Klinge, Helmuth F. 1890-1924

KLINGE, LENTH, PALAS, BECKER, JEFFERS, MILLER, ROSE

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 9/27/2014 at 08:35:46

Added by S. Ferrall, 7/11/2019:

MISSING
Helmuth Klinge, a young farmer near Monona, disappeared last Wednesday evening, and no trace of him has been found. He was apparently in good health and spirits. He was married last March, his wife being formerly Miss Olga Lenth.

His description is as follows:
He was 34 years of age, weight about 105 lbs., chunky, stout, light complexion, blue eyes. When last seen was wearing a blue jacket, blue overalls, a cap and light tan shoes.

He may be identified by a scar on the neck, back of head, in the hair right side, about an inch long.

Left his home between the hours of 8 and 11 o'clock, the 20th of August, since which time no trace of his whereabouts is had.

A reward of Fifty Dollars will be paid for finding him. Telegraph or telephone information to the Mayor of Monona, Iowa.

~North Iowa Times, Thursday, August 28, 1924

Transcriber note: Although the weight was typed as in the article, it may be a type-setting error in the original, as a weight of 105 does not match the rest of his descripton as chunky and stout.

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Original posting by Reid R. Johnson, 9/27/2014:

Le Mars Semi-Weekly Sentinel, Le Mars, Iowa, Tues., 30 September 1924.

Henry Becker, residing at 201 Fourth Avenue NW, was notified Friday of the death of a nephew, Helmuth Klinge, aged 32, who disappeared some weeks ago from his home near Monona, Clayton county. The news was contained in a press dispatch from Dubuque, which says:

"Helmuth Klinge, 32, a farmer who disappeared from his home near Monona several weeks ago, was found dead in the woods six miles from town late yesterday. The right leg was broken above the knee, and it is believed he was unable to move, and died from exposure and starvation."

No reason could be assigned for his disappearance, according to Mr. Becker, as the young man was happily married, respected by his neighbors and was a prosperous farmer. It is believed he might have suffered a lapse of memory and wandered away.

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NOTE: Buried in St. Paul's Lutheran (Monona) Cemetery.

Submitter is not related.
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Added by S. Ferrall 09/28/2014:

Oddly-Shaped Tooth-Crown Identifies Mystery Body
Once more Iowa University science is playing a role in a mysterious tragedy - or, rather, in the lifting of the veil that obscured the solution of that tragedy and its problems.

Dr. Will J. Jeffers, of Elkader, a star athlete at Iowa before he was graduated in dentistry, in 1902, has fashioned an odd crown, once upon a time for a tooth, in the jaw of Helmuth Klinge, the young Iowa farmer who disappeared from his home near Monona several weeks ago.

When a badly decomposed body of a dead man unknown, was found in the woods, where the stranger had fallen, with a broken leg, and where he lay until death came to end his misery, the doctor was called to solve the problem.

He recalled his peculiar crown and testified as to its type, and identified the artificial aid to Klinge's earlier comfort. Similarly, Dr. W.A. Miller recalled setting Kling's broken jaw once, and thus two scientists established the identity of the ill-fated wanderer. It is believed that Klinge, a victim of strange headaches, wandered away, while mentally unstrung, and died, without leaving a trail that even the bloodhounds from McGregor were able to follow far.

~Iowa City Press-Citizen, September 27, 1924

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Boy Hunters Find Body of Missing Man
A special dispatch from Monona to the Dubuque Times-Journal dated Tuesday September 23rd stated:

The body of Helmuth Klinge, son of a prominent Monona farmer, was found in a woods near Monona Tuesday morning by two Rose brothers while on a hunting trip. The finding of the body brings to an end a statewide search instituted four weeks ago when he disappeared from the home.

Whether Klinge met with foul play has not been determined as the body was badly mutilated when found by the two youths. An arm, ribs and some vertebrae were missing. Identification was made possible by some dental work done by Dr. W.J. Jeffers of Elkader a number of years ago. The clothing, handkerchief and a pocket knife also aided in the identification.

Klinge's parents are shocked and his young bride prostrated. As soon as the remains were discovered by [the] two youths they immediately notified county authorities, who took charge of the remains. The authorities in turn notified the parents and wife of the young man. The investigation of the tragedy by county officers has thrown no light as yet on how Klinge met his death.

The preliminary examination of the body on the part of surgeons brought out the fact that one of Klinge's legs was broken above the knee. A supposition advanced is that the young man may have gone through the woods, broken a leg and died from exposure.

Immediately after the report had been made public, searchers from all parts of the county went to the scene where the body was found. the workers started out in circles from the point where the body was located in an effort to find other portions of the remains.

From the condition of the body when found it is thought that hogs, or wolves must have been at it during the time of Klinge's disappearance and the finding. By finding the body, the Rose brothers will receive $1000 reward offered by the parents of the youth shortly after his disappearance. The efforts to discover the whereabouts of the young man were thorough and all newspapers in the state carried news and paid advertising matter in an effort to get a trace of him.

It was thought at the time of his disappearance that he might have become mentally unbalanced and wandered away. His wife and parents could attribute no reason for his leaving home four weeks ago. The supposition that he might have met with foul play was also brought up.

Funeral services were held at Monona yesterday.

~Elkader Register, Thursday, September 25, 1924

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Death Certificate (familysearch.org)

Helmuth Frederick Klinge
DOD: 9/20/1924 - 9/24/1924
Place of death: Franklin twp., Allamakee co. Iowa
Cause: Unknown - remains found in woods 9/22-24, entirely decomposed condition, identified by clothing and dental work. Means of death not discoverable, probable suicide, per coroners inquest. Signed Roy R. Jeffries, M.D., Waukon, Ia
DOB: 4/6/1890 in Franklin twp., Allamakee co. Ia
Age: 34y 4m 14d
Father: Henry Klinge, b. Germany
Mother: Ida Palas, b. Clayton Co.
Burial: Lutheran cemetery, Monona