Higdon, Thomas (P1, C1, L1)

Corporal Thomas Higdon, 22, of Kirk, Breckinridge County, was killed when he was struck by an Illinois Central train on 7 April 1917 at near the Green River and Rockport in Ohio County. According to newspaper accounts he did not hear the fast approaching passenger train due to high winds at the time of the incident. Newspaper accounts say he was giving semaphore signals at the time of the accident. The first reports stated he was walking down the track.

See Kentucky Guard Railroad Related Fatalities 1917-18

Higdon enlisted in Company K of the 3rd Kentucky Infantry Regiment on 26 June 1916. He was promoted to Corporal on 13 December 1916. At the time of his enlistment he listed his occupation as a farmer. Higdon was born in Daviess County 9 July 1894.

Higdon’s father filed a $20,000 lawsuit for negligence against the railroad and W. B. Curley the engineer of the train. The Ohio County Circuit Court jury eventually awarded them estate $800 in December 1917. The railroad filed an appeal for a new trial but no record has been found indicating the final resolution of the case.