USA > Nebraska > Seward County > General history of Seward County, Nebraska > Part 22
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23
H. W. BENTLEY.
H. W. Bentley, one of Beaver Crossing's respected and valuable citizens met death while at work in his blacksmith shop, about 5 o'clock, p. m., Friday, April 5, 1895, by the bursting of an emery wheel upon which he was polishing a plow shear. The stone was run by a steam engine and just previous to the accident Mr. Bentley said to the boy who was assisting him that the wheel was not running fast enough and to "put on more steam" which were the last words he ever said, a portion of the emery wheel strik- ing him in the head and killing him almost instantly. The wheel was comparatively a new one, having been used but a few times. It was brok- en in three pieces, two of which were found in the shop, the other having made a hole through the roof, was found several rods east of it. Mr. Ben- tley left a wife and two small daughters to mourn his untimely and tragic death.
-
274
HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
DEATH OF MATHEW MILLSPAW.
Mathew Millspaw, an early resident of Seward county, met with what proved to be a fatal accident at Goehner, November 23, 1892. He was operating a sheller and shelling corn when one of his coat sleves was caught in the machine, drawing his arm in and crushing it. The arm was ampu- tated, but he died from the effects of the injury. He was a brother of Dan- iel Millspaw, early pioneer rancher.
UNTIMELY DEATH OF MARY STRAYER.
A very sad fatal accident occurred just north of the city limits of Sew- ard Saturday evening, August 18, 1894. John M. Strayer and family, con- sisting of wife and three daughters, resided one mile north of the city. On the evening named, Mrs. Strayer and the three daughters were out riding · in a buggy, when one of the girls in turning round to return home, made too short a turn, tipping the vehicle and throwing the occupants all to the gronnd. The mother and two older girls were slightly injured while little Mary, the youngest, sustained a dislocated neck. A docter was quickly summoned, but arrived only in time to see her breathing her last. She was between four and five years old, the pet of the family and neighborhood.
DEATH OF PETER HUBERTUS.
Peter Hubertus, a farmer residing about two wiles north of Beaver Cross- ing, in -L- precinct, went to the field about 6 o'clock Friday evening. April 3, 1896, to relieve one of his boys who was running a stalk cutter. He took charge of the machine, which was being drawn by a team of young, spirited horses, and soon after starting them a dog after a rabbit frightened them and they started to run. Mr. Hubertus was thrown off and one of his feet becoming caught in the machine he was dragged until the leg was mangled in a terrible manner. His family managed to get him to the house and summoned Dr. Doty who amputated the shattered leg, but on account of the loss of blood and internal injuries the unfortunate man did not regain consciousness, lingering until the next morning when death relieved him of his suffering. He left a wife and several sons and daughters to moura the sad departure of a husband and father.
LEWIS J. GRAUL.
Lewis J. Graul, a homestead settler in -K- precinct was killed in his barn yard by lightening, May 20, 1897. A wife and several sons ard daughters survived him. Mr. Graul was for severl years a neighbor of the writer, and known to be a kind and honorable ciuze.).
275
HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
DEATH OF JEFF STEVENS IN 1871 AND 1915.
The accidental death of two persons on the public highway, under simi- lar circumstances, both of the same name, seems more than ordinarly strange, and is an incident that perhaps will never occur in Seward county again. The unfortunate men were undoubtedly relatives. The date of the first accident together with the age of the latter victim shows that the first acci- dent occurred nine years previous to the birth of the second person.
On the morning of July 6th, 1871, Jeff. Stevens, a resident six miles north-west of Milford, was found dead under a load of overturned lumber, about four miles east of Milford, near the Middle creek bridge. He left a wife and ten children to mourn the untimely death of a husband and father.
On the morning of January 12, 1915, Jeff. Stevens, who resided about seven miles south-west of Seward, was found about one mile west of his home, in a ditch at the end of a high culvert, dead under his horse and buggy. He had left Goehner about nine oclock the evening before for his home. The horse was blind and evidently went so near the end of the cul- vert that the wheels on one side of the buggy ran off and tipped it with Mr. Stevens over into the ditch, and the tightening of the lines caused the horse to back off and fall upon them. The fall had disabled the horse so he was unable to move and laid on the unfortunate man all night. Mr. Stev- ens was born in Seward county, and was thirty-five years of age. He left a wife and five children to mourn his untimely doath.
DEATH OF JOHN G. SALNAVE.
