OTIS FRANKS

Otis Franks

Drowned in

Neosho River

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    Otis Franks, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Willis Franks, living about seven miles northwest of Metz, was drowned in the Neosho river near Neosho Falls, Kas., Wednesday, April 20.  Otis, accompanied by Claud Hutchinson, had driven 135 head of cattle to Virgil where they were to be pastured, leaving here April 10.  They were returning when the sad accident happened.

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    The Neosho Falls Post given the following account of the drowning:

    Otis Franks, young farmer and stockman of Metz, Mo., passed through here last Saturday driving a herd of 135 head of cattle to Virgil, Kas., where pasture for the season had been secured for them.  He was accompanied on the drive by a neighbor boy, Claud Hutchinson.  Delivering the cattle to their pasture, the riders started their return trip, leaving Virgil early Wednesday morning and arrived here shortly afternoon of the same day.  After stopping for dinner they made inquiry about the high water and condition of the road east of town and were advised by several men that it was a dangerous undertaking, the water being as much as six feet deep in places, with an entire mile of the road under water.  Nevertheless, in their anxiety to cover the long distance home--about 80 miles--they decided to try it and did make the first mile.  After crossing the Spring creek bridge their deepest and swiftest water confronted them.  The swiftness of the water was evidently not as noticeable to them on account of the unusually high waves caused by a heavy wind.  When the riders were about a quarter of a mile west the waters became too swift for the horses and they were evidently washed from under the men, who were left to swim.  Franks was greatly handicapped in swimming owing to his riding boots, chaps and heavy sheep lined coat which made it almost impossible for him to swim against the swift current.  Hutchinson was much lighter clad and made fairly good headway.  According to Hutchinson, he saw Franks was about gone and called to him several times but he never answered Hutchinson, after swimming about a half a quarter to where he could touch bottom fell with exhaustion and chill but was fortunately seen by Dr. J. E. Williams, who was going down the railroad track with the R. F. D. mail, Jeff Veteto, and Mr. Hendricks.  At about the same time John Weiland saw the two horses come from the water riderless and soon joined the men who were assisting young Hutchinson toward the Weiland home.  Word was immediately sent out and men in boats gathered and searched for Franks or his body, but to no avail.  After the drowned man's parents, at Metz, Mo., had been notified of the sad misfortune of their son, men resumed their careful search early Thursday morning.  The body was found at about 8:30 o'clock by Earl Lee.  The body had lodged against a small tree, about fifty yards south and forty yards west of the place in the road where the rider first left his horse.  The body, when found, was under about four feet of water.  The watch which was carried in Mr. Frank's clothes had stopped at 1:52 p.m.  The body was removed from the water and taken to the east edge of town, or at the waters edge, in a boat, where it was met by his brother, J. Kenney Franks, and cousin, Irl D. Hudson, both of Metz, who came to Neosho Falls to escort the body home when found.  At the request of the drowned boy's mother, he was placed in the car with his clothes as they were worn when last she saw him, and just as he was found in the water.  The victim of the flood waters was a nephew of James Dye, who, thirty or forty years ago drove a great many herd of cattle through Neosho Falls and was well known by many of the old timers.

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    Funeral services were held at the Baptist church Sunday at 1:30 o'clock p.m., conducted by Rev. J. W. Driver, former pastor here, but now of Burrton, Kans.  The church was filled with sympathizing friends while as many more stood on the outside.  It was said to be one of the largest crowds that ever turned out to a funeral here.  Pretty wreaths, sprays and flowers of every description were heaped about the beautiful casket.  A quartet from the Sprague neighborhood sang three songs and Miss Eula Mae Bever sang a solo.  Among the mourners was Miss Mary Hopkins, a popular teacher in the Metz schools.  She was the fiance of Otis and rumor had it that they were to have been wed in June.  The pall bearers were Daune Hopkins, David Hopkins, Burl Wilson, Max Wilson, Jake Ham and Lawrence Hill.  Burial was in Balltown cemetery

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    The following was read by the minister during the funeral service:

    Otis, son of Mr. and Mrs. Willis Franks, was born near Metz on October 2, 1900, and at his death was aged 26 years, 6 months and 18 days.  The family lived in Missouri until the fall of 1905 when they moved to a homestead near Cimarron, Kas.  There his early life was spent under the influence of ranch life.  Five years later the family moved to Giltner, Nebr, in order to give the children the benefit of better schools.  From 1916 until 1918 the family lived near Stratton, Nebr., and Otis divided his time between ranch life and school life.  Otis attended the Nebraska University Farm School at Lincoln for four years.  In the early spring of 1920 the family moved to the present home in Bates county where the last few years of his life were spent among us all.  At the age of thirteen Otis accepted Christ and joined the Methodist church at Giltner, Nebr., where he was an active member.  While attending school at Lincoln he had his membership changed to the Trinity Methodist church of that place.  During the past few years he has been a regular attendant at the Baptist church.

    Otis leaves to mourn his father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Willis Franks; one brother, Kinney; a little niece, Marylan Jean, and his sweethart, Miss Mary Hopkins.  Also the following aunts:  Mrs. Mary E. Cox and Amanda Dye of Metz, Mrs. Nannie Dye of Nevada, Mrs. Vene Douglas of Washington, D. C., and Mrs. Dora Brannon of Malta, Mont., and a great aunt, Mrs. Electa Carlyle of Metz.  He also leaves the following uncles:  James Dye of Virgil, Kas.; Don Dye of Nowata, Okla.; Oliver Dye of Walnut, Kas., and W. E. Hudson of Metz.  He also leaves a large number of cousins and host of friends.

    Otis' life was cut off in the full strength of his manhood.  His heart was full of high hopes and ambitions, but he stayed long enough with us to help everyone with whom he came in contact.  Otis' life was an example of Christian manhood.  Wherever he was he was active in Sunday school and church work.  He taught several Sunday school classes and was always greatly interested in his classes.  He was ever faithful in his religious duties.

    When twelve years old Otis joined the Boy Scouts, taking the following pledge:  "On my honor, I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout law, to help others at all times, to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight."  He lived up to the twelve Boy Scout laws in the truest sense of the word.  He was helpful, friendly, kind and trustworthy, and all who knew Otis know that he was clean in body and in thought.

    No matter what was Otis' lot he could always find a way to smile and to whistle about his work.  His family loved his whistle.  When evening came we used to watch for Otis to come home from work.  Soon we would hear his shrill whistle and before long we would see him.  Then when he came he would call us by the pet names he had given us and which were known only to the immediate family.

    Otis always thought of his loved ones before himself and was willing to make any sacrifice for them.  He loved a home and was planning to establish a home of his own in the near future.  But this was not to be.  God called Otis to come to His home where happiness and peace passeth our understanding.  We miss Otis from our homes, but we know that if true to God we shall see him and there he shall not be taken from us again.

The Metz Times, Metz, Missouri.  Friday, April 29, 1927.

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