Husband Wilbur Troutner Lusher 1
Born: 14 Jul 1875 - Rockland Twp, Venango Co, PA 2
Christened:
Died: 18 Jun 1936 - Hays, Ellis Co, KS 3
Buried: - McPherson City Cemetery, McPherson, McPherson Co, KS
Father: Jacob W. Lusher (1832-1909) 4
Mother: Margaret Elizabeth Troutner (1835-1903) 2
Marriage: 18 Jul 1894 5
• Family Photo: Wilbur T. Lusher with his brothers and sister. Left to Right:
Standing: James Lincoln Lusher, Mary Ida Lusher, John C. C. Lusher
Seated: Willis Glenn Lusher, Wilbur Troutner Lusher
• Residence. This photo is marked "Burkett Camp" and is likely one of the places they resided in the Kansas oil fields.
• Additional Image. Although unmarked, this photo was in a family photo album and it therefore seems likely that it depicts the wreckage of the oil well that exploded, causing his death.
• Additional Image. Although unmarked, this photo was in a family photo album and it therefore seems likely that it depicts the wreckage of the oil well that exploded, causing his death.
• Burial: : McPherson City Cemetery, McPherson, McPherson Co, KS.
Wife Barbara Melissa Myers 5
Born: 25 Jun 1871 - Uniontown, Stark Co, OH
Christened:
Died: 15 May 1937 - McPherson, McPherson Co, KS 3
Buried: - McPherson City Cemetery, McPherson, McPherson Co, KS
Father: John Myers ( - )
Mother: Lucinda [Unk] ( - )
• Burial: : McPherson City Cemetery, McPherson, McPherson Co, KS.
Children
1 F Lillian Marie Lusher 5
Born:
Christened:
Died: when about three years old
Buried:
Spouse: Did Not Marry
2 F Iva Ione Lusher 5
Born: 11 Aug 1900 - Pennsylvania
Christened:
Died: 26 Nov 1988 - Augusta, Butler Co, KS
Buried: - Elmwood Cemetery, Augusta, Butler Co, KS
Spouse: John Miller Keneipp (1893-1982) 5
Marr: 23 Jun 1917 - Bridgeport, Lawrence Co, IL
3 F Floris Audene "Audene" Lusher 5
Born: 22 Jun 1909 - Braton Bridge, IN
Christened:
Died: 21 May 1999 - McPherson, McPherson Co, KS
Buried: - McPherson City Cemetery, McPherson, McPherson Co, KS
Spouse: Ralph Lawson Jones (1906-1953) 5
Marr: 12 May 1928 - Emporia, Lyon Co, KS
General Notes: Husband - Wilbur Troutner Lusher
The McPherson Daily Republican, McPherson, KS
June 19, 1936; pg 1, col 1
LUSHER KILLED NEAR RUSSELL
THREE OTHER McPHERSON MEN ARE SERIOUSLY INJURED IN BLAST AT RUSSELL
CEMENTING AN OIL WELL
Explosion Starts as New Well Starts Flowing Oil and Gas-Spark from Engine Believed Caused Blast - Men in Hospitals at Hays, Hoisington and Great Bend-McPherson
Doctor Called.
BULLETIN
W. T. Lusher, McPherson, drilling tool foreman for Marathon Oil Company, died at 12:45 o'clock today at the St. Anthony hospital at Hays from burns he suffered last night in an oil well fire southwest of Russell.
Four McPherson men are near death today in hospitals at Hays and Hoisington as a result of an explosion and oil well fire five miles west and five miles south of Russell at midnight last night. Six other men were severely burned but hope is given for their recovery.
The explosion occurred at the Harbaugh No. 1 of Marathon Oil Company as the crew was preparing to cement casing on top of the pay formation. The well started flowing and a spark from a nearby engine is believed to have caused the fire which burned the derrick and engine house as well as a car.
Following are the injured men:
W. T. Lusher, McPherson drilling tool foreman Marathon Oil Company, burned over entire body. In St. Anthony hospital at Hays. Lives at Marathon camp on Unruh lease in Cahton-Ritz field. In serious condition.
E. O. Wright, 105 North Cherry, McPherson, Marathon driller, burned over entire body. In serious condition.
Claude A. Cain, McPherson, lives at Marathon camp Canton-Ritz field, entire body burned. Clothes dropped from his body as he ran from the blazing well. Marathon roustabout.
Donald L. Cain, McPherson, lives at Marathon camp and son of Claude A. Cain, entire body burned. Clothes burned off body. Roustabout for Marathon.
