HAMILTON, Richard Glenn 1893 - 1930

HAMILTON, GAYLORD, KEESEY, GOODWIN, BREED, ROY, TYGRET

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 1/30/2024 at 23:26:45

"The Fairfield Daily Ledger"
Thursday, September 4, 1930
Front Page, Column 7, and
Page 2, Column 1

KILLED IN AUTO --'CYCLE CRASH

VERNE M'NEELEY DEAD; COMPANION SERIOUSLY HURT

Fairfield Men On Motorcycle Collide Head On With Mt. Pleasant Car

LEAD RIBBON

At 2:30 oclock this afternoon Richard Glen Hamilton, lying close to death in the Jefferson County hospital, had not regained consciousness.

Verne MeNeeley, 21 years old was killed and his companion, Richard Glen HAMILTON, 37, seriously injured about dusk last evening when the motorcycle on which they were riding collided with an auto driven by Henry Traut of Mt. Pleasant, two miles east of Fairfield on highway 34. McNeeley died about 7:45, soon after being brought into the Jefferson county hospital here.

The motorcycle, headed east, and the auto, coming towards Fairfield, met on the dirt shoulder at the south side of the pavement. According to the accounts of those who arrived on the scene immediately following the crash the Mount Pleasant car started to pass another Fairfield-bound auto driven by Clarence McCormick of Beckwith. Seeing the motorcycle light, Traut is believed to have thought it belonged to a slowly-approaching wagon, and stated to pass McCormick.

As he was rounding the McCormick car he saw his mistake and started for the shoulder on his left, just as McNeeley who was driving the motorcycle, saw the impending collision McNeeley also swerved his vehicle in the south shoulder and both met just off the pavement.

The motorcycle evidently started to climb the right front of the car and tipped over backwards, the crash of the impact being heard for several blocks, warning the neighboring farmers of the fatal accident. McCormick stopped his car, ran to the wreck, picked up the injured men and brought them to the Jefferson county hospital.

Blood On Pavement

McNeeley was lying at the side of the motorcycle and in front of the car, and HAMILTON was almost in the center of the pavement. Today two dark red spots, one about three feet from the south edge of the pavement and one almost to the black line in the center of the highway, testify to where the men were thrown by the impact. A watch found in McNeeley's pocket was still running today.

The motorcycle front wheel and fender were completely ruined, the tire was blown out, the saddle was bent and the instruments on the tank top were broken by the collision.

The car, a late model Essex coach, lost the right front wheel and was badly dented about the hood. Even the sun visor, over the windshield, was broken, evidently by the motorcycle as it climbed on the car.

Injuries Listed

McNeeley had several injuries, any one of which could have proved fatal. He lived until just a few minutes after he was taken to the hospital, but never recovered consciousness. His companion, HAMILTON, is suffering from concussion of the brain, a broken cheek bone, severely lacerated face, two broken arms, and a number of less severe body injuries. He is unconscious today, but came out of the coma once last night, soon after he reached the hospital, to give his name. When questioned as to who was with him, he answered that he did not know.

The question about his companion was asked HAMILTON because the dead young man did not carry identification papers of any kind with him, and it was some time before the hospital authorities were sure about his name and notified his parents, Mr. and Mrs. G. A. McNeeley, who live seven miles southeast of Fairfield.

Worked Here

McNeeley had been working at the Dexter company and living in Fairfield at the home of Harry Stortz, 106 East Lowe street. He kept both the motorcycle, which was owned by his younger brother, Harold, and a car in town and rode them alternately.

The injured man has been employed on a Burlington railroad extra gang and has been living with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Alexander HAMILTON of 808 West Gear street. He has a chance to recover, despite his many injuries, provided a cerebral hemorrhage does not start.

The road on each side of the accident is straight for at least half a mile. On the west, towards Fairfield, the road is level and very straight; on the other side, the direction from which the Mount Pleasant car was coming, the pavement dips a little but the view of approaching drivers is not obstructed.

Mt. Pleasant People

The Mount Pleasant car was driven by Harry Traut. Robert Campbell and Ralph Willits were passengers, but none of the occupents were seriously hurt. Willits and Campbell were scratched up slightly by flying glass but all were able to return to their homes in Mount Pleasant last night. The car was registered unter the name of Mary Jordan of Mount Pleasant.

Coroner J. S. Gaumer will hold an inquest tomorrw' afternoon at 1:30 o'clock.

The funeral for McNeeley will be held at 1:30 o'clock Saturday afternoon from the Murray Funeral home here. Interment will be in Oakland Mills cemetery.

Besides his parents, he is survived by four brothers, Glen of Chicago, and Harold, Howard and Donald at home, and four sisters, Lillian, Dorothy, Ellen Jane and Betty Jane at home. One brother, Richard, died seven years ago.

