A Headstone That Caught My Eye
I love wandering through cemeteries, camera in hand, searching for the stories hidden in stone. Ogden City Cemetery is one of my favorites—it’s old, expansive, and filled with unique headstones that hint at lives once lived. No matter how many times I visit, I always seem to find something new.
One day, while walking among the headstones, I noticed a grave that caught my eye: Dirk Groen. At first glance, it wasn’t particularly unusual, but something about it made me pause. The inscription noted he had died young, which always piques my curiosity. Who was he? And what had happened to him?
A Tragic Fall at Globe Mills
A little research revealed that Dirk Groen, often called “Dick,” was a 20-year-old carpenter working for Globe Grain & Milling Company in Ogden. He had recently been discharged from the U.S. Army after serving in World War I. He had secured a job building grain elevators for the rapidly growing mill industry.
On August 30, 1919, Dirk was working on scaffolding at the mill when he suddenly fell, suffering a fractured skull. Despite efforts to save him, he died about an hour and a half later at 4:00 PM.
The Fight for Compensation
At the time of Dirk’s death, workers’ compensation laws were still new in the United States. Utah had only passed its Workers’ Compensation Act in 1917. Dirk’s case would become one of the first major tests of the law.
Dirk had no wife or children. So his father, Martin Groen, and his stepmother, Margaretha Groen, filed a claim against Globe Milling & Elevator Company. They argued that Dirk had contributed to their household. Thus, they were financially dependent on his wages.
Initially, the Utah Industrial Commission ruled in their favor, awarding them $2,192 — equivalent to nearly $40,000 today — paid in $16 weekly installments over 137 weeks. They were also granted $150 for funeral expenses, though the actual funeral cost was $446. Part of which the commission denied.
But the victory didn’t last long.
A Supreme Court Reversal
The insurance company appealed the decision, and the case made its way to the Utah Supreme Court. The court ruled that Dirk’s parents had not proven dependency, overturning the previous ruling. Instead of receiving compensation, the court ordered that $750 be sent to the state treasury in accordance with the law.
The decision sparked controversy. Workers’ rights advocates feared it set a dangerous precedent. If the courts refused to recognize parents as dependents, how many other families would be left without financial support after a workplace death?
Globe Mills: A Workplace Under Scrutiny
Dirk’s death wasn’t the only controversy surrounding Globe Grain & Milling Company in 1919.
The company was in the middle of constructing a large, multimillion-dollar grain plant in West Ogden. This plant boasted 700 feet of track space and 90-foot grain tanks. The project was plagued with labor disputes, including strikes by construction workers unhappy with conditions and wages.
Whether safety issues directly caused Dirk’s fatal fall is unknown. However, given the company’s rapid expansion and ongoing labor disputes, workplace conditions were likely far from ideal.
A Life Cut Short
Dirk Groen’s story is one of unrealized potential. Born in Ridgway, Colorado, in September 1898, he was the son of Michael Groen and Marie Bloom, both Dutch immigrants. He had served in the Army and survived World War I. He was just beginning his adult life when it was cut short in a workplace accident.
His funeral took place at Ogden’s First Ward Chapel, with a large attendance. Songs such as Shall We Meet Beyond the River and Guide Me to Thee were performed. These reflected the sorrow of a young life lost too soon.
Today, his headstone remains in Ogden City Cemetery. It is a quiet reminder of an early workplace tragedy that shaped Utah’s workers’ compensation laws.
History in the Headstones
Stories like Dirk Groen’s are why I always take the time to research headstones that catch my eye. Cemeteries are filled with forgotten stories, waiting to be rediscovered.
Next time you walk through a cemetery, take a closer look at the names etched in stone. Some of them might be waiting for their stories to be told.