Ernest Harbaugh, Russell, burned on face and not in serious condition.
Raymond Rowe, Great Bend, head and shoulders burned. Employe of Halliburnton Oil Well Cementing Company. Great Bend Hospital.
W. C. Richardson, Douglas, Kan., face burned severely. Tool dresser for Marathon.
Robert Hill, Halliburton employe, face and hands burned.
Earl Bush, Otis roustabouts for Marathon, face and hands burned.
Great Bend hospital.
Howard Johnson, Otis roustabout for Marathon, face and hands burned but not in serious condition. At Great Bend hospital.
The damage to the derrick and equipment was estimated by H. M. Williams, Wichita, Marathon official, at $10,000. When the well exploded and caught fire the derrick collapsed and the engine house and all tools and machinery were destroyed by the fire. An automobile belonging to Lusher, parked 30 feet from the derrick was destroyed by the fire.
A McPherson doctor, official Marathon physician in this territory, and a staff of McPherson nurses was called to Russell to aid in caring for the injured men. They had not yet returned to McPherson this morning and the office of the local doctor did not know when he would be back.
Marathon officials explained this morning that the cementing crew of Halliburton Oil Well Cementing Company was preparing to cement the 6-inch casing on top of the siliceous lime when a pocket of gas broke loose in the well and started a stream of oil and gas to flow into the air above the derrick. Hardly had the oil made its appearance above the top of the casing until an explosion followed. The men were either grouped together on the rig floor or working with the cementing equipment near the derrick. After the gas pocket blew off the flow of oil ceased and the fire died out early this morning.
The Beacon,
Aug, 1936, pg 5
OIL FIELD EXPLOSION TAKES LIVES OF SIX
THREE OTHERS INJURED
Six persons died as the result of burns and others were severely injured in one of the worst oil field tragedies ever experienced in the Mid-Continent field.
The tragedy occurred on The Ohio Oil Company's J. I. Harbaugh well No. 1, located 5 miles south and 5 miles west of Russell, Kansas, at 11:45 P. M. on Wednesday, June 17th. The well was 2,956 feet deep with about 1,000 feet of oil in the hole. While the men were assisting the Halliburton Company's representative to cement the 7-inch casing, an odor of gas was noticed. The fire in the boiler was extinguished and steam turned into the firebox. About fifteen minutes later an explosion occurred which resulted in a disasterous fire.
Many conflicting theories are being advanced as to the real cause of the accident. One expanation advanced is that the well, while being cemented under pressure, started to flow oil and gas. It is thought that either friction from flying rocks or a spark from the motor of the Halliburton truck caused the explosion, which turned the derrick floor into a blazing inferno, trapping the men before they had a chance to escape.
The dead are:
W. T. Lusher, tool foreman, McPherson, Kansas.
Edward O. Wright, driller, McPherson, Kansas.
Ernest W. Harbaugh, roustabout, Russell, Kansas.
Claud A. Cain, roustabout, Galva, Kansas.
Donald L. Cain, roustabout, Galva, Kansas.
Robert Helms, truck driver for the Halliburton Oil Well Cementing Company.
The injured are:
Earl R. Rush, Roustabout, Otis, Kansas.
Wm. C. Richardson, tool dresser, Douglas, Kansas.
H. R. Johnson, teamster.
Venango Citizen-Press, Franklin, PA
June 24, 1936, pg 5, col 1
Wilbur Lusher.
Wilbur Lusher, aged 63, a former resident of Venango County, died suddenly Thursday afternoon at his home in McPherson, Kan., according to word received by relatives. He had not been ill and news of his death was an unexpected shock to relatives and friends in the Rockland district.
Mr. Lusher was a production superintendent on several Kansas oil leases. He is survived by his widow; two daughters, and three brothers, Willis G. Lusher and J. C. Lusher, of Rockland, and J. L. Lusher, of Oblong, Ill.
Venango Citizen-Press, Franklin, PA
June 24, 1936; pg 7
ROCKLAND.
Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Lusher, J. C. Lusher and Kenneth Lusher, left for McPherson, Kan., Thursday night, where they were called on account of the tragic death of Wilbur T. Lusher, twin brother, of Willis Lusher. Mr. Lusher and three other men were horribly burned while cementing casing at a gas well, when the gas ignited. Mr. Lusher lived only a few hours afterward. He was born and raised in Rockland. He was aged 61 years. Last summer in company with his wife, he visited with friends and relatives at this place. Funeral services were conducted at the residence Sunday afternoon at 2:30.
