Oliver Jasper McClelland

Oliver Jasper McClelland

Oliver Jasper McClelland was born 28 October 1858. Only six years younger than Anna Mae's father, John Allen McClelland, Oliver was sucked into the rumor and suspicion that swirled around the McClelland Pond Mystery that captivated the country in the 1890s. He stood by his older brother, and was one of the family members who served as bondsmen so John A. could be released on bail.

Oliver married Elizabeth Tate 1 February 1888 in Clinton County.  They had four children together, but only Mabel lived to adulthood. They lost Hazel (18 months old), Freeda (19 months old) and Fern (10 months old) in less than two years. Two of those daughters died while the McClelland Pond fervor was at its height. Fern died two months after Oliver's brother was indicted. To me, it's no wonder Lizzie Tate McClelland died 23 March 1895, nineteen days after little Fern.

Oliver married Julia Castelain on 23 April 1897. Two months later the Illinois States Attorney asked the Marion County Court to dismiss the indictment against John Allen. Julia had a son Louis by her first husband. Oliver and Julia had a daughter together (Grecque). According to the Marion County Genealogical Society a son was born and died the same day as Grecque (9 May 1898), but I haven't direct proof of it. There isn't a stone for him in Elmwood Cemetery, where plot 440-0150 has grave markers for Oliver, Lizzie, Julia, Hazel, Fern and Freida.

Oliver ran a saloon in Centralia and was repeatedly fined for violating the law by doing business on Sundays. The Centralia newspaper reported warrants had been issued against him for gambling. One of his employees sued him, claiming he was a bar tender and Oliver batted him over the head with a beer bottle. 

Julia filed for divorce and it was granted 21 September 1906. Five days later:

Centralia Sentinel, Centralia, Illinois, 26 September 1906 page 3 col. C  (NewpaperArchive)

Ol. McClelland Suicide

His Dead Body Found in his Room Probably Thirty Minutes After the Deed had Been Committed.

O.J. McClelland, the well known North Oak street saloon man, ended his life this afternoon by shooting himself through the breast with a revolver, and died sitting in a chair.

Yesterday he arranged with Haussler & Son to fit up a room for his own use on the second floor over the saloon and the arrangements were that the stuff was to be delivered and placed in the room at 2 o'clock this afternoon. Mr. Seifert, one of Haussler & Son's employees, went to the room to get it ready for the furniture which was on the way. On entering the room he found McClelland sitting in a chair with his head thrown back and his breast all covered with blood. Under the chair lay a pearl handled revolver. From the blood clots it was presumed that he had been dead about half an hour when found. His barkeeper said that he had been away from the saloon about that long, but no one about the building heard the report of the revolver.

Mr. McClelland has been quite despondent of late over some troubles and some of his intimate friends were not greatly surprised when they heard the news.

The room was at once locked up and he was left still reclining in the chair with nothing disturbed till the Coroner could take hold of the case.

Marion Clark McClelland

Marion Clark McClelland was the next to youngest child of Alexander McClelland and Lucinda Rogers. He and his brother Otto were under the guardianship of Anna Mae's father, John Allen McClelland. Marion stood by his brother all through the Pond Murder court proceedings.

Marion was the only great-uncle my mother and Aunt Vivian remembered from their childhood. John Allen may well have named his youngest son, Marion Arthur McClelland after him. (My mother, Marion Virginia Villiger, carried on the name, a story I'll tell another time.)

Aunt Vivian told me her great-uncle moved his family to Urbana so his children could attend the University of Illinois, to save money. Marion worked on the Illinois Central, and though Chaaign-Urbana wasn't on his route, he could freely commute to his starting point. Both my Mom and Aunt Vivian knew him when they attended the University of Illinois. My Mom and Dad graduated there in 1937, Mom in mathematics and Dad in accounting.

Marion Clark McClelland

“History of the Illinois Central Railroad Co. and Representative Employees,” Page 306

Railroad Historical Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1900

MARION McCLELLAND, conductor on the Amboy division of the Illinois Central Railroad, entered the service of the road as a brakeman on the Clinton district of the Amboy division, September 9, 1888 and was promoted to conductor November 20, 1892, serving as extra for a time, and in 1896 took a regular run in the freight service, running from Clinton to Centralia, where he is still employed.

Mr. McClelland is a native of Centralia, where he was born in 1865. He is a member of Division No. 112, O. R. C., Plantagenet Lodge No 25, K. of P., and is a Mason in high standing, being connected with DeWit Lodge No. 84, A. F. & A. M., Goodbrake Chapter No. 59, and Commandery No. 66, all of Clinton, Illinois.

Source 5431: The Decatur Daily Review, Decatur, Illinois Saturday 12 February 1938 page 2 (Newspapers.com)

Former I.C. Conductor, Marion McClelland, Dies

By Staff Correspondent

CLINTON–Marion C. McClelland, 72, retired Illinois Central conductor, and a former resident of Clinton, died suddenly at 6 a.m. Friday in his home in Champaign of a heart attack.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete but will probably be held Monday.

Marion Clark McClelland

He was born June 4, 1865 and was employed as a conductor for the Illinois Central 47 years, retiring three years ago. He lived in Clinton 16 years before moving to Champaign several years ago.

He leaves his wife, and five children, Marion, New York City; Harold, Huron, S.D.; Robert, Gary, INd.; Mrs. Grace Armstrong, Davenport, Iowa; and Ednamaw McClelland, Dwight.

He was a member of the McKinley Memorial Presbyterian church and all Masonic orders in Clinton.

Otto Rogers McClelland

The next to youngest uncle of Anna Mae is Otto Rogers McClelland. Her father, John Allen, was appointed his guardian by the Marion County court and when John A. needed his support during the Pond Mystery court proceedings, Otto posted some of the bail bond.

