MAKEPEACE, Otis 1868-1894

MAKEPEACE, PIERCE, ORR, BURT, CLEMONS, HOYSTON, SMITH, SHELDON, HOWE, MAIN

Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 5/24/2012 at 03:04:58

~The Graphic, Postville, Iowa, Thursday, March 29, 1894

OTIS MAKEPEACE DROWNED

Late Monday afternoon a dispatch was received by Ellison Orr bearing the sad intelligence of the drowning of Otis, youngest son of Mrs. Makepeace of this city. It appears that he, with a large number of others, was enjoying the recreation of skating on the Buffalo as Coggon, when the ice broke and the unfortunate young man went into the water. At the time of the accident he was accompanied by a little girl of almost eight years, who fell through the ice at the same time. His calls for help brought assistance and rescue for the little girl but he had disappeared.

It is supposed that Otis was seized with a cramp on his first rising to the surface and through chilled was unable to help himself, but sank at once to his death. The body was recovered in about twenty minutes, and earnest efforts put forth for the resuscitation but without avail.

Otis Makepeace was born at Daleville, Indiana, February 25, 1868; was brought by his parents to Postville when one year old and lived here all his life until about five years ago, when he went to Coggen, a new town in the northeast corner of Linn County. There he engaged in business, and by his manly upright character, won a place in the esteem of all the people. He was clerk of the city, and in all his relations of life, business, social or official had the good will of everybody.

Mr. Orr and William Makepeace brother of the diseased, left for Coggon on the Monday night train, and returned with the remains of the loved one Wednesday. His standing in the community is attested by the fact of the civic bodies of which he was a member sending delegations to attend the funeral services which took place Wednesday afternoon. L. W. Burt and A. J. Clemons were in attendance from the Masonic Lodge No. 538 A. F. & A. M; R. B. Hoyston and Harry Smith of Davis Lodge No 211 K. of P.; Mayor H. M. Sheldon and Councilman Dr. M. F. Howe, and Miss May Clemons and George Main, from the U. S. P. C. E., while beautiful floral emblems were sent by the Epworth League, Good Templars and other organizations.

The funeral was at the Congregational Church, under the auspices of Brotherly Love Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and the mortal remains laid to rest with full Masonic honors in Postville Cemetery. The afflicted family have the sympathy of the entire community in their sorrow.

-----
Notes: Postville Cemetery records show:
Makepeace, Otis 1868 Feb 25 1894 Mar 26 Son of OA & NJ
--
Parents were Oliver A. and Nancy Jane (Pierce) Makepeace.

_________________________________
The following is a partial obituary, originally posted in 2005. Instead of deleting it, it has been added here because there is a little bit of info. not included in the longer, complete obit from the 'Graphic"

OTIS MAKEPEACE

[Submitter's note: I could not read the first part of this obit at all] ...as well as the fraternities to which he belonged, as mentioned above. Beautiful flowers were contributed as follows: By the Epworth League, a cross; by the Y.P.S.C.E., an anchor; by the Good Templars, a [illegible]; by the young ladies of the town, a harp. Mr. MAKEPEACE was a little past twenty-six years of age, and so far as known he had not an enemy in the world, but was a friend to all. This consciousness will be a great consolation to relatives in their great and sudden bereavement. His sun has gone down before the meridian was reached, but he has left a memory of which any young man might be proud, and one which the Review hopes all its young friends will emulate. All who knew him mourn the loss of a dear friend, but at the same time we feel that beyond the storms of life he is safely anchored in the harbor of eternal rest. And feeling thus we sadly though hopefully say farewell.

Postville Review, 3/31/1894 - contributed by Sharyl Ferrall