RETIRED FARMER KILLED BY CAR AT NOON
Benjamin Chestnut Dies Instantly On South Walnut St. Aged Man Steps Into Path of Automobile Driven By Forest Hanson, Local Auto Dealer – Back of Head Is Crushed By Force With Which He Hit The Ground – Was Dead When Ambulance Arrived.
BULLETIN: In his preliminary investigation this afternoon, Deputy Coroner, William C. Reed stated that Chestnut’s death was caused by a fracture of the skull. From his questioning of part of the witnesses, Dr. Reed stated that the accident was unavoidable. The formal inquest will be held as soon as he can get all the witnesses together, either late this afternoon or early in the morning.
A desire to pass the time of day in easy conversation with some friends across the street ended fatally for Benjamin Chestnut, 83, at 11:20 a.m. today. Chestnut was instantly killed when he was struck by a car driven by Forest Hanson, local automobile dealer.
The accident occurred in front of the home of Mr.Chestnut’s sister, Mrs. Frank Bender, at 725 south Walnut street. He had just stepped from the curb to walk across the street toward the Brown restaurant when the car struck him.
Mercifully, death was instantaneous. He undoubtedly would have been unable to overcome the effects of a bad accident,
due to his advanced age, had he lived. The back of his skull was crushed completely in, and his right arm, near the shoulder, and right leg, just below the knee, were fractured by the force with which he was thrown to the
ground.
Chestnut evidently failed to see the car driven by Hanson as it approached him,and stepped unseeingly into its path. He was so close to the car at the time that he took the fatal step that all the driving ability of Mr.Hanson was useless in trying to prevent the tragedy.
An ambulance reached the scene only to find the aged man dead – a pathetic heap of broken bones and soiled, wet clothing. He was tossed about six feet from the bumper of the car as it ground to a sudden stop, and landed on the back of his head.
Hanson was completely unnerved by the accident, and was unable to give any details of the affair this afternoon. He,in company with Curley Mitchell, a salesman,were enroute to Kirksville to demonstrate a new car to a prospect there when the accident took place.
Mitchell, in describing the accident this noon, said, “Mr. Hanson and I were driving down south Walnut street to Kirksville, where we were to demonstrate a car, when the accident occurred. Mr. Chestnut started across the street in front of Browns restaurant. Mr. Hanson blew the horn, and applied the brakes, Mr. chestnut stopped, and we thought that he would wait until we had passed, so Mr. Hanson released the brakes and started ahead again. At the same time, it seemed, Mr. Chestnut started forward again, and stepped directly into the path of our car.
It was impossible to avoid him. Mr.Hanson stopped very quickly. Mr.Chestnut was thrown to the ground from the car bumper where he had been caught. Chestnut lit on the pavement about six feet in front of the car, on the back of his head.”
Two persons from Bedford witnessed the accident. They could not be reached for statements this afternoon.Immediately after the accident an ambulance was called, but Mr.Chestnut had succumbed before it reached the scene.
Deputy Coroner William C. Reed was investigating the accident this afternoon. Frances Harding, R. R. 2, a witness to the accident, told policeman John Axsom that the accident seemed to him to be unavoidable. He said that Chestnut stepped from behind a car directly into the path of the automobile Hanson was driving.
Mr. Chestnut was a retired farmer and had spent all his life in Monroe county. At the time of his death he was living with his sister, Mrs. Frank Bender, 725 south Walnut street. He had been married twice having been divorced from his first wife, Sarah, who is living in Cincinnati, O. His second wife, Emma, died about nine years ago. He is the son of Abraham and Hylie Ann Chestnut, deceased.
Additional surviving relatives are three sons,Thomas, who lives six miles southeast of Bloomington,James, north Lincoln street, and Lee, who lives with his mother in Cincinnati; two sisters, Mrs. Ida Bender and Mrs. Alice Shaw; and three brothers, Dave, Obe and James Chestnut.
Three children preceded him in death. They are Lydia, Abraham and Annie, all buried in the Friendship cemetery in Monroe County. Funeral arrangements have not been made as yet.
