LeMars Sentinel
February 2, 1899

MARRIED:

Miss Lizzie Burke, of this city, and Mr. Stephen E. Strong, of Hawarden,
were united in marriage Tuesday morning at St. James church.  The
ceremony was performed by Rev. Father J.P. Barron at 8:30 in the
presence of a number of relatives and friends who gathered at the
church.  Mrs. Bellaire presided at the organ and played Mendelssohn's
wedding march as the bridal party took their stations in front of the
altar which had been decorated with flowers and smilax for the occasion.
The bride was attended by her sister, Miss Hannah Burke, and J.G.
Strong, of Portage, Wis., brother of the groom, was best man.  The
solemn and impressive rites of the marriage service were celebrated and
the vows taken which united two lives forever.

The bride was married in a traveling dress of cadet blue, with jacket of
the same color and texture, a velvet hat with plumes and white chiffon,
matched her costume.  The bridesmaid, Miss Hannah Burke, wore an elegant
costume of army blue with wine colored jacket.

After the ceremony at the church the bridal party drove to the home of
the bride's parents on Court street where the wedding breakfast was
served to a few relatives and intimate friends.  They were the
recipients of many beautiful and valuable presents.

The newly married couple left on the 10:40 train amid a shower of
congratulations and rice for St. Paul.  From there they will go to
Portage, Wis., and visit relatives.  They will return in two or three
weeks and make their home at Hawarden.

The bride has been a resident of LeMars nearly all her life and is known
to the majority of people of this vicinity.  For several years she ahs
been employed in the recorder's office at the court house and has been
deputy recorder for four years, which position she recently resigned on
account of her approaching marriage.  She was also at one time a member
of Plymouth county's able corps of school teachers and taught for a
number of terms at different schools in the county.  Her duties while at
the court house gained her an extensive acquaintance throughout the
county and wide popularity which she richly deserves by her attributes
of mind and charming disposition.

The bridegroom is well known in LeMars, having been constant visitor
here for several years and he was at one time engaged in farming in the
northwest part of the county.  He is a man of sterling worth and has
already achieved a large measure of success in life.  He is one of
Hawarden's hustling young business men at that place, being a member of
the firm of Strong & Gamble.

The Sentinel in conjunction with many friends wishes Mr. and Mrs. Strong
lifelong happiness and prosperity.

WEDDING INVITATIONS

Invitations have been received in LeMars to the wedding of Miss Mary A.
Burow and Alfred T. Huggenberger which will take place at the home of
the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. F. Burow at Battle Creek, Ia., on
Friday, February 10. 

Mr. Huggenberger is now a resident of Battle Creek where he owns a mill.
He was formerly a resident of LeMars and was at one time engaged in the
implement business with Wm. Wernli.

WENT NORTH AND SOUTH
Otto Blaul, Night Operator at the Union Depot, Takes a Day Off Last
Wednesday and His Unexplained Absence Leads to the Surmise that He Has
Skipped

From Monday's Daily
Otto Blaul has left town and appearance would indicate that his
immediate return need not be looked for.  Mr. Blaul has held down the
position of night operator at the Union depot for the past three years
and has filled the situation with credit to himself as he is an
excellent hand at the business.  He has been a favorite with the public
always on account of his civil and obliging manner and accommodating
ways. 

The first inkling that Otto had left town was noticeable when the
landlord of one of the hotels and a tailor made a race for lawyers and
then to the justice's office on Wednesday morning last to swear out
attachments and to garnish the Central railroad company for Blaul's pay
if he had any coming.

Enquiry at the depot elicited the fact that Blaul had been given leave
on the previous evening to go to Omaha on Wednesday morning and had been
furnished with transportation for that point.  He told the depot agent,
Mr. Metcalf, that he would be back on Wednesday evening on the 10:55
train.

His continued absence and the rumor afloat around town which seemed to
have their source from those who were more intimately acquainted with
Blaul, occasioned a checking up of his work and the books at the depot.
Everything was found perfectly correct, all his accounts and papers and
other matters which came under his charge being O K and in good order.

The chief reason that led to the reports that he had gone for good seem
to lie in the fact that on Tuesday evening he went north on the 10:55 in
company with a young lady and that they returned through LeMars the
following morning on the 4:50 southbound train.

