Co. H., 101st Ind. Inf., Union Army, Civil War, Mustered in Aug 21 1862 from Mier Ind. Mustered out Jun 24 1865.

The News Tribune - Marion, Grant Co., IN - Sunday Morning, June 14, 1903

KILLED BY THE TRAIN
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Darius Buroker and Grandson Ground Under Wheels
LIVED IN SWEETSER
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Walking Down the Tracks and Were Struck by Extra Freight

Darius Buroker, aged 61 years, and his grandson Russell Colbert, aged 5 years, were killed at Sweetser last evening, by being struck by an extra westbound Pennsylvania freight train. Their heads were crushed to a pulp. Buroker was killed instantly, and the little boy lived but 10 minutes after the accident.

Buroker and the boy had been to town to make a purchase and were returning to their home in East Sweetser when struck by the train. They were walking on a sidetrack when they heard a train approaching, and believing it to be on the switch they stepped onto the main track. They had scarcely stepped onto this track before they were struck by the freight train. The tops of their heads were mashed in, and it appeared as if they had been raised into the air and then alighted on their heads. Dr. G. W. Davis, coroner, was notified of the accident immediately after its occurrence and left at once for Sweetser. He returned to Marion at 2 o'clock this morning. Dr. Davis stated that the skulls of Buroker and the boy were badly fractured, but that their bodies were not disfigured in any way. The coroner completed his post mortem last night and will hold an inquest tomorrow.

Buroker was well known and highly respected citizen of Sweetser. For many years he had been employed in the flour mills of that place. Russell Colbert had been living with his grandfather since the death of his mother. His father, who is employed by the Clover Leaf Railroad company, is at Toledo. A wife and a number of children survive Buroker. No arrangements have been made for the double funeral.
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The Marion Leader - Marion, Grant Co., IN - Monday, June 15, 1903
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A TRAGIC AFFAIR
Darius Buroker and Grandson, Russell Colbert, Met With Awful Death at Sweetser
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A terrible accident occurred at Sweetser Saturday evening.

Darius Buroker, a well known citizen and his five-year-old grandson Russell Colbert, stepped in front of a swiftly moving Panhandle switch engine and were terribly mangled.

Mr. Buroker met instant death, while the lad died ten minutes later, never having recovered consciousness. It was one of the most fearful accidents the little town ever witnessed and great excitement and sorrow reign as a result.

Mr. Buroker and little Russell, who resided in East Swayzee, had been up town doing some trading and were enroute home when the dreadful affair occurred which robbed both of their lives. A freight train was approaching and hastening to get off of the track on which they had been walking they stepped on to a sidetrack and were instantly run down by the switch engine, which was traveling rapidly.

Mr. Buroker saw the engine in time to grasp his grandson and make an attempt to get off the track, but his effort was all in vain and the engine struck both with fearful force. Both are said to have been hurled high in the air and to have alighted on their heads, as their skulls were crushed in. Their bodies were not much disfigured and were not run over by the wheels of the engine.

The remains were taken to their home and Coroner Davis called. He completed his examination and returned to Marion early Sunday morning. He is holding an inquest at Sweetser today, but the affair appears to have bee altogether an accident.

The funeral will occur from the Buroker home Tuesday afternoon at 3 o'clock and the remains will be interred in the Thrailkill Cemetery. It will be a double funeral.

Mr. Buroker was one of the best known residents of Sweetser and was for a long time in the flouring mills of that town. The lad had been living at the home of his grandparents since the death of his mother several months ago. His father, Charles Colbert is employed by the Clover Leaf Railway Company and has been stationed at Toledo.

Mr. Buroker is survived by a wife and five children and all are prostrated by the terrible tragedy that has befallen them. They left their little home Saturday evening with no thoughts of death and the tragedy that cut short their lives was not in the least expected. The sight of youth and age lying there together with life crushed out was one of the most pitiable ever presented to the people of the little town and even the strongest wept.
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Burial: Thrailkill Cemetery - Swayzee, Grant Co., IN
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