Wilford Mundy 1905-1921

MUNDY, SMITH

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 6/12/2018 at 13:25:06

16 June 1921 - West Branch Times

Page 1
The entire countryside was shocked and grieved last Sunday evening when the word came that Wilford Mundy had drowned about five o'clock while swimming in the Cedar river above Rochester.

He, with a party of young people Misses Tacy Wren, Laura Randall, Lillian Pennock and Hazel Thompson and Irwin Larson, Floyd Larson and Herbert Fitzsimmons were enjoying an afternoon picnic.

The girls were fishing from a fallen log, and most of the boys were in swimming.

Wilford had been entertaining the crowd by diving and swimming, and the last time he went down he did not reappear. The supposition is that he became faint and as the water is very deep and exceedingly swift at this place, he had not sufficient strength to combat with the undercurrent. Panic seized the crowd. The boys swimming did their best to find him but failed. Floyd Larson rushed for help, going to I. M. Lane's house to telephone. Progress was difficult because of the hilly character of the country and the many gates to be opened.

Searching parties were at once organized and a persistent search started that lasted day and night until the sudden appearance of the body about eight o'clock Tuesday morning. The hooks and other equipment were secured from the police department at Iowa City; also two expert divers.

The people of Rochester community and Tipton united with those from West Branch and very systematically every section of the river was searched. As far down the river as Moscow a watch was kept. Many blasts of dynamite were used and up to early Tuesday morning the body had not been found. A call for more help went out through the rural telephone lines and the new relay of men were on the road to Rochester when the word came that the body had risen a short distance down the river from the scene of the tragedy. The remains were brought . . .

At the time of the drowning the mother was in the hospital at Iowa City with her infant son.

Special credit for faithful work is due Otto Stiff and George Burrows of Rochester. These two men and others, could not have been more zealous if the loss involved had been their own.

Wilford was sixteen, the eldest child of Mr. and Mrs. Jesse H. Mundy. His was a gallant disposition and he leaves many friends among the older people as well as his mates, who grieve with his shocked family.

There is no loss more keenly felt than that of a popular, promising young man or woman. The real propensities of manhood were just beginning to be manifest in Wilford's life. He was alert, active and energetic. He will be especially missed next fall when the high school students go back to the beautiful new building. The sympathy of the entire community goes to the parents and relatives because the sorrow and loss are common.

The funeral service was held in the Friends church at six o'clock Tuesday evening and as the sun was sinking to leave the world to rest, the body was tenderly laid away in the bosom of the green hill, where many others rest.

Page 7
Wilford Barclay Mundy was born near Oasis, Iowa, June 22, 1905. When he was but 6 years old, his parents moved with their family to West Branch, where they have since lived. Last year he completed the work in the local school to the end of the Sophomore year. He had cultivated a deep interest and showed more than ordinary ability in mechanical drawing, architectural designing and in cartoon work. He had been appointed H.S. cartoonist by Supt. DelManzo for the past two years.

He has been a member of the Friends church since early childhood. He was a good-hearted well-meaning boy and a recognized leader among his play fellows. He was drowned in the Cedar river Sunday afternoon, June 12, 1921, and leaves to mourn his loss his parents, Jesse and Ellen Mundy, two sisters, Alice and Emily and two little brothers, Elwood and Robert; besides his grandparents, Chas. and Deborah Smith; many other relatives and a host of friends. They body was laid to rest in the West Branch cemetery June 14, 1921, just 8 days prior to his 16th birthday.