Rev. C.E. Laughlin
Drowning of Rev. Laughlin and Sister
Word was received in Manning on Tuesday morning that Rev, C.E. Laughlin and sister, formerly of this place, but who have lived in Lenox, Iowa, since last April, had been drowned. The circumstances in this case, as gleaned from the Nonpareil are substantially as follows: Mr. Laughlin is the pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Lenox and on Sunday afternoon he took his invalid sister with him to fill an appointment some mile from town. The horse, a refectory animal, on approaching a high bridge, the sides of which was a steep embankment, refused to go over and began running backward, throwing the occupants of the carriage into the water, which at that point was twelve feet deep. It is supposed that in going over the horse fell upon the carriage, crushing the occupants, or at least rendering them helpless for they were found beneath the carriage near the horse. The horse was drowned also. Rev. Laughlin was a very exemplary gentleman, beloved by his congregation and by the people generally, His sister was a woman of lovely character, respected by all who knew her. This is indeed sad news to the many friends of the deceased in this locality. Mr. Laughlin leaves a wife and child and grandmother to mourn his loss. The double funeral occurred Tuesday.
The following additional particulars in regard to the drowning of Rev. Laughlin and
sister, are taken from the Lenox Time Table of July 3d:
Last Sabbath afternoon our community was shocked by the sad intelligence, that Rev. C.E.
Laughlin and sister had lost their lives by drowning, while on their way to Platte church.
As there was no earthly witness to the sad accident the exact particulars will never be
known until the great day when the vale shall be lifted. All that is known is that on Sabbath
morning, Rev. C.E. Laughlin and sister, Regina, started to Platte church to fill his regular
appointment. About 10 o'clock, A.M., a young girl and her mother while passing near a
small ravine, which opens into the Platte river, saw a horse's feet projecting from the
water where a bridge spans the channel. They gave the alarm and a crowd soon gathered
at the spot when the horse together with a buggy, to which he was attached, were drawn
from the water and were immediately recognized as the property of Rev. Laughlin. Search
was immediately instituted in the stream and the body of Miss Laughlin was soon found
near where the horse and buggy was first seen but the body of Rev. Laughlin was not
found until about 2 o'clock, P.M., it being about twenty feet from that of his sister and near
the opposite bank of the channel. Upon examination his watch was found to have stopped
at 9:27 A.M., so that the accident must have happened only a short time before the alarm
was given.
This stream which is usually a small affair, was owing to back water from Platte River, raised until the water was waist deep on the bridge. The ditch near the bridge is about ten feet deep and near the same in width. The road makes a short turn just as it strikes the bridge, and the most plausible theory is that Mr. Laughlin, being accustomed to crossing this stream in its usual condition did not realize its dangerous change, and as most men would have done, endeavored to cross rather than miss his appointment. The horse no doubt crossed the bridge all right, but it is supposed that one side of the buggy missed the bridge and by its weight and sudden lurch, threw itself together with its occupants and the horse back into the water, so entangling them that every effort to escape proved futile and they sank to a watery grave. The bodies of Mr. Laughlin and sister after being taken from the water were removed to the house of Mr. Wash Jones, and were from there conveyed to Lenox where they arrived in the dusk of the evening, where they were received by loving hands and sorrowing hearts and were prepared for the last sad rites. The funeral services were held at the Presbyterian Church at 11 A.M., Monday.
The services were conducted by Rev. Johnston, assisted by Rev. Harris, Dr. Goolliday and Rev. Morrow. The sermon by Rev. Johnston was very able touching. He made us all to try and emulate the goodness and earnestness of our departed pastor whose work among us is brought to so sudden a close, and to learn from his death, the shortness and uncertainty of human life. After the close of the services at the church, and the congregation had taken their last look at their beloved pastor and his sister. The bodies were taken to the cemetery followed by a large procession of people and signed to their last resting place there to await the arch angel's call at the judgment day. Rev. E. Laughlin was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, September 17th, 1856, where his parents resided until the death of his father, which occurred when C.E. was about two years old, when the family removed to a distant part of the state, where they resided until C.E. came west. Rev. Laughlin graduated at the Washington and Jefferson College, of Penn., with the class of 1879. He spent the next three years in the Alleghany Theological Seminary and was ordained a minister in the Presbyterian Church at Sioux City in 1883. During the next year he labored in his Master's vineyard as pastor of a church at Randolph, Freemont County, Iowa, after which he took charge of the church at Manning, Iowa, where he remained a year and a half, and then came to labor among us. Though he had been here but a short time, he had by his earnest Christian work and spotless character endeared himself not only to the members of his congregation, but to all with whom he had been thrown in contact. His death is not only a family loss, for he is missed and mourned by all. Miss Regina Laughlin was born in the same county, in Ohio, as was her brother, with whom she has lived since the mother's death a few years ago. She was always an invalid, but uncomplainingly bore her infirmities with a Christian fortitude and by her gentleness and lively disposition, won many warm friends during her sojourn with us who deeply mourn her loss.
These two are the last of their family except an aged grandmother, who resided with them. Mr. Laughlin leaves a wife to mourn his loss and care for a dear little babe who will never know a father's love.