by Steer, William G.

See previous entry: Little Home Histories, Part 83 -- Anecdotes Written by William G. Steer: The Steer Name.

A Barn Accident

When raising a barn on the farm of James Steer in 1865, there were one hundred and twenty-five men working. Through the carelessness of one man, a beam four by four and eight feet long fell from the top story to the floor striking a large man who wore a silk hat, a glancing lick. It then struck Chalkley Bundy on the head and seriously injured him.

He was carried into the house and placed on the couch where he laid until taken to his home. I was only eight years old, but I remember seeing his brother John Bundy standing by him and I noticed how pale he was. He recovered, and later married Debora Bundy. He died two years after the accident, and it was thought this injury shortened his life.

Another Barn Accident

In the Fifth Month 1879, when moving a barn to what was known as the lower farm, while putting the heavy sections of the roof with pole rafters in place -- owing to a defective worm eaten timber -- the entire building thirty six feet long collapsed, carrying twenty men down with it. The only one of those who was on the platform who was injured was David Edgerton, who suffered a badly sprained ankle. I was near the eaves and was removing a pin that was in the way, so when the barn spread, I fell through it. Though pinned to the ground, I was able to make known my whereabouts. The men soon removed the heavy sections of roof and carried me and laid me on the lawn. When the Doctor came he found my spine was injured and informed me that I would never be able to work again. After lying in bed for six weeks, I gradually recovered until I was able to manage my farm work. Although I suffered with my back for over thirty-five years, I had it straightened by the first Chiropractor that came to Barnesville.

There were three conditions that saved my life. The tie that was on me was the only one that had drawn out of the mortise. I fell in a hole and also just missed a stake driven in the ground. I have not been insensible to the great mercy and good my dear Heavenly Father extended to me in prolonging my life to advanced age; I am now nearly eighty-six.

A Serious Train-Wagon Accident

I think it was early in the 1880s that my brother, Charles Steer, when crossing at James Walton crossing with a covered spring wagon in which were my crippled sister Rachel Steer, Mary Kennard, and Samuel Test, were struck by a freight train which failed to blow its whistle on approaching the crossing.

All but Mary Kennard were thrown onto what was then called the "Cow catcher" of the engine and none of them were injured. Brother Charles -- seeing that Mary Kennard was not with them -- jumped off and ran back to find her lying by the side of the track, seriously injured. The two that were on the engine were carried on to Barnesville before the train stopped.

When the case came to trial, the evidence by William Stanton was so conclusive that the engineer failed to whistle, that the Railroad Company paid Mary Kennard one thousand dollars and fifty dollars more for repaying the wagon.

The remarkable thing about this occurrence was that none of those thrown on the engine were injured.

See next entry: Little Home Histories, Part 85 -- Anecdotes Written by William G. Steer: The Boarding School Fire in 1910.

For the table of contents and first entry in this series, please see: Little Home Histories, Part 01 -- Table of Contents and Introduction.

This entry is adapted from Little Home Histories in Our Early Homes, Belmont County, Ohio, which was published in 1942. Its publication was coordinated by Robert D. and Beulah Patten McDonald. This entry has been reedited for inclusion in the Pierian Press Fulltext eBooks database, and is included on the Stratton House Inn Website by special permission. This entry is licensed for use ONLY on this Website. It may be used for educational purposes and personal pleasure under fair-use provisions via this Website. Please note that the Stratton House Inn iteration of this entry does NOT include the subject headings assigned each chapter for use in the Fulltext eBooks database.

DATABASE: Fulltext eBooks: Copyright (c) 2002 The Pierian Press, Inc. All Rights Reserved
ENTRY NUMBER: EBK30013784