Durham - Nelson - CW - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

On Wednesday of last week we were shocked to hear the words, “Nels Durham is dead.” Saturday we were startled to hear that a man lay dead on a load of bricks in the edge of town, yet, with all these, we were totally unprepared on Tuesday, for the cry, “Ted Flannigan is ground to death by a freight train,” making seven sudden deaths in and around town in that many months, four of them requiring the aid of the coroner. We trust that this evil star hanging over us may soon be removed and that we many be allowed to die from natural causes. Chester Flannigan, commonly known as “Ted” was a well known character about here. He with his father’s family, Harrison Flannigan, moved here some ten years ago. While “Ted” was not what would be called a bad boy, he had his peculiarities. He was not particularly fond of work, yet would work enough to keep himself and was at all times ready for any kind of fun or amusement and always had friends—thus he grew to manhood, when he showed a disposition to roam and would be gone for months at a time, returning for a few days, then gone again, only on his last two trips here had we thought him drinking too much, and all were surprised when the news came that he was arrested for theft at Indianapolis and were truly glad to meet him on our streets Tuesday morning cleared of the charge. He remained about town until the freight going north, reached here, when he undertook to get on and go to Frankfort. The road had been lately graveled and he undertook to board the train from the west side of the track, while in motion. He was warned not to attempt it, yet he went rashly to his death, he failing to get sufficient hold on the car, he was thrown under the wheels where he was horribly mangled. The train men were watching and stopped the train as quickly as possible, but all too late for poor “Ted”. His remains were gathered up and taken to the undertaking room of Bert Brainard, where he was prepared for burial, then taken to the home of his parents, where the entire family was almost prostrate with grief, especially his mother, who, like all mothers, loved her boy with that motherly love, known only to a mother.

“Ted” was a tall, fine looking healthy boy of near 22 years, cut down in the prime of life by his own recklessness, leaving a host of friends and relatives to mourn.

The funeral took place Wednesday from the home at 2 p.m., conducted by Rev. J. S. Crowder, after which the burial was conducted at the I. O. O. F. Cemetery.

Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal Friday, 8 June 1900

Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal Friday, 8 June 1900

Nelson Durham died at his home on South Franklin Street Wednesday very suddenly. He had been working about the garden at times during the forenoon and came in at noon complaining of feeling bad and of being very weak. He lay down on the lounge and Mrs. Durham called Dr. Hamilton, who responded quickly, but soon saw he could do no good. In a very few minutes Mr. Durham passed away.

Nelson Durham was born in Fayette County, Ohio, some 68 years ago and many years ago moved to Clinton, Ind., where he married and raised a family of five children. The mother dying, he with his family came to this place, where in due time he was married to Susan Nelson, who today survives him. Soon after the breaking out of the war, he enlisted in Co. G, 26th Ind. Inf., at Clark’s Hill and served with it until the close of the war, almost five years. Thus another old soldier is gone. On Memorial Day he was in his place. On last Sunday he marched with his comrades to the church and enjoyed the memorial sermon, and bid fair to live as long as anyone in the company. Yet, today he is gone and to his comrades we can only say, “Be ye also ready.”

The funeral took place Friday at the M. E. Church, conducted by Rev. J. S. Crowder, after which the remains were laid to rest in the Clark’s Hill Cemetery.