The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1911-01-19
RA0NEER IS STRICKEN:
T. B. Garretson Succumbs to Heart
Trouble Saturday Evening.

Thomas B. Garretson, pioneer resi-
dent and business man of Oskaloosa
aged near seventy years, died sud
denly and alone Saturday in the base
ment of an empty tenement property
No. 1920 Ninth avenue west, occu
pied until recently by the Sam G.
West family. Mr.. Garretson, who
owned the property, had gone to the
place in the early afternoon to pre-
pare it, making minor repairs, etc, in
preparation for new tenant He
died of heart trouble POSSIBLY in
duced by an attack of indigestion,
from which he suffered at times. He
was in the basement of the house
when the attack came upon him. He
had been sweeping the floor of a room
and had made considerable progress
when he lunged forward, the head
and face striking the brick wall OF
the side and the cement floor. Death
possibly occurred at about three
o'clock. The watch taken from his
pocket had stopped at two,fifty-five.
The body lay upon the floor as it fell
until the arrival of Coroner Eugene
Cheesman, who was summoned to
make examination. When Mr.Chees.
man turned the body over the lifeless
hand still grasped the broom. The
cause of death being evident, no in
quest was held.
| The body was found by w. J. Page,
who resides at No. $50 Ninth avenue
west, short distance east of the
Garretson property. He went to the
house to look for Mr. Garretson, in
response to telephone appeal from
Mrs. Garretson. He went into the
house and down the ccllarway, and
there, on the floor, saw the body ly-
ing. Mr.. Page was startled He
made only a hurried examination,
enough to know that the body was
lifeless, and so reported.
The man was first missed at his
home about six o'clock in the even
ing when he did not come for his
supper. Mrs. Garretson was worried
when he did not arrive home at five
O'Clock, or near dusk, as was his Gus
tom. Supper was prepared and he
did not come, nor had she heard from
him by phone. Mrs. Garretson wait.
ed until after six o'clock and then
telephoned to Nh. Page, whom she
knew lived near the house where Mr.,
Garretson stated he was going to
spend the afternoon. Mrs. Page was
i'll at the time and Mr.. Page could
not go at once. Mrs. Garretson then
summoned Frank L. Novels by phone
and searching party was organized
and the phone freely used, but did
not discover the presence of the man
at any of the places he was want to
visit. Mrs. Garretson therefore felt
certain that he must be at the vacant
house and she again appealed to Mr..
Page. As soon as he reported Mr.
to the house. The body was brought
to the city and taken to the under
taking establishment about nine
o'clock.
T. B. Garretson was one of the old
est business men of the city. He
was a pioneer of the earlier forma-
tive period of the city's business cir
cles and he has been active in one or
another line of business ever since.
He was well known as a member of
the old firm of Hawkins & Garretson,
musical goods, insurance, sewing ma
chimes and real estate. He was
successful inventor, having secured
n number of patents at different
times, the most successful of which
was patent dish drainer which is
still on the market with a consider.
able degree of success. He is one of
the oldest resident members of the
Friends church and member of the
Iowa Yearly Meeting.
The deceased leaves widow, three
daughters, Hattie, or Mrs. Mervin
Worth of Abba, Miss Zetta and Miss
Luciele, who live at home, and one
son, Homer, of Sioux City. Another
daughter, Stella, (Mrs. Ned Ross),
died several years ago.
Funeral services at the home Tues.
day afternoon at 200 o'clock. Burial
in Forest cemetery.