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Obituary · primary-source record

Edward E. Root

circa 1868 (computed from age at death) – June 1887 (drowned "on Wednesday" before the 17 June issue)

Drowned June 1887 at Osawkie, Jefferson County, Kansas — nineteen-year-old son of Elder J. A. Root, identified by the contributor from the 1880 census

Editorially verified

At-a-glance facts

Record type

Obituary

Date of death

June 1887 (drowned "on Wednesday" before the 17 June issue)

Date of birth

circa 1868 (computed from age at death)

Age at death

nineteen year old

Place of death

Jefferson, Kansas, United States

Inscription transcription

McLouth Times, Friday June 17, 1887

Accidentally Drowned.

We learn of a sad accident at Osawkie on Wednesday. While bathing near the dam, E. ROOT, a nineteen year old son of Elder J. A. ROOT of that place, was sucked under the fall of the dam and drowned. The body was secured after about an hours search, and was buried yesterday. His funeral was largely attended. He was a young man of sterling worth and highly respected.

The notice gives only "on Wednesday" relative to the Friday 17 June 1887 issue (most likely 15 June, with burial "yesterday," 16 June); only the month is carried in the structured date. The subject's given name comes from the contributor's census research, not the obituary. Sources differ on his age: the obituary calls him nineteen in June 1887 (born ca. 1868, as our archive's index entry has it), while the 1880 census the contributor cites lists Edward E. Root as age 13 (born ca. 1866–67). Both readings are preserved.

Contributor's census identification

Brian's Note: Because the young man's first name isn't given in the obituary, I wanted to find him and give the poor guy a name! Here he is -- Edward, age 13 in the 1880 census.

Household (Census Place: Osawkie, Jefferson, Kansas; Family History Library Film 1254383; NA Film Number T9-0383; Page Number 243B):

NameRelationMarital StatusGenderRaceAgeBirthplaceOccupationFather's BirthplaceMother's Birthplace
John A. ROOTSelfMMaleW39INFarmerOHOH
Winny ROOTWifeMFemaleW36OHKeeping HouseOHOH
Lucinda ROOTDauSFemaleW16KSAt HomeIN---
* Edward E. ROOTSonSMaleW13KSFarmingINOH
Eligha A. ROOTSonSMaleW11KSFarmingINOH
Fanny E. ROOTDauSFemaleW10KSAt HomeINOH
Jesse C. ROOTSonSMaleW2KSINOH
John ROOTSonSMaleW1MKSINOH

People named in this record

  • Edward E. RootSubject
  • Elder J. A. RootParent

Record submitted by

Brian — to the Ancestors at Rest archive

Source & citation

Source type
Transcription only
Provenance
Submitted by Brian to the Ancestors at Rest archive
Transcribed by
Brian
Last verified
2026-07-06
Permalink
/records/obituaries/root-edward-1887/
Image vs transcription
Transcription only — drowning notice retyped from the McLouth Times; no photograph in this record

Citation: Drowning notice of E. Root, nineteen-year-old son of Elder J. A. Root of Osawkie, Jefferson County, Kansas; McLouth Times, Friday 17 June 1887. Identified as Edward E. Root via the 1880 census by the contributor, Brian, for the Ancestors at Rest archive. (https://ancestorsatrest.com/records/obituaries/root-edward-1887/ : accessed [your access date]).

Transcribed and researched by a contributor identified only as "Brian" ("Brian's Note"); no surname recorded.

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