Obit: Goeltz, William (1865? - 1922)
Poster:  Stan
Email:  posted4u@charter.net
 

Surnames: GOELTZ

---------Source: OWEN ENTERPRISE (Owen, Clark County, Wis.) 10/12/1922

--------- Goeltz, William (1865? - 6 OCT 1922)

William Goeltz, a resident of Colby, Wis., was instantly killed Friday morning of last week, when he was crushed to death, when the wheels of the tractor he was demonstrating passed over the entire right side of his body, after he had been caught in the gears of the machine while it was moving.

Mr. Goeltz, who was an expert tractor demonstrator, came to Owen, Clark County, Wis. Friday morning to demonstrate the Wallis tractor owned by Felix Niehoff of Colby, at the plowing match and tractor demonstrations, which was held at the asylum farm two miles east of the city. The tractor had plowed with a gang plow for about forty minutes and Mr. Goeltz was following the machine, while another tractor expert was driving in the demonstration. The engine was not working properly and the carburetor needed adjustment, Mr. Goeltz, walking beside the machine started to make the adjustment needed, when his foot caught in the gears and hew as drawn under the wheels. The wheels passed over the entire length of his leg and the right side of his body, crushing him to death. The accident was witnessed by about a thousand people who were on the grounds watching the five tractors as they were demonstrating plowing with gang plows.

His body was removed from the grounds and taken to the asylum building and then taken to his home at Colby. The accident was one which cast a gloom over the entire crowd of people who witnessed it, that had gather to see the plowing match and tractor demonstration.

Mr. Goeltz was 57 years of age and was making his home at the Niehoff Hotel in Colby. He is survived by a son and daughter, his wife having died about three years ago.