# 1 - - Enterprise 4 Dec 1924

FOUR YEAR OLD MEETS TRAGIC DEATH

About the most shocking accident possible to happen occurred Sunday at about noon at the Grover Wilkins far home just west of Blair.

A road maintainer had been left on the side hill near the house and the children were playing on it. Little Jimmie Wilkins, four years old, was riding the short tongue which was used as a hitch to a tractor and another little one was on the maintainer. In some way the tractor started down the hill, presumably started by the shaking of the machine, the hill being steep, the tractor was soon underway and little Jimmie lost his balance on the tongue falling in such a manner that the maintainer passed over him, crushing his life out instantly.

He was borne to the house and a physician called but nothing could be done.

Funeral services were held last Tuesday at 2 P. M. at the Baptist church conducted by Rev. L. H. Camp of the Christian church and interment was made in the Blair cemetery.

The Enterprise expresses its heartfelt sympathy for the bereaved parents.

Note: Since the actual death date was not given, the date of a news article was used.

# 2 - - Pilot 3 Dec 1924

James Rolland Wilkins

A very sad accident occurred at the Grover Wilkins home west of Blair last Sunday forenoon that resulted in the death of their son, James Rolland, aged four years. He and the other children were playing on the road grader that sat on the side hill near their home. Robert was sitting in the driver’s sear and turned the supported tongue of the grader with the steering wheel, which had a worm gear, as an auto has. Jamie, as he was called, was sitting on the end of the tongue and jumping up and down so that when the wheels of the grader were pointed down hill it was enough to start the machine forward. Jamie fell off the tongue and one wheel ran over his head. The grader ran but a short distance when it was stopped by a fence. Robert got off and saw his little brother was badly hurt and tried to carry him up the bank to the house, but couldn’t quite make it, so notified the folks at the house. He was taken to the house and the doctor called, but he lived only about twenty minutes, being dead before the doctor arrived. The funeral was held at the Baptist church yesterday afternoon at 2 o’clock. Rev. L. H. Camp had charge, being assisted by Rev. A. D. Smalley. The church was crowded to its capacity with relatives and friends who sympathized deeply with the stricken parents. Jamie was born Sept. 12, 1920, so was just past four years of age, a lively and loveable lad whose sudden death will leave a great aching in the hearts of his parents for many years to come. Mrs. Schafer* was formerly Miss Fern Schafer, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. F. L. Schafer, of this city.

* probably should say Wilkins

# 3 - - Tribune, December 4, 1924

FOUR-YEAR-OLD CHILD KILLED WHILE AT PLAY

One of the saddest accidents to happen in this vicinity occurred last Sunday noon when the little four-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Grover Wilkins was killed while playing with other children on a piece of road machinery that was sitting in his parents’ farm yard.

Details of the accident are to the effect that little Jamie was sitting on the tongue of a road maintainer while the children were playing near the machine, which had been left in the Wilkins yard on ground that was steep enough to allow the machine to roll forward with only slight assistance. In some manner the necessary impetus was given that started the machine to moving down hill, the unfortunate child falling off the tongue and landing with his head in the path of one of the wheels.

The child’s head was crushed and when the frantic parents reached the scene of the accident a few second later, life was extinct.

Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon from the Baptist Church, with L. H. Camp of the Church of Christ in charge, assisted by Rev. Smalley.

Jamie was born September 12, 1920 and was an exceptionally bright and lovable little fellow and in his sudden taking his parents and relatives have the sympathy of the entire community.

~~~ Obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library ~~~

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