ABERNETHY, Edwin E. "Eddy" c1872-1885

ABERNETHY, EATON

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 4/5/2011 at 18:59:49

#1:

A young son of Prof. Alonzo Abernethy, of Osage, was drowned in the Cedar last Wednesday evening. In company with two other boys he had gone to the river to fish, and in attempted to drive across with a buggy, the vehicle was overturned, and the three boys were thrown into the water. Two of them succeded in reaching the bank, but young Abernethy was carried down stream, and his body was found Sunday afternoon two miles below where he was drowned. He was twelve years old.

[Iowa State Reporter, Thursday, April 30, 1885]
(Credit: S. Bell)
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#2:

EDDY ABERNETHY, AGE 12

Drowned in the Cedar River

Last night about seven o’clock the people of Osage were shocked and startled by the arrival of a boy on horseback bearing the sad intelligence that Eddy Abernethy was drowning or drowned in the river south of town near Rice’s mill. Men hurrried immediately to the river on horse-back and with teams. Boats were loaded into wagons, and in an almost incredibly short time, over fifty men were searching in the river and along the banks for the lost boy.

It seems that three boys, Carl Prime, Eddy Abernethy, and Afton Wright, from Nora Springs, went down to the river in the afternoon with Prof. Abernethy’s horse and top buggy to fish. They forded the river at the ford below the mill without mishap, but upon their return, the horse became frightened and jumped, tipping the buggy over. The river had been rising rapidly for the last two days and the current here was very swift. Two of the boys succeeded in reaching the shore, though Master Prime was completely exhausted and sank twice before gaining the bank. Eddy-was swept down by the current just before he reached the shore, and was seen no more. The horse was drowned and swept down stream with the buggy.

Prof. Abernethy had just started to Des Moines on the evening train and a dispatch was sent to him at Nashua, and he returned with a team, reaching here a little before one o’clock.

The search was kept up all night and this morning the melancholy search is continued by a large force of men. The current in some places is so swift as to make boats unmanageable and a rope is stretched across the river from bank to bank to hold them.

Edwin E. Abernethy was a very bright boy twelve years of age, and was born at Des Moines, Iowa. The bereaved parents have the earnest sympathy of all in this great affliction.

Osage News
April 23, 1885

(Credit: M. O'Connor 4/2011)
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#3:
NOTES:

Parents:
Alonzo Abernethy (1836-1915)
Louise Eaton Abernethy (1839-1916)

Burial:
Osage Cemetery, Osage, Mitchell County, Iowa.

[ Credit: DM Scott ]