Notes
Note for: Heinrich Zopf, ABT 1786 - 28 MAR 1852 Index
Burial:
Place: St. Boniface, Melrose Township, Adams County, Illinois, USA
Name note: As shown in 1850 Federal and state census.
Event note: South half of the South East quarter of the South East quarter of section
(No 14) Fourteen in the township No 2 south of the baseline of Range (No
8) eight West of the fourth principal meridian containing twenty acres
more or less.
Individual note: Notes from FTW import.
Death entry found in St. Boniface Death Register 1837-1906, page 146
1835 Illinois State Census
Henry ZOPF born About 1786, Germany Spouse Katharina Born 1791, Germany
Children: Henry Born about: 1821; Adam born about: 1820, Fredrica born
about: 1824
Residence: Melrose, Adams Co., IL
1840 Census Entry: Adams County exclusive of Quincy, IL (handwritten page
38, printed page 39)
Zooph, Henry
2 Males 15-20 (Henry Jr., Adam) 1 Female 10-15
(Friedrica)
1 Male 50-60 (Henry Sr.) 1 Female 40-50
(Catherine)
1850 Census Entry: Melrose Township, Adams County, Quincy, IL
Name Age Sex Occupation Acres Place of Birth
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------
Henry Sopff 65 M Farmer 800 Germany
Catharina 59 F
"
Henry 30 M Farmer "
Adam 25 M Farmer "
Friedrica 26 F
"
Source: Adams County Deed records
No 201
Nov 8th 1839 Karns to Zopf (Henry)
This Deed made this seventh day of November in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and thirty nine witneses that David Karns of the
county of Adams and the State of Illinois party of the first part in
consideration of the sum of two hundred dollars lawful money of the
United States to him paid by Henry Zoph of the county of Adams and State
of Illinois party of the second part the receipt of which is hereby
acknowledged has aliened released remised and forever quit claim and by
this Deed does alien release remise and forever quit claim to the said
party of the second part his heirs and assigns forever to his only proper
use and behoof a certain tract of land known and described as followeth
viz a certain tract of land situate lying and being in the County of
Adams State of Illinois to with it being the South half of the South East
quarter of the South East quarter of section (No 14) fourteen in the
township No 2 south of the baseline of Range (No 8) eight West of the
fourth principal meridian containing twenty acres more or less. To have
and to hold the said premises with all the appurtenances thereto
belonging to the party of the second part his heirs and afsigns forever.
The said party of the first part covenants with the party of the second
part his heirs and assigns that he will forever warrant and defiend the
said premises to the said party of the second part for the consideration
above named against the clains of any other person or persons claiming
by through or under him the said party of the first part by against the
clains of no other person or persons whatever in testimony of which the
said grantor has hereunto set his hand and seal the day and year above
written signed sealed and delivered
David Karns - Seal
in presence of ----- ------ State of Illinois County of Adams ---.
This day Seventh of November One thousand eight hundred and thirty nine
David Karns of this county personally known to me to ne the identical
person who executed and whose name is subscribed to the foregoing deed of
conveyance as having executed the same came before me and acknowledged
the same to be his voluntary act for the purposes therein expressed given
under my hand and seal date as before mentioned.
Charles Mauckie J.P. say Justice of the Peace in and for the county of
Adams - Seal
Notes
Note for: Adam Zopf, 1853 - 07 SEP 1892 Index
Occupation: a farmer
Burial:
Date: 20 MAY 1930
Place: Calvary Cemetery, Quincy, Adams County, Illinois, USA
Event note: Removed from St. Boniface 20 May 1930
Burial note: St. Paul Section
Individual note: Notes imported from FTM
----------------------
Source: History of Adams County Il 1879
Zopp, Adam farmer; sec 23 P.O. Quincy
------------------------
Source: The Whig; Newspaper clipping
STRUCK BY TRAIN
Adam Zopf and Thomas Orey (Owrey)
Killed by an Engine
Last Night
A terrible accident occurred at the twenty fourth street crossing last
evening about 9:20 o'clock. The "Q" pasenger train due here at 9:20 was
coming at a speed of about 35 to 40 miles an hour it being eight minutes
late. Mr. John Peterson was the engineer and Mr. James Howland the
conductor.
