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John D Heighway

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John D Heighway

Birth	:	19 Oct 1870
Death	:	29 Mar 1921
Burial	:	Pine Hill Cemetery, Westfield, Hampden County, USA
Coordinate	:	42.1208000, -72.7639008
Plot	:	Section 14, Row 5
Description	:	Published in The Rochester News-Sentinel Tuesday, March 29, 1921 An entire family of three persons was wiped out at noon Tuesday when Mr. and Mrs. John HEIGHWAY, of Macy, and their daughter, Mrs. LONG, of near Akron, were instantly killed by a speeding Winona interurban car that struck the automobile in which they were riding at a cross road two miles north of Akron. According to an eye witness of the tragedy, a woman who resides in the neighborhood and saw the whole affair from a distance of less than a quarter of a mile, the Heighway car, a Ford touring car,... Read More	Published in The Rochester News-Sentinel Tuesday, March 29, 1921 An entire family of three persons was wiped out at noon Tuesday when Mr. and Mrs. John HEIGHWAY, of Macy, and their daughter, Mrs. LONG, of near Akron, were instantly killed by a speeding Winona interurban car that struck the automobile in which they were riding at a cross road two miles north of Akron. According to an eye witness of the tragedy, a woman who resides in the neighborhood and saw the whole affair from a distance of less than a quarter of a mile, the Heighway car, a Ford touring car, was being driven east across the interurban tracks at what is known as Bear's crossing. The automobile crossed the tracks and evidently was being driven too fast to make the abrupt turn south on the road that follows the railroad tracks into Akron, for the machine was halted. After but a momentary stop, the car was backed up onto the interurban tracks, evidently to enable the driver to make the turn south into Akron, when the Winona south bound train due in Akron at about noon, came along at a speed estimated at approximately 45 to 50 miles an hour and hit the automobile. The interurban traveled between 200 and 300 feet before being brot to a complete stop and the automobile was ground to a broken and twisted mass of wreckage beneath the big car. The occupants of the car were scattered about, the youngest member of the party, Mrs. Long, having been thrown fully 100 feet from the crossing, where the auto was struck. All were dead when picked up by the crew and occupants of the interurban, having suffered many broken bones and their skulls were crushed by the terrific impact with the swiftly moving car. The bodies were taken to Akron. Mr. and Mrs. John HEIGHWAY were life long residents of Fulton county. Mr. Heighway was especially well known over the county, having taught school at Kewanna and later he was elected trustee of Henry township. He had resided for many years on his farm on the Ft. Wayne road, east of Rochester and almost due north of Athens. He was little more than 50 years of age. Mrs. Heighway about 42 years of age, was formerly Miss Myrtie KESSLER, daughter of Mrs. M. L. KESSLER, of Chicago. She is survived by the mother and a sister, Mrs. William KING, also of Chicago. Mr. Heighway is survived by a brother, Colfax HEIGHWAY, of Newcastle township, and a sister, Mrs. Anna LEININGER, who also resides east of Rochester. The daughter, Mrs. Worth LONG, is survived by her husband. She lived on a farm near Akron. The motorman of the interurban car, Grant HILLIARD, of Warsaw, is said by Akron residents to be noted for the manner in which he operates his car. He is said to be negligent and his car has figured in several accidents recently, the last one the only one in which there were any fatalities. There was no testimony offered up to the Sentinel's press time as to whether or not the motorman had blown his whistle for the crossing. ________ It was later learned that Mr. and Mrs. Heighway had motored from Macy, where he is the principal of the schools, to their farm north of Athens, where their daughter and her husband reside. Mrs. Long accompanied them from there to the interurban crossing, where the family intended to take a car to Mentone, where they expected to attend the funeral of an uncle. They had driven across the tracks to the cross roads, where they turned the automobile around and were driving back across to park the car until they had returned from Mentone, when they were struck. ----- Published in The Rochester News-Sentinel Wednesday, March 30, 1921 A triple funeral, probably the first ever held in Fulton county, is planned for John and Myrtle HEIGHWAY and their daughter, Mrs. Worth LONG, all of whom were instantly killed at noon Tuesday when their automobile was struck by a Winona interurban at a crossing just two miles north of Akron. The services are to be held Thursday afternoon at the Bethlehem church, north of Athens, while interment will be made at the Rochester I.O.O.F. cemetery. First reports of the accident at the Baer crossing were, as usual, hazy, but it has since been learned that Mr. Heighway borrowed the car that figured in the tragedy of a cousin and drove from his home to Macy to his own farm near Athens, where his daughter resides. The party in the car was seen by the motorman to drive across the tracks which accounts for the fact that his car continued to maintain its high rate of speed. Then, almost without warning, the motorman saw the auto turn and come back onto the tracks. He is said to have already whistled for the crossing, and a passenger on the car delares that suddenly he heard the whistle blow again and then felt the brakes being applied in such a manner that the whole trolley car trembled. In the next instant this passenger, Lot LOSEY, of Plymouth, well known here, felt an impact as the interurban struck the auto and when the car came to a stop he dashed out to see what had happened. He it was who first reached Mr. Heighway, whom he found in a ditch, his body badly mutilated and already lifeless. He then looked about and went to where the daughter was lying. As he turned her over he discovered that she too was dead and another passenger on the car had already reached the mother, Mrs. Heighway, also found horribly mutilated and already dead. The crossing where the accident occurred is open, a clear view of the track being afforded from either direction. Mr. Heighway is believed to have stalled his motor while on the tracks when he evidently saw the swiftly approaching trolley. Mr. Losey says that it is his belief that the motorman of the car was absolutely free from blame, especially in view of the fact that the motorman's story and that of two eye witnesses of the tragedy corroborate in all details. The motorman is said to have collapsed immediately after stopping his car. ----- Published in The Rochester News-Sentinel Thursday, March 31, 1921 The funeral services for Mr. and Mrs. John HEIGHWAY, of Macy, and their daughter, Mrs. Worth LONG, of near Athens, who were struck and instantly killed Tuesday, near Akron by a Winona interurban car, was held Thursday afternoon in the Baptist church of this city. The services were at 2:30 o'clock but throngs of people were at the church two hours before the services began. Many people were turned away. Rev. W. J. NIVEN, pastor of the Baptist church, was in charge of the service. Rev. J. B. SPALDING Methodist minister at Macy, told of the school work of Mr. Heighway and Rev. BENDER, of Kewanna, spoke of the entire Heighway family. Rev. NIVEN talked upon the terrible disaster which befell these people. F. E. BRYANT and Rev. NIVEN sang solos and the Bethlehem choir also sang. A very large number of people attended the funeral from Akron, Macy and Bethlehem and also Kewanna. About 50 people from the Macy schools, of which Mr. Heighway was principal, were present. SOURCE: Fulton County Indiana Obituaries - 1921 by Jean C. and Wendell C. Tombaugh

