Harshbarger - Jacob
Source: Crawfordsville Daily Journal 13 March 1894 p 3
Last evening the passengers and loafers at the Big Four station were made the involuntary witness of a sickening tragedy which will remain fixed in the memory of every beholder during his life. Jacob Harshbarger, a farmer living north of Jamestown, deliberately committed suicide in the presence of his family and numbers of other on-lookers. He was manifestly insane.
Harshbarger and his twin brother Michael were raised by Abraham Nicely and when he died continued to live upon the farm of his son John. Jacob lived for a year or so at Bowers Station but finally returned to the Nicely place, where lie resided with his wife up to the time of his death. He was married about fourteen years ago to a Miss Caldwell, whose widowed mother resides on south Elm street in this city. They had two children, a daughter now quite a girl and an infant which died about two months ago. It is minded (?) that Harshbarger was predisposed to insanity, his grandfather and grandmother both being insane. At any rate he began to manifest unmistakable signs of mental disease upon the death of his child. A deep melancholy settled upon him from which he could be roused only with difficulty and then when aroused he grieved and sorrowed. His condition continued to grow worse and last week his wife becoming alarmed induced him to come to Crawfordsville on a visit in the hopes that a change of surroundings might tend to brighten his spirits and restore him.
They came and put up at the residence of Mrs. Harshbarger's mother, but Harshbarger grew no better. Accordingly on Saturday Dr. Leech was called in. He examined the man and without hesitation pronounced him insane he advised that he be taken home without delay and arrangements made to have him taken to the asylum for treatment. They remained over Sunday and Mrs. Harshbarger became greatly alarmed by the remarks of her husband, which seemed to indicate that he contemplated self destruction, yesterday evening, however the Harshbargers, accompanied by Mrs. Harshbarger's grown brothers, John and Ol. went to the Big Four station to take the 5:30 train for Jamestown. They sat in the waiting room for awhile but finally went upon the platform. Harshbarger said nothing but stood quietly wrapt in gloomy thought. A few minutes before the passenger train was due a westbound freight came rolling in to get water. It was going very slowly as it approached the west end of the platform. Naturally it attracted the attention of all and before anyone realized what lie was about Harshbarger had run to the west end of the platform and was deliberately crawling under the wheels of the then scarcely moving train. With a cry of terror his brother-in-law, Mr. Caldwell, sprang after him and seizing him by the feet endeavored to drag him out. He was too late, however, and two wheels of the tender passed over his neck, causing instant, death, but not severing the head from the body, the skin holding the two together. It had evidently been the purpose of Harshbarger to crawl under so that the wheels should cut his body squarely in two. but the prompt action of his brother-in-law prevented this. A scene of the greatest excitement at once ensued and the heart rending shrieks and lamentations of the bereft wife aroused the entire neighborhood, she was borne crying and semi-conscious to the residence of her mother on south Kim street, where she was soon followed by the remains of her unfortunate husband.
The body was left there but a short time, however, being taking to the undertaking establishment of J. A. McClure where it was prepared for burial. Coroner Bronaugh came down on the next train and held an inquest over the remains, finding a state of facts agreeing with the above. The body was taken to Jamestown this afternoon for interment. The condition of Mrs. Harshbbarger is most pitiful and if the terrible occurrence, of which she was a witness, does not result in her insanity it will be a wonder. - kbz
Source: Huntington Daily Democrat 13 March 1894 p1
Crawfordsville, Ind March 13 - Jacob Harshbarger, a farm hand, threw himself under a moving freight train Monday evening and was killed. He was married and out of work. -kz