Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 54, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 October 1912 — KILLED BY TROLLEY WIRE. [ARTICLE]

KILLED BY TROLLEY WIRE.

James R. Baker, Formerly of Barkley Tp., Killed Near Pontiac, 111. James R. Baker, son of John N. Baker of Barkley tp., was instantly killed about 4:30 p. m., Friday at Odell, 111., while working at repairing on the electric railroad, when he came in contact with a live wire. He had mounted to the top of the tower car which is insulated to prevent a person working t thereon from being electrocuted, and was engaged in fastening one of the guy wires at a curve, to keep the trolley wire in the middle of the track, when he made a short circuit of the wires and the full current of 3,300 volts passed through his body, throwing him completely over the trolley wire and to, the ground 30 feet below, and his neck was broken. The funeral and burial was held at Pontiac, 111., his home Monday at 2:30 p. m., and the burial was in charge of the I. O. O. F., of which order he was an honored member. He was also a member of the M. W. A. order. Deceased was born in Jasper county, Aug. 9, 1880, and ?his father, John N. Baker, and three sisters, Pearl, Caroline and Ruby, and two brothers, Bruce and Glen, reside in Barkley tp. Another brother, Willard, lives in Chicago, and another sister, Mrs. George Kimberlin, resides in Rossville, 111. He also leaves a wife and two daughters, Vera and Mildred, aged seven and six years respectively. He had been employed by the Bloomington, Pontiac and Joliet electric line for several years, and was a valuable and careful employe, /