William Curless, a Woodland township boy, who for the past two years resided on a farm two and one-half miles northwest of Industry, was struck by lightning and killed about 4:30 o’clock Wednesday.
He was employed as a farm hand on the R. D. Munson farm and was plowing, working four head of horses when the storm came up. Fred Taylor, another hand was in the same field but was about seventy rods from him. When the bolt struck he look in the direction of Mr. Curless in time to see him fall backward from the plow. The horses started to run away, but were caught by Mr. Taylor.
The bolt struck him on top of the head, a hole in his hat showing the place of contact.
An inquest was held and the body brought to Astoria Thursday on the evening train and taken to the home of his mother, Mrs. Mint Curless, in the northeast part of town.
The unfortunate man was about 33 years of age, and was born in Woodland township. He was a brother of John Curless, a prominent farmer of Woodland township, who was killed about four years ago in a runaway accident. His sister, Mrs. Trude Dutton of Woodland township, died about a year ago.
During the past three months he and his two children, a son age 9 years and a daughter aged 11 lived with a housekeeper. Besides his two children and aged mother, he leaves to mourn his untimely death three brothers, Frank and Thadus of Woodland and Edward of Astoria.
The funeral services were held at the home of the deceased’s mother at one o’clock Friday, conducted by Rev. John Davis. Interment in the Bluff City cemetery.
Mr. Curless carried $1,000 insurance in the Bankers’ Life Association, and a few months ago, the children were made the beneficiaries. Monday at Macomb Lawyer Flack was appointed guardian of the children, who are at present with their Grandma Curless in this city.
Current Obituaries in the Astoria South Fulton Argus