Renken, Hermann died 1907

RENKEN

Posted By: Doris Hoffman, Volunteer (email)
Date: 3/5/2015 at 16:59:57

Diphtheria in Grant Township

Dr. A. H. Mosher was called out to attend Mrs. Will Pleuger in Grant Township on Friday as she was ill. On making a diagnosis the physician found she was suffering from diphtheria and the premises were quarantined.

It developed the same evening that Hermann the six year old son of Mr. and Mrs. John F. Renken, who are neighbors of the Pleugers, had died of the same disease on Thursday. The boy was taken sick, complaining of a sore throat, during the week and home remedies were applied. Dr. Mammen who is the family physician, was telephoned for, but he was in Colorado, and as the boy did not seem very sick, the parents thought they would wait until Dr. Mammen returned as he was to be home on Friday.

The child was taken with a bad coughing spell on Wednesday night and complained of pain in his heart and lungs and succumbed on Thursday.

When it was learned that the child had died of diphtheria, the trustees of the township took hold of the matter and warned all the neighbors and friends who were going to attend the funeral on Saturday, and the funeral was strictly private.

The Pleuger and Renken families are quarantined and also the family of Arnold Aalfs, this members of which had been at the Renken home assisting the family in the time of trouble and death. A brother of Mr. Renken who came from South Dakota was also quarantined in the house.

The Center school house near the above named residence has been closed and also the German school near the Grant Township Lutheran church, as a matter of precaution by the authorities.

From the physician's report Mrs. Plueger was doing well yesterday and there are no other cases at present.

The disease is said to exist in malignant form in Sioux County, and it is thought that is where Mrs. Plueger contracted the disease.

Le Mars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
Tuesday, January 22, 1907
Le Mars, Iowa