Beaverton Historical Society
Gladwin County Obituary/Death Notice
 
Arthur B. Reid

THREE LIVES LOST.
WILLIAM REID AND TWO SONS, OF GROUT, MEET DEATH IN A WELL WHILE GOING DOWN THEIRING FOR A BUCKET---OVERCOME BY FOUL GASES. THE DEAD. WILLIAM REID AND TWO SONS, ARTHUR B. REID AND JAMES REID.

  The farm of William Reid, four miles west of Gladwin, was the scene Sunday of one of the most appalling accidents that ever took place in Gladwin county, resulting in the death of William Reid and his two sons, Arthur B. and James. The victims were overcome by gas in a well and afterward drowned.

  The fatal well is within a few feet of the Reid residence, and is 48 feet deep besides being banked up a few feet. It is the old fashioned kind, covered with a well house, the water being drawn by a windlass and bucket. A ladder is attached to one side of the well. On Saturday the bucket became detached, falling in the water in the well, the water said to be only three feet deep. Mr. Reid and sons were away from home, but when they arrived Mrs. Reid spoke of the loss of the bucket.

  The youngest son, Arthur, left the house about 8 o'clock Sunday morning, and he was followed by his father an hour or so after. Nothing was thought of their absence, as it was customary for them to visit neighbors near by Sundays. But subsequent events tend to show that the son went down in the well after the bucket and was followed by the father. James was in the house sleeping during the forenoon, but at 1 p.m. his mother called him to get the bucket. While he was after the bucket, she got a pail of water from a neighbor's well. Returning she noticed shoes and hat left by James near the well. She looked for him in the well, but owing to the depth of the well could not see the bottom plainly. However, she started down the well, but better judgement prevailed, and she came back before going far.

  Then Mr. and Mrs. W. D. Morris were passing along the road and were hailed. Mr. Morris started to go down the well, but owing to warnings of his wife did not go. C. L. Ferrell, a brother of Mrs. Morris, had a narrow escape from death by gas in a well only a year or so ago, and the idea of deadly gas in the well then occurred. Neighbors were summoned and with ice tongs the lifeless bodies were pulled from the well, first secured being Arthur, next Mr. Reid, the father, then James, the son, in the order they are supposed to have gone down. They were also found with their heads down. Lanterns lowered in the well went out at a depth of 15 to 20 feet, and a cat at same distance became nearly lifeless in a few moments. From these experiments the supposition is that the victims fell into the water when they reached the gas line at this depth.

  News of the sad affair soon spread, and many visitors were on hand. Mrs. Reid was crazed with grief, and is in a serious condition from the shock. Mr. Reid and family moved to Gladwin from Canada 18 years ago, and have since resided in Grout township. Besides the widow, two married daughters and one son, unmarried, 31 years old, survive as follows: Mrs. James N. Manwaring and Mrs. Eugene Clark, living near the Reid place, and son Charles.

  Mr. Reid was 62 years old; Arthur B., the youngest son, was 17 years, and James, the other son, 23 years of age. They were well known and highly respected in the county. The sons had but recently secured an insurance of $1,000 each in the Gleaners in favor of their mother.

  Funeral services were held Wednesday at the schoolhouse in district No. 1, Grout, conducted by Rev. McGraham, pastor of the Presbyterian church at Coleman, assisted by Revs. DeLong and Huff. The attendance was a very large, the procession being nearly a mile long. The remains were interred in two graves in the Grout cemetery, the father in one and the two brothers in a grave together. .

{Note: Actual Recorded Date of Death is: unk. Name: Arthur B. Reid}
 
 
Personal Information
Death Date
Burial/Final Location
Service
unk
Grout Cemetery, Gladwin, MI
unk
 
Publication Information
Pub. Date
Publication
Pub. Page
9/20/1901
Gladwin County Record, Gladwin, MI
P:1 C:2
 
Transcription Information
Date
Transcribed by
Source Media
January 2005
Tom Ladner
Microfilm
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