CHARLES H. PINNEY

The wreck on the Rock Island road near Lincoln early Thurday evening was one of the worst that has ever occurred in this vicinity. As soon as the news of the accident became known here yesterday morning the friends of Dr. C.H. Pinney and the officials of the road here became alarmed for his safety, as it was known that he had been in Lincoln and was probably on the way home on the train that met with the mishap.

Agent Elwell at once sent a telegram to Lincoln directing inquiries be made as to the doctor's whereabouts and early in the afternoon a reply came confirming the worst fears of his friends. There was left no room for doubt as to the identity of the body, as the superintendent was a friend of many years standing of the doctor's and as has been his custom for many years to carry a great many letters and papers in his pockets, these only made the truth more certain. The body was found under the mass of wreckage, and was burned beyond recognition, being only a mass of flesh when it was discovered, and had it not been for the bundle of papers which he had in his pcket identification would have been almost impossible. As soon as the news become known here expressions of sorrow over the death of such an estimable gentleman as Dr. Pinney were general and sympathy for the bereaved and grief stricken family was tendered on every hand. The train leaving for Lincoln at 8 o'clock carried with it Judge J. E.F. McGee, N.M. Pusey and Undertaker W.C. Estep to the scene of the accident to take charge of the body and bring it home.

Dr. Pinney was one of the best known and highly respected men in Council Bluffs. A man of wide reputation as a physician and surgeon, courteous and gential as a citizen and neighbor, a model husband and father, he always bore without reproach the grand old name of gentleman, and one whom the city cannot replace and can ill afford to lose.

Dr. Charles H. Pinney was born in Elyria, Lorain County, Ohio, August 30, 1842, and was of Scotch origin, his great grandfather, John Pinney, emigrating to this country before the revolution and he, with two brothers participated in the struggle for independence. Dr. Pinney was brought up on the home farm until the age of 14, when he entered the Clarkson (Michigan) academy and afterward entered the scientific department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, ultimately entering the medical department of the same institution, and graduated in March 1864. He immediately entered the army as a surgeon in the 9th Ohio Cavalry, where he served until the close of the war, being mustered out in September 1865 at Camp Dennison, Ohio.

After a short visit to his old Ohio home, and with his uncle in Michigan, with whom he had studied medicine, he went, in the fall of the same year to Philadelphia and continued his studies in the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, graduating there the following spring. In March of the same year he came west to locate in Omaha and grow up with the town, where he remained until 1875. In that year he removed to Council Bluffs where he has since lived and practiced his profession.

September 15, 1870, Dr. Pinney married Miss Ella O. Pusey, daughter of the Hon. W.H.M. Pusey. Four children were born to them as a result of this union: William Henry, the eldest, who died at the age of 4, Hurlburt H., Lucille and Frank L.

[Nonpareil, Council Bluffs, Iowa, Published August 11, 1894, submitted by Ann]

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The last rites over the late Dr. C.H. Pinney were held yesterday afternoon at the family residence on Pearl Street. An hour before the appointed time for the final services, friends of the deceased began to gather at the residence to pay the tribute of the living to the dead by their presence, and by 5 o'clock the thoroughfares in the vicinity of the house were crowded with such a concourse of people, in every station in life, as has not been seen in Council Bluffs on a similar occasion for many years.

Services were held by Rev. T.J. Mackey of Omaha, assisted by Rev. John Askin, pastor of the Congregational Church in this city. On the conclusion of the impressive services, the body was borne to the hearse by Drs. Bowers, Macrae, Sr., Robertson, Barstow, Lacy and Jennings, who acted as pall bearers and all that was mortal of Dr. Pinney was then taken to its final resting place in Walnut Hill Cemetery, followed by hundreds of sorrowing friends. (no gravestone)

[Nonpareil, Council Bluffs, Iowa, Published August 15, 1894, submitted by Ann]

