Pioneer tragedy
Several years ago a return visit to a north-central Kansas cemetery found me inspecting the lengthier text on a substantial marker for a family lost in a weather-related accident:
This Monument is erected in memory of Mother, Sister & Daughter who were drown in trying to cross Deer Creek Mar. 11, 1881
The ages of the three were 65, 18 and 3. This unfortunate event north of Marysville was described in a local paper at the time--with sentimental wording typical of the time:
A terrible misfortune overtook a load of eight persons on Thursday night who attempted to cross Deer Creek, in the vicinity of what is known as the Deer Creek school house, about six miles north of town [Marysville]. A family by the name of Shaw came in on the train that evening from the east, either for a visit or to locate with friends in that neighborhood, and were on their way to their place of destination when the calamity occurred. We lack many of the particulars, but have learned that three women were drowned, the body of only one, at this writing having been recovered.
There is much of painful sadness, to those who have a heart to share the sufferings of their fellow mortals, in the calamity that overtook the Shaw family, near here, on Thursday evening. They had that very evening reached Marysville by train, from Canada, a long journey, only to meet a shuddering death at the very door of their friends. Mrs. Shaw, the aged mother, her niece, and grand-daughter, three out of a load of eight, were swept under the surging waters of Deer creek, an insignificant rill, at its ordinary stage, over which a child can leap, and gave up life and all their cherished hopes, at the very moment of fruition.
The family and friends of the new comers are entitled to the sympathy of the community, even though strangers whose tarry among us was so brief and saddening. [Marshall County News of March 19, 1881]
Later the same year (December 9, 1881) a short follow up commented that an additional member of the same family had died--becoming the fourth name carved on the imposing marker on the family plot:
The remaining members of the Shaw family have erected a handsome monument in the Deer Creek cemetery, in memory of the four members of the family which are buried there. Our readers will remember the sad fate of this family three of which were drowned while crossing Deer creek, on the 11th of last March, and the other brother, Thomas, who died of fever a few months later. The monument was purchased at the marble works of A. P. Mohr, in this city and is as fine a monument as there is in northern Kansas.
This research is shared on the Find A Grave website. Photographs of the monument appear with the memorials for the members of the Shaw family.