Christine (Maneman) Arts 1849-1924

ARTS, MANEMAN, MANNEMAN

Posted By: Joe Conroy (email)
Date: 6/13/2010 at 11:14:35

The Carroll Times
Carroll, Iowa
12 Jun 1924
Page 1

Mrs. William Arts, Long Resident of Carroll, Is At Rest

Death Calimed Prominent Carroll Lady Late Thursday Evening, June 5.

Funeral Held Monday

Remains at Rest in Catholic Cemetery -- Had Just Passed Her 75th Birthday Week of Death.

Mrs. William Arts Passed away peacefully at the St. Anthony hospital Thursday evening at 6 o'clock after being in critical condition since Tuesday when pneumonia took its hold upon her. Monday morning she had the misfortune to fall, in her home, and break the large bone just below her left hip joint. When news of the accident reached her many friends, there was a gloom cast over the entire city, as it was well known that Mrs. Arts had not been in the best of health for some time, and that an injury of that kind, serious at any time, would go very hard with her. Her children were constantly at her bedside, watching and praying for some change to better her condition, but death which was stealthily advancing, claimed her quietly as she slept.

In the passing of Mrs. Arts, the home is not only broken, but one of the early residents of the city, who has seen the town grow from a small village to its present flourishing condition, and through all the years has been loved and respected by the old residents and the passing throng of new ones, has departed. She had a beautiful character and purpose and her presence and help meant much to the community. Whether a person be rich or poor it made no difference to her. Many a needy one, who had met misfortune through death, sickness, or from other cause, and who felt the pinch of poverty, was assisted over many trying times, through the kindness of this good woman, who saw to it that there was food for their table, clothing and fuel to keep them warm. She did this in such a quiet, unassuming way, that many times the members of her family would have been unaware of her kindness had it not been that they were told of it by those whom their mother had helped.

Mrs. Arts was a member of the S. S. Peter and Paul church and the Rosary sodality. Until four and a half years ago when she was first taken sick, and since that time had not been in her usual health, she was an untiring worker in the church and the sodality. She was also a member of the Catholic Daughters of America, being one of the charter members. It was largely through her efforts and that of a few more women of the community that the chapter was organized in Carroll twenty years ago. She had the pleasure of attending the anniversary banquet of the organization May 25.

Mrs. Arts, who was Miss Christine Maneman (sic) before her marriage, was born on a farm near Galena, Ill., June 1, 1849.

She was married at St. Mary's Catholic church in that city to William Arts, January 24, 1865. The young couple left immediately for the west with Idaho City as their destination. They traveled most of the way by ship, leaving New York City and journeying from the Isthmus of Panama and the western coast of Central America to San Francisco. They finally reached Idaho City after spending three months in travel. They resided there three years and it was there that their oldest child, Emma, was born. She was the first white child born in that mining camp. In October, 1867, Mr. and Mrs. Arts and baby started by stage on a fifteen day and night trip to Cheyenne, Wyo., which was the terminus of the Union Pacific railway. They returned by train from Cheyenne to Galena. In October, 1868, Mr. Arts disposed of his interests in Idaho and located in Wheatland township, Iowa, purchasing Section 12. While riding through Iowa on his way to Galena he was much impressed with the rich soil of this state and decided to locate here. He built the first building in Wheatland township, which he made ready for the arrival of his family from Galena.

In 1872 Mr. and Mrs. Arts and children moved to Carroll, which has since been the family home. The beautiful residence on South Main street was built according to the plans and wishes of Mrs. Arts and has been the family home for a period of years.

As is well known to most of the people of Carroll county, it was William Arts who, in the year 1896 established The Carroll Times, together with other business men of Carroll. During the remainder of his life Mr. Arts devoted a large amount of his time and much energy in building up the paper, and at his death his widow, the subject of this article, became the principal stockholder in The Times company. While Mrs. Arts never took active interest in the publication of the paper, the majority of the newspaper's stock has always remained in the family, as it does today.

Of the nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. Arts seven are living, Edward died when an infant, Louise (Mrs. Fred Pielsticker) died in December, 1918. Mr. Arts died in this city Sep. 22, 1910. The surviving children are Miss Emma, William Arts, Frank H. Arts, Mrs. Frank J. Rettenmaier, J. C. Arts, Mrs. J. C. Heider and Mrs. Mae Hamilton, all of this city. Mrs. Arts also leaves two sisters and a brother, Mrs. H. G. Brinker of Breda, Mrs. William Kuhl of Hazel Green, Wis., and A. C. Maneman of this city.

The funeral occurred from S. S. Peter and Paul's church last Monday morning and was very largely attended. After requiem high mass conducted by the pastor, Fr. H. J. Dries, celebrant, assisted by Frs. Warzawa, deacon, and Kocher, sub-deacon, Fr. Dries gave a beautiful talk touching on the uncertainty of life and the absolute certainty of death. He admonished his hearers to so live their lives daily that if the hand of death should lay hold of them at any moment they would be ready to face fearlessly the great beyond. He dwelt upon the fact that we should all "die daily," not literally, of course, but to be so prepared that when evening's shadows fall upon us that we may close our eyes in sleep prepared for any emergency that might come. The speaker pointed to the Christian life of the deceased as one entirely worthy of emulation, paying a glowing tribute to her virtues, so well known to the people of Carroll.

At the conclusion of the services at the church the remains were tenderly borne to the Catholic cemetery, where they were laid to their final rest beneath a bank of beautiful, fragrant flowers, tokens of love and respect sent by sympathetic friends.

The pall-bearers were as follows: Dr. S. H. Johnston, J. P. Hess, L. J. Wegman, James O'Donnell, John Heider, Sr., and Frank Beiter. Most of the stores of the city were closed during the funeral service as a token of respect and to allow employees and proprietors to attend the funeral.

And so our lives hurry along toward the inevitable goal -- the open grave. Always there is a wreath hanging on someone's door -- just a wreath of flowers bound with ribbon of white, or purple or black -- a reminder that the hand of death has stretched out and grasped another earthly being.

As we turn away from the open grave we wonder with a new-old wonder why death must come and take away our beloved; why come to summon ourselves to that land of silence and darkness from whence no traveler e'er returns. But no answer comes from the vast unknown to satisfy the questioning of our minds and the yearnings of our souls. We only know that at the grave's dread mouth all mortals must cast aside the burdens of this earthly life, and our only hope of eternal lies in the promise of the Son of Man to provide for those who keep the faith until the end.

But the heart of the world is tender. The wreaths by the door touch our swift, responsive sympathy; and we offer up a prayer to the All-Father, asking that consolation and peace may come to those who mourn beyond the symbols at their doors.

Relatives from a distance who attended the funeral were Mrs. Emma Huppman of Dubuque, Mrs. Emil Seleine of Marshalltown, Fred Pielsticker and sons, William and Robert, of Eldorado, Kan.