Beals, Charles 1863-1897

BEALS, HEIFNER

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 2/22/2005 at 19:37:12

Sad Death of Charlie Beals

26 Feb 1897
David Beals received a telegram last Monday evening bringing the startling intelligence of the death of his son Charles by drowning on that day. There no particulars beyond these facts, and the parents and friends are overwhelmed with sorrow over the sad affliction. The deceased left Jasper county a little over a year ago and has been living at Jericho Springs, Cedar County, Mo. He is about thirty years of age and leaves a wife and five children.

05 Mar 1897
Mr. David Beals this week received the sad particulars of the drowning of his son Charles Beals, which occurred in Cedar County, Mo., on Monday, Feb. 22nd. Charlie’s home was in Jericho Springs, from which place he had gone to Sheldon on Saturday, and Sunday about noon started for home, his wagon being loaded with furniture. There had been heavy rains during the previous night, and friends urged Charlie to remain in Sheldon until the next day, as the Horse Creek, which he was compelled to ford would no doubt be swollen, until fording would be dangerous. But he declined as his wife and children were sick, and he was anxious to get home. He camped out Sunday night, and finding the creek so badly swollen the next morning, he did not venture to cross until ten o’clock, when the waters seemed to have fallen considerably. A young man, who had tried that morning to persuade Mr. Beals not to take the risk, was within a quarter of a mile of the creek when he saw Charlie drive over the bank into the water. When he reached the bank, he was horror stricken at seeing Mr. Beals’ wagon box floating down the swift current about 40 yards from the ford, and the horses going out on the opposite side below the ford, but Charlie had gone down to a watery grave. The alarm was given and large crowds of friends made diligent search for the body of the unfortunate man, which was found about one o’clock Tuesday, one hundred yards below the ford in the center of the stream in about 10 feet of water. Funeral services were held the Wednesday following.

Charlie Beals was born in Jasper County on the 28th day of August 1863, and the greater part of his live has been spent in this vicinity. About ten years ago he was married to Miss Lottie Heifner, and they moved to Cedar County, Mo., where they have resided ever since. Besides his wife, he leaves a family of five children. Deceased was a member of the Christian Church, a devoted Christian man. For the sorrow stricken wife and children, and the parents and other relatives here, the tenderest sympathy is felt by all.~ The Newton Record 05 Mar 1897