CHARLES H. PINNEY was born August 30, 1842, in Elyria, Lorain county, Ohio. His great grandfather, John Pinney, came from Scotland long before the revolution and fought in the war for independence. Dr. Pinney was the fourth child of Hurlbert Pinney, of Hartford, Connecticut, and Malina Abby, of the state of New York. Two sisters and three brothers are still living: Carrie M., wife of Hon. R. Y. Horr, late of Michigan ; Laura M., wife of Rev. S. Alexander, of Kansas; Allen W., a fruit grower near Council Bluffs, Iowa ; and next in order of birth the subject of our sketch; Anson E., a hardware merchant in Ithica, Michigan; and John H., farmer near Ithica, Michigan.

Dr. Pinney was brought up on the farm where he was born, until he was fourteen years old when he went to live with an uncle, Dr. Abby, of Clarkson, Michigan, with whom he began the study of medicine. His literary education was obtained in the Clarkson academy and scientific department of the University of Michigan, where he graduated. He then entered the medical department of the Michigan University and took his degree in 1864. He immediately after, when just past twenty-one years of age, entered the army as a surgeon in the Ninth Ohio cavalry, joining his regiment at Decatur, Alabama, and served until the close of the war. (This regiment was engaged in many hard fought battles, first with Chalmer's and Wheeler's cavalry, then did scouting duty. It was next transferred to General Rosseau's command, then with General Sherman to the sea and back through the Carolinas and finally it participated in the very last battle of the war east of the Mississippi on Hope Creek, near Chapel Hill, North Carolina, after the surrender of Gen. Joseph E. Johnson. Then Dr. Pinney's regiment was retained in the south to aid in the reconstruction of the state.) He was mustered out of the service September, 1865.

The same fall he went to Philadelphia and continued his medical studies, and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1866.

Dr. Pinney commenced the practice of medicine in Omaha, Nebraska, in March 1866. He built up a good practice and held various positions of trust, among them the office of coroner. He was married September 15, 1870, to Miss Ella J. Pusey, daughter of Hon. W. H. M. Pusey, of Council Bluffs. She was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They had born unto them three sons and a daughter: Hurlbert H., Lucile K., and Frank D. Their eldest son, William Henry, died at the age of four and a half years.

Dr. Pinney located in Council Bluffs, Iowa, in 1875, in compliance with his wife's desire, where he was very sucessful in his chosen profession.

He was medical examiner and referee for the Mutual Life Insurance Company, of New York, since 1880, also local surgeon of the Union Pacific Railroad — resigned, and at the time of his death he was local surgeon of the Rock Island Railroad. He held the position fourteen years. He was a member of the Council Bluffs Medical Society, at one time being its president, a member of the Iowa State Medical Society and a member of the Missouri Valley Medical Society.

He was professor of Practice of Medicine in the Council Bluffs Medical College and one of its trustees. He was an active member of the microscopical society, member of St. Andrew's Society at Council Bluffs and belonged to the Grand Army of the Republic. He was a Mason when a resident of Omaha but later became ancient.

He was a staunch republican but not an active politician. Socially he made hosts of friends and was generous to a fault. He gave liberally to all religious denominations; in belief he was a Unitarian, or more strictly speaking, a deist in the true meaning of that term. His advice to all was do right for right's sake. He saw an Almighty Power in every thing, God was everywhere with him — in every flower and blade of grass.

Dr. Pinney was extensively interested in stock-raising and fruit growing — he was a member of the Grape Growers' Shipping Association.

Dr. Pinney lost his life in a wreck near Lincoln, Neb., on the Rock Island Railroad. He left his home at noon, August 9, 1894, for Nebraska to purchase grain for his stock. Grain merchants near Lincoln told him there was no corn in the country and he started home on the ill-fated train.

His friend, Rev. T. W. Crofts, of Beatrice, Neb., says:

The wreckage of the awful disaster passed through our city two weeks ago, and I secured a piece of iron as a memento and had it gilded and adorned with forget-me-nots. It is beautiful and very significant of the memory of one I truly loved.