George Henke
Kentucky Post, Tuesday, 13 September 1904, page 5
George Henke Jr. the 10 year old boy reported missing from his home, 407 Fifth av. Dayton is still unheard from. It is thought the lad has run away from home to avoid going to school.
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Kentucky Post, Wednesday, 14 September 1904, page 5
When the body of little George Henke, 10 of 407 Fifth st. Dayton Ky. was found in the shallow water at the foot of Walnut st. Tuesday afternoon, a mystery that had set the entire police force and the neighborhood to work was cleared. John and Charles Kuhlman and W H Crane while rowing, discovered the body and ti was at once recognized as that of Henke.
It was removed to the home where his father and stepmother, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Henke. "He said he could swim Sunday," said Mrs. Henke. "He said: Don't fear, mother, I'll be back for supper. Just make me two sandwiches and get me a piece of that mosquito bar netting for a seine and I'll go to the river and fish." Getting the netting, Mrs. Henke said the child got two sticks, made a rude seine and left, leaving his sandwiches lying on the table.
When he father, who had been on an outing, returned Sunday night at 10 pm the anxious woman asked; Where is Georgie? Immediately they started a search for the missing boy. He had several times before left home without telling his parents of his whereabouts and for a while it was thought this disappearance was like one of the old time ones.
Finally the police of Bellevue, Dayton and Newport were notified, but no trace of the lad cold be found. When discovered in the river the little body was limp and badly bruised. The Coroner was notified and rendered a verdict of "accidental drowning." The boy had a pair of pants and a bathing shirt, with no sleeves and was barefooted. It is thought that the boy could not swim and became caught in an undertow and as the water was cool and chilly perhaps cramped and so went to his death.
The funeral will take place Thursday at 8 am from St Francis Church, Rev Bernard Greifenkamp officiating. Six of his small school companions will act as pallbearers.
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Kentucky Post, Thursday, 15 September 1904, page 5
The funeral of little Georgy Henke, who was drowned Sunday, took place from St Francis Church at 8 am Thursday, Father Griefenkamp officiating. A large number of friends attended. The pall bearers from his school companions and the interment was in St Joseph Cemetery, Price Hill, Cincinnati.