Toney, Frank S.

Frank S. Toney
Dec. 26, 1860-Dec. 4, 1917

Niles Daily Sun, Wednesday, December 5, 1917, page 1, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library


    Frank S. Toney, 906 North Seventh street, a car inspector for the Michigan Central railroad company, met a tragic death yesterday from injuries received while at work near the car shops in the local yards.
    Mr. Toney was engaged in winding a windlass, on one end of which was a heavy car wheel, which by the winding process was being raised to a flat car.  Mr. Toney evidently lost his grip on the heavy handle of the windlass and as it was released from his hand, it flew backward and struck him on the back of the head, fracturing his skull. The heavy wheel at the other end of the windlass made the handle or bar spin rapidly and it struck him with terrific force.
    Mr. Toney was able to walk with assistance into the car barns and his fellow workmen thought at first he ws not seriously injured.
    Dr. Giddings, the railway physician brought Mr. Toney down to his office and found that the unfortunate man's skull was fractured. An immediate operation was decided upon and Dr. Giddings made  Mr. Toney ready for a trip to South Bend for the operation at a hospital.
    Mrs. Toney was notified of the accident by the doctor, who brought her to her husband's side. As he sat in a chair in Dr. Giddings' office surrounded by his wife, two sons and other relatives awaiting the arrival of the 7:30 car, Mr. Toney suddenly expired.
    The accident occurred about 3:30 o'clock and his death occurred about 7:25 o'clock.  The injured man was in a semi-comatose state after the accident, but he never uttered a word after the accident, the force of the blow on the head having crushed his skull, thus affecting the brain.
    Mr. Toney was born in Niles and would have been 56 years of age had he lived until Dec. 26. He was married at Kensington to Miss Dora Guideman of Niles.  Four children were born to them all of whom are left with the widow to mourn his death.  The children are Benjamin Toney, Niles, Mrs. Caroline Kneeshow, Guelph, Ont., Edward Toney of Niles, and George Toney of Guelph, Ont.  Besides the widow and children, Mr. Toney is survived by his father, Benjamin Toney, aged 82 years of South Bend, one brother, Edward Toney of Kalamazoo and by two sisters, Mrs. A. Dyke and Mrs. John Locke of South Bend.  The aged father of the deceased, the brothers and sisters and Mrs. Edward Toney, Mr. Dyke, Mr. Locke and Frank Guideman of Michigan City are here today and the children from Guelph are expected tonight.
    Mr. Toney had been in the employ of the Michigan Central Railway company for about 35 years. He was highly regarded as an employe and was respected throughout the community for his many excellent qualities.  The deceased was a member of the Royal Arcanum lodge.
    The funeral services will be held on Friday at 2:30 o'clock from the house. Rev. Paul Saffran of St. John's German church of which the deceased was a member will officiate.
Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, December 5, 1917, page 1 col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library


    Death came quickly last evening to Frank S. Toney, an employe of the Michigan Central railroad.  He died four hours after he was injured in a tool car in the yards yesterday afternoon, a fractured skull bringing the sudden end.
    In company with a number of other workmen, Mr. Toney was engaged in unloading wheels from the tool car. He was alone in the car when the accident happened, and his companions heard some part of the hoisting machinery give way acompanied[sic] by a scream.
    The workmen hurried into the car where they found the unconscious form of the truckman. He was picked up and Dr. Giddings was immediately summoned.  The physician gave first attention and then removed Mr. Toney to his office where he treated the wound.
    In the back of the skull Dr. Giddings found a depression the size of a silver dollar.  It was a bad fracture . .[illegible] . . made to convey him to the Epworth hospital in South Bend Mr. Toney died. He was in a semi unconscious condition from the time the injury was received up to his death.
    The windlass on which the victim of the accident was working was the cause of his death. In some manner the handle slipped and the crank struck him in the back of the head, causing concussion of the brain.
    Mr. Toney was a thrifty and energetic citizen.  He was 56 years of age and the father of three sons and a daughter, who with his wife survive him.  Almost all his life he as worked for the Michigan Central, a greater portion of the time as baggageman.  Eight years or more ago he changed his calling to that of truckman in the regular department, where he was employed at the time of his death. The funeral will probably be held Friday afternoon from the residence on north Seventh Street.


    The funeral services for the late Frank Toney will be held Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the residence.  Rev. Saffran of St. John's German Evangelical church will officiate.