Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 269, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 November 1910 — PARTICULARS OF DEATH OF JAMES G. McGimsey. [ARTICLE]

PARTICULARS OF DEATH OF JAMES G. McGimsey.

Son-In-Law of W. R. Nowels Met Death Tuesday WhUe Leaving Mall Car at Crestline, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Nowels and Vernon Nowels returned Thursday night from Plymouth, where they had been called hy the shocking news that James G. McGimsey, husband of Lillian C. Nowels, had been killed by an accident on election day. But brief mention was made in a previous issue of the Republican because the particulars were not available. Mr. McGimsey was a native of Medaryville and was married to Miss Lillian Nowels on June 12th, 1905. He was then and has been since that time a, railway mail clerk. His run was between Chicago and Pittsburg. It was his week off, but following the general custom on election day he was making a short run in order to permit another clerk to vote. At Crestline, the clerk whom he had relieved was to again take his run and Mr. McGimsey was to return to his home, a fine new home on which he had only that morning put the finishing touches and where they were planning to live so contentedly. He did not go back through the mail cars and off the platform step, but catching hold of the iron bar across the mail car door he swung out and expected to alight on the platform. A truck filled with heavy trunks was so close to the sides of the car that he struck one of the trunks and was thrown beneath the cars. The train was moving rapidly and he was killed instantly. Two wounds on the head would have been sufficient to have produced instant death if there had been no other injuries. But the body was otherwise somewhat mangled by the wheels of the big Pennsylvania train. A Plymouth newspaper says: “A gloom was cast over Plymouth yesterday when news came that James G. McGimsey had been run over and killed by a passenger train at Crestline, Ohio. He remained in Plymouth to vote and was making an extra run east when the accident occurred.” James Guild McGimsey was bom in Medaryville, Ind., April 1, 1875, his parents being Alfred R. and Mary C. McGimsey. His mother still survives and continues her home at Medaryville. The following obituary was read at the funeral:

James Guild McGimsey was the son of Alfred R. and Mary C. McGimsey, and was born in Medaryville, Ind., April 1, 1875. He departed this life, meeting with accidental death at Crestline, Ohio, on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 1910. The early years of his life were spent at Medaryville, where he attended the public schools. His first work away from home was to fit himself for the position of teaching, in which occupation he afterward spent eight or nine years. He attended the Valparaiso Normal School, becoming later a graduate of the Indiana State Normal at Terre Haute,land then completed a year’s course iff the State University. Just before accepting his last position, Mr. McGimsey was principal of the schools at Flora, Ind.' About six years ago, he prepared himself for the U. S. mail service and became mail clerk on the Pennsylvania Line between Pittsburg and Chicago. Just after accepting this position, he was united in marriage '•to Miss Lillian C. Nowels, of Flora, Indiana, June 12, 1905. They came immediately to Plymouth, where their home has been until now. Two bright children have come to this home to bless their lives, William Alfred, who is now four years of age, and little Mary Emma, six months old. Besides his wife and two children, there survives him also his aged mother, Mrs. Mary C. McGimsey, and only sister, Mrs. Pearl Young, both of Medaryville. Mr. McGimsey united with the Methodist Episcopal church when he was sixteen years of age, while attending

high school at Rensselaer, Indiana. After removing to Plymouth, he, with his wife, became a member of the St. Thomas Episcopal church, where he continued faithful and active until his death. By all who knew him, Mr. McGimsey was held In high esteem. His genial ways, his pure, character, and his noble life not alone commanded the admiration of his fellows, but also had the effect to win to himself friends everywhere. He will be greatly missed in the place of his last residence, elsewhere, where he had lived, he will be long remembered with loving regret. The funeral was held at the home on North Michigan street, and was conducted by the pastor of the Methodist church, the Rev. F. 0. Fraley, who had also officiated at the marriage five years ago. He was assisted by the Rev. B. F. Ivins, rector of the St, Thomas Episcopal church. The inHill cemetery at Plymouth, terment was at the beautiful Qak Attending the funeral were all the railway mail clerks of the Pennsylvania from Pittsburg to Chicago that could get away. He was a maid of such genial disposition that he close friends and admirers of all his acquaintances and his sudden death was a personal affliction to all of them. Mr. McGimsey carried insurance in the sum of $6,000 or $7,000 and added to this will be $2,000 provided by the government for railway mall clerks killed while on duty. He had Just completed a beautiful home at Plymouth. Mrs. Nowels and her two children, Alfred, aged 4, anu Mary Emily, aged 6 months, will continue to make their home at Plymouth.