At the Twenty fourth street crossing the engine - No. 490 - struck a
wagon and two horses. Engineer Peterson says he was looking out of his
cab window at the time and just got a glimpse of the wagon before the
engine struck it. Wheat flew into the cab window so as to blind him for
a short time, but he at once stopped the train and went back to the point
where the accident happened. There were two men in the wagon when it was
struck. One was thrown on the pilot where he was lying as if he had been
placed there, and the other was cut to pieces in a horrible manner. The
pieces were scattered a distance of about sixty yards. All that could be
found were collected and placed together beside the track, where they
were left when the train started for Quincy with the remains of the
other man lying on the pilot. The wagon was completely wrecked and one
horse killed, but the other horse was probably not injured, as it was
seen running away by a man living near by.
As soon as the depot was reached Officer Hudson notified Coroner
Morehead. The remains were left on the pilot of the engine until the
coroner arrived, and in the meantime several hundred persons viewed the
body. For some time no one could identify the dead man, but finally a
gentleman expressed the belief that it was the body of Adam Zoff (Zopf),
who lived on the place of Mr. Thomas Paine, north of Marceline. This was
soon after corroborated by Mr. Albert Ashman, who resides at Twenty
second and Vine streets, who stated that he also believed that it was the
body of his uncle, Adam Zoff (Zopf). Mr. Ashman stated that Zoff (Zopf)
ate supper at his home about 7:30 o'clock last evening. A man named
Thomas Orey (Owrey), who lives on land adjoining that of his uncle was
with him. Mr. Ashman also stated that Adam Zoff's (Zopf) mother lives on
South Fifth street between State and Ohio, and that he leaves a wife and
eight children, his wife being very sick at this time. Thomas Orey
(Owrey) leaves a wife and four children.
The facts given above were obtained from Conductor Howland, Engineer
Peterson and Albert Ashman.
It is considered exceedingly strange that the men did not hear the
train coming and failed to see the light from the locomotive headlight.
They were going north. Just before the railroad crossing is reached the
street runs through a cut. The night being very dark on account of the
storm prevailing at the time. Engineer Peterson could not see the men in
the wagon until they were in the light thrown by the headlight on the
locomotive, but the men in the wagon must have heard the noise made by
the approaching train. The engineer stated that the bell was kept
ringing all the time and all the signals were given, if these statements
are all true the trainmen can in no way be held responsible for the
accident.
There is a flag station at the crossing, but neither Conductor Howland
or Engineer Peterson could tell whether the flagman was out or not.
THE INQUEST
About 11 o'clock last night Coroner Morehead impaneled a jury composed
of W. H. Lanoix, J. F. Daugherty, John Fredricks, John Moudy, John Ahern
and H. H. McMain, which proceeded in the depot to view the body of Adam
Zopf, which was still lying across the pilot of the engine. Several of
the ribs were crushed and the neck was broken and death must have been
instantaneous. With the body on the pilot were a couple of pieces of
splintered wood from the wagon, a blanket and several pieces of an
earthen vessal of some kind. The body was removed to Daugherty's
undertaking establisment.
The jury examined Engineer Peterson, Fireman Bellamy and Conductor
Howland, who testified in accordance with the foregoing facts. The
whistle had sounded before the train reached the crossing and the bell
was ringing at the time. The engineer did not see the flagman there as
he passed, though he had come out of his house when the train had stopped
and they went back pick up the remains of Thomas Orey (Owrey), who was
cut all to pieces. Both legs and one arm were cut off, the body cut in
two and the head crushed in.
After examing these three witnesses the inquest was adjourned to 8
o'clock this afternoon to secure the presence of Henry Bruening, the
flagman at the crossing, and also a 17 year old boy who is said to have
crossed the track a couple of hundred feet ahead of the unfortunate men.
