Notes:

Niagara Gazette - 8/7/1965

LAKEWOOD, Calif. -A
light plane bound for Niagara
Falls, N. Y., groping through
heavy fog, crashed into a
cemetery t o d a y , spewing
bodies and plane parts into
a suburban housing tract.
All eight persons aboard-
members of two families on
their way to a family reunion
in Niagara Falls-were killed,
sheriff's deputies said. No one
on the ground appeared to be
hurt, they added.
"If the pilot had gone a little
further he sure would
have taken out another dozen
people at least," said a
sheriff's deputy.
The plane, a twin-engine
Beechcraft C45H. crashed
into All Souls Cemetery at
6:12 a.m. EDT, minutes after
taking off from Long Beach
Airport, IV2 miles south.
"It was like an explosion,"
said John Hagedorn who lives
a few yards away. "I looked
out the back window and
there was fire all over the
backyard. I saw plane parts
all over the yard-and two
bodies."
Another body landed in
the dining room window of
Hagedorn's "neighbor, Joseph
Rhoades. A plane engine
plowed through a n o t h er
neighbor's garage.
"The power went out," said
Mrs. Rhodes, "and it was half
an hour before I noticed the
d i n i n g room c u r t a i n all
bunched up. Then I saw blood
on the dining room floor. I
realized it was a man's body,
hanging halfway over the other
window sill."
Sheriff's Lt. Roy Kundtz
identified the victims, from
papers found near the crash
site. a s :
James Whitmarsh, 37, the
pilot, of Lakewood; his wife,
Mildred, and their children,
Terry, 16, and Mary Mar
Two of the victims of the
California air tragedy, Mrs.
James Whitmarsh and Mrs.
James Edward Dent, were na-
tives of this area. They were
daughters of Mr., and Mrs.
Clarence F. Swearenge, 6420
Elsa Place, Town of Niagara.
Mr. Whitmarsh, a former
pilot in this city, was flying
the plane at the time it crash-
ed in heavy fog. mr. Whit-
marsh, 37, his wife, Mildred,
and their children, Terry, 16,
and Mary Margaret, 14, were
killed instantly.
Other victims of the crash
were 37-year-old James Dent,
his wife, Rebecca, and their
children, Peggy, 15, and Rich-
ard, 16.
The two families were com-
ing home for a family reunion
according to Mrs. Clarence
Swearengen, Jr., 5025 Isher-
wood Drive, Town of Niagara,
a sister-in-law of the two dead
women.
The whitmarsh family lived
in 8211 Colonial Drive, Col-
onial Village until about two
years ago when they moved
to California. Mr. Whitmars
was a private pilot.
"He flew for me when I was
in the leasing business during
the construction of the power
project," said James A. Whitworth,
president of Whitworth
Motors.
Whitmarsh flew a twinengine
Beechcraft for Mr.
Whitworth, and was known
to be an "excellent pilot,"
according to Mr. Whitworth.
it was a twin-engined Beechcraft
which crashed.
Relatives here said Whitmarsh
was flying for a stock
car owner in California. It
was this plane he was using
for the trip home.
This is not the first time
tragedy has hit the Whit-
Whitmarsh
family. In 1961 the
youngest son of James and
M i l d r e d Whitmarsh, little
Jimmy Whitmarsh, was accidentally
electrocuted in a
neighboring yard.
In addition to their parents,
Mrs. Whitmarsh and Mrs.
Dent are survived by a sister,
Mrs. Mary Timm, Tonawanda;
and three brothers,
Clarence S w e a r e n gen Jr.,
Richard Swearengen, 101st
Street, and Donald Swearengen,
Cain Road. Youngstown.
The Whitmarshs were members
of Hope L u t h e r an
Church, Military Road.
A spokesman in the Swearengen
family said "Mr. Whitmarsh
was a native of this
area-from the Town of Niagara,
too. I think." His mother
now lives in Florida.
Mr. Dent was a native Californian
and the couple had
made their home there for
many years, a relative said.

