William Mahlum 1842-1932

MAHLUM, NELSON, DODGE, STANHOPE

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 8/1/2010 at 23:33:35

W. H. Mahlum
Pioneer of Our City Passed Away Tuesday

The entire community was shocked on Tuesday morning when it was announced on the street that wonderful pioneer, Wm. Mahlum, had passed away. His sudden death was wholly unexpected. While at his age, 89, there is always the chance of an unexpected death, still he had been about the street and seemed in perfect health. Only a few days ago he stopped at the Enterprise office for a visit.

On Sunday last he was out in the car with his son, Henry Mahlum, and family. They were over near Milford. At a point on the highway there was a rut in the road. The car bumped and after that he complained. The car was turned homeward and he was given medical attention as soon as they arrived.

Mr. Mahlum was taken to the Coleman hospital and it was found he had a very severe attack of obstruction of the bowels and that the slightest jolt in the car had nothing to do with his condition. It was found there was but one chance to save his life and that was by an operation. This he was unable to withstand at his age and he passed away at one o’clock on Tuesday morning. [June 28, 1932]

The loss of Mr. Mahlum was a shock to his many friends. He was beloved by all who knew him and the better you knew him, the more beloved he was. Around the Enterprise office it was a shock as he called by the office quite often as he passed and he was a favorite.

Wm. Mahlum was born in Hedemarken, Norway, July 23, 1842. He came to the United States when he was twenty-one years old. He came first to LaCrosse, Wisconsin, and worked in logging camps. He married Miss Agnes Larson at LaCrosse, and moved from there to Clear Lake, Iowa. Later they moved to a farm near Estherville in 1878, and to Estherville in 1881. For a few years he ran a butcher shop in this city, then worked as a shop carpenter for the B.C.R. & N. railroad, until 1915 when he retired. Mrs. Mahlum died in 1920 [1910].

There remains to mourn his death, two sons, Albert and Henry Mahlum, of this city, and a daughter, Mrs. Clara Dodge, of Texas.

The funeral services will be held from the home of his son, Henry Mahlum, as requested by him, at two o’clock on Thursday afternoon, the Rev. WinterStein officiating. The remains will be laid to rest in the family lot in Oak Hill cemetery. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, June 29, 1932)

Wm. Mahlum, Pioneer, Dies Here Tuesday
Adhesions in Immediate Cause – Funeral Held Thursday

Wm. Mahlum, father of Henry and Albert Mahlum and a pioneer resident of Estherville died at a local hospital at one o’clock on Tuesday morning. Mr. Mahlum would have been 90 had he lived until July 23, and been in failing health for the past few months. Death was caused by adhesion, aggravated while out driving Sunday afternoon. He was taken to a hospital Monday and an emergency operation was performed that night.

Mr. Mahlum was born in Norway and came to American 69 years ago. He lived in LaCrosse, Wis., and was married there moving to the village of Estherville 50 years ago. He was a carpenter by trade and was employed for a number of years by the Rock Island. He retired in 1910 from active work but not from an interest in the affairs of the community. He was always busy carpentering, making articles large and small, and was always at the Mahlum and Anderson store for a few hours each day, unless kept home by illness or weather conditions. Hundreds of friends will miss his cheery presence.

Surviving Mr. Mahlum are the two sons here and one daughter, Mr. E. J. Dodge of Almo, Texas. A second daughter, Mr. E. I. Stanhope, passed away at Humboldt in March.

Funeral services will be held at 2 o’clock tomorrow (Thursday) at the Henry Mahlum home. Interment will be made in Oak Hill cemetery. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, June 29, 1932)