Carl Svennen ?-1895

SVENNEN, SWENNEN, SWENHEIM, SVENNUEM, NELSON, JOHNSON

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 3/17/2014 at 21:28:17

Killed by the Cars
Carl Swenheim [Svennen], a young Norwegian who formerly lived here, was killed Sunday [July 14, 1895] morning on the tracks at West Bend. But few of the particulars concerning his death are known as the affair occurred at night and the body had lain for several hours when discovered. Young Swenheim, who was a brother-in-law to Knute Nelson, left here about a week ago to go down the road where he was employed on the railroad as a section hand.

It is thought that he started back Saturday evening to spend Sunday here, that in some way or other he missed the regular passenger train at West Bend, and that in undertaking to board the caboose of the midnight freight, he was thrown under the wheels and killed. A later train must have passed over the body as the remains were horribly mangled.

The body was found about five o’clock in the morning and a letter on his person indicated that he had relatives here. These were telegraphed and the remains sent here for burial. The funeral occurred Monday and the remains were laid away in the Norwegian cemetery north of town. (Northern Vindicator, Estherville, IA, July 18, 1895)

Fearful Accident
On Sunday morning the body of Carl Swennen was found on the railroad track near West Bend cut in two by the train and otherwise fatally mangled. The unfortunate boy was a nephew of Henry Johnson, of Ellsworth township, and brother of Mrs. Canute Nelson of this place and had lived here about four years. He had been employed as section hand on the B.C.R. & N. and at the time of his death was working at Bode and was coming here on the train, probably to spend Sunday with his relatives. It is not known how the accident occurred. His remains were brought to this place Monday for interment and the funeral was held the same day. (Estherville Democrat, Estherville, IA, July 17, 1895)

Per his sister’s (Engeborg A. Svennen Nelson) obituary:

The deceased was born June 25, 1873 at Bergen, Norway, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Knute Svennuem [Svennen per husband's obituary], and grew to young womanhood there.