Iowa Old Press

Ruthven Free Press
Ruthven, Palo Alto, Iowa
February 11, 1920

WIGDAHL-KNUTSON
    A very pretty home wedding took place at the Thore Knutson home in this city on Friday, January 30, at 8 p.m. when Miss Nettie Knutson was united in marriage to Mr. Leonard J. Wigdahl. Rev. L.O. Wigdahl, father of the groom, performed the ceremony, which was followed by a three course wedding dinner. Only a few of the immediate relatives and friends of the bride and groom were present. The young couple left early the next morning for a ten day visit with relatives in the eastern part of the state. They will be at home to their friends after March 15 on the Wigdahl farm southeast of Ruthven.
    The bride is a daughter of Mr. Thore Knutson. She was born and reared in this vicinity and received her education in the Ruthven high school graduating in 1903. Since that time she has been making the house comfortable for her father. She is a very competent housekeeper, has a winning personality and is a general favorite among her friends.
    The groom is a son of Rev. and Mrs. L.O. Wigdahl. He was educated in the Ruthven high school, after which he engaged in farming for several years. Later he went to Montana where he proved up on a claim, returning to Ruthven last fall. He is a sturdy and industrious young man and his success is a foregone conclusion. The Free Press joins the many friends of the young couple in extending congratulations.

W.J. HUGHES SELLS OUT.
    W.J. Hughes has sold out his garage business in Ruthven, the new owner being Geo. W. Roland. Mr. Roland will conduct a general garage, repair and livery business. He has a good location and will enjoy a nice business. Mr. Hughes will continue in the automobile game, though not in the garage. He has secured the agency for the Chevrolet cars and will have some in a short time. He will probably handle the Velie car also.

DRAY LINE CHANGES HANDS.
    Albert Hermansen has disposed of his dray line to Bob Earl and Merton McNett and they have already assumed the management of it. They are industrious gentlemen and will make a success of the draying business. Mr. Hermansen will go farming about the first of March.

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Rier Halvorsen purchased a new Ford truck last week. Trucks will soon be regarded as a real necessity upon the farm.
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WILL ENTER TIRE BUSINESS
    F.M. Fitzgerald was in Spencer one day last week, attending a meeting of the Gates Half-Sole Tire dealers in this vicinity. Mr. Fitzgerald will convert his store into a tire shop and will commence handling the Gates products about March 1st. The Gates is the peer of them all in the rebuilt line, and Mr. Fitzgerald will be soon demonstrating their practicability. Watch for his announcements later.

LOCAL AND PERSONAL.
  
    Miss Gowans and Mrs. C.A. Smith, school teachers, are still confined to their homes with the flu.
   A baby boy was born to Mr. and Mrs. R.J. Hughes on Sunday, February 1. Congratulations.
   P.H. Donlon of Emmetsburg was an over-Sunday visitor at the home of his sister Mary in this city.
   Mr. and Mrs. Rex Hubbard of Spencer visited at the home of his mother, Mrs. E.G. Cope, in this city on Wednesday.
   Miss Alice Rhinehart came home from Algona Friday evening. She is suffering from an attack of the mumps and has been quite ill.
   Mr. and Mrs. W.E. Capener went to Rochester, Minn. Saturday. Mrs. Capener expects to undergo a slight operation in the hospital there.
   Roy Hubbard, of Belgrade, Mont., who has been visiting his mother in this city for several days, left on Saturday for Chicago where he will take an eight weeks' course in the Kingey business school.
   Lars Anderson will move on to the farm he recently purchased in Minnesota, about the first of March. Mr. Anderson had his sale last week and he was well pleased with the outcome.
   Mr. DePue will move to Mitchell, S.D., next week. He has purchased a fine home in Mitchell and a farm a short distance from that city. Mr. Clayton will move on to the farm formerly occupied by Mr. DePue.
    Niel Nielson, brother of Chris Neilson of this city, has purchased a pool hall in Spencer.
    Mr. and Mrs. Van Vieck returned Saturday from Waterloo where they had been spending the winter visiting at the home of their son, Charles.
    Bob Cole suffered a dislocation of the shoulder while playing in the game against Ft. Dodge Thursday night. The accident will keep him out of the game for some time.
    Mrs. Webster Sorebaugh of Audubon, Iowa, arrived in Ruthven Monday and will spend a few days visiting at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Chas. Jenkins.
    John Washington is slowly recovering from a severe case of influenza. He was in a critical condition for some time, but is now reported well on the road to recovery. Several other members of the Washington family have also had it, but in a milder form.
    Ole Nelson & Son will hold a big closing out farm sale on their farm 3 miles west and one-half mile north of Ruthven on Wednesday, February 18. This will undoubtedly be the largest sale to be held in this locality this season. Sixty head of horses will be offered, about fifteen of them being Percheron draft horses, which will be sold with papers furnished. In addition he will sell forty-two head of cattle, some hogs and a large list of machinery and household goods.
   
