COLEMAN, Henry (died 1907)

COLEMAN

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 5/12/2013 at 16:56:21

Henry Coleman of Charles City, Iowa, died in a train crash at Norris Siding, near Cedar Falls, Iowa, on September 6, 1907.

The train was a Rock Island passenger train. Fifteen people were killed. Many had their heads severed from their bodies. All deaths occurred in the smoker car, which was crushed by the floor and roof of the baggage car, acting as a wedge.

Apparently the train was going "like H-ll" on a 35 mph curve when the crash happened.

An excerpt from the Waterloo Courier newspaper, concerning Mr. Coleman specifically, is a follows:

"HENRY COLEMAN

"Among the unidentified dead was the body of a man in whose possession was a bank book on a bank at El Reno, Oklahoma, in favor of Mrs. Henry Coleman. The remains were identified Saturday morning by H. H. Merrill, of Charles City, as those of his brother-in-law, Henry Coleman, a farmer living five miles southeast of Charles City. Mr. Coleman had been in Oklahoma looking after the business interests of his sister. Deceased had been making his home with his father on the farm. The body was taken home Saturday afternoon for burial."

Waterloo Daily Courier, Sat., Sept. 7, 1907.

See the newspaper for extensive information concerning the crash.