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"The Fairfield Daily Ledger"
Friday, September 5, 1930
Front Page, Column 2

Hold Inquest Here Today For Two Dead

GLENN HAMILTON SECOND VICTIM OF 'CYCLE CRASH

Died 24 Hours After Head-On Collison East of Fairfield Wednesday Night

At three oclock this afternoon witnesses, including Henry Traut, were still giving testimony before Coroner J. S. Gaumer and his jury consisting of Mary Harley Carter, John Johnson and E. H. Montgomery in the inquiry about the death of Verne McNeeley and Glenn HAMILTON.

Twenty-four hours after he was injured in the auto-motorcycle crash two miles east of Fairfield, Glenn HAMILTON of 809 West Gear street died in the Jefferson county hospital here at 7:15 oclock last evening withoutregaining (sic) consciousness. Brain concussion was the direct cause of death.

HAMILTON was a tandem seat passenger on the motorcycle piloted by Verne McNeeley when the two-wheeled vehicle collided head-on with an automobile driven by Henry Traut of Mount Pleasant early Wednesday evening, resulting in the immediate death of McNeeley.

Glenn HAMILTON was born April 16, 1893 in Canton, Ill., and was married on November 14, 1912, to Miss Shirley GAYLORD. One child, Gaylord Richard, who passed away six days after birth was born to them. Mis HAMILTON died in February, 1919.

In March 1919 the HAMILTON family moved to Fairfield and has made this city the home ever since.

Mr. HAMILTON is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Alexander HAMILTON of 809 West Gear street and two sisters, Mrs. L. Q. KEESEY of Delta and Mrs. Wilford E. GOODWIN of Fairfield. There are also a number of nieces and nephews and other relatives surviving.

Funeral services will be held from the home Saturday afternoon at three o'clock with the Rev. S. P. Williamson officiating.

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"The Fairfield (Iowa) Daily Ledger"
Tuesday, September 9, 1930
Page FIVE, Column 1

JUST AMONG

... --Mrs. J. F. BREED of Elmwood, Ill., is spending a few days with her sister, Mrs. Alexander HAMILTON of this city, having been called here by the death of her nephew, Richard Glenn HAMILTON. She will return home Sunday.

--Mr. and Mrs. Raymond ROY, Mrs. Will ROY and daughter Mary Frances and Mrs. Carroll Cranford, all of Canton, Ill., have returned home, having been in the city attending the funeral of Richard Glenn HAMILTON. ...

... --Dr. and Mrs. L. Q. KEESEY and two children returned today to their home in Delta after having remained at the home of Mrs. KEESEY's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Alexander HAMILTON, for a few days following the funeral of her brother, Glenn HAMILTON. ...

(same publication and page, but Column 2 -- )

CARD OF THANKS

We wish to acknowledge our appreciation of the heartfelt sympathy of our many friends during our bereavement for our son and brother, Richard Glenn HAMILTON.

Mr. and Mrs. Alexander HAMILTON
Dr. and Mrs. L. Q. KEESEY and Family
Mr. and Mrs. W. E. GOODWIN and Family.

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"The Fairfield (Iowa) Daily Ledger"
Saturday, September 13, 1930
Page THREE, Column 1

OBITUARY

GLEN HAMILTON

Glen, son of Mr. and Mrs. Alexander HAMILTON was born on the 16th of April, 1898 (sic - 1893), at Canton, Ill. He passed away at the Jefferson county hospital as the result of an automobile accident at 7:15 Thursday evening, September 4, 1930. At the time of his death he was 37 years of age. In 1919 he came to Fairfield and has lived here since.

He was married to Miss Shirley GAYLORD, November 14, 1912 and lived happily in this union till she was called home in February, 1919. A child, Gaylord Richard, born to them died in infancy.

Mr. HAMILTON is survived by his sorrowing parents, Mr. and Mrs. Alexander HAMILTON, two sisters, Mrs. L. Q. KEESEY of Delta, and Mrs. Wilford E. GOODWIN of Fairfield. Besides these a number of nieces and nephews and other relatives survive him.

Funeral services were held from the home Saturday afternoon at 2 oclock, Rev. S. P. Williamson officiating. Mrs. Norvell Switzer and Mrs. S. P. Williamson sang very beautifully, "Rock of Ages," and "Nearer My God to Thee." The pallbearers were Carl L. TYGRET, Roy TYGRET, Raymond ROY, cousins of the deceased, and Paul Simmons, Fred Robison and Vincent KEESEY. Burial was at Evergreen cemetery.

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*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.

Note: Buried in Lot 2nd.232. Wife Shirley who died in 1919 is buried in Canton, IL.