KESSLER, Irma Jean - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Ladoga, June 18 – Irma Jean Kessler, age 10 was killed almost instantly and her mother, Mrs. Charles Kessler about 55 of 934 West 29th Street, Indianapolis was seriously injured when the automobile in which they were riding overturned and pinned them beneath it two miles east of Ladoga Wednesday morning about 11 o’clock.  Accident occurred when a rear tire on the machine blew out and the driver, Clair Byrd, 914 W. 24th Street, Indianapolis lost control of the car which went into the ditch and overturned.  Byrd escaped serious injury although he suffered considerably from shock.  Mrs. Byrd is a sister of Mrs. Kessler.  The little girl and her mother were pinned  under the machine.  The child was thrown through the right front door of the car but after she dropped to the ground the car, which had turned around and gone off the south edge of the road, plunged over on her.  Sarabel Kessler, daughter of Ben Kessler, near whose home the crash occurred saw the accident and called to her father.  He, together with Otis Stark, a neighbor who was visiting in the Kessler home, rushed to the scene of the crash about a quarter of a mile away.  Kessler and Stark, together with Byrd who had managed to crawl out of the car attempted to lift the machine from the little girl and her mother but could not move the machine.  It was necessary to telephone to Ladoga for help before they could be moved.  Both the girl and her mother were rushed to the office of Dr. WE Gross at Ladoga where it was found that the girl was dead.  After Mrs. Kessler had been given first aid, she was taken to the Culver Hospital at Crawfordsville in the Gottschall ambulance from Roachdale.  An X-ray examination of Mrs. Kessler was made as soon as she was admitted to determine the great extent of her injuries.  All three of the accident victims were in the front seat of the automobile.  They were en route to Ladoga from their home at Indianapolis and intended to visit at the homes of Mrs. Nettie Johnson and Mrs. George Himes sisters of  Mrs. Byrd and  Mrs. Kessler. The back seat of the machine was filled with  glass cans as the Indianapolis woman attended to can strawberries during their stay in Ladoga.  Mrs. Byrd already was in Ladoga at the time of the crash, having come here from Indianapolis last week.  Mrs. Kessler was here last Sunday as was her daughter but they had gone back to their home in the capital Monday morning.  The little girl was killed as the result of a crushed chest and head it was said.  It is believed that she died within a few minutes after the accident occurred.  Irma Jean Kessler was born in Ladoga in July 1920, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kessler.  She was the youngest child in the family.  The little girl lived here until two years ago when she moved to Indianapolis with her parents.  The father is employed at the Pres-O-Lite factory at Indianapolis.  The survivors are the parents and one sister, Lelah Kessler of Portland and three brothers, Nel and Paul of Indianapolis and Earl of Iowa.  The funeral arrangements have been announced. Howard Himes, postmaster left and a relative of the dead girl left immediately after the accident for Indianapolis to inform the girl’s father of her death.  He expected to bring Mr. Kessler back to the Culver Hospital at Crawfordsville which his wife is being treated.

Funeral services for Irma Kessler, age 10 who was killed in an automobile accident two miles east of Ladoga Wednesday morning will be held at the Ladoga Christian Church Saturday afternoon at 2 o’clock.  Burial will take place in the Ladoga cemetery.  Rev. Audra Moore of Indianapolis will be assisted by Rev. RG Smith and Rev. David McNetly, both of Ladoga.  Mrs. Charles Kessler, mother of the little girl, was reported to remain in a serious condition at Culver Hospital at Crawfordsville as the result of the injuries she received in the crash.  The accident occurred when an automobile driven by Clair Byrd, brother-in-law of Mrs. Kessler blew out a rear tire and overturned in a ditch.  The little girl and her mother were pinned under the machine.  The child was killed almost instantly.  The girl, her mother and Byrd, all of whom had lived in Indianapolis for the past several years were en route to Ladoga, their former home to visit relatives.  --- transcribed by  kbz