The Sterling Daily Gazette, Sterling, Illiinois

June 28, 1937 - pg. 6, col. 2

 

Robert Daft, 14, son of Mrs. Hugo Hecht of Prophetstown, died at 1:10 o'clock  Sunday morning at the Sterling public hospital.  Bobby fell Tuesday evening while roller skating near the Prophetstown high school and fractured both bones in the left arm, the bones protruding through the flesh.

 

Later infection developed in the injured arm, and he was taken to the hospital Friday morning, where he submitted to an operation on his arm.  He was given a flood transfusion Friday evening.  He rallied following the transfusion, and Saturday was holding his own, but began sinking Saturday evening and passed away at 1:10 Sunday morning.  He was conscious until the end.  The body was removed to the Helm and Helm mortuary in Prophetstown. 

 

Funeral services will be held Tuesday afternoon at 1:30 at the late residence in Prophetstown and at 2 o'clock at the Methodist church. Rev. A. E. Simester will officiate.  Burial will be in Riverside cemetery in Prophetstown.

 

Robert Glenn Daft was born March 25, 1923, at Peru, Illinois, the son of Glenn and Ida Bound Daft.  His father preceded him in death in September 1929.  Bobby attended the Woodward's Bluff school, south of Prophetstown the entire eight years, and graduated from the eighth grade there last spring, ranking amongst the highest students of the county.  He was a member of the  Prophetstown Methodist Sunday school.

 

He is survived by his mother and step-father, Mr. and Mrs. Hugo Hecht, his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. L. J. Bound of Prophetstown, his paternal grandfather, Edgar Daft of Griswold, Ia., and a number of other relatives in this vicinity.

 

Bobby was a fine, gentlemanly little fellow, and was well liked by all who knew him.  The bereaved relatives have the sincere sympathy of the entire community in their hour of sorrow.

 

 

Coronor C. M. Frye of Sterling conducted an inquest at 4 o'clock Sunday afternoon at the Helm and Helm funeral chapel in Prophetstown.  Dr. I. Vandermyde of Prophetstown, the attending physician, told of being called Tuesday evening to attend the injured boy, and found a fracture of both bones in the left forearm, with the ulna protruding through the flesh, and considerable dirt in the wound.  The arm was cleaned and the bones were set.  Thursday morning the arm began to swell, and he was called to the house and loosened the splints.  The swelling continued, and Thursday evening Dr. Vandermyde had consultation with Dr. C. G. Beard of Sterling.

 

Friday morning Bobby was taken to the Sterling public hospital, where an operation was performed.  The arm was opened and saprophytic infection had developed. The arm was drained, and Friday evening, a blood transfusion was given.  He continued to grow worse and died Sunday morning from toxemia.

 

The jury returned a verdict of death from toxemia, saprophytic infection of the left forearm.  The members of the jury were:  Amos Ott, foreman,  W. S. Hurlbert, Albert Roberts, Oscar Pierson, H. B. Helm and W. S. Hossack.

 

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The Sterling Daily Gazette

June 30, 1937 - Wednesday, pg. 7, col. 3

 

The Prophetstown Methodist church was filled with relatives and friends Tuesday afternoon for the funeral services of Robert Daft, 14, who died Sunday morning.  Rev. A. E. Simester conducted the rites.  Mrs. Raymond Matthews sang 'Sometime We'll Understand" and "When They Ring Those Golden Bells For You and Me,'  Mrs. V. --. Olmstead was at the organ.

 

Floral offerings of unusual beauty attested the love and esteem of many friends and relatives. Those who assissted with flowers were Mr. and Mrs C. Clementz, Mr. and Mrs. A. Roberts, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Frankenfield and Mrs. Cora Under----.

 

The pupils of the Woodward's Bluffs school, where Bobby attended, and the teacher, Miss Irene Brooks, attended services in a body.  The pupils formed two lines at the steps leading into the church, through which the casket bearers and honorary pallbearers passed,  then the pupils and teachers followed into the church immediately behind.  Burial was made in Riverside cemetery in this city.  The active pallbearers were Darrell Peterson, Lloyd Wildmay---, Wayne Farrell, Paul Weber, Harley Richards and Max Beechel.

 

 

Members of Bobbys' Sunday school class and former school mates served as honorary pallbearers. They were Earl Brooks, Gilbert Zarr, Elmer --ancaster jr., Richard McDougall, John Gentz and Charles Hodge.

 

Those from a distance who attended the services were:  Atkinson, Mrs. Elmer Stauffer, Mrs. R. H. Dean;  Gensero, Miss Shirly Heller, Mrs. Lee ---line and Mr. and Mrs. Wesley H----er;  Brewster, Ohio, Mrs. E. S. Br---er;  Griswold Iowa, Miss Ruth Daft, Guy Daft and son;  Rock Island, Mr. and Mrs. Max Hecht, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Hecht and son;  Morrison, Mrs. James Lathe, Mr. and Mrs. Sam James;  Clinton, Ia., Mr. and Mrs. Harry Pray;  Tampico, Mrs. Herbert Olmstead