ELK LAKE   

    The flu has been very bad in the Elk Lake district the last week but at this writing most of the patients are getting better. Ben Shade and sons James and Raymond, the Graham family, Mrs. Ben Stephas and Mrs. Wm Nisson, Miss Edith and Chas Parker have been sick.
    F.F. Miller received word of his father's death and went to Galesburg, Illinois to attend the funeral.
    School began again in the Parker school Monday, after being closed a few days on account of the teacher, Miss Waldron, having to go to her home near Ayrshire to help take care of the sick. Two Ayrshire ladies Mrs. Flarity and Mrs. Stemhack died of the flu last week.
    Members of the Elk Lake Club enjoyed a sleigh ride party to the Henry Wichman home last Friday afternoon. A very pleasant time was spent visiting. About twenty-five persons enjoyed an excellent 5 o'clock dinner served by Mrs. Wichman, assisted by the Misses Wichman.  Rev. Howe and son of Ayrshire, Ed Rusian, E. Parker, William Monk and Misses Peterson and Miss Leta Parker were visitors.
    The Wichman family motored to Terril to visit with the Henry Colves Sunday. The Colves family expect to move to Colorado soon in the hope that a change of climate will help Mr. Colves health.

LOST ISLAND NEWS
    Mrs. Halverson and Mrs. Will Johnson left for their homes Monday after spending a week with their parents, C. Nyborg, of Lost Island.
    Grandma Hermanson is in Lost Island this week to nurse her sons William and Peter who are under the weather. We trust that with such good care they will soon be up and about.
    Mrs. S.A. Smith is in Ruthven this week to help at the E.P. Berdinger home, where some have been sick with the flu.
    Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Johnson was called to Graettinger Saturday to see their mother, Mrs. Sherlock, who passed away Sunday morning.
    Soren Thoreson has purchased a new Ford truck.
   
   
Ruthven Free Press
Ruthven, Palo Alto, Iowa
February 18, 1920
  
ELK LAKE

   Mr. Lars Anderson's youngest son Harley was taken sick last Thursday with appendicitis. He was taken to the hospital at Spencer where he was operated on Saturday. Dr. Baldwin of Ruthven went to Spencer to assist with the operation. At this writing reports are that Harley was getting along nicely.
    Relatives in this vicinity received word that Mrs. Kate Kiley was ill with pneumonia at her home in Wapello, Illinois. Mrs. Kiley visited with her daughter Mrs. James Monk last fall and made many friends who hope for her speedy recovery.
    The Sleeter sale was well attended. Nearly everything brought good prices. Many remarked what a fine lunch Mr. Sleeter served the crowd. We wish Mr. and Mrs. Sleeter success in their new home in Missouri.
    At this writing there are a number of cases of the flu and grippe. Freddie Nisson, Mrs. Mayme Parker, and the Sleeter children are some of the sick ones.
    Fred Monk shelled fifteen hundred bushels of corn last week and would like to have shelled 2000 more bushels but had to wait until there were cars or room in the Farmers elevator.
    Mr. and Mrs. Will Grady are the parents of a daughter, born Sunday, Feb. 15th, at the Spencer hospital.
    O.B. Carpenter shelled corn last week. Lonie Larson did the shelling.
    Earnest Nisson has rented a farm about six miles east of Elk Lake on which he will move about March 1st.

