Chester Jay Sanders (1898-1924)

LHS junior class, 1916

Friday as Chester, the six-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Sanders, was returning home from school, and when on the crossing just south of his home, he was struck by Sim Sanger's wagon and knocked down; one wheel passing over his arm. It was thought at first that the boy was badly hurt, but very luckily he was not. The only wonder is that his arm was not crushed. Great care should be used by both people driving teams and footmen at crossings.

CRUSHED TO DEATH BETWEEN CARS

CHESTER SANDERS FATALLY INJURED AT EAST CHICAGO FRIDAY. PASSED AWAY AT HOSPITAL

Edwin Sanders received a telephone message Friday night to come to the St. Margaret hospital in Hammond and bring his family as his son, Chester, had been badly hurt in an accident. Mr. Sanders and wife and daughter, Mrs. Edgar Metcalf, and Miss Velma Flatt left for Hammond at once. The train that night was two hours late and when they arrived in Hammond Chester had passed away about fifteen minutes before.

The accident, as we learn it happened about 4 p.m., Friday. Chester worked for the Bates Expanded Steel Truss Co., in East Chicago, and at the time of the accident was helping to invoice. He was rather familiar with this class of work having completed a business course several years ago. His work that day called to go to another building and when he went to cross the E.J. & E. railroad tracks he was caught between two cars that were being switched, being caught between the bumpers and crushed so badly that it was evident from the first that he could only live a short time. He died about four hours after the accident happened.

Chester had been with the Bates Company for the past four years and was held in very high esteem by them and considered a very competent employee.

When told by those attending him that his days here were numbered, and asked if there was anything he wished, he said yes. Call my mother, call my sister, call Velva and call my father. But Mr. Bates, call Dad first that he may gently break this to mother.

The remains were brought to Lowell for burial. The accident has cast a gloom over our town as the deceased was a young man that was held in the highest esteem by all who knew him.

Obituary

Chester Jay Sanders, son of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Sanders, was fatally injured while in the employ of the Bates Steel Expansion Co., at East Chicago, on Friday evening, Dec. 19, 1924. He was taken to St. Margaret's hospital in Hammond where he passed away about three hours after he was injured. His parents and sister Ruth and fiancée, Miss Flatt, reached Hammond shortly after he had gone.

Chester Sanders was born at Lowell on May 15, 1898. He was educated in the Lowell schools and was a young man of many friends. He was one of the youngest members of the Order of Odd Fellows to attend the State Assembly. He was also a member of some other good organizations. An especially beautiful trait of his character was his love of his mother, his esteem for his father and thoughtfulness of his sister. He is survived by his parents and only sister, Mrs. Edgar Metcalf, and husband and his fiancée and many loving relatives and friends who are deeply grieved at his passing.

Yet, O Stricken heart, remember, oh remember
How of human days he lived the better part.
April came to bloom, and never dim December
Breathed its killing chill upon the head or heart.
Doomed to know not winter -- only spring -- a being
Trod the flowery April blithely for a while,
Took his fill of music, joy of thought and seeing,
Came and stayed and went, nor never ceased to smile.
Came and stayed and went, and now when all is finished
You alone have crossed the melancholy stream.
Yours the pang, but his, O his, the undiminished,
Undecaying gladness, undeparted dream.
All that life contains of torture, toil, and treason.
Shame, dishonor, death, to him were but a name.
Here, a boy, he dwelt through all the singing season,
And ere the day of sorrow, departed as he came.

Robert Louis Stevenson

Card of Thanks

We take this way of expressing our grateful appreciation to our friends who in many ways did so many kind things to help us bear our sorrows. We assure you that we deeply appreciate you and all you have done. Your kindness can never be forgotten.

The family