Sarah Matilda “Sadie” Arnold Wasem (1860-1937)

ARNOLD, HASTINGS, WASEM

Posted By: Eileen Reed
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:43

Mrs. Sadie M. Wasem, who came to Wright county 60 years ago, passed away at her home in this city Sunday, March 7 [6], following a serious illness of several weeks. Mrs. Wasem lived to see, and had an active part in the remarkable transformation of this county from raw prairie to its present high state of development. She was one of the county’s first school teachers.

She was graduated from the old Iowa City academy and had to go to Ft. Dodge to take her examination for a teacher’s certificate. She taught in what is now known as the Derscheid school west of the city, the building then being located north of the present site. Two of her former pupils were pall bearers at the funeral, Chas. O. Schwenck and George Derscheid.

Mrs. Wasem was born near Iowa City, Iowa, and moved to Wright county 60 years ago. She was united in marriage with Adam H. Wasem in 1879 and settled on a farm west of the city, the place now known as the Wm. Young farm. To this union three children were born, John dying in infancy at the age of one month, and Homer F. and Harry residents of this city.

In 1882, the Wasem family move to Eagle Grove and this place has since been her home, moving into the fine home she occupied at the time of her death, in 1913. She was one of the oldest members of the Eagle Grove Methodist church, having been a member for nearly fifty years. She was also a devoted and faithful worker in Eastern Star and centered her life’s interests in her home, the church and the Eastern Star order. Besides her two sons she is survived by one sister, Mrs. L. M. Hastings of Cedar Rapids, two brother, C. D. Arnold of Cedar Rapids and H. F. Arnold of Manchester.

There is genuine regret in the passing of Mrs. Wasem. She was truly one of the pioneers in this section, moving here years before Eagle Grove was started. She had an active part in making life more pleasant for the early settlers and her education and attainments made it possible to organize and become a leader in what little social life was available for those preceding the towns, the wagon roads and railroads. We all owe a tribute to the courage of these early pioneers who first built homes, then churches and then schools. Soon all of them will be gone, but their influence goes on and on.

Card of Thanks

We wish to thank our friends and neighbors for the many kindnesses shown us during the sickness and passing of our mother, we are grateful for the many beautiful floral tributes and all other evidences of friendship and esteem. Homer and Harry Wasem

The Eagle Grove Eagle --- Eagle Grove, Iowa
Thursday, March 11, 1937