Hancock County Journal
Carthage, Illinois
Thursday
August 21, 1952
Page 1
Columns 1 & 3Three Hancock County Men Killed
In Car Crash Near Here Tuesday
The above picture, taken from the west, shows cars owned by
W. L. Miller, at left and Clarence Wright after they had collided
head-on 4 miles east of Carthage on route 136. Miller, Wright
and Chellis Hainline were killed. See story below.Two Others Are
Severely HurtThree Hancock county men are dead as the result of a head-on two-car crash Tuesday at 5:30 p. m., 4 miles east of Carthage on route 136.
They are W. L. "Red" Miller, 50, of Elvaston, who was killed instantly; Clarence Wright, 65, of Fountain Green, who died about 20 minutes after the accident and before he could be taken to a hospital, and Chellis Hainline, 66, of Fountain Green, who died in Memorial hospital at 9:15 p. m., Tuesday.
In serious condition in Memorial hospital are Charles Miller, 18, son of W. L. Miller, who was driving his father's car, and Miss Elgin Hainline, 30, of Fountain Green, who was a passenger in her father's car with Wright.
The accident happened when Wright, driving a 1950 Ford sedan east, turned into the left-hand lane of the highway to pass a car driven by Robert Hutchison of Carthage. Wright's car and the Miller car, a 1952 Oldsmobile sedan going west, struck head-on.
Hutchison stated he pulled onto the right-hand shoulder of the highway when he saw the other two cars were going to collide and Hutchison's car was not involved in the crash.
Another witness to the accident was David Forsey of Spanish Fort, Utah, who was driving in the same direction some distance behind Hutchison. Forsey wrote and signed a statement, which he made to State Patrolmen John Mickle of Plymouth and Ralph Kennedy of Colchester, who answered the accident call.
Hutchison and Forsey both stated they believe Wright was driving about 45 miles an hour, but they did not estimate the speed of Miller's car.
Glenn Kilgore, Hancock county coroner, stated an inquest will be held but has not set the date.
The three fatalities came principally as the result of internal injuries suffered by the accident victims. Wright had both legs broken below his knees and chest injuries. The left front wheel of his car was forced back against the driver's seat and Wright was pinned in the car. Coroner Kilgore, the state patrolmen and others who assisted at the wreck had to pry portions of the car away from Wright before he could be taken from the driver's seat.
All five people were riding in the front seats of their respective cars.
Miss Hainline has a fractured hip, broken bones in her right hand, cuts and bruises and head injuries and probably a severe concussion.
Hancock County Journal
Carthage, Illinois
Thursday
August 21, 1952
Page 1
Column 3WRIGHT FUNERAL
Funeral services for Clarence L. Wright, 66, of Fountain Green, will be held Friday at 2:30 p. m. in the Fountain Green Presbyterian church. Rev. A. G. Vail of La Harpe will officiate and burial will be in Majorville cemetery, southeast of Fountain Green.
Pallbearers will be Clifford Bryce and Melvin Latherow, John Miller, Dan Shell and Fred Hillers.
Wright was born Dec. 25, 1885, the son of Skelt and Hattie Kinney Wright, near Fountain Green. In April, 1907, he married Grace Burrow McGee at Carthage. She died last spring.
He was formerly associated in the Yetter-Wright garage at Fountain Green. He had been employed by the Hancock county highway department for the past 25 years.
Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Ivan Latherow; a granddaughter, Miss Carolyn Latherow of Fountain Green; a grandson, Cpl. Robert Latherow in Korea; a brother, Gay Wright of La Harpe; three sisters, Mrs. Vinnie Whitten of Fountain Green, Mrs. Elva Wier of Macomb and Mrs. Delia Long of Bushnell, and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
The Carthage Republican
Carthage, Illinois
Wednesday
September 3, 1952
Page 2
Column 1Last Rites Held
For Clarence WrightClarence, a lifelong resident of the Webster and Fountain Green communities, met death very suddenly and unexpectedly Tuesday evening, August 19, 1952 about 5:30 o'c1ock in a head-on-auto collision on U. S. highway 136 some 4 miles east of Carthage, Ill.
Mr. Wright was born at Webster, December 25, 1885, the son of Skelt and Hettie (Winney) Wright, his age being 66 years, 7 months and 24 days.
His boyhood days were spent in the Webster vicinity where he received his education in the public school.
In April 1907 he was married to Miss Beryle Grace McGee of Fountain Green where the new home was established and maintained throughout the ensuing forty-five years.
To this union was born one daughter, Genevieve, now Mrs. Ivan Latherow of Fountain Green. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wright were deeply devoted to this only daughter, and gave her every advantage within their power to bestow. They were equally devoted to and proud of their two grandchildren, Corporal Robert L. Latherow now with the 25th Infantry of the U. S. Army attached to the Inspector Generals office, serving in Korea and Miss Carolyn Latherow of Fountain Green.
In addition to the daughter and son-in-law, Mr. Wright is survived by one brother, Gay Wright of near La Harpe, and three sisters, Mrs. J. C. Whitten of Fountain Green, Mrs. Harvey Long of Bushnell and Mrs. Ralph Weir of Macomb. He was preceded in death by one brother who died in infancy, his father who passed away many years ago, his mother in 1942 and his wife, who passed on in January of this year.
Having always been interested in machinery, and being quite skillful as a mechanic, Clarence or "Goody" as he has long been familiarly known to family and friends, while quite a young man found employment as an engineer with various threshing crews in the days when grain was harvested with threshing machines powered by steam engines. Shortly after automobiles came into vogue his mechanical ability was directed toward a job as mechanic in a local garage, this leading to his later operating a garage of his own for a number of years.
Some twenty-five years ago he became an employee of the Hancock County Highway Department, a position he held ever since. During all these years he has been one of the departments most dependable employees, being on the job practically every day until his wife's serious illness last winter forced him to remain away from work for a few weeks. In his spare time he cared for his lawn and garden, keeping both in perfect condition.
Not only was Mr. Wright a very industrious person, he was also a faithful husband and father and a good neighbor of a quiet and unassuming nature, his main interests were his work and his home, his only outside interest being that of school director, a position which he held for quite a number of years.
The Carthage Republican
Carthage, Illinois
Wednesday
September 3, 1952
Page 6
Column 2FTN. GREEN
FOUNTAIN GREEN, Sept. 2
This community has been greatly saddened during the past two weeks by at least four deaths of people well known here.
The sudden and tragic death of Clarence Wright and Chellis Hainline in the terrible auto wreck on U. S. Highway 136 some four and one-half miles east of Carthage just two weeks ago was a great shock to everyone. Mr. Miller of Elvaston, who was killed in the same wreck was likewise well known to many in this community. The funerals of all three of these men were attended by large crowds of friends and relatives with many beautiful flowers at each funeral.
Just a few days after the death of the wreck victims, two other men who had spent many years of their lives in this neighborhood passed on, namely Silas Conn of the Majorville vicinity on August 21 and Frank Wright of Macomb, the following day, August 22. Both had been in poor health for some time. Funeral services and interment for both men where held at Majorville with a large number of friends, relatives and former neighbors attending.
We extend sympathy to the families of all of these men who have been called away from their homes in such rapid succession in recent weeks.
