Honored Citizen Loses Life
Our community has had a number of violent shocks in the past two years, but the announcement that Renzi O'Neal, the well-known and highly respected farmer living northeast of town, had been killed by an interurban car last Monday morning was one of the most startling that has taken place for some time. Mr. O'Neal had been to Coatesville to deliver a can of cream for shipment on the Vandalia, driving a spirited horse to an open buggy. In crossing the interurban tracks close to Seph Steers' residence east of town an interurban freight car from the east bore down upon him without him seeing it. The rig was directly upon the track when the car struck. The horse was thrown on the cattle-guard fence on the north side of the track and instantly killed. The buggy was thrown against the fence on the south side of the track and demolished and Mr. O'Neal was thrown about thirty feet to the embankment on the south side. His right arm and limb were crushed and broken, his skull was fractured and he was supposed to be internally injured.He was carried to the home of Mr.Steers and medical aid was summoned, but it was of little use. His injuries proved fatal and he died in about an hour after the accident.
Mr. O'Neal's frightful death caused a deep gloom to pervade the community. He was a familiar figure on our streets and had lived in town for a year or more previous to returning to his farm last fall. Had he lived it was his intention to again return to town as soon as he could secure a suitable person to go on his place.He was an active member of the Coatesville Methodist church, a member of the Men's Bible class in the Sunday school, and will be greatly missed in these organizations.
When two months of age he was brought by his parents to Marion Township, Putnam County, Indiana, where he grew to manhood. On Oct. 12, 1881, he was united in marriage to Sarah J. Knetzer, who was his faithful companion throughout his life.
At 17 years of age he became converted and joined the Liberty M.E. church under the pastorate of William Davidson. This remained his church home until middle life, when he moved to Clinton Falls, Putnam County, and transferred his membership to the Bethel M.E. church near that place. In 1908 he moved to Hendricks County and made the M.E. church at Coatesville his spiritual home until his untimely death. His daily prayer was that he might live a consistently Christian life.
At all times he was a kind and dutiful son and a tender and loving husband. Those who knew him best loved him most, but somehow in our sorrow we feel that our loss has been his gain, and he has gone to join the church triumphant.
He is survived by a wife, a mother, five sisters, three brothers and a host of other relatives and friends, who miss him and mourn for him.

Asleep in Jesus, blessed sleep,
From which some ever wake to weep
A calm and undisturbed repose,
Unbroken by the last of foes.

Asleep in Jesus O how sweet
To be for such a slumber meet!
With holy confidence to sing,
That death has lost its venomed sting.