The  Shelby  Democrat
Thursday April 5, 1945
Page 1 column 2
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INJURIES  FATAL  TO  ACTON  SAILOR
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Lester Pfendler Dies in Navy Hospital
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          Mrs. Anna Pfendler, of Acton, has received word that her grandson,  Lester L. Pfendler, died on April 1st at the naval hospital at Pensacola, Florida, of head injuries suffered while on duty with the Naval Air Corps. No details were contained in the official Navy Department message.
          The young man entered service in October, 1943, and was stationed at the Pensacola Navy Air Base as a mechanic.
          He was born in Shelby county on July 19, 1909, the son of  Byron and Edith (Murnan) Pfendler, who preceded him in death.  He resided with his grandmother for some time and was graduated from the Acton high school.  He was a member of the Acton Masonic lodge and the Scottish Rite, Shrine and Sahara Grotto of Indianapolis.
          Surviving with the grandmother are three sisters,  Miss Geneva Pfendler, of Fairland;  Mrs. Bertram Olinger, of Indianapolis, and  Mrs. John Collier, of Cincinnati, Ohio; the paternal grandmother,  Mrs. Margaret Tanner, of Acton, and his step-mother, Mrs. Gladys Schrader, of Fairland.
          The body arrived at the Wilson funeral home in Indianapolis today and funeral services will be conducted there Friday at 10:30 a.m. with members of the Acton Masonic lodge officiating.  Burial will be made in the Pleasant View cemetery.
Contributed by Barb Huff


The  Shelbyville  Republican
Friday March 19, 1937
Page 1 column 5
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SAM  PFENDLER,  AGE  74,
PASSES  AWAY  AT  HOME
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          Sam Pfendler, age 74, died at 8 o’clock Friday morning at his home in Marion county, just across the Shelby county line, according to word received here.  He is survived by two sons and three daughters.  Mr. Pfendler was the uncle of David Pfendler, of Shelby county. [Buried Pleasant View Cemetery]
Contributed by Barb Huff


The  Shelbyville  Democrat
Monday April 1, 1929
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TRUSTEE  OF  MORAL
IS  KILLED  AT  CROSSING
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Byron L. Pfendler, Prominent Resident of The County,
Meets Instant Death Sunday Morning
When Traction Car Hits Automobile
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AUTO  HIT  BY  TRACTION  CAR
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Was on Way For Conference on Official Business
And to Pay Easter Visit to Mother at Acton
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          Byron L. Pfendler, 40 years old, trustee of Moral township, an influential and widely known farmer of Shelby county, met instant death shortly after ten o’clock Sunday morning at the crossing of the Indianapolis & Southeastern Railway Company in Brookfield, where his automobile was struck by a traction car.
          The accident occurred as Mr. Pfendler was on his way to Brookfield for a conference with David Smith, attorney, on business pertaining to the official duties of Mr. Pfendler as trustee of the township.  He had intended going from Brookfield to the home of his mother Mrs. Anna Pfendler, at Acton, to spend a few hours of Easter Sunday with her.
          Near the point of the crossing, the road parallels the tracks for some distance.  Mr. Pfendler was alone in his car and was driving in the direction of the traction car. It was the westbound interurban due in Brookfield at 10:13 o’clock, and was in charge of  Henry Cory, motorman, and  Kenneth Meyers, conductor, both of this City. Mr. Cory stated following the accident that he realized Mr. Pfendler did not intend to stop at the crossing and evidently was not aware that the traction car was approaching. Mr. Cory said he applied the brakes on the traction car, which came to a stop within forty feet of the crossing.
          Although the speed of the interurban car had decreased considerably, the force of the crash jammed the automobile into a telephone pole and this is believed to have caused the death of Mr. Pfendler. Life was extinct when persons reached the wreckage, from which the body was removed. Practically every bone was broken, the skull was fractured and the body was badly mangled and torn. Edward Boyd, county coroner, was called and he began an investigation of the accident.
          The crash occurred a few feet from the Big Four railroad crossing when nine members of a family were killed several years ago. It was one of several tragedies in the Pfendler family. The first wife of Mr. Pfendler met death some years ago in a fire at their home and his father died as the result of an accident.
          Mr. Pfendler was born and reared in Moral township and had spent his entire life in that community. He was born November 20, 1888, and had always been engaged in farming, specializing in the breeding of pedigreed livestock for which he and his family became widely known throughout the state. He was serving his first term as trustee of Moral township and had made an enviable record in the office. Under his direction the consolidated school in Moral township has become one of the best of the kind in Indiana.
          Surviving is the mother, Mrs. Anna Pfendler, of Acton; the widow Mrs. Gladys (Valentine) Pfendler; one son and three daughters. The son is Lester Pfendler, and the daughters are Misses Geneva, Mary and Maxine Pfendler, all at home.
          Mr. Pfendler was a member of the Odd Fellows lodge at Acton. He had taken an active interest in community affairs and was considered one of the leading citizens in the north part of Shelby county.
          Funeral services will be held at two o’clock Tuesday afternoon at the late home near the Moral township school. The Rev. Gerald Skidmore, pastor of the Carrollton M.P. Church, will officiate and burial will be in the Pleasant View cemetery. The arrangements are in charge of Max Herrlich & Son, undertakers, New Palestine.
Contributed by Barb Huff


