DuBOIS, Nathaniel S. 1850 - 1892

DUBOIS, MARCY

Posted By: Deborah Brownfield - Stanley (email)
Date: 1/30/2005 at 23:55:36

"The Fairfield Ledger"
Wednesday, July 6, 1892
Page 3, Columns 6 & 7

Killed on a Railway Crossing.

Nathaniel Du BOIS, a well known farmer living a mile north of the city, was killed by a Rock Island construction train Saturday afternoon about 2 o'clock on the highway crossing just north of Parsons College. Mr. Du BOIS was driving to town on the running gears of a wagon and approached the crossing from the north. The train which struck him was westward bound, the tender in advance, the cars being pulled from the front of the engine. It must have been running at a considerable rate of speed, for after the crash and with the horses and wagon both acting as a brake a stop could not be made until the Crow creek bridge was reached. It is probable that the horses were on the crossing when the collision occurred. Indications go to show that they were knocked thirty or forty feet by the shock and then dragged for some distance before they were released by the breaking of the harness and dropped into the ditch on the south side of the track. The body of Mr. Du BOIS lay to the north of the rails perhaps a hundred feet from the crossing, while the wagon was carried ten or fifteen feet further and was broken into kindling wood. The injuries of the unfortunate man were of such a character that death must have been instantaneous. His forehead was frightfully crushed, and one arm and leg were mangled by the cars. From the spot near the small culvert just west of the crossing, where the body first struck the ground, bits of flesh and blotches of blood marked the rails and ties. From the crossing west for nearly a hundred feet on the north side of the track the ground was plowed up by the wreck of the wagon as the train had pushed it along, while on the other side near the crossing the soft earth showed where the horses had been dragged. One horse was instantly killed and the other lived but a short time.

News of the accident soon reached town and a great crowd of people hurried to the crossing. Sheriff Crane took charge of the body and turned it over to Acting Coroner J. D. Pickett. After a jury had been impaneled, the remains were given to the undertaker, brought to this city and prepared for burial.

The inquest proper was held Monday morning with Messrs. J. S. Gantz, B. F. Crail and Z. A. Held as jurors. Geo. Noel, conductor of the train which killed Mr. Du BOIS; J. W. Reed, foreman; J. T. Hull, engineer; J. W. Dunn, brakeman; D. M. Ferguson, a car repairer, and William Stroud, both of whom were on the train, were examined. The engineer, fireman and brakeman had each seen Mr. Du BOIS as he approached the crossing, and their statements were practically alike. They said that he sat on the running gears of the wagon facing the west, with his head bowed down as through in a study. They thought little of it, for people often drive close to the track before making a stop for a crossing. They made the usual sound of the whistle at the post east of the crossing and then lost sight of him for a moment. When next they saw him he was almost on the crossing and the engine not more than sixty feet away, but he gave no evidence that he saw the approaching train. The bell was rung and the whistle sounded for brakes, but it was too late, for the collision came in an instant.

A. A. and C. D. Hough, two young men living north of town, were between the railway crossing and the wagon bridge over Crow creek when the accident occurred. They saw the train when it was near the whistling post, had also seen Mr. Du BOIS approaching the crossing, and they knew that he was in danger. They immediately drove back to the crossing, reached it before the trainmen did and found that their worst fears had been realized. They declared before the coroner that they did not hear the engine whistle until it was on the crossing and gave the signal for brakes.

Other parties who were behind Mr. Du BOIS, some of whom he had passed on the road and spoken to, describe his position on the wagon much as the railroad men give it. Some of them state that the train made the usual signals at the Light crossing further east and also for the crossing where the accident occurred. The wind was blowing in such a direction as to carry the sound away from a person at the crossing, and had sound alone been depended upon for safety the accident might have occurred to one who was listening for the noise of a train. The train men state that they were running at a rate of fifteen to twenty miles per hour, and that no steam was used in coming down the grade. The evidence of other parties who saw the train is to the same effect. Still it appears that even that rate of speed was too great for public safety when backing a train of fourteen cars with the tender ahead. The crossing is, like many others, a dangerous one, and requires due caution on the part of railway men as well as of travelers on the highway. This is the second accident of the kind that has occurred at this point within a few years past, Frederick Funston being seriously injured while approaching it from the south.

The coroner's jury returned a verdict in accordance with the evidence noted above, without reference to responsibility for the unfortunate affair.

Nathaniel Du BOIS was a son of the late John W. Du BOIS, and was born and grew to manhood in this county. He was married a few years ago to Cornelia, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John MARCY, and their home has always been but a short distance from the place where the husband met such a frightful death. Three children were born to them. The oldest is now a boy of five years, the youngest a babe of six months. Mr. Du BOIS was in the forty-second year of his age. He was a man of quiet manner, industrious in his habits, progressive in his methods. No one knew him but to esteem him for his honest manhood and many excellent qualities. His death under ordinary circumstances would have been a thing much to be regretted by a people among whom he had passed his entire life, but that he should pass away in a manner so cruel is most lamentable. His family will have the sympathy of the entire community.

The remains were interred sabbath afternoon. Funeral services were conducted by Rev. Mapes of the Christian church, with which denomination Mr. Du BOIS had long been identified, assisted by Rev. E. L. Schreiner of the Methodist church. The exercises were very largely attended, and there were nearly a hundred vehicles in the procession which followed the remains to the grave.

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Added by Admin, October 2021 --

"The Fairfield Tribune"
Wednesday, July 6, 1892
Page 6, Column 2

Batavia.

... Dr. J. W. DuBOIS attended the sad funeral of his brother, who was killed by the cars near Fairfield. ...

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"The Fairfield Tribune"
Wednesday, July 6, 1892
Page 7, Column 3

Killed by the Cars.

