POLK, James M.

Local and Personal.

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James M. Polk was killed by train No. 10, just north of the depot in Greenwood, Wednesday, Jan. 25. He was 61 years of age. He was an honest, conscientious man and was mail mes­senger between the post office and mail crane at that place for years, and the most faithful and efficient messenger ever on the route. He leaves a wife, son and daughter.

The Columbus Daily Times, January 26, 1899,
page 4 column 2

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Killed by the Cars.

James Polk, who carries the mail from the depot at Greenwood to the postoffice was run over and instantly killed yesterday morning about 4 o’­clock by the early train from Chicago to Louisville. He was a little late and attempted to walk across the track in front of the train when it started and knocked him down and crushed him to death Deceased was fifty-three years of age [sic] and a brother of J. T. Polk, the canning factory man.

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The Franklin Democrat, Friday, February 17, 1899,
Volume XXXIX Number 32, page 2 column 6

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CORONER’S VERDICT

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I, the undersigned, Coroner of Johnson county, State of Indiana, hereby certify that I held an inquest on the body of James M. Polk, late of said county and state, found dead in Greenwood, Indiana on the 25th day of January, 1899. After due investigation I find the deceased came to his death by reason of being struck by locomotive engine, of train No. 10 on the above named date. No evi­dence was obtained to show or tend to show that death was due to any other cause than accident, or that the engineer was in any way responsible for said accident. Deceased was 61 years old, five feet nine inches high, weighed 150 pounds.

R. W. TERHUNE. 
Coroner. 

Link to James M. Polk’s grave

Submitted by Mark McCrady and Cathea Curry