Sarah Barbara Thoresdale (1896-1921)

THORESDALE, MAXWELL

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 6/18/2024 at 12:58:33

From Story City Herald June 9, 1921 (page 1)

M'CALLSBURG GIRL MEETS TRAGIC END

Sarah Barbara Thoresdale Heinously Murdered Near Des Moines

The whole north end of Story county has been particularly aghast the past week over the terrible death meted out to one of its fair daughters by Des Moines ruffians of the lowest type.

Miss Sarah Thoresdale, daughter of Mrs. Sarah Thoresdale, an aged widow of McCallsburg, was teaching school near Valley Junction, in Polk county. She disappeared last Thursday evening on the way from school to her sister's home, where she was staying. No trace was found of her until Saturday, when her mutilated body was discovered in a clump of bushes near the Coon river bound and gagged wand with evidences of a terrible struggle before the seemingly frail girl was overpowered.

Since this discovery the police and sheriff forces of Des Moines and Polk county have worked night and day trying to apprehend the fiend who had done the dastardly deed. So far several men have been taken into custody, but what evidence can be brought to bear against them is not known.

Funeral at Radcliffe

Funeral services were held at the Lutheran church in Radcliffe Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock.

The unfortunate victim of the fiendish assault was well known and most highly respected in and around McCallsburg, as were the other members of the family. She was known as a happy, pretty, carefree girl of 23, with brown hair and gray eyes, but 5 feet 4 inches in height and weighing slightly over 100 pounds.

The first news of the tragedy reached McCallsburg Friday, W. H. Reid received word of the disappearance of Miss Thoresdale. Miss Leah Reid, who is in Des Moines, was a very close friend of Miss Thoresdale and she was one of the first to know of her disappearance.

Mother is Notified

Saturday word reached there that the body had been found and Mrs. Thoresdale, with Mr. Reid, drove at once to Des Moines.

Besides the aged mother, there is one brother, Lars Thoresdale, who is working in Chicago, and a sister, Mrs. Robert S. Maxwell, of Des Moines. The son arrived in Des Moines Saturday. The husband of Mrs. Thoresdale, and father of Miss Sarah died at McCalsburg a few years ago.