The young lady's name is Ann Lukenitsch and she has been employed at the
Union hotel for some time.  She asked for her time on Tuesday, saying
she was going to her home near Sibley.  Blaul has been paying
considerable attention to Miss Lukenitsch for the past few months.  The
young lady, who is prepossessing in appearance and of a charming
disposition, gave out to her associates that she was going to be married
to Blaul and the friends think they departed for this reason.

Several little things alleged to have been done by Blaul tend to
strengthen the belief that he intended to leave town without saying
goodbye to a whole lot of people.

It is alleged that in order to provide the girl with an excuse to get
away he sent up a boy with a fake telegraph message which stated that
her mother was very sick and wanted her home.

He cleared out all his things at the room in which he slept at the Union
hotel and its stated that what clothes he took with him found a place
among the young woman's furbelows and lingerie.  Another allegement is
that he checked the girl's trunk to St. Paul.  They both boarded the
northbound train and according to the trainmen got at Alton and returned
through here in the morning.  Officer Keller went through the passenger
coaches this morning and says he saw Blaul and the young lady together
and that it appeared to him that Blaul wanted to avoid him as he said
nothing and pulled his hat down over his eyes and kept his head down.
They went to Omaha and that is the last seen or heard of him.

The only solution put forth for Mr. Blaul's disappearance in this manner
is that he owed considerable money in the city.  There is no apparent
reason for his going away on this account as his creditors were willing
to give him plenty of time and hew as in receipt of a good salary and
could in a few months have straightened up his debts.  He has a month's
pay coming from the railroad company as they always hold that much back
on their employees.  Attachments against his wages were gotten out by
Mr. Hodgman, of the Union, who has a claim of some forty odd dollars
against Blaul for board and lodging.  Mr. Harp also put in an attachemtn
on his wages for a tailors bill and a $25 note.  Several doctors have
claims against Mr. Blaul for treating his wife who died nearly a year
ago and it is said he was indebted to several business firms in the
city.

He is supposed to have gone to California.

ONE OF THE FIRST SETTLERS
Phillip Held, who died on Sunday evening at his home near Hinton, was
one of the very first settlers in Plymouth county.  Away back in 1855
when the Indian and buffalo roamed at will over these prairies, Philip
Held came to this part of the country.  He was a member of a party of
hardy pioneers, composed of some half a dozen families, mostly German,
who settled up the beautiful valley of the Floyd river and who most of
them after years of early struggle and pioneer hardships have become the
most prosperous and wealthy among the farming classes of the community.

Philip Held was born on October 16, 1831, at Bechstolheim,
Hesse-Darmstadt in Germany and when twenty one years of age came to the
United States.  He lived for a year in New York and then moved to
Illinois and in 1853 came farther west arriving at Sioux City where he
lived for two years.  While a resident of Sioux City, he assisted in
building many of the first houses erected there.  After two years'
sojourn there he moved to Jackson, Neb., near where he lived until 1863
when he returned to Plymouth county and lived on his homestead where he
has ever since resided.  On January 30, 1870, he was married to Miss
Caroline Koehler of Galena, Ill.  They celebrated the silver anniversary
of their wedding in January, 1895.  His wife survives him and with ten
children mourns the loss of a good father and husband.  Eleven children
was born to them, ten of who are living, seven sons and three daughters.
Mr. Held was one of a family of five children, two of whom are still
living, Erhard Held, of Hinton and Mrs. Gustave Pecaut, of Sioux City.

Mr. Held was an uncle of Mrs. Jno. Schmidt, Mrs. P. Schindel and Mrs.
Henry Schneider, of this city.

Mr. Held had a wide acquaintance throughout this and Woodbury county by
virtue of his long residence.  He was highly respected and liked by
everybody and has always been an influential man in local affairs and
was prominent in good works in the community.  He was a good husband and
father and most successful business man and farmer and by his industry
and toil became rich and died possessed of several hundred acres of
land.

The funeral service was held on Wednesday afternoon at 1 p.m. at the
house and the interment was made at the Floyd Valley cemetery at
Melbourne. 

A large number from here attended.

The North Side Whist Club met Saturday night and passed a very enjoyable
evening at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jno. R. Shaffer.  The members of
this club are Mr. and Mrs. Jno. R. Shaffer, Mr. and Mrs. Burbridge, Mr.
and Mrs. W. T. McGrew, Mr. and Mrs. Dr. R. R. Hammond.

