William "Willie" Breeding

BREEDING, LOCKMAN

Posted By: Marlene K. Skalberg (email)
Date: 11/12/2018 at 15:28:22

WILLIE BREEDING DROWNED
We are pained to record another sad accident from drowning in treacherous little Silver Creek. About 4 o'clock Monday afternoon Willie Breeding and James Shenefield were in bathing back of Wm. Byers' place west of Peaceville. Ivar Shenefield, an older brother of James was near watering the horses. The boys night of whom could swim, had been playing in the shallow water when Willie ran along the bank and he was going to dive where it was deeper. The other boys begged him not to, but he, thinking there was no danger, resisted their appeals and playfully made the fatal dive. His body came in sight three times but his playmates could do nothing to help him, although the older Shenefield boy tried his best. The water was about ten feet deep. The boys gave the alarm, but before help could be obtained and the body recovered some thirty minutes had passed. Every effort was made to resuscitate him, but his life was beyond the reach of willing and busy hands. The body was carried to the home of Wm. Byers, when physicians arrived and pronounced life extinct. George Want who had driven out in his carriage, took the body home, where the helpful hands of neighbors died all they could for the grief stricken family. The funeral services were held on Tuesday afternoon at 3 o'clock. Rev. E. W. Brown, conducted the service, speaking from John's Gospel XIV: 12. He showed how belief in God, in His So, and the home prepared are calculated to comfort the heart in time of trouble. Appropriate singing added to the helpfulness of the service. A large concourse of sympathizing friends followed to our beautiful cemetery, where the body of the dear boy was tenderly laid to rest. This is the third sudden death that has come to this home, and we are sure that Mrs. Breeding and her son and daughters have the sympathetic interest of all in our community. May the dark hours of this life be more than compensated for in the glories of the future yet to be revealed.
Malvern Leader, Malvern, Iowa, Thursday, July 14, 1898, page 2