Claus Wulff was run down by a special freight in the cut about one mile east of Blair Wednesday afternoon at 2:45. Mr. Wulff knew the time of the regular trains as he had been repeatedly warned by his family to stay off the tract on account of his deafness. But between the time of the regular trains, he started for the river as many people were doing, the river being very high, all using the track as a high side walk, and was overtaken by a special. His right leg was broken where the cow catcher struck him, landing him on top of the pilot with his head under the boiler. Several bruises were made about the head, but it is believed his neck was broken, causing almost instantaneous death. The train stopped as soon as possible and returned to Blair with the body just as it was landed upon the engine. Sheriff Mencke took charge and laid him in the morgue at Pierce’s.

Mr. Wulff was the father of eight children, Wm. And Henry of the firm of Wulff Bros., implement dealers in this city, Edward and August on a farm outside of town, Herman in California, Frank at school in Lincoln, Mrs. C. M. Schwaeder of Tekamah, and Mrs. F. P. Ekner, of Dixon County.

The funeral will be held at the house at 10 o’clock tomorrow, Friday. He left no will.

Blair Courier 22 April 1897

The funeral of Claus Wulff was conducted from the house by Rev. Williams last Friday at 11 o’clock. A large concourse of friends and relatives followed the remains to the cemetery where a short service was held before interment. The choir from the Presbyterian Church sang some very appropriate hymns and after a fervent prayer by Dr. Williams, all that was mortal of husband and father and friend was soon covered by the cold clay to which we all in time must be a part.

Blair Republican 15 April 1897

Another Lamentable Accident on the Railroad

Last Monday afternoon, one of our aged German citizens, Mr. Claus Wulff, who resides in Dexterville, started to walk to the river. Soon after he was overtaken by a stock train and instantly killed. Engineer Gross saw him and pulled the whistle wide open, but the old gentleman was quite deaf and it was impossible to prevent the accident. The train backed up to the depot with the dead body lying on the pilot. The coroner and Sheriff were notified and the corpse was removed to Pierce’s undertaking rooms where an inquest was held today. This is the second awful tragedy that has happened on account of deafness within a few weeks. Death was instantaneous. One leg was broken and it is thought his neck was dislocated.

Deceased was born in Schleswig, Holstein, Germany, in May, 1821. He took the old home farm in Ft. Calhoun nearly 40 years ago and there lived until five years ago, when himself, aged wife and younger boys removed to Blair. His death falls heavily on a large family. They are William and Henry, of Blair, Augustus, who lives on the home farm, Herman, who is in California and Frank, who is a student at the State University, beside there are two married daughters, Mrs. C. M. Schroeder, of Tekamah, and Mrs. F. G. Ebener, of Dixon Co.

Uncle Wulff was everybody’s friend; always happy and sociable, a good neighbor, loving father and kind husband, his sudden taking off shocked the entire community.

Funeral from the residence at 11 a.m. Friday and services by Rev. Williams of the Presbyterian Church.

Pilot 15 April 1897

Yesterday the town was shocked for the second time by the news that a man had been killed while walking on the track. This time it was one of our highly respected citizens, C. L. Wulff, who was walking out to look at the river. He had reached a point near Wymerville and rounded a curve, when a special stock train with a time limit to meet the afternoon passenger train at Cal. Junction, loaded heavily and running at full speed, struck and killed him instantly.

Mr. Wulff as born in 1822, and had he lived until May 12th, would have been 75 years of age. In 1852 he left Hamburg, Germany, and settled in Maline, Illinois, where he married Miss Schneider, a sister of H. D. Schneider. Twelve children were born to them. Three died in infancy, the remaining nine grew to manhood and womanhood, Charley living until June, 1890. The remaining eight, in the order of their ages, are as follows: J. W. Wulff, Mrs. C. W. Schroeder, of Tekamah, Ed., Henry, Gus, Mrs. F. G. Ebner, Herman, who is now in California, and Frank.

In the fall of 1858, Mr. Wulff moved to Nebraska and settled in Washington County ten miles south of Blair, where prosperity justly smiled upon him. Four years ago he moved to Blair where he has since lived. Mr. Wulff through his lifetime was a man of great energy and marked social characteristics, always having a pleasant word for everybody. Few men could leave more friends to mourn an untimely death, being known as a resident of Washington County for years, a man without enemies, respected by all, who without exception pause to mourn his sad fate. It is with a feeling of sadness that The Pilot announces his death and joins the many friends and relatives in extending sympathy to the sorrowing family in the sad hour of bereavement. The funeral will be held from the house tomorrow at eleven o’clock.

Note: Blair Cemetery Listing has the death date as April 14, 1897. He was buried in Blk 16 Lot 4 Grave 12