Undertaker Messick went out to the scene of the accident last night and
brought the mangled remains of Thomas Orey (Owrey). The inquest on his
body will be held this afternoon.
THE CROSSING HORROR
Coroner's Inquest On the Bodies of Adam Zopf
and Thomas Owrey
No One Saw The Accident, Though Several Heard The Crash as the Engine
Struck the Wagon - No Flagman There at Night
The inquest over the bodies of Adam Zopf and Thomas Owrey, the
Marcelline farmers who were killed by an incoming "Q" passenger train at
the Twenty-fourth street crossing Wednesday night, was resumed and
completed at Messick's undertaking establishment yesterday afternoon. A
second jury, consisting of D. W. H. Lanoix, William Schaefer, Michael
Barry, S. T. Messick, C. W. Messick and Anton Binkert, was impanneled for
the Owrey case, and the two inquests were held together.
State's Attorney Epler assisted in the examination of the witnesses,
but no new facts developed. The witnesses told the story of the accident
as related to THE WHIG yesterday morning. The witnesses examined were
Engineer Peterson, Fireman Bellamy, Conductor Howland, George Boehner,
the flagman at the crossing, Christian Weidenborn who lives on the Dick
farm a quarter of a mile north of the crossing, Mrs. Casper Wattman, who
lives two blocks northeast of the crossing and Albert Ascheman, a nephew
of Mr. Zopf, and at whose house, 711 North Twenty-second street, the
deceased ate supper Wednesday night, but none of them could throw any new
light on the unfortunate affair. No one saw the accident except the
engineer and fireman, and they caught a glimpse of the wagon just a
moment before the engine stuck it. The train was running at the rate of
thirty-five or forty miles an hour at the time, and the engine was not
more than twenty feet from the wagon when they saw it. The whistle had
sounded at the at the proper place and the bell was ringing at the time.
The bell rings by steam. George Buehner the flagman at the crossing,
testified that he was not out because it was after his time for quittng.
He is supposed to be on duty from 5 o'clock in the morning until 9
o'clock at night., and at the time the accident occurred he had gone in
the house. The accident occurred about 9:20. There is no watchman there
at night after Mr. Buehnet goes off duty.
Mr. Weidenborn did not see the accident, but heard the crash, and ran
down to the crossing from his house. He was the first man to arrive on
the scene, and helped to pick up the scattered remains of Mr. Owrey.
Mrs. Wattman saw the train pass from her kitchen window, but did not
see the accident. She heard the crash as the engine struck the wagon,
but did not go down to the crossing.
Mr. Asheman saw the deceased last about 7:30 o'clock Wednesday night.
So fas as he could see they were perfectly sober. Mr. Zopf was not a
drinking man. Witness was not acquanted with Mr. Owrey.
There being no evidence to show that the accident was the result of
carelessness or that it could have been avoided except by the presence of
a night flagman. The juries returned verdicts that the deceased came to
their deaths "by being struck by C. B. & Q train No. 1, engine 490." and
attached blame to no one.
A son of the late K. K. Jones and a son of Mr. Turner were killed at
this crossing of some twenty-three years ago. There were three of them
in a buggy, but ... of R. E. Letton was the only one to escape.
As stated in THE WHIG yesterday morning, the body of Mr. Owrey was
gathered up and brought in to Messick's undertaking establishment. It
was frightfully mutilated, there being hardly enough of it left to show
that it had once been a human being, and was scattered along the track
for fifty yards. After they had been brought in the pieces were cleaned
and placed together as well as possible and deposited in the casket.
Yesterday his wife and children and several friends came in, and last
night the body was taken to his home near Marcelline for interment. The
body of Mr. Zopf was taken to the residence of his mother on Fifth
street, between State and Ohio.
It was stated last night that one of the men had taken out a life
insurance policy for $1,000 last July. Which one of the men it was could
not be learned.