LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
Tuesday, January 4, 1887

[Error Note: This actual paper printed the date year above as 1886, not 1887.]

SENEY NEWS.
~HAPPY NEW YEAR, it is not very hard to write 1887.
~Squire Small celebrated his first day in office by issuing papers in a
civil suit.
~The holidays are over and the average youth are again under the school
mam’s care.
~Will Jackson’s new year’s present was a fine girl baby making two pair, two
boys and two girls, one more will make a full house. We congratulate and
wish the new-comer a happy new year.
~Mrs. Robert Reeves, who has been suffering with diphtheria, is improving
rapidly.
~On account of the weather the oyster supper that was to have been given by
the church at Fredonia was indefinitely postponed.
~W. H. Kennedy is preparing to go to Nebraska to improve his claim.
~Mrs. Randolph and Mrs. McDonald of Eastern Iowa have been spending the
holidays here with relatives. They were guests of Mr. and Mrs. Robt. Smith.
~Will and Mollie Reeves of Maurice were visiting relatives here last week.
~Seney was well represented at Justice Alline’s court last week. Fun for the
preachers but cash for the tax-payers.
~A union Sunday-school was organized at the school house Sunday, the
following officers being elected for a term of three months; Supt., M.A.
Teager; Assistant Supt., S. Reeves; Sec., I. S. Small; Treas., Thos. Smith.
Hour of meeting is 2 o’clock P. M. every Sunday at the school house. There
was a good attendance and much interest manifested. The officers extend a
cordial invitation to every one to attend the school.

KINGSLEY GLEANINGS.
~Clay Wilson returned from Chicago last Thursday.
~E. J. Carlin is assisting C. H. Colston at Storm Lake, in the play of the
“Spy of Atlanta” as Negro Pete, which part Ed carries to perfection.
~The Christmas tree at the M. E. church on Christmas eve was well attended.
~Alex Marcks is on the sick list.
~T. J. Campbell, of Marshalltown, spent several days in town last week
visiting a brother.
~Will Lambert made a trip to Lucky Valley, Sunday.
~The dance at the rink under the management of F. M. Gregg on Christmas eve
was a success although some of the boys showed their actions that Christmas
comes but once a year.
~F. L. Martland took in the sights of Remsen one day last week.
~T. B. S. O’Dea, who has been visiting in Illinois for several weeks,
returned home Tuesday evening.
~Miss Belle Miller, who has resided here for some time, returned to her home
at Wall Lake, on Monday. Her departure will be regretted by a large circle
of acquaintances.
~It is reported that there will be another paper started here shortly, but
we think it is nothing but a rumor.
LIMO LIXON.

THAT SENEY CHURCH TRIAL.
The case against William and Albert Reeves, accused of disturbing religious
services, came on for hearing before Justice Alline last Thursday and
continued for two days. Hon. H. C. Curtis and Sam Hussey appeared for the
church folks and G. W. Argo for the defendant. About twenty witnesses were
in attendance, and the contest was fought inch by inch. The trial was held
in the council room, the justice office not being large enough to hold those
attracted in the hearing.

A decision was reserved until Saturday morning at nine a.m. when it was
announced that Albert was released and that William was fined $20 and costs,
and appeal was taken to the next court, where it goes with considerable cost
attached and prospect of considerably more being added before the end.

LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
January 28, 1887

DIED.—Wednesday, Jan. 25, Nellie Wernli, aged 3 years in November last, and
Jan. 27, Willie, aged one year this January, both of diphtheria, and
children of Gotlieb and Helen Wernli. Funerals occurring at 4 p.m. Wednesday
and Thursday.

The Sentinel’s account of the Christmas eve exercises at the Presbyterian
Church contained this word picture. “At a given signal the gas was lowered
and a large tree opened out into three, displaying a beautiful child, little
Nellie Wernli, who had been hidden by the foliage. At the same time the
star of Bethlehem slowly arose over her head and remained suspended at the
pinnacle, presenting a magnificent scene.”

When those who were preparing the tableaux, which should give the little
folks a glimpse of that time from which all blessings come, they went out of
their own flock to the circle of another congregation to select the best
image for the central figure of their conception. Who that remembers that
inspiration can refrain from tears, not that the white winged messenger from
the elysian fields, has plucked a flower from earth to make a jewel of
heaven, but that those into whose lives this child of beauty and innocence
had grown, should be appalled with such sudden and awful sorrow. The fact
that not only one charm of their lives is gone, but that another and the
last is taken, commends the distressed parents to the most tender sympathy
of our people.

Nellie was very often a most welcome little visitor in the Editor’s home and
had become such a pet there as to make her loss felt as a personal sorrow to
the family. All lament that in this trying time, they were not able to
extend the kindly offices and the consolation, so much missed in time of
dire distress. They have been impressed with the touching sadness of such an
experience and hope that they may yet help to soften the grief and to
reconcile them to the province of Him who doeth all things well.