Sherman L. Thomas, The Grand Uncle

Birth: 19 Sep 1917 in Adair, Kentucky
Death: 7 March 1943 in Ottawa, La Salle, Illinois, USA


SIX KILLED IN AUTO-TRAIN COLISION


 DAILY REPUBLICAN-TIMES


 OTTAWA, ILL.,


 MOMDAY, MARCH 8, 1943

 in-part:

FOUND BODY OF NEWBORN BABY WITH MOTHER: 8 children Orphaned by tragedy; Victims Badly Mangled.

Six deaths, including a baby born prematurely during the accident, resulted from a railroad crossing collision of a train and auto here at 4:27 p.m. yesterday. Eight children were orphaned by the tragedy. The dead are Leslie Robinson, 31, and his wife, Edith, 26, Sherman Thomas, 25, his wife, Ethel, 33, and prematurely born male child of eight months' gestation, and Mrs. Edna Robinson Disier, 19, a recent bride, whose husband, Pvt. Donald Disier, is stationed at Indiantown Gap, Pa.

Mrs. Disier, Mrs. Thomas and Leslie Robinson were sisters and brother.

The accident occurred at the East street crossing of the Rock Island Railroad a short distance west of the King and Hamilton manufacturing plant. The crossing is seldom used, and is unprotected by flagman or gates.

The automobile, driven by Robinson, was struck by an east bound extra train pulling 13 empty Pullman's and a caboose. The auto was carried on the cowcather of the locomotive a distance of about five blocks to Guion street, where the train was stopped.

Children Orphaned.

Orphaned children of the accident victims are being cared for at the Thomas home by neighbors until other arrangements can be made.

Mr. And Mrs. Robinson are survived by four children. Thomas, 9, Richard, 5, Ronnie, 4, and Bobbie, 3. Mrs. Thomas who was an expectant mother, had four children, Phyllis Ann Thomas, 3, Peggy Joyce Thomas, 2, Bradley Reynolds, 12, and Hugh Reynolds, 17, Mrs. Thomas was formerly the wife of Joseph Reynolds, from whom she was divorced.

Robinson, Mrs. Thomas and Mrs. Disier were children of Lee Robinson of 407 East Michigan street. Their mother is deceased, Surviving relatives include four brothers, Bert and Hugh Robinson of Ottawa, Hansford of Camp Bellville, Ky., and Garland, who is in the army.

Thomas' survivors include Wayne Thomas, a brother, who is in the army, and three sisters, Inez, Pauline and Clora, A sister, Flora Thomas, is deceased. Mrs. Leslie Robinson was Edith Halloway, and formerly lived at Lexington, Ill., where her parents reside.

Mr. And Mrs. Thomas and Robinson were born in Kentucky; Mrs. Robinson was born in Ottawa, and Mrs. Disier was born in Marseilles. Since her recent marriage. Mrs. Disier had resided at the Thomas home. The Robinson home was at 1212 Division street.

Robinson was employed by the Libbey-Owens-Ford company, and Thomas by the Chicago Bridge and Iron company at Seneca. Mrs. Disier was employed at the Ford-Hopkins drug store in Ottawa, in the soda fountain and lunch room department.

Funeral arrangements for the accident victims had not been completed this afternoon, but services were tentatively planned for Wednesday.

Six years ago, Walter Robinson, brother of Leslie, was killed in an automobile collision at Superior and Chestnut streets.

On Nov. 1, 1940, Barbara Disier, the 8-year-old sister of Pvt. Disier (whose wife was killed yesterday) met death on U.S. Highway 6, when hit by an automobile on Brewery Hill.

Two inquests Conducted.