Submitted by Linda Braden Gray  

Nicholas Schlarb  

South Bend Tribune 7 Aug 1894  

KILLED BY A HORSE  

Fatal Accident to a Well Known Resident of Madison Township  

Nicholas Schlarp, a member of a well known Madison township family, was killed by a kick from a horse at 4 p.m. yesterday at his home two miles east of Woodland.  

The exact manner of Schlarp's death is not known, but he was found dead at the heels of one of the horses in his barn and is supposed to have been kicked to death after falling in a fit or faint.  His skull was crushed and his body bore other marks of the horse's heels.  He went to the barn to harness the horses for the day's work and some time later was found as described by members of the family.  Coroner Varier was called to the scene of the accident this forenoon.  

Corner Varier returned at 4 p.m. Schlarp had been rolling a piece of ground and on finishing it drove to the barn.  Sometime later the children found him dead.  His wife was away from home.  His skull was crushed in two places and his right arm broken twice.  He was 60 years old and an old resident.  The funeral takes place at 10 a.m. to-morrow.     

Mishawaka Enterprise, 10 Aug 1894, Source Page 1  

KICKED TO DEATH  

Nicholas Schlarb, who lived a half mile west of Daugherty's school house, one of Madison township's oldest and most respected farmers, was found with his brains oozing from terrible wounds in the head, and lying unconscious under the heels of his family horse in the stable last Monday evening.  

His grandchildren, while hunting eggs, made the discovery and quickly carried the awful news to the house.  His daughter Mary rushed to the stable but was unable to do anything until her brother-in-law, Matt Miller, who lives a short distance away, arrived with John Althar, who was working there, when the fatally injured man was conveyed to the house.  Mrs. Schlarb was also at Mr. Miller's home when the dreadful news was received, and was greatly shocked by the sad affair.  

The injured man was found to be beyond all earthly help.  A great hole on each temple and one in the back of the skull, from which the brains oozed, were the main causes of his death.  The left arm was also broken.   Mr. Schlarb was subject to fainting spells, and whether he fell in one of these fits under the feet of the horse, or whether the animal kicked him down, will never be fully known.  The coroner's verdict accepted the former view, which is most probable, as the horse was a faithful old family mare never known to kick or be ugly.  

The deceased was about 66 years of age and leaves a wife, two sons and three daughters.  The funeral was held on Wednesday from the German Evangelical church, and was very largely attended.  The interment was the Daughterty cemetery.       

Submitter Note:  The brother-in-law mentioned in the obit was Albert Mattmiller who was married to Margaret Schlarb.