Strand, Charles Jacob 1858-1911

STRAND, ELDERKIN, ANDERSON, ROBERTS, HOLT

Posted By: Faye Cortright Hutchinson (email)
Date: 8/23/2006 at 20:05:43

The Cambridge Chronicle, Cambridge, Henry County, Illinois
Thursday, January 19, 1911

RUN OVER BY FREIGHT TRAIN

The following is taken from the Alpha Advance concerning the fatal accident that befell Charles J. Strand of Iowa, who was visiting relatives in Andover and vicinity:

Charles J. Strand, a farmer whose home was near New Hartford, Iowa was run over and instantly killed on Saturday, January 7, about ten o’clock a.m., while attempting to board the waycar of the westbound freight. The accident occurred near the east end of the depot. The unfortunate man came in on the passenger from the north and went up town returning to take the freight for New Windsor. When he stepped up on the platform, the conductor told him that if he intended going with them he must hurry and get aboard. When Mr. Strand attempted to board the waycar, the train had started and moved forward possibly two car lengths. He grasped the handrails on the front platform and apparently had one foot on the lower step of the car when the momentum of the car swung him partly around and his foot slipped off, when he dropped down between the car and the platform. The front truck of the car seemed to catch him and roll him under the car and left lying diagonally across the track, the truck passing over him and practically severing the limbs from the body. When the train passed the body was seen lying across the north rail of the track, the upper part of the body being between the rails. The conductor of the train was still on the platform when the accident happened and the train was at once stopped and backed up to the depot. When the train crew and others who saw the accident reached the body life was extinct and it is presumed that death was instantaneous. Dr. T. L. Daniels was summoned but upon arrival he could only re-iterate that the man was dead. The body was picked up and put on a truck in the freight room and the coroner John Johnson of Cambridge was at once notified. A letter from Albert Anderson was in the man’s pockets and a telephone message was sent to him at New Windsor; he arrived in Alpha about noon and at once identified the body as his half brother Charles J. Strand.

The first witness examined was A. C. Anderson, the auctioneer, of New Windsor. Mr. Anderson was not an eyewitness to the accident, his testimony being taken to establish the identity of the deceased. He stated that the deceased was his half brother Charles J. Strand of New Hartford, Iowa at which place he had resided about three years, that he was a farmer, and about 55 years of age. The deceased was married and left a wife and four children – two sons and two daughters – the youngest son being about 18 years of age. He had relatives near Andover and was a brother-in-law of John Holt who resides on the M. A. Boltenstern farm in Lynn Township. About six weeks ago Mr. Strand was in this vicinity to attend the funeral of his uncle A. M. Anderson who died at Woodhull.

Mr. Strand owned a 240-acre farm near New Hartford, but owing to his physical condition, he desired to quit farming and his trip at this time was to look up a location. He carried life insurance to the amount of $5,000.00. Mrs. Strand arrived in Alpha, Sunday morning, and two sons arrived on later trains. The funeral services were held at the home of John Holt, near Andover Tuesday at 12’oclock, conducted by Rev. Theodore Moberg, pastor of the Andover Methodist church, all of the members of the family having arrived for the funeral. The floral offerings were numerous and very beautiful. Interment was made in the Andover cemetery.
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Charles Jacob Strand Obituary

The Cambridge Chronicle, Cambridge, Henry County, Illinois
Thursday, January 19, 1911

Charles Jacob Strand was born in the city of Galesburg, Feb. 16, 1858. He was married to Caroline Nelson, Sept. 28, 1877. In their union was born six children: Edwin, Ella, Elmer, Effie, Charles and Esther, wife of Charles Elderkin of Cedar Falls, Iowa, two having preceded their father, Ella in 1884, and Edwin in 1906. The wife and four children remain to share the full measure of sorrow over Mr. Strand’s terrible and untimely accident in death at Alpha, Ill. Jan., 7th, which was the most disastrous shock to mother and children. The funeral was held from the home of his brother-in-law John Holt in Lynn and the M. E. Cemetery of Andover, Rev. Theo. Moberg, officiating. The family arrived on Sunday and Monday to witness the last sad rites of a loved father. His early days as a young man were spent on the farms in Andover and vicinity. After his marriage he farmed here until 1885, when he moved to Concord, Neb. In 1902 he moved with his family to Platte, South Dakota, and in 1908 to New Hartford, Iowa where he owned 240 acres and resided at his death. He had a public sale on what he did not need on his farm, shortly before death, and came to Illinois to buy a small farm for himself and youngest son and let the other children run the farm in Iowa. Mr. Strand was well and favorably known in Andover and vicinity. He never belonged to any church, but contributed with loving hand to the support of churches, Sabbath schools wherever he was, especially to the maintenance of M. E. Church here. He was a good neighbor and a good husband and father. Social and entertaining to all friends and those who chanced to have anything to do with him. He leaves a half brother, Albert Anderson of New Windsor and Frank Anderson near Galesburg and one half sister, Mrs. Emily Roberts, also near Galesburg. The pallbearers were: Frank Carlson, Emil Dahlberg, Chas. R. Holtman, John S. Peterson, Frank Anderson and Chas. Gorman. Peace be in his memories.