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Alexander Willard “Alex” Abramson

Alexander Willard "Alex" Abramson

The following unidentified newspaper articles were found in a scrapbook owned by Betty Burton of Lowell:

    ACCIDENT COSTS A LIFE

    Alex Abramson Meets Almost Instant Death. -- Caught in Engine.

    Alex Abramson met a horrible death Monday afternoon shortly after dinner by being caught in the belt on his gasoline engine and terribly bruised and battered in the swiftly revolving wheels. He was sawing wood at the John Fickle residence in Hebron when the accident happened and had just started the machinery after dinner, not having sawed a cord of wood yet, when in some manner the saw pinched so that it threw the belt.

    Mr. Abramson was attempting to put the belt back in position when in a manner, no one knows exactly how, the belt flopped from his hands and caught over his shoulder. The engine develops ten horse power and was running without a load at the time and before anyone could get to the controlling valve to shut the throttle he was dragged into the wheels and knocked about by several revolutions of the heavy driving mechanism. When liberated he was unconscious and it was seen that he could not live, although he was still breathing slightly. He lived only about five minutes after the terrible accident.

    Mr. Abramson was just in the prime of life being about 33 years of age and leaves a wife and one daughter in the deepest sorrow by this untoward event. He also leaves his own parents and a number of brothers and sisters. He was a member of the local M.W.A. lodge and carried a life insurance of $1,000. He also was an active member of the local K. of P. order.

    Mrs. Abramson was in Chicago at the time of the accident attending the funeral of an aunt and the shock of the accident was a very hard one on her since she has not been in the best of health herself for some time. The bereaved family and relatives have the sincere sympathy of the entire community in this their hour of sore affliction, who will do all in their power to alleviate the sorrow of the event.

    Alexander Willard Abramson was born March 31, 1878, at Southeast Grove where he lived until his marriage to Myrtle M. Downs, June 24, 1899.

    He has lived among us during his young manhood and by his courtesy and kindly manner has won the respect of all whom he met; and it has been said "he indeed was one who had not an enemy."

    He leaves to mourn his loss a wife and little child; father and mother; five brothers and one sister and a host of friends and relatives.

    Services were held on Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the M.E. Church in charge of O.P. Paxon. The body was laid to rest in the Hebron cemetery. Members of the M.W.A. lodge attended in a body as also did the K. of P. lodge.

    Card of Thanks

    I wish to express heart-felt thanks to the many friends who so kindly assisted at the death and burial of my dear husband and for the beautiful floral offerings given by the lodges and "The Little One," Nurse Hassack and other friends.

    Myrtle Abramson and Family

    * * * * *

    A sad accident occurred here about 1 p.m., Monday, when Alex Abramson lost his life by being caught in the belt of his gasoline engine, and whirled over the balance wheel twice before the engine was stopped. The belt was broken by the shock. The unfortunate man was engaged in sawing wood at the home of John Fickle when the saw stuck on a piece of wood stopping the machinery, and endeavoring to throw the belt off, the engine suddenly started with the results that he was instantly killed. The deceased was about 36* years of age and was an honest, respectable hard working man, he leaves a loving wife and adopted daughter, a father and mother, and several brothers to mourn his loss. He was a member of the K. or P's and also the Modern Woodmen of America.

* Note -- In the above article, someone had scratched out the age "36" and wrote by hand "33."


Last updated on November 21, 2007.

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