Earl Barnard and Delbert Whittaker

Hartford Herald

June 19, 1912

Drowned in Green River.

Earl Barnard, age about 18 years, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. John H. Barnard, of near South Carrollton, Ky., was drowned in Green river at what is known as Shrewsbury's Landing in Ohio county, Monday afternoon while in bathing with several other companions.

Young Barnard being unable to swim and getting into deep water was the cause of his drowning. Up to Tuesday at noon his body had not been recovered, but the services of an expert diver of Evansvllle, Ind., has been obtained and it is hoped that it will be only a short time until his remains will be found. The deceased is a nephew of M. W. and M. H. Barnard, of Hartford, Ky., and is survived by his father, mother and one brother.

Hartford Herald

June 28, 1922

DELBERT WHITTAKER MEETS TRAGIC DEATH IN RIVER

Delbert Whittaker was drowned at 6 o’clock p.m. Wednesday, at Rochester, while bathing in Green River. A boat was passing at the time and it is not definitely known whether the waves from the craft or cramps caused his death. After dragging the river for two hours the body was found. His age was 18 years, 8 months and 3 days.

The youth was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Lee Whittaker, of the Barnett’s Creel vicinity and he and his wife had only recently moved to Rochester, where they opened a bathing beach and restaurant for the season.  He attended Hartford High School during the year 1920-21 and was well known here.  He was a member of Barnett’s Creek Baptist Church and a splendid young man. He is survived by his parents, wife, three brothers and one sister.

Rev. Russell Walker, pastor of Hartford Baptist Church, conducted funeral services at Mt. Hermon Methodist Church Thursday afternoon.  The body was laid to rest in the church cemetery. An immense congregation was present at both services and there were many beautiful floral arrangements.  The surviving relatives have the most profound sympathy of his many friends both here and in the home community.

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Thankfully, the foregoing ends the articles on drownings in Ohio County. 

Jesse Ashford and Rufus Fulkerson

Hartford Herald

July 14, 1909

Young Man Drowned

Jesse Ashford, the 18yearold son of Mr. Tobe Ashford, living in the Horton vicinity, was drowned last Thursday evening about 3 o’clock, while he and a younger brother and a neighbor boy were bathing in Muddy creek near their home. Alarm was immediately given and a searching party at once begun dragging the creek for the body, which was found about five o’clock the same evening about three hundred yards below where it disappeared. Funeral services were held at Bethel church Friday afternoon and the remains were burled in the cemetery near by. It seems that young Ashford couldn’t swim and when he saw that he was sinking he caught hold of his brother and came near drowning him. The current was strong and he was soon washed away. He was quite popular and is mourned by a large circle of friends and relatives.

Hartford Herald

August 9, 1911

ACCIDENTALLY DROWNED WHILE RUNNING TROTLINE

Mr. Rufus Fulkerson, a miner of McHenry, Ky., was accidentally drowned In Green river, near Rockport, Ky., last Friday evening. In company with his young nephew in a skiff, he had been running a trotline and stopped near the shore for steamer Hartford to pass by. Evidently intending to ride the rolling waves a little or to swim to the other shore, he plunged in, his scant clothing being already wet. He swam a short distance and then called for help. He was known as a good swimmer, but notwithstanding this, his nephew first started to paddle the skiff to the drowning man, but making little headway, plunged in and swam to his assistance. Mr. Fulkerson sank out of sight just as his rescuer came up near him and never arose again.

A search was at once begun and Mr. Fulkerson's body was recovered about two hours later near where it went down. It is supposed he was suddenly taken with cramps. The fact that he was a good swimmer and his cry for assistance, indicated that some sudden danger had overtaken him.

The body of the unfortunate man was buried at Pond Pun graveyard Saturday. Rev. Birch Shields and the Red Men, of which lodge he was a member, conducted the funeral services. He leaves a wife and one child.

Tom Leisure and H. J. Ranney

Hartford Herald

April 18, 1906

Accidentally Drowned

Mr. Tom Leisure, son of Mr. John Leisure, who formerly lived in Hartford and died here last summer, was accidentally drowned near his home about 7 miles above Hartford on Rough river, last Sunday morning.

It seems that somebody had borrowed his boat and rowed it across to the other side of the river and left it. Mr. Leisure wanted to use the boat and concluded that the best plan was to swim across and get it. Accordingly he pulled off his coat and plunged into the river.  He had gotten nearly to the boat, which was floating over the deepest part of the river at that point, when he went down. It is supposed that a sudden cramp seized him for he was a good swimmer. Several parties saw him go down and search was immediately begun for the body but it was not recovered until Sunday evening.

Mr. Leisure was a young man about 23 years old and leaves a wife and child.

Later. – Mr. Leisure and his wife had been separated about a week, and Sunday was the day set for them to divide their household goods. He hurried to the crossing place but found that others had preceded him and taken the boat across. Nothing daunted, he pulled off his coat and started to swim the stream with the above result. Being hot from running and fast walking it is supposed the cold water cramped him, resulting in death.

