COGLEY, William

COGLEY, BONGERS, TENNYSON, FARBER

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 4/24/2016 at 19:57:20

MET DEATH IN TRAGIC MANNER

ENGINEER WILLIAM COGLEY, FORMERLY OF EDDYVILLE, KILLED IN MICHIGAN.

Struck by falling timbers from a derailed car while in the act of assisting the switching crew in clearing the wreckage so he could proceed to the roundhouse, William Cogley of Two Harbors, Michigan, a former resident of Eddyville, an engineer of the D.&I. railroad, met instant death Monday, May 22. The deceased was a brother-in-law of Mrs. John Bongers, 215 North Hancock street, and had visited in Ottumwa several times. He was also the brother of Patrick Cogley and Mrs. George Tennyson of Edyville, who, with Mrs. Bongers and her son, John, attended the funeral services at Two Harbors.

In speaking of the accident the Two Harbors Journal-News says:

"One of the saddest accident that has ever occurred in the local railroad yards happened Monday evening, when the life of Engineer William Cogley was snuffed out and W.F. Engle was seriously injured.

"Engineer Cogley and Conductor C.J. Miller got in shortly after 6 o'clock with an ore train. They took Their train into the yards and were proceeding to the round house with their engine when it was found that a switch engine transferring a string of cars over the diamonds had derailed a car which blocked their way. After waiting a short time both Cogley and Miller left the engine and went ahead to see if they could help get the cars back on the rails and thus clear the tracks for their passage. The derailed cars were loaded with 3x6 lumber. Frogs for re-railing the car were placed and the signal for the switch engine to go ahead was given. It is the supposition in ascending the frogs the load shifted and the stakes snapped off and about thirty pieces of the timber fell onto Cogley and Engle. It is thought that the former was instantly killed. Engle's life was saved almost by a miracle.

"William Cogley was born at Eddyville, Iowa, and was 44 years of age. He came to Two Harbors twenty-one years ago and worked as fireman on the D.&I. railroad, later being promoted to an engineer. He was married twenty years ago to Miss Katherine Farber of Keokuk, Iowa. Besides his wife he leaves five children, one son and four daughters, as follows: Elmer, Loretta, Hazel, Marcella and Madeline.

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book F, Page 290, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA