HEINEN, Valentine 1839-1905

HEINEN, BAHL, DEMUTH, SCHMITT

Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 2/25/2014 at 23:39:17

[Waterloo Daily Reporter, Wednesday, May 10, 1905, Waterloo, Iowa]

BODY OF HEINEN FOUND IN RIVER

SON OF THE MISSING MAN MADE THE DISCOVERY

WAS BADLY DECOMPOSED
REMAINS WERE FOUND A HALF
MILE WEST OF HIS FARM.

The body of Valentine Heinen, the missing Gilbertville man, was found in the river at 9:00 this morning by his son, Nick Heinen. The cloud of mystery that has enveloped the case since his disappearance on the night of March 6 has been dispelled, and the worst fears of his relatives have been realized. "Whether death came as a result of suicide, murder or accident is being determined by a coroner's jury this afternoon.

The search for the missing man has never abated since his mysterious absence was first made known. A son, Nick, was looking along the river this morning for some trace of his father, when his attention was drawn to a spot in the middle of the river a half mile west of Gilbertville. Investigation revealed a heap of clothing and closer examination showed it to be the body of a man. It was taken from the sandbar on which it had lodged and placed on the river bank, and neighbors were summoned. The remains were identified as those of Valentine Heinen. The body was found about eighty rods west of the Youngblut farm, which is a half mile beyond the Heinen premises.

The remains were badly decomposed and bloated, and gave evidence of having been in the water, for several weeks. His relatives think he fell in the river on the night of his disappearance and that the current washed the body down stream for a considerable distance. The remains were deposited upon the bank of the stream and Coroner McManus of Waterloo was summoned.

It is now believed-that Mr. Heinen was accidentally drowned. He was down town Monday evening, March 6. It was a very dark night. About 8:00 o'clock he started for home and became lost in the darkness, wandered too near the bank of the river, lost his footing on the ice and fell into the dark seething waters of the river. When he did not return to his home his wife became alarmed and reported the matter to her neighbors, who at once instituted a search. They went everywhere about the town, but could find no trace of him. It was learned that he had left one of the stores at about 8:00 o'clock and had remarked upon the darkness of the evening. Then the searchers went to the river bank and found evidences that led them to the definite conclusion that the aged citizen had wandered too close to the bank in the darkness and had slipped on the high bank and fell down its precipitous side into the river. His watch was found on the bank. The only explanation of this is found in the fact that he probably struggled and in doing so he threw his watch from his pocket.

Next morning the river was dragged for the body, but no trace of the man could be found. Advertisements, giving description, age, etc., were inserted in newspapers, but the missing man could not be located. Peter Bahl, a son-in-law of Mr. Heinen, took charge of the search and spent time and money in an effort to locate his relative. He received information from several different points that Heinen had been seen, but upon investigation every clue proved false.

The late Valentine Heinen was about 70 years of age and had been a resident of Gilbertville and vicinity for many years. To them were born three daughters and two sons. The sons are Nick and Will and one of the daughters is Mrs. Peter Bahl, wife of a general merchant at Washburn. Mrs. Heinen died about ten days ago from the effects of injuries received in a fall from a vehicle. Grief over the disappearance of her husband also had much to do with hastening her death.

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[Waterloo Daily Reporter, Monday, May 15, 1905, Waterloo, Iowa]

May 13.—The remains of the missing man, Valentine Heinen were laid to rest here Thursday at 9.00 o'clock.

His body was found in the river right east of the Youngblut farm, instead of west as reported in Wednesday's Reporter. The body was left in the river until after the arrival of Coroner McManus of Waterloo. He was then taken out by the aid of a hammock. The sum of money which he carried on his person was found all safe in the pocket book, which was found in his pocket. It contained $65.15. This goes to prove that no foul play was used in connection with the drowning which occurred on March 6th.

The case is the saddest that has occurred in this vicinity, and is the more remarkable because so many different stories were started since the man was missing. Quite a number seemed positively convinced that the man was still alive, and wandering about. The finding of his body in the river clears up all the mysteries that overshadowed the sad affair, and the remains of the unfortunate man were given a Christian burial.

A requiem high mass was said and funeral services were held at the church. Interment took place in the Catholic cemetery. He was a devout believer of the Catholic faith, a loving husband, a good father and peaceful neighbor.

He leaves five children to mourn his death, one daughter, Mrs. Math Demuth, having preceded him in death last fall. The remaining children are: Mrs. Peter Bahl of Washburn; Mrs. John Demuth of Fox Township, this county; Mrs. Peter Schmitt of Waucoma, Iowa; William of Raymond and Nick of this place.

The bereaved family has the sympathy of the entire community, as they are liked and will not soon be forgotten. May the souls of the departed parents who were buried only ten days apart rest in peace.