Walkup - Joseph O.
Source: Crawfordsville Daily Journal June 15, 1914
Dr. Joseph O. Walkup was born near Mace, Indiana March 29, 1885 and was killed by lightning June 1, 1914 at Ft. Bayard, New Mexico. He united with the ME Church of Mace, Indiana at age 17. He attended Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Ind receiving his BS degree 1905 and graduated from Chicago College of Medicine and Surger in 1908. Immediately after his graduation, he married Miss Gladys B. Leech of Hazelhurst, PA May 21, 1908 and went to Banff, Alberta, Canada to accept a position in a sanitarium. Only a short time after there he was stricken with typhoid fever and returned to this county as soon as he was able to travel. In the following October he located at Western Springs, Ill, a suburb of Chicago. Here their son, Kenneth was born June 15, 1909. The following September he took the examination for entrance to the US Army and in October was ordered to Ft. Snelling, MN where he was stationed until October 1910 when he entered the Army Medicial school at Washington, DC. He received his commission in the regular medical corps the following spring. During the summer of 1911 he was on duty at the maneuver camp at San Antonio, Tx. He was ordered to Ft. Bayard, New Mexico in July of that year and was on duty at that place till the day of his death. He received his commission as captain to the medical corps US Army March 1914. He is survived by his wife and son, Kenneth, his father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. J.M. Walkup near Bainbridge, Ind, one sister, Mrs. Albert Risk near Roachdale and a host of other relatives. The El Paso Texas Times has the following acount: "Death won in the race with a storm here today when Capt. Joseph O. Walkup, medical corps, United Sates Army was instantly killed by lightning while driving his touring car at a terrific rate of speed. With him in the machine were Capt. and Mrs. B.J. Tillman, their daughter, Agnes, and the father of Mrs. Tillman, Brig. Gen. Francis Moore, retired. They were all badly shocked by the lightning but are not thought to be seriously hurt. After plowing up a portion of an embankmet the racing automobile, came to a stop with the corpse of Capt. Walkup at the wheel. The party had been visiting near Central, and were returning home. Observing a storm approaching Capt. Walkup started driving his car at terrific speed to try and reach home before the downpour. A pall of darkness descended and a flash of lightning struck the officer on the head, killing him instantly. The car swerved slightly alongside an embankment, which it plowed up, but came to a stop without throwing out the passengers. How the other member of the party escaped death is a mystery. Another automobile coming behind picked up the party and conveyed them to Ft. Bayard. The death of Capt. Walkup is deeply regretted in army circles. He was one of the most popular officers stationed here. He is survived by his wife and little son, Kenneth, who are at present visiting in Pennsylvania." - kbz