Wilkerson - William McKinley
Source: 1950s Area Obituaries – thanks to Covington Public Library (especially Brenda) p 144 – hand dated June 2, 1954
Circumstances surrounding the death last Wednesday of William McKinley Wilkerson, 79 at his farm home southeast of Ladoga, a former resident of Hillsboro are being investigated by Montgomery County officials. Wilkerson’s son-in-law, Raymond Shirley 44 who lived with Wilkerson is being held in the County Jail as a material witness. An autopsy was held over Wilkinson’s body Wednesday night at Culver Hospital in Crawfordsville which revealed that Wilkerson had suffered a massive hemorrhage but that he “also suffered several injuries that could have caused his death. According to County Corner Dr. Fred H. Blix, the injuries included multiple rib fractures on the left side as well as a dislocated left shoulder. Dr. Blix said there were indications that the injuries were inflicted after Wilkerson suffered the stroke. Dr. Blix as the family doctor found Mr. Wilkerson dead in bed when he was called to the Wilkerson home Wednesday evening. He had been dead only a few minutes. He had been called to the home by Shirley who was not there when the doctor arrived but returned a short time later. The Wilkerson-Shirley home is a tenant structure on a farm southeast of Ladoga. Also living on the farm in another house is Forrest Simpson, manager of the farm. Wilkerson had called at the Simpson home late in the afternoon on Tuesday and later was found lying in the lane. Shirley was working in an adjacent field and he and Simpson carried Wilkerson into another field where he would not be molested by animals. Shirley thought he would recover from his illness but at 9:30 p.m. when had not arrived home Shirley went to the field looking for him and was unable to revive him. Shirley, aided by Simpson and Freeland put him in an automobile and took him home but hw as unable to talk and Shirley stated he could not get any response from him during the day. Wilkerson was in Crawfordsville earlier Tuesday when he called on his wife and daughter who are patients at Culver Hospital. Mr. Wilkerson was born June 20, 1874 in Knoxville, Tenn and was married 57 years ago to Lulu Coram who survives. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church at Georgetown Ill. He spent most of his married life in Illinois moving to Indiana 5 years ago. Surviving besides the widow and daughter are a brother the Rev. Garfield Wilkerson of Mansfield, Ohio; a sister Mrs. Rhoda Norris of Knoxville. Funeral service was held at 1 p.m. Friday at the Cox Funeral Home in Ladoga with Rev. Elbert Smith pastor of the Ladoga Presbyterian Church in charge. Burial was in the Ladoga Cemetery.