Hollie Virgil Garner

GARNER, WINN

Posted By: Marlene Skalberg (email)
Date: 4/14/2014 at 21:33:59

On Wednesday evening of last week, Virgil Garner, of this city was run over by train No. 81, about a mile and a half west of town and instantly killed. The left arm and left leg were cut off and the bowels torn from the trunk.
The young man was the son of Henry Garner and wife of this city. It is said that he had been imbibing too freely of the cup that cheers and had announced his intention of riding the bumpers of train No. 81 to Villisca. Friends endeavored to dissuade him from doing so, but he evidently made the attempt. From the verdict of the coroner's jury it is probable that he fell from the train when near the Vernon crossing, west of town and was instantly killed. The terrible accident occurred shortly after 5 o'clock in the evening. Soon afterward train No. 70 arrived from the west. The crew on this train saw the body lying on the track, stopped and placed it on some boards, after which the train pulled into Corning where the Coroner was notified. Mr. Christie immediately hastened to his undertaking establishment, where a jury consisting of John E. Roberts, R. J. Gibson, and Bert Decker made an investigation and returned the following verdict.
We do find said deceased came to his death by accident while riding on a moving freight train No. 81, we finding the body in located 1 1/4 miles west of the city of Corning laying on a few boards, having been placed there by the train crew of a freight train from the west, who reported same to the agent in Corning, Iowa.
Virgil Garner was something over four months past 22 years of age, being born near Bridgewater, May 13, 1886. In 1896, he came with his parents to this city, where he has been raised. He learned the cigar-maker's trade and for a short time was employed in factories in Superior and Hebron Nebraska. While in the later place he met Miss Hattie Losey and the two were married last spring, coming to this city not long ago where Mr. Garner was employed in the cigar factory of Gibson and Reichow. Besides the wife and parents, two sisters and five brothers survive the young man.
The funeral services were held from the residence of Henry Garner on Friday morning at 10 o'clock, conducted by Rev. Jay Kirkendall and interment was made in the Walnut Grove Cemetery. The sorrowing ones have the sympathy of all in their bereavement.
Adams County Free Press, October 14, 1908, page 1