Gainesville Daily Register  Thursday November 17, 1918

                                    PROMINENT FARMER KILLED BY

                                     LIGHTNING S.W. OF CITY TODAY

                                    James Pilkenton, aged about 37 years,  a prominent

                                                Cooke county farmer, residing 7 miles southeast of

                                                this city , in the Dye community, was struck by

                                                lightning and instantly killed, about 10 o’clock this

                                                morning as he was entering his home to avoid getting

                                                wet in a downpour of rain.

                                                As Mr. Pilkenton ran toward his house he came into

                                                contact with a wire clothes line , which had at that

                                                moment been charged with electricity from a bolt

                                                of lightning, and he was instantly killed.  Besides the

                                                grief stricken wife, deceased leaves six children to

                                                mourn his loss.

                                                Interment will occur in Estes cemetery, probably

                                                Friday afternoon.