Stephen Hitchcock 1878-1917

HITCHCOCK, CASSIDAY, FRYER, HILL, HENRY, DEBAUL

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 5/23/2021 at 17:43:29

13 February 1917 - The Clinton Advertiser page 1

MAN CAUGHT BY SHAFT, KILLED AT PAPER MILL
STEPHEN LEROY HITCHCOCK MEETS TERRIBLE DEATH
WAS OILING A PULLEY
Accident Occurs About Nine O'clock Monday Night--Lived at 400 North Second Street, Clinton
Stephen LeRoy Hitchcock, aged 39 years, of 400 North Second street, was killed last night at the Ford Manufacturing company, paper mill, having been caught by some shafting and crushed.

The accident happened at about 9 o'clock, while Mr. Hitchcock was oiling the pulley. He leaned over the shaft to put some oil on a pulley and his jacket caught in the shaft, and pulled him in, crushing his side. He called for assistance, and his brother, James, also an employee, was the first to reach his side. He was released from the shaft, but was nearly dead. A physician was called and he was taken to the company office, but died immediately after reaching there.

Coroner M. E. Anderson was called, and after he had gone over the situation, the body was turned over to the undertaker. An inquest will be held at 8 o'clock this evening.

Mr. Hitchcock was born at Green Island, Iowa, February 18, 1878 and lived there until about one year ago, when he moved to Clinton. For the past year he has been employed nights at the Ford Manufacturing plant.

He is survived by his wife, three brothers, Simon Cassiday, Green Island, and William Hitchcock, Green Island and James Hitchcock, Clinton. His mother, Mrs. Mary Cassiday of Green Island and four sisters, Mrs. Ida Fryer, Green Island, Mrs. Julia Hill, Wisconsin, Mrs. Rose Henry, Green Island, Mrs. Jane DeBaul, Canada.

The funeral will probably be held Friday afternoon from his late home, 400 North Second street. The body will be taken to Green Island for burial.

14 February 1917 - The Clinton Advertiser page 6

That the death of the late Stephen Hitchock was due to injuries received when his clothing was caught by the remnant of a pully on a line shaft at the Ford Manufacturing company's plant was the verdict of a jury impaneled Tuesday night to investigate the circumstances of the Clinton man's death. The coroner's jury added that this pulley remnant caught the man's clothing, and his chest and abdomen were crushed by the pressure; and that the death was due to carelessness on the part of the company.

Coroner M. E. Anderson presided at the inquest, and the jurors were Levi Judd, Fred Petrie and D. C. Law. Eight witnesses were examined, including Dr. H. R. Sugg, Frank Frink, Ed Slate, Charles Meader, James Hitchcock, a brother of the deceased; W. J. Shadduck, Archie Dwyer and W. A. Walters.

The testimony showed that a remnant of an old pulley had been allowed to remain on the shaft, a part of one of the spokes extending two or three inches. This whirled with the shaft. Mr. Hitchcock was oiling the shaft when the spoke caught in his clothing, drawing him into the shaft. The tremendous pressure which resulted from his clothing winding up crushed his lungs and abdomen and caused his death.

The funeral of Stephen Hitchcock who was accidentally killed at the Lyons paper mill, will be held Friday afternoon at Green Island, where burial will be made.

15 February 1917 - The Clinton Advertiser page 6

The remains of the late Stephen Hitchcock who met a tragic death in the plant of the Ford Manufacturing company will be taken to the former home of the deceased in Green Island and where burial will be made on Friday afternoon.

17 February 1917 - The Clinton Advertiser page 6

Funeral services for the late Stephen Hitchcock were held Friday morning from the home, 407 North Second street, and the body was conveyed to Green Island, where services were held in the Green Island Congregational church at 11 o'clock, in charge of Rev. D. W. Phillips.

The remains were interred in the Hazend cemetery, north of Green Island and during the service at the Green Island church, Mrs. Anna Burnett, Earl Paup, Mrs. Mayme Chick and Mrs. Herman Krabbgenhofft sang four selections.

The pallbearers were Earl Paup, Albert Swigart, Joe Roe, Wm. Watts, George Schaefer and Jacob Palsmann.