Lightning Kills Brighton Man

SWANEY, FIREBAUGH, CURTIS

Posted By: Judy Kelley, volunteer (email)
Date: 10/4/2010 at 22:02:38

Gilmore D. Swaney, superintendent of schools at Brighton, and Rev. J.W.B. Jefferson, pastor of the Presbyterian church at Brighton, were both instantly killed Wednesday afternoon at 4:30 o'clock as they were walking from the Brighton Chautauqua grounds. Rev. Vernon Pike, pastor of the Methodist church and formerly of Grandview, was also struck but was not seriously hurt. Mr. Swaney was here a few weeks ago with Rev. Pike in the interest of Iowa Wesleyan. He was a graduate of Iowa Wesleyan and was married a few years ago to Miss Mary Firebaugh who taught at Wapello and roomed with Miss Florence Curtis, both being teachers in the Wapello high school- Columbus Gazette

Source: LCHS scrapbook; newspaper clipping with handwritten date of July 19, 1916