Obituary

Keithsburg

  The electric storm of Wednesday which passed over this vicinity between the hours of 4:30 and 6:30 p. m. left a trail of death when it took from our midst W. E. Callahan who resided four miles southwest of Seaton, Illinois. Mr. Callahan, his son, Ward and hired man, Herbert Coover were at the barn milking; the boys on the east side and Mr. Callahan was just entering the door on the west side when the bolt of lightning struck the end of the barn, running across the barn, electrocuting Mr. Callahan in an instant and slightly shocking Ward and Mr. Coover. As his son, Ward came around the barn he found his father face downward. He and Mr. Coover carried him to the house. The family, friends and physicians did all they could but death was instantaneous. Coroner A. N. Mackey of Aledo was called immediately and held an inquest over the remains. The jury was composed of John L. Ewing, as foreman, Thos. Ditto, Geo. Hawkins, Summer Mickey, Ward Hawkins and Beeler Guthrie. Their verdict was that death came as a result of being struck by lightning. The only mark found on his body was a dark spot on his right temple.
  Mr. William E. Callahan was born in Joy, Illinois, July 19, 1864. He was the youngest son of William and Mary Callahan deceased. He was married to Miss Anna Bohan on February 17, 1892, and to this union five children were born: Ward, Mable, Madeline, Ethel and a little daughter dying in infancy.
  Mr. Callahan was an enterprising and well to do farmer, a live stock breeder of note. He was a man whose word could by always depended upon. He was a kind husband, an indulgent father and a loyal friend to all. Thus has been taken from our midst one of God's noblest type of manhood. Beside the sorrowing wife and children he leaves to mourn his loss three brothers, John, Patrick and Dan Callahan, all of this community, two sisters, Mrs. John Murphy of near Seaton, Ill., and Mrs. L. J. Crook of Topeka, Kansas, and a host of relatives and friends.
  He was a member of the M. W. A. lodge Camp of Seaton, Illinois. The funeral took place Friday morning at 10:30 o'clock from St. Mary's church at Keithsburg, Ill. Requiem Mass was said by Father E. J. Welsh and sung by the Burlington, Iowa choir from St. Paul's church, consisting of Clara McPartland, organist, Marie Behrens and Wm. Tritz. Miss Behrens sang a beautiful solo, "O Salutaris" and Mr. Tritz sang "Ave Maria." The floral offerings were beautiful. Interment was in the Catholic cemetery.
(Aledo Democrat, Tuesday, May 20, 1913, p. 12)

Note: Died 14 May 1913.

Two Men Near Seaton Killed By Lightning

  Yesterday's electrical storm which passed over this locality between the hours of 4:45 and 6:30 p. m. left a trail of death and loss of property. Two men, W. E. Callahan, residing four miles southwest of Seaton, and Clyde Ranney, whose home is in the north edge of Henderson county between Seaton and Little York were killed by lightning at the barns on the premises of their respective homes.
  Mr. Callahan was just in the act of entering the west barn on his farm when a bolt of lightning struck the barn and running down the side of the building, electrocuted the man in an instant. His son Ward and an employee of the farm, H. Coover, who were milking cows in the barn were slightly shocked. They rushed to the assistance of Mr. Callahan and found him lying with his head within the barn door and his feet outside, dead. He had left the house but a moment before and was carrying a milk pail, intending to assist the boys with the milking when death overtook him.
  Coroner A. N. Mackey of this city, was summoned immediately and held an inquest over the remains late that evening. The jury was composed of John L. Ewing, foreman, and Tom Ditto, Geo. Hawkins, Ward Hawkins, Sumner Mickey and Beeler Guthrie. Their verdict was that the deceased came to his death as a result of being struck by lightning. The only mark on his body was a spot on the right temple about the size of a half dollar coin with a blue line extending from this spot into the corner of his eye.
  Mr. Callahan was a man 49 years of age and one of Abington township's most enterprising and well to do farmers and a live stock breeder of note. Funeral services will be held from St. Mary's Catholic church at Keithsburg, Friday morning at 10 o'clock.
  Clyde Ranney, the young man who was killed by lightning at 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon on the Ranney farm southeast of Seaton, was 17 years of age and a son of William Ranney. At the time of the stroke, Clyde was standing in the barn, leaning against a post between two stalls in the stable. The fatal bolt from the sky struck the roof of the barn and apparently ran down the post against which the young man leaned. It also killed a horse in the stall close to the unfortunate fellow. As the farm is located in Henderson county, the coroner from that county was called to take charge of the inquest that a proper death certificate might be used.
(Aledo Times Record, Thursday, May 15, 1913, p. 8)