Iowa Old Press
Sutherland Courier
Sutherland, O'Brien co. Iowa
July 3, 1919
p 1 col 5
A marriage license has been issued to Chas. T. Conner and Alma R.
Fogle
Obituary
Monday evening at 7:30 o'clock, June 23, 1919, occurred the death
of Mrs. R. W. Severance at her home at Granite Falls., Minn.
Miss Edith Woodall was born at Maurice, Sioux County, Ia., Oct.
9, 1919 [sic - should probably have been about 1883] and at the
time of her death was 35 years, 8 months and 13 days old. On
March 14th, 1906, she was married to R. W. Severance. To this
union three children were born, Opal Irene, who preceded her in
death three years ago, Cecil H., six years old, and Marion E.,
only one month old.
Mr. and Mrs. Severance resided in this community until five years
ago when they moved to Granite Falls, Minn., where they had just
completed a new home. The deceased was a member of the
Congregational church at Granite Falls and has always lived a
true Christian life. The remains were brought to Sutherland
Wednesday evening, June 25th, and funeral services were held at
the home of her mother, Mrs. M. A. Woodall, Thursday afternoon at
2:00 o'clock, conducted by Rev. Frost of the Church of Christ.
Interment was made in Waterman cemetery.
She leaves to mourn her departure, besides her husband and two
children, an aged mother, four brothers and two sisters and a
host of friends. - Contributed.
p 2 cols 1, 2
Grandma Henderson was surprised last Friday evening by several
relatives and a few friends at her new home in the south part of
town, the occasion being her birthday anniversary. The surprise
was complete, and she did not realize it for some time. The
assembled company visited among themselves, and ice cream and
cake were served during the evening. Among those present were Mr.
and Mrs. John Henderson, Mr. and Mrs. Ralston, Mr. and Mrs.
Lawrence Henderson, Mrs. Roscoe Brown, Mr. Roseland, all of
Paullina, and Ray A. Miller and wife, Mr. Fred Nott and children,
Mr. and Mrs. George Henderson and Harold and Rev. and Mrs.
Lonsdale. Grandma Henderson's new home is a fine little bungalow,
furnace heated and with electric lights.
[transcribed by A.N., October 2011]
-----
Sutherland Courier
Sutherland, O'Brien co. Iowa
July 10, 1919
p 1 col 2
Swanson - Kundel
John Kundel and Miss Emma Swanson gave their many friends a
complete and genuine surprise when they quietly married at 10:00
o'clock last Sunday morning at the Methodist parsonage in
Spencer, Rev. Taylor, the pastor officiating. They were attended
by the groom's sister, Miss Olive Kundel, and Earl Chesley who
were the only witnesses to the ceremony. Following the ceremony,
a wedding breakfast was served to the immediate relatives at the
home of the bride's sister, Mrs. John Sieh, who lives in Spencer.
The bride is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. N. Swanson of Laurens,
and has been a successful primary teacher in the Sutherland
public schools for the past two successive years and was greatly
loved by all her children. Having roomed in the editor's home
during all of the time she has been in Sutherland, she has
endeared herself to his family. She is possessed of a very sunny
and congenial disposition and other excellent qualities which has
won for her many warm friends here. The groom is a son of Mr. and
Mrs. John Kundel, one of our highly respected families who have
lived for a good number of years in Sutherland and vicinity. He
is familiarly called "Jack" and everybody is his
friend. He is known as a young man of high honor and worth.
After spending a few days at the lakes, the happy couple returned
to Sutherland and later went to Canova, S. Dak., for a weeks'
visit with relatives. Upon their return they expect to reside in
Sutherland.
[transcribed by A.N., October 2011]
-----
Sutherland Courier
Sutherland, O'Brien co. Iowa
July 17, 1919
p 1 [article has photos of W. M. Kennedy, Mrs. Geo. Virgil and
Baby Thelma, Blanche and Mabel Virgil]
Five People Lose Lives When I. C. Train Hits Auto - Victims of
Auto-Train Crash At Gaza
Collision of Automobile, Driven by Geo. Virgil, With
Train on Crossing at Gaza Results in Death of His Wife, Three
Children and Rev. W. M. Kennedy, Saturday Night
The automobile, train collision which took place at the south
edge of Gaza last Saturday evening, is perhaps the most terrible
and tragic accident of this kind that ever happened in the
county, when five people were hurled into eternity and two others
are hovering on the brink, as it were, time alone being able to
tell their fate.