John Gilbert Salnave was killed by the kick of a horse, Monday, August 31, 1891. He was engaged at work with a team of horses for Dewit Eager and after feeding the animals at noon he passed behind one of them and to make it stand over, slapped it on the rump when the horse kicked, striking lim in the abdomain. He lingered between life and death until Tuesday, about twenty-four hours, when he passed away from his suffering. John was a single man, thirty-nine years, eight months and four days of age, a son of Mr. and Mrs. John D. Salnave who settled on a homestead in -L- precinct in 1869. H's father and mother having preceded him to rest, he left to mourn his untimely death, one borother, B. F. Salnave of North Che- mung, N. Y., and six sisters; Annett, wife of William Rumsey, Lucey A., wife of O. C. Fish, both of Beaver Crossing, Lydia M., wife of J. H. Waterman of Friend, Nebraska, Margaret J., wife of Paton Dillon, Lenora, wife of Chris. Maurer, and Pamelia Grace, wife of Edward C. Lanning, all of Lexington, Nebraska. His sisters and husbands were all in attendance at the funeral, September 3, 1891, cordcted by Rev. J. P. Ash.
276
HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
POISONING OF THE W. D. CAMP FAMILY.
One day in the latter part of May 1895, the family of W. D. Camp. residing one mile and a half north of Beaver Crossing, in -L- precinct, was poisoned by eating greens. Medical aid brought the older members of the family, Mr. and Mrs. Camp and his mother, Lucia Camp, through the affliction, but the three children were seriously effected and confined to bed several days, the younger one, Dwight, dieing from its effects, Monday, May 27, 1895.
LITTLE MERWIN TUCKER.
A very sad accident in the drowning of Merwin Tucker, small son of Mr. and Mrs. C. B. Tucker, of Beaver Crossing, occurred on July 19, 1914. He with his parents, playmates and friends assembled at the river just west of Beaver Crossing on a picnic and fishing outing, and amidst the exciting pleasure of the occasion, while with other children at some distance from his parents the unfortunate boy slipped and fell down a steep bank into the water and met his death before assistance could reach him. In the struggle of the father to rescue his boy, being unable to swim he was only saved from drowning by the assistance of others of the party. Merwin was born at Pleasanton, Nebraska, April 3, 1908, and was 6 years, 3 months and 26 days old at the time of his death.
"I connot say, and I will not say That he is dead. He is just away !
With a cheery smile and a wave of the hand, He has wandered into an unknown land,
And left us dreaming how very fair It needs must be, since he lingers there. And you-oh, you who the wildest yearn For the old time step and the glad return- Think of him faring on, as dear In the love of There as the love of Here; Think of him still as the same, I say; He is not dead; he is just -- away !"
FLOREN GEIGER.
Floren Geiger, a German farmer and an early settler in -L- precinct, went 10 Utica, Friday, June 16, 1894, after a load of lumber. He started home with his loaded wagon, setting on top of it using a keg of nails for a seat. When almost to his home, in going down a hil! the lumber slipped
277
HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY. NEBRASKA.
forward, striking and frightening the horses and they started to run. The keg of nails tipped with Mr. Geiger and he fell under the wagon, the wheels passing over his chest killed him instantly. He left a family of wife and children.
ALFERD PALMER.
Alfred Palmer, or more properly Alfred Street, was a very weak minded young man who had lived all of his life with Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Palmer, p.oneer homesteaders in -L- precinct. After Mr. Palmer's death in 1887, Alfred formed a habit of roaming over the neighborhood and would fre- quently forget the way home. He would enter anybodys house without the formality of knocking at the door. On March 30, 1896 he wandred to the residence of Patrick Smith, about three miles south-west of his home where he remained until early the next morning when he left to go home. Mr. Smith went nearly to his home with him and until he thought Alfred would find the ballance of the way, but he did not find his home and wan- dered around until he got onto the Northwestern rail road track just ahead of the south bound freight train. This was a new sight to him and he was seen, by the engineer, advancing towards it. Thinking the man would step to one side the engineer paid no attention until nearly to him when he be- came alarmed and reversed his engine, throwing on all the breaks in an effort to stop the train and at the same time giving the warning whistle. The man continued to advance until within a few yards of the engine, throwing his arms in an uninteligible manner and then turned to run the other way, but did not leave the track. He made but a few steps when the front guard struck him and he fell back upon the cow catcher, striking his head against the front end of the engine, crushing his skull. The train crew picked him up and took him on to Beaver Crossing and Dr. Doty was sum- moned, but found him past all human help. He was placed in the depot where he remained nearly all day before anybody was able to recognize him. Undoubtedly Alfred was acting in the strange way he did, and throwing his arms so misteriously to banter the train for a race, and had no idea it could catch him.