[Bloomington Herald-Telephone, September 6, 1934, page 1, column 7]
++++++++++++++++++++
Funeral services for Benjamin Chestnut, aged 83,automobile accident victim, were held at 11 o’clock Sunday morning from the Friendship church, with interment made in the adjoining cemetery.
[Bloomington Herald-Telephone, September 10, 1934, page 6, column
2]
Marriage (1st): Sarah Alice Stephenson, married 6 Feb 1876
o Thomas W. Chesnut (1884 - 1961)
o James P. Chestnut (1886 - 1974)
o Lee Chestnut outlived his father
o Abraham Chesnut probably an infant
o Annie Chesnut probably an infant
o Laura Chesnut (026): b. 21 Aug 1876 d. 29 Aug 1876
o Lida/Lidia E. Chesnut (026): b. 27 Oct 1877 d. 10 Dec 1897
Marriage (2nd): Emma Theresa Pate Chestnut (1857 - 1924), married 29 Nov 1906
Benjamin Chestnut Dies Instantly On South Walnut St. Aged Man Steps Into Path of Automobile Driven By Forest Hanson, Local Auto Dealer – Back of Head Is Crushed By Force With Which He Hit The Ground – Was Dead When Ambulance Arrived.
BULLETIN: In his preliminary investigation this afternoon, Deputy Coroner, William C. Reed stated that Chestnut’s death was caused by a fracture of the skull. From his questioning of part of the witnesses, Dr. Reed stated that the accident was unavoidable. The formal inquest will be held as soon as he can get all the witnesses together, either late this afternoon or early in the morning.
A desire to pass the time of day in easy conversation with some friends across the street ended fatally for Benjamin Chestnut, 83, at 11:20 a.m. today. Chestnut was instantly killed when he was struck by a car driven by Forest Hanson, local automobile dealer.
The accident occurred in front of the home of Mr.Chestnut’s sister, Mrs. Frank Bender, at 725 south Walnut street. He had just stepped from the curb to walk across the street toward the Brown restaurant when the car struck him.
Mercifully, death was instantaneous. He undoubtedly would have been unable to overcome the effects of a bad accident,
due to his advanced age, had he lived. The back of his skull was crushed completely in, and his right arm, near the shoulder, and right leg, just below the knee, were fractured by the force with which he was thrown to the
ground.
Chestnut evidently failed to see the car driven by Hanson as it approached him,and stepped unseeingly into its path. He was so close to the car at the time that he took the fatal step that all the driving ability of Mr.Hanson was useless in trying to prevent the tragedy.
An ambulance reached the scene only to find the aged man dead – a pathetic heap of broken bones and soiled, wet clothing. He was tossed about six feet from the bumper of the car as it ground to a sudden stop, and landed on the back of his head.
Hanson was completely unnerved by the accident, and was unable to give any details of the affair this afternoon. He,in company with Curley Mitchell, a salesman,were enroute to Kirksville to demonstrate a new car to a prospect there when the accident took place.
Mitchell, in describing the accident this noon, said, “Mr. Hanson and I were driving down south Walnut street to Kirksville, where we were to demonstrate a car, when the accident occurred. Mr. Chestnut started across the street in front of Browns restaurant. Mr. Hanson blew the horn, and applied the brakes, Mr. chestnut stopped, and we thought that he would wait until we had passed, so Mr. Hanson released the brakes and started ahead again. At the same time, it seemed, Mr. Chestnut started forward again, and stepped directly into the path of our car.
It was impossible to avoid him. Mr.Hanson stopped very quickly. Mr.Chestnut was thrown to the ground from the car bumper where he had been caught. Chestnut lit on the pavement about six feet in front of the car, on the back of his head.”
Two persons from Bedford witnessed the accident. They could not be reached for statements this afternoon.Immediately after the accident an ambulance was called, but Mr.Chestnut had succumbed before it reached the scene.
Deputy Coroner William C. Reed was investigating the accident this afternoon. Frances Harding, R. R. 2, a witness to the accident, told policeman John Axsom that the accident seemed to him to be unavoidable. He said that Chestnut stepped from behind a car directly into the path of the automobile Hanson was driving.
