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Charles R. "Charlie" Wood

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Birth Date: April 26, 1879
Death Date: June 12, 1905
Age at Death: 26

Marriages

Paulina Stein - December 25, 1903

Burial Details

Cemetery Location: Eagle, Colorado

Obituaries

Eagle Valley Enterprise page 1 - June 16, 1905

CHARLES WOOD ACCIDENTALLY SHOT.
instantly Killed By Revolver Falling From Scabbard Onto Rock and Exploding. In the Act of Loading Large Piece of Salt into the Wagon. Funeral Wednesday Afternoon.

The most distressing accident that ever occurred in Eagle County was that of Charles Wood, son of R.P. Wood, being shot and almost instantly killed by a bullet from a .38 calibre revolver last Monday morning June 12th.

In company with Ben Lemon, Charles left home for his ranch on Castle about 8 a.m. with a small amount of rock salt, a portion of which was to be unloaded where the road forks about seven miles from town and a couple of large pieces were to be taken to his ranch. They arrived at their destination at 10 o'clock and unloaded the entire amount of salt and were in the act of reloading the two largest pieces when in some way the revolver which Mr. Wood had strapped to his shoulder fell from the scabbard, the hammer striking on the piece of salt while he was stooping over it to lift it into the wagon and caused the discharge of the gun. The death dealing missle entered Mr. Wood's body an inch to the left of the center of the chest and about three inches below the shoulder bone, coursing downward and piercing his heart. Startled by the report of the revolver, Mr. Lemon turned around and seen him lying on the ground. He asked Mr. Wood where the bullet struck him and he said, "I am shot through the heart." These were his last words.

When Mrs. Lemon recovered from the shock and could realize what had happened, he wasted no time in getting Mr. Wood into the wagon and turning the team homeward. He arrived at the home in a short time and, when the family learned of the terrible accident, they were grief stricken beyond expression. It was not long until many who had heard of the misfortune were present to offer their services.

Wednesday afternoon the very impressive funeral services conducted by Reverend J.G. Russell at the M. E. church was attended by a large number of friends and relatives of the deceased. Not in the history of Eagle had there been so large a gathering assembled to pay final tribute to the honored dead and testify by their presence to his worth as a good citizen and a loyal friend. There were gathered men and women from many walks of life, many who had known Mr. Wood since he first came to this country. Before the start of the funeral from the church an immense crowd gathered along the route leading to the Eagle cemetery and followed the remains to its last resting place.

The services were taken charge of by the Masonic order, of which Mr. Wood was a member, after hte funeral left the church. They gave beautiful tribute when they gathered around the grave to pay their last respects.

Floral tokens presented by different organizations and friends completely hid the alter at the church where the coffin was.

Charles R. Wood was born April 26th, 1879 at Tuscarola, Nevada. He removed with his parents to Bell's Camp, Eagle county, Colorado February, 1891, and came with them to Eagle October, 1898, where he as since resided. He was educated in the public schools of Eagle county and at the state school at Boulder, Colorado. He was united in marriage to Miss Pauline Stein at the home of her parents December 25, 1903, and together they have lived wit his parents on their beautiful ranch ever since, gradually acquiring an increasing interest in the management and profit of the ranch.

Charlie, as he was familiarly called, was generous hearted, of kindly disposition, seemed to be a friend to everybody and in turn was esteemed to the degree of strong attachment by his many friends. Even in his early manhood he has been called on to fill various positions of trust in the community and he gave promise of becoming a prominent and useful citizen, not only in his own community, but in the county and state as well.

His early death is deplored by all. His sudden taking away in full vigor of health and in the flush of his early manhood has appalled, not only the people of our community, but many also who live beyond its boundaries.

He was a worthy citizen, a dutiful son, and an affectionate, faithful husband. He leaves a wife and one child, a father and mother, and one brother, and other more distant relatives, and a host of warm friends to mourn his untimely departure, and who will ever hold his memory in precioius esteeem.

Eagle Valley Enterprise page 4 - May 30, 1905

See newspaper for memorial poem written by Lena Wright of Gypsum, Colo.

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