ANAMOSA–Aug. 30—Grief reigns in every home in Anamosa. Hon. J. L. Sheean is dead. He met death while bathing alone in the Wapsie, shortly after 1 o'clock Saturday afternoon.
Early in the afternoon Mr. Sheean was missed from his office, and inquiry revealed the fact that he was not at home. Friends became anxious for his safety, feeling a premonition that something was wrong. Supper time came and he did not return. A searching party, which included almost every man and boy in the city, was organized. Marshal Mark Kenyon and other friends secured a pack of blood hounds to follow his trail, if it could be found. A small boy said that he had seen Mr. Sheean going toward the river early in the afternoon. The hounds struck the track and followed that way, although the scent was old and they lost it repeatedly. Finally the searching party found his clothes' upon the river bank, neatly folded and laid together. The mystery was then solved, it only remaining to recover the body. Every torch and lantern in the city was brought into use, boats were manned by willing hands and within ten minutes the body was found, floating in three feet of water, the left leg entraped up under his body and indicating conclusively the cause of death.
The remains were removed to an undertaking establishment and this morning were taken to his sorrow-stricken home. No arrangements have as yet been made for the funeral, as it is expected that a daughter residing in Salt Lake will arrive within a day or two.
Mrs. Sheean states that her husband told her Saturday morning that he wished he was at Salt Lake, where he had spent much of the summer, so that he might have a refreshing bath. He also mentioned the river and said he thought of going there.
To a friend later in the day he remarked that it was the hottest day he had seen this summer, mentioning to others his inclination to go to the river to bathe.
Mr. Sheean was one of Jones county's best known citizens, universally respected at home and abroad. The deceased was born in Boston, Mass., June 3, 1835. At an early age he moved to Illinois, locating at Jo Daviess' county. It was there that he received his education. Later he studied law at Dubuque, being admitted to the bar in 1858. In 1861 he removed to Anamosa, where he continued to reside to the time of his death, standing high in his profession.
Mr. Sheean was married July 3, 1862, to Miss Laura Rawlins, a native of Jo Daviess' county, Illinois, and a sister of Major General John A. Rawlins. The wife, three sons and three daughters survive. The sons are, James Sheean, attorney at Omaha; William D. Sheean, attorney and at present mayor of Anamosa, and John Sheean, a law student at the Ann Arbor university, Michigan. The daughters are, Nellie, wife of A. M. Sanford of Salt Lake City; Jennie and Josie, both residing at home.

Submitted by: Janet A. Brandt
Source: Cedar Rapids Gazette, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 30 Aug 1897
Note:Our transcriber noted that Sheean is referred to as "A. J." in the headline and "J. L." in the body of the obit.