Henry Greve 1855-1911

GREVE

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 12/23/2016 at 10:11:20

3 March 1911 - The Lowden News

Henry Greve while working on the side track yesterday afternoon was instantly killed by a train which was backing up while switching. The unfortunate man had not noticed the cars slowly coming. Mr. Greve is 56 years old and for the past 23 years he worked on the railroad. He leaves his widow and 8 children the youngest 18 months and the oldest 17 years. All sympathize deeply with this sorrow stricken family.

The coroner was here yesterday evening and decided to hold the inquest tomorrow. Funeral will be held Sunday afternoon at 1:30 with services in the Evangelical church at Lowden.

Deceased was a member of the local lodge of the Modern Woodmen of America; in which order he carried $2000 life insurance.

We will give a more complete report next week.

March 10, 1911 - The Lowden News

As we reported last week, Henry Greve was instantly killed by a train while he was working at the switch on the side track at Lowden, when the local freight train was switching. Mr. Greve died at the age of 56 yrs, 1 month and 2 days.

Coroner's inquest was held Saturday. Coroner A. M. McCormick presided and county attorney, J. C. France, helped him to conduct the inquest. Two shorthand reporters, a representative of the railroad company and D. D. McGillivray, attorney, for the Greve family were in attendance. The coroner's jury was composed of Chas. Heiner, P. H. Jurgensen and J. H. Andresen. After the examination of witnesses the jury brought in a verdict of accidental death caused by regular train No. 39, while switching on the north passing track at about 3:30 p.m., March 2nd. Mr. Greve was engaged in the performance of his duty at the time.

Henry Greve was born at Estorf, Province Hannover, Germany, on January 28th, 1855. He came to America in 1882, worked on a farm near Lowden for six years and for the past 23 years he worked as section man on the North-Western Railroad. About 18 years ago he was married to his now sorrowing widow; beside the widow, there survive him to mourn his suddening death, six sons, two daughters and one brother.

Deceased was an industrious workman; he was known by his fellow laborers to have always been very careful in the guarding for trains during these many years of work on the railroad, but having kept a careful lookout for many thousand times, he was caught off his guard this one; it cost him his life. The cars backed onto him while he was busy at work, stooping down at the time, putting in pieces of wire as keys in the end of bolts, which are put in at switches to make sure that the burrs will not come off. There is more or less noise at the yards while trains are moving, so the calls to "look out" may not easily be heard.

Deceased was a member of the local M. W. A. Camp and carried $2000 life insurance in that order.

Funeral was held Sunday afternoon with services in the Evangelical church and interment in the Lowden cemetery. The large church was crowded full of sympathizing people. Rev. Werning conducted the services. Members of M. W. A. were largely in attendance and members of that order were pall bearers. Several beautiful floral pieces decorated the casket.