Jasper Jepsen

JEPSEN, COUSINS

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 5/23/2021 at 17:43:29

3 July 1916 - The Clinton Advertiser
page 1

JASPER JEPSEN IS DROWNED IN WAPSIE RIVER
FORMER LOW MOOR MAN MEETS ACCIDENTAL DEATH
HAD PURCHASED A FARM
Accident Took Place Sunday Evening Near His Home Four Miles North of Princeton

Jasper Jepsen, aged about 30 years, a former well known resident of the vicinity of Low Moore, was accidently drowned in the Waspsipinicon river four miles north of Princeton early Sunday evening. The body was recovered at 7 o'clock this morning.

Two sons of the deceased, aged 3 and 5 years, saw their father fall into the stream and drown. They ran screaming to their home, which was three-quarters of a mile away, and alarmed neighbors who hurried to the scene. Although an all-night search for the body was made, it could not be located until this morning.

Jepsen leaves his wife and five children, the oldest of whom is eight years of age.

Mr. Jepsen met his death by falling into a deep pool near the river bank, from the trunk of a tree.

Some of his cattle got out Sunday afternoon and swam across the river. Mr. Jepsen, on foot, with a hired man who rode a horse, went after the cattle. The farm hand went across the Wapsie, and tried to chase the cattle back across the stream. Some of the cattle went back into the water, and swimming into an eddy, became confused and commenced to swim about in a circle.

Mr. Jepsen, on the bank, became alarmed, fearing the cattle would drown. He walked out on a tree trunk, which overhung the water, shouting directions to the hired man, while his two children watched from the bank. Suddenly Mr. Jepsen was seen to lose his grip on the tree, and to plunge into the stream. The hired man was at some little distance away, and did not see his employer fall into the stream.

The children were the only witnesses of the accident. They saw their father plunge beneath the surface and when he did not come up they ran home, crying for help.

There was no trace of the body when neighbors arrived, although Mr. Jepsen's hat was found this morning below the scene of the tragedy.

The Scott county coroner was called and held an inquest today, returning a verdict of accidental death.

Mr. Jepsen lived for several years on a farm near Low Moore and also for a time at Walnut Grove, Iowa. A year ago he purchased the Joseph ?? farm north of Princeton. Besides his wife and five children he is survived by a sister, Mrs. William G. Cousins, of Low Moor.