OBITUARY - JOHN WILLIAM HARRISON

Submitted by: Cathy Cadd, cathycadd at aol dot com

Source: "Longview Dailey News," Longview, Cowlitz Co., Washington, 01 Jan 1931.
Page 7:3.


TRAIN VICTIM SURVIVED BY NINE CHILDREN
 
John Wesley (should read William) Harrison, killed Yesterday at Kelso Grade
Crossing, Leaves Widow, 2 daughters, 7 sons
 
John Wesley( William) Harrison, 72, who was fatally injured yesterday when
struck by a passenger train at a grade crossing north of Kelso, had lived in
Kelso for the past two years, having come to Cowlitz county from Ellensburg.
 
He is survived by his widow; by seven sons, Ray, of Kelso, James and Henry of
Ellensburg, H. K. (Henry Kurtis) Harrison of Illinois, J. E. (John Emmett), W.P.
(William Pearl) Harrison, and H. T. (Herman Edward) Harrison, all of Colorado;
two daughters, Mrs. Lillie Thurston, and Mrs Orlean Black of Colorado; and one
brother, Grant, in Missouri
 
The accident which claimed Harrison's life was the second railroad mishap at
Kelso within eight days.  R. T. Brown, Kelso police department night patrolman
having suffered serious injuries December 24 when his car was struck by a
freight train at the Allen street railroad crossing near the east end of the
Cowlitz river bridge.
 
Harrison, returning to his home at 1412 Front Street, north, with a sack of
cabbage from the garden of a neighbor, attempted to cross the railroad in the
path of two oncoming trains, only one of which he noticed.  He successfully
crossed the track in front of a southbound train, but stepped directly into the
path of a northbound train.  Passengers and trainmen on the southbound train
witnessed the accident, but were powerless to warn Harrison.
 
Burial arrangements are in the hands of E. G. Ditlevsen funeral home.