James Henry Gathman, 16, of Rt. 2, New Berlin, Illinois died Friday, October 26, 1956 the result of a vehicle accident on the New Berlin-Pleasant Plains blacktop road 4-1/2 miles south of Pleasant Plains.

Gathman died instantly when the car he was driving at a high rate of speed, went out of control on a curve, hurtled into a creek bed and burst into flames at 7 p.m. yesterday.  Gathman was thrown out of the car.  An inquest conducted later by Coroner, W.C. Telford, ruled a broken neck was found to be the cause of death of James Henry Gathman.

Young Gathman was a member of DeMolay at Olney and the Elm Street Christian Church, Olney.  He was also a member of the Future Farmers of America.

Surviving are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. Earl Gathman; one sister, Joyce Earlene; his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. James W. Johnstone of Williamsville and Mrs. Catherine Gathman of Riverton.

Funeral services held at the Bisch Funeral Home with Rev. Thomas Key of Olney officiating.  Burial in Roselawn Cemetery.

Published in Daily Illinois State Journal (Springfield, IL) – Saturday, October 27, 1956