Items from Clark Township, Perry Co., Indiana

Miss Bettie Ruth Sandage, 16, died April 1, 1940 from B appendicitis operation at Parkview Hospital in Tell City, IN . The sophomore at Bristow High School was survived by her parents, Claud and Carrie Howe Sandage; five sisters, Ada Beard, Jean Stroud, Mary, Mae, and Faye Sandage; two brothers, Murl and Omer Sandage.

 Marvin 0. McKim, 18, of near Bristow, died in Parkview Hospital, July 4, 1943, I 1/2 hours after receiving injuries sustained in an accident when he lost control of his car at Fennhaven between Tell City and Cannelton. There were several other people riding with him, they were all cousins. None of them were hurt bad. Surviving were his parents, Mr. And Ms Alva McKim; two brothers, coy and Lavis (Jack); four sisters Enid, Phyllis, Nelda and Janet; his brother, Eldon, lost his life on U .S .Aircraft Carrier Wasp in September of 1942.  Grandparents were Mr. and Mrs. John W. Foster.

Faye Van Winkle of near Bristow died August 11, 1973: near Troy, on a rain slick 545 highway. The accident occurred while meeting another driver who lost control of his car and went across the center-line and hit her car head-on. She was dead at the scene. She was survived by her husband Ed and four daughters, Kathryn, Carolyn, Gale and Ann.

 Miss Sandy K. Van Hoosier, 18, was killed in a motorcycle accident August 4,1981. The driver of the motorcycle was also injured when he ran off the highway while rounding a curve and went down an embankment on IN 62 near St. Meinrad. Miss Van Hoosier was a 1981 graduate of Perry Central High School. Survivors include her parents, Claude and Darlene Van Hoosier; brothers, Kevin, Johnny and James and sisters, Judy, Doris and Mary, all at home. Grandparents; Mr. and Mrs. Claude Van Hoosier Sr. and Mr. and Mrs. William Merkley.

Earl Flamion, 68, a Perry County Sheriff was killed in a two- vehicle accident September 21,1980 about a mile north of Tell City on highway 66 while en-route to work early Sunday morning. Apparently, a car driven by Steve McManaway of Tell City sideswiped his police car. Flamion died of internal injuries, a skull fracture and a broken neck. He was the son of the late John and Maggie (Naviaux) Flamion. Surviving were his wife the former Olive Foster, a daughter, Carol Gordon, a son, Allen Flamion, and a brother, Murl Flamion. He owned and operated the garage in Bristow for fifteen years and served as Troy’s town marshal where he lived. He graduated from Bristow High School in 1931, and was one of the team of the purple Aces winning basketball sectionals.

Shawn Lee Leinenbach, 18, died July 7,1990 after a motorcycle accident on Hwy. 64, near Hunting burg. He was the son of Pamela L. Thompson and Michael Leinenbach and the grandson of Kenneth and Marilyn Leinenbach.

Dr. LeRoy Aders, 43, was killed November 30, 1995 in a plane crash 30 miles from Toledo, Ohio. A native of Tell City, he was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Gordy Aders and Abby Aders and the grandson of Rev. and Mrs .George Aders of Bristow. Surviving are his wife, Carol, twin sons, Aaron and Zachary and two daughters, Brook and Vanessa; three sisters, Gloria, Kathy and Dawn.

Lola Catherine Morgan, a widow and mother of ten children was killed and six others were injured in a two-car head-on collision on Hwy. 62. She was the widow of William Morgan, who also died in an auto accident eight years before near Hunting burg. Mrs. Morgan with three of her children was a passenger in a car driven by Pat Curl, of Doolittle Mills. Injured were the driver, two eight year old twins, Carrol and Carolyn, and Kathleen, 12. She had a total of eleven children. Surviving were seven sons, Oral, Virgil Lee,  William Ira, John Eugene, Charles Laverne, Gordon Edwin, Carrol Gene, and three daughters, Mrs. Shirley (Evelyn Loretta) Hensley, Kathleen and Carolyn June.

