Ryan, Carl T. 1894-1903

JOHNSON, CHRISTENSEN, RYAN

Posted By: D. Hagemeier (email)
Date: 2/14/2015 at 11:29:39

One of the saddest tragedies that has ever occurred in this vicinity happened Wednesday afternoon on Patterson creek, Six miles northeast of Waukon.

Clarence Johnson, nine-year old son of John G. Johnson, the carpenter, was visiting at the home of his uncle, Martin Ryan of Union Prairie. His cousin, Carl Ryan, was the same age, and that afternoon they left the Ryan home for an excursion to the creek bottom nearby.

It is suspected that the boys went in wading and stepped into one of the holes which proved to be about five feet deep, and got beyond their depth and were drowned. (Aug 5, 1903)

Source: Family scrapbook clipping. Note: Mother of Clarence Johnson was Carrie (Christensen) Johnson and mother of Carl Ryan was Mary (Christensen) Ryan.
Source: Newspaper Clipping scrapbook

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Added by Joy Moore, 9/13/2018:

Source: Twice-A-Week Plain Dealer Aug. 14, 1903, FP, C4

A double drowning occurred at Waukon, when the 9-year-old sons of John Jaanson* and Michael Ryan met their deaths in a shallow stream a mile from town. The creek is not over two feet deep. When they did not return home when they promised a search was made for them when the result that their bodies were found in the creek. It is not known how they happened to drown.—Decorah- Journal.

Transcriber’s Note: There is a Carl T. Ryan buried in Oakland Cemetery. He was born August 1, 1894 and died August 5, 1903.

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Added by S. Ferrall on 9/13/2018:
The obit from the scrapbook clipping & the Plain-Dealer obit differ in some of the identifications & surnames. Interested researchers should determine for themselves which is correct.

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Added by Joy Moore 11/07/2019:

Source: Decorah Republican Aug. 12, 1903 Page 3 Col 2

—Two little nine year old lads— Clarence Johnson of Waukon and Carl Ryan of Union Prairie township, were drowned in a creek near the home of the latter last week Wednesday. They went in wading and got beyond their depth.