Marion Gray

GRAY

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 12/22/2018 at 14:21:52

2 May 1907 - West Branch Times

page 1
The community was inexpressibly shocked on Friday, April 26, about noon when the word came over the phone that Marion Gray had been struck by the local passenger that passes here at 10:45, at the dangerous crossing at the Elliott schoolhouse two miles north of West Liberty, and instantly killed.

But little is known of the sad tragedy except what is told by the engineer, fireman and the tarin master, who happened to be in the engine. Their version of the affair is that on coming out of the cut near the school house the team was seen approaching the crossing and, as Mr. Gray had the collar of his fur coat turned up and seemed unconscious of approaching danger, the team was barely across the track when the engine struck the buggy fairly between the wheels. The team was uninjured but it proved to be the death blow to Mr. Gray who was badly mangled and thrown many feet from the track. The train was stopped and backed up, the crew going quickly to the body. He breathed but once or twice after their arrival and was so mangled and covered with dirt that several who were on the train that were well acquainted with Mr. Gray failed to recognize him. He was taken to West Liberty where he was identified and notice was sent over the wires to the family and friends.

The invalid wife was prostrated with grief at the sad and fatal accident, but with that fortitude sometimes shown by the invalid, bore the shock much better than might have been expected. One son, Harry, who resides in the state of Washington, was notified by telegram and immediately started on the long journey and arrived early on Tuesday morning.

The funeral was held from the Friends church at Springdale on Wednesday, at 2:30 o'clock, with burial at the Pedee cemetery where was laid to rest the mortal remains of one of the best citizens of this community. He was in his 61st year but apparently in vigorous health. He had always been a wide awake and successful business man, a good neighbor, a kind and indulgent husband and father, and a loyal citizen, who will be sadly missed from his usual walks in life. He leaves an invalid wife and two sons, besides a large circle of friends to mourn his loss.

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Our village was shocked to hear of the accident resulting in the death of F. M. Gray Friday of last week. It seems that Mr. Gray left home Friday morning for West Liberty in search of carpenters and mechanics to erect a large horse barn on his farm near Plato. He drove his team to a buggy and had the side curtains down and had a heavy fur overcoat on with the collar turned up. In this condition he had to cross the Rock Island railroad at a grade crossing on the county line between Muscatine and Cedar counties, near where H. Duples resides. Driving from the north on the northwest of the wagon road is a deep cut in the railroad so that a person cannot see the approaching train until they are near the crossing and unless on their guard and hear the whistle of the train would have no warning until on the crossing. We understand the team Mr. Gray was driving was not afraid of the cars and leisurely ascended the crossing just as the south bound 11 o'clock passenger was thundering down the track at a speed of about forty miles an hour, striking the buggy in the center, throwing Mr. Gray into the air, and, falling back against the engine, was carried several feet, killing him instantly. The team was not injured. Mr. Gray was about 62 years of age, was born in Cedar county, Iowa, near what is known as Gray's Ford, on the Cedar river. He was a man of broad acquaintance and influence, was kind and affable in disposition, a good neighbor and accumulated a large amount of property. He was a man that will be missed by the community at large as well as by his intimate friends.