Maurice Review:  Word was received on Wednesday by relatives here of the
death at Las Vegas, N. M., of Frank Moran, son of Peter Moran, of
Struble.  Mr. Moran had taken his son south in the hope of benefiting
his health.  The remains will arrive home on Saturday.  Arrangements for
the funeral have not yet been made.

BAD RAILROAD WRECK
A Freight Train Dashes Into the Chicago Flyer at Dyersville
Thirty People Are Injured
A Rear End Collision Occurred at Dyersville Monday Evening Telescoping
Several Cars and Creating a Panic-A Large Party of Excursionists From
this Vicinity on Board the Train

Anxiety was rife in LeMars at an early hour Tuesday when it was learned
that a bad railroad accident had occurred at Dyersville the previous
evening.  The anxiety was more especia when it was learned that a large
number of those who went to Dyersville from this vicinity on the
excursion two weeks ago were aboard the train as it was the last day on
which these excursionists could avail themselves of their tickets.  The
early reports stated that a number had been killed and inured in the
accident, but later reports failed to confirm these rumors.  The Western
Union Telegraph office and the Union depot employees were kept busy
answering inquires from anxious relatives and others all morning.  A
telegram from Dyersville at about 8 o'clock announced a rear end
collision and stated the number of this injured as eighteen.

On inquiry at the depot it was learned that the passenger from Chicago
which was run into a Dyersville would arrive in LeMars about noon, and a
little after that hour it steamed in, its arrival here being greeted by
a very large crowd.

From the story told by the passengers on the train it would appear that
at Dyersville, the through train from Chicago was thirty-five minutes
late and remained in the depot a few minutes longer than usual to get
all the crowd of passengers from that place aboard.

While they were standing in the depot a freight train dashed into the
rear end of the cars with terrific force. There is a curve at this point
and the grade is a down one and it is supposed the freight engineer
thought the passenger had pulled out.  The passenger train was composed
of two sleepers and five other coaches.  There was luckily no one in the
sleeping coaches and at the time of the collision the porter was just
stepping out of the rear sleeper into the next one.  He was badly hurt.

A number of person in the coach immediately ahead of the sleepers were
badly hurt, the number being estimated at from fifteen to thirty. The
people in the cars where thrown in all directions and the lights went
out, the seats were broken and the roofs of the cars smashed in.  A
large number of people went frantic with fear and fought to get out of
the cars, which were crowded, by breaking more windows and climbing out
on the roof.  The engine of the freight train ran clear under the
sleeping coaches and they were piled up on top.  The fireman of the
freight trains was picked up within a fort of the seven freight cars
piled one on top of the other.  The depot building and platform were
partially wrecked.  The wreck was cleared away and the train    with
some new coaches pulled out of Dyersville at three o'clock in the
morning.

C. D. Symms, Archie Adamson, Mr. and Mrs. John Peters, Mrs. Nic Ney and
number of tohers from LeMars were on board the train and also Mr. Ed
Klauer of Akron, who stopped off here to visit his brother, Jay Klauer.

Mr. Symms was in the coach immediately ahead of the sleeping coaches and
said it was so crowded that people were standing in the aisles of the
car.  He says the majority of people who were hurt were in this car and
says there were eighteen injured.  He says they were all taken came of
immediately by the railroad officials and doctors and that all the
inured were left at Dyersville.  He said as far as he was able to
ascertain no LeMars people were injured in the collision.  He said two
porters in the sleeping coaches were very badly hurt and that the
eighteen persons hurt received broken legs, arms and noses and internal
injuries.

Mr. Klauer was in the same coach and gave a graphic description of how
the people were thrown from their seats and the frantic efforts they
made to get out of the cars.

John Peters and Mrs. Peters, who live near Neptune, came in on the rain
and are at the Dubuque House.  They both were hurt thought not very
seriously.  Mrs. Peters was thrown out of her seat to the floor of the
car and as she had her baby in her arms was unable to help herself and
her face was cut and bruised.  Mr. Peters was slugged in Dyersville by a
footpad on his way to the depot and had his watch taken from him.  His
face was badly bruised.  His leg he claims was hurt in the collision.

