Harley Addison Miller 1896-1929

MILLER, VESTRUM, VESTREM, JOSEPH, NOURSE, HAUSER, YOCH, KOSHER, SCHMIDT, WILCOX, MERRIOTT, EADS, EGGLESTRON, SHRINER

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 4/22/2011 at 00:53:49

Switchman Loses Life Under Train
Harley Miller Falls From Top of Car in Yards
Lives One Hour after Tragedy – Was on Duty at Iowa Falls
Harley Miller, 33, died early Thursday [November 14, 1929] morning at Iowa Falls of injuries which he sustained when he fell from the top of a freight car and under the wheels in the Rock Island yards at that place. One leg was cut off at the hip, and the heel of the other foot was cut off and the foot mangled and crushed. Mr. Miller who was a switchman in the Iowa Falls yards was setting a brake on top of the rear car of a string which was being shoved onto a side track. It was about one o’clock in the morning and everything was covered with a heavy frost. His hand slipped on the brake wheel, and he lost his footing, falling between the car and the one ahead.

The injured man was taken to the office of the concentration yards near where the accident occurred. A doctor was secured at once and he was taken to the hospital as soon as possible. Every means of surgical skill was taken to save the unfortunate man’s life but death came an hour later. He was conscious almost to the end and although he knew that he was seriously hurt yet he did not complain of any great pain except in his back.

Harley Addison Miller was born at Marion, Iowa, June 2, 1896. He had spent most of his time in Estherville and had been employed by the Rock Island for 14 years, 12 as a brakeman. Two years ago he transferred and had worked as a switchman in the Iowa Falls yards since then. During the World War he served as an enlisted soldier for 21 month, 18 months of the service overseas.

Mr. Miller was popular with his fellow employees and had hosts of friends. He was especially devoted to his young wife, to whom he was married on April 5, 1921, and was a kind and considerate son to his widowed mother who made her home at Iowa Falls with them most of the time. Besides the wife and mother, two brothers, Raymond of Fresno, Calif., and Donald E. of Chicago and three sisters, Mrs. Arthur Joseph, and Miss Hannah Mae Miller, of Cleveland, Ohio, and Mrs. Chas. Nourse of this city, survive.

A short prayer service was held Saturday at Iowa Falls and the body was brought to Estherville where the funeral services were held Monday afternoon from the Baptist church of which the deceased was a member. Rev. Frank Yearnd was in charge. Burial was made in Oak Hill cemetery.

Besides the hundreds of local people who were at the funeral services to pay last respects to the deceased young man, many out-of-town relatives and friends were here. Brothers and sisters who were here from a distance were Mr. and Mrs. Ray Miller and son of Fresno, Calif., Mrs. Arthur Joseph of Cleveland, Ohio, Miss Hannah Mae Miller of Cleveland, Ohio, and Don Miller of Chicago. Other relatives who came were Mr. and Mrs. Wm. C. Hauser and family and Clarence Yoch of Vinton, Iowa, Mrs. Preston Kosher of Belle Plaine, Roy Hauser of Cedar Rapids, Mrs. Geo. Schmidt and sons Paul, Otis and Harold, Mr. and Mrs. Dewey Wilcox and Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox and Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Merriott of Pine City, Minn., Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Yoch of Superior, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Yoch of Mitchell, S.D., Mr. and Mrs. Walter Eads of Worthington, Geo. Vestrem of Sibley, Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Eggleston, A. H. Vestrem, Mr. and Mrs. C. Shriner of Worthington and Mrs. Ed Schmidt and daughter of Spirit Lake. Friends who attended are Mr. and Mrs. Ray Atkinson of Emmetsburg, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Verink, Mr. and Mrs. Jess Mason, Mr. and Mrs. N. D. Larson, Mr. and Mrs. Abel Anderson and Andrew Anderson of Iowa Falls. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, November 20, 1929)

Harley Miller Fatally Hurt at Iowa Falls
Funeral services were held Monday afternoon for Harley Miller of Iowa Falls, former resident here, who was killed Thursday morning while switching in the Rock Island yards. The services were held in the Baptist church with the Rev. F. Yearnd officiating and burial was made in Oakhill cemetery.

Mr. Miller received injuries that proved fatal while setting brakes on a coal car in the Iowa Falls yards. His feet slipped and he fell between the cars. He was taken immediately to a hospital but died within a half hour from the injuries.

Harley Addison Miller was born June 2, 1896 at Marion. He spent most of his life here and was employed as a switchman here until two and a half years ago when he transferred to Iowa Falls. He was married April 5, 1921, to Miss Lena Vestrum of this city. Before moving here they were united with the Baptist church of Estherville.

Mr. Miller was an enlisted soldier and served 21 months in the World War, 18 months of which was overseas.

His death is mourned by his wife, his mother, Kate Miller, three sisters, Mrs. Arthur Joseph of Cleveland, O., Miss Hannah Mae Miller of Cleveland, O., and Mrs. Charles Nourse of this city and two brothers, Donald E. of Chicago and Raymond I. of Fresno, Calif.

The funeral was attended by a great many friends. Pallbearers were O. J. Spande, R. W. Myers, George Van Valkenberg, Jess Griffith, Joe Paul and Albert Mack of Swea City. (Estherville News, Estherville, IA, November 21, 1929)