LEONARD WEIBLY.
Leonard Weibly, of Cordova was drowned in the West Blue river while bathing with companions, July 8, 1893. It was thought that he was taken with a cramp while in deep water and it being dark, in the evening his com_ panions were not aware of his condition until too late to render him assist- ance. He was 34 years, 1 month and 2 days. of age.
278
HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY. NEBRASKA.
FRED FEIGIN KILLED.
Fred. Feigin, a farmer residing two miles south of Seward, an early set- tler, was killed by a train of cars upon which he had been a passenger to Tamora. He had arrived at Tamora when the accident happened and it was thought that in trying to get off of the car before the train stopped he had been thrown under the wheels, but it is probable that he lost his bal- lance and fell off of the platform between the cars, the rear car running over him. He had been a resident of Seward county for thirty years. A wife and two children were left to mourn his untimely death.
DROWNED.
While bathing in the river just south of Beaver Crossing, Emil Martsen, a young man, was drowned, June 19, 1898.
In August 1899, Clifford Heizart, a boy about fifteen years old, resident of Beaver Crossing, was drowned in the river, west of the village. He was subject to fits and was at the river alone and it was thought that he fell in the water while in a fit.
William TJarks, a young man seventeen years old, of Dunbury, Ne- braska, in company with Emil Honbrock. a young man of the same place and Wm Sherwood of -L- precinct, were in the river bathing, just south of the depot at Beaver Crossing, July 7, 1893, when young TJarks started to wade accross the stream and when near the middle he stepped into deep water and was drowned. His companions both being unable to swim could render no assistance.
Near Mayrsville, in -C- precinct, in June, 1882, a young man named Mentz, while plowing corn, was dragged into the millpond by his team. and was drowed with his horses.
Leonard Goettler, a young man, was drowned while bathing in a creek four miles south-west of Seward, June 12, 1887.
Peter Gerken was drowned in the river just south of Sewaod, July 15, 1874, while bathing.
Tim Lacker fell into the river at Milford while fishing and was drown- ed, June 15, 1901.
James Arnell, an old soldier inmate of the Soldiers Home at Milford was drowned in the river near the Home, Sunday, April 13, 1913.
John Cavanaugh, another comrade inmate of the Soldiers Home at Mil_ ford, was drowned in the river near the Home, December 13, 1913.
279
HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY. NEBRASKA.
REV. WILLIAM MURPHY.
Rev. Father Murphy, pastor of the Catholic church at Beaver Crossing was killed about two miles north-west of that village, by the overturning of his automobile, November 7, 1913. He was driving fast and overtaking a buggy he made an effort to pass it and turned into a deeb ditch which caus- ed the accident. Rev. Murphy was well known throughout Nebarska, and held in high esteem by the general public, regardless of religious creeds. His aim seemed to consist in living a true christian life and to do good to any and all whom he came in contact with.
SHOOTING ACCIDENT.
Alfonzo Mellick, a thirteen year old boy who resided with his parents on a farm south of Pleasant Dale, accidently shot himself while irving to mount a horse with a loaded gun. He was away from home and failing to return his father searched for him, finding his dead body, Saturday after- noon, February 15, 1902.
WILLIAM ALLISON KILLED.
William Allison, son of Mr. and Mrs. L. L. Allison, 1869 homestead settlers in -K- precinct, who spent the greater part of his life in Seward county, was accidently killed by an engine in the railway yards in West Lincoln, Saturday, July 15, 1905. He was employed by the B. & M. rail road company and was on duty at the time of the accident. A father and two brothers survived him, his mother having died some time previous.
KILLED IN HARVEST FIELD.
Herman Webermeir was the victim of a fatal accident in his harvest field July 25, 1903. He was running a harvester and something got out of or- der with the harness on one of the horses and he stepped out on the tongue of the machine between the horses to fix the harness, which frightened them and they started to run, he falling to the ground in front of the ma- chine which passed over his body. He died that evening at eleven o'clock. Mr. Webermeir was a resident of -N- precinct where he owned a large farm and was a progressive and prosperous farmer. He left a family.
NICK SPRINGER. .
On October 3, 1915, Nick Springer, twenty-one years old, son of Val- entine Springer, residing eight miles south-east of Seward, was found dead in the Blue river near his home. He had gone hunting and had been riding in a boat and when he picked up the gun to leave the boat it was thought it was accidently discharged, the ball entering his head.