Otto Rogers McClelland

History of the Illinois Central Railroad Co. and Representative Employees, Page 274

Railroad Historical Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1900; Page 275

OTTO R. McCLELLAND, who is at present the oldest man on the list outside of a preferred run, entered the service of the Illinois Central as a brakeman on the local in 1889, under conductor B. C. Michaels. He was promoted to conductor in 1895, and is now in the freight service between Clinton and Centralia.

Mr. McClelland was born near the city of Centralia, Illinois, on August 16, 1869, and is a member of Weldon Spring Lodge No. 400, O.R. C. of Clinton, and K. P. No. 26 of that city.

Decatur Review 27 January 1923 page 11 column A (NewspaperArchive.com)

I.C. Conductor Dies in Clinton

O.R. McClelland Ill for Some Weeks

Clinton, Jan. 27–O.R. McClelland, prominent Illinois Central conductor for many years, died in the John Warner hospital Friday evening following an extended illness. Deceased suffered the second attack of cerebral hemorrhage several weeks ago while on his run between here and Centralia, and was taken from the train at Para and removed to the Huber Memorial hospital. Later he was brought to the John Warner hospital here, where everything possible had been done for him.

Mr. McClelland was born at Central City, Ill. Aug. 3, 1868, where he remained until he was twenty-one years of age and commenced work with the Illinois Central, where he had since been employed. For the last twenty-five years he had been a conductor, first in freight service and later in passenger service, and had many friends along the line.

In 1900 he was married to Miss Lilly Mathern at Evansville, Ind. and the couple came to Clinton to make their home. Two children were born to them, Orville at home and Mrs. Helen Crum of Clinton. Aside from the wife and children he is survived by a brother, Marion McClelland of Champaign, and one sister, Mrs. Thomas Burke of Clinton. (Note by MMWR: the sister is stepsister Olive)

James Perry McClelland

James Perry McClelland was Anna Mae's uncle, brother to her father. According to the family bible, he was born 25 November 1848. Sadly, he died young of an unspecified illness.

Centralia Democrat, 13 May 1869 page 3 column B

DIED.–On Sunday May 10th, at his residence near Central City, James P. McClelland, aged 20 years.

James P. McClelland belonged to one of the oldest and most highly respected families in Marion county, being the son of Mr. Alexander McClelland, and grand-son of Judge Issac Clelland. He was an estimable young man of a high degree of intelligence and gave promise of a useful and brilliant future. He was the pride of the family circle, and his many excellent qualities had endeared him to numerous friends who will mourn him with a feeling of warmest devotion, and cherish his memory with the purest affection. Truly, Death loves a shining mark! In his twentieth year–in the bloom and vigor of exultant manhood–with a mind just opening to receive the realities of life, and ambitious to obtain such wisdom as the world can give–at such a time he was prostated by the disease which terminated in death.

Leaves have their time to fall,

Flowers to wither at the north wind’s breath;

And stars to set.

    But all–

Thou hast all seasons for thine own,

    O Death!

Impressive services were held at the residence of the parents of the deceased on Monday, Rev. Mr. Snow of Walnut Hill, officiating. We tender to the bereaved parents and relatives our sympathy and condolence in their hour of affliction. May He who tempers the wind to the shorn lamb, holds us all in the hollow of His hand, and doeth all things well, soften the sorrows and relieve the pangs of the grief-stricken hearts.

Felton Family Reunion at William Felton's Home in Bloomington, Illinois

The various Felton siblings stayed close their whole lives. Many of them worked on the railroads, so they were able to travel by train at little or no cost. Aunt Vivian told me they were always going to see each other, and several of them lived together after their spouses died. Anna Mae took her daughters to several of them in the 1920s and 1930s. Vivian made her first batch of chocolate chip cookies for one of those reunions (and that recipe is the one I use today because it is the best).

Felton Family Reunion at William Felton's, Bloomington, Illinois
Back Row, left to right: Effie Felton Hogan, William Felton, Martha Felton Williams,  Bill's wife Anna Bowles Felton, Arthur Felton, Margaret Felton McClelland
Front row: ? (a niece?), Amy Felton Hogan, Sophia Felton Pruitt, Hannah Felton Stacey
(labeled in Marion Villiger Watson's handwriting)

Felton Family Reunion at William Felton's, Bloomington, Illinois
Left to right: Hannah Felton Stacey, Martha Felton Williams, Amy Felton Hogan,, Sophia Felton Pruitt, Margaret Felton McClelland (Anna Mae's mother)

Felton Family Reunion at William Felton's, Bloomington, Illinois
Back row, left to right: William Felton, Anna Bowles Felton, Martha Felton Williams, Margaret Felton McClelland
Front row, left to right: Sophia Felton Pruitt, Effie Felton Hogan, Amy Felton Hogan, Hannah Felton Stacey, Arthur Felton

Felton Family Reunion at William Felton's, Bloomington, Illinois
Left to right: Sophia Felton Pruitt, Margaret Felton McClelland, Martha Felton Williams, Effie Felton Hogan,
Hannah Felton Stacey, Amy Felton Hogan

William Felton

William Felton, like many of his siblings, worked on the railroads. He had a long and eventful career as an engineer with the Chicago & Alton Railroad. I've found many railroad news articles in the Decatur and Bloomington, Illinois newspapers that mention him . My favorite was published Monday 16 May 1921 page 1: "Alton Train is Wrecked by Vandals." William Felton was engineer on a fast passenger train that ran into a freight train because someone had tampered with a switch. Fortunately no one was seriously hurt, though the train was wrecked. Subsequent articles reported the culprit was a deranged escapee from the Illinois State Hospital who had knowledge of railroad equipment.

