The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1924-01-03

cast a shadow over the entire city.
Death came as a result of an attack
of acute appendicitis, with which he
was stricken Sunday. An operation
was undergone Sunday evening, but
it came too late to save his life. Early
Thursday morning the patient suffer
ed a serious relapse and in his
weakened condition he was unable
to rally from it.
Despite the fact that the news of
his illness had become widespread,
nevertheless because he had rallied
from the first effects of the operation,
hopes had been held for his recovery
and the news of his death came as n
sudden and infinite. sorrow to many
friends throughout Kenosha. While
the shadow fell heaviest over the Sim
mons company, where Mr.. Backus had
taken an active part in all endeavors
of the big plant, the death also came
as a city-wide sorrow because of the
large part which the deceased had
taken in the life of the community.
Hurried to Hospital Sunday.
Mr.. Backus, while he was on duty
last week at the Simmons plant, had
complained of illness and it is be-
lieved that he was stricken sometime
during that week On Sunday morn
ing his condition became most critical
ard he was hurried from his home,
at TOT Exchange street, to the St.
GATHERINGS hospital.
An operation revealed that he was
suffering from a ruptured appendix
and physicians in charge stated then
that his chances for recovery were
not great. Pneumonia developed as
a complication on Thursday morning
and from that time little hope was
held out for him.
The members of his family were
called to the bedside during the after
noon and with other close personal
friends were there when the final
summons came The remains were
taken to the Crossin mortuary to be
prepared for burial and will be
taken to the home probably on Sat-
urday morning.
A Native of Illinois.
Carl Gushing Backus was born Sep
TENDER 1, 1874, in Grand Detour, Illi-
nois, the son of Mr.. and Mrs. Luther
Rackus. At an early age he moved
@ith his parents to Dixon, Illinois,
Where he was reared and educated.
After completing school course he
attended business college there and
then entered the employ of the Illi-
nois General Railway company as
clerk in the freight offices there.
He rose gradually in the employ of
later he was sent to Milwaukee as the
commercial agent of the company, in
which position he was most success
full. While in Milwaukee he was
president of the Milwaukee Traffic
club and did much to advance the work
nf that organization. His success in
milwaukee was recognized when he
.Eas called to Chicago to become as
sistant to the vice-president of the
Illinois Central railway which posi-
tion he held until 1917 when he came
- Kenosha.
Rose Rapidly at Simmons.
In that year he came to Kenosha as
assistant traffic manager of the Sim
mons company. In the difficult indus
trial days of the war period, he hand
led this work so effectively that in
tive years he was advanced to night
superintendent and shortly later made
assistant general superintendent. Six
months ago he received another pro-
motion, being made general superin-
tendent of the Simmons company in
kenosha.
His death comes as an irreparable
less to the Simmons organization. As
an executive he had proved most val
liable to the company and had been
most popular among the thousands in
the employ of the company. The
news of his death caused widespread
sorrowing at the Simmons plant in
Kerosha.
Active in Varied Ways.
Mr.. Backus had been a leading
spirit in the various activities at the