Iowa Old Press

LeMars Sentinel
June 3, 1890

DECORATION DAY.
A Day Devoted to the Dead and Celebrated by the Living with an Elaborate
Program

The morning of Decoration Day opened fine and bright. The atmosphere was
pleasantly cool and at an early hour the people began to gather in from
outside points. At noon the weather indicated rain and promptly at 1:30
p.m., the procession was formed at the corner of Main and Sixth streets.

First came the drum corps, then the National Guards followed by Mower Post
G. A. R., the flower girls and boys, then the Odd Fellows, city officials,
and others. The procession when formed extended for over a mile and many
hundreds people marched in its ranks to pay respect to the noble dead. At
the cemeteries, the graves were decorated and the old recollections and
memories revived. The people marched back to the city and dispersed. At G.
A. R. hall, refreshments were served during the afternoon by the W. R. C.

In the evening our large opera house was crowded from top to bottom, every
available seat being filled, many going away rather than to stand in the hot
air of the crowded room.

The house was elegantly decorated and the state had been extended to make
room for the drill exercises. On the stage were seated boys and girls
representing every state and territory in the Union. After the orchestra
and the male quartet, John Breenan, the gifted Irish orator of Sioux City,
was introduced and made a brilliant address. Mr. Brennan among many other
good things said, in substance: I am no demagogue and do not come here to
ask any favors of the G. A. R., but it is a shame and a disgrace to this
people that they should weigh the value of old soldiers against that of
whiskey. He said that there were many who objected to paying the few
remaining soldiers a pension on the grounds that it would bankrupt the
country, while they spent many times the same amount annually for whiskey.
No soldier’s widow or orphan ought ever to become a pauper. It would be a
stinging disgrace to every American. At the close of his address, a vote of
thanks was rendered him by the audience. The program was rendered throughout
as previously published and every part of it interested the audience. Some
of the exercises were especially noticeable. The son, “We’ve Drank From the
Same Canteen,” by M. Hilbert and other old soldiers was well rendered and
loudly encored. The beautiful solo: “The Flag Without a Stain,” by Mrs. O.
H. Hinds was excellent and the audience expressed their appreciation by
encoring and continued applause.

The flag drill by the young ladies and girls and boys made a fine display
and surely required a large amount of work by some one in drill and
instruction. It is said that a large portion of this work devolved upon Mrs.
C. H. Jones and there is no doubt but her work was well and faithfully done.

LeMars Sentinel
June 6, 1890

A SHORT RUNAWAY ITEM

On Sunday when C.G. Norris and __nny returned from feeding their stock they
left the team in the alley and went into the house to change their raiment.
The team is an unregenerate one and did not propose to keep Sunday so began
__king and then turned suddenly and went through the fence into Mr. Treat's
yard like a shot and ran over a cherry tree which was moderately good size
and nearly over Mr. Treat. There was no damages except to shrubbery and
fence.

This morning a farmer stopped in front of the Union hotel to leave some eggs
when his large heavy team started to run fast on Sixth street. They were
making good headway with a fair show to do great damage when the farmer
climbed on behind, reached over the seat to the horses and brought them up
short order, in front of the opera house.

A NEW GIRL.

The reason why Fred Tomlinson looked so happy yesterday and set up the
cigars in such a handsome shape was all on account of that elegant daughter
who took up her abode at his place on that date. For the first time in a
year Fred forgot the Dead Shot for full half a minute and talked about the
girl but is contently asserted that he sat up half the next night telling
her of the beauties of the Dead Shot remedies and how Quick Relief Oil cured
pain he could cure a case of ___chillblain's from here to New Orleans
telegraph with one bottle.

TROUBLE AT ST. PAUL.

Mike and Jos. Murray, former residents of Plymouth county, were attacked by
several Italians and one of the, in self defense struck an Italian with a
blow inflicting injuries from which he died three or four days later. Jos.
Murray is now in jail at St. Paul, charged with manslaughter. Argo &
McDuffie have been employed to defend the case.

BOUND TO KEEP PEACE.