William Felton

William Felton

Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of McLean County. Chicago: Munsell Pub. Co., 1908. Page 2

William Felton, a resident of Bloomington, Illinois since 1894, a railroad man of long experience, and one of the most successful and trustworthy locomotive engineers in the service of the Chicago & Alton Railroad Company, was born in Sheboygan, Wis. November 30, 1849, and is a son of Ebenezer and Sophia (Johnson) Felton. His father was a native of the State of New York, and his mother of the Dominion of Canada, and they settled in Sheboygan County, Wis. in the pioneer period of that region. From Wisconsin they moved to Clinton County, Ill in 1870, locating on a farm in the vicinity of Centralia. There Ebenezer Felton died November 9, 1904, aged 81 years. His widow is still living near Centralia at the age of 80 years. Fifteen children were the issue of their union, and of these six sons and six daughters survive. In his earlier life Ebenezer Felton was a Whig, in politics, and later became a Republican. He was an unusually intelligent man, and was notable as a habitual reader. Fraternally, he was affiliated with the I.O.O.F. He attended the Methodist Episcopal Church. The maternal grandfather of William Felton was Jacob Johnson, a native of Canada, who died in Michigan at the age of ninety years. His wife, Hannah (Plats) Felton, also a native of Canada, died in Sheboygan County, Wis. at an advanced age. William Felton was reared to farm life in his native county, and there received his education in the public schools. In early manhood, he spent one winter at work in the woods of Northern Michigan. When 25 years old he went to St. Louis, and applied himself to railroading. He was in the employ of the Wabash Railroad Company until 1894, at first working successively in the freight office, as night watchman, and as locomotive fireman on the "stockyards run;" and afterwards being promoted to be engineer. In 1894, he located in Bloomington, and on February 2, 1895, began work as a locomotive engineer on the Chicago & Alton Railroad, a position which he has since continued to hold.

On December 13, 1873, Mr. Felton was united in marriage with Anna E. Bowles, who was born in Kentucky, September 9, 1851, and is a daughter of Henry and Mary (Shepard) Bowles, natives of Virginia and Kentucky, respectively, the birthplace of the mother being Louisville. Henry Bowles died in Kentucky, in June, 1852, his widow surviving him until December 1873. The only child resulting from their union is Mrs. Felton. Mr. and Mrs. Felton have two daughters. Maude, the elder, who graduated from the Decatur (Ill.) High School, is the wife of Harvey Broughton, of Chicago. Jessie, the younger, who married L.H. B Britton of Leroy, Ill., is a graduate of the High School at Decatur, Ill. and also of the Illinois Normal University at Bloomington. The mother and both daughters are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and are affiliated with the order of the Eastern Star, Mrs. Felton being connected with Bloomington Lodge No. 50.

In politics, Mr. Felton is allied with the Republican party. Fraternally, he joined the A.F.& A. M. in Decatur, Ill, and is now a member of Wade Barney Lodge No. 513, of Bloomington and Bloomington Chapter No. 21 R.A.M. He has numerous friends, who value his acquaintance.

Frank Pruitt

My grandmother wouldn't let her daughters learn to swim. My mother, Marion, eventually learned to do the sidestroke, but only after my brother was born, and only because a good friend pointed out the dangers of fishing with my Dad and the baby. She asked Mom how she expected my Dad to save both   if the boat tipped over. Dad was an excellent swimmer and as a boy had saved a woman from drowning, but Mom recognized it was wrong to make him choose who to rescue first.

I wish I had a picture of Frank Pruitt. My grandmother was only 19 when he drowned.

Centralia Evening Sentinel Monday 3 July 1911 page 1

LAD DROWNS IN OLD RESERVOIR AT NOON TODAY 

Frank Pruitt, 11, Goes to Watery Grave Before Eyes of His Sunday School Teacher and Classmates.

Was With Crowd at Sunday School Picnic.

Frank Pruitt, aged 11, son of Lucien Pruitt, living at 594 North Walnut street, was drowned this afternoon at 1 o’clock at the old reservoir, while attending a picnic of the Presbyterian Sunday School class taught by Howard Burr. The boy went to a watery grave before the eyes of his Sunday School teacher and a dozen or more young lads, all classmates, who were attending the picnic. The tragedy is an exceedingly sad one.

It was with difficulty that particulars of the accident could be secured, there being considerable excitement at the scene, the fatality breaking up all thoughts of a picnic, and all attention was turned toward receiving the body of the drowned boy. Besides the members of the class, Mr. and Mrs. Burr, and Mr. and Mrs. Charles Spaulding were in attendance, the entire party making the trip to Central City on a street car this morning and going from there out to the reservoir.

Some reports are to the effect that the boy was drowned while in swimming, while others were to the effect that he was sitting on the bank, when he lost his balance and fell in. Others who could swim went to the boy’s assistance and endeavored to save him, but it was impossible and the lad went down before the eyes of all the witnesses, some powerless to help. Relatives of the lad said he could swim, but it was evident that he was stricken so suddenly that he could not recover in time to save himself, or else was seized with an attack of cramps.

The boy’s father, Lucien Pruitt, is a switchman for the C.B. & Q. railroad, and the mother and other members of the family were almost prostrated when they learned of the drowning of the boy. He was a lad exceptionally well liked and had a large number of acquaintances both in school and church who will deeply mourn the loss of a valued and true friend.

A searching party was immediately formed to find the body of the boy, and grappling hooks and a rowboat were used in an effort to bring the body to the surface. The water is quite deep, however, at the place of drowning, and the work proceeded with difficulty. The men in the searching party continued their work throughout the afternoon, however, in hope of bringing the body to the shore before nightfall. Coroner T.J. Foster was notified, but did not make a trip to the scene of the accident, as he said he would await the recovery of the body. The Haussler ambulance was called and started for the reservoir at 1:30, the men going with the ambulance assisting in the search for the body. The inquest will be held by Dr. Foster at the Haussler undertaking establishment as soon as the body is recovered.

