The waters of Chariton's Crystal Lake, shoreline now lined with a golf course and numerous homes, have claimed a number of lives during the century since its construction. But the first were brothers, Roy and Harlen Powell, who drowned on a Friday evening, June 23, 1911, while wading near its upper end after a day's hard work on a nearby farm.
Their common grave is well marked in the Chariton Cemetery going on 118 years later, but the tragedy that claimed them has been forgotten.
The lake itself was constructed during late 1905 and 1906 by the C.B.&Q. Railroad to provide a reliable source of water, pumped from it to towers near the depot in northwest Chariton to supply steam-powered locomotives. The waters of the lake and its shoreline were leased for recreational purposes at first by the Chariton Gun Club, which named it Crystal Lake during 1910.
The following report of the Powell brothers' deaths was published in The Herald-Patriot of June 29, 1911, under the hedline "Two Boys Drowned in Reservoir."
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On last Friday evening this community was shocked by the terrible news that two boys, Powell brothers, had been drowned in Crystal Lake, the C.B.&Q. reservoir west of town. The accident occurred about 8:30 o'clock. The alarm was speedily given and large numbers went out from Chariton to assist in the search for the bodies. They were recovered about 10:30 o'clock. Dr. Dave Storie located the bodies, and with the assistance of others they were soon brought ashore.
The boys who met with such sudden death were Roy and Harlan (Harlen) Powell, sons of Mr. and Mrs. F.D. Powell, who reside near the reservoir. In company with their two brothers, Merle (Merrill) and Stewart Powell, and a neighbor lad, Lowry Myers, they had gone to the reservoir to bathe. They were wading in the water when Roy, the elder one of the Powell brothers, 18 years old, walked into a channel that runs through the reservoir, and lost his footing. Another brother, Harlan, 12 years old, saw his predicament and attempted to save him, but they were both drowned before help could reach them, although their companions gave the alarm at once. The channel was not deep, and by taking a few steps the boys could have got out of it. But they did not know the channel was there and evidently became bewildered.
The family has lived here but a short time, coming here from Ohio in February. They have since occupied the Sigler farm. Mr. Powell is a cousin of Miss Emma Powell. The parents were almost prostrated with grief over the terrible affair, and with the two brothers and little sister who survive, have the heartfelt sympathy of the entire community in their double bereavement.
Roy Smith Powell was born in Belmont county, Ohio, on November 11, 1892, and was 18 years, 7 months and 12 days old. William Harlan Powell was born in Monroe county, Ohio, on July 21, 1897, and was 12 years, 11 months and 2 days old. Both were good, industrious boys, of splendid habits and character and genial dispositions, and were well liked by all with whom they came in contact. They had many warm friends who will greatly mourn their tragic deaths.
The double funeral services were held at the family home on Sunday afternoon at one o'clock, conducted by Rev. Theodore H. Aszman, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, and were largely attended. The floral tributes were profuse and bountiful, expressive of sympathy for the living and love for the dead. At the close of the services the remain were laid side by side in the Chariton cemetery.
The story of the tragedy is one of the saddest, and at the same time one of the most heroic, that has ever been recorded in Lucas county. A family coming to a new country only four or five months ago, with four industrious boys and one girl, all of whom were delighted with the new home and the improved methods of farming compared with the old ones in Ohio. The reservoir nearby was a tempting place to fish and wade after a hard day's work, and it was the most natural thing in the world for the boys to go into the water after supper. They were near the north end of the reservoir, not far from home, and Roy, the eldest of the four, was wading across the reservoir. He was probably 100 to 125 feet from the east shore when he slipped into the channel of the old stream that used to run through the site of the reservoir.
His brother saw him, and little Harlan, only 12 years old, who could barely swim, started to save him without a thought for his own safety. He swam fully seventy-five feet, so the other boys say, and called to him several times, "Roy, give me your hand," but Roy was rapidly losing consciousness and could do nothing.
Then a strange thing happened that will never be explained. Without being dragged down by his larger brother, and without seeming to lose his presence of mind, the little fellow sank and was drowned. The undertaker said there was no water in his lungs, so he must have fainted from weakness and drowned immediately. The other brother, Merle, took a fish pole and tried to reach them, but they were drowned before he could do so. the other boys had meanwhile been sent for help, and it quickly came. Dr. Storie and Maceo Richmond being the ones who found the bodies, a couple of hours after the accident.
In the annals of brave deeds done and of sacrifices of life to save others, the story of brave little Harlan Powell, who swam to his death without a thought of hesitation or of his own safety, in an effort to save his older brother, should live long in the memory of those who admire true heroism.
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The parents, Franklin DeWitt and Lettie Powell, continued to farm near Chariton for 20 years after their sons' death, then moved into town when his health failed. He died at the age of 73 on Aug. 23, 1935, and was buried beside his sons, although his grave never was marked.
Their surviving children all had relocated to the West Coast by this time --- Stewart to Fort Lewis, Washington; Merrill, also to Washington state; and Trella, to Tulare, California.
Lettie moved west after Franklin's death to live with her daughter in Tulare, where she died on Dec. 26, 1952. She is buried in the Tulare Cemetery.
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