Notes:

Niagara Gazette - 8/7/1965

LAKEWOOD, Calif. -A
light plane bound for Niagara
Falls, N. Y., groping through
heavy fog, crashed into a
cemetery t o d a y , spewing
bodies and plane parts into
a suburban housing tract.
All eight persons aboard-
members of two families on
their way to a family reunion
in Niagara Falls-were killed,
sheriff's deputies said. No one
on the ground appeared to be
hurt, they added.
"If the pilot had gone a little
further he sure would
have taken out another dozen
people at least," said a
sheriff's deputy.
The plane, a twin-engine
Beechcraft C45H. crashed
into All Souls Cemetery at
6:12 a.m. EDT, minutes after
taking off from Long Beach
Airport, IV2 miles south.
"It was like an explosion,"
said John Hagedorn who lives
a few yards away. "I looked
out the back window and
there was fire all over the
backyard. I saw plane parts
all over the yard-and two
bodies."
Another body landed in
the dining room window of
Hagedorn's "neighbor, Joseph
Rhoades. A plane engine
plowed through a n o t h er
neighbor's garage.
"The power went out," said
Mrs. Rhodes, "and it was half
an hour before I noticed the
d i n i n g room c u r t a i n all
bunched up. Then I saw blood
on the dining room floor. I
realized it was a man's body,
hanging halfway over the other
window sill."
Sheriff's Lt. Roy Kundtz
identified the victims, from
papers found near the crash
site. a s :
James Whitmarsh, 37, the
pilot, of Lakewood; his wife,
Mildred, and their children,
Terry, 16, and Mary Mar
Two of the victims of the
California air tragedy, Mrs.
James Whitmarsh and Mrs.
James Edward Dent, were na-
tives of this area. They were
daughters of Mr., and Mrs.
Clarence F. Swearenge, 6420
Elsa Place, Town of Niagara.
Mr. Whitmarsh, a former
pilot in this city, was flying
the plane at the time it crash-
ed in heavy fog. mr. Whit-
marsh, 37, his wife, Mildred,
and their children, Terry, 16,
and Mary Margaret, 14, were
killed instantly.
Other victims of the crash
were 37-year-old James Dent,
his wife, Rebecca, and their
children, Peggy, 15, and Rich-
ard, 16.
The two families were com-
ing home for a family reunion
according to Mrs. Clarence
Swearengen, Jr., 5025 Isher-
wood Drive, Town of Niagara,
a sister-in-law of the two dead
women.
The whitmarsh family lived
in 8211 Colonial Drive, Col-
onial Village until about two
years ago when they moved
to California. Mr. Whitmars
was a private pilot.
"He flew for me when I was
in the leasing business during
the construction of the power
project," said James A. Whitworth,
president of Whitworth
Motors.
Whitmarsh flew a twinengine
Beechcraft for Mr.
Whitworth, and was known
to be an "excellent pilot,"
according to Mr. Whitworth.
it was a twin-engined Beechcraft
which crashed.
Relatives here said Whitmarsh
was flying for a stock
car owner in California. It
was this plane he was using
for the trip home.
This is not the first time
tragedy has hit the Whit-
Whitmarsh
family. In 1961 the
youngest son of James and
M i l d r e d Whitmarsh, little
Jimmy Whitmarsh, was accidentally
electrocuted in a
neighboring yard.
In addition to their parents,
Mrs. Whitmarsh and Mrs.
Dent are survived by a sister,
Mrs. Mary Timm, Tonawanda;
and three brothers,
Clarence S w e a r e n gen Jr.,
Richard Swearengen, 101st
Street, and Donald Swearengen,
Cain Road. Youngstown.
The Whitmarshs were members
of Hope L u t h e r an
Church, Military Road.
A spokesman in the Swearengen
family said "Mr. Whitmarsh
was a native of this
area-from the Town of Niagara,
too. I think." His mother
now lives in Florida.
Mr. Dent was a native Californian
and the couple had
made their home there for
many years, a relative said.

