Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-08-14
Joshua Q. Simmons Drowned.

LINCOLN CENTRE, Kan, July 81 1878.
EDITOR OTTuMwA COURIER :-S1R-
Mr.. Joshua G. Simmons departed this
life July 9th, 1878.
The deceased was born in Jackson
county, Ohio, June IL, 1881, being at
his death Al years l month an IA
days old.
Mr.. Simmons met his death under
very painful circumstances. He had
been to Ellsworth for the purpose of
sending his wife's grandpa to Ottum-
wa to see his con, z. Minick, die, lit
tie thinking when they parted at
Ellsworth they were parting next to
meet at the Judgment seat Of Christ.
But imam proposes and God disposes."
Mr.. Simmons was within one mile
of home on his return when he was
drowned in the Saline river, under
the following circumstances When
he reached the river, in sight of home,
he found it very high, but having q
sick child at home he was anxious to
reach it. He was advised by the
writer and others not to attempt to
cross over, but as he was good
swimmer and had crossed it at other
times in similar way he could not
be prevailed upon to stay from home
so he unhitched his horses from the
wagon, took the harness off and plac-
ed them with other things securely
in the wagon, intending to return
when the water fell and get them
He started to ride one horse and lead
the other, but just after he had enter
ed the water the lead horse broke
loose and left the river. 7 his contus-
ed him so that he must have lost his
judgment to q certain extent, rs there
were two boys standing on the river
bank who called to him to abandon
the horse and swim, but he said he
could not, but would get along. The
horse got to struggling, which threw
Mr.. Simmons on his neck and caused
both to sink. When he came up he
called for help, as he said he was
drowning but it was impossible to
render any, and the horse instantly
sank again, the horse coming up first
and then him clinging to it. The
horse turned over and over Gas the
current is very strong, or rather two
currents, the under one tho strongest
considerably till both sank out of
sight.
An alarm was instantly given but
no human help could reach him in
time to save him. In about one hour
the horse rose to the surface and
floated of, but Mr.. Simmons was not
with it. Little could then be done al
it was getting dark and the riv.
er still rising. On Sunday morn.
: ing the banks of the river were
thronged by anxious people (fol
. all loved him) the river was still
too high but was falling fast. Abou
3 p. m. the search began, but nothing
could be accomplished. The people
scattered home about rundown badl,
disappointed, but determined to be
gin early the next morning but Prov
idence came to our aid and sent ,
!, heavy thunder shower. EARLY in tn
a morning people were there to hunt
= and about Z q. m. his body was seel
10 floating down the river, when it wa
n brought to the shore. A coffin wa
a sent for and preparations began TO
. his immediate burial, as he had beel
9 in tie water SO long it was impossible
l. to keep him longer than was absolute
i ly necessary. He was buried on hi
;. homestead. The funeral services wa
- conducted by A. E. Lite, minister Q
q the Evangelical Association Church
10 of which he. in his life time, was
II constant and attentive auditor. Fl
= nancially he has left his family i
> good circumstances; a good HON,
o plenty Of grain and comparativel
70 nothing to be paid, as he was a goo
i manager and kept about square wit
the world.
?. He left his aged father and mothe
y wife and five children to mourn b
I, loss, as he was dutiful son, kin
husband and an affectionate fathe
: His death cast gloom over the Ell
7 tire community, as he was we
u known and respected for his ow
}. worth. He was one of Gods nobl,
q men, an honest man, q good neigl
A Dor and q highly respected citizen.
D. V. LEWIS.