Updated: 06 Sep 2009

[ Home ] [ Index ] [ Back ]


Tuesday, July 28, 1931
Sapulpa Herald
Sapulpa, Creek County, Oklahoma

SAPULPANS ARE INJURED IN AUTO ACCIDENT TODAY
E. C. Davis, Constable and Charles Wilson are in Muskogee Clinic

E. C. Davis, constable, and Charles Wilson, Southern Ice employee, are in the Muskogee Clinic both painfully injured as the result of an automobile wreck 15 miles northwest of that city about 1 o'clock this morning. Ralph Bench and Neal Davis, Sapulpa boys who were riding in the car which turned over twice escaped without injury. Wilson received four broken ribs and several deep cuts on the body. He was also bruised considerably. Hospital authorities said he could not be moved for several weeks. Davis was cut and bruised about the head. No bones were broken. He is in a weakened condition, however his injuries are not believed to be critical. 

According to the information gathered the four men were driving at a rate of 50 miles when a rear wheel left the car causing the machine to turn over twice. The men had just left a party of 14 fisherman of the Southern Ice company of Sapulpa who had gone a few miles from Muskogee on a fishing trip. They were returning when the accident occurred. Due to the shock Bench received he was unable to return to this city until late today. The Ford sedan in which the party was riding was completely destroyed. The wrecked machine was hauled to Muskogee after passing motorists took the injured men to the clinic.


July 29, 1931
Sapulpa Herald

VETERAN ICE MAN DIES OF CRASH INJURIES
Charles Wilson Succumbs in Muskogee; E. C. Davis is in Critical Condition

Charles Wilson, 46 year old employee of the Southern Ice and Utilities company, died at 8:45 o'clock last night at the Muskogee hospital, as the result of injuries received in an automobile accident near that city Sunday night. 

E. C. Davis, constable, who was also injured, is reported to be in a critical condition. The injured men were returning from a fishing party near Muskogee when the accident occurred. Neal Davis and Ralph Bench who were with them, were not injured. 

Mrs. Wilson, who is the mother of a 10 day old baby, was unable to visit her husband at the Muskogee hospital. It was believed until a few hours before his death that his injuries would not prove fatal. His daughter, Mrs. O. L. Rush and her husband drove to Muskogee last night, but arrived after Wilson's death. The body was returned here by the Lewis-Landrith funeral directors. 

Funeral services will be held at the Lewis-Landrith chapel at 4 o'clock Friday afternoon. Rev. Jewell Stinson will preach the funeral sermon. Interment will be made at the Southern Heights Cemetery

Wilson was born at Terre Haute, Ind. He came to Oklahoma when he was a young man, and had made his home in Sapulpa for more than a quarter of a century. He had been employed as an ice man for 22 years, working for the Sapulpa Ice company, which was purchased in 1916 by the Southern Ice and Utilities company. 

Surviving him are his wife, ten children, Mrs. O. L. Rush, Mrs. Donald Fosburg, Ernest, Lawrence, Agnes, Buster, James, Pauline, Earl and Paul Wilson, two brothers, Arthur and James Wilson and two sisters, Mrs. Katie Jones and Mrs. Flora Horn, all of this city.


July 30, 1931
Sapulpa Herald

WILSON FUNERAL SERVICE IS HELD

Last rites for Charles Wilson, employee of the Southern Ice company who was fatally injured in an automobile crash Monday at Muskogee, were held this afternoon at 4 o'clock in the chapel of the Lewis and Landrith funeral home. The sermon was preached by Rev. Jewell Stinson. Burial was made in Southern Heights Cemetery.

 Surviving Wilson are his widow and ten children all of this city and one uncle, Willie Wilson of Terre Haute, Ind. Mr. and Mrs. Raley Weese and family of Terre Haute arrived in this city along with Willie Wilson early this morning to attend the funeral services. 

Pallbearers have been selected from employees of the ice company. Those serving were Claude Phillips, Osgood Blair, Ozea Whittenton, Luther Emerson, Leonard Kitterman and W.O. Thompson. 

Wilson was riding in the rear seat of the car when the wheel came off causing the wreck.


August 3, 1931
Sapulpa Herald

CARD OF THANKS - We wish to thank everyone for their kindness to us at the time of the accident and death of our loved one, C. E. Wilson. We especially thank Mr. Catts and his choir for their music, Mr. Simpson, and those who sent the lovely flowers. Mrs. C. E. Wilson and children, Mrs. O.L. Rush, Mr. and Mrs. Don Frosburg, W.T. Wilson."


His tombstone reads: 
"C. E. WILSON, May 11, 1885 - July 28, 1931 - None knew thee but to love thee."

This is my grandfather (son of James Wesley and Anna Bell (Little) Wilson). There is no record of a death certificate. I have searched Creek and Muskogee Counties, OK, 1930-36 through the Division of Vital Records, Oklahoma State Department of Health, but have not found one. Kim Holly < kimh@cwnet.com > Oct 1998.

[Also see obituaries for James Wesley, Anna Bell (Little) Wilson, Minnie Gertrude Wilson and Donald Fosburg