June, 1921, Lincoln Co, Colorado, newspaper unknown

Killed By UP Train At Boyero
Railroad Tragedy Snuffed Life of J H Evilsizer, Prominent Lincoln County Rancher-Shock To The Community.
John Harrison Evilsizer, a prominent stockman, who resided in the Rush Creek Community, was killed last Saturday morning at the Boyero Crossing by Union Pacific....... Mr Evilsizer was making a trip to Boyero in his car and while crossing the railroad was struck by the train and sustained fatal injuries. On account of the view of the approaching train being obstructed by box cars at the stockyards to the east of the crossing, Mr Evilsizer, not noticing the passenger, drove up on to the tracks. Eyewitnesses to the terrible tragedy were Alfred Fryer and Jim Sweeney, The train was traveling at a rate of 45 miles an hour and it is presumed that Mr Evilsizer, seeing the approaching train and fearing that he would not make it across started to get out of the car when the crash came. The machine was smashed to winding and scattered along the road for several hundred feet. Mr Evilsizer was catapulted from the machine and hurled about fifteen feet in the air and thrown about 100 feet to the right of way close to the railroad station. The train was in charge of Engineer Clem Meyers and Fireman H Abernathy, who noticed the car on the track about 100 feet east of the crossing. Although running at a rate up to 45 miles an hour, engineer Meyers halted the train within its length, the last coach being on the crossing when it came to a standstill. The body of the unfortunate man was picked up and ugly gashes about the head...and thought there was little hope. He was placed aboard the train and accompanied by David Hammond and Harry Davis and was brought to Hugo. About four miles out of Boyero, Mr Evilsizer expired without regaining consciousness. ON the arrival of the train at the Hugo station the body was removed and taken in charge by the May Mortuary. Coroner Dr Lloyd summoned a jury who examined the body and an inquest was held Monday morning at the courthouse. A half dozen witnesses testified at the inquest, including Engineer Meyers and Fireman Abernathy, eye witnesses and several others. The men in charge of the train testified that the car was standing still on the track when the accident occurred although eye witnesses who were close by, state the car was moving at the time. The evidence brought out the fact that the crossing at this point is in very poor condition and it is not kept up. Going on to the main line from the south there are two tracks to cross over, the house track and the side track and both crossings are very rough. To the east a stock yard and the fact that there were several box cars standing on the siding, obstructs the view of a west-bound train. The jury composed of County Clerk Fred C Kenoga (former county coroner) as foreman and Messrs T G Watson, I R Swennes, A H Reid, Hank Hanson and W K Fortune after hearing the testimony of the several witnesses returned the following verdict: That John Harrison Evilsizer, came to his death by being struck by the U P Train No 119 on the public crossing in the town of Boyero, on Saturday, March 19, 1921. "We further find that from the evidence submitted in the testimony that had this crossing been properly maintained by the railroad company this accident might have been avoided.".

John Harrison Evilsizer was born at Millville, MO on January 11, 1861. He spent his boyhood with his parents and was married to Estelle Cummings in Ray County Mo in 1881, where he resided until 1885, then moving to Severy, Greenwood County Kansas. In 1889 he went to Oklahoma and attended the opening of the first land script. While there he was appointed a United States Marshall. In 1890 he moved with his family to Kansas City, Mo where he engaged in the moving and transfer business. IN 1902 he moved to Johnson City Kansas where he resided for eight years. In 1910 he came to Colorado and on February of that year filed on the north half of section 12, township 15, range 54 at the United States Land Office in Hugo. Several months later he established residence on the place and has lived there until his death. He acquired a couple of sections of land and carried on stock raising and hog raising business for a number of years along with his sons, Roy and Victor. The cattle and hogs shipped by the Evilsizers to the Denver and Kansas City markets have at times topped the markets of the day. In June 1914 Mr Evilsizer was married to Ivy Chloe Page, to which union one child was born, William Hoye. The other surviving children are Mrs Edgar Burke of Kansas City MO, Thomas Sinclair, engaged in the auto truck business at Kansas City; and Roy and Vic of Rush Creek who are stock farmers. Besides the widow, two sisters also survive, Mrs Henry Turner and Mrs Richard Gibson. Mr Evilsizer took a great interest in horses and in his days owned some speedster. During his residence in Kansas he took pride in being the possessor of the Kansas Champion. After coming to Lincoln County he identified himself with the fair meetings and his robust figure, conspicuous at the annual meetings will be missed. Mr Evilsizer was superintendent of the racing program and always took keen interest in this matter. In politics he was a staunch Republican but never aspired to office although he served as Justice of the Peace in his district for a number of years. The board of county commissioners at a recent session named him as road overseer of his district and on the morning of the tragedy which snuffed out his life, he was on the road to Boyero to get a slip for road work. The sickening news of the death of Mr Evilsizer cast a gloom over the entire community. He was devoted to his family,loyal and enthusiastic about every cause which he believed in and was a fluent and inspiring conversationalist. He will be greatly missed in the community life of this section where his presence was an inspiration to many and the sorrow of the sudden and unexpected calling away is universal among our people. Mr Evilsizer was a good honest and industrious man, friendly and accommodating to his neighbors and kind and considerate. The writer was acquainted with Mr Evilsizer for several years and he was always right in anything for the public good. He loved his home and was a model husband as affectionate and tender father to his children, and he leaves an honored name as a heritage to them.. The sympathy of the entire community goes out to the bereaved widow, the four children, two sisters and the other relatives in their time of sorrow. "Death thou art infinite, tis life is little" The funeral services were conducted at the Methodist church yesterday afternoon at two o'clock and were in charge of Rev J H Sutton, of the Latter Day Saints, assisted by Rev M B Beattloe, pastor of the Methodist church. Rev Sutton who was intimately acquainted with Mr Evilsizer delivered the funeral sermon and paid a fitting tribute to the deceased. His discourse was taken from ten verses of the fifth chapter of Pauls second epistle to the Corinthians. A song was rendered by Mssrs Claud Wilson and Alva Bacher. Mrs A H Reid and Miss Olga Larson. Many beautiful wreaths and flowers adorned the casket. The active pallbearers were Clinton Zimmerman, Mike Monahan, W I Cooper, William F Hoppen, Sol Smith and Clayton Gross and the honorary members Ed Wooldridge, Bert Cook, Harry Hayward, C M Miles, Charles Emerson and P O Hedlund. Burial followed in the Evergreen cemetery directed by the May Mortuary. Words fail to express the mourning of the community in the loss of Mr Evilsizer, one of Lincoln County's most prominent citizens and in the grief that has suddenly befallen the stricken family, we with the multitude convey to them our most heartfelt sympathies.