Iowa
Old Press
The Alden Times
Alden, Hardin Co. Iowa
September 28, 1906
A sensational story has been around that Mrs. Ella Kate Newton
had recently died at Waterloo under circumstances indicating foul
play, but an investigation shows that there is no foundation to
the story, or at least the report is not known in Waterloo.
We hear, with regret that Mr. and Mrs. Herman Dodge, former
residents of Alden, but now residents of the Dows neighborhood,
have seperated and last week were divorced at Hampton on the
application of the wife, who secured the care and custody of the
children and alimony in the sum of $3,500.
At "Edgintons Choice" west of town, the family are
enjoying a visit from cousin, Miss Lynn Chapman of Kenton, Ohio.
Miss Chapman is closing a summer's touring. She is an earnest and
prominent church worker and during her outing has made it an
object to collect and write up points of interest for her church.
H. R. Edgington and mother accompanied Miss Chapman and spent
part of the week.
The Fred Case baby which has been quite sick, is improving.
Miss Emma Greenburg who has been visiting her sister, Mrs. Kumrow
has gone to Zearing.
D. VanGerpen
After an illness which has kept him an invalid for the better
part of a year, D. VanGerpen departed this life at nine o'clock
Saturday morning September 22, aged sixty-two years, eleven
months and nine days. Mr. VanGerpen was born in Genneit,
Ostfreisland, Germany, on October 12, 1843. In 1886 he was united
in
marriage to Tjaade Gerdes, to which union eleven children have
been born, nine of whom still survive, as does the widow. The
family came to America in 1882, settling at first at Florence,
Illinois,where they remained eight years. Sixteen years ago they
removed to the near vicinity of Alden and have been here ever
since. Coming to America as late in life as he did, Mr. VanGerpen
did not accquire a fluent use of his adopted language, but,
unlike many of his countrymen similarly situated, this did not
deter him from getting into [rest missing].
[transcribed by M.O., November 2005]