Hartford Herald

December 25, 1907

DROWNED IN A LAKE

Near Cromwell Ky - Tragic

Fate of a Man Returning

From Hunting Trip

Mr. H. J. Ranney was drowned in what is known as the Sep Taylor lake in Butler county near Cromwell this county about 5 o’clock last Friday evening. Mr. Ranney and Mr. Ed Dorch had been bird hunting and on their return trip, while crossing the lake, the small dinky boat capsized, throwing them into the lake. Mr. Dorch, who had been in the front of the boat, breaking a thin sheet of ice, caught to the beat as he came to the surface but Mr. Ranney, though a good swimmer, failed to catch the boat and drowned. Mr. Dorch, who was holding on to the boat, finally succeeded in summoning aid and was rescued but almost frozen. The search was then begun to recover the body of Mr. Ranney, which, after constant work, was found about 8:30 o’clock that night. His gun was found near where his body was. It is supposed that two bird dogs that were in the boat, and near Mr. Ranney, caused the boat to capsize.

The deceased, who was the son of Mr. S. P. Ranney, leaves a wife and one daughter about fourteen years old. His remains were interred in what is known as the Brick House burying grounds near Bald Knob Saturday afternoon.

Jesse Tooley, Conts Miller, and M. L. Ward

Hartford Herald

January 9, 1895

Drowned in Rough River

Mr. Jesse Tooley, who resided with his two boys near Turkey Bend, on Rough river, about seven miles below Hartford was drowned near his residence last Sunday morning. The river was frozen over, but the warm spell of Sunday morning made the ice rotten and treacherous. A "dinky" boat belonging to Mr. Tooley was on the opposite side of the river and one of the boys proposed to go over and loosen it up. To this Mr. Tooley objected, but the little fellow said he would go anyhow, and forthwith started out over the ice. The father, seeing his son's danger as the ice began to crack, started to the rescue. He reached the boy and grabbing him, threw him back toward the shore, where he fell in safety, but the force of the effort broke the ice and precipitated Mr. Tooley into the water. It seems Mr. Tooley was greatly excited, as would be natural in such a crisis, and although a good swimmer, the terror of the moment bereft him of all self command and he sank beneath the floating ice. He was seen to struggle a few minutes, but without avail, and he soon went down to rise no more. The water at the place was about six feet deep. Mr. Amziah Carter, who lives a short distance away, was attracted by the cries of the boys and came and took the unfortunate man from the water.

Mr. Tooley was a widower and a highly respected citizen of the county. His remains were interred at Walton's Greek cemetery Monday afternoon.

Hartford Herald

June 13, 1900

Conts Miller, the 19 year old son of Joe Miller, of Sunnydale, was drowned last Wednesday while attempting to swim Rough River a short distance above Sullenger’s old mill. He and Elisha Durbin had been to Livermore with some saw logs and were returning home on the north side of the river and when they reached the point where they wanted to cross the river, they found the boat gone and undertook to swim across the river and when near the south side young Miller gave out and sank from sight in the muddy waters to rise no more. His body was recovered Sunday after tireless work and interred in the family burying ground Sunday afternoon.

Hartford Herald

Feb 8, 1905

Drowned in Green River

Mr. M. L. Ward, better known as “Mit” Ward, was drowned last Saturday morning about 10 o’clock in Green river. He had been living on the R. T. Iler farm and undertook to cross the river on the ice and when near the middle of the river the ice gave way and he went down. It was some time before he succeeded in making anyone hear him. When the alarm was heard several men ran to the nearest skiff and pulled it down the river to a point opposite to where he broke through and started to his rescue. But he went down when they were in about thirty yard of him. He had kept up, as nearly as they could reckon the time, for an hour by means of a small pole. After about an hours work his body was recovered. His brother, Ham Ward, of Central City, went to Ceralvo and took charge of the remains and took them to Hazel Creek, Muhlenberg county, for burial. Mr. Ward had practiced law for many years, having once been County Attorney of Butler county.

Hayden Porter, Owen Fox, and Willie Kincheloe

Hartford Herald

March 8, 1893

Drowned

The sad news has just reached us of the drowning of Hayden Porter, of Cromwell, at Evansville, Ind., last week. He was standing watch on a barge and fell in and sank immediately to rise no more. His brother, J. M. Porter, was telegraphed at once and went to Evansville to institute search for the body, but thus far all efforts have failed. Mr. Porter is a son of Martin Porter, deceased, and a nephew of Cols. W. H. and E. O. Porter, of Cromwell. He was a very promising young man about twenty-five years old, sober, energetic and honest, and much loved by a host of friends who will join with his family in mourning so sad a fate for so noble a young man.

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Mr. I. H. Porter, of this place, was drowned in the Ohio River at Evansville, the 1st inst. He was in the employ of a Lumber Company there as night-watchman on some loaded barges, and while making his rounds to see if his barges were all right, his feet slipped from under him and he fell in the river. His cries for help soon brought throngs of people to his assistance, but as he could not swim, they were too late. Hayden (as he was familiarly called) had numerous friends here who deeply sympathize with his heartbroken mother, his sister and brothers. At last accounts his body had not yet been found.

