Roy Clinton SLOSSON

Male 1879 - 1897  (18 years)


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  • Name Roy Clinton SLOSSON  [1, 2
    Birth 16 Feb 1879  Northwood, Worth County, Iowa Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2, 3
    Gender Male 
    Census 1880  living with parents in Kensett Twp., Worth Co., Iowa Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Death 08 Jun 1897  Northwood, Worth County, Iowa Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 3
    Notes 
    • "George Slawson: An American Pioneer" by Harold D. Slosson - Roy, the student, had great promise as a leader in the intellectual field. Unfortunately, just before his school graduation, there came a tragedy....
      A school record still remaining shows that Roy was in the academic department. But he had varied interests, being enrolled in a scientific course. Also, he served on the editorial staff of the school's paper, the "Nora Springs Seminarian". In a totally different area, he gave an impersonation in the annuel elocution contest.
      Finally, in June 11, 1896, was to come the graduation exercises for the Class of 1896, Academic Department of the Nora Springs Seminary and Business College. It was to be Roy's big day, for although he was just seventeen, he was a senior in the class and was to give one of the orations. Just before those exercises, there is what happened, according to some news accounts still preserved.
      The preceptor, as the elocution coach was called, together with five boys in the class, had gone to the banks of the Shell Rock River, not far away. there, as practice for the final night, each boy in turn recited his oration to the professor.
      Their orations having been given, one of the boys proposed that they bathe in the stream, as was common custom of boys in rural areas at that thime. Two of the boys, who could not swim, went upstream, then aroung a bend where they believed the water was shallow for easy wading across. Perhaps as a gesture of friendship, Roy - believed to hae been only a fair swimmer - had accompanied them.
      Soon, one of the boys who had initially remained behind went upstream, arriving around the bend only in time to see Roy apparently in a vain attempt to rescue his companions. What must have looked to them like a shallow place in the river had turned out to be a deep hole. All three boys were drowned.
      "There is no doubt in the minds of the professor or Roy's classmates," states the previously mentioned news account, "that Roy in a brave and noble effort to rescue his friends and classmates, gave up his own life."
      In a matter of minutes had ended the promising career of Roy C. Slosson. memorial services were held in Northwood, Iowa, on June 8, 1896....
      Near a pine tree in the old Prairie cemetery north of town rest the mortal remains of Roy Clinton Slosson.
    Person ID I53028  Main Tree

    Father John Marean SLOSSON,   b. 29 Mar 1835, Maine, Broome County, New York Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 28 Mar 1900, Grove,Worth County, Iowa Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 64 years) 
    Relationship Natural 
    Mother Jennie Roxy FINCH,   b. 19 May 1840, Broome Co., New York Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1919, Monrovia, Los Angeles County, California Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 78 years) 
    Relationship Natural 
    Family ID F05458  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Sources 
    1. [S00650] 1880 Census Kensett Twp., Worth County, Iowa.

    2. [S03336] Slason-Slauson-Slawson-Slosson Family by George C. Slawson dated 1946.

    3. [S03691] "George Slawson, An American Pioneer" by Harold D. Slosson.