Obit: Portz, Harriet M. (1877 - 1938)
Contact: Shari
Email: steppinwest@elknet.net

Surnames: Portz, Ludovic, Madsen, Bradbury, Hansen, Leibert, Fergusen, Fenske, Bock, Lindow, Beil, Quicker, Covell, Cook, Frederikson, Price, Mills, Goobe

----Source: A collection of articles from Millie Lee

WOMAN DIES IN CROSSING CRASH

Mrs Adolph Portz, Chili, Instantly Killed, Husband Injured

Chili, Wis. - Mrs. Adolph Portz, 61, town of Fremont, (Clark Co., Wis.) was instantly killed and her husband seriously injured when the enclosed light truck they were riding in was struck by an Omaha eastbound freight train at a railroad crossing, one mile east of Chili, Wisconsin early Sunday afternoon.

Mr. and Mrs. Portz had just left their home a quarter of a mile away and were driving south when the freight train, which they evidently failed to see or hear, arrived at the crossing just as the Portz truck started crossing the tracks.

The truck was rolled to the north right-of-way of the tracks, with Mrs. Portz being thrown clear of the wreckage and landing on the shoulder of the track. She was killed instantly. Examination showed she received a skull fracture, scalp wounds, broken shoulder, and other cuts and bruises.

Mr. Portz, who was seriously hurt, was reported as somewhat improved at St. Joseph's Hospital, Marshfield, where he was taken by Vernon Goobe, a neighbor. The extent of his injuries had not been fully determined today because Mr. Portz suffered severe shock and it was impossible to take x-rays.

Physicians said he is suffering from a severe concussion of the brain, possible skull fracture, possible fractures of the left shoulder and arm, and numerous cuts and bruises.

The accident occurred at what is known as Cedarhurst crossing on the Omaha line about miles west of Marshfield. It was Clark County's ninth traffic fatality of (word or number obstructed).

Coroner P C Ludovic, Sheriff Mats Madsen, and Traffic Officer Lewis Bradbury were summoned from Neillsville, and Traffic Officer Tony Hansen, Wood County, also arrived.

J. Liebert was engineer, and E C Ferguson, conductor of the freight train.

Following an investigation Coroner Ludovic impaneled a jury which viewed the scene and remains and will continue the inquest at Fremont Town Hall, Chili, Wednesday afternoon. Members of the jury are Charles Fenske, Robert Bock, Luther Lindow, Adolph W Beil, Hubert H. Quicker, and A C Covell.

Mrs. Portz nee Harriet Cook, was born at Waukesha, Wisconsin on Feb 28 1877, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Cook. She was married at Waukesha in 1900.

In 1910, the family moved to Clark County, settling on a farm near Lynn for a few years, later moving onto a farm in the town of Fremont where they resided until seven years ago.

Retiring from farm life, Mr. and Mrs. Portz have occupied their present home on route 1, Chili, since that time, with Mr. Portz following the occupation of a stone mason.

Besides her husband, Mrs. Portz is survived by four daughters, Mrs. Inor (Frances) Fredrickson, Mrs. Willard (Evelyn) Price and Miss Hazel Portz, Waukesha, Mrs. William (Melvina) Mills, Marshfield; four sons, Donald, Arthur, and James Portz, Waukesha, Roy Portz, Fremont, and seven grandchildren.

Funeral services for Mrs. Portz will be conducted at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Evangelical Lutheran Church at Chili, of which Mrs. Portz was a member. The body will lie in state at the Baer-Lange funeral home tonight. Burial will be made at Waukesha on Wednesday.

1900 Federal Census, ED 124 Genesee town, Waukesha, Wisconsin, United States, page 4, family 80

Hattie M Cook, single white female
birth date: Feb 1877

Household Members
head James O. Cook M 56 (Sep 1844) Wisconsin, both parents b. England
wife Jane E. Cook F 48 (Jan 1852) New York, 6 children-all living, both parents b. NY
son Irving O. Cook M. 27 (Oct 1873) Wisconsin
son Frank A Cook M. 25 (Jun 1875) Wisconsin
daughter Hattie M. Cook F 23 (Feb 1877) Wisconsin
daughter Jessie N. Cook F 20 (May 1880) Wisconsin
daughter Florence B. Cook F 15 (Nov 1885) Wisconsin
son Harry D. Cook M 8 (Feb 1892) Wisconsin
servant Arthur Denton M 30 (Sep 1870) Wisconsin, white single male, father b. Wisconsin, mother b. Ohio

1910 Federal Census, Lynn, Clark, Wisconsin, family 29, pg. 2

Harriet M Portz, white, married female
father's birthplace: Wisconsin
mother's birthplace: Wisconsin

Household Members
self Adolph L Portz M 32y Wisconsin
wife Harriet M Portz F 33y Wisconsin
son Roy A Portz M 8y Wisconsin
dau Francis E Portz F 7y Wisconsin
dau Evelyn Portz F 5y Wisconsin
son Donald Portz M 3y Wisconsin
dau Hazel Portz F 1y 4m Wisconsin

1930 Federal Census, Fremont, Clark, Wisconsin, enumeration district number: 0011, family 126, line 39

Harriet M Portz, white, married, female
father's birthplace: Wisconsin
mother's birthplace: New York

Household Members
head Adolph L Portz M 52 Wisconsin
wife Harriet M Portz F 53 Wisconsin
son Roy A Portz M 29 Wisconsin
son Arthur A Portz M 16 Wisconsin
daughter Melvina D Portz F 14 Wisconsin