Milburn Ellison (1831-1908)

ELLISON, BISHOP, STEVENS, ALDERMAN

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 3/19/2017 at 09:43:45

From Nevada Representative December 11, 1908

OBITUARY

MILBURN ELLISON KILLED
Is Hit This Morning by Northwestern Train

Milburn Ellison of this city was killed this morning by the east bound local No. 14, on the Northwestern at about 8:35 o'clock a few rods east of the Vine street crossing. He was walking eastward on the right of way and was going out to the McLain farm, where he had been engaged in cutting some willows. He was on the outside of the east-bound track and so long as the engineer, who was on the opposite side of the engine would see him, he appeared to be far enough out to be safe. He seems, however, to have swerved in his path slightly, and the cross-beam of the pilot struck him on the side with blow that speedily killed him. The fireman was down shoveling and saw nothing of the accident; but a passenger saw it and notified the conductor, who stopped the train. The train crew picked Mr. Ellison up and the train was backed up to the depot; but he was unconscious when picked up, and he died a few minutes later in the baggage room.

The deceased was born in Indiana on Christmas day, December 25, 1830, and died at Nevada, Iowa, December 11, 1908, aged 77 years, 11 months and 16 days. He came with his parents across the Mississippi to Burlington in 1836, that being the first year that the Black Hawk purchase was open to settlement, and he had undoubtedly lived in the state of Iowa longer than had any other resident of the county. He grew up at Burlington, was married in the early '50s in Davis county to Miss Margaret Bishop, and in 1854 he and his family came to Story county, where he entered a farm in the northwestern corner of Indian Creek township. He thus became one of the pioneers of Story county, in which county he lived for the remaining fifty-four years of his life. He lived on the home farm until the death of his wife in 1900, after which for some time he made his home with his daughter, Mrs. S. P. Alderman. He was married again in November 6, 1905, to Mrs. Clarissa J. Stevens, since which time he has resided in Nevada.

Mr. Ellison was a man of worthy character and of comfortable means; he kept at word, because that was the most natural thing for him to do, and it was in following this habit that he stepped a little too close to a moving train. He leaves a wife and three grown children, besides numerous grand-children. His children are Mary Jane, Mrs. Silas P. Alderman of Indian Creek township; Wm. L. who lived near Elk City, Oklahoma, and Asa K. who lives at Elk City. These sons have been notified of his death but have not been heard from, and pending advices from them, the time for the funeral is not fixed. It will probably be some time in the fore part of next week.

From Nevada Representative December 16, 1908

The funeral of the late Milburn Ellison was conducted Tuesday forenoon from the Friends church by Dr. Bunce, and interment was in the cemetery at Iowa Center.

From Nevada Representative December 19, 1908

The inquest on account of the killing of Milburn Ellison by Northwestern train No. 14 on Friday was conducted Saturday afternoon by Justice Smith. It appeared from the testimony that the accident occurred on the crossing of the highway and the right-of-way; but insomuch as the victim of the accident was using the right-of-way and not the highway, it is doubtful if the exact location of the accident would make very much difference in the legal status. It was also the conclusion that Mr. Ellison was struck by the corner of the baggage car and not the cross-beam of the engine pilot, as first reported. Just how he came to be hit by the baggage car is not so plain as it might be; but it is definite that the engine was seen to pass him without hitting him, and then an instant later he was tumbling. The most plausible theory that suggest itself is that the wind of the train drew him in a little and that the sightly increased width of the baggage car over the width of the engine and tender also made a difference. The verdict of the jury was of accidental death with out fault in the railroad company. One of Mr. Ellison's sons had arrived from Oklahoma, and the funeral will be held Tuesday forenoon at ten o'clock at the Friends church. The interment will be at Iowa Center.