Galer, Michael Henry died 1907

GALER, ROBBINS

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 8/5/2021 at 20:31:25

Elkader Register, Thur., 18 Apr. 1907. Local News columns.

The remains of Henry, the son of Wm. Galer, of Cox Creek twp., and a nephew of Mrs. Chas. Robbins, arrived here yesterday noon and were taken to Cox Creek, where the funeral was held today. The young man was killed by the overturning of the stage he was driving from Bloomington to Bridgeport, Wis.

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Added by S. Ferrall:

Michael Henry Galer, who has been driving the stage between Bloomington and Bridgeport the past two months was killed Monday afternoon about five o'clock at a point one and one-fourth miles this side of Bridgeport, on the piece of road known as the "dugway," because it was built along the side of a hill.

The stage was heavily loaded with 21 cases of eggs, there bring no passengers, and Galer was trying to avoid a deep mud hole at the point above mentioned. The road is very narrow at this point, and in trying to drive around the hole he got too far up the hill, when the stage tipped over.

It is supposed that when he saw the rig was about to tip Galer jumped, and when he struck the ground stumbled and fell. At the instant he jumped his team must have plunged forward, as when the heavy stage tipped the center of it caught Galer and buried him in the mud, the principal weight falling on his chest and hips.

Another plausible explanation [is] that he was walking beside the stage and could not get out of the way when it tipped. At any rate, he was found under the stage by Alex Frederick, of Prairie du Chien, who drove up to the scene of the accident but a minute or two after it happened.

Mr. Frederick did all in his power to extricate Galer from his position, but was unable to do much alone and not until several men came along in fifteen or twenty minutes was there enough help to right the stage and get Galer out.

Life was practically extinct by this time, however, and Dr. Jefferson of Patch Grove who arrived about an hour after the accident happened, found that the man was dead. Both legs were broken, the ribs torn away from the spial column, and other severe internal injuries sustained.

Galer was twenty-one years old and had made his home at Bridgeport for about two years. He had a pleasant disposition, was industrious, and had many friends who will greatly regret this untimely death.

His body was shipped from Bridgeport, Tuesday, to his former home at Mederville, Iowa, where the funeral services will be held.

He is survived by his father, three brothers and two sisters.

~Elkader Register, Thursday, April 25, 1907; pg 3