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

"Even in life we are in the midst of death," these words of the writer are brought to our minds, when without a moments warning James B. Gossett was taken from earth. He was born Nov. 12, 1905, and departed this life Jan. 26, 1930 at the age of 24 years, 2 months and 14 days. He leaves his wife Francis and three daughters, his father Charles Gossett and his mother, two sisters and two brothers, who sit with heads bowed and hearts looking up to a God of love and mercy. We do not understand our Father's way, but we know He doeth all things well; and we believe, "there is a place, we know not where; a time, we know not when; that all the mysteries of life will be explained and be made clear." James Gossett was a good father and a kind and affectionate father, and he will be remembered by his pleasing manner and ever-ready smile, by the people of this town, his birthplace, and by many who knew him in Springfield, Ohio, where he has been employed by the Crowell Publishing Company the better part of the last seven years.

A precious one from us has gone,
A voice we loved is stilled;
A place is vacant in our hearts
Which never can be filled.

CARD OF THANKS: We wish to express our sincere thanks to our kind friends and neighbors, to Rev. Adshead and Rev. Milner for their kind and comforting words, to Mr. Littleton for his wonderful service, and for the many beautiful floral offerings, to the choir for their beautifully rendered services, during our recent loss of our dearly beloved sons and brothers. Mr. and Mrs. Chas Gossett and family.

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.