William Baldwin "Willie" Wingert (1874-1886)

WINGERT BALDWIN, SPANGLER, BROWN

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 11/27/2015 at 14:53:17

From Nevada Representative March 17, 1886

Fatal Accident.

Wille Wingert of this city, was run over and killed by the cars at Ames Saturday forenoon. In company with Ben Goodin and Ferd Statler, two other boys of my own age, twelve to fourteen, he had ridden over to Ames in a box car on the morning freight. As soon as the train reached Ames, the eastern bound way freight, which was waiting, started off from one train and started to climb onto the other. It seems the boys have a way of climbing up the ladder of a box car and then swinging around on the bumper by means of the brake rod. In executing this last movement, Willie fell and was run over by the cars following. The accident happened opposite the mill in the east part of Ames. The train was backed up, and the boy was carried on a stretcher to the station, and died about the time he got there. The body was brought home in the afternoon and an inquest was held by Coroner Hostetter. The above facts were developed in the testimony, and the jurors, L. A. Will, L. E. White and C. L. Covell, found a verdict that the deceased was killed by falling under the train, which he had boarded without permission. The funeral was conducted at the Methodist church Tuesday afternoon by Rev. A. T. Jeffrey, Rev. I. Reid assisting. A large audience, including the member of Mrs. Boynton's school, to which Willie belonged, was present. Mr. Wingert was in Boston at the time of the accident, but had started home before the news reached him, and he arrived home Monday fore noon. The deceased was a bright and promising boy who celebrated his twelfth birthday only a week before his death and who will be mush missed by his school mates and friends. In their great and sudden loss his parents have the sympathy of the whole community.

In the same issue of the paper:

--Mrs. J. Spangler and Mrs. D. Brown of Franklin Grove, Illinois, sisters of Mr. Wingert*, are in town, called here by the death and funeral of Willie Wingert.

*SUBMITTER'S NOTE: William Baldwin "Willie" Wingert was the son of Abram Felker Wingert and Malissa Gertrude Baldwin. "Mr. Wingert" is Abram Felker Wingert, Willie Wingert's father so the two women mentioned are Willie's aunts. "Mrs. J. Spangler" was Emma C. Wingert, wife of John Spangler. "Mrs. D. Brown" was Mary Wingert, wife of Daniel Brown.