The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1903-06-18
FOUND DEAD IN FIELD
Isaac Montoyna Succumbs Alone
Near Town of Fremont.

Fremont, June 15.-Isaac Montanya
a retired farmer residing in this city
was found dead Saturday afternoon
about five o'clock on the Abe Swans
tron farm about two miles east of this
place. The body was badly decom
posed, life having been extinct since
Thursday afternoon. The body was
inferred in the Fremont cemetery at
three o'clock Sunday afternoon, fol
lowing funeral service.
Montanya was an old farmer about
seventy-eight years of age. He own.
ed several pieces of property in Ere
mont and was fairly well-to-do, having
sufficient means to supply his rather
simple wants. He resided in one of
his houses with the ]. McVey family,
exchanging rent of the place for his
room and meals. Having few cares,
he was in the habit of paying friendly
calls among his friends and visiting
here and there among numerous
friends and acquaintance about Ere
mont, staying a day or two at place.
He started out Thursday afternoon,
saying to the McVeys that he intend
ed going to the Frank Mutt place
about three miles east of Fremont
He was we'll acquainted with the coun-
try and took to the fields and path
across lots to lessen the distance, as he
was walking. He was rather a hale
and hearty old gentleman and thought
nothing of walk of several miles.
The old fellow never reached the Mutt
place, fl ct which shows that he
must have died Thursday afternoon.
Death was most likely on the instant,
as the body was found as it had fallen,
the old man stumbling forward on his
face. His hands were clutched to-
gether at his breast holding a cane.
The McVeys were not disturbed
when the old gentleman did not return
Thursday evening, but they became
uneasy Friday upon learning that he
had not been at the Mutt home. 1t was
thought that he might have stopped
friends en- route. Inquiry was made
and when he could not be located the
family became greatly alarmed and a
careful search was instituted Friday
afternoon, several persons going into
the woods. The dead body of the o.u
man was found about five o'clock Sat
urday afternoon by young Swanstron.
The boy had gone into the pasture
about five o'clock to get the cows up
somewhat earlier than usual. He fair
ly ran upon the body of the old man
lying by wire fence finding it by acct
dent. The old man had been seen
Thursday afternoon by pile driving
gang and after that no one had seen
him.
The features were hardly recogniz-
able on account of the advanced state
of decomposition of the tissues. Life
had been extinct in all probability
when he had fallen, as the nose and
face were badly bruised where they
had struck the ground,
The old man was a pioneer in this
part Of the county and was quite we'll
known. He was quiet and rather re-
served in his manner, but those who
knew him liked him. He lived on a
farm east of this place and there gain
ed the means upon which to retire.
-Four children survive the old gentle
man, three daughters and son. The
daughters are Mrs. G. B. Spry, of Mar
tinsburg, Mrs Hattie Couch, of Exeter,
Nebraska, the third daughter resides
at Fairfield. The son is in the south
somewhere but has not been heard
from for the past several ears.