James Wesley Hudgins 1879-1919

HUDGINS, LAMMERMEYER, RYKHUS, JOHNSON

Posted By: Georgea Clinton (email)
Date: 4/30/2011 at 10:46:20

Feb 20, 1919 - Carroll Times - J. Wesley Hudgins, one of the veteran rural mail carriers of the local postoffice, was killed in an accident which occurred near the Will Hein place, two miles north and two miles east of Carroll, about 11 o'clock last Saturday morning. Mr. Hudgins was rendered unconscious at the time, was brought to the hospital in this city at once, and died about 6 o'clock that same evening.

Direct responsibility for the accident may be traced to the giving way of a king-bolt on the mail wagon. This permitted the front wheels to be drawn out from under the vehicle, which frightened the team and caused them to run away for about half a mile, when they became entangled in a wire fence and were stopped. It is said that Mr. Hudgins made a practice of driving with the lines about his shoulders while traveling from house to house, leaving his hands free for sorting the mail.

It is presumed that this was the case at the time of the accident, for it is known that he was dragged through the front of the rig, his face striking the "fifth wheel" as it pulled out from under the wagon. His skull was fractured in several places, and he bled profusely before he could be brought to the hospital. Drs. Morrison and Hibbs brought him to the city and took an X-ray photograph, which revealed several serious fractures of the skull. Mr. Hudgins was injured so badly as to be beyond human aid, and died about 6 o'clock in the evening.

For about fifteen years past Mr. Hudgins has faithfully served the patrons of rural route 6, he having been the first carrier on that route when it was established. While still a young and active man, he was one of the oldest mail carriers in point of service in this part of Iowa, and perhaps in the state. He was always cheerful and willing, and distinguished his service by thousands of kindly little errands and chores for his patrons which were outside the line of his regular service but which endeared him to them.

He leaves a wife and six children the youngest of which is less than two weeks old, the most pathetic feature of the accident being that those he loved could not be with him at the end. He and his family have a host of friends in and around the city, all of whom express their heartfelt sympathy in the time of sorrow and trouble.

James Wesley Hudgins was born at LaMoille, Iowa, Oct. 6. 1879. His childhood and youth were spent in and around that place. He came to Carroll in 1901 and has lived here ever since. On June 3, 1902 he was united in marriage with Miss Marie Lammermeyer, to which union six children were born, all of whom are left to mourn his loss.

For 15 years the deceased has been an employe of the United States Mail service serving in the capacity of Rural Carrier. He was suddenly called from this life while at his post of duty Feb. 15th, 1919. The following relatives are left to mourn his very untimely departure: His wife and six children; Wilson age 15; Elmer, age 11, George, age 9, Walter, age 5, Marion, age 3, and Baby Leola May, age 10 days; his father and mother, Mr. and Mrs Geo. Hudgins; three sisters, Mrs. S Rykhus, Mrs. James Johnson and Ada; and one brother, Ben of Waltham, Minn., survived with the immediate family. The funeral services were conducted Tuesday afternoon by Rev. J.P Lester.