Linn County KS Archives Obituaries.....HAM, Joe September 29, 1899
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Jim Laird jlaird@bellsouth.net November 14, 2005, 4:15 am

The LaCygne Weekly Journal
Linn County
Friday
September 29, 1899

Sudden Death.
Pleasanton The Scene Of A Bad Accident.
Three Suffer In A Runaway.
Joe Ham, A.W. Brittingham and Ode Miller, of Prescott, Thrown From a Buggy With
Fatal Result.

Last Sunday evening as daylight was merging into darkness the people of
Pleasanton witnessed one of the worst accidents that has ever been known in the
history of that town. Sunday afternoons are usually quiet in country towns and
Pleasanton is no exception. People scarcely leave their homes of rest except,
perhaps to visit the postoffice or stroll to some part of town. Those who passed
through Main street last Sabbath day had little thought that a young man in
life's prime would meet death on that street before another day should dawn, and
that an old man who has been marked as a pioneer in Linn county for many years
would be so badly injured that his recovery is impossible.
No doubt when Joe HAM, A.W. BRITTINGHAM, and Ode MILLER, of Prescott, drove into
Pleasanton had any one death to either of them they would have laughed at the
thought, for had not all of them been out on many a lark and with much more
dangerous surroundings that were apparent then.
The three men witnessed the ball game east of Pleasanton and had started for
home. They were drinking freely but were in no way distrubing the peace until
they reached the Main street of Pleasanton when they started their spirited tem
on a run. Marshal LEWIS attempted to stop them but could not and he went to
Cady's livery to procure a horse to overtake the team. they evidently saw his
move and drove as fast as the team could go. Reaching the road that turns east
at the south end of Main street the buggy was upset and the three men thrown to
ground. It was but a few seconds until several citizens were on the scene. They
pickey them up and found that Ham's neck was broken, Brittingham was badly
injured in the spine and Miller was unhurt except for scratches. Ham breathed a
short time only after he was hurt.
Coroner VERDIER of this place, was sent for but on arriving he ruled that an
inquest was not necessary as two living men were present in the accident and the
cause of Ham's death was very plain. 
Brittingham was sent to his home in Prescott that night and the corps was also
taken to Prescott where his parents live. The funeral services were held on
Tuesday.
Joe Ham was a man near thirty years of age, rather large, well proportioned and
good looking. He was a boiler maker by trade, having learned the business in the
Fort Scott foundry several years ago. When the foundry and shops were moved from
Fort Scott to Chicago Heights Joe was on the pay roll and he accompanied the
plant. Up to this time he had been a young man of good habits; was industrious,
energetic and made money. The change however was for the worse with poor Joe.
The liquor habit established itself firmly with him and he became a wandering
sort of a fellow with but very little caution and heed for anything. His mind,
which was exceptionally bright, seemed to lose the right directions and he
became his worst enemy. Recently he has been at his home in Prescott a great
deal but his inclinations to drink have kept him down. To his credit be it said,
he was one of the biggest hearted fellows in the world. He never possessed a
thing that a man in hard luck could not share, and while his outward appearance
put him before the public in a bad way the inner part of Joe Hamm was generous,
kind and just. The hardest of all is that he was called to meet his God under
the dreadful circumstances, for usually if reformation does come to a man as
bright as he great good is the result.
The unfortunate man was a Linn county boy, partensts having lived in Sheridan
township for many years. To his mother who is suffering intense grief the old
settlers especially tender their sympathy.
A.W. Brittingham, who is not expected to live but a short time, is a man
probably fifty-five years of age, an old soldier and at one time was quite a
prominent man in the south part of the county. Of late years whisky has gotten
the best of him and while he was always pleasant and agreeable it was plain that
liquor was sure to be is conquerer.
Ode Miller, the other occupant of the ill-fated buggy, is the son of Lige Miller
a wealthy citizen of Sheridan township. 

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