The dead are:
Rev. W. M. KENNEDY, Gaza, Ia.
MRS. GEO. VIRGIL, Gaza, Ia.
THELMA VIRGIL, baby daughter, aged two years
MABEL VIRGIL, aged six years
BLANCHE VIRGIL, aged nine years
Floyd and Harold, the two sons of Mr. and Mrs. Virgil, aged 13
and 5 years, respectively, were seriously injured, both receiving
bad cuts and fractures about the face and skull and are now
slowly recovering at the Ward hospital in Primghar and it is
hoped that their lives will be spared. Mr. Virgil, himself,
escaped injury and his ten your old daughter, Ethel who was also
in the car only had to have her arm reset which was broken in an
accident two weeks previous.
Rev. Kennedy, pastor of the Congregational Church at Gaza, had
been to the Virgil home, which is three-quarters of a mile east
and a half mile south of Gaza, during the day, helping to shock
grain and after supper, Mr. Virgil, accompanied by his wife and
six children, started to take him back to town in their Chevrolet
car. At this crossing there is quite a dip in the road also a
high bank and a snow fence on the north side besides a field of
corn, grown full height, which greatly obstructs the view of an
approaching train. Unfortunately, just as the were going over the
crossing, a work train, made up of an engine running backwards,
and a caboose, came down the Illinois Central track and crashed
into the ill-fated auto, and dragged it for a distance of about
600 feet before the engineer could bring the train to a stop. A
negro who works on the section, after hearing the crash of the
cattle guard at the crossing, was an eye witness to the rest of
the terrible catastrophe and says that he saw Mrs. Virgil get out
on the running board of the auto with her baby in her arms, which
she was unable to hold and it fell between the auto and the train
and was cut in two pieces, then, in just a minute or so, she lost
her own hold and fell in front of the auto, the train also
passing over her and terribly mutilating her body. As soon as
possible after the train was brought to a stop and the auto
removed from the track, the crew gathered up the victims and
hurried them to Primghar where they were taken to the Ward
hospital for medical assistance. But Mrs. Virgil and the baby
were, of course, beyond help and it was not very long before two
other daughters of Mr. Virgil's died, and Rev. Kennedy breathed
his last later in the night. How the others escaped the same fate
is hard to tell, but Mr. Virgil says he saw one of the iron rods
on the tender within reach and he grasped that, which doubtless
save his life.
To both the unfortunate families, the writer can only state that,
in their irreparable loss, they have the deepest sympathy of
everyone far and wide.
The funeral of the Virgil family was held at the Congregational
church in Gaza on Monday afternoon, when Rev. Frost of Sutherland
was in charge, and preached the sermon from St. John, 14th
chapter, first three verses. Rev. Lonsdale of Calumet was present
and was invited to lead in prayer, while the music was furnished
by the Sutherland Male Quartette, who rendered some appropriate
selections. The interment was made all in one large grave, in the
Highland cemetery northeast of Gaza. There was a large number of
friends and sympathizers present, the church being filled to its
capacity and the church yard was also crowded.
--
Lillie Anna Black was born near Alta July 3,1884, and was 35
years and 9 days old at the time of her death. Her childhood days
were all spent in Clay, and Buena Vista counties. She was married
to George Virgil at Greenville, Ia., on August 14, 1900. They
located on a farm near Sioux Rapids where they lived until 1904.
From there they moved to St. James, Minn., where they lived until
1909 when they returned to Iowa and settled on a farm where they
have since resided.
She leaves to mourn her untimely departure, her husband, four
daughters and two sons, her mother, Mrs. James Black, of Spencer;
two sisters, Miss Elsie Black, of Spender and Mrs. Ray Turner of
Gladebrook, Ia., and four brothers, Walter, of Marion, N. Dak.,
John of Luray, Mo., Charlie and Henry of Spencer.
Mrs. Virgil was a devoted wife, a kind and loving mother, a kind
neighbor and a true friend. Her home instincts were strong and
her affection for friends and kindred was tender and abiding.
--
Little Blanche Virgil was born at Hartley, Nov. 23, 1910, and at
her death was 8 years, 7 months and 19 days old.
--
Mabel Gladys Virgil was born on the farm near Gaza, April 2,
1913, and at her death was 6 years, 3 months and 10 days old.
