James Lester Hite 1893-1914

HITE, IRLAND

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 3/30/2011 at 22:23:27

Meets With Tragic Death
Lester Hite Almost Instantly Killed by Overturning of His Car at Sherburn
At an early hour Saturday morning the report was spread about the city that Lester Hite had been killed the night previous at Sherburn, by the overturning of his automobile. Facts regarding the sad affair have been hard to obtain, and even up to the hour of going to press but little authentic data is available. As near as we have been able to ascertain, it seems that the deceased had attended a dance in Sherburn during the evening and was in front of the hall waiting for those who had accompanied him, when a young lady, an old acquaintance of his, suggested an auto ride. Young Hite jestingly told her to come on, to which she replied that if allowed to drive the car she would go. To this he assented, and the start was made, the young driving. When two blocks east and two blocks south of the Milwaukee depot, without a second’s warning, while running at a terrific speed in the center of the street, one of the rear tires gave way, and it is said the auto turned two complete somersualts. Hite was thrown against the windshield with such force as to almost disembowel him, and bled to death in about thirty minutes. His companion, whose name we have been unable to secure, sustained a broken arm, and was pretty severly bruised and otherwise injured.

Relatives of the deceased at this place were notified of the accident and went to Sherburn, Saturday morning after the remains, which were brought in on the M. & St. L. that afternoon, and conveyed to the late home, west of town. Funeral services were conduted by Rev. H. C. Hurd from the Christian church Tuesday afternoon at two o’clock, after which interment was made in the west side cemetery.

James Lester Hite was born in Gilman, Iowa, March 9, 1893, being the son of Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Hite. At an early age his parents removed to this city, where he grew to manhood. Om Dec. 21, 1911, he was united in marriage to Miss Ruth Irland. To this union was born one child. Besides the wife and child, one sister, Mrs. John Frank, and the mother are the only immediate relatives left to mourn his untimely demise. The father died in 1909. Since his marriage, deceased has been engaged in farming. He was a vivacious, hard working young man, and his sudden death has cast a gloom over the entire community. (Estherville Democrat, Estherville, IA, June 24, 1914)

Lester Hite Fatally Injured
Car Turns Turtle Near Milwaukee Depot at Sherburn, Minnesota
Death From Loss of Blood
Windshield Cut Several Arteries in Two and Caused Him to Bleed to Death in Forty-five Minutes
Lester Hite, a young farmer living about three and one half miles northwest of this city, was killed in an auto accident at two A.M. Thursday at Sherburn, Minnesota.

Mr. Hites and Grover Colter motored to Sherburn to attend a dance. While he and a companion were motoring around town their car turned turtle and fatally injured him. Two larger arteries in the right leg were cut in two between his hip and knee by the glass in the windshield. Assistance was soon received and they were carried into a near by residence.

Mr. Hite immediately asked to have his wife brought to his side but before word had reached her he had passed away.

James Lester Hite was born at Gilmond, Illinois, on March 9, 1893, and moved to Raleigh with his parents when he was nine years old. He has lived on the home farm at that place until last fall when he moved three and one miles northwest of this city.

Mr. Hite was married to Miss Ruth Irland on December 21, 1912.

Those who are left to mourn this untimely death are his wife, one daughter, a mother, Mrs. Charles Hite, who was visiting in Illinois, and a sister, Mrs. John Frank, of Terril.

The funeral was held Tuesday afternoon at two o’clock by Rev. Hurd at the Christian church and the remains laid to rest in the Oak Hill cemetery. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, June 24, 1914)

Lester Hite is Killed
Met With Terrible Accident While Riding in Auto in the City of Sherburn, Minn.
Young Lady Driving the Car
Accident Happened in the Early Morning – No One Saw It But Girls Give Details
Lester Hite a young farmer residing near this city was almost instantly killed on the streets of Sherburn, Minn., last Friday evening when his Ford Auto turned turtle and pinned him under it.

Mr. Hite had taken three of his young men friends to a dance in the town of Sherburn; along about 1 o’clock the boys wanted to come home but as there seemed no time when one of the number did not have a dance engaged ahead, they did not seem to be able to get away. As there were but a few dances left on the program some of the boys thought they would “stay it out.” This was about half past one. It was about this time that Hite met a lady friend and they went out to take a ride in the car while waiting for the rest of the boys. It seems the young lady, Miss Ella Tennhoff, was a good driver and she was at the wheel when the accident happened. According to the story she tells a friends, they were coming up a street called Lovers Lane, the car was traveling about thirty miles an hour when they got a blow out on one of the front tires, and the same time she struck a rough spot on the road and lost control of the car. The wheels twisted under the car and she was thrown out when the car turned over. Mr. Hite’s leg went through the wind shield and his body was pinned under the edge of the car. The glass of the wind shield had cut his body from head to foot and one large piece of glass entered his abdomen from the effects of which he died in about thirty minutes.

The young lady whose arm was broken and splintered rushed across the street and summoned K. C. Wells to assist in lifting the car. He was unable to do this alone and called for help. After the car was lifted Hite pulled himself from under the car, asked for a doctor and also telegraphed his family.

He was taken to a doctor’s home and while there he talked with friends for about fifteen minutes and lapsed into unconsciousness never to awaken.

Friends and relatives were summoned and arrived in a few hours by auto. The remains were sent here last Saturday for burial and the funeral services were held today at 2 o’clock.

The deceased leaves a wife, two [one] children and a mother to mourn his death. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, June 24, 1914)