BORN IN: Ireland
DIED: 12/24/1887
AGED: 43
CAUSE OF DEATH: Hit by Train
DEATH LOCATION: Redwood City
OCCUPATION: Liveryman
PLOT INFO:
OBITUARYS:
FAMILY INFO:
BURIED NEARBY IN PLOT K30:
CURRENT EVENTS:- 1845 Texas annexed into U.S.
- 1846 Mexican-American War
- 1849 California Gold Rush
- 1850 California became the 31st State
- 1860 The Pony Express
- 1861 Abraham Lincoln elected President
- 1861 American Civil War
- 1865 Abraham Lincoln assassinated
- 1866 Ku Klux Klan
- 1869 National Woman Suffrage Assoc.
- 1871 The Great Chicago Fire
- 1876 Telephones (Alexander Graham Bell)
- 1876 Baseball's National League
- 1877 Phonograph (Thomas Edison)
- 1879 Light Bulb (Thomas Edison)
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OBITUARY ---------------WILLIAM STANTON
San Mateo County Times and Gazette
December 31, 1887
His team collides with the 6:15 north bound theater train with fearful results.
Last Saturday evening (Christmas Eve), William E. Stanton of Menlo Park was struck by the 6:15 train at Menlo Park north bound theater train at the crossing near the Pioneer Flouring Mills and was instantly killed. The carriage was completely wrecked and both horses fatally injured.
Between the hours of six and seven, William Stanton left Menlo Park. His wife was preparing to attend the Christmas Tree at the Presbyterian Church and Mr. Stanton was on his way to drive Mrs. Berry and Miss Essie McEvoy to Menlo Park to attend the same festival. On the road, he picked up Tom Young, also on his way to this town. On reaching the Five Points, Young alighted and Mr. Stanton drove on towards town at a rapid pace. The theater train was then overdue, and as the road runs diagonally to the track, the driver in his pre-occupation saw not the approaching train. Several persons on Mound Street saw the danger and tried to warn Stanton, but he apparently did not hear them. George Douglass and two little daughters of Michael Kreiss were near the track and witnessed the accident. Douglass shouted to him not to attempt to cross the tracks. He did not catch the words and at the last minute when he saw the danger he tried to urge his horses on, but it was too late. The poor animals perceiving the danger too became overwhelmed with fright and refused to quicken their pace. The engine struck the carriage midway between the fore and hind wheels, throwing it in the direction of the flouring mills and wrecking it completely. The horses were thrown on the opposite side of the track, one killed outright the other so badly wounded as to necessitate its being shot. Mr. Stanton was found lying in front of the mill. The death must have been instaneous. The skull was crushed and his face mutilated beyond recognition. The crash was heard for blocks around and crowds quickly gathered to the spot. The train was stopped and run back to the scene of the accident. Mr. Stanton was identified by his clothing and other articles in his possession. Undertaker Crowe removed the remains to his establishment on the island and the terrible news was born to Mrs. Stanton, who was then on her way to the Christmas Tree. The shock was a fearful one for her.
On Sunday morning, Coroner J.L. Ross summoned a jury of the following citizens: James Horn, A.H. Hanson, G.L. Sampson, R.H. Hayes, John Crist, S.D. Ashley and J. B. Harsha, who after examining the body and hearing the testimony of witness’ returned a verdict that the deceased, William E. Stanton came to his death on Saturday, Dec. 24, by being struck by engine 12 of the Southern Pacific Railroad, and that the death was accidental. The same afternoon the body was taken to Menlo Park.
Funeral services were held in the Presbyterian Church, Monday at 1:30 o’clock by Rev J. E. Scott and the procession immediately started for Redwood City. Early in the afternoon crowds of people from this town could be seen making their way to the cemetery and by the time the funeral procession made its appearance on the Menlo Park road, the cemetery was well filled. The funeral was a large one pronounced by some to be one of the longest ever seen in this vicinity. Over one hundred carriages were in line and when the hearse reached the road leading up to thc cemetery, the end of the procession was lost to sight among the groves of Fair Oaks. At the entrance of the cemetery, Bay View Lodge of Odd Fellows were in waiting and escorted the brothers of Mayfield Lodge to the grave. The pallbearers were Wm Headley, Geo Fromheartz and Chris Ducker of Mayfield Lodge of Odd Fellows and M.F. Duff, J.R. Doyle, and Capt Swetnam, old friends and neighbors of the deceased. When the casket was placed in its receptacle the beautiful burial service of the Odd Fellows was read and the coffin lowered. Rev. Mr. Scott stepped to the brink and made a few feeling remarks. The coffin was covered with beautiful floral pieces.
William Eccles Stanton was born in County Derry, Ireland thirty nine years ago last September. His parents were Scotch. He came to this country about twenty years ago and was employed by T. Lemmon Meyer on what is now known as the Mills place in the capacity of coachman and gardener. He afterwards purchased the farm from his employer near Searsville and since that time has constantly engaged in farming and the livery stable business. At the time of his death, he owned a splendid ranch of about 300 acres near the old Dennis Martin place and was engaged in building a livery stable on some newly purchased property at Menlo Park. Mr. Stanton was a man of liberal education and could speak fluently several different languages. He was temperate in his habits and at the time of his death was known to be perfectly sober. Fifteen years ago the deceased married the wife who now mourns him. He leaves one adopted daughter and two brothers, residents of San Francisco. Many a poor and needy family have reason to deplore his untimely death. He was the strong friend to those in distress. Among his fellow men he was popular, as well as seen by the great numbers who turned out to pay him their last respects. He loved little children and delighted in their innocent companionship. It was his custom to take the little ones to kindergarten or Sunday school, to picnics, or to drive them among the beautiful groves of Menlo as often as possible. No more fitting tribute could be paid to a dead man than that of Rev. Mr. Scott as he spoke at the grave. “His life was one of constant kindness and consideration for others, not with the desire for show or ostentation, for many of his good deeds will never be known. His last words were not heard by mortal ears. But the last act of his life was one of kindness. He was on his way to bring some friends to enjoy Christmas Tree, to which he had contributed largely himself. This was his last act - a commission which he never fulfilled.”
Plot 30K
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