Jason W. Faulkenberg, 19, died June 20, 1994 after an accident while exercising in his home. He was recovering from a spinal cord injury he suffered in May of 1993 when the all-terrain vehicle he was riding overturned on him. He was the son of Larry and Patricia “Peggy” (Rasche) Faulkenberg. He was the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Faulkenberg.

Murl Aders, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lee Aders, was disabled in an automobile accident in the summer of 1959, after he graduated with the class of “59” from Bristow High School. The accident happened near St. Meinrad when he fell asleep at the wheel. He spent the rest of his life in a wheel chair until his death June 25, 1990 at the age of 49. He had six brothers, Russell, Bernard, John Joe, Kenneth, Gerald and Maurice; five sisters, Ruth, Joyce, Ida, Sister Judy and Eleanor.

C. David Richard, 24, son of Sandy (Flamion) Richard and Charles Richard of Bristow, died July 9,1995 from injuries sustained in an accident when his car collided with a tanker truck when it overturned, spilling 2900 gal. of milk near Holland. He was survived by his wife, Ginger Cunningham Richard; a sister, Denise and two brothers, Wesley and Grant Richard; his grandparents, Ivan and Nellie Flamion and Katherine Richard. Bobby Cox was killed in a car accident near St Meinrad, IN when he fell asleep at the wheel. He was 17 years old.

Raymond C. Franchville, 21, home for a weekend visit, died in an auto crash Apri129, 1954, when his car went out of control on the Bristow-St Meinrad Road about a mile north- west of Bristow on the Montkhaus Hill. He was found by Gary Lane Glenn and his girl friend, Marcella Skrynecke. He was believed to have been thrown through the windshield and pinned beneath the car and died of a broken neck. Survivors included his parents, Alvin and Emma Harbaville Franchville; brothers, Eddie, Julius, Jessie, Cosmas, and Damion Franchville; sisters, Mrs. Mary Hewitt, Bessie Nichelson, Sister Mary Noel, Marjorie Franchville. He was a member of St. John’s Catholic Church and a corporal with the 28th U.S. Infantry Division when separated from service.

William R. Hagerdon died instantly on October 5, 1981, when his truck struck a tree. The accident happened on Hwy. 145, north of St. Marks. He apparently, fell asleep. He was a 1977 graduate of Perry Central High School. Surviving are his parents., Roy and Selma Hagerdon, two brothers, Harold and Darwin and a sister, Janalee. He is buried in St. John’s Lutheran Church Cemetery in Evanston IN

Irvin Leon Aders, 22, from Bristow was killed June 24, 1967 in a one-car accident 1/2 mile west of Bristow on the St. Meinrad Road. Two passengers, Anthony Gehlhausen and Gary Genet were injured. Irvin was the son of Ameal and Mildred Graves Aders. Surviving are two brothers, Gary Lee – and Curtis, and two sisters, Janet and Karen.

Joseph U. Heeke, a 20 year-old Navy man, and a native of Siberia, was fatally injured on March 3,1961 by a hit and run driver in Norfolk, VA. He and three other sailors were on leave when the accident occurred. One other sailor was also killed. Heeke was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Heeke. Others surviving at that time were; seven brothers, Robert, Charles, Paul, Patrick, Frank, Danny and James Heeke, all at home; : four sisters, Alberta Hanners, Shirley, Rosemary, and Rita Mae Heeke at home. He was a graduate from Bristow High School in 1959.

Richard G. (Rick) Leinenbach, 38, died on June 29,. 1999 in an early morning one car crash on IN 545 one mile south of New Boston. Authorities said Leinenbach was eject- ed from the vehicle when it hit a ditch and then flipped end over end into a soybean field. He died a short time later in the hospital. He was the son of Kenny and Marilyn Leinenbach I of near Huffman. Surviving beside the parents are two broth- ers, Mike and Randy, and three daughters, Kristy, Kourtnery and Kasey. He owned Mighty Clean Detail Shop in Troy.