280
HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
FROZEN TO DEATH-
January 15, 1893, a German gentleman, named Schull, about seventy years of age, residing near Milford, started to walk up the railroad track from East Milford to attend the dedication of a new German Lutheran Church near Ruby, about six miles distant. He did not reach the church and after the close of the services his dead body was found, frozen stiff, within about half a mile of it. He was in feble health and it was thought that he had become exhausted by the walk facing a cold north wind and set down, frezing to death.
THE SCHULTZ TRAGEDY.
The most heart rending accident known in Seward county occurred near Goehner, Wednesday evening, October 30, 1903. F. Schultz went to the field, a short distance from his house, to mow some grass, and un- observed by him, his almost infant daughter followed him and thinking to play a joke upon him, hid in a bunch of tall grass in the way of the cicle of the machine and her father was not aware that she was even in the field until the knives had run upon her and severed both of her feet. Physicians were soon in attendance and did all that was possible to save her life, but the little sufferer passed to the one who said "suffer little children to come unto me," in the early morning of the next day.
FIVE YOUNG MEN KILLED BY LIGHTNING.
On Sunday, July 6, 1899, five young men were riding in a buggy north of Staplehurst, when a storm overtook them and lightening striking their nig, killed all of them. Their names were: Victor Dobson, Ira Dobson, John Ames, Thomas Bidwell and Herman Egars. They lived in the vicinity of Staplehurst and were trying to reach home before the storm.
OTTO HALLSTEIN KILLED BY TRAIN.
Otto Hallstein, nineteen year old son of Mr. and Mrs. George Hallstein residing near Goehner, was instantly killed by a B. & M. railway train at the crossing one mile north of Seward, Wednesday morning, March 18, 1903. The young man had attended a dance at Bee and had taken Ada Wickersham to her home, about one mile and a half east of where the accident occurred, in his buggy, and then started for his home, and the re- turn of the horses there without the buggy or driver aroused suspicion of his friends and a brother who went to look for him found the vehicle torn to peices and the lifeless body of his brothet laying near the track. The horses were not injured.
281
HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
Claud Smith, a thirteen year old boy, started to cross the rail road in front of a train near Utica, May 28, 1887, and was run over and killed.
Frank D. Grant, son of an -N- precinct pioneer, was dragged to death by a runaway horse, his foot becoming caught in the stirrup of the saddle, July 24, 1879.
October 16, 1879, Miss Lizzie Welty, residing near Seward, lost her life by the accidental discharge of a gun.
A ten year old son of M. Minsell, of -A- precinct, was killed by the accidental discharge of a gun, November 18, 1897.
An accidental shooting occurred at Utica, November 8, 1898 by which a twelve year old son of Joseph Manweiler, of that place, lost his life.
Claudius Roberts, a Seward boy, was accidently shot and killed at Og- den, Utah, July 20, 1903.
April 20, 1901 a little son of Charles Dingman, of Seward, was burned to death; fire having accidently caught in his clothing.
July 9, 1901 a little son of Mrs. B. Robottom, living near Germantown was killed by the kick of a horse.
Charles Prest, of -H- precent was killed October 12, 1899 by a fall from a load of lumber.
In August 1899 Samuel Manley, of Seward, was killed in Montana by a bronco pony he was trying to ride. He was brought home to Seward for burrial.
Fredrick Beckman, a farmer residing near Germantown, was killed July 7, 1895, by the kick of one of the horses he was working with in his field.
William A. Thomas, a resident of Bee, lost his life on a street of Daven- port, lowa, where he was visiting friends, April 18, 1904, by being acci- dently thrown from a bicycle he was riding, in front of a street car. He was brought home to Bee and burried in one of the cemeteries at Seward.
On Sunday, June 4,1916, D. L. Adams, residing about a mile south-west of Beaver Crossing, sustained injuries in an automobile accident which re- sulted in his death fifteen days later. He was sixty-five years and two months of age. A wife and several sons and daughters survived him.
April 22, 1880, Ira Windall lost his life by being caught in the machin- ery in the mill at West Mills. He left a wife and two children to mourn the tragic death of a kind husband and father.
April 22, 1897, a young son of Loren Jensen, residing near Germantown was instantly killed by being thrown from and under a stalk cutter.
(Correct date of drowning of W'm. T Jarks. page 278. July 7,1911.)
282
HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY. NEBRASKA.
The seven year old son of William Teuscher, of . J- precinct was run over and killed by the water tank of a traction engine, Tuesday, November 6, 1906. The boy was at school and having been dismissed for recess was playing with other children around the machine. While trying to ride on the tongue of the wagon he fell off and before the engine could be stopped the wheels passed over his body.