Mr. Chestnut was a retired farmer and had spent all his life in Monroe county. At the time of his death he was living with his sister, Mrs. Frank Bender, 725 south Walnut street. He had been married twice having been divorced from his first wife, Sarah, who is living in Cincinnati, O. His second wife, Emma, died about nine years ago. He is the son of Abraham and Hylie Ann Chestnut, deceased.
Additional surviving relatives are three sons,Thomas, who lives six miles southeast of Bloomington,James, north Lincoln street, and Lee, who lives with his mother in Cincinnati; two sisters, Mrs. Ida Bender and Mrs. Alice Shaw; and three brothers, Dave, Obe and James Chestnut.
Three children preceded him in death. They are Lydia, Abraham and Annie, all buried in the Friendship cemetery in Monroe County. Funeral arrangements have not been made as yet.
[Bloomington Herald-Telephone, September 6, 1934, page 1, column 7]
++++++++++++++++++++
Funeral services for Benjamin Chestnut, aged 83,automobile accident victim, were held at 11 o’clock Sunday morning from the Friendship church, with interment made in the adjoining cemetery.
[Bloomington Herald-Telephone, September 10, 1934, page 6, column
2]
Marriage (1st): Sarah Alice Stephenson, married 6 Feb 1876
o Thomas W. Chesnut (1884 - 1961)
o James P. Chestnut (1886 - 1974)
o Lee Chestnut outlived his father
o Abraham Chesnut probably an infant
o Annie Chesnut probably an infant
o Laura Chesnut (026): b. 21 Aug 1876 d. 29 Aug 1876
o Lida/Lidia E. Chesnut (026): b. 27 Oct 1877 d. 10 Dec 1897
Marriage (2nd): Emma Theresa Pate Chestnut (1857 - 1924), married 29 Nov 1906
RETIRED FARMER KILLED BY CAR AT NOON
Benjamin Chestnut Dies Instantly On South Walnut St. Aged Man Steps Into Path of Automobile Driven By Forest Hanson, Local Auto Dealer – Back of Head Is Crushed By Force With Which He Hit The Ground – Was Dead When Ambulance Arrived.
BULLETIN: In his preliminary investigation this afternoon, Deputy Coroner, William C. Reed stated that Chestnut’s death was caused by a fracture of the skull. From his questioning of part of the witnesses, Dr. Reed stated that the accident was unavoidable. The formal inquest will be held as soon as he can get all the witnesses together, either late this afternoon or early in the morning.
A desire to pass the time of day in easy conversation with some friends across the street ended fatally for Benjamin Chestnut, 83, at 11:20 a.m. today. Chestnut was instantly killed when he was struck by a car driven by Forest Hanson, local automobile dealer.
The accident occurred in front of the home of Mr.Chestnut’s sister, Mrs. Frank Bender, at 725 south Walnut street. He had just stepped from the curb to walk across the street toward the Brown restaurant when the car struck him.
Mercifully, death was instantaneous. He undoubtedly would have been unable to overcome the effects of a bad accident,
due to his advanced age, had he lived. The back of his skull was crushed completely in, and his right arm, near the shoulder, and right leg, just below the knee, were fractured by the force with which he was thrown to the
ground.
Chestnut evidently failed to see the car driven by Hanson as it approached him,and stepped unseeingly into its path. He was so close to the car at the time that he took the fatal step that all the driving ability of Mr.Hanson was useless in trying to prevent the tragedy.
An ambulance reached the scene only to find the aged man dead – a pathetic heap of broken bones and soiled, wet clothing. He was tossed about six feet from the bumper of the car as it ground to a sudden stop, and landed on the back of his head.
Hanson was completely unnerved by the accident, and was unable to give any details of the affair this afternoon. He,in company with Curley Mitchell, a salesman,were enroute to Kirksville to demonstrate a new car to a prospect there when the accident took place.
Mitchell, in describing the accident this noon, said, “Mr. Hanson and I were driving down south Walnut street to Kirksville, where we were to demonstrate a car, when the accident occurred. Mr. Chestnut started across the street in front of Browns restaurant. Mr. Hanson blew the horn, and applied the brakes, Mr. chestnut stopped, and we thought that he would wait until we had passed, so Mr. Hanson released the brakes and started ahead again. At the same time, it seemed, Mr. Chestnut started forward again, and stepped directly into the path of our car.
