Seiberth, Lewis Samuel 1875-1954

SEIBERTH, WATTS, BRADLEY

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 12/5/2011 at 11:33:22

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register; Aug. 9, 1954

LOU SEIBERTH, FIREMAN FOR 56 YRS., DIES

Well-Known Grinnellian Succumbs Today at Oakdale; Was 79

Louis Seiberth, better known to his friends as "Grab", a Grinnell fireman for 56 years died at 5:40 a.m. today in the Oakdale Sanitarium where he had been a patient for two weeks. He was 79 years old and is survived by his wife and son.

Funeral plans are incomplete. Friends may call the Smith funeral home.

"Grab" had probably been a fireman longer than any other man in the state of Iowa.. He became a member of the Grinnell department when it was reorganized in 1898 and has maintained his membership continuously since that time.

He has not been an active fire fighter for some years but had served for many years continuously as the department secretary. He served as chief in 1904.

HONORED FOR SERVICE

In 1924 "Grab" was given an award for 20 years of service and in 1948 he was honored at a 50th anniversary party in recognition of his services to the department. At that time he was presented with a purse of fity silver dollars, one for each year of his service.

Mr. and Mrs. Seiberth observed their fiftieth wedding anniversary on July 30, 1952.

RECALLED BIG FIRES

His devotion to the department for over half a century has been exemplary. He helped fight some of Grinnell's most spectacular fires, among them the Norris fire in 1913 and the Antlers hotel fire, when the thermometer stood at 20 below and the firemen were sheathed in ice until they looked like icicles.

As long as his health permitted, after his retirement from his job on the Rock Island railroad in 1950, he was a daily visitor at the fire hall and he never lot his keen interest in the department.

A special article about "Grab" appeared in The Herald-Register March 27, 1952. The opening sentence said: "Louis Seiberth likes to put out fires." He was that sort of a man.
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The Grinnell Herald-Register; Aug. 12, 1954

SEIBERTH'S BODY TAKEN TO CEMETERY IN 1914 FIRE TRUCK; FIREMAN 56 YEARS

As a graceful tribute to his long years of service as a member of the Grinnell volunteer fire department the body of Lewis Samuel Seiberth was carried to its last resting place in Hazelwood cemetery Wednesday afternoon in Grinnell's first fire truck, a Ward LeFrance, dating back to 1914, following services at the Smith funeral home.

Members of the fire department and auxiliary attended in a body, honoring their associate, who had been a member of the department for 56-1/2 years. Mr. Seiberth had been on the active list and subject to fire calls up to two weeks before his death.

DIED MONDAY

Mr. Seiberth died Monday morning in Oakdale sanitarium after an illness of six months, aged 78 years.

The funeral services were in charge of Rev. John DeLong of the Methodist church. Music was provided by Mr. and Mrs. E.H. Bohstedt. Mrs. Ed Green and Mrs. Fred Taylor were in charge of the flowers.

The pallbearers, all 20-year members of the fire department, were Virgil Case, George Mowitt, Cliff McCain, Steve Smith, Bill Walter and Bert Whitaker.

OBITUARY

Lewis Samuel Seiberth was born in Grinnell Nov. 8, 1875, and lived here his entire life. He was the son of John and Laura Watts Seiberth. On July 30, 1902, he was united in marriage with Emma R. Bradley who survives him. They had been married for 54 years. There is also a son, Laurel Seiberth of Burbank, Calif.

During his entire active life Mr. Seiberth was employed as freight clerk by the Rock Island railroad. He retired a few years ago.

He was a member of the Methodist church and the Knights of Pythias.