SMITH, Leonard Ross 1885 - 1916

SMITH, SWANEY, JEFFERSON, PIKE, STANSBERRY, DAVIDSON, WAGNER, LAMB, MILLER

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 3/22/2012 at 15:28:37

"The Fairfield Daily Journal"
Thursday, July 20, 1916
Page 2, Column 2

STORM TAKES THREE LIVES

The storm which passed over Fairfield yesterday was responsible for three deaths in this vicinity from lightning.

Ross SMITH, a young farmer residing five miles west of Libertyville, had stepped into his barn to get out of the rain, and while standing in the door of the barn, was struck by a bolt. He never regained conscienceness (sic) and died soon afterward. The lightning did not apparently strike the barn, or anything but the unfortunate man.

He was thirty-five years old and leaves a wife and three small children.

At Brighton Gilmore SWANEY, superintendent of schools, and Rev. J. W. JEFFERSON, pastor of the Presbyterian church, were instantly killed as they were leaving the Chautauqua grounds there, by lightning, which struck a tree which they were passing. Rev. Vernon PIKE, of the Methodist church, was also struck at the same time, but was not seriously injured.

There were also a number of barns struck during the storm yesterday. One on the STANSBERRY farm north of town was destroyed and one on the old DAVIDSON farm northwest of the city. It is reported that two more were burned near Packwood.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I am not related to the person(s) mentioned.

Note: Leonard Ross SMITH was 30 years old, born on September 7, 1885. His wife was Nellie Olive WAGNER, who subsequently married Robert B. LAMB and Clarence G. MILLER. Leonard is buried in Brethren Cemetery, as are Nellie and Robert.

Gilmore SWANEY is buried in Forest Home Cemetery, Mt. Pleasant, Henry County, Iowa, and Rev. J. W. JEFFERSON is buried in Hillcrest Cemetery, Brighton, Washington County, Iowa.