It was impossible to avoid him. Mr.Hanson stopped very quickly. Mr.Chestnut was thrown to the ground from the car bumper where he had been caught. Chestnut lit on the pavement about six feet in front of the car, on the back of his head.”
Two persons from Bedford witnessed the accident. They could not be reached for statements this afternoon.Immediately after the accident an ambulance was called, but Mr.Chestnut had succumbed before it reached the scene.
Deputy Coroner William C. Reed was investigating the accident this afternoon. Frances Harding, R. R. 2, a witness to the accident, told policeman John Axsom that the accident seemed to him to be unavoidable. He said that Chestnut stepped from behind a car directly into the path of the automobile Hanson was driving.
Mr. Chestnut was a retired farmer and had spent all his life in Monroe county. At the time of his death he was living with his sister, Mrs. Frank Bender, 725 south Walnut street. He had been married twice having been divorced from his first wife, Sarah, who is living in Cincinnati, O. His second wife, Emma, died about nine years ago. He is the son of Abraham and Hylie Ann Chestnut, deceased.
Additional surviving relatives are three sons,Thomas, who lives six miles southeast of Bloomington,James, north Lincoln street, and Lee, who lives with his mother in Cincinnati; two sisters, Mrs. Ida Bender and Mrs. Alice Shaw; and three brothers, Dave, Obe and James Chestnut.
Three children preceded him in death. They are Lydia, Abraham and Annie, all buried in the Friendship cemetery in Monroe County. Funeral arrangements have not been made as yet.
[Bloomington Herald-Telephone, September 6, 1934, page 1, column 7]
++++++++++++++++++++
Funeral services for Benjamin Chestnut, aged 83,automobile accident victim, were held at 11 o’clock Sunday morning from the Friendship church, with interment made in the adjoining cemetery.
[Bloomington Herald-Telephone, September 10, 1934, page 6, column
2]
Marriage (1st): Sarah Alice Stephenson, married 6 Feb 1876
o Thomas W. Chesnut (1884 - 1961)
o James P. Chestnut (1886 - 1974)
o Lee Chestnut outlived his father
o Abraham Chesnut probably an infant
o Annie Chesnut probably an infant
o Laura Chesnut (026): b. 21 Aug 1876 d. 29 Aug 1876
o Lida/Lidia E. Chesnut (026): b. 27 Oct 1877 d. 10 Dec 1897
Marriage (2nd): Emma Theresa Pate Chestnut (1857 - 1924), married 29 Nov 1906
Benjamin Chestnut Dies Instantly On South Walnut St. Aged Man Steps Into Path of Automobile Driven By Forest Hanson, Local Auto Dealer – Back of Head Is Crushed By Force With Which He Hit The Ground – Was Dead When Ambulance Arrived.
BULLETIN: In his preliminary investigation this afternoon, Deputy Coroner, William C. Reed stated that Chestnut’s death was caused by a fracture of the skull. From his questioning of part of the witnesses, Dr. Reed stated that the accident was unavoidable. The formal inquest will be held as soon as he can get all the witnesses together, either late this afternoon or early in the morning.
A desire to pass the time of day in easy conversation with some friends across the street ended fatally for Benjamin Chestnut, 83, at 11:20 a.m. today. Chestnut was instantly killed when he was struck by a car driven by Forest Hanson, local automobile dealer.
The accident occurred in front of the home of Mr.Chestnut’s sister, Mrs. Frank Bender, at 725 south Walnut street. He had just stepped from the curb to walk across the street toward the Brown restaurant when the car struck him.
Mercifully, death was instantaneous. He undoubtedly would have been unable to overcome the effects of a bad accident,
due to his advanced age, had he lived. The back of his skull was crushed completely in, and his right arm, near the shoulder, and right leg, just below the knee, were fractured by the force with which he was thrown to the
ground.
Chestnut evidently failed to see the car driven by Hanson as it approached him,and stepped unseeingly into its path. He was so close to the car at the time that he took the fatal step that all the driving ability of Mr.Hanson was useless in trying to prevent the tragedy.
