Three Campbell Family Members Killed at One Time-1907

CAMPBELL

Posted By: cheryl Locher moonen (email)
Date: 3/30/2020 at 20:47:52

The John's Creek Cemetery contains the bodies of three persons who were killed at one time when struck by a train. This tragedy may well have been the most shocking news ever to reach the tiny community. The accident took place on December 15, 1907. The victims were James Campbell, aged 64 and a widower, his son William H., aged 34, and William's wife, Jane, about 30.

The three Campbells were returning to Farley by horse and buggy when hit by an Illinois Central passenger train about a mile west of Epworth at 11 p.m. on a Sunday night. According to newspaper accounts the train was 20 minutes late out of Dubuque and was traveling at a swift clip. The Campbells, who had been living in the John's Creek area earlier, were making their home together in Farley at the time of death.

The funeral was held on Wednesday and was described by the news story as a pathetic scene. Services were held in the family home at noon by Rev. Davis of the Farley Episcopal Church who paid the deceased an eloquent tribute. Five brothers of Mrs. Campbell acted as her pallbearers. At one o'clock the three hearses containing the bodies of the deceased moved slowly out of town and wended their way to the little cemetery at John's Creek. A large concourse of sorrowing friends followed.

Source: A History of John's Creek Church by Rev. James J. McBride dated September 28, 1983.