penn's permission or at his direction.
Inscription
Freddie Son of W. P. & E. U. Spencer Born Jan. 9, 1897 Died Oct. 16, 1900 Aged 3 y 9 m. 7 d.
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