John Tipp Wheeler, 36, of Evansville was killed instantly in November of 1962 when his station wagon crashed into the back of a semi-trailer on U .S .41. He left a wife, Anastasia and sons, John and Glenn. .

James Wheeler, 40, was killed instantly September 1, 1968 when a tractor overturned 9n him at Heber Springs, Arkansas. His wife, Betty; three sons, James, Bobby and Jakie; four daughters, Kathy, Deanna, Malinda and Lisa Wheeler survived him.

Olive June Rogers lost her life when her car ran off the road into a pond as she was on her way home from work. She was living in Ohio at the time.

Homer Lee Wheeler also died at a young age. These were all children of Mr. and Mrs. Homer Wheeler. Survivors include, brothers, William and Nelson and sisters Dorothy Franchville, Irene Krieg, Mary Lasiter, Pricilla Roddewing and Nancy Huebschman. They were grandchildren of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Wheeler of Bristow.

Scott Gehlhausen, 21, died June 7, 1993 in a car accident near St. Meinrad. Surviving are his parents Michael and Iola Gehlhausen; his grandparents, Victor & Mary Jane Gehlhausen and Mary Wheatley.

Floella J. McKim; Faulty heating equipment caused an accidental fire early Sunday morning, Nov. 22, 1981, in which a former Bristow woman died. She was found near the back door of her 32- foot camper, according to the coroner and State Police. McKim, 61, lived at the trailer located in the ~ Brushy Hollow Village, near St. Marks. A passing motorist on IN 145 saw the blaze and turned in the alarm.

Between Bristow and Hwy 37 are four large hills. When truck drivers come into town and think they have found a short cut to Hwy 37 and are told about the hills, they know they have made a mistake, especially if they are loaded. An eyewitness knew it was not good judgment to get too close behind them in case they had trouble. This was not a semi but a log truck, as you can see by the picture, he did not make it , to the top until some time later.

Roger Reutman died 1994. He had been ill since a motor cycle accident in 1981. He was survived by his parents, Herman and Mabel Van Winkle Reutman.

Rebecca Lynn Gehlhausen, 15, a sophomore at Perry Central was killed in a two-car accident March 11 , 1972. She died of a fractured skull and a broken neck. She was a passenger in a car driven by Daniel Rasche who also died from a fractured skull. The Rasche car ran off U .S .231 and skidded back across the highway and was struck head-on by a car driven by Andrew Buechlein who died from internal injuries. Surviving Rebecca were her parents Mr. and Mrs. Rudolph Gehlhausen; three brothers, Daniel, Kenrick and Timothy; four sisters, Cindy, Michelle, Jackie and Sandy. Grandparents are Anthony Paulin, Ella Paulin and Mr. and Mrs. C.H. Gehlhausen.

Katie Gogel, little three-year-old daughter of Jerry and Glenda Gogel, died May 26, 1982 from Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever caused by a tick bite. She had become ill and was expected to break out with the chicken pox. After the doctor assured her parents it was not necessary for him to see her, she became worst. It was then they found out it was Rocky Mountain Fever, the first in the tri-state. Her parents, one brother, Adam, and grandparents survived her.

A Bristow man was injured in April, 1963 when he was pinned beneath his overturned tractor. 29 year old James Russell Denning was using the tractor in a logging operation along Oak Ridge Road when the tractor flipped over on an incline and pinned him underneath. The idling flywheel caused burns about his chest. He also had a broken leg. His cries for help attracted nearby neighbors. Ameal Aders advised tavern operator, Nonnan Williams, who notified the emergency squad and State Police. Denning, the son of Edwin and Classie Denning was married and the father of three children.

Roger Lasher was born November 11,1952 and died December 7,1969. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Bert and Heneritta Lasher.

