Silvernagel Experience 1920 - Emmons County, North Dakota GenWeb


Another NDGenWeb Project

An excerpt from the Bismarck Daily Tribune
13 May 1920

Womans Leg Is Torn Off At Knee By Wheel
Mrs. Stephen Silvernagel of Strasburg
Suffers from Strange Accident

Mrs. Stephen Silvernagel, 21 year old wife of a farmer living 10 miles from Strasburg is in a local hospital recovering from an amputation of her left leg above the knee made necessary as the result of an accident which resulted in the leg being torn off at the knee. Although suffering from the loss of blood and shock, Mrs. Silvernagel is expected to recover, her physician, Dr. F. H. Strauss stated today. Mrs. Silvernagel was plowing on the farm while her husband in an adjoining field was seeding. As she was nearing the end of the last furrow, Mrs. Silvernagel in some unaccountable manner slipped and her left foot got caught in the wheel of the plow. She called to the horses to stop when she felt herself falling but the animals kept going several yards.

Tourniquet Made: As the wheel continued to revolve it twisted Mrs. Silvernagel's leg several times until it was torn off at the knee. This twisting caused the nerves and blood vessels to be drawn down and they became so tightened as to prevent the flow of blood through the several veins.

Mr. Silvernagel, hearing his wife's screams, rushed to her side, tore a piece of her dress and bandaged the torn limb; placed his wife in an automobile and drove to Bismark, a distance of 75 miles. She was operated on eight hours after the accident occurred.

Notes From Contributor: Our ancestors certainly were hardy, ambitious, "survivors"! Stephen SILVERNAGEL's 1st wife, Eva (SCHERR) SILVERNAGEL was probably about four months pregnant when she lost her leg in this farm accident. Five months later she gave birth to her (1st?) son, Joseph SILVERNAGEL on 16 Oct 1920 in Strasburg, ND. Eva SCHERR was the middle child of at least 11 children of Michael SCHERR & Regina WELK of Strasburg, ND [see 1910 census Strasburg, Emmons co, ND]. Eva SCHERR & Stephen SILVERNAGEL had at least 10 children. Eva died 29 Apr 1937 in Strasburg, ND leaving 9 children under the age of 14. She was buried in Saint Peter & Paul Cem, Strasburg, Emmons, ND. Two years later on 3 Nov 1939 in Strasburg, ND, her husband, Stephen, married the caretaker of his [deceased] wife and children, Clara RENSKERS, of Emmons co, ND, the daughter of Thomas and Cora RENSKERS. Please, please help me find info about any of the above!

Contributed and Transcribed By Mary Kay Ward