oghead.html

From "Glenwood, Formerly Camas Prairie" by Jerry Ladiges Published 1978, pages 90 & 91.
Used with permission.

GEORGE W. HEAD

The remains of George H. Head who drowned in eastern Klickitat, Feb. 6, was buried in Glenwood Cemetery Feb. 11, amid a large assembly of friends. Mr. Head was a cousin of George W. Bowen of this place.
George W. Head was a young man in the employee of Mason Bros. and lost his life in the attempt to assist Chas. Miller, a rancher, who with his family was about to cross Chapman Creek, which the melting snows had made a raging torrent. Young Head had crossed the creek a few minutes before on horseback with great difficulty, and looking back, saw the rancher coming; he at once turned and rushed back to the creek to warn the rancher of the danger. While talking, the bank on which his horse stood suddenly gave way throwing him and the horse into the stream. He got clear from his horse and drifted down the stream a short distance, where he caught hold of some of some bushes. The rancher took the lines of his harness and threw them to him. His right arm being disabled by the fall he grasped the lines with his left hand, but his strength gave out and he was over come and carried away by the icy waters. His body was not found until the next morning and was very badly bruised. If Mr. head had not warned Mr. Miller and family the family would probably have been drowned.
George W. Head was born at Speer's Ferry, Virginia, Dec. 27, 1878, living with his parents in that place until he came to Washington, Klickitat Co., in April, 1898, where he made his home until Feb. 6, 1907, when he met his untimely death. He was an estimable young man and his smiling face will long be remembered by his many friends. He leaves a father, two sisters, six brothers and a host of relatives in Tenn. and Virginia to mourn his loss, and the friends and loved ones in and around Glenwood it would be impossible to enumerate.

The Klickitat County Agriculturist, Goldendale, WA., February 16, 1907, page 2
"Klickitat Intelligence"

Met His Death in Chapman Creek -- The remains of George Head, who was drowned in Chapman Creek last Tuesday, were brought to Goldendale and sent ot Glenwood for interment. Mr. Head was a nephew of George W. Bowen of that place. George Head was a young man in the employ of Mason Bros. and lost his life in the attempt to assist a rancher, who with his family was about to cross Chapman Creek, which the melting snows had made a raging torrent. Young Head had crossed Chapman creek a few minutes before on horseback, and looking back, saw the rancher coming. He at once turned, and rushed back to the creek to warn the rancher of his danger. While talking to the rancher, the bank on which his horse stood suddenly gave way, throwing him and his horse into the stream. He got clear from his horse and drifted the stream a short distance where he caught hold of some of some bushes. The rancher took the lines of his harness and threw them to him. His grasped the lines, but after doing so let go of them and was carried away in the icy waters. Mr. Head was well-known in Western Klickitat, and highly esteemed by all who knew him.