Tottie Mitchell (-1902)

MITCHELL

Posted By: Gail and Dennis Bell
Date: 6/14/2005 at 08:21:17

THE MAXWELL TRIBUNE, Maxwell, Iowa, Thursday, December 4, 1902, page 1, column _. "DOUBLE DROWNING. Lottie and Tottie Mitchell Meet Death in a Pond Near Indian Creek. On last Sunday afternoon a very sad accident occurred at the Mitchell home northwest of town, when their tow little girls, Lottie and Tottie, aged twelve and thirteen, were drowned in a small pond near the barn. The two girls together with Ruth Bennethum and two of Asa Banks' little boys had been playing around the barn for an hour or so and finally decided to go down to the ice for a skate. They played on the ice a while and were breaking holes with their heels and playing innocently as children would, Lottie was pushing one of the Banks boys along on the ice when it broke through with them and at the same time Tottie broke through in another place. Lottie went under the water and did not come to the surface again, the banks boy's brother assisted him to get out of the water and the Bennethum girl tried to assist Tottie, but broke through herself, her clothing however caught on the ice and held her up. Tottie being unable to get out said: "Lottie is gone and I might as well go, tell mamma, papa and teacher goodbye," and threw her hands up to her face and went down. The Banks boys ran to the house for help and George Mitchell and Mr. Banks ran immediately to the scene, Mr. Banks rescuing Ruth Bennethum and George Mitchell got the body of Tottie, which was floating and was then thought to be alive. Drs. Scott, Joor and Mingle were summoned and tried to resuscitate her but it was impossible. Lottie was under the water about an hour before her body was taken out. Lottie and Tottie were both bright little girls and much beloved by all who knew them. They will be missed by their schoolmates, among whom they were great favorites. The funeral was conducted at Iowa Center Tuesday at 2 o'clock and was in charge of Rev. V. Urbino. The sorrowing family has the sympathy of many friends in this their sad hour of affliction. It is indeed hard to part with two bright little flowers at one tome and it seems that a double portion of sorrow had come to the Mitchell family."

THE MAXWELL TRIBUNE, Maxwell, Iowa, Thursday, December 4, 1902, page 6, column _. "Iowa Center. - This community was again called to pass through deep sorrow because of the drowning of two of it's loving children; who thought it would be nice fun to take the first slide of the season on one of the ponds near Indian Creek, thinking the ice strong enough to hold them up but it proved to be a fatal slide. This occurred November 30th at 3 p. m. on the farm of Mr. S. N. Mitchell south of Iowa Center. Lottie and Tottie were very nice girls no one has anything but good to speak of them, they were like David says of Saul and Jonathan II Samuel 1:23: Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives and in their death were not divided. So we can read - Lottie and Tottie were pleasant in their lives and in their death were no9t divided. Ella Tott daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Elizabeth Mitchell was born May 20th 1890, age twelve years, five months and ten days, and their grand daughter Charlotte was born November 17th 1889, age 13 years and 13 days. The funeral was held at 2 p. m. in the Iowa Center church, conducted by the writer, assisted by Rev. Roberts of the Christian church at Maxwell. A very large concourse of people was present, the church being filled to its utmost capacity and some could not get in. Although a very heavy and wet snow was falling, a large procession followed the two hearses to the Iowa Center cemetery to see these two children laid away in their double grave. Such scenes preach a very impressive sermon and should be a warning to parents and children. V. Urbino."

THE MAXWELL TRIBUNE, Maxwell, Iowa, Thursday, December 4, 1902, page 10, column _. "…The sad news was brought to town Sunday evening that Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell's two little girls were drowned. They, with Ruth Benethum** and two little boys of Asa Banks', were on the pond skating and the ice broke, and the Mitchell girls both went under, but the Benethum girl was held up by the ice under her arms until help arrived. When the Mitchell girls were found they were both dead. The doctors worked three hours truing to resuscitate them but to no avail. Our sympathy, deep and profound, is with the friends of the little girls. Funeral services were held at the Evangelical church at 2 o'clock Tuesday afternoon, conducted by rev. Urbino." **Editorial note - the name is spelled Benethum as well as Bennethum in this issue of THE TRIBUNE.