The dreadful demise of Charles Wheeler

David Wheeler/Find a Grave

Youthful temptation to hitch a ride on a passing freight has for the most part passed as one of those things parents need to worry about. Other means of transport are readily available and, although dozens of trains still pass through Chariton daily, none make scheduled stops or, for that matter, even slow down.

But that was not the case on Valentine's Day, 1880, when young Charles Wheeler and a friend spent the day in town, stayed late and decided to hitch a ride to Indianola Junction, two miles northwest of Chariton, rather that walk. The result was fatal, as reported in The Chariton Patriot of Feb. 18:

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On Saturday last, Charles, a 20 year old son of Hon. S.D. Wheeler, came to Chariton and with another neighborhood youngster remained in town until about 10 o'clock p.m. Then they boarded a freight train going west as they had been in the habit of doing, and young Wheeler undertook to jump off while the train was in motion. This was in the vicinity of his father's house near Indianola Junction.

He did not let go of the car when he dropped his feet to the ground, but held on to the lower round of the brakeman's ladder, intending to run along until he was fairly on his feet before letting all hold go. The train was going so fast as to swing him around between the wheels.

He was cut in two just below the shoulders, and all of his body was ground up except his head and shoulders. There were a dozen or more cars behind the one on which he was riding. The young man was not in the habit of drinking and was sober at the time, according to our information.

The funeral took place on Sunday and was one of the largest ever witnessed here. This accident is a terrible warning to all those in the habit of getting on and off of moving trains.

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Samuel D. Wheeler was a prominent Lucas Countyan of his day --- sometimes county supervisor, occasional state legislator and prosperous farmer. He and wife, Elizabeth, had brought their family to Liberty Township during 1856, settling in the neighborhood along White Breast Creek where landmarks still bear their surname --- Wheeler Bridge, Parr-Wheeler Cemetery.

During 1873, they turned the farm in that neighborhood over to their older sons and built a new place on a smaller farm near Indianola Junction (where the Indianola branch of the C.B.&Q. joined the main east-west tracks) just northwest of Chariton. That was where they were living when Charles was killed.

Ten years later, the Wheelers moved into Chariton where he died during 1897 at the age of 86. Elizabeth followed three years later, age 82. Charles, Samuel, Elizabeth and many other family members are buried in the Chariton Cemetery.