Boorman, Edna L. Miss 1898-1916

BOORMAN

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 10/22/2015 at 19:59:05

Hawarden Independent of May 18, 1916

Edna L. Boorman was the only child of Mrs. Anna Boorman, who has been a resident of Hawarden since girlhood. Edna was born in this city Sept 3, 1898 and had therefore passed her seventeenth birthday. Her father, Fred Boorman, died when she was but seven years of age and since that time her comfort and happiness in life has been the one consuming desire and ambition of her mother. Edna’s well being was her mother’s hourly thought and in turn no child was ever more mindful or appreciative of the loving care bestowed upon her. Her untimely death seems doubly sad as it robs the mother of her sole ambition in life, and leaves a future which must seem dark indeed.

Edna was a member of the senior class in high school and like her classmate, Neva entered the public schools here as a kindergartner just a few short years ago. She was a happy child, forever radiating a spirit of cheerfulness to those about her, and her passing leaves in its wake a trail of sweetest memories. Relatives and friends who came because of her death were her cousin, Leon Foster of Chicago; Mr. and Mrs. Jos. Holman, Mrs. Vesta Baker and Mrs. B. F. Durkee of Eagle Grove; Mrs. Paul Braden of Huron; and Mrs. I. A.Turner of Eldora.

Some excerpts from the long article in the newspaper. The most lamentable tragedy in the history of this city was enacted about seven-thirty last Thursday evening when a boat occupied by one teacher and five girl high school students was swept over Ensign's mill dam and the lives of three, Edna Boorman, Margery Fairbrother and Neva Johnson, were swept into eternity in the swirling waters below the dam. Alma McGloghlon and Benita Sidwell jumped from the, boat just as it struck the dam and were saved from a similar fate, while Miss Elizabeth McCartney, A music teacher in the public schools, managed to cling to the boat and was saved as by a miracle.

Sunday was the day set for the funeral and it had been planned to hold the services for the three girls jointly upon the lawn at the J. A. Johnson home. The storm which had its beginning Friday night, however, seemed only to have reached its crest when Sunday dawned and it was found necessary to change the plans and hold the services in the Presbyterian church.

The church had been profusely decorated with lilacs and their fragrance permeated the building, while the wonderful offerings of cut flowers, which had been sent by friends far and near, reposed upon and around the caskets and were most beautiful to behold. Four ministers participated in the services. Rev. Edward M. Jeffers of Ottumwa, who had been supplying at the Baptist church, read from the Scriptures, Rev. A. M. Mclntosh offered prayer, while Rev. A. F. Eldridge and Rev. C. H. Young spoke words of comfort and helpfulness to those whose aching hearts were harrowed by an inexpressible grief.

Following the services at the church, the triple funeral procession was again formed and the remains of these three girls conveyed to Grace Hill cemetery where the caskets on after another were lowered into the graves with fitting ceremonies.