Charles J. Harten Dies Following Railroad Accident, 1886

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on March 29, 2019

Charles J. Harten was born in Pennsylvania, 7 July 1827, the son of William Harten (1795-1869) and Catherine [Straw] Harten (1795-1852).

Some time before 1853 Charles Harten married Mary Wilvert, and with her had at least four known children.

During the Civil War he served in the 210th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company A, as a Corporal, from 14 September 1864 through an honorable discharge on 30 May 1865.

On 11 May 1886, Charles J. Harten was involved in a railroad accident that resulted in the amputation of both of his feet. The incident was reported in the Harrisburg Telegraph of 12 May 1886:

HIS FEET CUT OFF
Awful Accident to an Old Man at Dauphin
Yesterday afternoon Charles Harten, aged 59 years old, met with an accident at Dauphin, that resulted in the loss of his feet. He went to Dauphin from Harrisburg on the Schuylkill and Susquehanna train, and intending to go home, started to walk across the Northern Central Railroad bridge, and was struck by a freight engine, the approach of which he had not seen. He fell with feet toward the track, and both were crushed. The injured man was taken to his home, at Heck’s Furnace, about one and a half miles above town, but it was soon considered advisable to remove him to the Harrisburg Hospital, for owing to the extent of his injuries and his age, it was only by the most careful nursing that his life could be saved. Here was brought here on the Lock Haven accommodation by Dr. Poffenberger, and the amputation of both feet performed by Drs. Dunott and Creswell, assisted by others of the hospital staff. This morning he was resting comfortably as could be expected.

According to the Pension Index Card, shown above from Fold3, Charles J. Harten died on 15 May 1886, which was four days after the accident. The date is also confirmed by Findagrave (which gives the date as 16 May 1886) and by a photograph of his grave marker (below).

Charles J. Harten is buried at Fetterhoff’s Cemetery, Halifax Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.

Civil War Blog