Norman Wilkins Is Killed Tuesday

Hired Man Finds Lifeless Body With Head Crushed Under Heavy Hay Bales at Farm West of Blair

Workshop At Wilkins Farm Burns

Wilkins Not Missed Until Workshop Fire Well Under Way

The lifeless body of Norman Wilkins was found, the head crushed under a heavy hay baler press at his farm three miles west of Blair about 6:15 o’clock Tuesday evening. Shortly before dark an alarm had been turned in to the Blair Fire Department stating that the work shop on the Wilkins place was on fire and Blair farmers as well as many farmers from west of Blair responded to the call.

Efforts of the firemen were confined to saving the surrounding buildings on the place as the workshop was enveloped in flames when firemen arrived. In their eagerness to extinguish the blaze, the firemen did not miss Mr. Wilkins until his wife inquired as to his whereabouts which was about a half hour after the fire had started. Both of his autos were found parked in the garage and a hired man, Jack McMurtrie, stated that he last saw Mr. Wilkins going into the workshop saying that he planned to heat some bolts for repairs on the hay press. McMurtrie stated that he was going about his chores in the barn a short distance from the workshop when he first noticed the blaze. He stated that he rushed into the building and saw an overturned gasoline blow torch on the floor and looked about for Mr. Wilkins, but was unable to find him. When Wilkins was first missed, the firemen thought that he might have been caught by the flames in the workshop and that he had been unable to make his escape in time.

After the flames had somewhat died down, the hired man stumbled onto Wilkins’ body beneath the hay press about twenty-five feet northwest of the burned structure. His family stated that he had been making repairs on the hay press during the day. The body of the press had been raised on a machine jack which, according to witnesses, must have given away while Wilkins was beneath the machine, allowing the heavy press to fall and crush him. The head was crushed, the machine having fallen on one side of his face.

Norman Wilkins was born on the Wilkins homestead west of Blair on October 7, 1873, and had lived in Washington County all of his life. In September, 1917, he was united in marriage to Sophia Anderson and to this union four children were born. She died in October, 1925. Last October he was united in marriage to Mrs. H. M. McIntyre, who with the four children, survive him.

Surviving him besides his wife, are the children, Norman, Jr., Marietta, Florence and Frank, all at home.; his mother, Mrs. W. M. Wilkins of Blair; four brothers, all of Washington County; and five sisters, Mrs. Frank Biffar, Mrs. John Biffar, Mrs. Fred Peck, Mrs. Ralph Johns and Mrs. Herman Peterson.

Funeral services will be held from the Methodist Church in Blair on Friday afternoon at 2:00 o’clock with Rev. A. J. Happet officiating.

Note: Since the actual death date was not given, the news article date was used.

# 2 - - published in The Enterprise, January 1, 1931

PROMINENT MAN ACCIDENTLY KILLED

NORMAN WILKINS MEETS ACCIDENTAL DEATH AT HIS FARM HOME WEST OF BLAIR ON TUESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 23

NATIVE OF WASHINGTON CO.

Between five and six o’clock on Tuesday evening, Dec. 23rd, the Blair fire department was summoned to the farm home of Norman Wilkins, five miles west of Blair to assist in fighting a blaze which had started in the tool house.

The building was burned to the ground before it was noticed that the owner had not been there at any time during the fire. Fearing that he had met death in the conflagration, the first efforts were directed to a search there. Later his lifeless body, with the skull mashed, was found under a hay baler which he had been repairing.

From appearances he had left a lighted blow torch in the tool house and had gone to work on the baler which he had jacked up so as to gain access to the bolts underneath. While tightening these bolts the jacks apparently gave way and allowed the baler to fall in such a manner that the skull was mashed, causing instant death.

Norman Wilkins, aged fifty-seven years, was one of the best known farmers of the county. Having lived here all his life, he had a wide acquaintance. He was known as an honest, upright Christian gentleman and all who knew him respected him for his sterling qualities. He was also a man of good education and in his younger days had traveled extensively.

Some years ago his wife died, leaving him four little children to whom he has since devoted his life and has given them the same tender care that a mother would have offered. Recently he remarried and his affairs were running along smoothly when the terrible accident wiped out a life that was one of unselfish devotion.

Personally we have known the deceased for over thirty-five years and we have nothing but the kindest thoughts of him during all these years and could we find other and better terms in which to note his praises, the eulogy would be made.

The funeral services were held from the Methodist church last Friday at 2 p.m. and the immense number of friends in attendance gave mute evidence of the respect in which he was held.

Besides an aged mother he leaves the wife to whom he was married on Oct. 15, 1930, and four children, Norman, Jr., aged 12; Marietta, aged 10; Florence, aged 8 and Frankie, aged 7. He also leaves nine brothers and sisters, all living in this county as follows: Cleon and Bert Wilkins, Mrs. Frank Biffar and Mrs. John Biffar; Mrs. Fred Peck; Grover Wilkins, Mrs. Ralph Johns, Chauncey Wilkins and Mrs. Herman Petersen.

The deceased was a great believer in life insurance and it is reported that his insurance will leave his family amply provided for, which is another example of his unselfish devotion to those he loved.