Obituary

Miss Martha Welch Killed in Seaton Wreck Sunday Evening - Burial Wednesday

  Interment was made in St. Mary's cemetery Wednesday morning of the remains of Martha Welch, 16-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Welch of Seaton, who was fatally injured in an auto accident in Seaton Sunday night.
  A tire blew out on the car which she was learning to drive, and she lost control. Two wheels went over a cement curb at the side of the road and after the car had traveled several feet and crossed a side street it smashed into a tree. The impact smashed the front of the car, splintered the door glass and the steering wheel was broken into several pieces.
  With her in the car were her 11-year-old brother Rolland and Lee Brown, owner of the car, who received minor cuts and bruises. Rolland was able to crawl from the wreck and ran for assistance while Lee helped the injured girl from the car. William Hileman and August Fontenoy put the girl and Brown into Hileman's car and started for an Aledo hospital. She lived but a few minutes and was taken to the Sherrard funeral home.
  An inquest was held by Coroner V. A. McClanahan Tuesday and the jury returned a verdict of accidental death.
  Dr. McClanahan stated that the girl's death was accidental and was due to a concussion of the brain, a fractured jaw and severe internal injuries.
  Martha celebrated her 16th birthday with a party at her home, Oct. 5. She was a member of the Sunbeam Peps 4-H club and was well liked by her young friends.
  She leaves her parents, her sister Maxine and two brothers Rolland and Bernard at home, and two married sisters, Mrs. Everett Wagner of Aledo and Mrs. Russell Kranz of Milan.
  The family moved from Buffalo Prairie to the Seaton community this year. They have the sincere sympathy of friends and neighbors in their sad bereavement.
  Funeral services were held at. St. Catherine's Catholic church in Aledo at 9 o'clock Wednesday with Rev. D. F. Monaghon of Milan officiating.
(The Keithsburg News, Thursday, October 20, 1938, p. 1)