James married SWEARENGEN, Rebecca Mae about Sep 1948 in Las Vegas, Clark County, NV. Rebecca (daughter of SWEARENGEN, Clarence F and WILLIAMS, Marguerite) died on 7 Aug 1965 in Lakewood, CA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Niagara Gazette - 8/7/1965

LAKEWOOD, Calif. -A
light plane bound for Niagara
Falls, N. Y., groping through
heavy fog, crashed into a
cemetery t o d a y , spewing
bodies and plane parts into
a suburban housing tract.
All eight persons aboard-
members of two families on
their way to a family reunion
in Niagara Falls-were killed,
sheriff's deputies said. No one
on the ground appeared to be
hurt, they added.
"If the pilot had gone a little
further he sure would
have taken out another dozen
people at least," said a
sheriff's deputy.
The plane, a twin-engine
Beechcraft C45H. crashed
into All Souls Cemetery at
6:12 a.m. EDT, minutes after
taking off from Long Beach
Airport, IV2 miles south.
"It was like an explosion,"
said John Hagedorn who lives
a few yards away. "I looked
out the back window and
there was fire all over the
backyard. I saw plane parts
all over the yard-and two
bodies."
Another body landed in
the dining room window of
Hagedorn's "neighbor, Joseph
Rhoades. A plane engine
plowed through a n o t h er
neighbor's garage.
"The power went out," said
Mrs. Rhodes, "and it was half
an hour before I noticed the
d i n i n g room c u r t a i n all
bunched up. Then I saw blood
on the dining room floor. I
realized it was a man's body,
hanging halfway over the other
window sill."
Sheriff's Lt. Roy Kundtz
identified the victims, from
papers found near the crash
site. a s :
James Whitmarsh, 37, the
pilot, of Lakewood; his wife,
Mildred, and their children,
Terry, 16, and Mary Mar
Two of the victims of the
California air tragedy, Mrs.
James Whitmarsh and Mrs.
James Edward Dent, were na-
tives of this area. They were
daughters of Mr., and Mrs.
Clarence F. Swearenge, 6420
Elsa Place, Town of Niagara.
Mr. Whitmarsh, a former
pilot in this city, was flying
the plane at the time it crash-
ed in heavy fog. mr. Whit-
marsh, 37, his wife, Mildred,
and their children, Terry, 16,
and Mary Margaret, 14, were
killed instantly.
Other victims of the crash
were 37-year-old James Dent,
his wife, Rebecca, and their
children, Peggy, 15, and Rich-
ard, 16.
The two families were com-
ing home for a family reunion
according to Mrs. Clarence
Swearengen, Jr., 5025 Isher-
wood Drive, Town of Niagara,
a sister-in-law of the two dead
women.
The whitmarsh family lived
in 8211 Colonial Drive, Col-
onial Village until about two
years ago when they moved
to California. Mr. Whitmars
was a private pilot.
"He flew for me when I was
in the leasing business during
the construction of the power
project," said James A. Whitworth,
president of Whitworth
Motors.
Whitmarsh flew a twinengine
Beechcraft for Mr.
Whitworth, and was known
to be an "excellent pilot,"
according to Mr. Whitworth.
it was a twin-engined Beechcraft
which crashed.
Relatives here said Whitmarsh
was flying for a stock
car owner in California. It
was this plane he was using
for the trip home.
This is not the first time
tragedy has hit the Whit-
Whitmarsh
family. In 1961 the
youngest son of James and
M i l d r e d Whitmarsh, little
Jimmy Whitmarsh, was accidentally
electrocuted in a
neighboring yard.
In addition to their parents,
Mrs. Whitmarsh and Mrs.
Dent are survived by a sister,
Mrs. Mary Timm, Tonawanda;
and three brothers,
Clarence S w e a r e n gen Jr.,
Richard Swearengen, 101st
Street, and Donald Swearengen,
Cain Road. Youngstown.
The Whitmarshs were members
of Hope L u t h e r an
Church, Military Road.
A spokesman in the Swearengen
family said "Mr. Whitmarsh
was a native of this
area-from the Town of Niagara,
too. I think." His mother
now lives in Florida.
Mr. Dent was a native Californian
and the couple had
made their home there for
many years, a relative said.