A man named Begg who lives in the country was before Mayor Priestley the
first of the week for disturbing the peace. It appears that Begg's wife had
left him and was staying with a family named _och in this city. The man
persisted hanging around there and frightening the women and the mayor
imposed a small fine and held him in the sum of $--0 bonds to keep the
peace.

A GOOD MAN CHOSEN.

Rev. J.E. Snowden has been urgently requested by Mr. Byers, of Oskaloosa, to
present his book, IOWA IN WAR TIMES, before the teachers of some of our
northwestern county institutes, this fall. He has consented to do so, taking
as the counties, Woodbury, Plymouth, Sioux , O'Brien and Buena Vista
counties. Mr. Snowden will fill the position with great credit.

ANOTHER SCRAP.

It is reported that a little scrap occurred at Beilenbacker's pool room on
Wednesday evening. Several young fellows were playing pool when there was a
dispute between them and the clerk, as to the number of games played. It
ended in a little scrap in which the clerk was worsted by one of the young
men.

NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS.

SENEY: (Special Correspondence)

A.F. Eckenbeck took in LeMars Tuesday.

G.M. Mills took a car load of cattle to the Sioux City market on Wednesday
morning's freight.

R. Hinde was summoned to Dubuque last Friday by a telegram announcing the
death of his nephew, Frank Simpson, of that place.

Census Taker, John Atwood, was making his pleasant calls Tuesday enumerating
the population of our Burg.

The new post office at Carnes, Sioux county, Iowa, was opened up for
business Monday, June 2d.

B. F. Yates and Joe Sampson jolly drummers for St. Paul firms were selling
goods to our merchants Monday.

L. Lamkin took in Sioux City Monday on a business trip.

W.C. Lancaster's new meat market supplies a long felt want in our town and
is being highly appreciated by all with a liberal patronage.

LIBERTY TOWNSHIP: (Special Correspondence)

Mr. James Ahern made a trip to Sioux City on Friday last and returned on
Saturday.

Mr. Ed Hudson, of LeMars, is again in our locality. He is completing the
work he began a short time ago, fencing his farm.

The dance at Mr. Mansfield's place on Saturday last, passed off very
quietly, and a very good time is reported. There will be one at Gottschalk's
hall on Saturday, June 7th.

Mr. Wm. Waddle, who is teaching school in Sioux county, made his parents and
numerous friends a visit on Sunday last. We are glad to learn that he is
getting along well and that he has found a place where they appreciate the
work he does, for we know Will is a good teacher.

Mr. Otto Kasner had the misfortune to lose a very fine yearling colt a short
time ago.

Mr. Jake Bauerly, a well to do farmer of our locality, is having some
difficulty in keeping his trees in the ground. He planted several acres of
them some time ago and one night recently about one hundred of them
disappeared. He says he visited the place shortly afterwards and discovered
some very fine tracks, apparently of a female. He was seen out replacing
them on Saturday last. He says he will try and keep the parties busy who are
making themselves ____.

The schools of this Township will close for the summer and set the little
ones at liberty.

MAYOR'S COURT.

I. Bodkin who lives in the building back of the old blacksmith shop by the
Pew building, was arrested Tuesday on the charge of selling intoxicating
liquors and brought before Mayor Priestley, where he was fined fifty dollars
and costs or fifteen days in the county jail. He took the latter
alternative. He had a government license and four bottles of beer and there
were several empty bottles and glasses found. He said he had got a
government license to open up a place for original packages up-town but did
not get started, so thought he would hang it up there in the house. The four
bottles of beer were for his own use, but when asked how there came to be so
many other empty bottles on hand he said that he had had some parties. It
did not convince the mayor and he was sent up. He was the first victim taken
to the county jail by Marshal Latenser.

John Bray and brother-in-law were in the city Monday and Tuesday. Among
other places of business they visited some of the original package
establishments and had scarcely got around to the sixteenth one of them
before they stood unevenly on their pins and betrayed symptoms of
drunkenness. They were pulled in by the marshal and paid their fine.

Another young man was pulled at about the same time.