The drowned lad has one surviving brother and several sisters. The drowning is the first of the season recorded in Centralia or immediate vicinity.

The body of the lad was recovered at 3:35 this afternoon, at the place the boy went down.

Source 4446: Centralia Evening Sentinel Wednesday 5 July 1911 page 4 column B

TOOK ONE LAST DIVE TO DEATH

According to the testimony developed at the inquest over the body of Frank Pruitt, aged 10, who was drowned in the old reservoir Monday morning about 11:30, the boy desired to take “just one more dive” after the rest of the boys were returning to the shore. Howard H. Burr, the teacher of the Sunday School class, which was holding the picnic, had been in swimming withthe boys, and was donning his clothes in the bushes nearby when the Pruitt lad took the fatal dive. It seems he stepped from about five feet of water near the edge of the reservoir into about 20 feet, the reservoir bed taking a sudden drop a short distance from the shore.

Mr. Burr, who was brought before the Coroner, T.J. Foster and the jury sitting on the inquest, testified that he was in the water for two hours and made every possible effort to save the boy, but could not seem to reach him until the boat arrived. He told a graphic story of the drowning.

Charles Garland, aged 12, and Frazier Caeron, aged 11, were the only two other witnesses examined by the coroner and jury. They both told a concise story of the drowning and of the efforts to save the lad.

The jury after carefully considering the testimony brought in a verdict of death by accidental drowning. The body was viewed in the afternoon and the inquest proper held at the office of Squire T.B. Andrews. The parents of the boy are nearly prostrate by their loss.

Source 4445: Carbondale Daily Free Press, Carbondale, Illinois, Thursday 6 July 1911 page 3

A coroner’s jury at Centralia, July 4, held an inquest over Frank Pruitt, 11 year old son of Lucien Pruitt, and returned a verdict of accidental drowning, exonerating Howard H. Burr, a local insurance agent and teacher of a class in the Presbyterian Sunday school. This class was on a picnic to the old reservoir at the edge of the city when young Pruitt was drowned. While Mr. Burr’s back was turned in the belief that the boys all had come out of the water at his call, young Pruitt decided to take “just one more dive.” He went in to 20 feet of cold water and was drowned, although the teacher nearly lost his life in an attempt to rescue the lad. Mr. Burr was formerly one of the publishers of the Murphysboro Republican Era and is a brother-in-law of Otto J. Rude, of Carbondale.

Sophia Felton McAphee Pruitt

Sophia Felton was born 30 November 1862 and die 19 May 1962. She was always called Phi (rhymes with fly) by family and friends. According to my Aunt Vivian she was always lively, but not as lively as her sisters Hannah and Amy, who must have been real characters from the way she said it.

Sophia’s married Archibald McPhee 30 April 1891. They had two children, Benjamin (born 9 April 1894) and a baby who died when he (or she) was only months old. The newspaper and the burial record only says “child” so I don’t know the name or sex.  

Archy McPhee died 22 November 1894 in St. Louis.

On 28 December 1899 Sophia married Lucien Pruitt. Shortly after the wedding he was involved in a sordid court case.

Centralia Daily Sentinel 19 January 1900 page 2 column C (NewspaperArchives.com)

Squire old Phoenix will have a lawsuit in his court out in Brookside tomorrow that promised to be interesting. Some months ago Lucien Pruitt was involved in a trouble with a young woman in the neighborhood and she had him arrested. By the help of friends the matter was settled by his paying the girl $100, she giving a receipt agreeing to consider the matter settled and not bother him any more. Afterwards he married another woman, which aroused the other girl and she consulted a lawyer. Her lawyer told her the settlement she had made was not binding, by reason of its not having been approved by the Probate Judge. All cases of that kind which are settled for less than $400 must have the sanction of the Judge or they are not good. She has taken advantage of that fact and has had him re-arrested and had had him re-arrested and the hearing is set for tomorrow. Pruitt feels that he is being imposed upon and will fight to a finish.

Centralia Daily Sentinel 27 January 1900 page 2 column C (NewspaperArchives.com)

A lively legal battle was fought out in Brookside yesterday afternoon in Squire Wood Phoenix’s Court. It was a case brought by a young lady against Mr. Pruitt on the charge of bastardy. It seems that they had had trouble once before and she had Pruitt arrested but the matter was settled by his paying her $100 and she giving him a receipt in full for all claims. He then married another woman, which seems to have arroused the girl of his first love and she consulted an attorney and was advised that her settlement would not hold good for the reason that it did not have the approval of the County Judge. On this she concluded that she could get some more money and had him rearrested on the old charge. She employed J.J. Bundy and Pruitt secured City Attorney Dew and they went at it yesterday. The court decided in favor of Pruitt on the strength of his receipt in full, regardless of the point that it lacked the approval of the County Judge, and there the matter stands. It will likely get into the Circuit Court, as both sides seem to be full of fight.

Centralia Daily Sentinel 29 January 1900 page 2 column C (NewspaperArchives.com)

Tom Ammons, a Clinton county officer, was here today and arrested Mr. Pruitt, of Brookside, who came out best in a suit brought by a woman in that county. She has taken a new turn and will try it again.

Centralia Daily Sentinel 14 February 1900 page 2 column C (NewspaperArchives.com)

The Pruitt case, which was taken from Brookside to Carlyle, was heard yesterday in Judge Hanke’s court. VanHoorebeke & Louden and C.F. Dew were the attorneys for the complainant and J.J. Bundy and T.E. Ford were the lawyers for Pruitt. The complainant proved her case and got first blood and the matter of judgement was to be argued today.

