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Cleo Oscar Carlson

Birth	:	11 Oct 1917 Hardin Township, Webster County, Iowa, USA
Death	:	11 May 1918 Marion Township, Hamilton County, Iowa, USA
Burial	:	South Marion Cemetery, Stratford, Hamilton County, USA
Coordinate	:	42.2327995, -93.8735962
Description	:	Stratford Courier May 18, 1918 TERRIBLE TRAGEDY NEAR STRATFORD Mother and Three Small Children Found Dead in Watering Tank Saturday Afternoon THE DEAD Mrs. Carl G. Carlson, aged 25 years, mother of the dead children, died from self-inflicted wounds in her throat and breast. Russell Edward Carlson, aged 3 years, 4 months, 22 days, death by drowning. Myron Donald Carlson, 14 months of age, drowned. Cleo Oscar Carlson, 7 months old, drowned. Probably the most appalling tragedy ever enacted in this section of Iowa occurred some time Saturday afternoon at the Carl... Read More	Stratford Courier May 18, 1918 TERRIBLE TRAGEDY NEAR STRATFORD Mother and Three Small Children Found Dead in Watering Tank Saturday Afternoon THE DEAD Mrs. Carl G. Carlson, aged 25 years, mother of the dead children, died from self-inflicted wounds in her throat and breast. Russell Edward Carlson, aged 3 years, 4 months, 22 days, death by drowning. Myron Donald Carlson, 14 months of age, drowned. Cleo Oscar Carlson, 7 months old, drowned. Probably the most appalling tragedy ever enacted in this section of Iowa occurred some time Saturday afternoon at the Carl G. Carlson home on the old J.F. Gustafson farm, three and a half miles east of Stratford and which resulted in the death of Mrs. Carl G. Carlson and her three small sons, as given above. The tragedy was so grim, so terrible and so shrouded in mystery that it was hard to believe in the earliest moments of its making that such a thing could happen in a peaceful community. It is the story of a fond and loving mother, who, finding one or more of her beloved children wrapped in death's silent embrace, was so crazed with grief that she caused the death or deaths of her remaining dear ones and then joined them by inflicting wounds which in a very few moments caused her passing. Mr. Carlson had been planting corn in a field about eighty rods west of the home and had worked hard to get the planting finished that afternoon. He completed the work about four o'clock and went to his home to find all those who were near and dear to him, cold in death and silent to his many loving entreaties. A mother's love, which knows no fear, had taken from him all he had to live for on earth. Planned Sunday Dinner On Friday Mrs. Carlson had invited the F.A. Newman family of southwest of Stratford over for dinner and had made elaborate preparations for a good dinner and a good time. The cooking and baking had all be done on Saturday forenoon, the home had been cleaned and tidied up everywhere. When Mr. Carlson was home to the noon-day meal it was arranged that he should get in from the field early and that they should all go to town in the evening. At this time there was not the slightest indication of an impending tragedy and Mr. Carlson after being home about three-quarters of an hour returned to his work in the field. Comes from Field Early Mr. Carlson finished planting corn about four o'clock and immediately started homeward. He stopped at the J.F. Gustafson farm, which is about a quarter of a mile west of the old place, and passed the time of day with Mr. Gustafson telling him that he was glad he had the corn planted. In less than fifteen minutes he came rushing back to Mr. Gustafson and brokenly tried to tell him what he had found when he had returned to his barnyard, how he had found his wife and two children lying in the watering tank dead. Mr. Gustafson went with him immediately and soon discovered the lifeless body of the other son in the bottom of the tank. Mr. Carlson's Story Mr. Carlson states that he drove into the barnyard and up to the watering tank as soon as he got to the farm. The watering tank is a large cement tank enclosed in a building. It is about two feet deep on the inside. The horses refused to drink the water which he thought was very strange but he led the horses to the barn and then went back to the tank because of some premonition that something was wrong. It was then that he discovered a piece of cloth floating on the water. He took hold of the cloth and found that it was his wife's dress and was horrified on raising the lifeless body of his wife from the water and immediately afterward found the dead bodies of two of his children - Russell and Myron. He rushed then to the Gustafson farm above mentioned to secure assistance. A few minutes later the body of the baby - Cleo - was found in the bottom of the tank. Doctor and Coroner Summoned Dr. M.A. Beach was then summoned and as soon as he was convinced that all the bodies were lifeless notified the county coroner. The doctor states that there is every indication that the bodies of the two older children were in the water much longer than those of the baby and mother. The tank where the drowning occurred is about twenty-four inches deep and at the time of the tragedy contained nineteen inches of water. On the outside it is less than eighteen inches high. It is the general supposition that the two older children in some way got upon the edge of the tank and then fell into the water. All of the children were dressed in their best ready to go to town but Mrs. Carlson was dressed in a house dress