Theodore Lewis "Teddy" McAffee 1902-1915

MCAFFEE, GERARD

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 11/12/2010 at 21:37:31

Des Moines River Claims Another
Second Youth of Our City to be Taken This Year by This Wicked Stream
Theodore M’Affee the Victim
The Body Was Recovered on Sunday About Noon by the Diligent Searchers

Once more the shrill shriek of the fire whistle brought our citizens out in haste only to hear the sad news that the Des Moines River had claimed another victim in the person of Theodore McAffee.

He and two other little boys had been going to the river to swim, and on Friday [August 13, 1915] afternoon he was the first to get in the water and swam out into the current. He had been in the habit (so the boys say) of going under and yelling for the others to assist him. This time he went under, and the boys paid no attention to him. The current is very swift here and there is probably an under current. The boy went under but once, the lads say, or at least they never saw him again. It is very probable the current was so swift that he was sucked under the brush in the bank.

Assistance was called by the lads at once, but the body could not be located. Fences of netting were placed in the river and the nets placed across to catch him. The work was carried on without success until Sunday noon, when the body came up against one of the fences just a short distance below where he went down. Much underbrush was being pulled out and it is probable the body was caught under some of these places.

Theodore was a boy of thirteen years, and was the son of Mr. and Mrs. W. L. McAffee, long residents of this city. The funeral services were held Monday afternoon at the Presbyterian church, the Rev. Coffin officiating. The remains were laid to rest in the Oak Hill cemetery. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, August 18, 1915)

Theodore McAffee Drowned in River
Young Son of Mr. and Mrs. W. L. McAffee Find Watery Grave While in Bathing Friday Afternoon
Body Recovered Sunday
Lad Was in Bathing with Other Boys Short Distance Below North Bridge

While bathing in the Des Moines river Friday afternoon with other companions a short distance below the north bridge, Theodore McAffee, the eleven year old son of Mr. and Mrs. W. L. McAffee, of this city was drowned an his body was not recovered until Sunday afternoon.

The boys were in a favorite bathing pool about one-quarter of a mile north of the Rock Island railroad bridge, where the water is deep and the river about ten rods wide. They went in the river from the west side. Young McAffee could swim a little and attempted to swim across the river at this point, but eighter became exhausted when in the middle of the stream or was seized with cramps. At any rate he cried out for help but his companions were unable to lend any assistance and he sank to a watery grave. An alarm was at once turned in and soon the fire company and many other people were on hand giving what assistance they could, but the body could not be found that day. The search was continued and the river dragged until Sunday afternoon when the fire company succeeded in finding the body a short distance below where the boy went down, lodged in some brush that had drifted against a wire fence that extended a short distance into the river from the west side of the shore.

Funeral services were held Monday afternoon.

The grief stricken parents have the sympathy of the community in this hour of great affliction.

Obituary
The funeral service for Teddy Lewis McAffee was held from the Presbyterian church Monday afternoon at 2:30 conducted by Rev. J. S. Coffin of the Christian church, the pastor of the Presbyterian church being absent. Teddy was born near Wallingford June 13, 1902. He came with his parents to Estherville when about two years of age and lived there until his death, which occurred last Friday afternoon. He leaves a father, mother, one brother and five sisters to mourn his early departure. The remains were laid to rest in the Oak Hill cemetery. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, August 18, 1915)

Geo. Gerard and wife of Guthrie Center, father and mother of Mrs. W. L. McAffee, arrived Sunday evening by automobile to attend the funeral of their grandson, Teddy McAffee. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, August 18, 1915)