I haven't found a record of the judgement, but I haven't searched the court records. There are no further articles in the Centralia or other local papers.

Lucien and Sophia suffered a tragedy that is the reason my mother never learned to swim, but that's a subject for another post. 

The Pruitts helped out a young runaway.

Centralia Daily Sentinel 26 January 1916 page 4 column C (NewspaperArchives.com)

JOHNNY NUKASKY CHICAGO BOUND

Young Buckner Lad is Star Walker–Going To See Mother

Johnny Nukasky, 14 year old, is a guest of honor at the police headquarters this afternoon.

Johhny was entertained at dinner at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Lucien Pruitt, 504 North Walnut street, and now he is waiting for the authorities to secure for him transportation to Chicago where he will join his mother and his little sister, Rosie, who live at 1452 South Morgan street.

Johnny walked all the way from Buckner, in Franklin county, near Herrin, and it only took him four days to do it. He reached here before noon today, tired and footsore, but determined to reach the great city where live his mother and sister.

Lucien Pruitt, a Burlington switchman, saw the boy in the north yards, and after learning the youngster’s plight, he took him home, and Johnny had his first real meal since he ran away from his drunken father last Saturday. Mr. Pruitt then notified the authorities and asked that Johnny be cared for. As soon as Supervisor Roemer returns the lad will be sent on his way. A half fare ticket will make three happy hearts in a dingy Morgan street tenement and the cost to the county will be small.

Johnny told a straightforward story and that he is possessed of grit and perseverance is shown by his successful journey through a country unknown to him. When he left Buckner, 60 miles away, he had thirty cents. The night before his father had beaten him. The lad hoarded his money and ate just enough to keep away the pangs of hunger. He said he did not ask anyone to feed him and he seemed proud that he didn’t have to. At night he slept in depots.

Unfortunately Lucien Pruitt was another victim of workplace hazards. It was dangerous to work around trains. See the post on Rufus Buchanan McClelland and John Allen McClelland for other victims. During my family research I came across an article in 29 Nov 1890 Centralia Daily Sentinel on railroad accidents. It said that 1,972 railroad employees had been killed during the year and 20,028 injured. That's one death for every 357 employees and one injury for every 55 employees. It further reported that if only trainmen (engineers, firemen, conductors & others who ride the trains) were counted, there was 1 death per 117 employees and 1 injury for every 12 employees.

Centralia Daily Sentinel 10 November 1933 page 1 column C (NewspaperArchives.com)

LUCIEN PRUITT SEVERELY HURT

Bumped from Car in the Burlington Yards; Falls on Track

Lucien Pruitt, 59, of 536 North Walnut street, was reported slightly improved but still in a serious condition today at St. Mary’s Hospital where he is a patient suffering from back injuries as the result of a railroad accident yesterday where he was engaged in switching cars in the Burlington yards here.

Mr. Pruitt, the oldest switchman in the Burlington’s employ in the Centralia yards, was standing upon a box car while a crew was engaged in switching cars in the regular way, railroad officials said, when the car bumped into another car, throwing him off. He fell upon a track, the lower part of his back striking a rail and inflicting serious injuries, the exact nature of which have not been determined.

Physicians said that so far they had been unable to have X-Ray pictures taken because of Mr. Pruitt’s condition. Today he was reported in a semi-conscious state, and at various times entirely unconscious.

Centralia Daily Sentinel 22 November 1933 page 1 column B (NewspaperArchives.com)

Lucian Pruitt’s Injuries Fatal

“Q” Switchman, Hurt November 9, Passes Away

 Lucian Pruitt, 536 N. Walnut Street,  died at 4:30 o’clock yesterday afternoon at St. Mary's Hospital where he had been since Nov 9 as a result of an accident in which he was thrown from a box car while working as a switchman in the Burlington  yards here.  He was 59 years, 5 months and 7 days old.  

Since he moved here 40 years ago, he has lived in Centralia, where he was employed as a switchman by the Burlington Railroad for 30 years, being one of the oldest men in point of service on the Beardstown division.  He was at work the day he was injured in switching cars when the car upon which he was standing bumped into another car throwing him off.  He fell upon a track the lower part of his back striking a rail and inflicting serious injuries, including a broken pelvis bone.  

Mr. Pruitt’s death was attributed to the injuries received in the accident and a weakened condition brought about from illness prior to the accident, physiccians said.

An inquest is scheduled for 7 o’clock tonight at the Rev. T. Baldridge Funeral Home, Dr. S.D. Carrigan, coroner of Marion county, announced today. The inquest was delayed in order that the switching crew working with Mr. Pruitt would not lose any time from work.

Funeral services for Mr. Pruitt will be held from the Roy T. Baldridge Funeral Home at 2 p.m. Thursday with the Rev. Theodore Broshe of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Redeemer officiating.  Interment will be made in the Elmwood cemetery.  

Mr. Pruitt was born June 14, 1874 at Liletown, Ky the son of Burrell and Delilia Lile Pruitt, and he married Mrs. Sophia Felton McPhee, December 28, 1899 in Centralia, IL.  He is survived by his widow, one son Allen B. Pruitt, Pittsburgh, PA, and a step-son, Ben McPhee, De Moines, IA .

Mr. Pruitt was a member of the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen.  

Sophia herself lived a long, happy life.

Des Moines Tribune, Thursday 10 May 1962 page 30 (Newspapers.com)

Sophia Pruitt Dead at 99

Mrs. Sophia Pruitt, 99, of 2220 Sunset drive, died early Thursday at her home after a two-week illness. She would have been 100 years old next November.

