DAHL, Charles Frederick Sr. 1863 - 1942

DAHL, KING, JOHNSON, PATTERSON

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 6/27/2021 at 13:09:28

"The Fairfield Daily Ledger"
Wednesday, September 23, 1942
Front Page, Column 7

Farmer Is Killed By Engine In Grade Crossing Accident

C. F. DAHL, 79, RIDING MOWER WHEN STRUCK
Mishap occurred at 9:15 this morning; victim did not hear train

C. F. DAHL, 79, farmer living about three miles northeast of Fairfield, was instantly killed this morning about 9:15 when he was struck by a lone engine while crossing the Rock Island track near his home.

Mr. DAHL was riding on a horse drawn mower, going to the field to work. He apparently didn't see or hear the approaching train as he drove onto the crossing in front of the engine.

From all indications, if the mower had been about a foot farther across the crossing the accident would not have happened. the seat and left wheel of the mower were all that were damaged. Mr. DAHL was picked up about 102 feet from where the impact occurred.

The body was lying between the main track and side track. The metal seat of the mower was near by.

After the impact, the team of horses pulling the mower ran off and was not stopped until they had reached highway No. 1 north of Fairfield and turned north. At that time two traveling men whose names were not revealed stopped the team.

The mower was still intact and not further damaged. The horses apparently traveled the distance at a high rate of speed from the tracts (sic) left in the dirty by the damaged wheel on the mower. The tracks indicated that the horses went from one side of the road to the other during their wild dash following the mishap.

The team was returned to the DAHL home by Elmer Ramsay and Sanford Zeigler, Jr., farmers living nearby.

The accident happened a short distance west of the DAHL home on a grade crossing. The engineer and fireman stated that they did not see Mr. DAHL or the team until they drove onto the crossing in front of the engine.

Mr. DAHL was rolled along the track for 102 feet where his body was found by the train crew and officers who were called to the scene.

An investigation revealed that the step on the front of the engine struck the seat of the mowing machine and Mr. DAHL. An iron brace on the engine was broken from the impact.

The engine and crew remained at the scene until the accident was investigated by county coroner Jack Raymond, Sheriff Herbert F. Goodale, and deputy sheriff Thomas Howell. The body was brought to the Weston Behner funeral home. Coroner Raymond stated that there would be no inquest.

Those who knew DAHL stated that he was slightly hard of hearing and probably did not hear the approaching train. He had crossed the same crossing hundreds of times during the many years he had resided at the farm near the crossing.

Mr. DAHL was born in Sweden on August 25, 1863. He lived in this community for 29 years and had been engaged in farming all his life. He was a member of the Methodist church.

Survivors include his wife, Mary, one daughter, Mrs. Adelaide KING, of Elkhart, Ind., and one son, Brock, of Fairfield. One son, Frederic, preceded him in death. The body was taken to the Weston Behner Funeral Home pending funeral arrangments.

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"The Fairfield (Ia.) Daily Ledger"
Thursday, September 24, 1942
Front Page, Column 8

Last Rites Will Be Held For C. F. DAHL Friday Afternoon

Last rites for C. F. DAHL will be held at the Weston Behner Funeral Home Friday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. The service will be in charge of Rev. A. P. Keast and burial will be in the Evergreen cemetery.

Mr. DAHL was instantly killed Wednesday morning when he was struck by a Rock Island train at a grade crossing just west of his home about three miles northeast of Fairfield. He was riding on a horse drawn mowing machine at the time of the accident.

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"The Fairfield (Ia.) Daily Ledger"
Thursday, September 24, 1942
Page FIVE, Column 1

LOCALS

... --Mrs. Elmer KING and daughter, Elkhart, Ind. arrived today called here by the death of the latter's father Charles F. DAHL, northeast of this city. ...

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"The Fairfield (Ia.) Daily Ledger"
Saturday, September 26, 1942
Page SIX, Column 3

LOCALS

... --Mr. and Mrs. W. JOHNSON of Winfield were here yesterday to attend the funeral rites of Charles F. DAHL. Mr. JOHNSON is a brother of Mrs. Brock DAHL.

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"The Fairfield (Ia.) Daily Ledger"
Tuesday, September 29, 1942
Page SEVEN, Column 5

FARM SALE

... Wed. Oct. 7th. -- Closing Out sale livestock, machinery, etc. Mrs. Chas. F. DAHL, 1½ mi. north and east of Fairfield. Jake Hendrickson, Auct., Grant Nelson, Clerk.

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

Note: Buried in Lot 3rd.020. Wife Mary M. PATTERSON DAHL died in 1951 and is buried with him.