[ Return to Index ] [ Read Prev Msg ] [ Read Next Msg ]

Victor Abram Banker (1913)

BANKER, KOEHLER, REED

Posted By: Cay Merryman (email)
Date: 7/22/2004 at 19:13:04

Newspaper Unknown
January 1913

Vic Banker, conductor on Rock Island, was killed when he was crushed between two train cars.

He came with his parents from Coshocton, Ohio to a farm near Truro when small. He married Miss Nora Koehler who survives him, along with 2 children, a son 16 years and a daughter, 10 years of age. All reside at Valley Junction. Other survivors include his mother, S. O. Banker of Des Moines, one brother, John of Des Moines and one sister, Mrs. D. F. Reed. Burial was made at the Winterset Cemetery.
________________________

Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
January 29, 1913

VICTOR BANKER, Crushed Between Cars

Victor Banker, a conductor on the Rock Island, was killed last Thursday while on duty as conductor on a freight train running between Des Moines and Chariton, on the new line of the Rock Island road.

Accounts as to the cause of the death vary somewhat, but from all the information obtainable it seems that he was crushed between two cars while turning on the air brakes in order to stop his train. Banker and his brakeman had discovered trouble with the running gears of one of the cars and signalled the engineer to stop. Not succeeding in getting the attention of the engineer, Banker started over the train to turn on the air, and when discovered a few moments later by his brakeman, was pinned between two cars. He became unconscious as soon as removed from the cars and died while being taken to the hospital. He met his fate like a true soldier and his last message, before losing consciousness, was "I'm done for, tell the folks goodbye".

Vic, as he was best known here, came with his parents from Coshocton, Ohio, to a farm near Truro, when a small boy. The most of his life was spent in Madison county, and it was here that he was married to Nora Koehler, who with two children, a son about sixteen and a daughter, aged ten, survive him and reside at Valley Junction. He also leaves a mother, Mrs. S. O. Banker of Des Moines, one brother, John of Des Moines and one sisters, Mrs. D. F. Reed of Truro. He was of an open hearted, genial disposition, and has many friends here, whose sympathy goes out to the bereaved family.

A special train over the Rock Island, conveyed the funeral party here on last Sunday. Short services were held at the Baptist church, and burial was made in the Winterset cemetery. About 175 employees of the railroad company, including the members of the Brotherhood of Railway Conductors, attended the burial service.
________________________

Winterset Reporter
Winterset, Iowa
Wednesday, January 29, 1913
Page 1

V. A. Banker was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, June 30th, 1873, and died January 23rd, 1913, age 39 years, 6 months and 23 days. His parents came to Madison county in 1880, locating near Truro, where he passed his early years. At the age of 14 he made a good confession and united with the Baptist church.

On March 6, 1895, he was united in marriage to Miss Nora E. Koehler. Two children were born to this union, Seldon, age 16 and Beatrice, age 10 years, who survive him. He leaves besides his wife, son and daughter a beloved mother, one brother, John L., and one sister, Mrs. D. F. Reed, to mourn his untimely demise.

He was a member of the I.O.O.F. lodge of Winterset, also a member of the Order of Railway Conductors. He was a true father and husband, and an ever true friend. He met his death near Chariton in the faithful performance of his duty as an employee of the Rock Island Railway Co. The particulars have not been learned other than he was crushed between the cars. His last words were “bid them good bye.”

The funeral services were held at his late home, on Sixth street, in Valley Junction it being his request that when death came he should remain in his own home and not be taken to the church. The service at the home was a brief and simple one, and was conducted by Rev. Dr. S. Walton Fay, pastor of the Church of Christ, of which Mrs. Banker is a deaconess and assistant superintendent of the Sunday School, also vice-president of the Ladies Aid. The hymns chosen were the known favorites of the deceased, viz: “Rock of Ages,” “It is well with my Soul,” and Mrs. Cameron, friend of the family, sang the solo, “Jesus Savior Pilot Me.” Owing to the special train leaving at eleven o’clock and the large assembly of friends who had gathered to pay their respects to the deceased, Dr. Fay’s address was brief, basing his remarks upon John 16:22, believing that had the deceased been permitted to say more he would have said, “I will see you again.”

The funeral train was met at the depot in Winterset by the local lodge of Odd Fellows and a large number of citizens and the remains taken to the Baptist church where a short service was held, conducted by Drs. Stewart and Fay and an opportunity accorded the friends to view the remains. The concluding services at the cemetery were in charge of the I.O.O.F. lodge of Winterset and were of a beautiful and impressive nature.

Both in Winterset and Valley Junction Victor Banker was held in high esteem by all who knew him. His motto in life seemed to be “help all, hinder none.” For the stranger and helpless he always had a cheery smile and a happy word. He is gone but not forgotten.

The special train from Valley Junction to Winterset, provided by the Rock Island Railroad Co. was manned free by conductor Gibson, engineer Johnson and flagman Shuey, although nearly one hundred railroad men volunteered their services. About one hundred railroad men accompanied by their wives, a delegation of Odd Fellows and the official board and prominent members of the Church of Christ accompanied the remains to Winterset.
________________________

The Chariton Herald Patriot
Chariton, Iowa
Thursday, January 30, 1913
Page 1, Column 1

Crushed to Death.

The first accident on the new St. Paul and Kansas Short Line, after the track laying had been completed, occurred on last Thursday afternoon, January 23d, 1913, when Mr. Victor A. Banker, a conductor on a construction train, and who resided in Valley Junction, met instant death. The train was about seven miles north of Chariton, where they were unloading material, and Mr. Banker stepped between the cars, presumably to test the air, when the engineer, not knowing he was there started the train, and the conductor was caught between the cars and crushed so badly that death was almost instantaneous.

The remains were brought to Chariton and taken to Melville’s undertaking parlors, and on Friday morning they were shipped to his home in Valley Junction, where funeral services were held. Coroner Stanton decided that an inquest was not necessary.

Mr. Banker was a fine looking man, about forty-two years of age, and was highly spoken of by his associates. He was a married man, and is survived by his wife and two children, who will have the sympathy of this community in their great bereavement.

Link to Gravestone Photo
 

Madison Obituaries maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen

[ Return to Index ] [ Read Prev Msg ] [ Read Next Msg ]