A native of Sheboygan, Wis., Mrs. Pruitt lived 85 years in Centralia, Ill. before coming to Des Moines 10 years ago. She was a member of the Christian Church at Centralia.

Services will be at 8 o’clock tonight at the McLaren Funeral Home in West Des Moines. A second service and burial will be Saturday in Centralia. 

Surviving are a son, Ben McPhee of Des Moines, with whom she made her home; a sister, Mrs. Amy Hogan of Ottumwa; five grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

 

Lafayette Felton of Telluride, Colorado

Lafayette Felton
Photograph by Chas. Goodman, Photographer Montrose & Telluride, Colorado

Lafayette Felton was the 6th child of Ebenezer Felton and Sophia Johnson. Called Lafe by his family and friends, he was born 13 January 1855 in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin. 

By 1880 he'd moved to Colorado, settling in Telluride where he was a successful carpenter. 

He married Mary Midgely there on 31 March 1895. They had no children.

One of the reasons I created this blog is I've found photos I own posted online and misidentified. Here's a prime example.

Photograph commonly misidentified online as Lafayette Felton. It is Franz Felton.
The original photograph, which I posted in this blog, was taken by a Centralia, Illinois photographer.

My photos of Lafayette were taken by Colorado photographers.

In 1899 Lafe ran for Assessor of San Miguel County:

San Miguel Examiner, Volume XIV, Number 13, October 7, 1899 coloradohistoricnewspapers.org

LAFAYETTE FELTON.

It it hardly in good form for the Examiner to undertake to introduce to the people of Sun Miguel county so old a resident as Mr. Felton, the gentleman nominated Iast Saturday by the republicans for the office of county assessor he having been In Telluride long enough to welcome almost every citizen as they c»me in, and having, during his business career has come In contact with the greater portion of the people of the county, and through personal acquaintance they have learned his worth, personal Integrity and upright business qualities. Mr Felton la a native of the state of Illinois. and leaving home In 18*0 found hit way to Colorado. For two years after coming here ha was connected with the Rio Grande surveying corps, and assisted in blazing the way for that railway across the Rocky Mountains. In 1882 he came to San Miguel county and with the exception of three years, two of which were spent at Sllverton and Red Mountain, he has been a permanent resident of this city. He was married in the early 90’s and since that time his family has found a home here. His business is that of mill building and carpentering, and his time has been occupied during the last number of years Is construction work and contracting. having built a number of mills of this county at well as many of the handsome residences that grace the town of Telluride. He received a high school education in his native state and for a number of years held clerical positions of trust which practically fit him to fill the position for which he is a candidate before the people. On account of the extensive acquaintance and high esteem in which be is held by the entire community The Examiner deems it unnecessary to go into details regarding his character. That be will receive the votes of a large number of people of the county, that he will till the office with entire credit to himself and the people, if elected, does not, nor will it at any time during the campaign, come into question

(He lost the election.)  

That wasn't the first or last time he made the local papers. I particularly like this article:

San Miguel Examiner, Volume XV, Number 11, 21 September 1902 ColoradoHistoricNewspapers.org

Last Wednesday Lafe Felton and Billy Majors were indulging in target practice on the hillside above the Silver Bell mill, at Ophir Loop, and finding nothing else to shoot at, proceeded to make a target of what they supposed was an empty powder box near the assay office. They were very successful in hitting it, for an explosion followed all the glass in the neighborhood. The box contained fifty pounds of forty percent powder, and it is fortunate that no one was injured.

Lafayette Felton
Photograph by Carpenter, Telluride, Colorado

He died suddenly 28 May 1908:

Telluride Journal, Telluride, CO 4 June 1908 

ColoradoHistoricNewspapers.org

Lafayette Felton is Dead

Pioneer Citizen and Prominent Business Man Seized With Hemorrhage and Expires Suddenly in His Store Last Evening

From Friday’s Daily.

Last night, just about supper time, this community was shocked by the announcement that Lafayette Felton had died very suddenly in his store as the result of an internal hemorrhage.

Mr. Felton had been about town and at his place of business during the day as usual. About 5:20 in the evening he went down into the basement of his store, where he was seized with a hemorrhage. Coming up stairs into the main store room, he sat down, bleeding to death, in the chair within ten or fifteen minutes.

Mr. Felton had been a sufferer from consumption for many years, and after repeated attempts had found it impossible for him to live in a lower altitude. Though of frail physique and impaired constitution, there had been no premonitory warning of the preaching end, and his sudden taking off came as a great shock to the old neighbors among whom he had lived for so many years.

Lafe Felton came to Telluride early in the season of 1883, and followed his trade of contractor and builder, with unvarying success, until about a year ago, when he purchased the furniture stock of John W. Runyon, and since has carried on that business. He was an expert mechanic, a man of industrious instincts, upright and square in all his dealings with his fellowmen and was accounted universally as one of Telluride s most exemplary and highly esteemed citizens.

At different times in recent years he had engaged in business and sought to establish a home in a more equable climate at a lower altitude, but, as mentioned above, his ailment invariably forced him to return to the higher altitudes and more rarified atmosphere of the mountains . Mr. Felton was fifty three years of age, and the Journal believes was a native of Illinois . 

He was a prominent and active member of the Knights of Pythias, having joined the local order and the local lodge, Bridal Veil No . 80 in 1897. He bad filled all the various chairs of the local lodge, and had repeatedly represented the same at the grand lodge meetings of the order. At the time of his death he held the office of prelate.

He was also prominent and active in the work of the Congregational church, had served several terms as clerk, and died a trustee of the church organization.

The remains will be taken to Centralia, Illinois, for burial, leaving tomorrow (Saturday) morning, acompanied by Mrs. Felton, who will be joined at Denver by a brother, Thomas Midgley. 

