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Ben H. Behrends 1892-1924

BEHRENDS, HENRICHS

Posted By: CHERYL MOONEN (email)
Date: 6/14/2022 at 21:25:17

Monticello Express in 1924

Ben H. Behrends was instantly killed by lightning last Tuesday morning while engaged in building fence on the August Lund farm in Scotch Grove township where he was a tenant. It seems that Mr. Behrends was working in an open field, and was not near any trees at the time the accident happened. A few moments before the accident he had been talking to Tobias Henrichs, who was working in an adjoining field. Shortly after talking with Mr. Henrichs, Mr. Behrends walked back to the point where he was unrolling some barbed wire preparatory to making a fence.

The lightning struck him on the back of the head.
At first it was thought that the lighning had struck the barbed wire, and thereafter jumped to Mr. Behrend's body. This was disproved when his body was examined. He wore a pair of gloves which were not burned by the lightning. The accident seemed very unusual that the bolt struck Mr. Behrends rather than the barbed wire nearby.

Mr. Henrichs, who was in the adjoining field, saw Mr. Behrends fall immediately after being hit. Mr. Henrichs said that Mr. Behrends apparently died without knowing what had occurred.

The accident happened at nine minutes to eleven. This was determined by the fact that the mans watch, which was found some distance from his body, was stopped at that time.

Ben served in World War I in the 88th Division. He was first sent to Camp Gordon and thereafter embarked for England. While in England the armistice came, he served in the army of occupation in Germany until September 1919.


 

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