A man from Alton whose name is not know to the writer, came down to LeMars
to do some sheep shearing. The "places" in the city were too numerous, and
yesterday afternoon he got so his feet wouldn't track without an extra walk.
Marshal Latenser found him and tried to take him "in" but while he offered
no violent resistance, he made the task of going to the cooler decidedly
interesting. Mr. Corrigan assisted the marshal and he was landed for the
night. This morning he was around looking for the six dollars to pay his
fine.

PLYMOUTH COUNTY STATISTICS.

Registered to the Clerk During the Month of May.

BIRTHS.

1884

07 Feb. To Mr. and Mrs. Ronald William Harrison, LeMars, boy.

1890

March

18 Do John Wallace Warner, Union township, boy

24 Do John V. Harker, Stanton township, boy.

April

01 Do Henry John Moreton, LeMars, boy

02 Do Charles Schavity, Remsen, boy

02 Do William Smith, Seney, girl

03 Do Robert Kesterson, Akron, boy

04 Do William Warner, Remsen, girl

07 Do Rodolph Eriks, Preston township, girl

08 Do John Hentges, LeMars, girl

08 Do Joe Faltzhine, Remsen, girl

10 Do Theodore Bohnencamp, Remsen, girl

11 Do Samuel Wentz, Remsen, girl

13 Do Claus Kroeger, Remsen, girl

17 Do Jason Mies, Fredonia township, boy

24 Do Francis A. Dawes, Kingsley, boy

26 Do John Ross, Akron, boy

26 Do Clarence Joseph Weston, LeMars, boy

27 Do Charles Bluett, Henry township, boy

28 Do James G. Redmon, LeMars, girl

Do John B. Smith, Westfield, girl

MAY

06 Do George Schaffer, Garfield, girl

11 Do Thos. J. Keehn, Plymouth county, boy

13 Do C.L. Trenery, LeMars, boy

18 Do George F. Heilman, Kingsley, boy

18 Do Hugh D. Thompson, Henry township, boy

19 Do Levi H. Johnson, Garfield township, boy

20 Do Ronald William Harrison, LeMars, boy

MARRIAGES.

MAY

01 Rudolph Lorence-Elsia Bornisby

07 Howard R. Stoutenburg-Henrietta Dubois

17 Wallace S. Poson-Nora Silver

19 Charles J. Johnson-Francis E. House

20 Henry Mause-Mary Lepo

22 C.M. Vaux-Anna Taylor

26 George W. Hamm-Annie Huebsch

27 Mathias Gladen-Barbara Masuen

29 John Onken-Anna Catharine Ahlrichs

DEATHS.

1890

MAY

01 Laughlin, age 1 mo., 4-10-90, LeMars, enteritis.

01 Amanda Laughlin, age 42 years, 4-7-90, LeMars, congestion of the brain.

01 William Strub, age 17 years, 2 mos., 4-24-90, Washington township, acute
peritonitis

03 Elizabeth Niehus, aged 76 years, 4-20-90, Remsen, old age.

03 John Fred Lang, aged three years, 4-13-90, Remsen, bronchitis.

07 Mary Radamacher, age 87 years, 4 months, died 3-3-90, Hungerford
township, of la grippe.

06 Donna Wagner, 10 months, 4-8-90, Fredonia township, cerebral meningitis.

LeMars Sentinel
June 13, 1890

A WRECK AT SIOUX CITY.

On Wednesday afternoon a train of four handsome coaches devoted to the use
of the American Express and the great railway officials passed through this
city. When running into Sioux City the Leeds suburban train backed in on a
side track to let the Fort Dodge train on the Central road out, but failed
to get far enough back to miss the coaches. The engineer on the special
train reversed his engine but seeing that the suburban engineers and fireman
had jumped from the engine, he pulled open the throttle and ran with all
power to throw the other engine from the rails. The effort was partly
successful but now enough so but that the sides of the four elegant coaches
were badly demolished as they went past the wreck of the other engine. The
officials were considerably shaken up but no one seriously hurt.

A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.

