Drexal Young 1907-1984

Drexal Young was born October 15, 1907 in Lawrenceville, Illinois, to Elijah and Clementine Rebecca Corrie Young. He married Clara Belle Stice Corrie February 20, 1929 in Lawrence County, Illinois. She was the widow of Milton Corrie and they had had one child, Agnes. Drexal and Clara had no children together. He was 21 and Clara was 35.

After Clara died in 1931, Drexal married Della Beatrice Gravitt Lynch on July 1, 1932 in Lawrence County Illinois. She was the widow of Harry Andrew Lynch and they had had one child, Robert Lee. Della and Drexal had one son, Donald. Della died July 15, 1954.

Drexal then married Louise Ferriell Mansell September 24, 1955 in Newton County, Indiana. She was the widow of Frank Mansell and they had had one child, Jack. Drexal and Louise had no children together. She died March 8, 1984.

Drexal then married Aletha Wimberly Tewell but they were divorced just a few months later, before September 21, 1984.

Just a few weeks later November 8, 1984, Drexel was involved in a truck train collision on 15th street in Lawrenceville. Youngs’ accident was considered bizarre by investigation officers of the Lawrenceville Police Department and Illinois State troopers.  His 1974 Chevrolet pickup truck left no skid marks and railroad crossing lights were operating properly at the 15th street crossing.  Two witnesses, waiting in traffic for the train to pass, stated that suddenly they saw

Young drive his truck around two or three vehicles, pull back into the right land lane and smash into a tank car.  No brake lights were seen by witnesses.

Fortunately, the tank car had just been emptied at Texaco or otherwise one spark could have blown up the entire vicinity and all the people there.

Officers said there were no medical reasons for the accident such as a stroke or heart attack and there was no evidence of alcohol. Family members described Young as being recently depressed and despondent.

Young was initially thought to be dead at the scene, but a nurse picked up a light pulse.  An ambulance EMT performed mouth to mouth resuscitation in the crushed cab of his truck, thus saving Young’s life.

But the injuries were too severe and Drexal Young, of St. Francisville died December 14, 1984, at the Crestview Nursing Home in Vincennes, Knox County Indiana. At his death, he was 77 years of age, and a retired construction worker. He was buried at Moffett Cemetery next to his first wife, Clara Belle Stice, and near his maternal grandfather, Thomas Benton Corrie.

Drexal Young and his first wife Clara Belle Stice Corrie married in 1929. (Is that a pistol in her hand and if so, what does that say about their marriage?)