Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Mills, Lucius F. April 16, 1906
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Marilyn Ransom mlnransom@chartermi.net June 8, 2010, 10:59 pm

The Lyons Herald, Thursday, April 19, 1906
One of the saddest accidents in local annals happened about 4:45 Monday 
evening, when Lucius F. Mills, walking on the P.M. Road was struck by the 
afternoon passenger train west, and killed.  Mr. Mills had been down to view 
the new Cleveland street bridge, and was returning to town when overtaken by 
the train.  He is almost totally deaf and evidently heard none of the sounds 
or signals of the approaching train.  The accident occurred close by the 
Redemsky switch, a few rods east of Mill street.  The whistle blew for the 
Cleveland street crossing, the long blast for town, and then repeated sharp 
danger signals, to all of which the man paid no attention, walking stolidly 
ahead to his doom, perfectly unconscious of his danger.  The engineer expected 
every instant to see him step aside, and only realized too late that he seemed 
to have no such intention.  When the air brakes were applied, the speed was 
somewhat reduced but the train shot a full length ahead before coming to a 
stop.

The unfortunate victim was walking between the rails, but a little nearer the 
north rail.  When struck by the pilot he went down and was whirled around and 
thrown, falling on his face on the side of the track, down the low 
embankment.  The accident was witnessed by several people around the switch 
and the repair shops near by, and Mr. Donaldson and others picked up the 
bruised form, in which there was only the faintest flicker of life, and that 
was gone in a few moments.  The remains were not so mangled as to be in any 
sense repugnant, but the wounds were of a sever nature, both legs being broken 
where struck by the pilot, the shoulders crushed, the skull badly fractured, 
with many minor bruises and fractures.

Lucius Mills was a son of Rev. Louis Mills, who came here as pastor of the 
Presbyterian church in 1854, and retained his residence here after termination 
of his pastorate.  He served three years in the civil war, going out as first 
lieutenant of Co. E. 1st. Michigan Eng. & Mech., and becoming captain of 
company in July 1862 in which capacity he served until Oct. 24, 1864, when he 
was discharged at Atlanta, Ga., by expiration of term of service.  The 
infirmity of deafness from which he suffered originated by discharge of 
cannon, in a blockhouse at Bridgeport, Ala.  He was knocked down by force of 
the concussion, and permanent injury of the drums of the ears was caused, 
which grew worse with declining years, and was at last the indirect cause of 
death.


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