Iowa
Old Press
Waterloo Courier
Waterloo, Black Hawk Co., Iowa
Thursday May 4, 1905
GUARDIAN FOR VAL. HEINEN
Relatives Believe Him Insane or Dead, Petition Court
Want Peter Bahl Appointed to Look After His Property
Believing that Valentine Heinen of Gilbertville is insane or
dead, application for temporary guardianship of his estate has
been made in district court. The court is asked to appoint Peter
Bahl, who is a son-in-law and who lives in Waterloo.
Application for temporary guardianship was filed yesterday in
district court by Edwards and Langley for William Heinen against
Valentine Heinen. The petition recites the fact that the
plaintiff is a son of the defendant and that on or about March 6,
1905, the defendant disappeared from his home in Gilbertville,
Black Hawk Co., IA, and no trace of him has yet been found. That
the defendant for some time prior to his disappearance had been
in feeble health; that he was 56 years old and resided with his
wife at Gilbertville. The plaintiff believes that the defendant
was laboring under mental aberrations at the time of his
disappearance and believes he was and is a person of unsound
mind. It is set forth that the petitioner and other relatives
have made diligent search for his whereabouts and have been
unable to ascertain the same.
Valentine Heinen is said to be the owner of about 200 acres of
farm land which is rented at an annual rental of $500 a year,
that defendant was possessed of $50, being part of the 1904
rentals which was conducted by the wife of the defendant.
It is also set forth that since the disappearance of the
defendant, Anna Mae Heinen, wife of defendant, has died and it is
necessary that a guardian be appointed to protect the interests
of the defendant and care for his property. The petition prays
that Peter Bahl be appointed guardian.
[transcribed by K.D., March 2009]
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Waterloo Courier
Waterloo, Black Hawk Co., Iowa
Saturday May 6, 1905
Raymond--Mr. and Mrs. Henry Heinen, who came here to attend the
funeral of Mrs. Valentine Heinen, returned to their home at Iowa
Falls Thursday.
[transcribed by K.D., March 2009]
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Waterloo Courier
Waterloo, Black Hawk Co., Iowa
May 10, 1905
HEINEN'S BODY FOUND TODAY
Son Discovers Body of Father in Cedar River Near Gilbertville
Body Showed Evidence of Being in Water a Long Time
Coroner Is Called and Inquest Will Be Held Today
Gilbertville, May 10, 1905--(special) The body of Valentine
Heinen, the aged man who disappeared from his home here about the
first of March, was found this morning by his son Nic. Heinen,
and Frank Youngblut, a farmer living near here.
The body was discovered in a bend of the river, lying partially
buried in a large sand bar in the center of the stream. The body
was badly decomposed, and showed signs of having been in the
water a long time. Nic. Heinen has been searching the country
thoroughly for a week past, under the impression that his father
was either dead, or had wandered away during a fit of temporary
insanity. For several days the search has been confined to the
region of the river, and today the long and arduous search was
rewarded. the body was scarcely discernable from the bank, being
partly covered by the shifting sand which had been thrown up
around it since the body was deposited there. The place where the
body was discovered is a mile from the Heinen home and almost
half a mile south of Frank Youngblud's farm. the sand bar is
located in a sharp curve of the river and the current at this
point is very swift.
The body was taken to the old home and Coroner McManus notified.
He is expected to arrive during the afternoon and an inquest will
likely be held. Arrangements for the funeral services cannot be
made until the findings of the coroner's jury is made.
Since the disappearance of Mr. Heinen nearly two months ago, his
aged wife died, partly from the effects of a fall and partly from
grief over the disappearance of her husband. Coroner McManus held
an inquest and the jury, composed of Nick Bloes, Mike
Delagardelle, and Frank Youngblud, brought in a verdict of
accidental drowning. In Mr. Heinen's pocket was $65.15, the
amount of money which he was know to have when he disappeared.
The finding of this money does away with any theory of foul play.
[transcribed by K.D., March 2009]
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Waterloo Courier
Waterloo, Black Hawk Co., Iowa
May 11, 1905
FUNERAL OF HEINEN TODAY
Large Concourse of Friends Gather to Pay Last Sad Rites
Rev. Father Nemmers Officiates and Preaches Funeral Discourse
Gilbertville, May 11--- (special)- The funeral of the late
Valentine Heinen was held from St. Mary's Catholic Church in this
city this morning at 9 o'clock. Rev. Father Nemmers preached the
sermon. There was a large turnout of friends an neighbors to show
this last token of respect to the deceased whose body was found
yesterday forenoon. Interment was in the cemetery at this place
beside the remains of the wife, whose death was caused partially
if not wholly by mourning over the disappearance of one who
walked down the pathway of life with her and had been a close
friend and confidant all through the years.
A great burden was removed from the relatives when the remains
were found. For many weeks the search for some token of the
missing citizen has gone on unceasingly. Now that the body has
been recovered, there is a sort of joy in knowing the secret of
the long suspense.
While it was almost certain that Mr. Heinen wandered too close to
the precipitous banks of the river on the fateful night of March
6th, slipped and fell into the deep water, there was an element
of uncertainty which caused the relatives to grieve.
As stated yesterday, the discovery of the money which Mr. Heinen
was known to have when he was last seen dispels any probability
of foul play
[transcribed by K.D., March 2009]