1926 - Article about the American Wood Rim Fire from the Onaway Outlook From Onaway Outlook January 21, 1926- Contributed by Jo Doran

1926 - Article about the American Wood Rim Fire from the Onaway Outlook

From the 21 Jan 1926 The Onaway Outlook. First newspaper after the Lobdell fire.

Community Bows In Grief As Last Rites Are Held For Men Who Died In The Fire

Bodies of Four Missing Employees of A.W.R. Company are Found in Charred Ruins Friday

As the embers from the disastrous fire at the A.W.R. Co., on Thursday afternoon, cooled, parties of workmen

searched the ruins and discovered the remains of the four men who lost their lives in the blaze.

Repeated rumors that more than this number had been trapped in the flames are apparently without foundation. 

The employment office of the A.W.R. Company made a thorough check of all those who reported for work on the morning

of the disaster and were able to locate every known employee except the four whose charred bodies were recovered Friday.

The flames had made all usual means of identification impossible, but the finding of initialed tools near one, the remains

of the frame for glasses, the brass edge of a pocket rule, a watch and other personal property known to have been carried 

by the men established the identity of the bodies of all except John Tate and the location of the remains near his usual 

working place was the only evidence in that instance.  

The loss of four well known citizens caused sorrow throughout the community and the residents of the city as a whole extended

sympathy to the bereaved families and joined in impressive tributes to their memory at the funeral services which were held 

on Sunday and Monday.

Lorenzo D. Smith

Lorenzo D. Smith, for twenty years a resident of Onaway, had spent years of that time in the employ of the 

American Wood Rim Company. He was born in Fairview, Michigan, on Feb. 20th, 1863 and spent his early childhood

at that place. His family later removed to Standish, Michigan, where he grew to manhood and was married on June 27th, 1886. 

In 1892 he moved to West Branch, Michigan, and 11 years later to Morley, Michigan, where he resided until the removal to 

Onaway in 1906.

He is survived by the widow, eight children, Stephen, Dan and Azro of Detroit, Earl of Pontiac, Mrs. Lilia Schlienz, 

Mrs. Hattie Savage, Harold and Ruth of Onaway, his father, Mr. A.J. Smith, who is 84 years of age, and two brothers, 

W.W. Smith and Edwin S. Smith, all of Morley, Michigan, and four sisters, Mrs. Florence Haggert of Flint, Mrs. Net Angie 

of Grand Rapids, Mrs. Myrtle Nelson of Morley and Mrs. Grace Goodwin of Morley.

All the children and one brother, W.W. Smith attended the funeral services which were held from the First Baptist Church Sunday 

afternoon with Rev. Robert L. Morton officiating and interment was made at Elmwood cemetery.
 
The deceased was a member of the First Baptist Church and a man of pleasing disposition, who made a wide circle of friends 

in the community during his long residence here.


John Tate

John Tate was born at Oscoda, Michigan, on Sept. 22nd, 1882, and spent his boyhood at that place. On April 11, 1900 

he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Klee at Alpena and made his home there for a few years before removing to Houghton, Mich., 

from which place he moved to Onaway 12 years ago. For the past three years he has been in the employ of the American Wood Rim Company 

in the plant where he lost his life in the fire of last Thursday.

He is survived by the widow and eight children, Mrs. Leslie Chenette, Mrs Roxie Stone, Harry, Isabella, John, Rebecca, 

DeForest and Manily and two grandchildren, all of Onaway and his mother, Mrs. Rocksey Tate of Onaway. Two brothers, Jesse Tate 

of Silver Lake Ranch and Henry Tate of Onaway.

Funeral services were held from the home Monday afternoon at one o’clock, with Rev. Robert L. Morton officiating and interment 

made in Elmwood cemetery. Relatives from out of the city who attended the services were Herman Klee of Flint, Wm. Klee of 

Atlantic Mine, John Klee of Alpena and one sister, Mrs. Albert Repke and husband of Flint.

During his twelve years residence here Mr. Tate had made a large circle of friends who extended sympathy to his bereaved family 

in their sudden trial.


Eugene Precour

Eugene Precour was born at Three Rivers, Canada, May 1877. Four years later his family moved to Alpena, Michigan, where he grew 

to manhood and was married on Sept. 11th, 1900 to Miss Marie Gouple. In 1901 he removed to Onaway and has since resided here. 

He has been in the employ of the American Wood Rim Company for about 15 years, of that time with short intervals of change to 

other lines and places.

He leaves a widow and four children, Eugene, Dorothy, elmer and Marie, all of Onaway, four brothers, Thomas and Edward of 

Detroit, Eugene of Oshkosh, Wis., and Fred of Port Huron, Mich., and one sister, Mrs. Beauchamp of near Alpena, Michigan, 

to mourn his loss.

Funeral services were held from St. Paul’s at 9 a.m. Monday morning with Fr. J.P. Flannery officiating and interment was made 

in the parish cemetery.

The deceased was a lifelong member of the Catholic Church and enjoyed a wide circle of friends who joined in extending sympathy 

to the bereaved family.


Fred VanPloff

Fred VanPloff was born in Ann Arbor, Mich. Sept. 17th, 1869 and was 56 years of age, at the time of his death. He resided at 

Ann Arbor for about 25 years and removed to Onaway which has since been his home. He was married on June 24th, 1900 and leaves 

the widow and eight children, Mrs. Elsie Wright, Mrs. Earl Perria, Mary, Helen, Pauline, Lillian and Maxine of Onaway and 

Mrs. Burdette Valley of Millersurg, one sister, Mrs. W.O. Lowe, of Sarasota, Florida, and one brother, Joe Fisher, of Ann Arbor 

to mourn his loss.

The deceased had been in the employ of the American Wood Rim Company for 26 years. He was a member of the Maccabees and Odd 

Fellows fraternities and always had a keen interest in their work.

Funeral services were held from I.O.O.F. Hall on Sunday afternoon at two o’clock with Rev. Dryden of the Spiritualist Association 

officiating and interment was made at Elmwood cemetery. The brothers Poland Lodge I.O.O.F. assisting in the funeral rites.

The deceased was a man of pleasing and friendly personality and was universally liked by all who made his acquaintance.