Dobson - Thomas
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal, 25 April 1891
Thomas Dobson, The Veteran Shoemaker, Falls Head First Into His Cistern Nearly every one in the city knew "T. Dobson, boot and shoemaker," who for so many years has industriously plied his trade in his shop on Market street and raised a family of equally industrious children. The poor old man came to his death Sunday morning in an unusual and tragic manner. As was his custom he arose about five o'clock and soon went out into his yard. He began tinkering around first with this and then with that and was observed by Charley Seaman, clerk at the Sherman House, to carry some wood into the house. This was at 5:30 o'clock and the last seen of him alive. At seven o'clock his lifeless body was found in the cistern by his wife and daughter, who becoming alarmed at his absence, easily discovered his whereabouts by the disarrangement of the planks about the cistern. He was when found in a half stooping posture with the top of his head out of the water of which there was three feet and eight inches. The only plausible theory for the accident is that he fell into the cistern while examining it. He had evidently opened the little trap door and squeezed his head and shoulders through for the purpose of looking for cracks. The cistern had been leaking as only three feet of water remained after all the rains and he wished to see where the leak was. He threw his weight upon one hand which rested upon the brick casing of the cistern. Two or three of the bricks suddenly gave away and he was precipitated into the water, where being stunned by the fall of twelve feet he was drowned. This theory is substantiated by the fact that the bricks were found with him and the hand which rested upon them was muddy while the other was clean. His knees were also scraped as he shot through the little opening to his death. The theory of suicide is a very unreasonable one and does injustice to himself and family. He was in as good spirits as usual and he was very dear to his family and his family to him. Not the slightest intimation of such an act had he ever made and he had no reason in the world for taking his life. Mr. Dobson leaves a wife and four children. Joe and Sally, two of the children, reside in this city, the former being a well known painter. Henry is a large contract painter in Washington State. George, the artist sign painter, had a few words with his father several years ago and left the town, since which time his family has not heard a word from him and knows nothing of his whereabouts. - thanks so much to Kim H for this nice one but whoa to Thomas Dobson :(
Source: Crawfordsville Daily Journal Tuesday 21 April 1891
Coroner Bronaugh of new Ross held an inquest over the remains of Thomas Dobson yesterday afternoon. He took the evidence of the family of the deceased and promptly returned a verdict of accidental death caused by falling into the cistern. Mr. Dobson was a member of the Episcopalian Church. The burial took place this afternoon at 4 o’clock at Oak Hill Cemetery. No religious services were held at the house or graveyard.
Source: Crawfordsville Daily Journal Monday, 20 April 1891 Edition
Nearly everyone in the city knew “T. Dobson, boot and shoe maker,” who for so many years has industriously plied his trade in his shop on Market Street and raised a family of equally industrious children. The poor old man came to his death yesterday morning in an unusual and tragic manner. As was his custom, he arose about five o’clock and soon went out into his yard. He began tinkering around first with this and then with that and was observed by Charley Seamon, clerk at the Sherman House, to carry some wood into the house.
This was at 5:30 o’clock and the last seen of him alive. At seven o’clock his lifeless body was found in the cistern by his wife and daughter, who becoming alarmed at his absence, easily discovered his whereabouts by the disarrangement of the planks about the cistern. He was when found, in a half stooping posture with the top of his head out of the water of which there was three feet and eight inches. The only plausible theory for the accident is that he fell into the cistern while examining it. He had evidently opened the little trap door and squeezed his head and shoulders through for the purpose of looking for cracks. The cistern had been leaking as only three feet of water remained after all the rains and he wished to see where the leak was. He threw his weight upon one hand, which rested upon the brick casing of the cistern. Two or three of the bricks suddenly gave away and he was precipitated into the water, where being stunned by the fall of twelve feet, he was drowned. This theory is substantiated by the fact that the bricks were found with him and the hand which rested upon them was muddy while the other was clean. His knees were also scraped as he shot through the little opening to his death.
The theory of suicide is a very unreasonable one and does injustice to himself and family. He was in as good spirits as usual and he was very dear to his family and his family to him. Not the slightest intimation of such an act had he ever made and he had no reason in the world for taking his life.
Mr. Dobson leaves a wife and four children. Joe and Sally, two of the children, reside in this city, the former being a well known painter. Henry is a large contract painter in Washington State. George, the artist sign painter, had a few words with his father several years ago and left the town, since which time his family has not heard a word from him and knows nothing of his whereabouts.
The coroner viewed the remains yesterday and decided to hold his inquest this afternoon. Henry, the son residing at Washington, was telegraphed yesterday.