Obituary from clipping found in
Obituary Book of Pike Co., Genealogical Society
Bowling Green, MO 
1944

Albert Clarence Buchanan

A fatal accident occurred Wednesday afternoon about 5:45 o'clock when Albert Buchanan and Henry (Shady) Kirks attempted to cross the Wabash railroad tracks at Wellsville, Mo., where they had attended the mid-week sale which is held there.

As it was revealed to us, the right-of-way was somewhat obscured from oncoming trains by some box cars being on the siding.  Number 9 passenger train of the Wabash from St. Louis to Kansas City is one of the fastest trains of the Wabash and aside from powerful whistling they slow for no traffic.  From the reports we received the engine hit their car amidships and knocked it about 60 feet, throwing both occupants of the car out and killing them instantly.

Kirks was badly lacerated and bones broken, while the neck of Buchanan was broken and his skull seemed to have been crushed.  Buchanan had gone to the sale with Cleve Wright that afternoon and when Wright was ready to leave Buchanan stated he would wait and go back with Kirks.  Some reports were to the effect that Cleve Wright was with the boys when they left Vandalia, however, he and Buchanan went to the sale in Wright's car and Wright returned home alone a few minutes before the accident.

Albert Buchanan was 51 years old of age, the son of the late Thomas and Alice Hudson Buchanan and has spent most of his life in and around Vandalia.  He was married to Miss Edna Smith and to this union two children were born.  He was greatly interested in the sales at the different points and was one of the keenest buyers at any of these sales.  He knew stock and was a good judge of what these would bring at auction.  He operated with Mr. Ryan of Silex and was his local buyer in this part of the community.  The farmers sold to him pretty much and were well pleased with his buying.  He was a likable man and had many friends.  If he was bad to anyone he was bad to himself.  His passing is a loss to the community.  His funeral was held from the Presbyterian Church here Saturday morning and interment; was in the Vandalia cemetery.  He is survived by his devoted wife and two children, Donald at home and Mrs. Arthur Yates of Mexico; two brothers, Claude of Vandalia and Orville of Woodriver, Ill., and a host of friends.

© 2000 Rhonda Stolte Darnell