George Coleman Misener 1863-1909

MISENER, MEISNER, ANDERSON, WEE

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 6/5/2013 at 22:13:50

Conductor Misener Killed
Instant Death Bereaves a Wife Lying at Death’s Door and a Young Babe
Special to the Capital
Estherville, Feb. 28 – George Misener, one of the popular freight conductors of the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern railroad was instantly killed at Ocheyedan yesterday. He was standing on the track checking up his book when the train backed up on him and knocked his down, cutting the top of his head off. His body was removed to this city this morning, where he had made his home for some time. Mr. Misener was one of those railroad boys who are popular wherever known. A wife at death’s door in a hospital and a young babe are left to mourn him. (Des Moines Capital, Des Moines, IA, February 28, 1901)

Conductor Misner Killed
Struck by the Cars While Switching at Ocheyedan and Instantly Killed
Word was received here Wednesday evening of the sudden death of George Misner, a freight conductor on the B.C.R.&N. between this place and Sioux Falls, which occurred at Ocheyedan at 4:30 that afternoon by falling under a train in such a manner that his head was severed from the body. His train was due to leave here at eight a.m. on Wednesday morning but was held until one p.m. on account of several emigrants coming in from the south, billed to northern points. He left here in the best of humor, having just received the welcome news that his wife, who has been confined in the Red Cross Hospital from the effects of an operation for several weeks, would be able to be up on the following day. At Ocheyedan his train was sidetracked for the evening passenger coming south and was doing some switching in the yards while waiting. He was standing on a crossing of a side track checking up his switch list, when the passenger came thundering by and did not see nor hear the approaching of his own train. He was struck by a freight car in such a manner as to fall directly across the rail and the wheels of the car completely decapitated his body. Four cars passed over him before he was noticed by Brakeman Denham. His body was brought here Thursday morning and funeral services were held in the Presbyterian church Saturday morning, conducted by the Knights of Pythias of which deceased was a member. Interment was made in the Wallingford cemetery and the B.C.R.&N. placed a funeral train at the disposal of the O.R.C. boys and the many friends , and nearly two hundred went to Wallingford by train and from there to the cemetery by team, following the remains to their last resting place. Two sisters from Cleveland, O., were the only relatives present at the funeral.

Deceased was thirty-eight years of age at the time of his death and had been in the employ of the company for nearly ten years and all of this time had been a resident of Estherville. He was considered one of the best railroad men on the division. He leaves a wife and one child to mourn his untimely death. He carried $1,000 insurance in the order of Railroad Conductors and $500 in an accident company at Cedar Rapids. (Estherville Democrat, Estherville, IA, March 6, 1901)

What might have been a most distressing accident in the Geo. Misner funeral procession on the hill east of Wallingford Saturday afternoon, was only averted by prompt assistance from men in other vehicles next to the one where the accident occurred. It was a two-seated carriage in which four women and a driver were riding. The roads were very muddy and in going up a very steep rise in the hill the horses both fell rolling to the left, breaking the buggy pole and a wheel. Fortunately the buggy was not upset and the occupants were gotten out uninjured. The horses were tangled together in such a way that both had to be unharnessed before they could get on their feet. (Estherville Democrat, Estherville, IA, March 6, 1901)

Meisner Funeral
The funeral of Conductor George Meisner who was killed at Ocheyedan last Wednesday was held from the Presbyterian church Saturday morning at ten o’clock Rev. W.M. Evans, of Cedar Rapids officiating. The body was taken to the Wallingford cemetery for burial, a special train being run by the B.C.R. & N. to convey the remains and all who desired to go. (Emmet County Republican, Estherville, IA, March 7, 1901)

Note: Ethel Amelia Misener Wee was born March 3, 1899 and Merle G. Misener was born July 9, 1901
George Misener married Katie Anderson in 1895