VanSickel, H. W. 1833-1915

VAN SICKEL

Posted By: Plymouth CC
Date: 2/14/2004 at 13:30:35

Obit published in the May 18, 1915 edition of the LeMars Sentinel Newspaper.

OLD SETTLER IS GONE

H.W. Van Sickel Drops Dead While On A Visit
Had Gone To Brainerd On Visit

Message containing news was a shock to his family and friends. He was a pioneer business man and build the first brick store.

H.W. Van Sickel, on of the foremost pioneers of LeMars, died very suddenly at Brainerd, Minn., on Saturday evening. A telegram, announcing the sad event, was received by relatives in LeMars on Sunday and came as a great shock as he left here the Monday previous to visit his son and daughter, at Brainerd, in excellent spirits and in fairly good health, for a man of his years. He had gone there with the intention of spending the major portion of the summer on the lakes in that vicinity, as had been his custom the past few years. The cause of death was not stated in the message. That it was sudden is shown by the fact the subsequent to the arrive of the telegram, letter were received written by him to his daughter, Mrs. Rhoda Temple and his granddaughter, Miss Madge Loudenslager, on Saturday in which he spoke of how well he felt and of the good times he was going to enjoy in the open; fishing and other occupations. Mr. Van Sickel was over eight! y years of age by was full of vigor and purpose up to the end, although handicapped lately by trouble with his eyes, which threatened blindness. His wish, that when called to leave this world, he would go quickly, was granted and his family and friends were glad that long illness and pain were spared him in his last days.

Mr. Van Sickel was a pioneer of Iowa and a resident of LeMars for over forty five years and was intimately associated with the business and social life of the early days in this city. He was one of the first business men to build one of the first brick buildings, suffered reverses and hardships of grasshopper days, lost a large fortune and when buffeted by circumstances and quondam friends, never lost energy or heart, engaged in new enterprises, worked hard and was active and optimistic until the thread of life was cut without warning.

Henry Watson Van Sickel was born in Morrison, N.Y., on January 5, 1833, and was eighty-two years and three months old. He lived in his native place until he was twenty-one years of age and then came west, living in Chicago, Wisconsin and Iowa. He was united in marriage on December 16, 1856 in Flint, Michigan, with Miss Anna Benham. Theirs was a long and happy married life until her death a few years age. Eleven children were born to this union. Norman and Charles died in infancy. Sanford Van Sickel died a year ago and a daughter, Mrs. Charles Thomas, about ten years ago. The sons and daughters left to mourn his death are, Harry Van Sickel of Brainerd, Minn, Mrs. F.J. Kennedy of Luverne, Minn. Mrs. O.L. Loudenslager, LeMars, Mrs. C.M. Hough, Brainerd, Minn, Mrs. Rhoda Temple, LeMars, Watson Van Sickel, Sioux City, J.H. Van Sickel Litchfield, Minn. There are also a number of grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Mr. Van Sickel was engaged in the grain business at Eagle Grove and Osage before coming to LeMars in the latter sixties. In LeMars, he dealt in grain and farm machinery and hardware and in the early seventies erected the brick block in the corner of Main and Seventh Streets now occupied by J.E. Wagner.

Mr. Van Sickel owned a large tract of land in northwestern Iowa when land was valued at from three to five dollars and upwards an acre. He put in acres and acres of wheat only to see it swept away by the plague of grasshoppers which visited this section of the county for several years. He sold machinery to farmers and took their notes to be paid when the crops were harvested, but there was nothing to harvest and the notes in many cases were unpaid. Mr. Van Sickel was unable to obtain loans to tide over the bad years and land and property, which, if he could have held on, would have made him practically a millionaire, were swept away. Of Mr. Van Sickel it is said by his associates that he paid out his last dollar to meet any indebtedness.

In 1877, he sold his implement business to Geo. Pew and Levi Larue, both of whom worked for him in Oceola County in 1875. The firm of Pew and Larue was succeeded by the Pew Company.

Mr. Van Sickel, while retaining his residence in LeMars where his family lived, spent most of his time for a number of years in Nebraska and Kansas as manager for a large implement concern and had his headquarters in Omaha, making frequent trips home. In late years, we was engaged in the advertising business and did a large business in calendar making and advertising novelties.

Mr. Van Sickel abhorred bluff and sham. He was outspoken in his opinions. He was a staunch friend. Like, other men he had his enemies.

His domestic life was most happy and he was at his best at family gatherings and with congenial friends by his own hearthside.

Mr. Van Sickel, who had been for nearly a half century, a striking personality in this community will be greatly missed, especially among the old timers. On his daily round he had a cordial greeting and a good word for old and young, man, woman or child.

The remains will be brought home for burial, arriving here this morning and the funeral will be held at the residence on Eagle street on Wednesday morning at ten o'clock. Rev. E. E. Gilbert, of the first Methodist church officiating. The pallbearers, by his own request, are his old friends and pioneer associates, M. B. Tritz, Geo. Pew, Wallace Winslow, M. Hilbert, W. H. Dent, A.M. Duus.

Contributed by: Annette Klosner Hoskins