Obituary of Sloss McADAMS, Greene County, Illinois Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives Copyright 1999 racerbarb Killed at Railroad Crossing Sloss McAdams, A Well-to-do Farmer Meets Death at C & A Crossing Near Tower Just North of Town While returning home from work about 6 o'clock Tuesday evening, Oct 5th, Sloss McAdams, an industrious and highly respected farmer of this community was instantly killed by a southbound C & A passenger train at the public crossing just south of the interlocking switch tower about one-half mile north of town. Mr. McAdams had been putting in wheat on the farm of Misses Ella and Alice Tunison two miles south of town. He was on his way home from work and while attempting to cross the railroad track, was struck by the train and instantly killed. Several persons are reported to have witnessed the accident and it is the general opinion that Mr. McAdams was watching a freight that was switching some cars on the "y" a few hundred yards south of the crossing and did not notice the approach of the passenger train from the north that was running about 30 minutes late--it was also getting rather dark about that time too. The team had just gotten safely across the track when the engine struck the wagon squarely, demolishing it. Mr. McAdams evidently got the full force of the blow, but fortunately was not thrown under the wheels of the train and mangled. When the train was stopped his body was found on the pilot of the engine. The left side of the head was badly crushed and bruised indicating death to have been instantaneous. The body was placed in the baggage car of the train and brought to the station. Undertaker J. H. Fox was notified and he soon afterwards removed same to his undertaking parlors where an inquest was held late Wednesday afternoon--the verdict was that he had come to his death by being struck by a C & A passenger train No. 33, at 5:58 p.m., Tuesday, October 5, 1920. The Coroner's jury was J. D. Rowe, J. H. Fox, T. E. Conlee, Otto Lyman and L. F. Dawdy. Funeral services will be held at the Methodist church, White Hall at 2:00 p.m. today, Friday--interment will be made in the family lot in Highstreet Cemetery, 5 miles southwest of town. Sloss McAdams, aged 65 years, 9 months and 10 days was a son of Joseph and Mary McAdams born on a farm in Bluffdale township, this county, (Greene) and resided in the county all his life. He was a very industrious farmer of good habits and was well respected by everyone--strictly honest and of the highest integrity and his tragic death is sincerely mourned by all who knew him--he was a good man, a splendid citizen and will be greatly missed. His wife, who was Miss Ellen Johnson died about fifteen years ago. Of their six children three survive as follows: Mrs. Lulu Kehl of White Hall, but now teaching at Chesterfield, Ill; Mrs. Pansy Moran, wife of Arch Moran, who kept house for her father, and Miss Myrtle McAdams, a professional nurse who for the past year had been at home but a week or so ago departed for California to spend the winter but had stopped temporarily at Topeka, Kansas, when she received an announcement of her father's death. One child died in infancy--Maude, died some twenty years ago and another daughter, Etna, wife of Louis Costello died seven years ago. There are four grandchildren. The surviving brothers and sisters are: Joseph McAdams of Ark.; Elam and Grant of Bluffdale Township and Henry McAdams of Grafton, Ill., Mrs. Susan Flatt of Carrollton and Mrs. Oscar Weider of Jacksonville. ----------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb Archivist with proof of this consent. ----------------------------------------------------------------- File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Barbara K Hitrch