Obit: Bergstrom, Edward (1886 - 1937)

Contact: History Buffs

Surnames: Bergstrom, Dietsche, Johnson, Fults, Gust, Treat, Zulke, Daley, Blake

----Sources: Colby Phonograph (Colby, Clark County, Wis.) 10/21/1937

Bergstrom, Edward (14 Feb. 1886 - 18 Oct. 1937)

Edward Bergstrom of Abbotsford was struck by an automobile Sunday morning at about 2:15 A.M. and died at the Marshfield hospital Monday morning.

Bergstrom was hit by a car driven by Felix Dietsche of Abbotsford as he was walking west on highway 29, just inside the village limits. Dietsche was accompanied by his brother, Fred, and stopped and took the injured man to the Colby clinic where first aid was given and then to the Marshfield hospital for treatment. The Dietsche brothers were returning from Lublin. Bergstrom suffered a skull fracture, brain concussion, fractured lower jaw, compound fractures of both bones in the right leg and probable internal injuries.

The deceased was born in Sweden on Feb. 14, 1886, and was working for Alex Johnson, town of Mayville farmer, at the time of his sudden death. He was returning to the Johnson farm when he was fatally injured.

A coroner’s jury Tuesday night decided that there was no criminal negligence on Dietsche’s part. According to testimony of the Dietsche brothers, Bergstrom was walking in the middle of the highway when struck and the rain and darkness made it impossible to see the pedestrian in time to avoid striking him.

The coroner’s jury consisted of Walter Fults, Carl Gust, Harry Treat, Willard Zulke, William Daley, and Melvin Blake, all of Abbotsford, Wis.