An ambulance reached the scene only to find the aged man dead – a pathetic heap of broken bones and soiled, wet clothing. He was tossed about six feet from the bumper of the car as it ground to a sudden stop, and landed on the back of his head.
Hanson was completely unnerved by the accident, and was unable to give any details of the affair this afternoon. He,in company with Curley Mitchell, a salesman,were enroute to Kirksville to demonstrate a new car to a prospect there when the accident took place.
Mitchell, in describing the accident this noon, said, “Mr. Hanson and I were driving down south Walnut street to Kirksville, where we were to demonstrate a car, when the accident occurred. Mr. Chestnut started across the street in front of Browns restaurant. Mr. Hanson blew the horn, and applied the brakes, Mr. chestnut stopped, and we thought that he would wait until we had passed, so Mr. Hanson released the brakes and started ahead again. At the same time, it seemed, Mr. Chestnut started forward again, and stepped directly into the path of our car.
It was impossible to avoid him. Mr.Hanson stopped very quickly. Mr.Chestnut was thrown to the ground from the car bumper where he had been caught. Chestnut lit on the pavement about six feet in front of the car, on the back of his head.”
Two persons from Bedford witnessed the accident. They could not be reached for statements this afternoon.Immediately after the accident an ambulance was called, but Mr.Chestnut had succumbed before it reached the scene.
Deputy Coroner William C. Reed was investigating the accident this afternoon. Frances Harding, R. R. 2, a witness to the accident, told policeman John Axsom that the accident seemed to him to be unavoidable. He said that Chestnut stepped from behind a car directly into the path of the automobile Hanson was driving.
Mr. Chestnut was a retired farmer and had spent all his life in Monroe county. At the time of his death he was living with his sister, Mrs. Frank Bender, 725 south Walnut street. He had been married twice having been divorced from his first wife, Sarah, who is living in Cincinnati, O. His second wife, Emma, died about nine years ago. He is the son of Abraham and Hylie Ann Chestnut, deceased.
Additional surviving relatives are three sons,Thomas, who lives six miles southeast of Bloomington,James, north Lincoln street, and Lee, who lives with his mother in Cincinnati; two sisters, Mrs. Ida Bender and Mrs. Alice Shaw; and three brothers, Dave, Obe and James Chestnut.
Three children preceded him in death. They are Lydia, Abraham and Annie, all buried in the Friendship cemetery in Monroe County. Funeral arrangements have not been made as yet.
[Bloomington Herald-Telephone, September 6, 1934, page 1, column 7]
++++++++++++++++++++
Funeral services for Benjamin Chestnut, aged 83,automobile accident victim, were held at 11 o’clock Sunday morning from the Friendship church, with interment made in the adjoining cemetery.
[Bloomington Herald-Telephone, September 10, 1934, page 6, column
2]
Marriage (1st): Sarah Alice Stephenson, married 6 Feb 1876
o Thomas W. Chesnut (1884 - 1961)
o James P. Chestnut (1886 - 1974)
o Lee Chestnut outlived his father
o Abraham Chesnut probably an infant
o Annie Chesnut probably an infant
o Laura Chesnut (026): b. 21 Aug 1876 d. 29 Aug 1876
o Lida/Lidia E. Chesnut (026): b. 27 Oct 1877 d. 10 Dec 1897
Marriage (2nd): Emma Theresa Pate Chestnut (1857 - 1924), married 29 Nov 1906
Family Members
Siblings
-
![]()
Mary Jane Chestnut Peterson
1851–1921
-
![]()
George W Chestnut
1855–1856
-
![]()
C Florence Chestnut
1856–1857
-
![]()
William T. Chestnut
1858–1863
-
![]()
Martha Alice Chestnut Shaw
1860–1942
-
![]()
Nancy Isabelle "Belle" Chestnut Crouch
1861–1931
-
![]()
John Obe Chestnut
1864–1950
-
![]()
Clara Chestnut
1866–1866
-
![]()
James M. Chestnut
1867–1937
-
![]()
Ida May Chestnut Bender
1869–1941
-
![]()
Edwad "Edgar" Chestnut
1871–1871
-
Silva M. Chestnut
1872–1880
-
![]()
David Samuel Chestnut
1875–1961
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