--
Thelma Marie Virgil was born on the farm near Gaza, Sept. 1, 1917
and was at her death 1 year,10 months and 11 days old.
--
The relatives from a distance who were present at the funeral,
besides Mrs. Virgil's mother, sisters and brothers, were: Mr. and
Mrs. Geo. Pullman and Mr. and Mrs. Fred Pullman, of Marathon; Wm.
Coddlington and family and Mrs. Effie Cave of Cherokee; Mrs. M.
Manley and George Manley of Spirit Lake; Mrs. Roy Sheldon of
Milford; Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Virgil of Sheldon; Mrs. Ray Conklin
of Sioux City; Milton Virgil and family, Tom Virgil and family
and Leon Virgil and family, of Ayrshire; John Virgil and son,
James, of Gillett's Grove.
--
The funeral of the late Rev. W. Kennedy, one of the victims of
the automobile accident at Gaza last Saturday, was held at the
Congregational church at that place on Wednesday morning at 10:00
o'clock. Quite a large number gathered at the church at that
time, the church being filled as at the funeral service of the
other victims on Monday. A brief sympathetic prayer was offered
in the parsonage home by the Rev. A. Hopkinson of Primghar, after
which the mourners entered the church. The service was in charge
of the Rev. Mr. Wilder of the Congregational church at Primghar.
After a solo had been rendered, the Rev. Mr. Allen of Sheldon
presented a biography of the departed pastor, and the Rev.
Hardcastle of Iowa Falls read a portion of scripture from the
last chapter of John's Gospel. He was followed by a beautiful,
inspiring and comforting prayer offered by the Rev. Mr. Turner of
Cherokee. Then Rev. Wilder spoke from St. John 21: 3-4, "And
that night they caught nothing. But when the morning was come
Jesus stood on the shore." The message was full of comfort
and sympathy for the bereaved ones. He drew the lesson of how the
many seeming failures of life may be turned into glorious
victories if only Jesus is standing on the shore. The disciples
had toiled all night and caught nothing, but it all was changed
when they saw their Master.
Another fine solo was rendered after which the people viewed the
face of their departed minister. The interment was made in the
Primghar cemetery. Many of the nearby towns were represented and
the following ministers also paid their last respects to a
departed and beloved brother by their presences and sympathy: The
Rev. Wilder and Hopkinson of Primghar; Turner of Cherokee;
Hardcastle of Iowa Falls, a general missionary of the
Congregational church; Lonsdale of Calumet and Allen of Sheldon.
--
William Maclean Kennedy was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, July 3,
1879, and died in the hospital at Primghar, Sunday morning at
1:35 o'clock not having regained consciousness after the
accident, his age being 40 years and 9 days.
Rev. Kennedy was reared in the Presbyterian church and united
with the same very early in life. He came to this country in
1906and entered the Moody Institute in Chicago for Christian
training. He was enabled to finance his education, in part, by
serving or a time as an assistant pastor for the Congregational
church at Terre Haute, Indiana.
In 1909 Rev. Kennedy returned to Scotland and was united in
marriage to Miss Margaret Campbell of Clarkston. They became the
parents of five children, the eldest of whom is under nine years
of age.
Rev. and Mrs. Kennedy have served the congregations at Gilman,
Dinsdale, Greenved, Hanford and a country field near Clear Lake,
Iowa, and the church at Ellsworth, Minn. They came to Gaza and
accepted that chare about a year and a half ago.
Rev. Kennedy, besides his own family, is survived by three
brothers and two sisters who are in the Old Country.
To Aid Minister's Widow and Children
Several petitions are being circulated in Sutherland and vicinity
this week to raise funds which will be presented to Mrs. W. M.
Kennedy, widow of the Congregational church minister at Gaza who
was one of the victims to be killed in the terrible
automobile-train collision which occurred near Gaza last Saturday
evening. This unfortunate family have been left in destitute
circumstances and the funds which are being raised will be used
for the support of Mrs. Kennedy and her five fatherless children,
the oldest of whom is eight years and the youngest five months.
Truly this is a case of great need, about which there can be no
doubt, and every person in this wondrously prosperous community
should make a generous contribution toward the aid and relief of
this needy and grief-stricken family. The other towns of the
county are also raising funds and we are confident that none will
show a more magnanimous spirit of give more cheerfully to this
worthy cause than will our own citizens of this community.
