Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 61, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 April 1908 — FALLING TREE KILLS TOM MOODY [ARTICLE]

FALLING TREE KILLS TOM MOODY

Son of Granville Moody Almost Instantly Killed at the Family Home in Barkley Township. Tom Moody, son of Mr. and Mrs. Granville Moody, was killed at about 8 o’clock last Tuesday morning, by a tree falling and striking him on the head, crushing the skull and causing almost instant death. The fatal accident occurred at the Granville Moody home farm in Barkley township, about 8 miles northeast of Rensselaer, and from what we can learn the details were as follows: A large tree had been cut down and in falling the top of the tree had fallen® agjross two smaller trees, and lodged in' them, supported several feet from the ground. In releasing it from the other trees a team was hitched to a rope which was fastened ot the tree and fill were safely away from the tree that was being pulled loose, but as the bended limbs were released, they sprang back to their natural shape and in doing so struck a dead white oak tree and broke it off near the ground. They were all watching the tree that the horses were hitched to and did not see the falling dead tree. Tom was standing about thirty feet from the base of the tree and it struck him squarely on top of the head. He fell to the ground and his father hastened to his side, and sent the farm hand, who was working with them, to the house to call a doctor, but Tom died In his father’s arms, in a very few moments, in fact, death was. almost instantaneous. The news of his death reached Rensselaer in a few moments after it occurred, and it cast a gloom over the entire communty.

Tom Moody was more than popular; he had been born and raised and grew to a fine young manhood here and he had given every promise of developing into one of the most successful young farmers and business men in Jasper county. The hope of his father and mother was centered in him and it was not misplaced, for he had developed equal to every promise and was ambitious and thrifty and industrious and possessed the knowledge essential to making the most of his fine beginning. Not alone was the father and mother and the family concerned in him, but ■ every business man and every acquaintance in Rensselaer held Tom Moody in high esteem and expected great things from him. He was a graduate of the Rensselaer high school, and after that he had attended the agricultural college at Ames, lowa, for almost four years. At this college he ranked at the front of his class. He had devoted his attention largely to stock and he was a qualified judge of all kinds of domestic animals, and was recognized here as the best qualified man in the county in judging cattle, horses or hogs. His father, who has been one of the most successful farmers and stock raisers in Jasper county found when the son returned from college that he could rely upon his judgment whenever stock purchases or sales were being made and Tom was taken into full partnership with his father in all theb business affairs. Mr. Moody had retired from the farm some years ago and was for some years engaged in the butcher business in town. He retired from this business several months ago and later moved to the farm in order to furnish a home for Tomand to encourage him in his chosen business, and all the farm, business was conducted under the firm name of Granville Moody and Son. The death of this son of promise will prove a terrific shock to the father and mother, the sisters and the little brother. It is a sad occurrence for the entire community, and the sympathy of all goes out to the sorrowing parents. The funeral arrangements have not yet been made. The eldest sister, Mra George N. Dunn, of Wichita, Kans., has been notified and will probably reach here Thursday, and it is not improbable that the funeral will be held Friday. Deceased was 23 years of age, September 27th last.