Obit: Eakin, Freda (1896 - 1933)

Contact:  Stan
Email: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: HAEUSER EAKIN KNOPP CANACCI SORENSON

----Sources: WEEKLY CLARION (Dorchester, Clark Co., WI) 06/16/1933

Eakin, Freda (28 OCT 1896 - 10 JUN 1933)

Dorchester (Clark Co., Wis.) friends were shocked Sunday to learn that Mr. and Mrs. John Eakin were both killed Saturday evening at Talent, Ore., when a train struck their car. Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Sorenson, Mrs. George Haeuser and Harold Hoven left from Abbotsford Sunday to drive to Talent. Very little information of the accident was secured and it is though the accident occurred as the Eakins were on a shopping trip.

Mrs. Eakin, formerly Miss Freda Haeuser, spent most of her life here in Dorchester and after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Eakin lived here until three years ago, when they moved to Talent, Ore. Due to her mother serious illness, Mrs. Eakin spent the past few weeks at Abbotsford with her and visiting old friends and acquaintances here. She just recently returned to Oregon.

The entire community extend their sincerest sympathy to the Haeusers. A complete obituary will be published next week.

(Follow on in 7/7/1933 Weekly Clarion)

Double Funeral services were held at the Perl Funeral home Friday, June 16th for Mr. and Mrs. John Eakin at Talent, Oregon, who were killed when their stalled car was struck by the Oregonian, a Southern Pacific train, at Talent canner crossing Saturday morning, June 10.

The accident occurred about 9:15 in the morning when the car, driven by Mrs. Gwen Simmons, Talent, an employee of the Eakins, stalled on the tracks and a few seconds later the engine of the Oregonian crashed into it. The bodies were thrown 72 feet to the east of the track and the completely demolished car was scattered 97 feet down the track. Eakin’s small bulldog in the car was not injured. Both Mr. and Mrs. Eakin were badly crushed, the latter having most of the bones in her body badly broken. Mrs. Eakin was killed at once but Mr. Eakin lived for several minutes after the accident. Medical help was called immediately and Mrs. Simmons was rushed to the Ashland Hospital where she died at 11 o’clock that night.

Mrs. Simmons, 22, was reported to have two children residing in California with an aunt. Mrs. Eakin had just returned to Talent the Wednesday before from Abbotsford and Dorchester, where she was visiting.

Word was received here and the Edgar Sorensons, Mrs. George Haeuser and H.W. Haven left immediately for Oregon. The Eakins went west only a short while ago because of Mr. Eakin’s health, and had been operating the Eakin Chicken Hatchery on the east side of the Pacific Highway near Talent.

Freda Caroline Haeuser was born at Dorchester Oct. 28, 1896, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Haeuser. She grew to womanhood here and in 1925 she was united in marriage to John L. Eakin at Minneapolis. After living at Lake City, Ia., for a while the Eakins came to Dorchester where they operated the Eakin Hatchery until they left for Oregon. Mrs. Eakin was a chicken feed expert, having taken that course at the University of Wisconsin.

Surviving her are three sisters, Mrs. Margaret Knopp, Hibbing, Minn., Mrs. Harriet Cagnacci, Chicago, and Mrs. Martha Sorenson, Abbotsford; five brothers, George, Greenwood, Louis and Charles, Minburn, Alberta, Canada, Ernest and Arnold, Fergus Falls, Minn., and her mother, Mrs. Marie Haeuser, Abbotsford, Wis.

John L. Eakin was born at Lake City, Iowa, April 1, 1877. He was united in marriage to Miss Freda Haeuser in 1925. He attended the University at Des Moines, Iowa, and later entered the banking business. He was a Spanish-American war veteran and a member of the Elks at Fort Dodge, Iowa.

He leaves four sisters, Mrs. Anna Freeman, Mrs. Bessie Sager, Mrs. Clara Grantham and Mrs. Lulu O’Connor, Lake City, Iowa, and three brothers, W.E. Eakin, Yakima, Ore., Charles E. Eakin, El Cerrito, Calif., and Walter, Lake City, Iowa.

To all who knew her, Freda was a sweet, lovable lady, who won her way into the hearts of many. Dorchester folks will especially miss her and her recent visit only makes the loss seem greater. John became well known and liked during his years here and it was with heavy hearts that the news of their sudden death was learned. The entire community joins us in offering deepest sympathy to the mourning ones.

Attending the services were Mr. and Mrs. E.N. Sorenson, Abbotsford, Mrs. George Haeuser, Greenwood and H.W. Haven, Clintonville, W.E. Eakin and son Raymond, Yakima, and Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Eakin, El Ceritto, Calif..

Mrs. Edgar Sorenson, Mrs. Haeuser and Mr. Haven returned to Abbotsford last week Friday and Edgar returned Monday after settling the affairs of Mr. and Mrs. John Eakin.