Earl Smith (-1902)

SMITH

Posted By: Gail and Dennis Bell
Date: 6/19/2005 at 09:45:25

THE MAXWELL TRIBUNE, Maxwell, Iowa, Thursday, June 19, 1902, page 4, column 3. "Boy Drowned in Indian Creek. - Earl Smith, son of Mr. and Mrs. I. N. Smith, was drowned in Indian Creek, near Iowa Center Thursday. Earl in company with his father, uncle and a companion, was at the creek and the father left them, cautioning the children not to go into the water, but boy like they thought it would be fine sport to swim in the swift running current and the result was Earl was drowned and as yet the body has not been recovered, although diligent search has been made from the place where the boy went under the water down to the bridge south of Iowa Center. Many men have been earnestly working all the time. About 300 people were at the scene Sunday and all were particularly eager to lend any assistance possible. The plan that is now being worked is to change the channel of the creek at a certain place in hopes that the body may be discovered. The sorrowing family has the sympathy of a host of friends in this their great affliction."

THE MAXWELL TRIBUNE, Maxwell, Iowa, Thursday, June 26, 1902, page 1, column 2. "Iowa Center. - The boy who was drowned two weeks ago has not been found yet. Parties are still hunting for the body…."

THE MAXWELL TRIBUNE, Maxwell, Iowa, Thursday, June 26, 1902, page 8, column 3. "Mullen - The search for the body of Earl Smith, who was drowned a week last Thursday afternoon, still continues, but as yet no trace of it has been found."

THE MAXWELL TRIBUNE, Maxwell, Iowa, Thursday, July 3, 1902, page 4, column 3. "The search for the body of Earl Smith has been abandoned for the present on account of the high water, but it will probably be resumed again as soon as the water subsides. It seems that all attempts to recover the body are doomed to be fruitless, but yet it is hoped that some way may yet be devised whereby the attempt will be successful."

THE MAXWELL TRIBUNE, Maxwell, Iowa, Thursday, July 10, 1902, page 1, column _. "Iowa Center. - The body of little Earl, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ike Smith, who was drowned in the creek near here, over three weeks ago, was found on last Sunday by Warren Fry. He with Charley Smith, Nat Guge and Charley Alderman were fixing some fence near the creek where the cattle got into this field and in crossing the creek Warren discovered something, which on closer inspection, proved to be the body of the little boy, it was partly in the drifts and partly in the water, almost two miles from where he went in. For two weeks after he was drowned the men and boys worked faithfully digging, diving and building dams to find him, but to no avail and they finally gave up the search in despair. Mr. Cooper took the body, which was very much disfigured and decomposed, to the undertaking room and prepared it for burial. The funeral took place on Monday at 10:00 a. m., the Rev. Wells, U. B. minister of Dalton, church conducted the services, assisted by Rev. Urbino, of this place, G. W. Mullen, U. E. presiding elder, and the M. E. minister of Colo. The family have the heartfelt sympathy of the entire community in their sad bereavement…."