Burlyn G. Brown

--Newspaper Clipping. 

TRAIN-AUTO ACCIDENT TAKES TWO LIVES
The lives of two men were almost instantaneously taken by an accidental collision of a train and auto at the McLaughlin crossing Sunday evening. These men were Verne Hunt, of Melvin, and Burlyn G. Brown, of Roberts.
The wives of these two men are sisters. Mr. and Mrs. Brown make their home with Mrs. Brown's father, Ernest Tornowski in Roberts and Mr. and Mrs. Hunt and daughter Caroline, had spent the day at this home. As evening came they prepared to go home and the other family decided to accompany them. Mr. Hunt and Mr. Brown went in Mr. Hunt's car and Mr. Tornowski with Mrs. Brown, Mrs. Hunt and Miss Caroline went in Mr. Tornowski's car a short distance behind the other car.
Evidently when the first car came to the McLaughlin crossing where they left the concrete and crossed the R. R. track they did not realize that the train was so near them. However they had crossed the track and were almost clear from it when the train struck the rear of the automobile and swung it around so that it landed beside the fence on the south side of the road headed east. The car was so close to the fence that a board torn from the fence penetrated the top of the car. The car still stood upright with the lights burning and the engine running.
Mr. Brown, who was driving the car was thrown out and landed in the road. He was badly crushed and hurt inwardly but did not show many outward marks. He was alive when picked up and lived for several minutes after he was taken to Dr. Boshell's office. Mr. Hunt, who was riding in the back seat, was thrown out of the car and over the fence on the south side of the road. His skull was crushed in two places and one leg was broken and otherwise badly crushed. He was dead when picked up.
The first persons to arrive on the scene after the accident were Mr. Tornowski and Mrs. Hunt and Mrs. Brown and Caroline. The train stopped and came back to the place. A large number of citizens arrived within a short time and Dr. Boshell was among them. The bodies were gathered up and taken on the train to the depot and then to Dr. Boshell's office. The body of Mr. Hunt was then taken to his home. Mr. Brown died within a very few minutes.
Coroner S. A. Hanson of Elliott was called and empanelled the following jury: W. C. Holmes, D. B. Thompson, H. H. Hackett, G. F. Howk, George D. Ensign and Seward Arnold. The bodies were taken and the jury adjourned until Tuesday afternoon at four o'clock when the train crew gave their evidence.
The train which struck them was due in Roberts at 5:53 and passed through here at about that time though it may have been a little late. It was due in Melvin at 5:58 and it was probably near that time when the accident happened. The train was held in Melvin nearly an hour on account of the accident and pulled into Gibson City at about 6:55.
Verne Hunt was the son of Clyde and Clara (Yackee) Hunt. He was born at Melvin, Illinois, November 9, 1900, and would have been thirty-one years old Monday of this week. He was a first class auto mechanic. He had lived in Melvin all his life except for two years when he worked in the Yackee Garage in Roberts. His funeral was held at the home in Melvin, Tuesday afternoon at 1:30 o'clock.
Mr. Brown came to Roberts about two years ago from Wayne City, Illinois. He was 26 years, two months and seven days of age at the time of his death. His funeral was held at the Lutheran Church in Roberts, today, Wednesday, November 11, at two o'clock, Rev. Henry Foelsch, officiating.
The obituaries of both will be published next week.

--Roberts Herald. 11 November 1931.

Edna Brown lived right beside the RR tracks on Green Street kind of behind the lumber yard. She was only married to Burlyn Brown for just over a year when he was killed in 1931. His obituary states that he had no children, but Edna was pregnant when he was killed. Glen Vernon Brown her only son was also killed in an auto accident in 1952 when he was 20 years of age. 
Edna never remarried and had no other children. 
Where is the McLaughlin crossing?