Swanson, Oscar 1866-1892

SWANSON

Posted By: Sheryl McClure (email)
Date: 3/28/2023 at 15:34:34

Oscar Swanson was born in Sweden, May 17th, 1866 and died Jan. 22d, 1892, aged 25 years 8 mos. and 5 days.

When only two (2) years old he came with his parents to America, settling at Paxton, Ill., where they lived for 12 years thence removing to Albia, Iowa where they lived 8 years coming to Kossuth 4 years ago. Early in life while working on the "section" with his father he acquired a liking for railroading and had been in the employ of the C. B. & Q. R. R. company for some three years as fireman on a yard engine at Ottumwa and on the road between Ottumwa and Creston. He had been promoted to the position of engineer only a day or two before the terrible accident which took him from the dear ones who now mourn their great loss. The accident occured at Union Switch on the C. B. & Q. Road about 8 miles east of Creston, at about 6 o'clock, Friday morning Jan. 22, 1892. A train a few minutes in advance of his, had a car with a broken truck and in passing over the switch had broken and torn up the switch so that when Oscar's train came along with its faithful engineer standing at his post, it rushed headlong into the broken switch working destruction to the engine and train and death to its faithfal engineer. Those who knew him best, loved and respected him most. He was a kind and loving brother and a faithful and obedient son. For some years he had been saving his earnings to aid in paying for the farm upon which the parents, now growing old, and a loving sister are living. He was unmarried and hence leaves no family immediately dependent on him for support. The funeral was conducted by the writer, at the residence of his parents on Sunday afternoon Jan. 24th and a large concourse of mourning friends followed the earthly remains to place in the Bancroft cemetery. May God comfort the sad hearts of father, mother, and sister and all the loving friends who mourns his untimely end.

The Bancroft Register
Jan. 27, 1892