Source 3665 The Centralia Evening Sentinel Thursday 4 June 1908 page 4 column A (NewspaperArchive)

The funeral of LaFayette Felton was held at the Felton homestead northwest of this city yesterday afternoon and was largely attended by many of the friends and relatives. After the services the cortege proceeded to the Centralia City Cemetery where a committee from Helmet Lodge K of P gave the ritualistic burial service. This was one of the largest attended funerals that has been held here for a long time, the country between this city and Shattuc were seemingly in attendance. The deceased was raised in that locality but has been a resident of Colorado for many years. Among the relatives and friends from abroad wh attended the funeral were Mrs. D.S. Williams of Fort Scott, Kas.; Ebb Felton, of Girard, Kas.; Arthur Felton, Jacksonville, Texas; Wm. Felton, Bloomington, Ill.; Mrs. Chas. Stacy of St. Louis; Miss Maggie McClelland of East St. Louis; Mrs. Ed Hogan and family of East St. Louis; Thos. Midgely of Minneapolis, Kas., and Mrs. Arthur Felton, of Telluride, Colo.

Source 3940 The Centralia Evening Sentinel Friday 5 June 1908 page 3 column A (NewspaperArchive)

Word was received here by J.T. Hogan last week that Mrs. Hogan’s brother, Lafe Felton, in Kansas, had died. The remains were shipped to Centralia last Tuesday and the funeral was held at his mother’s home north of Centralia about three miles Wednesday at 2 o’clock p.m. internment in the Centralia cemetery. Mr. Felton was raised in this vicinity and was pretty well known. His aged mother and relatives have our most sincere sympathy.

Telluride Journal, Telluride, CO 30 July 1908 ColoradoHistoricNewspapers.org

Administrator’s Notice.

Estate of Lafayette Felton, Deceased.

The undersigned having been appointed Administratix of the estate of Lafayette Felton late of the County of San Miguel in the State of Colorado, deceased, hereby gives notice that she will appear before the County Court of said San Miguel County at the Court House in Telluride in said County, at the August Term, 1908, on the Second Monday in August next, at which time all persons having claims against said estate are notified and requested to attend for the purpose of having the same adjusted. All persons indebted to said estate are requested to make immediate payment to the undersigned.

Dated at Telluride, Colo., this 11th day of June A.D. 1908.

Mary Felton, Administratix

First pub. July 16, 1908.

Last pub. Aug. 6, 1908

Telluride Journal, Telluride, CO 16 July 1908 ColoradoHistoricNewspapers.org

I.L. Glenn has purchased the stock and business of the Lafayette Felton Furniture company, taking charge today. He will continue the business at the same location. Mr. Glenn’s many friends will wish him success in his new enterprise.

Franz Felton and His Son Clarence Felton

Franz Felton was the 9th child born to Sophia Johnson and Ebenezer Felton on 6 February 1861 in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, according to the Felton family Bible.

On 17 September 1892 Franz married Artie Newhall, daughter of John and Mary Newhall, farmers in Clinton County. Their son Clarence was born 21 February 1894.

Tragically Franz died 29 March 1895 age 34 in Centralia.

Centralia Daily Sentinel, 30 March 1895 page 2 column B 

DIED:–At his home, No. 810 Third North Street, at 12:05 p.m. today, Franz Felton, aged 34 years, 1 month and 20 days. The funeral will be held from the residence at 2 p.m. Sunday under the auxpices of the I.O.O. F., of which he was a member.

Centralia Daily Sentinel, 3 April 1895 page 3 column B 

OBITUARY

At a meeting of Metropolitan Lodge, No. 108, I.O.O.F., held Tuesday, April 2, 1894, the following resolutions were adopted on the death of Brother Franz Felton, of Noble Lodge. No. 340, of Harrington, Kansas:

Whereas. It has pleased the Great Author of our being to remove from our midst our late and beloved brother, Franz Felton, and in view of the loss we have thus sustained, and of the still heavier loss which must be borne by those nearer and dearer to him; be it

RESOLVED, That we sincerely condole with the family of the deceased on the dispensation with which it has pleased Divine Providence to afflictt them and commend them for consolation to Him who orders all things for the best.

RESOLVED, That these resolutions be spread upon the records of the lodge and a copy be transmitted to the family of the deceased brother, a copy be furnished to each of our daily papers for publication and a copy forwarded to his lodge.

S. Andrews

George Besant

C.P. Callender,

Committee

Centralia Sentinel, Thursday, 4 April 1895 page 3 column E

The funeral of Franz Felton was held Sunday afternoon under the auspices of the Odd Fellows. A number of the fraternity were here from Sandoval and other points.

Clarence Felton

After Franz died Artie and Clarence lived with the Newhalls in Clinton County until John Newhall died. By 1910 they were living in Sonoma County, California, where Artie’s brother William lived.

The clerk who made the entries in the Clinton County, Illinois marriage book filled in the blanks meticulously for every record on page 76 EXCEPT Margaret Felton’s marriage to John Allen McClelland in 1884. Missing is everything one most wants to see: bride’s and groom’s residence and birthplace, their parents names and birthplaces, no. of bride’s marriage and the witnesses names. It just says Franz Felton provided an affidavit.

Arthur Felton and His Wife Margaret Burkett

Anna Mae's mother, Margaret Felton, was one of fifteen children born to Sophia Johnson and Ebenezer Felton. The oldest child, Richard Felton, was born in 1846 and the youngest, Elizabeth Amy Felton, was born in 1873. Miraculously, all the children reached adulthood. The first to die, Cecilia Felton, was 16 when she was thrown from a horse in 1893.               Arthur was the 11th child. Arthur Felton was born 4 February 1865 when the family was still living in Wisconsin. 

