DUFFY, James E. 1861-1899

DUFFY, MURRAY, TRACY, HALL, MURPHY

Posted By: S. Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 1/23/2012 at 16:04:44

Waukon has suffered a great loss the past week in the accidental death of James E. Duffy, cashier of the citizen's State Bank.

Saturday afternoon D.J. Murphy and Mr. Duffy left Waukon to attend the national convention of Foresters at Burlington, Vt., this week. They took supper at the railroad hotel, and when "all aboard" was called Mr. Duffy was belated in starting for his train. From the 'Standard' we glean the following account as given it by John Duffy, a cousin of deceased:

Mr. Duffy caught onto the railing of the front platform of the last car with his right hand, having his satchel in his left; lost his balance and fell on his knees, then his legs slipping down he fell between the car and the station platform. The axle boxes caught and dragged him along twenty to twenty-five feet, his body being badly crushed rendering him unconscious. As the front trucks left him he was pulled part way out before the rear truck caught and dragged him down again, with is head on the rail, when the axle box caught his shoulder and dragged him along again before it let go when the wheel struck his head and pushed him from the rail.

When the train stopped he laid unconscious between the rails about ten feet to the rear of the car. He was taken to the Ryan House in McGregor as soon as possible where Dr. H.H. Clark and Dr. Duflin of Guttenberg, and Father O'Donnell of McGregor did all in their power to save him. In about an hour and a half he regained consciousness and continued so most of the time until shortly before his death which came about 6:30 Sunday evening.

With the assistance of his attorney, Mr. Murphy, he made his will and talked of the business of the bank, evincing pleasure in the fact that he left its affairs brought up in good shape to date, and gave instructions and directions as to what should be done. In the meantime his wife and sisters had been notified. Mrs. Duffy, accompanied by her brother-in-law, J.M. Murray, arrived there by team from Waukon at 9 o'clock Sunday morning; his sister, Miss Alice, arrived from Decorah at 3:30 in the afternoon, and his son Leo, accompanied by Mrs. Murray, J.F. Tracy and Emmet Hall arrived at 7 in the evening.

The body was brought to Waukon on Monday morning's train, received by the Foresters' Court and a large number of citizens and taken to the family residence. The funeral was held Tuesday under the direction of the Foresters at the Catholic church, and was one of the largest ever attended in the county, more than 200 teams being in the procession. His remains were laid to rest in Mount Olivet cemetery.

Mr. Duffy was born at Cherry Mound, this county, November 22, 1861, and at the time of his death was 37 years, 6 months and 26 days old. Many are the expressions of sympathy for the bereaved family by friends in this community. He leaves a wife, three sons, two daughters, his aged mother and three sisters to mourn the departure of a loving husband, father, son and brother.

~The Graphic (Postville)
June 22, 1899

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Added by Joy Moore, 9/28/2020:

Source: Decorah Republican June 22, 1899 P 4 C 2

TRAGIC DEATH OF JAS. E. DUFFY.
Crushed between Car and Platform at North McGregor and Dies from his Injuries.

Last Saturday evening J. E. Duffy, brother of Miss Alice Duffy of the Valder school of this city, and cashier of the Citizens State Bank of Waukon, was crushed between a car and the platform of the Milwaukee depot at North McGregor, receiving injuries from which he died on Sunday. We quote liberally from a special to the 'Dubuque Times' of Tuesday:

Mr. Duffy left Waukon on the 6 o’clock train for Burlington, Vermont, to attend a national gathering of the Foresters as well as to visit relatives at New York and other eastern cities. At North McGregor he repaired to the dining station for supper. The twenty minutes alloted for supper had elapsed and the train began to move out before he was aware of its departure. He rushed from the dining station, satchel in hand, and attempted to mount the steps between the two coaches. He grasped the hand rail, but missed his footing and his legs dropped between the step and platform. He retained his hold to prevent his being crushed beneath the wheels, but in an instant his body be­came squeezed in the narrow space be­tween the steps and plank ends and in this position he was dragged a distance of thirty feet or more.

The train was stopped and he was taken aboard in a semi-conscious con­dition and carried to McGregor where he was removed to the Ryan house and placed in the care of the railroad com­pany’s physicians. At first it was thought his injuries were not danger­ous, but internal injuries about the abdomen became manifest and Mr. Duffy died at 7:20 o’clock Sunday even­ing. His wife and a son were at his bedside when the end came. The sad affair is the sole topic of the hour and the emotion over it is intensified as is recalled the fact that three brothers have met with tragic deaths within the past ten years.

Deceased was 40 years of age and this county has been his home since birth. For ten years be was engaged in the mercantile business with his father and brother. Upon the organization of the Citizens’ bank he was employed as as­sistant cashier, later being advanced to cashier, a position he was holding at the time of his death. He has served in various positions of honor and trust in school and municipal affairs, and was the present state treasurer of the Catholic Order of Foresters.