from the Danville Gazette (Danville, Indiana)--issue of Thursday, April 25, 1935--page 1, column 5:
Union Township Farmer Died From Severe Burns
John W.M. Scott's Clothing Caught On Fire While He Was Burning Trash Tuesday
FUNERAL IS THIS AFTERNOON
Widow and Seven Children Survive—Burial at Lizton
John W.M. Scott, age 81, of Lizton died at the Methodist hospital in Indianapolis early Tuesday morning from third degree burns received when his clothing caught fire while burning grass and debris on his farm south of Lizton Monday afternoon. The body was brought to the home of his daughter, Mrs. Lars Ellis, living west of Danville and funeral services will be held this afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Methodist church in Lizton in charge of Rev. A.B. Abbott. Burial will be made in the K. of P. cemetery at Lizton.
Mr. Scott had gone about three quarters of a mile from the house on his farm early in the afternoon to clean fence rows. About 3:30 while working and burning the trash he suddenly became aware that his clothing from the waist down was ablaze. He frantically tried to remove his trousers and shoes but failing to do this, rolled and crawled until he was able to extinguish the flames. It was not until about four o'clock that his frantic calls for help were heard by his nephew, Media Scott, living on a farm nearby. Mr. Scott on reaching his uncle found him conscious but severely burned from the waist down, and the upper part of his body and hands badly blackened. The injured man was taken to his home in a school bus operated by Leo Blessing of Lizton and Dr. Robert Wiseheart of Lizton called. The patient was sent immediately to the Methodist hospital in Indianapolis where he died in thirteen hours.
The entire life of Mr. Scott was spent in Hendricks county where he was born. He had engaged in the farming business for many years. He was married on October 20, 1880, to Elizabeth Armstrong and to them were born seven children. Mr. and Mrs. Scott celebrated their golden wedding anniversary five years ago.
Surviving with the widow are three daughters, Mrs. Thornton Freeland of Ben Davis, Mrs. Lars Ellis of Danville, and Mrs. Cecil Freeland of Ben Davis, and four sons, Aaron Scott of Indianapolis, Asa Scott of Maplewood, Orville Scott of Indianapolis and Virgil Scott of Brightwood.