HUNT, William

HUNT, MOHLER, BLACK

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 5/1/2006 at 15:25:19

"Fairfield Ledger", March 25, 1885, Pg. 3, Col. 4

CRUSHED BY AN ENGINE. Terrible Death of William HUNT on Monday last. Intelligence was brought to this city Monday evening of the terrible death by crushing in the fly wheel of an engine of William L. HUNT, a well known farmer of this county. Mr. HUNT lives about eight miles west of this city and for several years has been engaged in operating a threshing machine in addition to the usual run of farm work, and was generally considered to be an expert in that line of business and a careful man. Monday he was thresthing on the farm of Jacob MOHLER, a neighbor. He was using a steam thresher. A stiff breeze was blowing, and for safety and comfort the machine proper was placed in the barn, while the engine was a short distance away, with Mr. HUNT in charge of it. About 4 o'clock the belt was thrown off the machine and the men ran out to see what the trouble was. They found the engine stopped and Mr. HUNT lying with his head through the fly wheel and crushed to death. Mrs. MOHLER had seen him on top of the boiler, cleaning the smoke stack, and saw him slip and fall. At the time the fly wheel was making probably 160 revolutions per minute. He had falled head foremost, and the strain was so great as to break two spokes from the wheel and to bring all the machinery to a standstill. The body was terribly crushed about the breast and death was almost instantaneous. Mr. HUNT was about 37 years of age. He came here from Pennsylvania, and had lived in this county since boyhood. He was a soldier in Company C, 7th Iowa Cavalry. About eight years ago he was married to Miss Eletta BLACK, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W.C. BLACK, living west of this city, who survives him. He also leaves four children. During his long residence here he had won many warm friends by his industry and integrity as a good citizen and neighbor. The funeral occurs this afternoon, the remains being interred in this city.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.