Solicitors will be on the streets Friday and Saturday and a
canvass will be made in the country also, however, if you are not
seen, go to either of the local banks and make as liberal a gift
as you can.
Investigation
The Illinois Central railroad officials are conducting an
elaborate investigation of the terrible accident that occurred at
Gaza Saturday evening whereby Rev. William Kennedy, Mrs. George
Virgil and her three children lost their lives. It is the claim
of the railroad officials that the people in the automobile had
an unobstructed view of the approaching train for some distance
before they got to the crossing and that they could have seen it
if they looked. To illustrate the matter, the train and train
crew were brought to the scene Tuesday and the train operated
under similar conditions with observers stationed at various
points along the road.
--
Bloodgood - Nelson
Monday morning at Paullina occurred the marriage of Miss Esther
M. Bloodgood of that place to George Nelson Jr., of Sutherland.
The ceremony was performed at nine thirty o'clock at the
Presbyterian Manse, the minister, Rev. H. F. Williams
officiating, using the ring ceremony.
The bride is the youngest daughter of Mrs. Jesse Bloodgood and is
one of the popular young ladies of Paullina who has won a host of
friends by her genial and pleasant disposition. She is a graduate
of the Paullina high school, since which time she has taught in
the rural schools of that community. To the man of her choice she
will make an excellent helpmeet and homemaker. The groom, who is
fortunate in securing the hand of such a capable companion, comes
from one of the substantial families of Sutherland, being
likewise the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Nelson. He is a
splendid young man of industry and frugality, and is respected by
everyone. He is employed at the depot in the position as cashier
for the C. & N. W. Ry. at this place.
The happy couple slipped away by automobile to the lakes where
they are spending a short honeymoon, and upon their return will
be at home to their many friends in their beautiful new bungalow
home in the west part of Sutherland which the groom has in
readiness for his bride. The Courier extends hearty
congratulations and best wishes.
--
-Marriage licenses were issued to John A. Cajacob and Norene E.
Burns, and to George W. Nelson Jr., and Esther M. Bloodgood.
-Mary Brumm has been appointed temporary guardian of Jurgen
Brumm, insane.
p 2 col 3
A petition is being circulated in this community to secure
donations for the widow of Rev. Kennedy, one of the unfortunate
victims of the auto accident near Gaza. Quite a generous amount
has already been secured in the Gaza neighborhood and also at
Primghar. Rev. Franke and Lonsdale have charge of the
subscriptions in Calumet.
p 4 col 3
- Mr. and Mrs. E. C. Propp and Miss Della Klema attended the
funeral of Wm. Clarksean which was held at Sanborn Sunday
afternoon.
- Lieut. W. E. Price arrived in Sutherland Monday morning from
Gertsner Field, Lake Charles, La., and is enjoying a ten day
furlough here with his wife and children. He has made a most
excellent record and become quite a favorite at Lake Charles. We
take pride in publishing an article this week, taken from the
Lake Charles American which speaks in high praise of the splendid
flying exhibition which he gave there on July Fourth.
Card of Thanks
Words cannot express our heartfelt thanks to those who so kindly
helped us in the death and burial of our loved ones and for the
beautiful floral offerings.
Geo. Virgil and children
Mrs. Rebecca Virgil and family
Mrs. Jane Black and children
p 4 col 4
Lieut. Price, a Favorite
Lake Charles (La.) American - Lieutenant W. E. Price
left yesterday for a few weeks' visit to relatives and friends in
Iowa, and his many local friends hope that his sojourn will
improve his health during his leave of absence, as he has been
feeling ill for several days.
Lake Charles people will be interested in learning that it was
Lieutenant Price who was pilot of the machine that maneuvered
over the city on July Fourth. He was accompanied by Lieutenant
Zeller, and to these two young men the people of the city and
country owe the pleasure for the splendid flying on the glorious
Fourth.
Lieutenant Price practiced with the dummy quite a bit at the
field and acquired such proficiency that he made the drop on the
Fourth in such a way that everyone thought it was a real, living
human being. In addition to this feat with the dummy, the stunts
Lieutenant Price did with the machine were enjoyable and gave a
touch of interest to the celebration that was distinctly local.
This is not the first time that Lieutenant Price has performed
aerial stunts for Lake Charles people, and they hope it will not
be the last, as these feats are always greatly enjoyed by
everyone.
[transcribed by A.N., October 2011]