Charles Lee Howard was born on December 22, 1866 in Lyon County, Kentucky, the son of John T. Howard, a native of Caldwell County, Kentucky and Mary Jane King, a native of Lyon County, Kentucky. He was third of seven children of John and Mary.
Charles grew up in Lyon County, but later moved to Trigg County, Kentucky where he met and married Margaret Effie Baker. Charles was a farmer and he and his family lived on a farm in Trigg County. Sometime around 1910, he moved with his family to another farm in Lyon County. Later he moved with his family and settled in Little Cypress, in Marshall County, Kentucky where he was known as a prominent farmer of the community.
Charles and Effie were the parents of six children, Mary Adeline Howard, born in 1890, Grover Steve Howard, born in 1893, Home Blane Howard, born in 1896, Mattie Lewis Howard, born in 1902, Johnny Charlene Howard, born in 1905 and Monico Collins Howard, born in 1906.
Early on the morning of March 4, 1919, Charles loaded his farm wagon with eggs, butter, milk and other farm products which he planned to sell in Paducah. Paducah was located about twelve miles from their farm home. He attached a team of two horses to the wagon and he and his 12 year old daughter, Monico, boarded the wagon and left for Paducah.
At approximately 8:45 a.m. Charles and Monico were about one mile from Paducah at the Benton Road crossing. At the same time the Illinois Central passenger train No. 135 which was en route from Central City to Paducah was also nearing the Benton Road crossing. The train consisted of an engine, three coaches and a baggage car. Witnesses later said that Charles, realizing that his team and the train were going to reach the crossing at nearly the same time, began to whip his team in an apparent effort to get across the track before the train reached the crossing.
The train which was behind schedule and was due at Union Station at 8:30 a.m. had also gained speed. The wagon and the engine reached the crossing at the same time. The engine struck the wagon, hurling it high into the air. Charles body was found about 250 feet from the crossing, lying at the bottom of an embankment. His head was mashed beyond recognition and his body was bruised and lacerated. His daughter’s body was thrown about twenty-five feet beyond her father, over an embankment and her body was badly mangled. The wagon was knocked to pieces but the horses escaped.
A Mr. and Mrs. Kirkland, who resided a short distance east of the crossing, were eyewitnesses to the tragedy. Mr. Kirkland said he heard the engine whistle in short blasts, as a danger warning and the bell on the engine also was ringing. Mrs. Kirkland said she was at a window where she could see the accident. She said she remarked to her husband that "those people will be killed if they don't hurry and get over." The train’s engineer said he was about ten yards from the crossing when he noticed the wagon and its occupants. He said he blew the whistle and applied the brakes, the train stopping about thirty feet beyond the crossing.
A coroner jury was empanelled and an inquest was held about 10 a.m. at the scene of the accident. Their verdict was non committal and did not attach any blame, briefly saying Howard and his daughter were killed by an Illinois Central passenger train at the Benton Road crossing.
Charles and his daughter Monico were buried in the Fooks Cemetery in the Sharpe Community of Marshall County. Charles was 51 years old at the time of the accident. Charles’s wife Effie died five years later on October 19, 1924, at the age of 54, and was buried next to her husband and daughter in the Fooks Cemetery.
Tombstone of Charles Howard
Tombstone of Monico Howard
LINEAGE: (Charles Lee Howard and Monico Collins Howard were the husband and daughter of Margaret Effie Baker Howard. Effie was the daughter of Samuel Freeman and Sarah Adeline Thomas Baker and granddaughter of Stanley and Emily Ann Light Thomas. Stanley was the second child of Starkie and Mary Bridges Thomas. Starkie was the fourth child of James and Mary Standley Thomas. Mary was the seventh child of Drury and Charity Cohoon Bridges.)
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