Francis J. FOSTER, a respected citizen of Mount Ayr, met instantaneous death Friday at 12:10 p.m. when he was struck by the north bound freight train a short distance north of the crossing east of Mount Ayr. Mr. FOSTER, who was a trapper, was going north on the track to inspect his traps and deafness prevented his hearing the approaching train as it rounded the curve east of the crossing. Testimony introduced at the coroner's inquest held Saturday afternoon showed that the engineer blew the whistle for the crossing and upon seeing Mr. FOSTER on the track sounded the alarm and set the brakes, but the train could not be stopped until the engine and six cars had passed over the body. Immediately after learning of the accident the conducter in charge of the train went to the W. E. DAVIS home and telephoned to the station and the coroner, Dr. Samuel BAILEY, and T. S. RHOADES, undertaker, were called. Coroner BAILEY and Sheriff R. R. STEPHENS, in company with the undertaker, went at once to the scene of the accident and the mangleed body was taken to the Rhoades undertaking parlors.

An inquest was conducted Saturday afternoon at the court house by Dr. Samuel BAILEY, coroner, at which members of the train crew and others who witnessed the accident testified. The jury was composed of C. R. KEATING, Roy FOREMAN, and W. MOORE, and the verdict was that deceased came to his death by unavoidable accident.

Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon at 2:30 at the Rhoades undertaking parlors, being conducted by Rev. Jay KIRKENDALL, pastor of the M.E. church, and the burial was in the Merritt cemetery.

Francis J. FOSTER, son of Andrew and Nancy FOSTER, was born in Ringgold county, Iowa, May 21, 1864, the fouth child of a family of six children. He died January 13, 1928, at the age of 62 years, seven months and 22 days. He was married to Miss Lucy HARLIN in 1887 and to this union were born three children -- Neil, Mura and Hugh. His wife died in 1894 and the son Neil died October 16, 1909.

Mr. FOSTER spent most of his life in Ringgold county and was held in high esteem by all his acquaintances. His tragic death is mourned by the community and and sympathy unrestrained goes out to the son, Hugh FOSTER of Mount Ayr, who since the death of his sister, Mrs. Mealus MARSHALL of Arkansas City, Kan., is the only surviving member of the family. At the time of her father's death, Mrs. MARSHALL was ill and at the hospital and a telegram receved yesterday morning announced her death.

NOTE: Hugh A. FOSTER, the surviving son, erected a gravestone which is shared by the interments of Francis J. FOSTER, Lucy (HARLIN) FOSTER, Neal FOSTER, Andrew FOSTER, and Nancy FOSTER.

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, 2008

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