Several accidents involved with the trains of long ago occurred in our county in earlier times. From the archives of The Crittenden Press, the victim's obituaries are interesting and sad to read. They tell of the circumstances of the accidents.
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Crittenden Press, Feb. 9, 1911 -
Minus Bradford Rushing. Resolutions of our beloved brother, a strict member of our noble order, the F. E. & C. U. of A., was struck by one of the Illinois Centrals heavy engines which crushed his skull killing him instantly.
On Dec. 25, 1910 the accident occurred. Bro. Rushing was born in Crittenden and was a good law abiding citizen, he was well liked by all that knew him. He was born January 8, 1868 and was married to Miss Alice Campbell on May 9, 1894. To the happy couple there was five children born, of this number one is dead and four are living. They lived close to the community of Mexico.
(Family information tells us that Mr. Rushing had left his home to walk to Mexico on Christmas Eve, after awhile when he didn't return home two of his children went looking for him. They found him near the railroad track where he had been hit by a train. He is buried in the Campbell Cemetery near Mexico.)
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Crittenden Press, Nov. 1922 –
Denver Travis Killed By Train Nov. 9th. At Inquest Over Body Coroner’s Jury Find Verdict of Accidental Death.
Denver Travis, about 23 years old, was run over and instantly killed by an I. C. North bound freight train a short distance north of the Marion Depot Thursday afternoon of last week. So far as is known, no one saw the occurrence.
The body was found on the rail road track soon after the train passed, the train leaving the Marion station at 12:43 o'clock. The trainmen stated they knew nothing of the occurrence and it is thought by some that the deceased met his death by trying to board the train as it passed.
An inquest was held over the body by Judge E. J. Travis and County Attorney Edward D. Stone. The jury returning a verdict of accidental death by being run over by a railroad train.
Burial was in the James Wheeler cemetery on Just A Mere Road.
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Crittenden Press, January 1924 –
Wyley Montgomery, 65 years old, a farmer residing near Mexico, this county, was run over and instantly killed by a south-bound passenger train about 11:20 o'clock Sunday morning Jan. 13th, between Mexico and Fredonia.
Mr. Montgomery, it is reported, was walking down the railroad tracks near Livingston Tank when the passenger train which leaves here at 11:00 rounding a curve, came up behind him and when the alarm whistle blew, instead of stepping off, started to run down the track and was struck by the engine.
Mr. Montgomery leaves a widow and four children: Ishmere Montgomery of Arkansas; Mrs. Mona Loftis, Mrs. John Tabor and James Montgomery, all of this county.
Funeral services were held at Caldwell Spring Baptist Church Tuesday, Rev. U. G. Hughes officiating. Interment at Stevenson/Stephenson cemetery on Marion Road. (He has no stone, in an unmarked grave)
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Crittenden Press June 12, 1930 –
Guy Griffith was instantly killed Sunday, June 8th, when struck by a north bound Illinois Central freight train, at the Bellville Street crossing. The accident occurred about six-thirty in the evening.
Griffith, going to his home east of Marion, drove his car directly in front of the approaching freight in an apparent effort to beat the train to the crossing. The victim's head was crushed on one side; and the automobile entirely demolished.
In the course of the inquest testimony was introduced by G. W. Durke, engineer on the train which struck Griffith's car; by J. D. Burgess, fireman; J. W. Griffith, conductor, and T. B. McConnell, brakeman. All these men stated that the train, a through freight, was running at the speed of about twenty-five miles an hour; that the bell was ringing at the crossing, that the whistle on the train was blown; and that the pilot on the engine struck the rear side of the automobile.
Robert Murphy, of Marion, testified that Mr. Griffith stopped his car when very near the track, started it again, and when he reached the track turned toward the Marion Milling Company building.
A number of other witnesses were heard, all of whom gave the similar evidence.
The coroner jury, returned the verdict: “We, the jury, find that Guy Griffith came to his death by being struck by a freight train on the Illinois Central Railroad at the Bellville Street crossing, and that same was an unavoidable accident.”
Surviving Mr. Griffith, are eight children, his wife having died in 1922. The children are: Lois, Preston, Thomas, Matilda, Nelle, Elizabeth, George and James. A sister, Mrs. J. T. Hatcher, of Plicher, Oklahoma, and a brother, Walter Griffith, of Marion, Illinois.
The body was taken to the home of Mr. and Mrs. George Foster. Funeral services were held Wednesday with burial in the Love cemetery.
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