Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-01-08
PROMINENT FARMER
killed BY TRAIN
j. R. Gowdy, of Logan Town
ship, Meets With Fatal
Accident
DEATH WAS INSTANTANEOUS
Was Going to Melbourne TO Attend
Lodge and Rode With Walter An
drews on Hand Car Short Distance
West Of capron-was Standing by
Track When struck-inquest Held.


farmers of Logan township. was in
stantly killed Thursday evening at $50
o'clock by west bound Milwaukee
passenger train, at & point about q
half mile west of Capron. When struck
he was endeavoring to pull from the
track the velocipede car upon which
he had been riding a part of the dis
lance TO Melbourne where he was going
to attend the Masonic lodge. When
picked up his head was badly crushed
and life was extinct. Coroner III. ii.
Nichols went to Melbourne Thursday
night. where the inquest was held. The
verdict returned censures the railway
company for not maintaining a whist
ling post ut that point. which is near
a highway crossing.
Gowdy. who lives three miles south
west of Nancleve, took the State Cen
ter branch train at that place at 10: 80
O'Clock to go 10 Melbourne to attend
lodge. He rode as far as Capron. the
Junction of the Milwaukee and Central.
where he remained during the after
noon. With Walter Andrews, who was
temporarily taking charge of the switch
lights along the latter road, and who
was leaving to place out the signals. he
started to ride as far west as Andrews
was going, Intending 10 walk the re-
naming distance to his destination.
The men started on the yelocipede ear
about 5 o'clock. and had reached II
y,n a ha1 a In Mo-, a, nv.
were made suddenly aware OF the ne,,r
approach of the passenger from the
east. Both Jumped from the ear. and
made an effort to get it from the track.
Gowdy stepped back once. thinking the
train too near 10 risk another effort.
but wishing TO save the ear and. prob
ably not realizing the nearness of the
train, made another effort when the
crash came. Car and man were hurled
TO one side, distance of probably
sixty feet. The train was stopped,
and backed to where the body lay, and
with the aid of Andrews 1t was placed
on board and taken to Melbourne. An
drews is the son Of Mr.. and Mrs. NJ. e.
of this city.
Jury Censures Company.
Coroner H. II. Nichols was notified
and went to Melbourne, where he held
the inquest. The jury was composed
or w. b. Mason, c. E. Kroener and
William AYES, and while 1t returned
a verdict that the death was acci-
dental, censured the company for not
at the crossing. near
where the accident happened. a whist
ling post. The engineer of the pas
senger testified that as soon as he saw
the men he sounded the danger signal,
tween the train and the car was not
great.
Was Well Known Farmer.
j. r. Gowdy. or as he was more ia
known as,"Riley" Gowdy. was
one of the best known farmers OF Lo-
gan township and the southern par,
of the county. He was genial ana
pleasant man to meet and was well liked
by his neighbors and acquaintance
For almost thirty-three years he had
made his home in the township.
j. Riley Gowdy was born in Hen
ierson county, ILL.,. Nov. 90, 1854 and was
~ years of age. In 1870 he came II
Marshall county and settled in Logan
lownship. Six years later he married |
Miss Sophrona Smith, who survives
nim. With his family he removed TO
Dakota in 1882. and remained there
'or about seven years, but returned |
% his forper home. Besides the wife
he leaves two sons, Charles and ROB-
.rt. and two daughters. Jennie. of I1o-
gan township. and Mrs. Ira Johnson,
II Oskaloosa. One brother. Frank e..
ives at Ill West Church street, this
'ity. Another brother, Robert s., lives
our miles south of vancleve. and
lister. Mrs. William Shearer, makes her
'1ine in Logan township.
The funeral Will be held at the house
afternoon at o'clock. The
nterment will be in the Logan town.
hip cemetery.