These specific news items tell the tragic story of the death of Orton A. Ewell.

"Killed by the Cars"

Initial research was done by volunteer, L. Ziemann.

 

 

 

Yester Year Stories, Backed with Today's Research

E*W*E*L*L

The Sioux City Journal
September 11, 1897

DECAPITATED BY A TRAIN.
Orton A. Ewell of This City, Killed on the Milwaukee Near Chatsworth.

Orton A. Ewell, of 1915 East Fourth street, who formerly was an employe of the Sioux City Sewer Pipe company, but who recently and until Thursday night was a member of an extra fence gang working along the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul tracks north of Akron, was killed yesterday morning on the Milwaukee track at a point between Chatsworth and Akron, about three miles north of the latter place.

The body was decapitated, the head being found between the rails, the trunk lying on the outside along the right of way. 

It is supposed Ewell was struck by a southbound freight train about 4 o’clock, although no one saw the accident, and the ghastly discovery was not made until after daylight.

It was learned at the Milwaukee dispatcher’s office that Ewell and his foreman had some words Thursday evening, and that Ewell left Chatsworth about dusk.  The railway people incline to the belief that he went to sleep on the track.

The remains were taken to Akron and are in charge of the Coroner of Plymouth county.

The parents of the deceased, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Ewell, reside at 2201 East Third street.  The father until three years ago was an employe of the Milwaukee railway.  Latterly he has been unable to work.  Mrs. Frank Buck, of 220 Division street, is a sister of the deceased. 

Information regarding her husband’s tragic death was given to Mrs. Ewell at 1915 East Fourth street by Frank Harvey, of the police department.  She and the dead man’s mother and Mrs. Buck went to the Milwaukee dispatcher’s office, where the sad news was confirmed.

Mrs. Frank Ewell said her son was 25 years of age, and was subject to epileptic fits.  She stated that his condition was such that he might have fallen at any time, and she believes that he was overcome with a fit and while in an unconscious condition was run over by the train.

The remains will be brought to Sioux City.

The Sioux City Journal, September 12, 1897

The Coroner and County Attorney of Plymouth county held an inquest yesterday over the remains of Orton Ewell, the man who was killed by a Milwaukee train on Friday. 

The remains of Orton A. Ewell, who was killed by a railway train near Akron Friday, arrived in the city yesterday afternoon.  Arrangements for the funeral have not yet been announced.

LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
Monday, September 13, 1897

KILLED by the CARS.
The body of Orton Ewell was found on the Milwaukee track three miles north of Akron Friday morning by a boy who was passing that way on the road.

Coroner Mammen and County Attorney John Adams were summoned and an inquest was held Friday and Saturday.  It was ascertained that Ewell lived at Sioux City.  He was at Chatsworth Thursday night.  He became boisterous around the hotel and was sent out with another man to sleep in the hay mow.  In the morning Ewell was missing.  It is supposed that he rose and started down the track on foot and that after walking about four miles he was run over by the extra freight which went down the road about 4 in the morning.  The car ran over his body diagonally, leaving his head and one arm on one side of the rail and the rest of his body on the other side.

The trainmen knew nothing of the accident until they were subpoenaed as witnesses in Sioux City.  The coroner’s jury was James Mellen, J.P. Kendall and John C. Ruble. 

The verdict was in accordance with the foregoing facts.

LeMars Globe-Post
Wednesday, September 15, 1897

HELD AN INQUEST.
An inquest was held on Friday and Saturday on the body of the man who was killed by the cars near Akron on Friday morning, a brief account of whose death appeared in our last issue.  Coroner Mammen empanelled a jury composed of James Mellen, J.P. Kendall and John C. Ruble.  The man was proved to be Orton Ewell, of Sioux City. 

On Thursday night he slept with another man in a hay mow at Chatsworth.  In the morning when his companion awoke Ewell was missing.  It is supposed he got up and walked down the track towards Akron, as his dead body was found by a lad about four miles from Chatsworth and that he was run over by a freight train.  He was cut pretty near in two, his head and one arm being on one side of the track and his body on the other side.  The trainmen knew nothing of the accident till they were summoned as witnesses.  The jury returned a verdict of accidental death.

The Akron Tribune, September 16, 1897

Last Friday a coroner’s jury consisting of James Mellen, John C. Ruble and J. P. Kendall investigated the cause of death of Arthur Uhl, who was killed last Thursday near the Jas. Ross crossing, about two miles north of here, returned the verdict that he came to his death while trying to board a moving south-bound freight train.  After the inquest his father, mother and wife took the remains to Sioux City, where the family resides, for interment.
**Research Clarification: The correct spelling of the deceased's last name is EWELL (not Uhl.)

The Hawarden Independent
September 16, 1897

KILLED by the CARS.
Akron Tribune:  A man named Arthur Uhl was killed above the James Ross crossing last night (Thursday) by a freight train.  He had quarreled with the foreman of a fencing gang and jumped his job.  As he came down the road on foot it is evident that he went to sleep by the side of the track, stretching himself partially across the east rail.  He was run over by the train bound south and diaphragm crushed.  The corpse is lying at Johnson’s undertaking rooms and being given proper care until it can be learned where his relatives and friends are.
**Research Clarification: The correct spelling of the deceased's last name is EWELL (not Uhl.)


**My further research notes for the sake of clarification of details:

Marriage Record – Woodbury County, IA Courthouse
Sioux City, Iowa
Marriage Date:  23 DEC 1893
By Whom:  Justice of the Peace
Groom:  Orton A. Ewell, age 22, white, born IA
Res of Groom: Sergeant Bluffs, IA
Occupation: Laborer
First Marriage
Father of Groom: F. H. Ewell
Mother of Groom: Lura Parish
- - -
Bride:  Bette Johnson, age 26, white, born IL
Res of Bride: Sergeant Bluffs, IA
First Marriage
Father of Bride: Chas. Johnson
Mother of Bride: Plulita Allen
======================
More Notes:
1880 Federal Census
Union County, DT (Dakota Territory)
Frank Ewell – Head  
Lura Ewell – Wife
Orton A. – Son, age 7
Nellie – Dau, age 4
Frank – Son, age 1
=====================

Orton A. Ewell sometimes used the name of Arthur Ewell, which can be assumed is his middle name. The deceased date of death, Friday (4 a.m.) Sept. 10, 1897.

IAGenWeb 2020