Kimmel, Ralph 1890-1907

KIMMEL, SCHROCK

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 7/18/2014 at 11:04:20

Alton Democrat of July 13, 1907

The usual quiet of Matlock was stirred from center to circumference when the report came to town that two boys had been drowned in the lake north of town. The town people and farmers near by flocked with rapidity to the vicinity of the drowning to try and discover the bodies and ascertain the facts regarding the terrible accident.

Tobias Kimmel with his family were picnicking at the small lake fishing and enjoying the day in a quiet and peaceful manner when his son Samuel aged seventeen together with two cousins went in bathing when soon came the frightened call for help from one of the boys and on assistance arriving he reported that his two companions were under the water and search was immediately made to recover the bodies. After about one and a half hours the bodies were recovered wrapped in the icy cloak of death blue and distorted from the terrible effects of strangulation by drowning The father and mother were there soon after the boys went down and their agony and broken hearted lamentations were heart stirring for one to hear.

Sympathy was written in every countenance. But what sympathy could quiet the heart broken mother and father who had reared their boy from babyhood to be so suddenly smitten and taken from them to never hear his voice or have his companionship again on this earth. Ralph was an only son and child and was the hope and stay tothe family of J. O. Kimmel. He was drowned along with Samuel the other boy escaping with his life. But what a picture for him to ever remember the drowning of his two cousins and companions without his being able to render them help. If it had been possible for him to have reached them he would probably be with them today. But as he could not swim and it was beyond his depth he could not assist them any although he waded out as far as he could but was compelled to give it up as the water was too deep. There seems to be a deep hole in which they fell as the lake is shallow in all other places.

Their neighbors and friends have the sympathy and sincere heart feelings of the entire communityin this sad hour. Samuel will be buried at Sheldon and Ralph at Waterloo where his parents intend to make their home.

(From Ancestry.com family history comes the families of the boys.
Ralph W. Kimmel age 10 in the 1900 census born Grant Tsp Sioux County to John Obadiah Kimmel bon Nov 1859 in Pennsylvania, his wife was Mary E. ‘Ellen’ Schrock, Ralph was their only child.
Samuel H. Kimmel was the son of Tobias L. Kimmel bon Dec 1858 Pennsylvania, the family was living in Grant Tsp Sioux County in 1900. His wife was Emma Sheller. Their were several other children in this family – Charlie, Milton, Theda, Elizabeth and T. L. )