LEWIS, Frank W. 1858-ca.1886

LEWIS, BUTTERFIELD

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 3/10/2010 at 22:57:38

Frank W. Lewis, 1858-c1886, Mitchell County, Iowa

Death of Conductor Lewis:

Again we are called upon to chronicle the sad and untimely end of one of our citizens, Frank W. Lewis, who met his fate last Sunday morning. Mr. Lewis was a freight conductor on the Madison division of the C. & N. W. railway and started on his way of duty at 1 o'clock a.m. last Sunday. He had reached Evansville in safety at 8 o'clock and was about to take several cars into the coal shed there. While on top of the car to give signals to the engineer, his back was turned to the shed, and upon reaching the same he was struck by one of the timbers and hurled between the cars, the wheels of which passed over his chest and caused instant death. His body was brought here on passenger No. 1, on Sunday.

Mr. Lewis had been engaged in railroading for the past seven years, during which time he was faithful in the discharge of his duties and was held in high esteem by his associates. He was 29 years of age, having been born in Cleveland Ohio, Sept. 6, 1858.

Ten years ago he was married to Miss Melissa Butterfield, with whom he lived in happy union until the ties were severed by the cruel hand of death.

Besides a loving wife and little daughter, he leaves an aged father, his mother having died when he was 13 years of age, three brothers-one here, another in Mexico, and the third in Iowa; and a sister living in Illinois.

The funeral took place from his home on the corner of Oak and Eighth streets yesterday afternoon. The procession was headed by Gollman's brass, and followed by the members of the Baraboo division No. 68, Order of Railway Conductors, who appeared in their regalia and took charge of the funeral. Many other friends, also followed the remains to the M.E. Church, which was thronged at the time, to take a last look and pay their last tribute of respect to the deceased.

[Baraboo, Wis. Democrat. Feb. 2nd]

ADDENDUM:
In another article in the same paper we learn that the shed which caused the death of Lewis was a regular mantrap, and some of the citizens set fire to it the night of his death; and together with a large quantity of coal it was reduced to ashes. Three other men had met their death from the same cause.

Submitted to IaGenWeb by Marilyn O'Connor