Mr. Simeon Berry Walker, age 16, was drowned Saturday afternoon about 5 o’clock while fishing in White Oak creek just below the house of J.M. Barber. He was subject to epileptic fits and it is supposed that he took one which caused him to fall in by the creek where he was later found by a negro boy.
Simeon, better known as “Sim,” had gone with his brother Saturday morning to Mrs. Champion’s for a setting of eggs and while there cut some canes for fishing poles. When he got home he asked his mother if he might go to Green River fishing that afternoon. She told him no, to wait until next week and his father and ?? would go along with him.
Along in the afternoon his desire for fishing became greater and he slipped off from his mother and went down to White Oak creek. Mrs. Walker missed him and sent his younger brother to look for him. In a short while they came ack and Sim said he had been fishing.
Not yet satisfied, however, he slipped off again and went back to the creek. There was a little negro boy down there and they fished together for some time, then Sim told the boy he was going home and started up the stream.
Mrs. Walker, having missed him, sent his eight-year-old brother, Britt, to look for him. He went to the creek and met the boy who told him Sim was in the water. Britt ran down the creek until he found him and lifted his head above the water. The water was about knee deep. The boy ran on and told Mrs. Twitty Jackson, who was at work in a nearby field. She ran home and told Mr. Jackson, who came as quickly as possible and took the boy from the stream, tho’ it was too late for death had already laid its icy fingers upon him. A number of men came and carried him to his home.
The funeral services were conducted by Rev. C.G. Walker, assisted by Rev. W.J. Hackney, at White Oak Baptist Church on Sunday afternoon at 3 o’clock. The church was more than filled by his many friends.
His body was laid to rest in the White Oak Cemetery. The many lovely flowers showed how great a number of friends were his.
The deceased is survived by his father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Martin Walker, and five brothers and three sisters.
Sim will be greatly missed in Mill Spring for he was noted for his smiling countenance and friendly disposition and was loved by all who knew him.
From the front page of The Polk County News, Tryon, N.C., May 4, 1922
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