John Kronz, of Dubuque, who arrive din LeMars on a visit to his uncle,
Nic Haupert, got out on the roof of the car and says he does not know
how he did it, as he was stunned by a blow on the head at the time of
the collision.

Complete List of Injured:

Further information on the Illinois Central wreck at Dyersville Monday
night places the number of injured at twenty, and it is feared some of
them will die.  Following is a complete list of the seriously injured:
James Stevens, Alvord, left leg bruised
Mrs. Edward Stevens, LeMars, both legs bruised slightly
John Krautz, Granville, right leg bruised
Mathias Even, Alton, both legs severely pinched
Frank Arens, Alton, small bone of the right leg broken
Miss Josephine Bornhorst, LeMars, small bone of right leg broken
Mrs. Bornhorst, LeMars, bruised and cut about the head and face
Mrs. Fred Grapes, Sheldon, both bones of left leg broken and right hand
and arm cut by glass
Mrs. Wm. Mason, Cherokee, bruised and cut about head and face, and right
leg bruised
Miss Maggie Frantzen, Alton, right shoulder sprained
Two colored porters were severely cut about the head and face.

OUR COUNTY NEWS
By Our Correspondents and from Exchanges

MILLNERVILLE:  (Special Correspondence)

A baby of John Lowery, who lives on Mr. Codd's place, died very suddenly
on Saturday forenoon.  It had had a cold, but nothing serious was
anticipated until Mrs. Lowery arose and she saw it was very ill, and
about 10 o'clock on Saturday, after several spasms, it died.  The little
one was only six weeks old.  The parents, who have but recently moved in
the community, have the sympathy of all the neighbors.  The baby was
buried at Akron on Monday.

A little girl baby was born to Mrs. John Lawrence on Monday afternoon.

Little Raymond Lindsey, who had been sick a few days with la grippe was
taken worse on Saturday night and Dr. Cilley was sent for on Sunday.  He
said he was suffering from bronchial pneumonia.  He had a very high
fever and a terrible cough, but the doctor left medicine which helped
him immediately and unless something unfavorable sets in the little
fellow will get along all right.

Quite a number from here attended the revival at Adaville on Thursday
evening.

Mr. J. Crow is hauling his corn to Jefferson preparatory to moving into
Dakota and will buy corn there.  About the last of this month and the
first of next there will be a regular epidemic of moving as so many
places are changing hands this spring.  Saml. King will move up near
Akron.  Mr. Vanderburgh on the place where Saml. King lives.  Mr. Prigg
will move to Vermillion and a Mr. Pettet will move on that place.

Mrs. Simeon is quite sick with la grippe.

Ed Scott took a load of wheat to Sioux City Monday for Mr. Lindsey.

Mr. Otis, Frank and Ernest keep steadily at it, hauling grain to Sioux
City.

Mr. Ned Crittenden is the possessor of a new buggy.

LeMars Sentinel
February 6, 1899

DEATH OF MRS. D. W. GIBBS
The angel of death who ahs been busy this winter in our midst and has
removed several of our residents, visited another home in LeMars at an
early hour Thursday morning and took to the bright beyond the soul of
Mrs. David Gibbs, one of the pioneer residents of LeMars.

The announcement of her death which occurred at 2 o'clock Thursday
morning was received with universal regret for the good old lady was
known and beloved by all the earlier residents and also by many of the
later comers who have had the pleasure and happiness of knowing her.
Hers was indeed a Christian life, emblematic and worthy to be imitated
by every person holding Christian tenets of faith.  For many years she
has been more or less of an invalid and unable to get about much, but in
all her suffering she exhibited a patient forbearance and remarkable
fortitude and was agreeable, smiling kindly to all those with whom she
came in contact.  She was great in good works and took a deep interest
in the welfare of her many friends and was always ready and willing to
lend assistance with sympathy and also with material aid to those in
distress of mind, body and estate.  The extolation of her fine character
and virtues would run into columns, but it is not needed.  Her goodness
and noble life are forever imprinted in the hearts and minds of those
who knew and loved her best, and it were not meet for strangers to
intermeddle with their sacred grief.

Her death was not unexpected as on November 23 she was stricken with
paralysis from which she never fully recovered.

Her husband, David Gibbs, preceded her to the better land only a short
time ago.

