“Two deaths in rural Lewis County Thursday were blamed on the last week’s bitter weather and road-clogging snow, which prevented doctors from reaching the patients.”
“Joseph King, 65, died of pneumonia at his home on Oak Ridge about 2 PM Thursday as his family struggled home with medicine through roads described as ‘bad at best.'”
“Mr. King became ill with pneumonia following exposure on a trip to Maysville’s burley market last week to deliver his tobacco crop.”
“When no physician could reach the King home, the family went to Vanceburg to get medicine.”
“The body was moved about a mile by sled and transferred to Plummer funeral car. It is at Plummer Funeral Home pending arrangements.”
“Mr. King was born in Lewis County, a son of Jacob and Maria Angel King. He leaves his wife Florence1, and these children: Mrs. Anna Fearin and Mrs. Kathryn Crawford of Oak Ridge community, Maxine and Thomas at home.”
“The second victim was Mrs. Elizabeth Lambert Bloomfield, 19, who died in childbirth about 6 AM Thursday at her home at Tannery. A doctor who was summoned to the house was unable to complete the trip. The infant was unborn.”
“The body was moved a mile by sled to the home of a neighbor, Robert Lewis, where Plummer’s funeral car was able to go. The round trip took about six hours on bad roads.”
“Mrs. Bloomfield is survived by her husband, Paul; her parents, Winfield and Allie Lambert of Mansfield; and these brothers and sisters: Mrs. Yvonne Bryant of Mansfield, Jacqueline, Jesse, Scottland, Charlie, Donald, Ronald, Ray, all at home.”
“She was a member of the Church of God in Tannery.”
“The body was to be moved to the Lewis home today. Funeral services will be held Sunday at 10 AM in Tannery, with Henry Wormick officiating. Burial will be in Morgan Cemetery on Grassy Fork of Laurel.”2
- Florence Henrickson
- Snow Blamed in Two Deaths at Vanceburg. (1950, December 1). Portsmouth Times, p. 1.
