McCabe, Michael F. c1847 - 1901

MCCABE, MURTHA

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 4/7/2020 at 15:35:36

Source: Twice-A-Week Plain Dealer Nov. 26, 1901, LP, C6

KILLED BY THE CABS
M. F. McCabe, of Plymouth Rock Found Dead on the Track at McGregor.
M. F. McCabe, of Plymouth Rock, was found dead on the railroad track about 11 o’clock last night a mile west of the round house at McGregor, run over and cut in two by the switch engine. He left Cresco last Friday for Chicago with two car loads of hogs and was probably returning home.

Source: Twice-A-Week Plain Dealer Dec. 3, 1901, LP, C5

Michael F. McCabe
Forty-seven years ago M. F. McCabe, a mere lad seven years of age, came with his parents to Iowa located on the Iowa River near Plymouth Rock. What business integrity, industry, enterprise and economy may enable one to accomplish the brief fifty-four years of his life proclaims. Grown to years of manhood he was married to Miss Elizabeth Murtha who survive him. To them fourteen children were born all of whom are living. Born in Illinois and locating in Winneshiek county and growing there to man’s estate, there he developed into one of its most successful farmers. His farm is about 1200 acres was one of the best tilled and most productive in the county, and was largely devoted to the production of live stock and hogs, which were shipped to Chicago and there marketed. Ten days ago he went to Chicago to market two car loads of hogs returning on the Sunday night train from Chicago; he was left at South McGregor where the train makes but a moments stop. He was about the hotel at North McGregor and toward evening walked up the track toward Giard, and was returning, walking on the track toward McGregor when the engineer of the east bound train saw him and gave the usual signal to warn him of his danger. For several years Mr. McCabe has been quite deaf which accounts for his not hearing the train’s signal, and in consequence of which he was struck by the locomotive, his injury resulting in death. The train was stopped and his body put on board and taken to North McGregor where he breathed his last. It was his custom to send his money by draft to his bank here, retaining only enough for his expenses home. This had been done, and on his person was found about $8.00, his watch, and personal effects demonstrating that no foul play had been practiced. Deceased was one of the most scrupulously honest men of the county. The family and friends of the deceased have the sincere sympathy of the public in this hour of sorrow and bereavment.{sic}

Source: Twice-A-Week Plain Dealer May 20, 1902, FP, C4

Some months ago M. F. McCabe, of Plymouth Rock, was killed by the cars near North McGregor. The coroner, A. A. Schmidt, of Garnavillo, held an inquest and took McCabe’s watch, money and effects. The administrator has failed to get the coroner’s bill for services, a report of the property found and taken, or its return. What is the matter with that ex-Coroner? Is he dishonest or simply careless?

Added by Joy Moore April 7, 2020

Source: Decorah Republican Nov. 28, 1901 P 2 C 4

FOUL PLAY OR ACCIDENT
Michael- McCabe of Plymouth -
Struck by Milwaukee Engine.
FOUL FLAY SUSPECTED BY FRIENDS
Deceased had been Marketing Stock in Chicago and may have had a Large Sum of Money.
Michael F. McCabe, one of the best known and most wealthy farmers of northwestern Winnesheik, lies dead at his home near Plymouth Rock. Whether his death is due to foul play or accident may never be known, but there are circumstances surrounding it which will always cause many of his friends to doubt the theory of accident.
Mr. McCabe is one of the few farmers of the county who, being a large raiser of stock, marketed his stuff personally in Chicago or Milwaukee. Last Friday morning he left Cresco with two carloads of stock and took them to market. He was on his way home and had gotten as far as North McGregor, Monday evening, where he arrived on the 6:25 train and spent the evening with Otto M. Drexel, of this city, who was returning from a week’s visit with relatives in Wisconsin. They were together until between eight and nine o’clock, visiting and passing the time pleasantly. About that time Mr. McCabe decided to retire. He had engaged a room at a restaurant near the depot and intended to rest there until the early morning passenger, which would take him to Cresco, would come along. Bidding Mr. Drexel good night, he parted from him and that was the last time Otto saw him alive.
Shortly after ten o’clock, a railroad man who had been with Mr. McCabe and Mr. Drexel a portion of the evening, found Mr. D and exclaimed, “For God’s sake, Otto, come quick. Mike is dead.” Going to the depot Mr. Drexel found the awful news to be too true. Mr. McCabe’s face was covered with blood and one arm was broken in three places and one leg broken in two places. Other than that there were no marks upon him that were disclosed at that time. Upon questioning the railroad men Mr. Drexel found, that McCabe had been struck by the extra engine that is used in helping to haul heavy trains up the hill from North McGregor at a point about a mile and a half west of town. The trainmen picked him up and brought him to the station on the engine. When he was taken aboard he was still breathing, but he expired before he reached North McGregor.
Station Agent Cody and Mr. Drexel searched Mr. McCabe’s clothing and found a pocket book containing between two and three dollars and in one pocket a five dollar bill. His watch was also in his clothing.
The peculiar thing that no one here can explain is how Mr. McCabe got out of North McGregor and to a point a mile and a half west on the railroad track. He is known to be a man of much care, one might almost say timidity, in going about strange places, and more particularly so at night. Even here In Decorah, where he is well known and enjoyed a large acquaintance, he confined himself to the center of the business portion after nightfall. He usually carried a sum of money varying from $50 to $150 in his pocket but from one of his neighbors who is acquainted with his methods we learn that it has been his custom when taking stock to market to have a draft sent to Cresco to the bank where he does his business. The fact that he might have a large sum of money on his person and that he was found at a place where his usual caution would warn him against going is taken as evidence on the part of his most intimate friends that something more than mere accident figured in his death.

Source: Decorah Republican Dec. 5, 1901 P 4 C 2

AN ACCIDENTAL DEATH.
Such was the Verdict of the Coroner's Jury in the McCabe Case at North McGregor.
The North Iowa Times while not giving testimony nor the evidence taken by the Clayton County Coroner, does make this summary of the facts that lead to the death of Michael McCabe of this county, reported by us last week:—
According to the evidence of the witnesses at the inquest at North McGregor on Tuesday afternoon, he was seen by several parties between eight and nine o’clock that evening and was not in an intoxicated condition although he had been drinking. At half past nine he was seen at the freight depot between North McGregor and the west yards and came on to the platform of that depot walking towards the west apparently in an intoxicated condition. It being against the rules of the railroad company to allow strangers upon that platform, he was assisted off the platform at the west end, going west, apparently toward the round house. This was the last seen of him until he was struck by the engine. Apparently he changed his mind after he had continued westward for a while for when he was struck at a quarter past ten he was coming east again and was about three quarters of a mile from the freight depot. The engineer saw him just an instant before he ran upon him and although the engine was reversed, it was not in time to save the life. The engine was backed up a short distance to where they found the man ten or twelve feet from the rails with neck broken, ankle crushed and face bruised. He had a watch and something over seven dollars on his person. He was the father of nine children and the possessor of 1100 acres of good farming land.