Person:Mary Skellham (4)

OBITUARY: note (this is Mary Rosa Skellham Knight's brother) SKELLHAM, Ira E. Rome Daily Sentinel, 20 Nov 1909: KILLED BY CARS. Ira E. Skellham, Driver for Seaton & Bridge, Coal Dealers, Oneida. Oneida, Nov. 20.--Ira E. Skellham, driver for the coal firm of Seaton & Bridge, was instantly killed at 2:30 p.m. yesterday at the James street crossing of the New York Central railroad in this city. The gates at the crossing were in charge of Bert Carey, who has tended them for some time, and for some unaccountable reason he failed to lower them. After the tragedy he went home and then to the police station and gave himself up. It is expected that a charge of manslaughter will soon be laid against him. Mr. Skellham had delivered a load of coal on the south side of the railroad and was driving across the track with a team and empty wagon. Just as he reached track 1 train No. 18, Southwestern limited, about three hours late and running about 60 miles an hour to make up lost time, struck his rig. Both horses were killed and the body of Mr. Skellham became wedged in the engine and was carried till the train came to a stop about three-eights of a mile east of the crossing. The noise of the crash attracted a large crowd. Coroner Brooks was summoned and directed that the remains of Mr. Skellham be taken in charge by Undertaker Campbell. Every bone in the body was broken and the skull badly crushed. Mr. Skellham entered the employ of Seaton & Bridge on Thursday. He was about 36 years old, and leaves besides his wife three small children. Three brothers and three sisters also survive, one of the sisters being Mrs. Andrew Hoffman of 814 Armstrong avenue, Rome. District Attorney E. Watts Cushman of Hamilton will investigate the accident in connction with Coroner Brooks's inquest.

Man & Team Killed Driver Skellham Met a Horrible Death at the James St. crossing Oneida Dispatch 26 Nov 1909--Ira E. Skellham of 8 E. Elm St., a driver employed by Seaton * Bridge, coal dealers, was instantly killed at 2:30 o'clock last Friday afternoon at the James St. crossing of the NY Central railroad by engine 3,577, drawing train No. 18, the Southwestern limited, eastbound, which was about three hours late and was running at a speed estimated at 60 miles per hour. Mr. Skellham was driving a bay team owned by his employers, and had just delivered a load of coal on the South Side. The gates were up, and he drove onto the tracks on his way back to the coal yard with no thought that death was so near. The team and wagon had gotten squarely onto track #1 when the train struck the outfit. Both horses were instantly killed, the wagon was demolished, and Mr. Skellham was caught on the front of the engine and carried just across Oneida Creek, nearly a half mail east, before the engineer, who quickly applied the air brakes, bought the train to a stop. The noise of the crash soon drew a crowd. Coroner Brooks hastened to the scene, and after viewing the body ordered it removed to Undertaker Campbell's morgue, where an examination showed that almost every bone was broken. The skull was crushed, the top of the head was mutilated, but the face was not badly marred. Parts of the wagon were strewn along the tracks to Lake St. and one horse was mutilated and ground to pieces under the engine while the other was thrown to the north side of the tracks. The gates were in charge of Bert Carey of 47 East Railroad St. who, horrified at the accident, went immediately to his home and soon afterward gave himself up to the police. He voluntarily remained at the police station, without being placed under arrest to await the result of the coroner's inquest which was commenced on Tuesday. District Attorney Cushman was in town on Saturday and had a conference with Coroner Brooks relative to the proceedings. Mr. Skellham was about 35 years old and a man of good reputation and character. His wife was prostrated over the news of the horrible accident. He was formerly employed as driver by the coal firm of House and Petrie, and the forepart of last week was working for the New York Telephone Company laying the subways for underground wires. He also leaves three small children, three sisters, Mrs. Abner Knight of Oneida, Mrs. Adam Jacobs of Syracuse and Mrs. Andrew Hoffman of Rome and three brothers Edward and Charles of Minnsville and William of Albion. The funeral, which was largely attended, was held at St. Paul's Evangelical Church Sunday afternoon, Rev. Heiman Ret. officiating. Burial was made in Glenwood. Att. Jerry F. Conner has been retained by the family to take up the matter of damages with the railroad company. Note: His wife was Anna Johanne Wilhelmena NETZBAND who later married Florin FULLER. Oneida Dispatch 14 Jan 1910 Coroner N. O. Brooks has handed down his decision in the Skellham inquest in which he holds that "Ira E. Skellham met death while attempting to cross the New York Central tracks from the south side, while the guard gates were up, by being struck by the Southwestern Limited, otherwise known as train No. 18, eastbound; that the body was carried eastward on the pilot of the engine to a point near Oneida creek, in the city of Oneida, and that he came to his death through the negligence of the New York Central Railroad company, its employes or agents." It is understood that the Central offered to settle with Mrs. Skellham for $4,500, but a settlement has not been effected. City Judge Jerry F. Connor is her attorney. Sent by - Cheryl Waterman [email protected]