Willard J Howe Obituary

Born Dec 13, 1901, Willard J Howe attended Charlevoix High School in Charlevoix, MI. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Willard J Howe.

Graduation Year	Class of 1908
Date of Birth	Dec 13, 1901
Date of Passing	Jun 07, 1915
About	DEATH OF WILLARD HOWE RESULT OF INJURY IN AUTO ACCIDENT Was on way home Sunday Night with companion, after attending graduation excercises, when buggy was struck by automobile driven by James Wyers of city. The most serious automobile accident of the season, and the first fatal occured Sunday night about 10:30, when a rig driven by Willard Howe and Guy Sneathen, both well-known young men of Hayes Township, was run into by an automobile driven by James Wyers of this city. Mr. Howe and his companion, Guy Sneathen, had been to the city attending the graduation services held at Methodist Church, and were on their way home. They were on the Petoskey Road (*US 31) between the farm homes of George Burns and Earnest Peaslie, about opposite a big maple tree located by the side of the road, when the accident happene. Wyers,about two hours previously,had driven to the farm home of Chester Blanchard and was on his way home to Charlevoix. The automobile struck the buggy on the right side near the front wheel, smashing the wheel and the crossbar, the force of the impact tearing the buggy loose from the horse and throwing both occupents forward onto the ground. The car swerved to the left and continued its course across the road, into the ditch, until it collided with a fence post, which was broken off. Howe and Sneathen picked themselves up, apparently unhurt, and assisted the occupents of the car to regain the road, none of whom were injured. Upon examination, the car was found to be damaged to such an extent that it was impossible to drive it to Charlevoix, and the occupents, Wyers as driver, and 2 young ladies by the names of Hemlock, and Mrs. Chester Blanchard, walked to Charlevoix. The two young men in the rig went to the home of George Burns, where they borrowed a buggy, to which they hitched their horse and continued on their way to the home of Mr.Howe. After reaching home the boys stabled the horse, and Sneathen walked to his home, some distance from the Howe farm. While driving to his home, after the accident occured, Willard complained of severe pain in his chest, and that it hurt to coughed. However, he made light of the matter, although repeatedly asked by his companion as to his condition. After the horse had been stabled, and Sneathen had gone to his home, Willard, thinking he had forgotten to halter the horse, took a latern and went to the barn. This occured about 12:30. About two o'clock members of the family were disturbed by the cattle, and one of them arose and went to the barn. After taking care of the cattle, he noticed a light in the horse barn, and upon entering, found the lantern on the floorby the side of the horses, and the body of Willard Howe lying six feet back of the animals. Examination of the body showed death gad occured some time before. The remains were carried to the house and a physician was summoned, and upon examination, it was found that being thrown from the buggy when the accident happened had ruptured a blood vessel, and his continued activity afterward had caused a hemorrage, terminating in death. Willard Howe was the son of Phillip Howe, well-known resident of Hayes Township. He was 24 years of age, a graduate of Charlevoix High School and Normal School class of 1914. During the past school year he had taught near Copemish, and had been home less than ten days, having completed his school year. He was a conscientious, clean, hard working young man, and was just in the beginning of a prosperous career. He had been engaged as a teacher for the coming year, and was very successful and well-liked in his line of work. His record while a student in the schools here and during his young manhood,was above reproach and his sudden death is greatly regretted by a large number of acquaintanceship. Funeral services were held from home Wednesday afternoon at 1:30, Reverend Quinton Walker, officiating, Internment in the Undine Cemetery. The funeral was largely attended, showing in a marked degree the high esteem in which he was held. Tuesday afternoon Coroner Wilkinson impanneled a jury, and Prosecuting Attorney Lewis and Sheriff Novak viewed the scene of the accident. In the evening at the couthouse, witnesses were examined and the accident throughly probe. Testimony from the occupents of the car was quite conflicting. Wyers testified that he was running at a low speed on account of the dense fog and did not see the rig until he crashed into it. The testimony of Guy Sneathen shoed that the occupants of the buggy saw the lights of the car, but could not get out of the way in time to avoid a collision, on account of the speed they were driving. After hearing considerable testimony, the jury rendered a verdict that the death of Willard Howe was the direct result of an injury received in the collision between the rig and car It is not known if the case will be further prosecuted or not.