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is John D Heighway's memorial?
John D Heighway's memorial is located at: Pine Hill Cemetery, Westfield, Hampden County, USA.
When did John D Heighway death?
John D Heighway death on 29 Mar 1921 in
Where are the coordinates of the John D Heighway's memorial?
Latitude: 42.1208000
Longitude: -72.7639008

Family Members:

Parent

Albert H Heighway

(1841 - 1926)

Maria Louisa Smith Heighway

(1843 - 1921)

Spouse

Myrtle Kessler Heighway

(1878 - 1921)

Siblings

Henry Colfax Heighway

(1868 - 1959)

Sarah Ann Heighway Leininger

(1873 - 1958)

Children

Lucile Heighway Long

(1902 - 1921)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Pine Hill Cemetery
Westfield, Hampden County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1208000, -72.7639008

2. Old Burying Ground
Westfield, Hampden County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1234703, -72.7448578

3. West Parish Cemetery
Westfield, Hampden County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1171500, -72.8039610

4. Saint Johns Lutheran Cemetery
Westfield, Hampden County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1471660, -72.7405320

5. Saint Marys Cemetery
Westfield, Hampden County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1472015, -72.7288971

6. Saint Josephs Cemetery
Westfield, Hampden County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1542015, -72.7249985

7. Joseph and Lee Perez Gravesite
Westfield, Hampden County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1576700, -72.6975800

8. Paucatuck Cemetery
West Springfield, Hampden County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1104100, -72.6796600

9. Middle Farms Cemetery
Westfield, Hampden County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1885840, -72.7613300

10. Owen District Cemetery
Westfield, Hampden County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1682860, -72.6910160

11. Northeast Cemetery
Granville, Hampden County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0907900, -72.8543540

12. Southwick Cemetery
Southwick, Hampden County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0466440, -72.7830080

13. Maple Grove Cemetery
Agawam, Hampden County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0657900, -72.6926100

14. New Southwick Cemetery
Southwick, Hampden County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0438995, -72.7844009

15. Pitcher Street Cemetery
Montgomery, Hampden County, USA
Coordinate: 42.2001260, -72.8041810

16. Russell Pond Cemetery
Woronoco Heights, Hampden County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1577250, -72.8673900

17. South Westfield Street Cemetery
Feeding Hills, Hampden County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0612830, -72.6762620

18. Springfield Street Cemetery
Agawam, Hampden County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0690080, -72.6651570

19. Sand Knoll Cemetery
Montgomery, Hampden County, USA
Coordinate: 42.2039261, -72.8124313

20. Saint Thomas Cemetery
West Springfield, Hampden County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1096992, -72.6402969

21. Russell Cemetery
Russell, Hampden County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1864620, -72.8546120

22. Beth Israel Cemetery
West Springfield, Hampden County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1096992, -72.6374969

23. Bnai Jacob Cemetery
West Springfield, Hampden County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1091040, -72.6368590

24. Congregation Kodimoh Cemetery
West Springfield, Hampden County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1092070, -72.6363660