The deceased's maiden name was Eliza Ann Bacon.  She was born in Dayton,
Ohio, January 11, 1820.  On April 10, 1843, she was united in marriage
with Mr. David Gibbs at that place.  Five children were born to them all
of whom are living:  Mrs. Tyler, of West Union; Mr. H. B. Gibbs, Dayton,
Ohio; David Gibbs, Delavan, Ill.; F. Gibbs, Eugene, Oregon; and Mrs.
Fowler Seaman, of this city.

MARRIED:

Miss Mary Feller and Peter Pletschette were united in marriage on
Wednesday morning at St. Joseph's church, Rev. Father Meis performing
the ceremony.  John Feller, a brother of the bride, and Miss Lizzie Mark
were groomsman and bridesmaid.  A large number of their friends and
relatives assembled in the church to witness the ceremony.

The young people are members of well known Plymouth county families, the
bride being the daughter of N. Feller, of Fredonia township and Mr.
Pletschette is a resident of Union township.  A reception was tendered
the newly married pair at the home of the bride's parents during the day
and evening and they received the congratulations of a host of friends.
They left in the evening for a wedding trip east, after which they will
take up their residence on the groom's farm south of town.

MARRIED:

Miss Susie T. Sherman and Mr. John Zimmerle, both of Struble, were
united in marriage on Wednesday afternoon in LeMars, Justice A.B.
Steiner performing the ceremony.  The groom is a prosperous young farmer
residing near Struble.  The bride lived in LeMars for some time and
gained many friends during her stay here.  They will go to housekeeping
on their farm immediately. 

FUNERAL OF PHILIP HELD

The funeral of Philip Held was held from the residence near Hinton on
Wednesday afternoon and a large concourse of people from Sioux City,
LeMars and all over the county gathered to do honor to the memory of
their old friend and neighbor. Rev. H. Kleinsorge, of LeMars, and Rev.
L. Brecher, of Melbourne, conducted the last rites.  Rev. Kleinsorge
preached the funeral sermon, taking for his text the words contained in
Proverbs XXVII, 10: "Thine own friend and they father's friend forsake
not." From these words he preached a magnificent sermon, paying tribute
to the virtues of the deceased, describing the sacredness of kinship and
friendship, and the everlasting hope of immortality.

The remains were followed from the home to the Melbourne cemetery, where
they were laid to rest, by a very large procession of teams.  The pall
bearers were:  Leonard Koenig, Philip Schneider, R. Spies, Bart Luce,
Frank Hoesse, and Ira Pearce.

OUR COUNTY NEWS
By Our Correspondents and from Exchanges

SENEY:  (Special Correspondence)

Mrs. Robt. Collins was a Sioux City passenger Thursday morning,
returning Friday.

Mr. Ruble, of Leeds, is visiting friends in this vicinity.

Rev. Hakes has not entirely recovered from the grip, therefore was not
able to fill his appointment on Sunday.

Lucile March has a severe attack of pneumonia.

Miss Blanche Briggs entertained a lady fried from Merrill a few days
last week.

Mrs. Hakes and daughter returned to their home in Paullina on Tuesday.

Mrs. C. A. Rodolf visited with friends in LeMars Friday and Saturday.

Miss Ethel Nelson was an Orange City visitor Saturday morning, returning
in the evening.

Dr. R. H. Foster, of Maurice, made several professional calls in Seney
last week.

CHURCHVILLE:  (Special Correspondence)

J. Brandsetter is on the sick list.  Dr. Berner, of Merrill, is
attending him.

Quarterly meeting at the Salem church, beginning February 10, continuing
over Sunday.  Rev. J. Knoche, of Fort Dodge, will conduct the meetings.

Mrs. Henry Koenig spent several days last week visiting with her
daughter, Mrs. Brehm.

Rev. L. F. Smith and C. D. Wendel and wife intend to drive to Washta
next week to assist Rev. Lehman in revival meetings.

W. F. Dobbert will have an auction sale the 17th of February.  This will
be only the second public sale in this vicinity since G. W. Irwin's
first sale.  That accounts for the good neighborhood and the well-to-do
farmers.  Mr. Dobbert will still live on the same place, but had his
farm rented to other parties.

AKRON:  (From the Tribune)

Tim Sullivan and wife returned yesterday from an enjoyable two weeks
visit with relatives and old acquaintances at Manchester, Iowa.

