Alta Harnden (1874-1897)

HARNDEN, KIMBALL, HILL

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 7/24/2006 at 08:10:56

The Roland Record, Roland, Story County, Iowa, April 23, 1897.

AN UNTIMELY DEATH
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Alta Harnden Meets Death by Drowning, Wednesday Afternoon
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Sad indeed, were the many warm friends of the Harnden family, in this city, when the news reached here Monday evening that one of the daughters, Miss Alta, had just met her death by drowning. Of the circumstances connected with her death, but little is known, but from the opinion given by a brother, L. B., we learn this short story of the sad accident.

Alta left the house at about 1:30 p.m., to hunt for turkey nests. She wandered up north of the house about 120 rods, along the banks of the small stream called Dry Creek. Here she was undoubtedly preparing to cross the creek, and the caving off of the bank let her into the mud and water. Although the water was shallow and the average person would easily have extricated themselves, Miss Harnden lacking the strength in her arms of other people, was unable to help herself, and lay there in her helpless condition until death by strangulation claimed her as its victim. Toward evening the family missed her and started out to search for her, and her lifeless body was first seen by the balance of the family, in the arms of the almost crazed father. An uncle, Mr. R. Kimball was at once dispatched to Roland for Dr. Rice, but in the opinion of that gentleman, life had been extinct several hours before he arrived.

Alta Harnden was born on the farm on which she met her death, November 17, 1874. She was the second daughter of a family of four daughters and two sons, of Mr. and Mrs. John P. Harnden, all of whome are still living. Nellie the oldest, is the wife of a young farmer, John Hill, of Kossuth county, while the two younger sisters, Rena and Nina are at home. One brother, E. H., lives at Battle Creek, Mich., and the younger brother, L. B. or "Chip" as he is familiarly known, lives on the old homestead with his parents.

This is the first death that has occurred in the Harnden family, or in the family of any of their relatives in Iowa.

The funeral was held Wednesday at two o'clock, at the Pleasent Grove church, the services being conducted by Rev. Cox, of Gilbert Station. All of the brothers and sisters were present at the funeral, besides a large attendance of other relatives, neighbors and friends. The remains were lais to rest in the Pleasent Grove Cemetery. The family is a favorite one in the neighborhood, and this untimely death cast a gloom over the entire neighborhood. The father has been very poorly since the accident and the friends are fearful lest it have a lasting effect on him.

In this, the hour of their sorest affliction, they are extended the heartfeld sympathy of all. But words of man are of little avail at such a time, but the knowledge that their loved one is better off out of this world of strife and sorrow, should be a comforting thought.