MEMOIR: EARL GOSSETT
Leesburg Citizen, Leesburg, Ohio, January 1930

Thou hast all seasons for thine own, Oh Death! How deeply do we feel the truth of these words when death comes suddenly and unexpectedly into our home. Earl Z. Gossett was the son of Charles and Lottie Gossett. He was born in Leesburg, Ohio, Dec. 17, 1907, and was taken from this life at the early age of 22 years, 1 month and 9 days. Strange and mysterious are the providences of God. But we know that He is too merciful to be unjust; He loves us too much to be unkind, and He is too wise to make a mistake. He doeth all things well. Everyone who knew Earl loved and respected him. He will be sadly missed by mother, father and the two brothers and sisters, and an infant son, who are left to mourn his loss. He has been employed by the Crowell Publishing Company of Springfield, Ohio for the past four years, where he made many friends who will miss him and grieve that he is gone.

If we push aside the gates of life,
And stand within and all God's workings see,
We could interpret all this doubt and strife,
And for each mystery could find a key.

THREE KILLED AT GRADE CROSSING
Brakes Fail to Hold on Icy Road and Auto Slides in Front of Train
Leesburg Citizen, Leesburg, Ohio, January 1930

Earl Gossett, James Gossett and C. G. Smithson, all of Springfield, were killed Sunday afternoon at 3:30 when the automobile in which they were riding was stuck by a B&O passenger train at the grade crossing in Reesville. Earl and James are brothers and formerly resided in Leesburg. The men were on their way home from Leesburg where they had taken the father of the Gossetts. James Gossett is thought to have been driving the car. Eye witnesses say the car was running slowly. They think the driver saw the approaching train and attempted to stop but the ice-covered road prevented the wheels from holding and the automobile slid on the tracks in front of the fast moving train. The car and the men were carried some distance down the track before the wreckage was thrown clear of the train. The bodies of the men were thrown down an embankment. The automobile caught fire and burned. The bodies of the men were terrible mangles. They were identified by papers in their pockets and relatives notified. The bodies were first taken to Sabina and later removed to Springfield. James Gossett and Smithson were married. Earl Gossett had recently been divorced.

THREE MEN KILLED AT R. R. DROSSING [sic]
New Chevrolet Coach Burned And Completely Demolished. Hit By Fast Line
Leesburg Citizen, Leesburg, Ohio, January 1930

Among the numerous accidents which happened this weekend, is one that came as a shock to this community. Word was passed around Sunday afternoon (late) of the accidental deaths of Earl Gossett, 22, James Gossett, 24, and Mr. Smithson, 25, all employed by the Crowell Publishing Company of Springfield. The boys were driving a new Chevrolet coach and were returning to Springfield, after a trip to Athens after the Gossett boy's father, Charles Gossett, who came to Leesburg to attend the funeral of his father John Gossett. The car was hit by a Baltimore and Ohio passenger train about 4 o'clock Sunday evening, the car and bodies of the men being carried about 40 yards on the cow catcher of the train. The automobile was completely demolished after being struck. Fire, however, finished the work of the train. The bodies were taken to the Littleton Funeral Home in Sabina. James Gossett leaves a wife and three children. Earl, his brother, had been married but he and his wife were separated. Mr. Smithson had been secretly married for two years. He was the son of Mrs. Caroline Rhinehart, of Edison, Ohio. Funeral services for the Gossett boys were held Wednesday afternoon in the M. E. Church at 2 o'clock. Burial was made in Pleasant Hill Cemetery. Rev. Adshead officiated at these service.