Like many young men raised in Clinton and Marion Counties, Illinois, Arthur went to work for a railroad. He was a conductor, then a gateman, settling in Texas.

He married Margaret Burkett around 1906; she was always called Maggie in the family. They had four sons, Everett, Frank and Glenn. Another son, Arthur, died shortly after he was born in 1905.

Rufus Buchanan McClelland

Genealogical researchers often like reading mysteries, probably because finding criminals requires many of the same skills as hunting ancestors. One has to track down clues and solve puzzles. Criminals try to evade discovery. Sometimes people on a family tree are evasive too. There is nothing like the exhilaration one feels when one tracks one of them down.

Rufus Buchanan McClelland was Anna Mae's uncle, but sadly she never met him. He was one of the McClelland mysteries I inherited when my mother died. He was living with his parents in the 1870 census, but couldn't be found in the 1880 census.

Rufus Buchanan McClelland

According to the McClelland family bible pages, Rufus was born 30 September 1856, making him 4 years younger than Anna Mae's father, who was born 7 February 1852.

Ten years ago I visited Marion County and examined the records of the Marion County Genealogical & Historical Society. Their McClelland file had only this on Rufus, "Rufus McClelland, born 1857, died before 1889–killed in a railroad accident in Indiana." Not much help there.  I searched every newspaper database available online but never found him. I did learn railroads were a dangerous place to work. There were an awful lot of railroad accidents in Indiana in the 1880s.

I didn't find another clue until I went through the entire run of the Marion County Genealogical Society's publication, Footprints of Marion County. They wisely sell it on cds and it was the best souvenir of Marion County that I brought home. Better even than the railroad spikes I picked up near the rail line that runs past the old McClelland farm near Sandoval-Odin.

For many years Dr. George E. Ross compiled "gleanings" from the Centralia, Illinois newspapers and submitted them to MCGHS for publication. I found this in one of those articles, “Railroads in Marion County–Newspaper Gleanings,” submitted by Dr. George E. Ross, 19 Orchard Drive, Sandoval, IL 62882, published in Footprints in Marion County, , Vol. 9 No. 1, Summer 1984, published by the Marion County Genealogical & Historical Society, P.O. Box 342, Salem, IL 62881, page 65

Marion County Herald 24 November 1876 “Rufus McClelland, son of Alexander, was scalded to death in a railroad accident near Shoals, Ind.”

Articles on the accident were quickly located in newspaper databases. A passenger train going west on the Ohio and Mississippi railroad collided wit a freight train this afternoon near Shoals, killing the engineer, Scott, and the firemen, Kieffer. Some of the passengers sustained slight injuries. Rufus McClelland was not mentioned in any newspaper. I was bummed.

Then I realized the Herald may have confused the Shoals accident with another one in Indiana. Maybe there were two deadly accidents in Indiana on 4 November 1876.

There was. And it was widely reported. The brakeman killed in this horrific accident was named as Lucas McClelland, not Rufus. 

The most complete coverage was published in the accident location's local newspaper. The  kind folks at the Jackson County (Indiana) Historical Center sent it to me:

The Brownstown Banner, Brownstown (Jackson County), Indiana Thursday 23 November 1876

Printed and Published by William Frysinger

Jottings Roundabout Medora

SHOCKING RAILROAD CATASTROPHE.

Perhaps no case of railroad catastrophe, in glaring carelessness, equals the terrible one of the night of November 17th, 1876, at Sparksville, on the O. & M. road. A west bound freight train side-tracked at Sparksville to allow No. 3 (west bound night express) to pass. The rear brakeman of the freight train, supposing that the extra freight was following close and ahead of No. 3, left the switch gate open so that the extra could pull right in, and the brakeman who left the switch open and another brakeman took themselves to the caboose for a quiet sleep. The extra, however, instead of following to Sparksville, sidetracked at Medora for No. 3, which in due time came thundering along, having no stop to make at Sparksville. It ran on at high speed, of course, into the switch. The No. 3 engineer, beholding the situation, leaped from his engine just in time to save himself; but the engine mounted right into the freight caboose, smashing up both trains and springing a leak in No. 3’s boiler, which at once filled the caboose with hot water and steam, fearfully and fatally scalding the two unfortunate brakemen. Unutterable the agony which the poor fellows suffered, until, in a few hours, death came to their relief. The luggage car was literally crushed to atoms, but the baggageman, strange to say, escaped being killed, but had one leg fearfully snagged. No passengers were fatally injured, though several were slightly and two or three more severely wounded. But a few days before there had been a terrible colliding of trains at this station, fortunately with no fatal casualties. Collisions have occurred of late all along the road, always damaging the railroad property and often with loss of life. Why is it? If the company cannot, for its own interest, it ought to be compelled by statute to bring all its trains to a complete halt at every such locality as the one at Sparksville, where nothing can be seen on the track a train length ahead. It seems that at least one-half of the collisions occur under such conditions as that at Sparksville, where there are sharp curves around hills, the hills obstructing the view; or in deep cuts where the embankment obstructs the vision, so that two trains approaching can not see each other until the very moment of the collision. To say the least of it, certainly something might be done to insure safer passage of trains on such curves and close places without doing violence to time cards, and it certainly would not be amiss for the public good for the press to call the attention of the next Legislature to this matter of safer precautions for passage of railroad trains.

We might add that one of the brakemen killed was by the name of McClellan, whose father and uncle arrived at Medora on Sunday, and on Sunday night removed the corpse to the parents’ home in Illinois. The other brakeman’s name not being ascertained, nor the whereabouts of his people, the body was therefore buried at Medora Cemetery on Sunday evening last.

J.H.N.

Medora, Nov. 20, 1876