This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/CGC.2ACI/643.1 Message Board Post: There is a birth record for: McCormick, (Female) born Oct 5, 1881 Vol 3, Pg 51, Doc 306 parents listed is just F. & ? McCormick. I did not find any death record in 1883 though. Only one is a John McCormick who died io 2/12/1894 Vol 4, Pg 137, Doc 821. Did find these articles in Oshkosh Daily Northwestern Wed, July 11, 1883 CHILD DROWNED IN A RESERVOIR About five o'clock yesterday afternoon Margaret McCormick aged 2 1/2 years, child of John McCormick was drowned in what is generally termed a reservoir at the corner of High and Osceola streets, near the Diamond Match works. The circumstances were these: The little child was left in charge of an older brother perhaps five or six years of age to play. Evidently they had been playing around the box which leads down into a tank below the water line of the river leading to the river to supply water for fire purposes. The water was about nine feet deep in the perpendicular box and it was seven feet from the top of the box to the water. At the side of the perpendicular box above ground one of the planks has rotted away and the earth in front of it had partially caved in leaving a hole large enough for a childe to fall in. It has been in this condition for some time so far as can be learned. While at play Margaret fell through this hole into the water below. The littl! e brother began crying but did not know enough to give an alarm. After crying around for some time he told some older children what the matter was and George Johnson, fireman in the match works rushed out and lifting the cover of the box he held the child on the top of the water below. He pulled her out but life was extinct. A coroners jury last night returned a verdict in accordance with the above facts. It would appear that somebody was culpably negligent in allowing such a dangerous place to remain unrepaired. It appears from the testimony that the ward did the digging and that the match factory supplied the plank to make the boxes so it was sort of a partnership arrangement. Chief Engineer Weisbrod states that last Friday after the big rain he made a tour of inspection to all the reservoirs in town and reported several in a dangerous condition by reason of the heavy fall of water which had washed holes in them. Among others he reported this one to the First Ward aldermen as requiring attention immediately. But it appears that for some reason the matter was neglected. Weisbrod says if the council will give him authority to have resevoirs repaired in future instead of having to report such matters to the aldermen he will see that it is done. Tuesday, July 31, 1883 The summons was yesterday served upon the proper city officers in the case of John McCormick, who sues the city for damages on account of the death of his little girl by falling into an unsafe reservoir in the First ward on July 10th Wednesday, August 8, 1883 Notice of claim against the city by John McCormick for the drowning of his child in a defective reservoir was referred to the First ward aldermen. There is a John McCormick who married a Maria Stevens on July 25, 1871 in Winnebago Co, WI Vol 1, Pg 508, Doc 3362 1880 US Federal Census (Pg 153B) Oshkosh, Winnebago Co, WI E.D. 208 McCormick, John aged 48 yrs born in ENG Farm Laborer (wife) Maria aged 29 yrs born in WI Parents born in ENG (daut) Lizzie aged 8 yrs born in WI Father born IRE Mother born ENG? (son) John aged 5 yrs born in WI Father born IRE Mother born ENG? (son) Willie aged 3 yrs born in WI Father born IRE Mother born ENG? (son) James aged 4 months born in WI Father born IRE Mother born ENG? In LDS searching I found John P. McCormick born 4/25/1875 in Oshkosh and died 12/18/1960 and his parents are listed as John & Frances Myra Stevens McCormick This informant has Mrs. McCormick born on 7/4/1852 in Wales and died 6/11/1914 in Oshkosh. Children listed are Elizabeth, John P., William, James H., Steven Francis, & Frank. Another submitter has the same John McCormick with the wife's name being Frances Maria or Myra Stevens and lists only John P. McCormick as an offspring. John P. McCormick's obit appears in the Northwestern on Monday, Dec 19, 1960, Pg 4 - but it doesn't give his parents names. The only survivors liste are the daughter, Agatha Bloechl and Sinclair McCormick along with some grandchildren and great grandchildren. Hope this all helps! Janet Eiler