Five Ney Residents Killed in Railway Grade Crossing Tragedy

From the Marckel Scrapbook...

"FIVE NEY RESIDENTS KILLED IN 

RAILWAY GRADE CROSSING TRAGEDY

NEAR WAUSEON THURSDAY EVENING

The Dead.

Roy H. Moats, of Ney, Cashier, The Ney Banking Co.

Mrs. Roy Moats, of Ney

W. F. Moats, of Ney

Mrs. W. F. Moats, of Ney
Mrs. E. G. Reynolds, of Ney

A great shadow of sadness hangs over the little village of Ney eleven miles north of Defiance, today as the result of five of the citizens of the village having met death Thursday evening, two and a half miles east of Wauseon, when a Wabash freight train struck the car in which they were driving enroute from Toledo to Ney.

The accident occurred at exactly fourteen minutes till six, as the watch worn by Roy Moats stopped at that time.

1920 Buick

The party had been to Toledo on the day and were enroute home.  Crossing the Wabash railroad tracks at Harrison crossing...a stub freight train ran down the closed Buick automobile driven by Mr. Moats.  The engine of the car stalled as it was on the track.  It is said that an orchard obscured the view of the track.

 Roy Moats, 38, Mrs. Roy Moats, 33, wife of Roy Moats, W. F. Moats, 65, father of Roy Moats, Mrs. W. F. Moats, 60, wife of W. F. Moats, met instant death.  Mrs. E. G. Reynolds, 26, who was a member of the automobile party died six hours later in the Wauseon hospital.

Bernard Moats, 12 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Moats, jumped thru the glass window of the car and escaped with slight injuries.  All of the automobile party were from Ney or the immediate vicinity of Ney.

Roy Moats was cashier of the Ney Banking company, which position he has held almost 13 years.  He was a member of the Methodist church at Ney, the Masonic Lodge and K. of P. lodge at Ney, and of Defiance lodge, B. P. O. Elks.  He leaves four children: Wendell, 15, Bernard, 12, MIldred, 8, and Russell, 18 months, who was born on Armistice Day.

Mr. and Mrs. Moats resided on a farm just outside of Ney.  He was highly respected by his fellow townsmen and by the people of the countryside.

This morning, the directors of the Ney Banking company met and adapted resolutions of condolence and respect.  In addition to being cashier of the Ney Bank, he was township treasurer and village treasurer.  He was well known in Defiance.

The remains of the victims of the crossing tragedy were to arrive in Ney this afternoon.  The time of the funeral has not yet been set, but it is expected that it will be held Sunday afternoon from the Methodist church at Ney.  

W. F. Moats is survived by a son who resides at Garrett, Ind.  Mrs. Reynolds leaves a husband."

Both are buried at Moats Cemetery, Defiance County, Ohio

 Mrs. Roy (LeRoy) Moats was Jessie Calysta Smith.

For another newspaper article concerning the accident, go to this article on www.findagrave.com, posed by Gene Cooper

 

Susie, wife of Emory George Reynolds, buried in the Ney Cemetery