Whitehead, Byron & Ida Mae Drown 1872

WHITEHEAD, MARSHALL

Posted By: Ernie Braida
Date: 9/5/2011 at 22:16:19

Our entire community was thrilled last week by the sad news that Mr. Byron N. Whitehead of Washington tp., and his wife, Ida Mae Marshall Whitehead, had lost their lives by accidental drowning while attempting to cross Whitebreast Creek at Mulky's ford some 8 miles southwest of Knoxville on Saturday the 6th inst. The particulars of this distressing casualty are as follows: Mr. Whitehead and his wife left their home near Gosport that Saturday morning in a two horse wagon to go to Wheeling, expecting to be gone till Thursday following.

Mr. Hugh Thompson and Mrs. Little, who live in that vicinity, saw them as they passed; the last that was seen of them alive. The last word Mr. Whitehead's mother had said to him, were a caution to him about the ford, as the creek was very high and the crossing dangerous, and he answered that she must not fret about him, that if there was any trouble he would send her word. Last Thursday morning, Mr. Storer's boys, who were out fishing saw the horses in the creek, and called Mr. Rambo and others, who immediately began the search, and soon found the bodies of Mr. and Mrs. Whitehead lodged in the creek some 100 yards below the ford. Mr. Marsh of Pleasantville, coroner, arrived and held the inquest on Thursday afternoon. The bodies were swollen and disfigured so that identification was impossible. The verdict rendered was "death on the morning of the 8th, between 9 and 10 o'clock, by accidental drowning attempting to cross Whitebreast Creek at Mulky’s Ford with two horses and wagon.” After removing from the deceased the rings, pocket knife and such other articles of personal property as were necessary to help future identification, the gentlemen present interred the remains with religious care in the beautiful Aldrich Cemetery in that neighborhood, and then returned to their homes. As soon as the news of the terrible accident became know, the neighbors of the deceased, hearing the descriptions given, felt sure that the unfortunate couple must be Mr. Whitehead and his wife. Steps were immediately taken to ascertain positively; and in a short time the identity was established beyond the possibility of a doubt.

The parents and friends were overwhelmed with anguish, and the sympathy of our entire people are with them in their great sorrow. The deceased Byron Newton Whitehead was the son of Mr. 0.W. Whitehead of Washington tp, and he would have been 20 years old on the 30th of next month. He embraced religion when 14 years of age and at the time of death was a member of the Presbyterian Church of Columbia. He had been a teacher for some years but was working his father’s farm this summer. He was married last Christmas Day to Ida Hay Marshall, daughter of Mr. George Marshall of Knoxville. Her age was 20 on the lath of last September. She professed religion between the ages of 13 and 14 years and when she died was a member of the Presbyterian Church in Knoxville. Both of the deceased were excellent young people, exemplary in their conduct, and possessed the esteem of all who knew them. Mr. Whitehead Senior is in poor circumstances, made much worse by the sad accident. His friends have therefore opened a subscription for the purpose of buying him a team instead of the one lost, and otherwise aiding him. We hope responses have been and will be liberal. The relation of the deceased have sent us the request that we should for them express their most earnest and heartfelt thanks to all who assisted in the finding and interment of the bodies, or in any other respect have shown kindness to them in this bad calamity. – Knoxville Voter.

Marion County Newspapers 1872