Mr. Church died in a tragic railroad accident. The engine in which he was riding ran through an open drawbridge, drowning himself and one other man, Eugene C. Wiggins. Mr. Wiggins was officially the Engineer on that run, but Mr. Church, the conductor, had more experience as an engineer on the new coal-fired engine. It was unclear which of them was actually controlling the engine at the time of the accident.
This obituary is taken from a much longer article concerning the incident:
THE BODY OF CONDUCTOR CHURCH
was taken in charge by the Central City Chapter of Masons, and at half-past twelve conveyed to the Northern railroad depot, the following gentlemen acting as pall-bearers:
C. G. Robinson, William Caldwell, L. S. Kyser, T. D. Brewster, B. J. Howd and Charles O. Walkup.
The burial casket was a handsome imitation rosewood with Masonic emblems, bearing the following inscription:
"Edwin S. Church, died May 20, 1874, aged 35 years and 4 months."
At the depot the funeral train was in readiness, and appropriately draped in mourning. It was drawn by the "Parish," J. Snyder, engineer and D. K. Pangburn, conductor. President Belden and Treasurer Mann were present overseeing the arrangements, and making all comfortable who desired to accompany the remains.
The train departed about 1:15 for Central Square. Many expressions of sympathy were exhibited as the train moved along, and at Liverpool and Brewerton, and stations beyond, large additions were made, as everybody was generously permitted to join in paying the last sad rites.
The two funeral services were held about the same hour---three o'clock. When the train with Church's body arrived at Central Square, it was taken to the Baptist church, about a mile from the depot. Rev. Mr. Webb, the pastor, an old class mate of the dead conductor, preached a very affecting sermon, and a prayer was offered by Elder Worden—the same clergyman who united Mr. and Mrs. Church in matrimony. The burial ground is about twenty rods from the church. At the grave the remains were deposited by the Masonic fraternity with Masonic honors. The train returned to the city about seven o'clock.
Thus, "earth to earth and dust to dust," the veil is drawn over the first sad accident on the Northern railroad.
This obituary is taken from a much longer article concerning the incident:
THE BODY OF CONDUCTOR CHURCH
was taken in charge by the Central City Chapter of Masons, and at half-past twelve conveyed to the Northern railroad depot, the following gentlemen acting as pall-bearers:
C. G. Robinson, William Caldwell, L. S. Kyser, T. D. Brewster, B. J. Howd and Charles O. Walkup.
The burial casket was a handsome imitation rosewood with Masonic emblems, bearing the following inscription:
"Edwin S. Church, died May 20, 1874, aged 35 years and 4 months."
At the depot the funeral train was in readiness, and appropriately draped in mourning. It was drawn by the "Parish," J. Snyder, engineer and D. K. Pangburn, conductor. President Belden and Treasurer Mann were present overseeing the arrangements, and making all comfortable who desired to accompany the remains.
The train departed about 1:15 for Central Square. Many expressions of sympathy were exhibited as the train moved along, and at Liverpool and Brewerton, and stations beyond, large additions were made, as everybody was generously permitted to join in paying the last sad rites.
The two funeral services were held about the same hour---three o'clock. When the train with Church's body arrived at Central Square, it was taken to the Baptist church, about a mile from the depot. Rev. Mr. Webb, the pastor, an old class mate of the dead conductor, preached a very affecting sermon, and a prayer was offered by Elder Worden—the same clergyman who united Mr. and Mrs. Church in matrimony. The burial ground is about twenty rods from the church. At the grave the remains were deposited by the Masonic fraternity with Masonic honors. The train returned to the city about seven o'clock.
Thus, "earth to earth and dust to dust," the veil is drawn over the first sad accident on the Northern railroad.
Mr. Church died in a tragic railroad accident. The engine in which he was riding ran through an open drawbridge, drowning himself and one other man, Eugene C. Wiggins. Mr. Wiggins was officially the Engineer on that run, but Mr. Church, the conductor, had more experience as an engineer on the new coal-fired engine. It was unclear which of them was actually controlling the engine at the time of the accident.
This obituary is taken from a much longer article concerning the incident:
THE BODY OF CONDUCTOR CHURCH
was taken in charge by the Central City Chapter of Masons, and at half-past twelve conveyed to the Northern railroad depot, the following gentlemen acting as pall-bearers:
C. G. Robinson, William Caldwell, L. S. Kyser, T. D. Brewster, B. J. Howd and Charles O. Walkup.
The burial casket was a handsome imitation rosewood with Masonic emblems, bearing the following inscription:
"Edwin S. Church, died May 20, 1874, aged 35 years and 4 months."
At the depot the funeral train was in readiness, and appropriately draped in mourning. It was drawn by the "Parish," J. Snyder, engineer and D. K. Pangburn, conductor. President Belden and Treasurer Mann were present overseeing the arrangements, and making all comfortable who desired to accompany the remains.
The train departed about 1:15 for Central Square. Many expressions of sympathy were exhibited as the train moved along, and at Liverpool and Brewerton, and stations beyond, large additions were made, as everybody was generously permitted to join in paying the last sad rites.
The two funeral services were held about the same hour---three o'clock. When the train with Church's body arrived at Central Square, it was taken to the Baptist church, about a mile from the depot. Rev. Mr. Webb, the pastor, an old class mate of the dead conductor, preached a very affecting sermon, and a prayer was offered by Elder Worden—the same clergyman who united Mr. and Mrs. Church in matrimony. The burial ground is about twenty rods from the church. At the grave the remains were deposited by the Masonic fraternity with Masonic honors. The train returned to the city about seven o'clock.
Thus, "earth to earth and dust to dust," the veil is drawn over the first sad accident on the Northern railroad.
This obituary is taken from a much longer article concerning the incident:
THE BODY OF CONDUCTOR CHURCH
was taken in charge by the Central City Chapter of Masons, and at half-past twelve conveyed to the Northern railroad depot, the following gentlemen acting as pall-bearers:
C. G. Robinson, William Caldwell, L. S. Kyser, T. D. Brewster, B. J. Howd and Charles O. Walkup.
The burial casket was a handsome imitation rosewood with Masonic emblems, bearing the following inscription:
"Edwin S. Church, died May 20, 1874, aged 35 years and 4 months."
At the depot the funeral train was in readiness, and appropriately draped in mourning. It was drawn by the "Parish," J. Snyder, engineer and D. K. Pangburn, conductor. President Belden and Treasurer Mann were present overseeing the arrangements, and making all comfortable who desired to accompany the remains.
The train departed about 1:15 for Central Square. Many expressions of sympathy were exhibited as the train moved along, and at Liverpool and Brewerton, and stations beyond, large additions were made, as everybody was generously permitted to join in paying the last sad rites.
The two funeral services were held about the same hour---three o'clock. When the train with Church's body arrived at Central Square, it was taken to the Baptist church, about a mile from the depot. Rev. Mr. Webb, the pastor, an old class mate of the dead conductor, preached a very affecting sermon, and a prayer was offered by Elder Worden—the same clergyman who united Mr. and Mrs. Church in matrimony. The burial ground is about twenty rods from the church. At the grave the remains were deposited by the Masonic fraternity with Masonic honors. The train returned to the city about seven o'clock.
Thus, "earth to earth and dust to dust," the veil is drawn over the first sad accident on the Northern railroad.
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