Beaverton Historical Society Gladwin County Obituary/Death Notice
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James 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: James Reid}
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Personal Information
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Death Date
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Burial/Final Location
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Service
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unk
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Grout Cemetery, Gladwin, MI
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unk
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Publication Information
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Pub. Date
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Publication
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Pub. Page
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9/20/1901
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Gladwin County Record, Gladwin, MI
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P:1 C:2
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Transcription Information
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Date
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Transcribed by
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Source Media
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January 2005
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Tom Ladner
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Microfilm
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