The McPherson Daily Republican, McPherson, KS
June 24, 1936; pg 4
WILBUR TROUTNER LUSHER
Wilbur Troutner Lusher, son of Margaret and Jacob Lusher, was born July 14, 1875 at Rockland, Pa., and passed away at the St. Anthony Hospital in Hays, Kansas, June 18, 1936 at the age of 60 years, 11 months and 4 days. He was united in marriage to Miss Barbara Myers, July 7, 1894. He is survived by his widow, Barbara M., two daughters, Mrs. Ralph Jones of McPherson and Mrs. John Kneipp of Madison; three brothers, J. L. of Oblong, Illinois, J. C. and W. G. of Rockland, Pennsylvania. His parents, one daughter and one sister preceded him in death.
Mr. Lusher has been a faithful employee of the Marathon Oil Co. for the past 28 years, and came to his sudden death in an oil and gas explosion at Russell, Kansas. The explosion which caused his death occurred on June 17, 1936. He was a member of the Masonic lodge No. 172, McPherson, Kansas.
CARD OF THANKS
We wish to extend our deepest thanks and appreciation for the many acts of kindness and words of comfort during our recent bereavement.
MRS. LUSHER AND FAMILY.
-Adv.
General Notes: Wife - Barbara Melissa Myers
The McPherson Daily Republican, McPherson, KS
May 17, 1937; pg 7
LUSHER FUNERAL TOMORROW
Funeral services for Mrs. William T. Lusher, who died at the Halstead hospital following a short illness, will be held at the First Methodist church at 2:30 o'clock tomorrow afternoon with Rev. G. L. Coppedge in charge of the service. Burial will be at the McPherson cemetery.
Seats will be reserved at the church for members of the Galva Eastern Star chapter, the Royal Neighbors, and the Rebekahs. The Galva Eastern Star chapter will be in charge of the services at the cemetery.
Venango Citizen-Press, Franklin, PA
May 19, 1937; pg 7, col 3
ROCKLAND.
Word was received Saturday morning by W. G. Lusher of the death of his sister-in-law, Mrs. Barbara Lusher, who died Saturday morning at 3:30 o'clock in the hospital at McPherson, Kan. Mrs. Lusher had been in failing health for some time, but was only seriously ill for the past week, when she suffered a heart attack. She was preceded in death by her husband, Wilbur Lusher, who was burned to death in a gas well explosion last June. Mr. and Mrs. Lusher were both former Rockland residents.
The McPherson Daily Republican, McPherson, KS
May 21, 1937, pg 10
BARBARA MELISSA MYERS
Barbara Melissa Myers the daughter of John and Lucinda Myers, was born in Uniontown, Ohio, June 25, 1871 and passed away at the Halstead Hospital on the 15th day of May, 1937, at the age of 65 years 10 months and 20 days.
Her early life was spent in Ohio. She was united in marriage to Wilbur T. Lusher of Rockland, Penn., on July 18, 1894. This union was blessed with three daughters, Lillian Marie who died in infancy, Mrs. John Keneipp of Madison, Kansas and Mrs. Ralph Jones of McPherson, Kansas.
Her husband preceded her in death just eleven months ago, being killed in a gas explosion at Russell, Kansas.
Besides the two daughters and their husbands who shared a Mothers love, she leaves to cherish her memory six grand children to whom she was very much devoted. Three sisters, Mrs. S. M. Frease, Canton, Ohio, who is able to be present, Mrs. A. J. Wiltrondt, San Diego, Calif. and Mrs. Perry Lusher, Franklin, Penn. Two brothers, Elmer Myers, Akron, Ohio, and Homer Myers of Connecticut. Also several neices and nephews and a host of friends.
She was a life long member of the Methodist Church; during the eight years she has resided in McPherson County, she has been active in the local church. She was also a member of the Eastern Star, Royal Neighbors and the Rebecca Lodge of which she always enjoyed to attend and take her part.
Mrs. Lusher was loved by all who knew her, she was a very devoted wife and her home was her pride and joy, where her family and friends always found a welcome. She was a most loving, thoughtful Mother and kind neighbor, whose first thought was doing for others and was always ready to help in time of need and spreading sunshine where ever she went.
Card of Thanks
We wish to express our sincere thanks and appreciation for every act of kindness and many words of comfort during the illness and death of our beloved mother and sister.
Mr. and Mrs. John Keneipp and family.
Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Jones and family.
Mrs. S. M. Frease.
-adv.
Notes: Marriage
Another source states they were married July 7.