On Friday afternoon while Frank Laughlin was working in the Hoyt & Goudie
barn on Eagle street, he fell from a staging about ten feet high, upon his
hip and vertebrae extremity. He was carried to his home in the west part of
the city in a partially paralyzed condition, but is now recovering so as to
move around a little on crutches. This is a piece of bad luck for Mr.
Laughlin and is not the first of a series of misfortunes. He has but
recently been afflicted by the loss of his wife and one child and this
following so closely is unfortunate.

DIED.

RICHARDSON-On May 27th, at his home in Plymouth township, three miles
northwest of Hinton, of inflammation to the bowels. Frank Richardson aged
nineteen years and five months. He was an acceptable and respected member of
the United Brethren church since two years ago and died with a glorious hope
of the future and was buried at the Pleasant Valley cemetery on the 28th of
May, Rev. Neth officiating. The funeral was very largely attended.

VAGRANTS.

There has been quite an influx of vagrants in town during the week.
Wednesday night the Marshal put in eleven of these fine haired gentry and on
Thursday morning gave them twenty minutes in which to leave town. They left.

THE PICNIC.

About forty citizens of our city went out to Doon on the picnic excursion
over the Sioux City & Northern, Thursday. A very nice time is reported by
Excursion Agent Welliver.

A BIG TIME AT REMSEN.

Rentier in Remsen Bell: It was as good as 4th of July celebration in the way
of general business, I mean Christ Habeger's ring riding day last Saturday.
It brought masses of people to Remsen and everybody profited thereby. The
LeMars band arrived a little late, but after it had arrived, it did nobly.
There were 65 tickets sold for the riding and the contest was an interesting
affair. When Mr. Dwight arrayed the mounted troop in front of his camera,
they looked splendid so much so, that old Moltke would have graciously
smiled on them, had he been present. The prizes were awarded as follows:

1st, H. Groth, (self)

2d, R. Meyer, (J. Breiholz, rider)

3d, W. Fassing (Aug. Sievdrs, rider)

4th, P. Lage, (self)

Besides the 65 riders, there were 52 other tickets sold for the dance, so
that 117 couples tripped the light fantastic to the sweet music of Prof.
Strikers band. All in all, the affair was a success. The best order and
decorum having prevailed throughout. We all look anxiously towards the next
ring riding day.

THE BOYS LOOK WELL.

The Marshalltown Times-Republican of June 10th in its report of the
Fireman's Tournament says:

LeMars made their appearance at 4:30 this morning. They bring a Hook and
Ladder and Hose Team but will not contest. The Hose uniforms are the neatest
we have yet seen.

CEREANS WILL STAND.

Dr. Brick and T. L. Cumberbatch were down at Sioux City last night to attend
a meeting of Cerean Masons. One speaker at the lodge meeting remarked that
he would stick to the ship until hades froze over and Parvin and Blackmer
hunted him on the ice. He voiced the general sentiment of the meeting.

A WATERSPOUT.

Last evening a heavy storm passed to the north of this city and this morning
a heavy waterspout or rainfall is reported near Sibley. On this side of
Sibley, a mile of track is either washed out or under water. Later reports
will probably confirm the report of very much damage to a considerable
extent of country.

Le Mars Sentinel, June 17, 1890

A Fatal Polo Game.

Sioux City Journal:—The Polo game between LeMars and Sioux City came to a
disastrous end yesterday in an accident that resulted in the death of Fred
B. Close. Fred entered the game with his left arm in a sling, not having
recovered fully from the effects of a fall while fox hunting in England last
fall, and to that was probably due the fatal result of yesterday's game.
Notwithstanding his reckless daring, Fred was a splendid horseman, and had
he had full use of his arm he might have avoided the collision that caused
him to be thrown and crushed beneath the two falling horses.