W'm. J. Hannah an early settler in -L- precinct was kicked by one of his work horses in the abdomain, and after intense suffering for eleven days was relieved by death, August 23, 1912. A wife and several grown sons and daughters survived him.
Frank Hedge, a young man twenty-six years old, a resident of Seward. was drowned in the Blue river at that place, Friday, June 23, 1916, while bathing with a companion.
W'm. A. Pierce, a former Staplehurst boy, son of Mr. and Mrs. S. L. Pierce, early residents of that place, was' crushed by the cars at Ashland, Nebraska, Tuesday, May 23, 1906, and died shortly after the accident, aged twenty-three years. His remains were entered in a Seward cemetery.
W'm. D). Bowers, a pioneer settler in the city of Seward, and well known by a majority of Seward county settlers, was found dead in his bed April 27 1891. He had been in failing health several months.
Frank Oldenberg, for many years a resident of Seward, and familiarly known as "Dutch Frank," being for some time in failing health was cared for at the county poor farm where he was found on the morning of May 6, 1901, dead in his bed.
William Ladwig of Seward died November 25, 1914, from the effects of burns received twenty-four hours previous. His clothing caught fire from a blazing paper which blew against him while in an alley. He was one of Seward county's earliest pioneers, who had been a resident of it forty-five years. He was eighty-seven years of age. Two sons and two daughters survived him.
Fred Meyer, a farmer residing one mile north of Seward, received fatal injuries in a runaway accident near the Northwestern depot, Saturday, Oc- tober 31, 1903, from which he died the next day. The team was a pair of mules which became frightened at a railway train.
April 1, 1897, Ray Vance met an accidental death while attempting to board a moving train at Utica.
October 1, 1900, E. E. Mitchell, residing six miles north of German- town was killed by lightening.
283
HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
April 15, 1901, Mrs. Christiana Obermeyer, wife of W. B. Obermeyer of Beaver Crossing. lost her life in an Omaha hotel by asphyxiation from an open gass jet.
July 11, 1876, Lizzie Gray of -B- precinct was killed by a runaway horse.
February 5, 1900, a two year old child of Herman Langer, of Seward, was scalded to death, and March 5, 1900 a three year old child of L. G. Soverign, of Ruby, was burned to death.
SUICIDES OF SEWARD COUNTY CITIZENS.
" There is no class of unfortunates for whom there seems to be so much room for double sympathy as that class known as suicides. The frightful mental strain and anguish leading up to and prompting the act of self de- struction can only be understood by those who have yielded to its influence. And following this is the ending of the most precious gift God has given to humanity in some tragic and violent manner. The voluntary last sepera- tion from loved kindered and friends, together with the self willed "leap in the dark," down through the valley and shadow of death, cannot be attrib- uted to sanity nor charged against insanity as an offense. In the loss of reason may always be found a diseased brain which is no more offense than a diseased body, and in this misfortune lies the cause of the suicide's death.
Conrad Reush, while in a state of mental excitement, took his own life, at Pleasant Dale, April 15, 1899.
Phil Bridenbaugh, of -N- precinct, was the victim of self destruction, in a fit of despondency, July 9, 1900.
W. S. Wallick, an 1875 settler in -F- precinct, took his own life by · shooting himself in the temple with a 32-calibre revolver, at Tamora, Tues- day morning, March 10, 1914.
Fred Wimken, a farmer who resided six miles south-west of Utica, hung himself Friday morning, May 5, 1893. The cause for his act of self de- struction has never been understood. He was financially well fixed, out of debt and had no family or neighborhood trouble.
Harry A. French, a long time station agent at Utica, committed suicide by shooting himself at Ashland, Nebraska, Monday, April 5, 1915. His rash act was attributed to despondency over ill health.
John Doody, an early settler on the north-east quarter of section 22,-L- precinct, was found dead in his bed, January 13, 1878. He was a bachelor living alone, and his death was undoubtedly due to self administered poison.
284
HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY. NEBRASKA.
MRS. A. L. JOHNSTON.
Mrs. A. L. Johnston, an aged widow lady, living alone in Beaver Cross- ing, committed suicide by hanging herself in an outhouse of her home, Wednesday night, June 26, 1901. Her lifeless body was discovered hang- ing in front of the door, Thursday morning by Mrs. W. A. Wilsey who lived near Mrs. Johnstons home. Despondency over her lonleyness was evidently the cause of her act of self destruction. She was the mother of three sons all surviving her.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.