The  Shelbyville  Republican
Friday December 1, 1911
Page 2 column 2
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TWO  DEATHS  IN  HOME
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Mother and Newly Born Babe Soon Pass Away
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          Death appeared at the home of Byron Pfendler, northwest of London, which has made the people of that home doubly sad, in that it took the mother and a newly born babe within a few hours of each other.
           Mrs. Pfendler [Edith M. (Murnan], a month ago, was attempting to build a fire in a cook stove. There were some live coals in the stove and she used coal oil with the result that her clothing caught fire and she was horribly burned. She was suffering from these burns and she had also contracted pneumonia.  A newly born babe made its appearance at the home yesterday and this added to the seriousness of the disease Mrs. Pfendler had already contracted, which was too much and she died yesterday.  The baby died a few hours later.
          Mrs. Pfendler was born [August 4, 1888] and reared in this county and had always resided in the near vicinity of London.  She was united in marriage five years ago and with her husband and one son,  Lester, aged three years, was just beginning to enjoy the happiness of her home and to nourish the brightest hopes for the future, when the accident four weeks ago began a series of sad circumstances that resulted in her death.  In addition to her husband and son, she is survived by her mother,  Mrs. Margaret Murnan, and one sister,  Mrs. Ella Powers, of Johnson county.  The funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 o’clock Sunday morning at the late home, the Rev. Woods, of the London Methodist church, officiating.
          Interment will be made in Pleasant View Cemetery.
Contributed by Barb Huff


The  Shelby  Republican
Friday October 16, 1908
Page 3 column 5
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LEVI  PFENDLER  IS  A  SUICIDE
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Moral Township Farmer Shot His Head Off
With Shotgun At Nine O’Clock This Morning
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DEATH  WAS  INSTANTANEOUS
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Despondent Over Accident That Crippled Him
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(From Tuesday’s Daily)
           Levi Pfendler committed suicide this morning about nine o’clock at his home in Moral township, the result of despondency. The man used a double-barreled shotgun, placing the butt on the weapon on the ground, the muzzle of the gun at his forehead and pulling trigger. Death resulted instantaneously.
          Pfendler was a man of about forty-four years of age.  He was the son of Samuel Pfendler, who resided on and owned a large farm one mile north of Pleasant View.  When the father died, he left the son the property, together with a large sum of money both to go to the son of Levi after his death.  He spent most of the fortune after his father’s death.
          He had been married for a number of years up until last winter, when he and his wife [Anna] were separated by divorce.  She went to Indianapolis to reside and he remained on his farm with their son, Byron, who, only a few weeks ago was married.
          Some time during the summer, Mr. Pfendler, who was in Indianapolis, was badly injured.  He was crossing the Virginia avenue viaduct in a buggy, when the vehicle was smashed by an interurban car.  The man was permanently injured.
          He brooded over this injury until he became very despondent and this morning he decided to end his earthly existence.  He had been out in the barn lot and shortly afterward returned to the house and, going into one of the rooms, he secured the gun.  Then he went into the yard, and going under a tree, committed suicide.
          The shot from the gun passed through his forehead, laying open the scalp. His death was instantaneous.
          The report of the gun soon brought several to his side.  The coroner was called and he made an examination of the remains.
          He said that Mr. Pfendler had been made a cripple for life by the accident of last summer and there was no doubt that he was tired of life and decided to end it.
Contributed by Barb Huff


The  Shelbyville  Republican
Thursday January 9, 1908
Page 4 column 2
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          Sam Pfendler died at his home near Pleasantview Tuesday, at the age of eighty years.  He was a wealthy farmer and at one time was a commissioner of Marion county.  Deceased was a prominent Democrat.
[Buried Pleasant View Cemetery]
Contributed by Barb Huff


The  Shelbyville  Daily  Democrat
 Friday August 24, 1906
Page 1 column 3
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MRS. SAMUEL  PFENLDER  DEAD
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           Mrs. Samuel [Alma] Pfendler, wife of S. O. Pfendler, a well-known citizen living west of Pleasant View, died this morning.  She had been ill for over a year.  During her seventy-eight years of life, she has earned the friendship of many and was one of the most highly respected residents of that section.
[Buried Pleasant View Cemetery]
Contributed by Barb Huff

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