While cutting meat in the shop this morning, John Simpson nearly lost
one of his fingers.  The sharp knife he was using entered into the
middle finger of his left hand, near the first joint, cut entirely
through the bone and left the end of his finger hanging by a shred of
flesh.

The old blind horse used at Boyson Ross' elevator, who has seen
twenty-five years of actual service in like capacity, died last Tuesday
night.  Jim Myers, who has presided over the destinies of the faithful
old animal for some time, shed a copious quantity of crocodile tears and
refused to be consoled.

A freight train consisting of thirty-seven cars of grain pulled out of
Akron over the Milwaukee on Tuesday night, its destination being
Minneapolis.  Agent Searls gives the information that there were 1143
tons of grain on bard and that it was the heaviest train ever leaving
this station.  It required a monster ten-wheel engine to do the hauling.

It is rumored that an effort is being made by certain parties to close
up the present north road, which follows the railroad up the valley, and
open a new road through the hills.  This would mean a needless
expenditure of about $1,500 to the county, and the only benefit derived
would be the greater convenience of access of a few persons to trading
points on the north.  Any such action will be strongly opposed by the
business men of Akron, as the present road is as old as the town itself
and has always given good satisfaction.  A change would also work an
injustice to many farmers, who purchased their land with the
understanding that the road should remain in the present place...

LeMars Sentinel
February 20, 1899

SENEY: (Special Correspondence)

Mrs. A. W. Hakes and children left here Tuesday morning for Onawa to visit
her parents.

The members of Seney camp M. W. A. went to LeMars Tuesday evening to assist
deputy head Consul Adelshein in organizing a new camp there.

Mrs. Wm. Deegan and children returned from Dubuque Tuesday, where she had
been visiting friends and relatives for a few weeks.

Mr. and Mrs. John McArthur are entertaining relatives from Monroe, S.D.

The regular meeting of the W.C.T.U. met at the home of Mrs. Zehr on
Wednesday afternoon.

Z. Rayburn was a Sioux City passenger Friday, returning Saturday.

C. A. Rodolf expects to leave here Tuesday for Denver, Colorado.

C. V. Carver made a business trip to Sioux City Saturday, returning Sunday.

Mr. and Mrs. John Willman (sic?) returned Tuesday from Orange City where
they had been visiting relatives the past month.

Milton Coolbaugh sold his farm to a Mr. Buss, of Wisconsin. Mr. Coolbaugh
will leave here Tuesday for Texas where he will go to look for a location.
Mr. Buss will take possession of his farm about April 1.

Rev. A. W. Hakes went to Paullina Wednesday to visit his father who was
suffering with a severe attack of the grip, followed by pneumonia. A
telegram received from Mr. Hakes informs us that his father had died at that
place on Friday night and that the funeral services were held on Sunday.

W. H. Briggs, of LeMars, transacted business here several days last week.

Henry Sturman went to Chicago Friday.

Mrs. C. A. Rodolf and Mrs. Wm. Collins were visiting friends in LeMars
Friday.

Hilton Collins has resigned his position as clerk with J. Alderson.

Lafayette March is able to be out on the street again after a severe attack
of the grip.

Mrs. Mat Ewin visited her daughter south of LeMars a few days last week.

The Akron Tribune
Akron, Iowa
Thursday, February 23, 1899

Lawrence Barr is doing jury duty at LeMars this week.

John Gear was a passenger to Sioux City on Tuesday.

M. A. Agnes is transacting business at the county seat today.

Wm. Hurlbut and Harry Toppings were Chatsworth visitors Tuesday.

A. G. Johnson is reported to be quite ill with an attack of lagrippe.

Mrs. L. T. Medbury, mother of Mrs. Geo. Putnam, has been numbered among the
sick the last few days.

Jos. Geiger has been off duty at Lillibridge’s harness shop this week, the
gripped having the better of him.

A few ducks of the pintail variety were seen flying during the past few days
of mild weather. Another week of warm weather would bring the mallards and
redheads.

Wm. Gibson, of Andrew, Jackson county, Ia., who was in Akron last fall and
was very favorably impressed with this section of the country, will work for
Geo. H. Lias, south of town, this year.

