Jacob K. Brown
Dec. 15, 1888-Febuary 5, 1916
Niles Daily Sun, Monday, February 7, 1916, page 1, col. 1-2, microfilm Niles District Library
JACOB BROWN CRUSHED TO DEATH IN DETROIT
Young man was killed in performance of duty of switchman. His death occurred on the fourth anniversary of marriage to Dowagiac lady. Burial here Tuesday
Jacob K. Brown, until December 1, 1915, a resident of Niles, the city of his birth, met with a fatal accident in the Michigan Central yards at Detroit about 4 o'clock Saturday morning, when he was terribly crushed between the side of a car on which he was clinging and a pile of steel I-beams that had been placed too close to the railroad tracks in the vicinity of the factory where they are produced.
Mr. Brown was rushed immediately to Grace hospital, but he did not live more than 15 minutes after reaching the hospital. He remained conscious to the last. He went to Detroit in December to work for the railroad company as a yard switchman. It was while in the performance of his duty that he received the fatal injuries that crushed out his life.
Niles relatives did not learn of the accident until Saturday afternoon, although Mrs. Brown had attempted during the day to get into communication with them, but without success. Her home being in Dowagiac, and not hearing form Niles, and not knowing what else to do she had her husband's body shipped to Dowagiac. Tomorrow the remains will be brought to Niles for burial. The body will arrive at 10:08 and will be taken to 1202 Oak street, where the funeral services will be held at the home of his father, William Brown at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, with burial at Silver Brook. Rev. George Huntington of Trinity church will officiate.
Mr. Brown met his death on the fourth anniversary of his marriage to Miss Ethelyn Wood of Dowagiac. They have one daughter, Jeanann.
The deceased was not a member of any fraternal society and carried no life insurance, but it is thought from the nature of the accident that his estate will be fully compensated under the Michigan liability law.
Mr. Browns was born in Niles and was 27 years of age Dec. 15th, last. Before going to Detroit he had been employed for a time at the Niles city plant.
Besides the wife and child the deceased is survived by his father and two brothers and two sisters. The brothers are Raymond of Chicago, and Lawrence of Donerail, Kentucky. Both are horsemen and up to this morning Niles relatives had not succeeded in locating them to notify them of the tragedy. The sisters are Mrs. C.H. Smith and Mrs. W.A. Smith, both of Niles.
Niles Daily Star, Monday, February 7, 1916, page 1, col. 7-8, microfilm Niles District Library
BODY CRUSHED BETWEEN STEEL BEAMS AND CAR
Jacob K. Brown Meets Sudden Death on First Night of Switch Duty.
WAS LOCATED IN DETROIT
Widow and Daughter Reside in Dowagiac, Also Father and Two Sisters in Niles; Funeral Here Tuesday
Just as he reached the goal for which he had been striving two months, Jacob K. Brown met death in the Detroit Michigan Central switch yards Saturday. Since the first day of December , Mr. Brown had been working extra, but had been given a steady position.
He was hanging to the side of his car, signalling the engineer, when he was crushed between the car and a pile of steel I beams, which had been placed too near the switch track, which lead to the factory where the beams are manufactured.
The engineer stopped his train as soon as possible, but the body had been crushed along half the length of a car and was wedged tightly between the steel and wooden walls when removed. He was conscious and retained his senses while he was being rushed to a hospital in an ambulance. He survived about 15 minutes after reaching the hospital. In the meantime he gave the addresses of relatives and what directions were possible. Through a kindness of fate, his body is declared by physicians to have been partially paralyzed from the injuries and that thus much pain was avoided.
The widow, who resides in Dowagiac, was notified and at once went to Detroit. She returned to Dowagiac last night with the body, accompanied by members of the Switchman's union, of which Mr. Brown was a member. The body will be brought to Niles tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock, where funeral services will be held in the afternoon at 2 o'clock, from the home of his father and sister, 1202 Oak street. Rev. George Huntington will officiate. Interment will be made in Silver Brook Cemetery.
Jacob K. Brown was born in Niles, Dec. 15, 1888. He was the son of Wm. Brown, his mother dying when he was but a baby. On February 5, 1912, he was united in marriage with Ethelyn Wood of Dowagiac. One daughter, Jean Ann, was born to them. She is now three years old. His death, besides being on the first night of his regular position as switchman, also marked the fourth anniversary of their marriage.
Besides the widow, daughter and father, two sisters, Mrs. C.H. Smith and Mrs. Arthur Schmidt, of Niles and two brothers, Raymond of Chicago and Lawrence of Donerrail, Ky. survive.
For some time previous to his removal to Detroit, Mr. Brown was employed at the city power plant. He was a genial wholesome fellow, ready of wit and a general favorite. "Jake" was he was familiarly known, was always the central figure in the perpetration of a joke and in the same spirit was the good natured object of pranks. His sad demise, as he was entering upon his new work, brings sorrow to the hearts of his many friends.
Niles Daily Sun, Tuesday, February 8, 1916, page 4, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library
VICTIM OF ACCIDENT BURIED HERE TODAY
Jacob Brown, Killed in Detroit, Laid Away By Friends
The body of Jacob Brown, Michigan Central Switchman, who met his death in Detroit Saturday by being crushed between a car and a pile of I-beams, was brought to Niles this morning from Dowagiac and removed to the home of his father, William Brown, on East Oak streeet. Funeral services were conducted this afternoon by Rev. George Huntington of Trinity Episcopal church. Mr. Hayward sang. Interment occurred at Silver Brook cemetery in the family lot.
Funeral services were also conducted this morning at the home of Mrs. Brown's parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Miller in Dowagiac.
Mrs. Brown was in Dowagiac when she received word of the accident to her husband and although she left at once for Detroit he was dead when she reached the hospital. Mrs. Brown had her household goods packed and expected to go to Detroit yesterday to reside, but she was not in Detroit when the accident occurred.
Both hips of the unfortunate man were broken and his abdomen crushed.
Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, February 8, 1916, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library
The body of Jacob K. Brown arrived in Niles this morning at 10:08 o'clock from Dowagiac, and was taken to the home of his father and sister, 1202 Oak street, where funeral services were conducted this afternoon at 2 o'clock by Rev. George Huntington. Interment was made at Silver Brook cemetery.