Benjamin Breeding

BREEDING, LOCKMAN

Posted By: Marlene K. Skalberg (email)
Date: 11/12/2018 at 14:51:56

DEATH OF BENJAMIN BREEDING
While going from Hillsdale to the country to work, Friday morning a farm employee found the mangled remains of (to him) an unknown man lying beside the “Q” track at the east end of the switch just out of that town. The agent was notified and for some reason, either from papers found or otherwise suspected the body to be that of Mr. Benjamin Breeding, who owned a good farm a couple of miles south of Malvern. A telegram t this effect was sent to Agent Buckley at this place and placed in the hands of J. T. Ward. Mr. Ward submitted the telegram to Mr. Kronsbein and the two gentlemen at once drove to Mr. Breeding’s home where from Mrs. Breeding they ascertained that MR. Breeding had the day before gone to Omaha on business and at the time of their visit had not returned nor did the family know anything of his whereabouts. The circumstances confirmed the fears that Mr. Breeding had been the victim of a fatal accident and MR. Kronsbein went to Hillsdale to ascertain the truth. The Coroner had in the meantime been notified and was on the ground and held an inquest during the forenoon. No light was thrown upon the mystery, however, further than establishing, by papers and otherwise, the identity of the body. The inquest concluded Mr. Kronsbein had the remains placed in a casket and brought home. The funeral was held the same afternoon, under the direction of the Masons, and although many had not heart of the accident, the attendance was very large. The shock to the family was very great and came as a crushing blow. Their grief was heightened by the fact that they were denied the farewell look at the cold clay of the deceased husband and father, but under the circumstances this could to be permitted.
The particulars connected with this sad case are very meagre and perhaps will never be more fully known. It is not positively known what train Mr. Breeding was returning on, but circumstances point to the fast passenger No. 6, due here at about 1 o’clock a.m. Mr. Breeding’s watch, which was badly battered, stopped at 1:14 a.m. and it is known that No. 6 passed Hillsdale at 1:10 a.m. being several minutes late. This train does not stop at Hillsdale and only comes to a stand here to whistle for the Wabash crossing. The supposition is that MR. Breeding, when the train dared Hillsdale, went out upon the steps ready to jump off when it should stop, thinking that Malvern had been reached and either stepped off or fell off. The posture of the body, the hands being raised over the head and tightly clinched, leads to the opinion that MR. Breeding retained his grasp upon the hand rail and was dragged to death, rather than that the wheels died the terrible work.
Mr. Ward had an interview with the conductor who made the run that night and was told that but one passenger for Malvern was aboard and he got off when the train stopped here. However, parties who were at the train to see friends off, say no one got off here. As tickets cannot be purchased for Malvern for that train, because it does not stop at the station, there seems to be little chance of securing additional facts concerning this fatal accident. The first news created much excitement and there was great anxiety to secure the particulars, as Mr. Breeding was well known to most of our people.
Malvern Leader, Malvern, Iowa, Thursday, July 14, 1892, page 5