Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 55, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 March 1913 — Widow of James R. Baker Secured Money From Railroad. [ARTICLE]

Widow of James R. Baker Secured Money From Railroad.

Relatives of James R. Baker, who lost his life on Oct. 4th, while working as a lineman for an interurban railway company near Pontiac, 111., have received word from his widow’ to the effect that she had secured a settlement from the railway company for his death. The company was reported to be in bad condition financially and it was feared nothing could be collected, but she brought suit and the road offered to pay her $1,200 cash or give her $2,000 in railway bonds. She decided to take the bonds and succeeded in disposing of them at par, thus realizing $2,000. Of this she had to pay $250 to her attorney. He also carried $2,000 insurance in the Modern Woodmen and they sought to avoid payment on the ground that his occupation was hazardous, while he was not paying the hazardous rate. As his employment was the same it had been when he was accepted a member, the payment could not be avoided and the full amount of the policy was paid to her. She has not made an investment up to this time and may decide to come to Jasper county. Her husband was a son of John N. Baker, of Barkley township.