Individual Details
John Anton Gerdes
(5 Sep 1884 - 26 Jun 1933)
possibly this John Gerdes :
May 5, 1927
John Gerdes, our townsman, is locally famous. He has done what no other person is likely to attempt. He drove Mr. Iverson's truck down the stone stairway that leads from the sidewalk at the west end of the old school building onto the high grounds above. A stairway that was erected after the building had been bought for world-war memorial purposes. He did not go down this steep stairway of steps for a movie picture, or to escape an enemy, as old General Putnam did when he eluded General Tryon by riding his horse down a precipice at Horseneck, in Revolutionary times. He didn't do it on a bet, or for a bit of adventure, or because he felt gay or daring last Saturday. He did it, but "Why did he do It?" everybody asks. Simply because the brakes of the truck would not hold. He had to go down the stairway or else into a stone wall, and like the old Revolutionary soldier, he decided quickly and escaped as safely as General Putnam did. No harm resulted except the addition of a few more gray hairs in John's head.
May 5, 1927
John Gerdes, our townsman, is locally famous. He has done what no other person is likely to attempt. He drove Mr. Iverson's truck down the stone stairway that leads from the sidewalk at the west end of the old school building onto the high grounds above. A stairway that was erected after the building had been bought for world-war memorial purposes. He did not go down this steep stairway of steps for a movie picture, or to escape an enemy, as old General Putnam did when he eluded General Tryon by riding his horse down a precipice at Horseneck, in Revolutionary times. He didn't do it on a bet, or for a bit of adventure, or because he felt gay or daring last Saturday. He did it, but "Why did he do It?" everybody asks. Simply because the brakes of the truck would not hold. He had to go down the stairway or else into a stone wall, and like the old Revolutionary soldier, he decided quickly and escaped as safely as General Putnam did. No harm resulted except the addition of a few more gray hairs in John's head.
Events
| Birth | 5 Sep 1884 | Iowa, United States |  | ||
| Marriage | 28 Oct 1908 | Catherine "Kate" Andersen | |||
| Death | 26 Jun 1933 | Jones, Iowa, United States |  | | |
| Burial | Wayne Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Wayne Township, Jones, Iowa, United States | |
Families
| Spouse | Catherine "Kate" Andersen (1885 - 1966) |
| Child | Anna Louisa Gerdes (1909 - 1998) |
| Father | Johann "John" Gerdes (1858 - 1902) |
| Mother | Anna Elisabeth Siebels (1863 - 1922) |
| Sibling | Gesche Margaretha "Grace" Gerdes (1882 - 1960) |
| Sibling | Anna Catharine Gerdes (1887 - 1955) |
| Sibling | Gerhard Willam Gerdes (1889 - 1957) |
| Sibling | August Gerdes (1892 - 1918) |
| Sibling | Adaily Margaretta "Daily" Gerdes (1894 - 1899) |
| Sibling | Hermina Henritte "Minnie, Menke" Gerdes (1898 - 1920) |
| Sibling | Carl Janssen Gerdes (1899 - 1970) |
| Sibling | Alva Johannes Gerdes (1901 - 1972) |
Notes
Death
MONTICELLO EXPRESS...PAGE 1....JUNE 29, 1933THREE MEN ELECTROCUTED IN HAYFIELD AT ANAMOSA MONDAY
Pole overbalanced, Strikes High Tension Wire;
Three men were electrocuted on a farm rented by John Gerdes, and owned by the Royal Union Life Insurance company, last Monday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock. The farm is located a mile east of Anamosa, on primary number 117. The men who lost their lives were John Gerdes, 49, Leo Walderbach, 16 and Louis Walderbach, 22.
The men were engaged in erecting a hay pole to which guy wires were attached. The pole had been placed near a high tension electric light line, which passed through the field. While the men were attempting to raise the pole, it became overbalanced and fell against the high tension line. Each of the men had hold of a guy wire, and when the pole hit the line they were immediately electrocuted.
Mr. Gerdes is survived by his wife, nee Kate Anderson, and two daughters, Mrs. Edward Helgens of Wayne township, and Mrs. Claude Appleby of Monticello, and by one son, John Andrew Gerdes. His mother, the late Mrs. Anna Gerdes, resided in Monticello for several years before her death. The funeral for Mr. Gerdes will be held this afternoon at 1 o'clock at the Lutheran church in anamosa, and will be in charge of the Rev. Mr. Matthias, pastor of that church.
Endnotes
1. Steve Read, "Descendants of Gerhard Gerdes," e-mail message from
2. Jones Co. Iowa Cemeteries, Wayne Zion burial list, reading was provided by Ron Siebels online [http://iowajones.org/cemetery/WayneZion3.htm], accessed Dec 2008.
3. Jones Co. Iowa Cemeteries, Wayne Zion burial list, reading was provided by Ron Siebels online [http://iowajones.org/cemetery/WayneZion3.htm], accessed Dec 2008.