Thursday, February 14, 2019

The Tragic Death of Robert Valentine Protis


Robert Valentine Protis was born February 14, 1879 in Raymond, Wisconsin. Out of seven children, he was the only one to survive to near adulthood. Surely he was the joy of his parents, Charles and Harriet, but for some unknown reason around the age of 16 Robert decided to take off with three of his friends and seek adventure by riding the rails west.

In true hobo fashion the boys would hop on and off trains, trying to keep out of the train engineer’s sights, as they made their way across the country. It was in Fremont, Nebraska, that tragedy struck.

Robert, who had changed his last name to Bell, hopped off the train with the others as the train made a stop at the station. Not wanting to be seen, the boys, as usual, waited until the train had begun moving before getting back on. They were riding on the break beams and as he shifted his position tragically Robert slipped and fell beneath the wheels.

His death was instantaneous and most horrible. His body was dragged down the track for about a block, I won’t go into the details but you can imagine the carnage. The train was switching, otherwise his death might not have been noticed as quickly.

On March 5th his remains were express mailed back to his devastated parent’s, who buried him in Yorkville Cemetery.

Robert died on April 27, 1896 at the tender age of seventeen.




NOTE: The obituary in the Racine Journal is incorrect. It lists his sister as Mary Protis Schumacher, however, she is his aunt, the sister of his father Charles.

Supporting Sources are below:

The Nebraska State Journal; Apr 29, 1896; pg 3
Lincoln Journal Star; Apr 28, 1896; pg 1



Fremont Tri-Weekly Tribune; May 5, 1896; pg 3








Racine Journal; May 7, 1896; pg 3 - error: not his sister, but his aunt.



MY FAMILY CONNECTION:


Robert is my 1st cousin, 5x removed. His mother, Harriet Hay Protis, is my 5th great aunt, the daughter of my 5th great grandfather Adam Hay and his second wife, Harriet Thomas.


HIS FAMILY INFORMATION:

Father: Charles Protis (1858-1907)
Mother: Harriet M. Hay (1856-1912)
Sister: Estella May (1877-1878)
Sister: Mary Elizabeth (1881-1881)
Brother: Charles (1883-1887)
Sister: Jennie (1885-1887)
Sister: Hazel (1888-1889)
Brother: William (1891-1891)



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