Soren Petersen

PETERSEN, PETERSON, THOMSEN, THOMSON, WHITNEY

Posted By: Lori Callaway (email)
Date: 10/15/2006 at 04:16:42

The Sabula Gazette
February 3, 1906

Soren Petersen Drops Dead.

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His Lifeless Body Found Beside
Railroad Track Opposite This

City Sunday Morning

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Soren Peterson, an industrious and
Respected citizen of this city was found lying cold in death beside the railroad tracks opposite this city last Sunday morning, and it was at first thought that he had been killed by a train, but later developments proved this suspicion untrue. Otis Allen, who works in the C.M. & St. P yard office in Savanna, was walking to his home in this city a little after seven o’clock Sunday morning and when about 400 feet north of the No.2 signal noticed the body of a man lying face downward between the east bound and westbound tracks. Mr. Allen went to where the body lay and finding that life was extinct, hurried to Sabula and notified the operator there. A number of men, among them Mr. Peterson’s son-in-law, D.G. Whitney, hastened to the body and found that it was Soren, Peterson, who shortly before had started to Savanna where he was employed as a janitor at the Burlington Bunk house. Appearances seemed to indicate that he had been killed by a train and this story gained circulation, but the true cause of his death was learned at the inquest held in Savanna, Monday morning. We give the following report of the inquest as it appeared in the Savanna Journal.

The coroner’s jury met at Savanna, Monday morning, and the testimony of Otis Allen, Dr. F.D. Ayers, Nels Petersen, and George Whitney was taken.

Dr. Ayers testified as to the condition of the body stating that he believed that death came from natural causes.
Otis Allen, who first found the body, stated that he left the Milwaukee yard office about 6:40 o’clock and found the body of Mr. Petersen lying about 300 to 400 feet east of signal No.2. The body lay between east and west bound track. Body lay with head toward Savanna, face down. Dinner pail stood about 15 feet from body. Ground was not disturbed. Noticed bruise on forehead. Pail was not upset. Clothes were buttoned up in good shape.

The verdict of the jury in substance was that Mr. Petersen came to his death on the 28th day of January A.D., 1906 about 6:40 a.m., by dropping dead from natural causes. Further, from the evidence they believe the C.M. & St.P Ry Co. did not in any way contribute to cause of death and is in no way liable for said Peterson’s death.

The jurors were C.H. Pinckney, E.A.Fosler, J.N. Whisler, Owen Smith, E. Hammerschmidt, and J.M. Clement.

Soren Petersen was born in Egtved Denmark on December 9, 1849, and was married to Miss Margaret Thompson at Egtved on February 9. 1875. They came to America in 1880 settling in Sabula on the 13th day of June. Here they have since resided and Mr. Peterson was well liked by all of his acquaintances. He has been working at different railroad positions in Savanna for twenty years and for the past four years has been janitor of the C.B. & Q bunk house, where he numbered every fellow workman as a friend.
Besides his wife he leaves six children to mourn his death. They are Peter of Stockton, Ill, James of Green Island, and Andrew C., Mrs. D.G. Whitney, Nels and Thomas of this city. The funeral was held Tuesday and was in charge of the Nordens Brodre Society of which deceased was a member. Rev. Faber preached the sermon and the remains were laid to rest in Evergreen cemetery.