HARRISON DUBOIS
The Burlingame Enterprise, Thursday, Feb.
19, 1903, Pg. 5
Vol. VIII, No. 20
FATAL
ACCIDENT.
______
Major
H. Dubois Hurt While Crossing the
Railroad
near His Home, Friday,
Death
Follows.
Harrison Dubois, one of the well
known residents of this community, met with a sad and most peculiar accident
last Friday evening which resulted in his death Sunday morning. About
seven o’clock he started from his home to that of C. T. Beale on the Mrs.
Newman place to visit at the bedside of his friend, D. W. Buchanan. He was
muffled with cap and coat and carried a lantern. He had just crossed the
railroad track, a few rods from his home, and was struck by the engine of a
through eastbound freight. A second sooner he would have been struck by
the engine, and doubtless, instantly killed, but having just crossed the track
he was hit by the heavy beam which runs across the front of the engine or the
steam chest at the side. He was thrown about fifteen feet. His
clothes were badly torn and the force of the blow broke two ribs on the left
side, bruised his arm and his body was scratched in many places. Though
partially unconscious his calls for help were heard by Mr. and Mrs. Parker and
son of Fostoria who were passing. They sent to Mr. Beales’ for help who
assisted him home. His injuries were most painful and from the first it
was difficult to ascertain as to internal injuries. The lung cavity was
penetrated, however, and early Sunday morning he became unconscious and remained
so until his death at ten o’clock.
Harrison Dubois was born in
Franklin county, Indiana, July 18, 1832. He was the third of a family of
four children. The other three, Rhoda Ogden of Martinsburg, Iowa, Elmira
Koermer of Bath, Indiana and Newton Dubois of Peoria, Indiana are still living.
He was married three times. In 1862 to Victoria Tisdale. In 1871 to
Mary Brown and in 1885 to Mrs. Mina Miller, who with two sons, Hal, aged fifteen
and Kenneth aged thirteen still survive him.
Major Dubois, as he was familiarly
known, enlisted here with Co. I of the 11th Kansas Cavalry. He was
promoted to be captain in the Second U. S. infantry of colored troops serving on
the Texas coast. He was later brevetted a major for meritorious service.
He was an Odd Fellow for nearly a half century, being a charter member of the
local lodge. In matters of education he was always active, was director of
the school board of this place for thirteen years. He was a teacher of the
Bible class in the Presbyterian Sunday school for many years.
Thus from a life of activity was
taken this man who will be missed as much, perhaps, as any citizen in
Burlingame. The following was truthfully said by a neighbor and friend of
more than forty years’ standing: “Harrison Dubois, in all his business
transactions, was scrupulously honest. His ideas of right deprived him of
all selfishness. He was a philanthropist in the true sense of the term,
and was a friend to everything that had an uplift to humanity. We know of
no man who had spent more nights at the bedside of the sick of this community
than Harrison Dubois. To sum up in a few words, his life was full of
kindness and good works. His last act of life was on a mission of comfort
to the sick.”
The funeral was held Tuesday
afternoon at 2:00 o’clock at the Presbyterian church. The Grand Army and
lodge of Odd Fellows attended the services, the latter order conducting the
burial service. Beautiful flowers were sent by friends, the Ladies’
Club, Relief Corps, teachers, Sunday School and schoolmates and a floral emblem,
a broken circle, was contributed by the remaining members of Company I of the
11th Kansas. “Taps” have been sounded for another comrade.
Harrison Dubois has pitched his last tent and awaits “reveille” on the
morning of Eternity.