Otis W. Baumgardner (1892-1913)

BAUMGARDNER, LARSON, SHARPER

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:12

From The Roland Record, Roland, Story County, Iowa, Thursday, August 21, 1913.

IOWA RIVER CLAIMS MCCALLSBURG MAN

Otis Baumgardner Drowns Near Soldiers Home at Marshalltown Sunday.

Marshalltown Aug 18. What was planned as a happy outing proved to end in a tradegy when Otis Baumgardner and young men companions, of McCallsburg, came to this city Sunday to see the circus sights. Baumgardner met death drowning in the Iowa river, at the first bend below the soldier's home at 3 o'clock Sunday afternoon, and two of his companions were thrown into the water when the boat they were occupying overturned.

Baumgardner recently purchased a new automobile and Sunday invited some of his friends to accompany him to this city. After spending the forenoon on the circus lot the party decided to go rowing, and engaged a boat at the soldier's home.

Recklessness on the part of Baumgardner was his undoing. While attempting to row the boat standing up one of the oars slipped from the lock and the oarsman became overbalanced. He fall, partly overturning the boat as he struck the water. With the small craft half full of water, Victor Nelson and Clarence Hanson, who were in the boat with Baumgardner, took to the stream and swam to shore.

Knowing that Baumgardner was a good swimmer, Nelson and Hanson paid no attention to him supposing he would swim to shore. Baumgardner swallowed a quantity of water as he fell from the boat, and apparently became dazed. At any rate upon looking back, Nelson saw Baumgardner struggle and swam to him. Baumgardner made a frantic grab at Nelsons hair, and for a moment Nelson feared both would drown. In order to save himself Nelson broke the drowning man's grasp, and swam to shore. Baumgardner went down in ten feet of water.

Another boat load of friends, also members of the automobile party, had left the pier at about the same time, and witnessed the tragedy. The young men did not realize that Baumgardner was not going to swim ashore until it was too late to aid hiim. The body was recovered by H. C. Kellogg, of the soldiers' home with the aid of grappling hooks and was removed to the D. C. Wilbur parlors. Coroner Boucher investigated the circumstances of the drowning but did not hold an inquest.

Baumgardner's body was taken to McCallsburg this morning by B. H. Baumgardner, an older brother of the young man. Young Baumgardner was a native of Story County, and was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Baumgardner, who live three miles out of McCallsburg. Four brothers and two sisters survive in addition to the parents. The brothers and sisters are B. H., A. J. and Roy Baumgardner all living on farms near McCallsburg; Lester Baumgardner, who is at home; Mrs. Gertrude Larson, of Turtle Lake, Wisc; and Mrs. Julia Sharper of McCallsburg.

Transcriber note: Otis was buried in the McCallsburg/Warren Township Cemetery. He grave marker reads: Otis W (BAUMGARDNER) May 7, 1892-Aug 17, 1913.