We all know that there are many dangers encountered while working on a farm, both with the animals and the high-powered machinery. People get caught up in machinery often, but we probably don’t think of a pitchfork as being too dangerous. Read further to find out how dangerous these small tools can be. Be warned that some of this may be too graphic for some.

June 30, 1908 Monroe Evening Times: William Mau, Spring Grove, died on Sunday as the result of an injury sustained on Saturday. He slid out of a haymow in the forenoon and fell on the handle of a pitchfork which was standing upright but unnoticed by him. The fork handle penetrated his side and fatally injured him. He was taken to his home and died in great pain. Mau was about 40 years of age and is survived by a wife and three children.

October 8, 1914 Monroe Evening Times: Frank Clark of this city, who was injured about a year ago by falling on a pitchfork when jumping from a hay stack, was operated upon at Janesville Tuesday when it was found out that a piece of the trousers which he wore on the day of the accident was imbedded in the abdominal cavity, thus preventing the wound from healing. His rapid recovery is now expected.

August 8, 1902 Monroe Evening Times: Wm Beach, who conducts the old Heinzelman farm three miles southwest of the city, had a tine of a pitch fork driven into his face at the side of his nose near the eye this forenoon and it is feared that his brain was penetrated. Beach was struck with the fork while he was attempting to save a man from falling from a straw stack. He stuck the fork into the stack and when the man came against the fork, the straw slipped and the fork turned back striking Beach in the face, one of the prongs sinking deep in the side of the nose. It is thought that it may have run in as deep as two or three inches. Dr. N. A. Loofbourow was called and he was unable to determine the extent of the injury. The accident happened at 10:30 o’clock in the forenoon.

The Monroe Sentinel reported on Aug. 13 that the tine was forced in nearly five inches. Beach had a consultation of surgeons at which Dr. Staley of Freeport was present. Mr. Beach’s symptoms were thought to be more favorable. He was conscious. Dr. Z. W. Monroe was in charge of the case. He thought there was a chance for this patient.

The Times reported on June 28, 1907 that Mr. Beach had been very ill suffering from catarrhal fever and complications resulting from the injury he met with “two years ago when a tine of a pitch fork ran through his head.” His condition is improved, and it is thought he was on the mend at that time.

Mr. Beach was about 39 at the time of the accident and lived until he was 76 years of age.

— Matt Figi is a Monroe resident and a local historian. His column will appear periodically on Saturdays in the Times. He can be reached at mfigi@tds.net or at 608-325-6503.