Amos Henrichsen, Jr. (1888-1929)

HENRICHSEN, HENDRICKSON, JESSEN, BARKER, GLAZIER, HOLCK

Posted By: jane austin (email)
Date: 11/20/2016 at 17:09:46

MYSTERY IN DEATH OF SANBORN TOWN MARSHAL
Sanborn — Amos Hendricksen, [sic throughout] 31 years old, town marshal and 111 charge of the municipal water pumping station, was found dead in the pumphouse early Sunday morning. There were no marks of violence. His vital organs have been sent to tbe University of lown for analysis. Discovery of his body was made by his wife.
Hendrickson, a World war veteran, is survived by his wife, a 12-year-old daughter by a former marriage, his mother, two brothers and one sister. A military funeral will be held on Tuesday afternoon from the Presbyterian church with Rev. A. Ornnslon. the pastor in charge. A firing squad from the Sheldon Legion post will attend.

Paullina (Iowa) Times, Aug 22, 1929, p1

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Iowa Man's Death Still A Mystery
SANBORN, IOWA, Aug. 26.1929

Authorities still are delving into the mystery surrounding the death of Amos Hendrickson, former Sanborn marshal, and at the time of his death, in charge of the town's water pumping plant. A report from Iowa City stated poison had been found in the man's vital organs. Hendrickson's body was found at the "pumping plant. Theories of suicide, have been put forward but have not been generally supported.

The coroner returned a verdict that death was caused by poisoning.

Daily Plainsman
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Mysterious Death of Amos Hendrickson [sic throughout]
Found Dead in Pumphouse Early Sunday Morning Where He had Gone in Performance of his Duties.

The community was greatly grieved and shocked Sunday morning when word was passed around of the sudden death of Amos Hendrickson, a popular and well known man, who was found early Sunday morning by his wife, dead at the municipal pumping station.

The supposition is that Saturday night he went to the pumping station to look after the supply of water for the city's use and became ill.

It was his custom to go over to Sheldon each Saturday night for his wife, who is employed as a clerk at Starrett's Genterl Store, since he did not arrive this week end, Mrs. Hendrickson [sic] came later to her home here with Sanborn firends. Thinking her husband had been detained by business affairs, she retired to rest but during the early morning hours awakened and finding her husband had not yet come in, became alarmed and went out to see if she could locate the cause of his absence. Seeing his car standing near the pumping station, she went there and found him lying on the floor, arousing nearby friends, they went into the building and found that he had died, evidently some time during the preceding night.

A coroner's inquest was held to determine the cause of his death, arriving at no decision, an autopsy was performed and the vital organs sent to the University Hospital at Iowa City for analysis. No verdict will be reached until a report is obtained from there.

The remains were taken to the home of his sister-in-law, Mrs. Chas Glazier, to lay in state until the services Wednesday afternoon at the Presbyterian church.

Amos Hendrickson [sic] was born in Germany, September 17, 1888, and departed this life at Sanborn, Iowa August 18th, 1929, at the age of 40 years, 11 months and one day. He was the second son of Amos and Catherine Jessen Hendrickson [sic] and came to this country with his parents when only eight months of age. Since that time the home of the deceased has been in Sanborn where he grew to manhood.

He received his education in the Sanborn Public School and very early in life went to work for himself at various occupations. For a great number of years, he has served the city faithfully and well in the capacity of Constable, Street Commissioner, and Superintendent of the Municipal Water Works. As an official he was conscientious, trustworthy and dependable. His work was never slighted nor neglectd and was always done in an efficient manner.

His kindly considerate ways will be greatly missed by the public whom he served so graciously. His genial dispostion and altruistic attitude toward all won for him many warm person friends among the people of all ages. He was especially popular among the children to who he was lenient, but firm when dealing with their childish and thoughtless depredations which usually occurred during the Hallowe'en seasons. Having lived here practically all of his entire lifetime, he was well known over a wide territory and numbered his friends by his acquaintances. To his only child, he was a kind and indulgent faather.

During the World war, he enlisted June 15, 1917, at Sioux City, Ia., and served as a First Class private in the First Field Artillery in Battery A. under Colonel Butler and Captain John Hoskins. During his term of service he was stationed at Hawaii and at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He left the states for Hawaii Aug 6, 1919, and was stationed there for sixteen months. On December 15 of the following year, he returned home and received his honorable discarge from the army at Fort Sill, Oklahoma at the end of the war.

On October 8, 1927, he was united in marriage to Miss Neva Barker, who, with his daughter, Amy, by a former marriage, his invalid mother, who is making her home with his only sister, Mrs. Jake Holck of Peterson, Iowa; three brothers, George, Worthington, Minn; August, Marmarth, N.D. and William of Shambaugh, Iowa; are left to mourn his untimely demise.

Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 at the Presbyterian church with the local pastor, Rev. A.C. Grafton officiating, assisted by Conway Post, American Legion, of which the deceased was a member. He was buried with military honors at Roseland cemetery in the family lot, the final military tribute being given by a firing squad from the Sheldon American Legion.

A male quartette consisting of E.A. Mayne, Dr.s J.S. Sanders and M.M. Shanahan, and Earl Brahan gave two musical selections during the services at the church, with Mrs. R.C. Sawyer at the piano.

The following ex-service and Legion and business men acted as pall bearers: J.W. Cravens, Earl Mayne, Chas Braundage, R.H. Leonard, Sam Omer and R.C. Sawyer. Many lovely floral tributes spoke silently of the esteem in which the deceased was held in the community and surrounding territory; as did the large concourse of friends who gathered to pay their final tribute of respect at his bier.

The sympathy of all are with the bereaved family in their loss of a kind and loving husband and father.

Sanborn (Iowa) Pioneer, Aug 22, 1929, p1

*Note: Henrichsen is buried in the family plot at Roseland Cemetery, Sanborn, O'Brien, Iowa. Spelling there among family members confirms spelling of Henrichsen. -ja