The Sioux City team had scored three goals and Fred was congratulating his
boys on their excellent playing. Jack Watson, of the LeMars team, was making
a splendid run down the field when, for some unaccountable reason, Fred
attempted to cross in front of him, and to the spectators it was evident
that the two would cannon. An instant before, the horses collided Fred was
seen to sway in his saddle, and when the crash came he was already unseated.
Watson's horse struck Fred's and the latter was thrown, and falling upon its
rider, rolled clear over him. Then, as the horse struggled to regain his
feet, Watson's horse fell over him und he also rolled across the body of
poor Close. Watson was thrown over his horse's head and escaped injury.

Fred never moved a muscle, but lay as one dead. A number of his friends
rushed to his assistance, but he manifested no sign of life. A young
Norwegian physician who happened to be on the ground came to their
assistance, and succeeded finally in restoring circulation, but was unable
to bring the unfortunate man back to conciousness. News of the accident was
telephoned to the city and Drs. Bergen and Savage hastened to the grounds,
but their efforts were unavailing. Upon examination they found that
Close's right clavicle had been fractured in three places and the upper part
of the chest completely crushed in. Besides these injuries, and more serious
than all, it was evident that the brain had been terribly injured, and there
were unmistakable indications of cerebral hemorrhage.

All possible care was bestowed upon the injured man. The patrol wagon was
dispatched in hot haste t o bring mattresses, bed clothes and a tent. At 8
o'clock in the evening it was decided by the attending physicians that the
sufferer could not be moved, and the tent was pitched above him. With a
finger on either pulse they awaited the end; but Close exhibited a vitality
that was simply phenomenal and for three hours his condition was not
materially altered. The breathing was labored, and impeded as it was by the
injuries to the chest and hemorrhage of the lungs, together with an
accumulation of mucus about the bronchial tubes, causing a rattling in the
throat that was horrible to hear.

About 11 o'clock a decided change for the worse in the injured man's
condition was evident. The pulse grew weaker and fluttering, and respiration
became more and more difficult until 12:45 it ceased altogether and the
physicians pronounced him dead. The immediate cause of death was internal
hemorrhage caused by the injuries to the chest. From the time of the
accident till the end he was never conscious, and it is a reflection fraught
with comfort that his death, untimely as it was, was still free from pain.
Indeed, those who knew him best are ready to affirm that had Fred been able
to choose the manner of his death he would have asked no other than fell to
his lot. They cannot, however, but question the providence that cut off poor
Fred's career just as he was entering upon the larger usefulness and
responsibilities of life. Among many projects he had formed was the
organization of the Freeland Mortgage company, representing above $3,000,000
of English capital, which would have been incorporated under the laws of
Iowa within a few days. But it is not the man of business that his friends
will mourn, but rather the whole-souled, enthusiastic and sympathetic man.

The dead man was well known all over northwestern Iowa. The Close brothers,
Fred B. and James, came from England to Correctionville, where they operated
a large ranch in the 70s. Later they went to LeMars and did a banking
business for the Englishmen there when the town and the colony of Englishmen
who made it were at their best. They acquired a large amount of real
estate, mostly farming land, while in LeMars, and when it began to get quiet
there they removed to Pipestone, Minn., for a time to look after their large
landed interests there.

After a two year's residence in Pipestone they removed to Sibley, where F.B.
Close & Co. owned a bank. A year ago last January Fred B. Close removed to
Sioux City, where he has since been engaged in the real estate and loan
business. He was about 35 years old and was married six years ago. They
have no children. His brother James is now in England.

The funeral services were held at St. Thomas Protestant Episcopal church
Sunday afternoon and the body was interred in the Floyd Cemetery.

The beautiful floral offerings that filled the church with their perfume
during the services there were taken out to the cemetery and placed upon the
grave, where they literally hid with their many colored blossoms the heaped
up mold. Of these offerings one had been contributed by the LeMars Polo
club, another by the Prairie club of the same place, and a third by the polo
club from Sibley.

The pall-bearers were R. T. Patrick, J. Watson, G . Stoner, P. Statter, G.
C. Maclagan and Ed Kirk. W. I. Buchanan had arranged all the details.

A great many strangers were in attendance, many having come from St. Paul,
LeMars, Sibley, Larchwood, Kingsley and Pipestone to pay their last tribute
of respect to their departed friend.