Frightful Accident of Greenup Smith Family 1870

SMITH, JOHNSON

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 4/28/2006 at 21:35:52

Birmingham Enterprise
Birmingham, Van Buren, Iowa
Saturday, June 18, 1870

Frightful Accident.

On Sunday last, at about eleven o'clock, the family of Mr. Greenup Smith, residing some four miles north-west of this place, started in a wagon to go to church. The family consisted of Mr. Greenup Smith, Mrs. Greenup Smith, Mrs. Martha Johnson (Mrs. Smith's mother), Miss Sarah Lorena Smith (daughter), and Newton Smith, nephew of Greenup. Newton was driving. When they had gone about two miles from home, the horses became frightened at a roller that lay by the side of the road, and started to run. Newton pulled on the lines and broke the bridle bit of one of the horses. Jumping out of the wagon to catch the horses, his feet became entangled in the lines and he fell, barely escaping being run over by the wagon. Newton's fall caused additional fright to the horses and they started at full speed. Miss Smith by this time had hold of the lines, and turned the horses heads toward the fence. At the fence, the horses made a sudden turn toward the road, striking the wagon against the fence and running at full speed to the county line road, a distance of about two hundred yards. Here they made a square turn, throwing the wagon bed and its occupants a distance of about twenty-five feet.

Mr. Smith was very seriously hurt, but it is believed not fatally. He is yet confined to his bed, and it is thought will be for some time. He had a leg broken years ago, which had not got well, and was badly hurt in this accident, which is perhaps the most serious part of Mr. Smith's injuries. If the inflammation in this limb can be allayed and kept down, he will get along.

Mrs. Smith was thrown against a stake, and it is supposed that the wagon bed struck her on the small of the back, as her back was broken. One of her hips was mashed, and she was seriously injured internally. She died at about half-past 12 o'clock, an hour after the accident.

Mrs. Johnson's skull was fractured, and she was otherwise injured. She became insensible about half an hour after she was hurt, and remained in an insensible state until Wednesday morning at 1 o'clock when she died.

Miss Sarah Lorena was severely cut in the temple and had her limbs badly bruised. She is getting along well and will be well in a few days.

Newton was of course unhurt, as he was not in the wagon at the time of the upset.

Drs Norris and Talbott were both called and every attention medical and otherwise was paid to the unfortunate sufferers.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Johnson have for many years been worthy and acceptable members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Smith talked to her friends till about 15 minutes before she died telling them she would soon be in Heaven.

Mr. Smith is one of the first settlers of Jefferson county, having been a resident of the neighborhood where he now lives for twenty nine years. He is 63 years of age. Mrs. Smith was about 60; Mrs. Johnson was 85.

The funeral of Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. Smith will be preached at the Church two miles west of this place, one week from to-morrow by Rev. Mr. Cleaver, of Salem, if Mr. Smith is able to attend.