Oleson, Thomas -- Died 1869

OLESON

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 4/24/2013 at 10:16:53

Iowa Plain Dealer June 11, 1869, P3 C2

ACCIDENT AND DEATH. -- A terrible accident occurred to a family of Norwegians, emigrating from Decorah, to Sioux Falls, on Tuesday last, at the R. R., crossing near the residence of Mr. Libby, four miles east of this place. As the noon freight going east approached the crossing an ox team with wagon attached went over the crossing leaving the wagon on the track, and from fright or some other cause, stopped, and though the whistle was repeatedly and continuously sounded, remained standing, the passing train striking the wagon, crushing it to atoms, breaking the hip of one ox, and throwing the boy driving the team, Thomas Oleson, son of Iva Oleson, at least sixty feet, producing injuries that resulted in death in a few hours. the strangest part of the occurrence was that a little girl about four years old who was in the wagon with her brother was thrown nearly six rods and escaped uninjured. As the approaching train could have been distinctly seen for more than a mile, the wonder is how he came to go onto the crossing with it so near.