WOODY- James - 1914
Source: Kingman Star Friday, July 3, 1914
Rising Young Third Baseman’s Life ends at 23 years of age in Bay City, Mich. Leaves wife and daughter.
Little did the writer think when last we saw JAMES WOODY on our streets, a short time before he left to take up his work as third base-
man with the Bay City, Michigan baseball club in the Southern Michigan league, that we would be called upon so soon to chronicle the sad departure of this young man, of only 23 short years, from his earthly career to that land from whence no traveler ever returns, but such is our sad experience, for James Hyle Woody is dead.
Dead! No, not dead but sleeping in that dream from which he will awaken no more to earthly cares and tribulations, but in that celestial home where life, truth and love abound, and the graciousness of our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ rules supreme.
The body arrived here Monday evening, and we doubt if there ever was a time in Kingman’s history when the gloom of sorrow fastened itself so close about our little town. As the remains were carried by six of the deceased’s best ball-player friends from the train to the funeral car, heads were bowed low and scarcely a dry eye was to be seen.
The body was removed to the home of his parents, where it lay in state until Wednesday afternoon. During this time hundreds of friends and relatives called to pay a last tribute to the deceased and offer a word of comfort to the bereft wife and parents.
When word was first received of Jim’s illness no one thought it was so serious. Even his immediate relatives did not feel alarmed until a message came saying he was dying. The next message was the fatal one. Jim was dead.
Deceased had grown to manhood in Kingman, and had received the greater part of his amateur baseball training with the former teams of this place, but after a while opportunity to try out in the league presented itself and Jim went. He made good and it has always been a source of much interest and pride among local ball fans each season to watch the progress of the league that had Woody’s name enrolled.
As a tribute of the great love held for their fellow ball player, the Bay City team will hold a Woody day on their first home date, the proceeds of which will be given to the widow and child. Mrs. Woody and baby were alone in the northern city when death came. Roscoe Woody, of Crawfordsville, made an effort to reach his brother’s bedside but death came before he arrived. The Allith-Prouty Hardware Manufactory, of Danville, Ill., where the deceased was employed when not playing ball, showed great respect when a special representative came Tuesday evening with a beautiful floral offering. The factory also closed down during the funeral hour. Funeral services were held in the Friends church, Rev. J. M. McHargue officiating, being assisted by Revs. Strohl and Rardin. It is said to have been one of the most largely attended funerals ever held in Kingman. Interment was made in the Kingman Fraternal cemetery. – S
Source: Kingman Star Friday, July 3, 1914
JAMES HYLE WOODY, son of Thomas and Isabelle Woody, was born February 15, 1891, and died June 27, 1914, aged 23 years, 4 months and 12 days. He was born in Kingman, Ind., and grew to manhood here. He was married to Bessie Sanders on Oct. 15, 1912. One child, a daughter, Bernice Isabelle, was born to this union.
At the time of his death, he was playing base ball with the Bay City, Mich., ball team of the Southern Michigan league. He died of Typhoid Pneumonia in Mercy Hospital in Bay city. His death is the first among the grandchildren and great grandchildren of Levi Woody. Of his own family, he leaves a wife and daughter, a father and mother, two sisters, Mrs. Charles Manwaring, of Indianapolis, and Mrs. Walter Ridenour, of Forest, Ind., and two brothers, Roscoe, of Crawfordsville, and Greenleaf of this place. – s