Herman Peterson, died 1909

PETERSON

Posted By: Clay County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 11/3/2011 at 11:51:17

KILLED IN RAILWAY WRECK

Herman, the 19 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Hans Peterson, of this city, received injuries Saturday evening in a railway wreck from which he died the same night. He was breaking on the Milwaukee gravel train, the gravel being near Charles City. At the time of the accident the train was backing into the town of Basset. Some Italians who had been working the line had a hand car on the ___ when they saw the train backing up they tried to take the hand car off the track, but only succeeded in getting it turned crossways when the train struck it. The caboose, in which Peterson and others were riding, was derailed and rolled down an embankment, killing one man and injuring Mr. Peterson so severely that he died the same night. Mr. and Mrs. Peterson were notified by telegram and left the same night for Mason City, where Herman had been taken to a hospital, but he died before their arrival.

The remains were brought to Spencer on Monday morning's train. Funeral services, conducted by Rev. holm(?), were held at the home yesterday at 1 o'clock p.m., and at the Danish Lutheran church at 2 p.m.

Herman was born in Lincoln township, this county, and when a small boy removed with the family to Spencer. The father is section foreman on the M. & St. L. and Herman worked some on that road. He began working for the Milwaukee road about three months ago. Besides his parents he leaves ten brothers and sisters to mourn his sudden death.

Source: The Spencer News, Spencer, Clay County, Iowa; September 16, 1909.