SCHOOL NOTES.
    The seventh and eighth grade girls have organized a basket ball team. They are progressing nicely. Miss Kemp is coaching them.
    Wednesday evening Miss Ruby DePue, who is soon to leave for her new home in Mitchell, S.D., was very pleasantly surprised when her classmates dropped in to spend a pleasant evening. She was presented with an album and a picture of everyone in her class. These were certainly novel keepsakes and ones that Miss DePue will value highly.
    Miss Lund has returned to her school duties after a week's absence with the influenza.
    Mr. Altman and his class wired the laboratory Thursday and Friday. It was a neat job and will easily pass the underwriter's inspection. The students can now sit at their desks and use electricity.
    Ralph DePue quit school last week. He will soon be leaving for his new home in Mitchell, S.D. His class regrets to see him leave.
    A farewell party will be given by the Junior and Freshman classes in honor of Mildred and Adelino Nyborg, who will soon leave for their new home in Jackson, Minn.
    Miss Lukins spent the week end visiting her parents in Spencer.
    The Vanderhoff children have come to town and have entered school here.
    Mr. Rise of Spencer tuned the piano last week. Now maybe we can have some real music.

O'NEIL - CAPENER

    A pretty wedding took place at the Rev. Rice home in this city on Friday Feb. 13th when Miss Nellie Florence Capener was united in marriage to Mr. Chas. E. O'Neil. Rev. Rice performed the ceremony which was followed by an excellent six o'clock dinner.
    The bride is the eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W.E. Capener, who lives north of town. She was born and reared in Lake Township and received her high school education at Lake Center and Evansville, Wis., and attended the State Teachers' College at Cedar Falls. Since then she has made a very successful teacher. She has a winning personality and a great many friends. She was attired in a gown of white satin trimmed with silver overlace and beading. Miss Amy Johnson was bridesmaid and wore Copenhagen blue silk.
    The groom is a son of Mrs. O.E. Platter. He served in the army for two years and spent five months in the trenches and went over the top several times. He is an industrious young man and has a host of friends. He wore a conventional suit of black and Mr. Lewis Capener, a brother of the bride, acted as best man.
    Mr. and Mrs. O'Neil will be at home to their friends after March first on the Capener farm in Lost Island Twp.

GRANGE-NELSON
    On last Wednesday afternoon at four o'clock at the home of Mr. and Mrs. George Hughes, occurred the marriage of Mr. Walter Grange and Miss Elizabeth Nelson. Only a few of the immediate relatives of the contracting parties were present at the ceremony, which was performed by Rev. Wilkinson. The young couple left on the evening train for Sioux Falls, for a short wedding trip after which they will return to Ruthven and will commence housekeeping on the Grange farm southeast of town.
    The groom is a son of S.S. Grange. He has lived all his life in this community and we doubt if there is any young man who is more genuinely popular than Walter Grange. He is frugal, industrious and a very successful farmer.
    The bride is the daughter of Mr .and Mrs. O.B. Nelson, who lives a few miles west of this city. She also has lived her life in this vicinity until a few years ago when, after finishing her school work, she went to Nevada, Iowa, where she entered the hospital and took up nursing. She is now credited with being an expert in her chosen profession. She has a host of friends in this community and is a general favorite among her acquaintances.
    We join their friends in wishing them success and happiness.

KENNEDY - HICOCK.
    On Tuesday morning at eight o'clock at the Sacred Heart parsonage in this city occurred the marriage of Mr. John Kennedy of this city to Miss Enid Hicock, of Coon Rapids, Iowa. The ceremony was performed by Rev. P.J. Connolly, after which a sumptuous wedding repast was served by the groom's mother, Mrs. J.F. Kennedy. The bride was accompanied by Miss Winifred Kennedy, sister of the groom and Mr. John Waldron of Ayrshire acted as best man.
    The groom is a son of Mrs. J.F. Kennedy, of this city. He came here with his mother in 1915. He is a very deserving young man and possesses the qualities that are necessary to make a success of life. He is well and favorably known here, as well as in Spencer where he worked for some time.
    The bride is a daughter of Mrs. C. Hicock of Coon Rapids, Iowa. She was born, reared and received her education in that city. She is a winning young lady of many personal attractions, and will do her share toward making the Kennedy home a happy one.
    We extend congratulations and wish them every success.

GRANT SMITH TO MASON CITY
    Grant Smith went to Mason City Tuesday morning, where he will open offices. He has been appointed district agent for the Horticulture Hall Insurance Co. and will have charge of ten counties. He will retain his office in Ruthven and will be here to attend to his business matters every Saturday. Mr .Smith is a hustler and will make good in the insurance game.

