The deaths at Bartholomew Pond

Doris Christensen/Find a Grave

This is a sad story about the deaths of two boys at a place once known to most Chariton residents, but now, like the children, lost.

Bartholomew Pond was built by an early Chariton attorney, O.A. Bartholomew, on property he owned just south of the railroad tracks in an area now bounded by Woodlawn and Stuart avenues north and south, Highway 14 and South 8th Street west and east. On this map from the 1890s, the lot marked "M.&E. McCormick" now is occupied by the home of Jamie and Katie Wilson; the lot marked "T.M. Stuart," by the Combs-Meyer-Cohen house.

The heavy black line marks the route of what now is Highway 14 which, when this map was drawn, passed straight under the railroad tracks and up South Main Street to the square. Later on, a new underpass was built and the road's route adjusted to pass under the tracks at an angle, then up South Grand to the square. It may have been during this reconfiguration that the pond was drained.

Here's the story, as reported on the front page of The Chariton Leader of May 9, 1912, under the headline, "Tragic Death of Two Little Boys."

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Doris Christensen/Find a Grave

On Monday evening, Willard Larimer and Stuart Israel, the former being about ten years of age and the latter something over nine, sons of Mr. Frank Larimer and G.A. Israel, unbeknownst to their parents, went to a small pond just south of the Burlington tracks in the south part of town, and in their boyish sports had improvised the remains of an old boat into a sort of raft and were riding it over the water, when it must have careened, throwing them into the water.

On their not coming home a search was made for them and on reaching this pond portions of their wearing apparel were noticed either floating on the water or lying on the bank and their lifeless forms were soon found underneath the surface.

Others arrived at the place and professional aid was immediately secured, but life had been extinct for some time. This was perhaps after ten o'clock. The little fellows were seen playing about the pond near seven o'clock and it is not known at what time the accident happened. It is certainly a severe trial for the respective parents and sympathy goes out to them.

LAID TO REST

The Funerals Occurred From the Respective Homes Yesterday

Yesterday was a sad day in Chariton and as a mark of respect to the bereaved families all business houses closed during the funeral hour, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Services were held at the respective homes of the two little boys that met their fate by drowning on Monday evening --- the G.A. Israel and F.C. Larimer homes, on Woodlawn Ave., and many friends gathered as a consolation to the bereaved.

The obsequies of Stuart Israel were conducted by Rev. George Chambers, rector of St. Andrews Parish, and those of Willard Larimer, by Rev. G.I. Findley, pastor of the United Presbyterian church, both being at the same hour, 2:30 p.m., which were impressive and befitting the occasion --- an unusually sad one considering the untimely taking away of these innocent little ones and all are cast down under the shadow. The parents are passing their their Gethsemane and to sympathize is but the tie that binds, forming the links of humanity.

Stuart Israel was the oldest child and only son of Mr. and Mrs. G.A. Israel and would have reached the age of nine years had he lived until July. He is now but a cherished memory.

Willard Kelvin Larimer was born Feb. 6, 1902. Died May 6, 1912, therefore was 10 years and three months old. He was an only child, the son of Mr. and Mrs. F.C. Larimer, their joy and hope.