or apron. The water was badly discolored by the blood from Mrs. Carlson's wounds and was perhaps the reason that the horses would not drink it. Mr. Carlson did not notice this at the time because the entire tank is covered by a building. If the general supposition is correct and the two older children fell into the tank and were drowned it is altogether likely that when the mother discovered the tragedy that she went insane with grief. That she rushed to the house and securing the baby and a large and sharp butcher knife, she first threw the baby into the tank and then leaning over the edge of the tank stabbed herself attempting to reach her heart. Failing in this she cut her throat again and again severing the jugular vein and then fell over into the tank. A large pool of blood just on the edge of the tank gives rise to this theory. Several times, it is said, she had complained of the open watering tank being a dangerous place for the children to get into and she seemed constantly in fear that the children would get into it. Lost Son Two Years Ago About two years ago, when the family lived southwest of Stratford, a small son, Donald, was kicked by a horse so badly that he died within a few days. Since that time Mrs. Carlson has lived in constant fear of accidental deaths of her beloved children. The Coroner's Findings County Coroner Arch Foster arrived as soon as possible after the tragedy. A coroners jury was impaneled consisting of the following men: William Hill, C.J. Carlstedt, Immanuel Lindquist. Because Mr. Carlson who was so grief stricken that he could not be left on the farm where the tragedy occurred had been taken to the Frank Newman farm southwest of Stratford, the jury also adjourned to that farm. They found that the three children had come to their death by drowning, cause otherwise unknown, and that the mother had met death at her hands. Dr. M.A. Beach, Mrs. C.J. Carlstedt and J.F. Gustafson, who were the first on the scene, were the only witnesses examined. The doctor's testimony was that he had been called to the home several times but that there was nothing to indicate insanity in any form. The testimony of other witnesses was to the effect that they had never seen or noticed anything that would indicate the slightest mental unbalance on the part of the dead woman. The inquest also disclosed the fact that there was no insanity in Mrs. Carlson's family. Many Theories There have been many theories as just how the tragedy occurred. The presence of much water in the lungs of all the children proves that all of them met death by drowning. It is known, too, that the two older ones had been in the water much longer than the baby and the mother, so that possibly the most correct solution of the mystery is that the two older children, while playing in the barnyard near the tank, in some way got upon the edge of the tank and then fell into the water and were drowned. The older son was large enough so that he could climb upon the edge and it is altogether probable that he assisted his smaller brother up first and that they both fell into the tank. The mother then in her anxious search perhaps discovered their lifeless bodies and became so crazed with grief that she threw the baby into the water and then inflicted wounds to her body which caused her death that she might be with her beloved babies in death as she had been in life. Foul Play at First Suspected Foul play was at first suspected but there is no evidence whatever to substantiate this. Mrs. Carlson, it is said, had been married once before and the son, Donald, who was accidentally killed two years ago, was a son by that marriage. It is said that her first husband was sent to the penitentiary five years ago for some crime that occurred while they lived in Illinois. A short time after he began serving his sentence she came to Iowa and a year after her husband commenced serving his sentence was given a divorce and married Mr. Carlson. It is alleged that her former husband was released from the penitentiary a few days ago and that he may have come back here, murdered her and then drowned the children to cover up his tracks. But no stranger was seen in the vicinity so this theory can hardly be borne out. The funeral over the remains of the victims of the grim tragedy were held from the home Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock. The saddened husband and father is beside himself with grief at the loss of his entire family in this appalling manner. Kind friends are doing all they can to help him bear his unusually heavy burden of sorrow. Hamilton County Death Records Fiscal Year Ending 30 June 1918 Record No. 169 Carlson, Cleo Birthdate: 11 Oct 1917 Birthplace: Iowa Age: 7M Marital Status: Single Father: Carl Carlson Father Birthplace: Sweden Informant: Carl Carlson Occupation: Infant Death Date: 11 May 1918 Physician: Arch Foster, Coroner Burial: South Marion Cemetery Burial Date: 15 May 1918 Undertaker: J.A. Strand, Stratford No gravestone found in 1985 or 2012 cemetery canvas.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Cleo Oscar Carlson's memorial?
Cleo Oscar Carlson's memorial is located at: South Marion Cemetery, Stratford, Hamilton County, USA.
When did Cleo Oscar Carlson death?
Cleo Oscar Carlson death on 11 May 1918 in Marion Township, Hamilton County, Iowa, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Cleo Oscar Carlson's memorial?
Latitude: 42.2327995
Longitude: -93.8735962

