| Name |
Cyrus James CHAPMAN |
| Birth |
21 Aug 1882, Ruthven (Lake), Palo Alto, Iowa |
| Death |
20 Aug 1884, Lake Twp, Clay, Iowa31 |
| Burial |
Dickens Cemetery, Freeman, Iowa |
| Father |
Orville Weston CHAPMAN (1846-1890) |
| Mother |
Margaret Ann SIMINGTON (1858-1945) |
|
Clay County News, Thursday Aug 28, 1884
Death by Drowning
On Wednesday morning, Aug. 20, Cyrus J., son of Mr. and Mrs. O.W. Chapman, and Clara E., daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E.W. Chapman, were drowned in what is known as Swan Lake. Clara was about two years and two months old, while Cyrus lacked one day of being two years old. The mothers are sisters and daughters of James Simington of Freeman. They have been in the habit of late on wash day to do their work together as their homes are near one another, and each had a young babe. Thus it happened while the mothers were gusy, the little ones escaped their loving and watchfull care and wandered to the bank of the lake which is but a few rods from the residence of O.W. Chapman, where the mothers were at work. But a few minutes could have elapsedere they were missed and the mothers began the search, running direct the lake. the navy blue dress of little Cyrus caught their eye, the next instant the light dress of little Clara came in view. Both children were floating but a few feet apart and but a short distance from the shore. Rushing into the water each mother caught up her darling and bore it's poor little dripping body to the shore, calling for hel0p and wainly trying to restore her little one. The fathers were at some distance, each at work on their respective farms. All efforts to restore the little ones were unavailing, and at 3PM the next day they were laid to rest side by side in the same grave 'neath flowery crosses, in a shady nook of the beautifull grove that fringes the margined Swan Lake, on O.W. Chapmans farm. At an early hour friends and neighbors began pouring in until the yard was litterally blocked with teams. Rev. J.W. Woolery preached an elouent sermon to the largest audience ever assembled in these parts on so short a notice, who, with tears and love offerings, showed how deeply they sumpathized with the bereaved ones. The Chapmans are old settlers and much respected hy all who know them.
In Clay county a few days since, two little cousins, a boy and a girl, each about 2 years old, fell from a bank into a body of water known as Swan Lake, and both were drowned. They were the children respective of O. W. and E. W. Chapman. The mothers who are sisters, missed the children and on going to the lake saw them floating only a few feet from the shore, whereupon the two women rushed into the water and each brought her dead darling out in her arms.31 |