Ronk - James R.
Source: Crawfordsille Weekly Journal Friday Friday, 30 March 1900
Lebanon Reporter: James R. Ronk was instantly killed Saturday afternoon while felling timber on his farm a short distances west of Cason. Mr. Ronk and his son, Arthur, were engaged in the work about a hundred rods from the house. The tree they were felling started to fall in a direction almost opposite to the one expected. The elder Mr. Ronk was near the spot where the tree fell. The tree struck a beach tree and a broken limb was hurled directly at Mr. Ronk. The end of the limb struck Mr. Ronk in the head with terrific force, splitting his head wide open and crushing the skull into an almost unrecognizable mass, scattering the brains out over the ground.
James Rufus Ronk was born in Montgomery County, near New Ross, September 14, 1848. He was united in marriage to Alice Davis October 3, 1871. This union was blessed with the birth of five children, four sons and one daughter, Mrs. Rev. Frank Daugherty, of Yountsville, all of whom survive the father.
Mr. Ronk united with the Baptist Church and was a faithful member. He was a man who was greatly devoted to his family. No sacrifice was too great for him to make in the interest of wife and children. He was a quiet and unassuming man and was greatly loved by all who knew him.
He had purchased the farm west of Cason only recently, and had been at work on it but two or three months. He was a member of the Home Forum Benefit Order, in which he carried $1,000 life insurance. -s