Anna Rebecca Morgan, wife of Oliver Morgan and mother of nine children of St. Croix was the victim of a horrible tragedy. Mrs. Morgan was attempting to light a fire in the stove when the fuel can exploded in her hands. She died later that same day. She was the daughter of Daniel T. and Alice Weedman Taylor. Surviving at the time of death were her children: Mabel Van Hoosier, Oliver Jr., Margaret, Betty, Bill and her husband Oliver, and a brother Claude Taylor. She was a member of the Baptist Church.

Ester Gerwin, wife of Louie Gerwin was badly burned when she brushed against a space heater and caught her clothing on fire. Realizing how bad she was burned, she wanted to make out a will right then. She died three weeks later and is buried at New Boston.

Fred J. Witte, 67, of Bristow, drowned in the Anderson Creek March 17, 1960. Mrs. Maggie Flamion whose home is within sight of the spot of the drowning, said she saw Witte as 1te walked down to the creek bank about 100 yards below the Bristow bridge. She saw him fall backward in the water and assumed he had suffered a heart attack. The victim had been in failing health about two years. Surviving are his wife, Mayme; a daughter, Mrs. Carl (Mary) Nielsen, Lamar; a son, Arthur Witte, Evansville; a sister, Mrs Anna Van Winkle, Tell City; two brothers Frost and William, both of Dale; a granddaughter, Brenda Neilsen. Mr. and Mrs. Witte also reared Mrs. Witte’s brother Herbert Jones of Bristow.

December 1948 was the date of a horrible mine accident. Four men were in the mine. The body of William Huff, 34, was recovered. The bodies of Jacob Harpenau, James Robert Kellems and Thomas McCallister were not recovered and the spot is marked with a marker in the woods near St. Meinrad.

1. William Huff, 34, left behind his wife of just three years, Nancy Ann.
2. Jake Harpenau, 40, left behind a wife, Helen, and five children all under the age of 15. Charles, Robert, David, Janet LeMaire and Mary Becker. Jacqueline Rosemary was born 6 months later. She was called Jackie after her father.
3. Robert Kellems, 57, was survived by his wife, Easter, he left fatherless nine children.

Thomas McCallister, 44, was survived by his wife, Shirley, daughter Marie and his mother, Sarah McCallister.

From Hazel Oberhausen, daughter of the late Sam Anderson: My great uncle, Tolbert Anderson, was a well digger by profession and he was in great demand in Clark and Oil Townships around the turn of the century. Dr. Lomax asked Uncle “Tol” to dig a well for him in Bristow. The work went well and the job was almost finished. They were down to solid rock. A rope seat was lowered into the well to lift Uncle Tol to the surface. Something went wrong and he fell feet first back to the bottom of the well. His ankles were horribly crushed. The doctor did the best he could but it was a hopeless task. Uncle Tol was a cripple the rest of his life. He could walk without a cane and was able to go squirrel hunting, but he moved very slowly. The last years of his life were spent in his home on the hill (Ray Lasher’s) place where he lived with his brother Will. They are buried in Fosters Ridge Cemetery .

About 1927 Cyrus Van Winkle, whose family was one of the oldest pioneer families in Bristow, suffered an accident while cutting timber on his farm. The tree leaned badly and when it was almost down, it split and jumped back across the stump. His eight-year-old son, Eugene, was assisting him and appeared to be in danger. Van Winkle went to his rescue only to be caught in the jagged end of the fallen tree and was all but crushed into the ground. The boy was not hurt but it took many months for Cyrus’s broken leg to heal so that he could get around and he never fully recovered from it. Cyrus was a school teacher for forty school terms, all of which were in Clark Township. Mr. Van Winkle died June 16, 1939 at age 70. His son Eugene who suffered from a kidney ailment died at age 10 1/2.  Note:  by Riley Lamkin – The date of the accident would be more like 1924 do to Eugene being born October 05, 1916)