James Ransler Timmons
born in 1880, in Dayton, Illinois
died July 17, 1927, in Marseilles, Illinois

Obituaries:

JAMES TIMMONS IS KILLED IN WINDOW PLUNGE

In a fall from a window in his room on the second floor of the home of his sister, Mrs. Effie Fenton, 427 Washington street, where he resided, James Timmons, aged 47, met instant death shortly after 10 o’clock last evening.

Members of the family were preparing to retire when they heard a crash of window glass in the house. They began an investigation and found the upper portion of a window on the first floor broken, with glass scattered about the room. Peering out the lower window to further investigate, the dead man’s mother, Mrs. Annie Timmons, who also resides at the Fenton home, saw the body of her son lying [rest of sentence illegible].

Either the body or the window screen in descending from the second floor struck the window underneath and shattered the glass. When she saw what had happened Mrs. Timmons gave the alarm and members of the family rushed to the side of the prostrate form to give aid if possible. He had struck on the side of his face and he lay outstretched with the window screen underneath the body. There was no sign of life and Dr. Joseph O’Neil, who arrived within a few minutes, pronounced the man dead.

Whether Mr. Timmons had leaned against the window and the screen fell out, causing him to lose his balance, or whether he was confused and mistook the window for a door leading into the hallway, is not known by members of the family.

Mr. Timmons was born in Dayton, Ill., and the son of Mr. and Mrs. James Timmons. The family moved to Marseilles and for many years conducted a hotel here. James Timmons, Sr., died in Marseilles about fifteen years ago and the home then became broken up. For several years James Timmons, Jr., resided at the home of his sister and was employed by the National Biscuit company. He was unmarried.

Surviving he leaves his mother, two sisters and two brothers. The sisters are Mrs. Fenton and Mrs. John Nicholson of Marseilles. Harry Timmons of East Moline, Ill., and George Timmons of Philadelphia.

Coroner Howe came from Streator this morning and conducted an inquest. Funeral arrangements are delayed awaiting the arrival of a nephew, who is returning by auto from an outing at Minong, Minn.¹

JAS. TIMMONS FUNERAL TO BE HELD TOMORROW

The funeral of James Timmons, who was instantly killed Sunday night when he fell from a window in his room at the home of his sister, Mrs. Effie Fenton, will be held at 2 o’clock tomorrow afternoon from the Fenton home, 422 Washington street. Rev. Father O’Loughlin, pastor of St. Joseph’s church, will officiate and burial will be in the family lot in the Dayton cemetery.

The body was removed this morning from the Smith & Son morgue, where the inquest was held yesterday, to the Fenton home. Nothing developed at the inquest to throw any light on how the man fell from the window and a verdict of accidental death was rendered. Members of the coroner’s jury were Richard Burse, Harley Seymour, Lloyd Smith, Harold Munson, Charles Bowers and Joseph Burde.²

HOLD FUNERAL FOR VICTIM OF WINDOW PLUNGE

The funeral of James Timmons, who was killed Sunday night when he fell from a window at the home of his sister, Mrs. Effie Fenton, was held at 2 o’clock this afternoon from the Fenton residence, 422 Washington street. Employees of the National Biscuit company, friends from Dayton, Ottawa, Seneca and other places were among those in attendance.

Rev. Father O’Loughlin, pastor of St. Joseph’s church, conducted the services. Miss Ida Orsi and Miss Margaret Pellino, accompanied on the piano by Mrs. John Pellino, sang “Gates Ajar” and Mrs. William Renz sang “Beautiful Isle of Somewhere.” The pallbearers were Leon Messenie, Gilbert Coffeed, George Philimore, Lee B???more, [unreadable], and Fred Daggett.

The deceased was born in Dayton and the burial took place there in the family lot in Dayton cemetery.

Among the out of town relatives who attended the funeral were Mrs. Emma Ryan of Chicago, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Timmons and daughter of East Moline, Ill., and Miss Ethel Fenton of Riverside, Ill.³

1. [Ottawa, Illinois] Daily Republican-Times, July 18, 1927
2. Daily Republican-Times, July 19, 1927
3. Daily Republican-Times, July 20, 1927