Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1916-11-03
GEORGE NoONAN.
Tragic Death OF Former Addison
County Man and Wife,

know something of his life since leaving
the old home and the circumstances of
his death at Blackwell, Mo-, October
10, 1916,
He was the seventh child Of Thomas
r., and Mary Esther Anthony Noonan,
born at Addison, Vermont, Sep.
TENDER Is, 1874, educated In the
public schools and Beeman Academy,
and lived at or near the homestead in
Addison until he went to Blackwell,
Mo-, in February, 1905, to take charge
of the farming operations Of n company
owning about 1000 acres of land and
engaged also in mining barium ores,
On January 10, 1910, he married Miss
Mary A. Campbell at Buffalo, N, Y,
and after the wedding visited his old
home and friends.
In November, 1914, he was elected
clerk of the county court Of Washington
county, Mo. He took Office January /,
1915, and went to Potosi, Mo-, the
county seat, to live. Those in position
to judge say he was making an excel
lent record, but he enjoyed out door
work better, and in all probability at
the end Of his term would have re-
turned towards if not to his old home
where farming conditions would have
been more to his liking.
His family consisted Of his wife and
her mother, and outside of working
hours they were inseparable, He was
very fond Of children but had none Of
his own. Every child liked him and he
was the "big brother" to every tot in
any community where he lived
1t is hard to understand the accident
without knowing something about the
country. For miles in all directions
around Blackwell there are hills of con-
siderable height with very narrow
valleys between them, 1t is also a
region where violent storms with very
heavy rainfalls are frequent. After
heavy showers or cloudburst streams
become dangerous very quickly, and
sometimes the storms are so far back
that those on the streams below have
no knowledge of the impending danger.
On the day before the accident George
and his wife went from Potosi to Black
well to join Mrs. Campbell on visit to
their old friends. 1t was the first meet
ing of the old crowd since his removal
to Potosi.
After very pleasant time the family
started for the railroad station. 1t had
rained just enough to make it dis
agreeable under foot, and so they went
in two seated wagon. The women
were on the back seat, and George, a
boy of Is and another lad of 10 were on
the front seat. AS late as 4:30 that
afternoon the water at the ford was
only trihe above normal with no other
indications of danger. About 1880 the
party started out. In the meantime the
river had risen about four feet without
any one about them knowing it. As
they came to the river a heavy fog
prevented them from seeing the dan
ger ahead. AS the team went into the
river they were swept off their feet and
what next happened can only be guessed.
The Is year old boy swan ashore, but
his account of the accident is naturally
somewhat limited. All the others were
drowned. George was powerful swim
mer and in all probability could have
saved himself if he had been willing to
abandon the others.
The cries for help were heard and in a
very short time several boats were
upon the river and the search was kept
up as long as there was any hope of
finding any one alive. On Monday
morning large numbers turned out to
help. About noon the bodies of the
women were recovered. Their funeral
was held Wednesday at noon, Rev.
j. T. Self of Potosi, being the minister
in charge. AS he was praying during
the services. the news came that
Georges body had been found. 1t
was then decided to go ahead with
their burial and have Georges funeral
on Thursday, October 10. 1t was held at
Blackwell, the same clergyman officiat-
ing. At the grave the services were in
charge of Blackwell lodge, No. 535, F.
& A. NJ, escorted by the Sir Knights of
De Soto Commandery, No. Sc, X. T.
The services were simple and impress
sive. TWAS the natu raj desire of his
own family to bury George and his wife
at Addison, VT, beside his father and
mother in the shadow of the mountains
he always loved, but the wishes of his
wife relatives and other friends pre-
vailed and so those who were intimate
companions for nearly seven years and
who went down Gin the valley of the
shadow" together are sleeping side by
side in the Masonic cemetery at Black
Unll