The people of this city were first startled and then horrified last Saturday afternoon on learning that a fearful disaster had occurred a few minutes before near this city, and that as a result of it one of our most highly respected citizens had lost his life. As he was coming to town soon after dinner, Mr. Nathaniel S. DuBOIS was run into by a train on the Rock Island railroad, at the highway crossing north of the college building, and was instantly killed.

The dreadful affair occurred as follows, as was developed at the coroner's jury Tuesday of this week. Mr. DuBOIS, who lived just north of Fairfield, about two miles out, started to town to get the last load of lumber needed for a barn that was in the process of erection. He drove a team of horses hitched to the running gear of a wagon and was seated on the coupling pole. The road crosses the Rock Island track just north of Parsons college, and while for a long distance the track is in plain view of the road, for about three rods (note: about 50 feet) north of the track the view is wholly shut off by the embankment west of the cut through which the track runs. Mr. DuBOIS was evidently entirely absorbed in his thoughts and entirely unconscious of the approaching train. His team was in a trot, and the angle between the track and the road is so sharp that his back would be to the train as he passed the track. It is probable, too, that the wagon made a good deal of rattling noise and that it largely drowned out the noise of the coming train. Walter Hough and his brother, a hundred yards in front, saw the danger and watched the collision, standing in his wagon, and men from the upper part of Mr. DuBOIS' new barn also saw it. Unconscious of the peril to himself, however, Mr. DuBOIS drove ahead, and was struck by the train. His death must have been instantaneous, and if he knew at all the cause of it, it must have been for an instant only. His body was badly mangled, the left arm being cut off, the left foot broken and the thigh pulled out of place, and an extensive fracture being sustained on the right side of the face and skull. The train was a gravel train and was running at the rate of about twenty miles an hour. The train men say the whistle was blown at the regulation distance, 200 feet before the crossing was reached, and the engineer says when he first saw the team the engine was not sixty feet away. The remains were brought to Goodban, Fulton & Held's undertaking rooms in this city, where they were carefully prepared for burial, and removed to the home of the widow Sunday. The funeral occurred at the residence at 2 o'clock P. M. Sunday and was conducted by Rev. G. W. Mapes, of the Christian church. It was one of the largest ever held in the city, there being over one hundred vehicles in the procession.

Mr. DuBOIS was forty-one years old, and was the son of the late John DuBOIS, sr. He was a farmer, and as good a citizen as there was in the county. Quiet and unobtrusive, he devoted himself to his own affairs with the closest fidelity, and he bore a character of the highest integrity. Nat. DuBOIS was universally regarded as a worthy and honorable man, and his death is sincerely deplored by many others than those of his own household.

He was married in 1886 to a daughter of Mr. John MARCY, who is now left together with three little children, to mourn their sad loss.

The coroner's jury, empanneled by Justice Pickett in the absence of Coroner Noble, was composed of Capt. Crail, J. S. Gantz, and Z. H. Held, found a verdict in accordance with the facts here given.

The horses were both killed by the collision and the wagon destroyed.

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"The Fairfield Tribune"
Wednesday, July 27, 1892
Page 7, Column 2

Resolutions of Respect.

The executive committee of the Farmers' Insurance Union of Jefferson county, composed of J. L. Knight, president; E. R. Norvell, vice-president; and W. B. Frame, secretary, adopted the following on the 16th, inst., in memory of the late N. S. DuBOIS, who was treasurer of the union:

Whereas, In the lamentable death of our late treasurer, N. S. DuBOIS, this union looses (sic) one of its most generous and efficient officers, therefore be it

Resolved, That while mourning his death, we tender the bereaved ones any assistance in our power.

Resolved, That the above be spread on our records, a copy sent to the family of the deceased, and the city papers be furnished a copy for publication.

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"The Fairfield Ledger"
Wednesday, August 10, 1892
Page 3, Column 1

LOCAL MISCELLANY.

... Clerk Taylor has issued an order for the sale of the personal property belonging to the estate of N. S. DuBOIS, deceased, and has appointed E. S. Henry administrator of the estate of Henry Teeter, deceased.

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Original posting by Deborah Brownfield-Stanley --

"The Fairfield Tribune"
Wednesday, August 10, 1892
Page 7, Column 2

Clerk Taylor .... He has also authorized L. J. MARCY to sell at either public or private sale, as required, all the personal property of the estate of the late Nathaniel S. DuBOIS. ...

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I am not related to the person(s) mentioned.

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Added by Admin, October 2021 --

"The Fairfield Tribune"
Wednesday, August 17, 1892
Page 6, Column 5

Administrator's Sale.

ON WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 7, 1892, I will sell at public sale at the residence of the late N. S. DuBOIS, one mile north of Fairfield, all the personal property of the estate, as follows:

Three brood mares, 2 two-year-old colts, 3 yearling colts, 3 spring colts; 13 head two-year-old steers, 19 head yearling steers, 4 milch cows, 2 shorthorn cows, 2 yearling heifers; 55 head of sheep; about 20 head of hogs; corn in field, hay and pasture. Binder, mower, hay rake, corn planter, two harrows, two-horse and single cultivators, sulky and stubble plows, wagon, hay rack and wagon bed, corn sheller, sled, scraper, Comstock scales, harness, saddle, buggy and single harness, blacksmith tools, tileing and ice tools, wheelbarrow, forks, shovels, and other articles too numerous to mention.

Terms.--Sums under $5.00, cash. A credit of 9 months will be given on sums of $5.00 and over, by note with approved security; 5 per cent, discount for cash.

L. J. MARCY, Administrator.

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

Note: Buried in Evergreen Cemetery, in Lot Old.P.329. Wife Cornelia died in 1929 and was buried with him.