Esmond / Esmund, Melusina L.D. (Kregel) 1868-1907

ESMOND, ESMUND, JAHNKE, KREGEL, RADAMACHER, TANGEMAN, HESPE

Posted By: S. Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 4/18/2023 at 18:08:02

Melusina Louisa Dora Kregel, daughter of Henry C. and Sophia Kregel, was born in Garnavillo township, Clayton county, Iowa, on October 30, 1868. She grew to womanhood here, being confirmed in St. Paul's church.

In 1896 she went with the Witte family to Lincoln, Nebraska. She lived in Nebraska from this time till 1901, with the exception of about one year spent with relatives in Iowa. She lived with her brother, Ferdinand Jahnke and family, a year or more in Saline county, Nebraska, and the remainder of the time at Beatrice.

In the spring of 1901 she went to Denver, Colorado, where she was married to George Esmond in 1904. In December 1905 she moved with her husband to Tonopah, Nevada. Tonopah is in the newly discovered gold district of Nevada, and the first winter Mr. and Mrs. Esmond were compelled to live in a tent as were more than half the citizens of that booming town. In the spring of 1906 they took a claim in the mountains of Nevada and engaged in stock raising.

Last fall the deceased was stricken with cancer of the breast and went to the hospital at Mountain Home, Idaho, where an operation was performed. It was thought that the operation had proved successful and she had started home when she became worse and was compelled to go to a hospital again. This time she went to the St. Alphonsus Hospital at Boise, Idaho, where her death occurred on April 16, 1907. A telegram was received by her relatives here April 16 informing them of her death. Word was also sent to her husband, who had returned to their home several weeks before, but as he lives about fifty miles from any railway, the message did not reach him in time to get any reply from him.

The remains were shipped here, arriving at Clayton Wednesday morning of this week. Funeral services conducted by Rev. Mall were held at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ferdinand Jahnke Sr. at 4 o'clock Wednesday afternoon, April 24th, after which interment was made in the new cemetery.

The deceased leaves to mourn her loss, besides the husband, mother and step-father, three brothers and three sisters, viz: W.A. and C.F. Kregel, Ferdinand Jahnke, Mrs. Ed Radamacher, Mrs. Wm. Radamacher and Mrs. George Tangeman, all of Garnavillo. - Garnavillo Independent.

~Elkader Register, May 2, 1907, Garnavillo News column