Biographies and Obituaries
In loving memory
Reason S. Chapman
Daviess County Democrat
Saturday, July 30, 1887, page 2
The Particulars of His Terrible Death on Last Week
Deputy Coroner Parks, accompanied by a reporter for the Daily Democrat,
went down in Harrison townhip Friday afternoon to make the customary
investigation of the cause of death of Reason S. Chapman, who was killed
on Thursday afternoon.
It was discovered that Mr. Chapman, with Dave Jackson and two boys, Dollie
Jackson and Alvey Smith, were at work in a clearing on his farm. They
had fired a large dead tree and were working around it. The tree burned
rapidly and finally broke off a few feet above the ground and fell without
warning. All of the four had a narrow escape, but no one except Mr. Chapman
was caught by the tree. He was knocked down by a portion of the trunk
of the tree. He was crushed under its weight, the heavy piece of dead
timber lying across his legs and head. It was about 4 o'clock in the
afternoon when the accident occurred. Help was immediately summoned and
the unfortunate man taken to his dwelling a short distance away, and
every attention given him, but without avail, and death came to his relief
in less than an hour from the time he was hurt. His left leg was broken
in two or three places and his head was crushed.
Chapman's dwelling stands on a high bluff overlooking East White river,
and within pistol shot of the river's edge.
Reason S. Chapman was seventy-three years of age, and had been married
four times. His last wife survives him. He leaves eight children, four
sons and four daughters, all of whom are married. He was an Odd-fellow
and a member of the M. E. Church.
The funeral took place Saturday morning at Ebeneezer church.
Contributed by: Dennis Krebs