ASSISTANCE SOUGHT-James MURRAY killed train accident Crowley, La

[q98]

In mid-March 1903, my forebear James MURRAY was killed in a train accident at Crowley, La.  He lived in Denton, Tx. but worked at Crowley and it was while travelling home that the accident occured. James was engaged in business with his uncle Tom Lovell (well-known government contractor) of Denton at the time of his death.
I would greatly appreciate any info should any member discover same.
Kind regards
Q98
Warrant Officer (Retd)
Royal Australian Air Force 

[KathMc]

Have you tried checking into the libraries of the two towns? They should have articles in the papers. I have a direct ancestor killed by a train in 1873 NYC and there are articles in the local newspapers. You should be able to google the libraries and with any luck they will have a web site. I live in a town of 2000 people and we have a beautiful public library site.

Kath

[q98]

I must confess Kath that I hadn't thought of that although I did e-mail a community newspaper in Denton seeking their assistance but received no reply.

I WILL search for both libraries as you suggest.

Thanks again.

Q98

[KathMc]

Good luck and let me know if I can help.

Kath

[q98]

Refreshing my initial enquiry of 2006. Despite several attempts, I have been unable to elicit a response from either Crowley or Denton libraries  . I understand and accept their staffs are not able to research every enquiry.

As my research subsequently revealed James was not buried in his Scottish home-town, it occurs to me his burial was probably in Denton, Texas. Confirmation of this would be excellent as would any newspaper report of the Crowley train wreck/accident.

Thank you.

[aghadowey]

Not sure if you are the OP here but someone was offering to help a while back-
https://www.ancestry.pl/boards/thread.aspx?mv=flat&m=1287&p=localities.northam.usa.states.louisiana.parishes.acadia

[patrexjax]

Hello.  No sure this will help, but the free US census for 1900 in Denton, Texas does show a Thomas Lovell born May 1853 in Scotland along with a wife who was born in Missouri and a number of stepchildren, some born in Ireland and Scotland.  Sadly, tho, there does not appear to be a James Murray living in Denton, Texas in 1900.  I hope this doesn't muddy the water, so to speak.  Sincerely, patrexjax

[q98]

Many thanks to both.
1. Remiss of me to have forgotten the Ancestry enquiry, thank you. Plus, on that enquiry, I confused James' forename with that of his father Michael. The Ancestry link provided is showing in Polish? and cannot understand why.
2. I am unaware of when James departed Scotland for the USA, although it could have been after the 1900 Census.

[aghadowey]

There are records of passengers leaving U.K. for overseas available for that period (Ancestry & FindMyPast both have them I think) although probably lots of James Murrays.

Biography of Tom Lovell here but unfortunately James Murray not mentioned-
http://www.texasescapes.com/TexasCourthouses/Thomas-Lovell.htm