Hartford Herald

November 11, 1894

Drowned at Rockport

About 12 o'clock on the night of the 8th inst., while Owen Fox, Henry Guy and Joe Wiggins, all Echols miners, were crossing the river at Rockport, Ky., their boat sank and Fox was drowned. It seems that in trying to pull his overcoat off, Fox became entangled some way and went to the bottom, although a good swimmer. The others reached the shore in safety. Fox' body was soon found and after an inquest held by Judge Reid, the verdict of which was in accordance with above facts, was buried at Pond Run church. His brother who lives in Birmingham, Ala., was telegraphed for, but for some reason did not come. Mr. Fox was on Englishman, about 55 years of age, and came to this country from Scotland. He came to Echols from the mountains of Kentucky about a year ago. He was of quiet and orderly deportment and his untimely death is deeply regretted by all who knew him. He leaves a wife and no children.

Hartford Herald

July 25, 1894

A Sad Accident

Last Sunday morning Mr. Willie Kincheloe, accompanied by his brother, went to Rough river to cross at Johnson's Ferry, about three-fourths of a mile above the mouth of Barnett's Creek. Finding the boat on the opposite side, he swam across after it and appeared to reach the boat in safety, but as he tried to reach the top of the gunwale, he was heard to utter some exclamation and immediately sank out of sight. His brother quickly swam across but was too late to be of any assistance, as the man was never seen to rise again.

Quickly going for help, Messrs. A. C. Rowan, Randall Rowan, Sam Ashby and W. M. Johnson were soon at the place. His body was found in about fourteen feet of water, and was soon secured by diving. Every effort was made to resuscitate the drowned man, but all to no avail, as the delay in securing help and recovering the body, although done as quickly as possible, was too long to hope for remaining life. His body was carried to his home, about 1 1/2 miles away, where tender hearts were wrung by bitterest grief at sight of the lifeless form so recently in perfect health. He was a good swimmer and the only theory accounting for the accident is that he was seized with cramp in the cold water.

Mr. Kincheloe was a man 25 years old and lived on the farm of Mr. John Vancleve. He was the son of E. H. and R. E. Kincheloe, of Nelson Creek. He was a devoted Christian and for eight years had been a member of the Baptist church. He was always honest, industrious and upright, well liked by everybody and if he had an enemy, no one knew of it. He leaves a wife to whom he had been married only seven months. The neighborhood is terribly shocked at his sad fate, and the tenderest sympathy is extended to the grief-stricken family. The parents return heartfelt thanks to their neighbors for kindness in this hour of bitter woe and pray God to richly bless them for their ready help. The remains were interred at Pleasant Hill, Monday at 11 a. m., in the presence of a large crowd of sorrowing people.

George M. Hocker and Tichenor child

Hartford Herald

July 15, 1885

Mr. George M. Hocker was drowned in Green River, near South Carrolton last Sunday evening. He and several other men were in bathing. They concluded to swim the river, and when about half way across Mr. Hocker was taken with cramp in the legs and drowned before help could reach him He is a .man about 30 years old, with family and a son of John W. Hocker.

Hartford Herald

June 8, 1881

A little five-year old son of W. H. Tichenor, was drowned on Tuesday of last week at Rumsey lock on Green river. The little fellow was on the lock watching a passing boat and just as the boat got clear he fell in and the fierce current immediately drew him into the pit and between the gates. Life was extinct before help reached him.

Forest Taylor and Calvin Taylor

Hartford Herald

June 4, 1913

Forest Taylor Drowned.

Forest Taylor, son of Thomas Taylor, Borah, Ky., was drowned while crossing the lake near Cromwell last Monday morning. He was on his way to work and the boat capsized, throwing him out. Forest, who was nineteen years old, was a nephew of Dr. J. W. Taylor, of Hartford. Mr. Taylor and family have the sincerest sympathy of every one in this, their sad bereavement.

Hartford Herald

November 6, 1907

Sad Accident

Calvin Taylor, the ten year old son of Mr. W B Taylor, fell off of the boat We Three last Friday afternoon about 2 o’clock and was drowned. His remains were brought to Hartford and taken to Capt. Wm. Foreman’s residence where they were kept until Saturday at 2 o’clock p. m., when interment took place in Oakwood cemetery.

The accident occurred while the boat was making the bend Just below the mouth of Muddy creek about two miles West of Hartford. The boy was standing on the deck near the kitchen and when last seen was sliding over the guard of the boat into the river. The alarm was given and the boat stopped as quickly as possible, but while every possible effort was made to rescue him he drowned before aid could reach him. His remains were recovered in about five minutes after he sank. All known means were resorted to restore him to life but to no avail. His father, Mr. Taylor, has the Herald’s profoundest sympathy in this his sad bereavement.