Hal S. Foster (ca. 1888-1913)

FOSTER, LEVERMAN, WARRICK, BURG

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 4/13/2016 at 23:23:58

From Nevada Representative May 20, 1913 (front page)

HAL FOSTER DROWNED-

Young Bridegroom Lost in Des Moines River

Hal S. Foster, a young man who was reared by the Warricks and whose home was for some time near Nevada, was drowned Sunday at the dam in Des Moines. With another young man P. T. Burg, he started out for a ride on the river in a gasoline launch which was their joint possession and had gotten well clear of the boat-landing when their engine died on them and they began drifting toward the dam. They caught the life-wire that is stretched above the dam but had trouble in holding on and Foster, who was a good swimmer, started to swim ashore. He nearly made the shore, but when he a few feet out his strength failed him and he went over the dam. The other young man succeeded ultimately in getting the launch ashore, though how he did so was not understood by those who saw his situation.

Foster was brought to Nevada by Mr. and Mrs. M. P. Warrick from an orphan asylum in Des Moines when he was seven years old and had his home on the Warrick farm west of town while Mr Warrick lived. After the home there was broken up by Mr. Warrick's death Mrs. Warrick went first to Kansas City and afterwards to her daughter's home in Des Moines; but Hal went directly to the latter place and thereafter was brought up by Miss Georgia Warrick, prinicpal of the Bryant school, who really stood him in the relation of a mother. The boy justified her regard and attention; he graduated from the East Des Moines high school and grew up to be a most estimable young man. He held a good position with an automobile establishment in Des Moines, and only ten days before his death he was married at Boone to Miss Adelaide Leverman, whose home was in Rapid City, South Dakota, but who was a trained nurse in Des Moines. His chum, Burg, was married at the same time to a sister of Foster's bride and the whole party, together with Miss Warrick, were planning a surprise trip to the Fred Warrick home in Nevada as soon as the roads should get dry enough for automobiling.

The death of this young man is particularly sad in every way, and it is a great blow to the Warricks and to very numerous friends, while the bride is reported as prostrated with her grief. The body at last report had not been recovered, and funeral arrangements are therefore in suspension. The young man had an accident policy in favor of Miss Warrick, which was promptly paid by the company on Monday.

From Nevada Representative May 29, 1913 (front page)

FOUND FOSTER'S BODY

Funeral Here Wednesday Afternoon

The body of Hal S. Foster, who was drowned at Des Moines week ago Sunday, was found shortly after noon today, as reported in a telephone message received by the Warricks here. The body will be brought to Nevada Wednesday afternoon on the Short Line train from Des Moines and will be taken directly to the cemetery, where short burial services will be held It is further stated that the body is in good state of preservation, doubtless because of the cool weather that has prevailed since the drowning.

From Nevada Representative May 30, 1913 (front page)

Hal Foster's Funeral.

The funeral of the late Hal S. Foster of Des Moines was conducted at the cemetery Wednesday afternoon, the funeral party coming up on the Short Line in the afternoon and returning by the later train south. The services were in charge of Rev. A. A. Couser of Des Moines, formerly of Zearing, who as assisted by Rev. W. P. Payne. Numerous friends were present to pay a last tribute to a worthy young man who met a tragic end under most lamentable circumstances. The wedding party included his bride of ten days, who brothers, Miss Georgia Warrick, who largely reared him, his wife's mother, Mrs. Leverman of Rapid City, South Dakota; Mr. and Mrs. Paul. Burg, the former being his chum who escaped when he was drowned; Mrs. Marcellus Zinsmaster, Mrs. Carrie Persons, and Misses Auracher and Bertha Mullen of Des Moines; Miss Ethel Sanders of Valley Junction, Miss Lucy Ingersol of Boone, and Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Tallman of Ames. The local arrangements were in charge of Fred C. Warrick.