Roy H HUNSLEY

1882 - 1897  (15 years)

• Name	Roy H HUNSLEY
  Birth	8 Aug 1882	Decatur, Illinois, USA
  Gender	Male
  _UID	5E638690B5D94D55B0C6395843B15390E56C
  Death	25 Oct 1897	Decatur, Illinois, USA   [1]
  Notes	The Decatur Daily Republic on 9 Aug 1887 (original at Ancestry.com) carried this: Birthday Party From 4 to 8 o'clock last evening at 432 East Prairie street the fifth birthday anniversary "of Roy H, the bright little son of Mr and Mrs George Hunsley was joyously celebrated ...." From the Decatur Weekly Republican of 28 October 1897 (original at Ancestry.com): "DEATH ON A CROSSING Henry Hunsley and His Nephew, Roy Hunsley, Hurled Into Eternity BOTH STRUCK BY A WABASH TRAIN Eye Witnesses Tell of the Awful Occurrence at Monroe Street --- Man and Boy in a Wagon Thrown in the Air Nearly One Hundred Feet --- The Inquest From the Daily of Friday A shocking accident, resulting in the death of two persons, occurred this forenoon shortly before 9 o'clock, at the Monroe street crossing of the Wabash tracks. Henry Hunsley, a well known and highly respected citizen and his nephew Roy Hunsley, the 17 year old son of George Hunsley, were both instantly killed by a passenger train. They attempted to pass over the crossing in front of the train and the locomotive struck the wagon and threw both men out killing them instantly. Death on the Crossing Henry Hunsley started this morning to go to one of his farms northwest of the city to pick apples. He was accompanied by his nephew, Roy, and they were in a light, one horse wagon. They were driving north on Monroe street and had nearly reached the tracks when the Wabash passenger train, No 16, due here from Springfield at 8.42 am was approaching from the west. The train whistled before it reached Mercer street, but the occupants of the wagon evidently did not hear it, or else wanted to cross before the train came. Frank Eckert, a milkman, was delivering milk at a house on the north side of the track. He called to the men in the wagon and waved his hand but says that they did not pay any attention to him. The boy was driving, but Mr Hunsley took the lines from his hands and whipped the horse and drove onto the tracks. The train was approaching at a rapid rate and was on the north track. The horse was just clear of the track when the locomotive struck the wagon square in the center and tore it away from the horse. The wagon was thrown to one side of the track and was broken into kindling wood. Both killed by the Shock The body of Mr Hunsley was thrown in the ditch at the north side of the track, about 75 feet east of the crossing where the collision occurred. The boy was thrown a few feet farther east. The accident was witnessed by several persons, who rushed to the assistance of the men. Dr James L Bevans, who happened to be passing at the time and Dr M V Lonergan, who was in the neighborhood, examined the injured man and boy, but they were past medical aid. Mr Hunsley was killed outright and the boy's heart beat for only a few seconds. Train Stopped The train was stopped on the west side of Edward street and was backed up to the scene of the accident. The conductor got off the train and came back to make an investigation. The train then went on to the depot. A telephone message was at once sent to Coroner Bendure and he in company with Deputy Coroner Roy Bendure, drove rapidly to the railroad crossing and were there in a very few minutes. The patrol wagon had been sent for in the meantime and the coroner took charge of the bodies at once and had them taken immediately, in the patrol, to Bullard's undertaking establishment. A large crowd of people gathered at the place of the accident. Eye-Witnesses Mrs Kate Wykoff, who lives on the west side of Monroe street, near the rail road witnessed the accident. She said "I heard the train whistle before reaching Mercer street and I thought it kept on whistling until it struck the wagon. The men in the wagon did not seem to hear the warning cries of several men, but whipped their horse and drove on the tracks. The wagon and men seemed to be carried on in front of the engine before they were thrown to one side." Frank Eckert, the milk man, also saw the collision. He said that the train whistled at Mercer street, but did not whistle again until it was almost on the wagon. He saw that there would be an accident and called to the men, but they did not heed the warning and drove on to their death. He was not sure whether they didn't hear him or though they could get across the tracks before the train passed. Thomas Entler was on the Wabash tracks a little west of the crossing. He also called to Mr Hunsley to stop his horse. Jack Cole, who drives the delivery wagon for the Parlor Meat Market, was another who witnessed the accident. Cole was in his wagon going north on Monroe street and was a short distance behind Mr Hunsley and his nephew. Cole said "The wagon was ahead of me and I think that the boy was driving when I first noticed them. I heard the train whistle for Mercer street and looked up, but the men in the wagon did not appear to hear it. They kept on going and I saw the locomotive strike them and the men and the wagon off the track. The train was going quite fast. Death in the case of both Mr Hunsley and his nephew was caused by being struck and thrown. The train did not pass over them. Their bodies were not badly mangled but the bones were broken from the terrible force with which they were struck. George Hunsley's Grief The news of the accident spread rapidly and soon George Hunsley. the father of Roy, the boy who was killed, and a brother to Henry Hunsley hurried down town from his home. Mr Hunsley went at once to the Bullard undertaking rooms and there saw his brother and son both dead. It was a heart rending scene. The accident was a great shock to Mr Hunsley and his wife, and the death of the boy was particularly sad, as he was their only son. He was 17 years old. Mrs Henry Hunsley was also notified of the death of her husband. As yet no preparations have been made for the funerals. The bodies are now at Bullard's and will probably later be taken the homes. Henry Hunsley was born in England but has lived in this city for a long time. He formerly was a farmer but has been retired for many years. He made his home at No 257 West Cerro Gordo street. He leaves a wife, but no children. He also has three brothers, George and Charles Hunsley, of this city, Edmund Hunsley, of Cisco Ill. and two sisters, Mrs Anna Miller of Cisco, and Mrs Jordan Burky, of LaMar, Mo. The relatives living out of town were notified by telegraph today. Mr Hunsley was widely known in this city and had many friends, with whom he was held in respect and esteem. There were Three Tracks to Cross The place where the accident occurred is a rather bad crossing. [More] The Inquest [held at Bullard's and adjourned until tomorrow].
  Person ID	I409	Hunsley
  Last Modified	28 Jan 2014

  
  

  Father	George HUNSLEY,   b. 31 Aug 1826, Messingham, Lincolnshire d. 10 Feb 1901, Decatur, Illinois, USA (Age 74 years)
  Mother	Mary HARRISON,   b. 13 May 1850, England d. 10 Feb 1930, Decatur, Macon County, Illinois, USA (Age 79 years)
  Marriage	3 Nov 1881	Macon County, Illinois, USA   [2]
  Family ID	F139	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Sources

  [S57] Illinois Statewide Death Index, www.ilsos.gov, Jan 2014, Volume 2, Page 93, Cert No 4310. (Reliability: 3). [S56] Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, www.ilsos.gov, Jan 2014.