I was just looking at a photo of the tombstone of Joel Shumaker, my great-great-great grandfather and the namesake of my son, and I realized that he passed away on the same day as my son was due. Joel Shumaker died on February 26, 1887 when he crossed the railroad tracks in front of a train. He was struck and instantly killed. What's especially sad is that Joel didn't die alone that day. Let me explain.
His son (my great-great grandfather)'s name was Albert, and Albert was married to Ella Rose Smith. Ella's father also was struck and killed with Joel on that fateful day. I can't imagine losing both my father and my father-in-law in the same accident.
That is very intriguing! I love the scan of the paper and the pic of the tombstone. This just happened in wa, with two teenage kids waiting for the freight train going by(they were standing on the other set of tracks waiting to pass) when a passenger amtrak train came on the track they were standing on and killed them. They couldn't hear it because the other type of train is louder!
ReplyDeleteOh my , that's so sad.
ReplyDeleteGlad I'm not the only person out there with a liking for graveyards!
eery, but so peaceful.
take care,
Nina x