Albert L. Starbuck

STARBUCK, CONE

Posted By: Carrie Robertson (email)
Date: 10/17/2016 at 23:16:55

Monday April 25, 1921 Cedar Rapids Evening Gazette
Former Marion Man Killed By Train; Auto is Ground To Bits
--------------
A.L. Starbuck, for many years in the paint and wall paper business at Marion, was run down and killed by a Chicago and Eastern Illinois train at Watseka, Ill., Saturday afternoon, according to information contained in a telegram received at Marion Sunday. The accident happened at a grade crossing and the automobile in which Starbuck was riding alone is believed to have "gone dead" on the crossing. The engineer of the train said when he first saw the man he appeared to be leaning over the engine attempting to fix it. The train which was a fast passenger, was running at a high rate of speed and could not be brought to a stop in time to save Starbuck's life. The automobile was ground to splinters, according to information received today.
Mr. Starbuck left Marion several years ago and was making his home in Petersburg, Ill., and it was said last night that the body would be shipped to that town for funeral and burial, but today it was learned that the body was being sent to Marion and was expected to arrive tonight. Mr. Starbuck's three children by a former wife live in Marion. He has a brother, Frank, who is a minister of the gospel at Peoria, Ill., a brother Norris who lives in Seattle and another brother who lives at Valier, Mont. The mother also survives. She has been living with her son in Montana this winter and is now on her way home to attend the funeral.
The Chicago Herald and Examiner today prints a story to the effect that Mrs. A.L. Starbuck, widow of the dead man, was called on the long distance telephone at Petersburg last night, to verify the report of Mr. Starbuck's death. She said the body had been shipped to her and that the funeral would be held there.
Mrs. Starbuck was told that Starbuck had a wife living in Marion, according to the Examiner story, but she refused to believe it. She said her husband had told her that he had been married before but that he had been divorced. The Examiner also says that Starbuck's estate will amount to $100,000.
Investigation at Marion today developed that Mr. Starbuck had been divorced from his wife Cora at the October term of the district court in 1919, but the woman was unaware of it until she was notified Sunday afternoon of the death of her former husband. According to a court house official the divorce was secret; that Mrs. Starbuck was called to the stand, answered a few questions and left the court room. The decree was entered but the woman was never notified of it and she still supposed that Starbuck was her husband.
It was said that Starbuck contributed to the support of the three children, agreeing to send the two daughters through business college. It was also said that there had been no communication between Mr. and Mrs. Starbuck since the divorce.
The court house official said that Mr. Starbuck's body was being returned to Marion for burial.
Starbuck was employed by the Red Diamond Paint company of Chicago, and made his headquarters at Petersburg.
Mr. Starbuck was born March 21, 1871.

Thursday April 28, 1921 Cedar Rapids Evening Gazette
Funeral services were held for A.L. Starbuck at the home, 1234 Twelfth street at 2:30 p.m. today. The Rev. A.H. Hanscom was in charge and burial was in Oak Shade