LOST THEIR SON.
    Little Bernard Currans, three-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Currans, who live a few miles southeast of the city, passed away Friday afternoon at four o'clock, a victim of influenza. The little fellow had been very sick for a week before he finally succumbed. Funeral services were held from the Catholic church in Ruthven on Sunday afternoon at two o'clock. The Currans family have the sincere sympathy of all in their bereavement.

THE RUTHVEN BAND.
    Already we are going to start boasting about our band, and there is one distinction that we are sure we can claim for it and that is, it is the largest band in northwest Iowa, and one of the largest in Iowa. And just give Prof. Granzaw and the boys a little time and we can show you one of the best bands in Iowa. Following is the instrumentation or personnel of the Ruthven C.C. Band, as it will start out upon its musical career:
Cornets.
    Cecil Reitzel, George Slagle, Carl Wigdahl, S.A. Wigdahl, Harold Prather, Donald Smith, Harold Bicklehaupt, Homer Lockwood, Wm. Morris, John Horan and Warnie Earl.
Clarinets.
    Ralph Rhinehart, Homer K. Drennen, John Berg, Homer Lee, Clarence Hanson, Joe Barnett, Everett Bicklehaupt, Hollis Myers, Geo. Peterson, and Lyle Smith.
Trombones.
    Iver Holmgren, Kenneth Myers, Andy Ritchart, Harry Ritchart, Ray Swain, Sanford Smith, and Verle Smith.
Altos.
    Richard Caldwell, Rollo Cole, Harold Wigdahl, Cyril Berg, Floyd Johnson, and Lester Smith.
Saxaphones.
    Alfred Anderson and Lyle Willis.
Baritones.
    Martin Larson and Morris Myers.
Tubas.
    Harold Blagg, Joe B. Willis and B.D. Morris.
Picolo.
    Martin Carsmoe.
Drums.
    Harry Rasmusson and C.C. Myers.

Emmetsburg Democrat
Emmetsburg, Palo Alto, Iowa
Wednesday, February 25, 1920

AN OLD RESIDENT CALLED TO REST
Edward Brennan, Who Came to County in Year 1865

Edward Brennan, one of the pioneers of our county, died at his home about
six miles south of Emmetsburg last Wednesday. He was quite ill for a number
of years. His ailment was of a dropsical nature. He was able to be about
until three of four months ago, although he was not strong enough to do
manual labor for the past three or four years. The funeral was held on
Friday. The solemn requiem mass was celebrated at the Assumption church,
Very Rev. P.F. Farrelly officiating. He was assisted by Fathers McNerny and
Savage. The burial was in St. John's Cemetery. There was an exceptionally
large attendance of relatives and old neighbors. The pall bearers were T.
Coakley, J. Coon, Jas. C. Brennan, W.D. Joynt and P.C. Jackman.
Mr. Brennan was born near Stratford, Ontario, April 2, 1851. He was rounding
out his 69th year. His parents came to Fulton, Illinois in 1864. In July of
the following year they moved to Palo Alto county. They homesteaded on the
place now owned by Paul Shaney. Mr. Brennan was married to Mary Breen of
Algona in 1880. She died a few years later. Mr. Brennan was married again in
December, 1885 to Mary Fitzpatrick of Jefferson, Iowa. He is survived by his
wife, one daughter and two sons. The daughter is Mrs. Chris Miller of
Algona, Iowa. The two sons, John and Lawrence, are at home. Mr. Brennan was
a member of a family of six brothers and nine sisters. One brother, M.F. of
this city and four sisters survive. The sisters are Mrs. Michael Joynt, Mrs.
P. Leahy and Mrs. D. Sherlock of this city, and Mrs. Mugan of Jefferson.
Mr. Brennan was a Palo Alto pioneer. He was strong, rugged, hearty, frugal
and God fearing. He was a good farmer. He made a comfortable home for
himself and family and he became prosperous. He was a loyal friend and a
thoughtful, obliging, helpful neighbor. He was  a man of good habits. His
conduct was above reproach. His sons and daughters, as is shown by their
edifying lives, found no difficulty in profiting by his good example. He was
at all times respected for his sincerity and his candor. He had nothing to
conceal. He was upright. He tried at all times, even when his means were
very limited, to meet any obligation that he incurred. He was scrupulously
conscientious. He always aimed to be consistent as a Christian. He was
faithful to his church and he observed humbly and quietly the duties his
faith and its precepts required of him. General and sincere sympathy is
extended to Mrs. Brennan, the sons and daughter, and the brother and sisters
in their sorrow.




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