Family Members:

Parent

Carl Gustaf Evald Carlson

(1883 - 1969)

Lillian Effie Amanda Swanson Carlson

(1892 - 1918)

Siblings

Donald Joseph Carlson

(1910 - 1915)

Russell Edward Carlson

(1914 - 1918)

Myron Donald Carlson

(1916 - 1918)

Marvin Carl Carlson

(1919 - 1981)

Dorine Mildred Carlson Naslund

(1923 - 2016)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. South Marion Cemetery
Stratford, Hamilton County, USA
Coordinate: 42.2327995, -93.8735962

2. Oakwood Cemetery
Stratford, Hamilton County, USA
Coordinate: 42.2942009, -93.9182968

3. Mineral Ridge Cemetery
Ridgeport, Boone County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1749992, -93.9266968

4. Hooks Point Cemetery
Hamilton County, USA
Coordinate: 42.2944530, -93.9199090

5. Hardin Township Cemetery
Hardin Township, Webster County, USA
Coordinate: 42.2411003, -93.9708023

6. Saint Paul Lutheran Cemetery
Boone, Boone County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1700000, -93.8070000

7. Boone County Poor Farm Cemetery
Boone County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1591100, -93.9159000

8. White Cemetery
Boone County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1777992, -93.9636002

9. Lake Center Cemetery
Stanhope, Hamilton County, USA
Coordinate: 42.2482986, -93.7568970

10. Leininger Cemetery
Boone County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1492004, -93.8356018

11. Lawn Hill Cemetery
Stanhope, Hamilton County, USA
Coordinate: 42.2677994, -93.7611008

12. Nesse Cemetery
Hamilton County, USA
Coordinate: 42.3250008, -93.8933029

13. Neese Cemetery
Homer, Hamilton County, USA
Coordinate: 42.3250000, -93.8935000

14. Linn Cemetery
Pilot Mound, Boone County, USA
Coordinate: 42.2045330, -93.9970230

15. Vegors Cemetery
Webster County, USA
Coordinate: 42.3177986, -93.9421997

16. Mackey Cemetery
Boone County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1675000, -93.7565000

17. Runyan Cemetery
Pilot Mound, Boone County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1749992, -94.0015030

18. Saint Pauls Church Cemetery
Jewell, Hamilton County, USA
Coordinate: 42.2490100, -93.7173400

19. Schlicht Cemetery
Fraser, Boone County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1444200, -93.9780100

20. Bass Cemetery
Dayton, Webster County, USA
Coordinate: 42.2966995, -94.0149994

21. Saratoga Cemetery
Stanhope, Hamilton County, USA
Coordinate: 42.3539009, -93.8167038

22. Pilot Mound Cemetery
Pilot Mound, Boone County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1636200, -94.0282600

23. Ellsworth Clear Lake Cemetery
Randall, Hamilton County, USA
Coordinate: 42.2268930, -93.6926200

24. Bass Point Cemetery
Boone, Boone County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0992012, -93.8957977