Isaac Cunningham VAN METER

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Dates of birth and death from tombstone, Lexington [KY] Cemetery. Names of children from personal knowledge. LBV. Attended Phillips Academy, Andover, Massachusetts ("three week plan"); Chester School, Chester, NH; Ohio State University, member Sigma Chi fraternity, Class of '16, left in 1914, after marriage. Fact of marriage from wedding invitation and personal knowledge. Occupation was farmer.

Winchester Democrat, p.1, Friday, July 10, 1908:       "   The first of last week Miss Annie Bright Croxton, accompanied by Master Field Vanmeter, left for Denver to attend the Democratic convention.  Out of St. Louis they took the fast California Limited train, which makes the fastest time between that city and Denver.  Near Knobnoster, Mo., a delayed local passenger train was endeavouring to make up time and reach a station in time for the passage of the fast train.  Through a mistake in orders both trains met in a head-on collision near the above city, completely wrecking the engines of bith trains and telescoping several passenger coaches.

"Six passengers were instantly killed, one of them being Mr. Storey, of Franklin, Ky., and thirty-six were seriously injured, several of the injured having since died.  Miss Croxton and young Vanmeter were the only persons in their coach that escaped an injury of any kind, and although they were severely shaken up, did not receive a bruise.  The cries of the injured were harrowing in the extreme, and many of those who were pinned in the wreckage begged to be shot to end their suffering. Willing hands quickly rendered aid, and fortunately Miss Croxton had in her possession a small Bible which afforded consolation to the dying.  Miss Croxton attributes her own miraculous escape from serious injury to the fact that she carried her Bible with her.

"A communication to her family yesterday stated that she had completely recovered from the shock of the collision, which is gratifying news to her many friends here."
                  

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