Posted on: Niagara Co. NY Obituaries Reply Here: http://genconnect.rootsweb.com/genbbs.cgi/USA/NY/NiagaraObits/25 Surname: Weston ------------------------- The following two newspaper stories detail the accident and death of Charles Weston, who lived in Suspension Bridge (Niagara Falls) in the 1850s and 1860s. He helped build the first permanent bridge over the Niagara River. From the Wyoming (Illinois) Post Herald, July 1891: Just about sundown Monday evening last, Charles Weston, an old and well-known citizen of Penn township, was the victim of an accident from which his death has been hourly expected. He was returning home from Wyoming in a cart to which he was driving a young mare. Bushrod Tapp's boys saw that Mr. Weston was not in the seat while passing their place, and a closer examination revealed the fact that the unfortunate man had fallen backward and was hanging with his head downward. The animal was trotting along toward the home which is about three and a half miles northeast of Wyoming, and fearing they might frighten the animal and make her run, they ran along the inside of the pasture fence, climbed into the road ahead and stopped her. It was found that Mr. Weston had fallen in such a manner that his feet caught in a rope used for tying a basket to the vehicle. His legs were bent across the axle so that the back of his head rested on the hard road. The track in the dust indicated that in this perilous position he was dragged nearly three fourths of a mile. It was evident he was rendered insensible when his head first struck the hard ground, and was therefore unable to regain a sitting posture. Dr. Morse was immediately called, and an examination showed a portion of the scalp larger than a silver dollar to be entirely torn away and the skull was worn almost through. He was taken to the home, half a mile east from where he was picked up. The farm is occupied by his son John Weston, with whom he has made his home since the demise of his wife some years ago. The wound was dressed, but restoratives failed to bring him back to consciousness. His sons William and George of Peoria and Charles who lives in the West, were summoned by telegraph. At the time of going to press we learn that Mr. Weston has not yet regained consciousness, that he is gradually growing weaker, and that all hopes of his recovery have been abandoned. The following obituary was published in the Thursday, July 23, 1891 issue of the Wyoming Post Herald: "DIED CHARLES WESTON, aged 74 years, 7 months and 10 days at his home in Penn Township, Stark County, Illinois. Friday afternoon, July 17, 1891. Charles Weston was born in England. He came to America when 16 years of age. Being a bridge builder and carpenter, he worked several years for the New York Central railway company, residing at Niagara Falls. In 1864 he came to Illinois and with his family located on the farm in Penn township, which has ever since been the homestead. His death is the result of an accident which befel him on Monday evening, the 13th inst., the particulars of which have been given in the previous issue of this paper. Mr Weston, although an active man for one of his age, was becoming infirm, and it is the opinion of his family that he must have suffered a paralytic stroke when he fell backward from his vehicle and received his death injury. He never recovered consciousness after the shock, quietly passing away. Funeral services, conducted by Rev. M. De L. Bowen, were held at the home on Sunday afternoon. A large number of neighbors of the vicinity, including a number from Wyoming and Castleton, attested their esteem and sympathy by their attendance. There were many floral tributes. On Monday the remains were taken to the former home at Niagara, for interment beside the wife, who died of cancer about eight years ago. Four sons and two step daughters survive the parents, William H., who is a locomotive engineer for the C.R.I. & P., lives at Peoria. John lives on the homestead. Charles is a farmer in Phillips County, Kansas, and George is a resident of St. Louis. The sons were present before the death and at the funeral. George accompanied the remains to the last resting place."