The BIG SANDY NEWSPAPER-JANUARY 1, 1926
Joe Smith, formerly C&D section foreman at Buchanan, was found lying near the railroad track at OLD ZELDA, this county, on Christmas Eve with a fractured skull from which he succumbed early Christmas morning with out regaining consciousness. His companion, Bob Price was found lying a few feet away, uninjured. A coroner's verdict stated the Smith met death by being hit by a train.
Wmith who was employed as foreman of an extra force near Cincinnati, had returned home to spend Christmas and he and Price went to Jr. Smith's home, which is midway between Zelda and Buchanan, in route to Zelda and were traveling the railroad, it is said that Bill Nunley a resident on that section saw them near the rail road shortly before evening passenger train #38, passed at 6 O'clock.
Mrs. Price, alarmed the absence of her husband went with her brother, Eph Moore, in search of him and found the two men lying by the track. Smith had a deep cut in the back of this head. Dr. Pichard of Buchanan was quickly summoned but Smith was beyond medical aid.
Funeral service, were conducted by Rev. Allen, Sunday morning at Buchanan Chapel. He is survived by wife formerly; Lucy Stump and eight children; the baby scarcely a month old. He leaves his father Ballard Smith and three sisters, Mrs.Sallie Easton of Ashland, Mrs. George Allen of east Fork and W.D. Queen of Lewisburg, West Virginia.