Notes:

Niagara Gazette - 9/18/1948

Los Vegas, Nev., was the setting
for the recent marriage of Miss Rebecca
Mae Swearengen, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Swearengen,
9 Elsa place, Town of Niagara, to
Mr James E. Dent, son of Mr. and
Mrs. Martin Dent, Los Angeles,
Calif. Mr. and Mrs. Dent are residing
at Mil San Raefal avenue, Los
Angeles, Calif

Notes:

Niagara Gazette - 5/31/1970

Clarence F. Swearengen, 67,
of 6420 Elsa Place, Town, of
Niagara, died suddenly at
Mount St. Mary's Hospital on
Friday (May 20, 1970).
Born on Apr. 18, 1903 in
Howesville, W. Va., M r .
Swearengen lived in Niagara
Falls for 40 years. He retired
as a furnace operator at
Union Carbide in 1963.
He is survived by his wife
M a r g uerite Swearengen:
t h r e e s o n s , D o n a ld
Swearengen of Youngstown.
and Clarence and Richard
Swearengen, both of the Town
of Niagara; and a daughter.
Mrs. Alvin (Mary) Timm of
North Tonawanda.
Also surviving are two
sisters, Mrs. Arthur (Nell)
Everts of Naples. Fla., and
Mrs. Carl (Lillian) Wright of
Hofsville. W.Va..: 14
grandchildren, three great
grandchildren and s e v e r a l
nieces, and nephews.
Funeral services will be
held on Tuesday from Hope
Lutheran Church at 2 p.m.
with the Rev. Karl A. Brenner
officiating. Burial will be in
Memorial Park Cemetery.
Friends may call at the
Grimes Funeral Home today
and Monday from 2 to 9 p.m.

Clarence + WILLIAMS, Marguerite. Marguerite was born on 16 Dec 1907; died on 30 Oct 1979 in Niagara Falls Memorial Hospital, Niagara Falls, Niagara County, NY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Niagara Gazette - 10/30/1979

SWEARENGEN
M a r g u e r i t e E.
Swearengen, 71, of 6420
Elsa Place, Town of
Niagara, in Memorial
Medical Center, Tuesday
(October 30,1979) after a
lengthy illness.
Wife of the late
Clarence F. Swearengen
who died May 29, 1970;
mother of Mrs. Alvin
(Mary) Timm of North
T o n a w a n d a , N.Y.,
Donald G. Swearengen
of Youngstown, N.Y.,
C l a r e n c e E. (Pete)
S w e a r e n g e n and
Richard R. Swearengen,
both of the Town of
Niagara and the late
Mildred Whitmarsh and
Rebecca Dent. Sister of
Mrs. James Ross of
Lewiston, N.Y., James
W i l l i a m s of West
V i r g i n i a , Walton
Williams of Cleveland,
O h i o and R o b e rt
W i l l i a m s of West
Virginia. Survived by 14
grandchildren; eight
greatgrandchildren and
s e v e r a l nieces and
nephews.
Funeral services will
be held from Hope
Lutheran Church, 2759
Military Rd., Thursday
(Nov. 1st) at 1P.M., with
the Rev. Karl A. Brenner
officiating. Interment
M e m o r i a l P a rk
Cemetery. The family
requests that Memorial
tributes be made to Hope
L u t h e r a n Memorial
Fund. Friends may call
at Grimes Funeral
Home, 7311 Porter Road,
Town of Niagara,after 7
p.m. Tuesday and from 2
to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m.
Wednesday

Reese married Mariah B about 1874. Mariah was born about 1861 in WV; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]