Drowned in a pool of the Salt Fork, about 4 miles southeast of Avilla, June 19th, 1887, Mr. Allen D. Smith. Mr. Smith was born at Victoria, Knox County, Illinois, November 25th, 1862. He came to this county two or three years ago and proved up a claim, then returned to his father's in Illinois, and after about a year came back to his farm and made his home with his sister and her husband, Mr. Heaton. On the afternoon of the 19th, he and five other young men went to this pool to bathe. Mr. Smith being a good swimmer started in first, when about the middle of the pool his friends noticed that something was wrong. Mr. Heaton at once went to his help, but not being a swimmer was unable to rescue him as he sank and did not rise. The water was about fifteen feet deep and the bottom covered with moss. Two other gentlemen of the company being swimmers exerted themselves to the utmost to rescue their friend, the others in the meantime procuring a rope and endeavoring to drag him out. At this juncture Mr. Ed Colley of Avilla, who was out riding, arrived and the others though exhausted, were able to locate the position and Mr. Colley by prompt action and skillful effort succeed in recovering the body at his first attempt. The body had by this time been so long under water that resuscitation was hopeless, though he was taken to a physician and all available means used. The funeral services were conducted Monday afternoon at the Heaton school house by Rev. A. E. Thomson, of Coldwater. A large congregation met to sympathize with the bereaved sister and friends.
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