This post was contributed to the Crawford County Chapter of OGS by Kristina Stearley as part of the Florence Siefert Scrapbook in 2010.
The scrapbook is compiled from undated, unidentified newspaper clippings involving events in the lives of Crawford County citizens living in or having connections to New Washington, Tiro, Shelby, Sulphur Springs, Chatfield, Bucyrus, Ashland, Mansfield, and other areas. Only minimal spelling or punctuation corrections were made. Unreadable areas are shown by underlines, dots &/or question marks. This collection has been scanned, “optical character recognized” (OCR’d), proofed, then coded for HTML by volunteers of the Crawford County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society. Since the copies are not of the best quality errors may have been made. Please contact us if you find corrections needing to be made or can verify any missing dates which could be added.
A Brief Sketch Of the Life of ISAAC KLOPFENSTEIN.
The icy hand of death again visited in the village of Sulphur Springs and selected for its victim Isaac Klopfenstein, Sr., an able and honored business man, a good citizen and a devout christian. Judging from the deceased’s actions a week previous to the accident, we conclude that death had been ex- pected, yet its suddenness was a blow to this village and cast a shadow of gloom over the entire county when word came bearing the awful news. As the words, “Isaac Klopfenstein fell from a load of hay and is killed,” sped from quivering lip to lip, strong men stood spell bound and could not accept the truth.
HISTORY OF THE ACCIDENT
On Thursday, July 22nd, Mr. Klopfenstein accompanied by his hands left for the hay field, north of this village, at about 1 o’clock and loaded two heavy loads of hay, brought them to Sulphur Springs at, about 3:30 purposing to unload them at what is known as the Crawford County horse barn. Frank Caris, a son-in-law, was driving in the lead, Mr. K. following some ten or fifteen rods behind. Since the barn is provided with a track and so arranged that the unloading must be done from the north end, Caris drove up along the side of the barn, stopped in front of the door and stepped inside the mow to get things ready to unload. Caris says he did not look out but heard Mr. Klopfenstein drive up until the team was behind his (Caris) load and heard him say “whoa,” and the team stopped. By all appearances Mr. Klopfenstein then wrapped the lines around the upright and started to get off to unload Caris’s load and in the act must have fallen behind the left horse, limbs to the north, scaring the team, which turned to the north pulling the front wheel of the wagon over the shoulder and breast; at this time, no doubt, Mr. Klopfenstein said his last words “O, my God.” The hind wheel then came, passed over his neck, jaw and head, breaking the neck, one side of jaw and skull; the left side of jaw was dislocated and pushed up into the head. This, no doubt, is as near a correct a report of the accident as can be obtained since no one really saw the happening until it was done.
A BRIEF SKETCH
Isaac Klopfenstein was born in Polk township, this county, on the 10th day of March, 1837. His parents, Abraham Klopfenstein and Elizabeth Klopfenstein, nee Reiter, came to this country from Switzerland in 1829. His father died when Isaac was only 9 years old, leaving a widow with, three children, Mary, Elizabeth and Isaac, to struggle for themselves. Isaac remained at home with his mother until he was 14 years old, when he started out to seek what the world had in store for him. He married Mary Bittikofer February 5, 1854, to which union ten children were born, seven of whom are still living. They are Abraham, John, Isaac, Mary, Catharine, Emma, and Amanda.
A NEPHEW.
He turned his hand to many different vocations in life and was successful in all. Yet as a stock dealer and farmer he was very successful. He began dealing in stock in 1860, since which time he has bought more stock, made more turns in business than any man in the country. He acted on two mottoes, “Honesty is the best policy” and “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches,” and by so doing has been bountifully rewarded by his Maker. As a stock dealer he came in contact with many men from whose remarks we gleaned his mottoes. He shipped most of his stock to Mr. Hazelwood, a broker at Pittsburg, Pa., and what is very surprising to this community is that the latter gentleman came all the way from Pittsburg to attend his friend’s funeral. “True friendship goes to the grave.”
His funeral was the largest ever held in this village and community. The sermon was preached by Rev. Wettach of Tiffin and A. B. Stoner, of Sulphur Spring. We thus lose one of our foremost business men, a good citizen and a devout christian.
Killed in a Runaway
A telephone message was received here late yesterday announcing the tragic death of Isaac Klopfenstein at Sulphur Springs, Liberty township. Mr. Klopfenstein was hauling hay, and while going in with a load his hordes took fright and ran away. He was thrown from the load and killed.
Isaac Klopfenstein was born in Polk township March 10, 1837, his age being 60 years, 4 months and 12 days. He was a farmer and stock dealer, well posted and intelligent. He owns farms in Liberty, Chatfield, Sandusky and Bucyrus townships. His energy and ambition were well illustrated when after his marriage he went to school with his children to secure sufficient education for his business. He was very successful and highly respected. He leaves a large family.