Rev. Seleine will conduct a service in Swedish in the Akron Baptist Church
next Sunday afternoon at four o’clock. Our Swedish friends in Akron and
vicinity will be most heartily welcomed to this service.

Uncle Sam’l Easton came down town this afternoon with his usually serious
countenance wreathed in broad smiles. The transformation was caused by the
arrival of an 8-pound daughter at his house this morning.

H. J. Meidell, cashier of the Beresford State Bank, stopped off today for a
brief visit with H. J. Thode and Boyson Ross, who are officers of the bank.
He is returning home from a visit with his parents at Holstein, Ia.

Postmaster Muhs ran up the national flag over the postoffice yesterday, and
several of our business men displayed the red, white and blue in remembrance
of the “Father of His Country.” The day should be more generally observed.

R. J. Hauck will soon begin the erection of a cozy four-room cottage on the
lot west of Paul Wendt’s residence. Mr. Hauck has accepted an agency from
the Deering Implement people, with headquarters in Akron, for the coming
season.

Last Sunday evening occurred the death of Robert, son of Mrs. Maggie Magee,
aged two years and five months. The funeral was held on Monday, the remains
being interred in the Akron cemetery. Another child is said to be seriously
ill. The sorrowing mother has the sympathy of the community.

Dr. Clark was summoned to the depot yesterday afternoon by a telegram from
Chatsworth, stating that a lady had been taken sick on the train with
neuralgia of the heart, caused by the news of the serious illness of her
daughter at some place. The doctor administered an injection of morphine,
which alleviated the lady’s sufferings.

CHALLENGED TO FIGHT A DUEL.
Who would have ever supposed that two such fellows as Chas. Tillotson and
John Hammond would agree to fight a duel with deadly weapons? Such,
however, appears to have been their intent last Monday afternoon. It is said
the two men brought up an old score while drinking in Anderson & Barr’s
saloon, and, in the heat of passion, one challenged the other to a duel,
with choice of weapons. The challenge was accepted and guns were named. The
affair was arranged to occur that evening at 6:15, across the bridge in
Dakota. Tillotson left the saloon, procured a rifle, stationed himself at
the west end of the bridge, and defying anyone to approach, awaited the
appearance of his rival. In the meantime Hammond armed himself with a
shotgun and started for the scene. Arriving at the east end of the bridge,
Marshal Gibson arrested Hammond and placed him in jail. Tillotson remained
across the bridge until after dark, when he waded the river below the bridge
and went home. He was arrested the following day, and both men were brought
before Mayor Sullivan for a preliminary hearing on Tuesday afternoon.
Hammond and Tillotson each plead guilty of the crime of intent to fight a
duel with deadly weapons, whereupon both were bound over to the grand jury,
now in session, under $200 bonds. Constable Waterbury took both men to
LeMars yesterday afternoon.

People were at first inclined to look upon the affair as a joke, but matters
assumed a different aspect when it became known that Tillotson and Hammond
had laid themselves liable to a penalty of not less than $1,000 and one
year’s imprisonment and not more than $4,000 and three year’s imprisonment.

LeMars Semi-Weekly Post
February 24, 1899

TOOK HIS OWN LIFE.
Mense Ommen, of Grant Township, Ends His Life With a Shot Gun.

Mense Ommen, who resided with his son-in-law, Geo. Doring, in Grant
township, ended his life last Tuesday by committing suicide.

Coroner Mammen was called out to hold an inquest and investigate the matter.
A jury composed of J. H. Hagel, O. H. Doring and Chas. Schultz was selected
and the evidence elicited the facts to be about as follows:

The deceased was the father-in-law of Geo. Doring, for whom he had been
working. On Monday he called for his time and said he was going to LeMars,
but after receiving his check he changed his mind and said he would not go
until morning. In the morning he got up at his usual time and about 9
o’clock changed his clothes, putting on his best. When asked where he was
going, he said he was going away. He took down a single barrel shot gun
from a nail on the wall and started out down to the public highway. George
Dohring followed him a short distance and then returned to the house and
presently heard a shot and turning around saw Ommen lying in the road near a
clump of willows and saw smoke rising. He ran to the body and found the
clothes were on fire and blood was oozing from a wound in the breast. It
was discovered that he had fastened the gun to a tree and fired it off by
tying a string to the trigger.

Ommen was a native of Germany and was sixty-five years old. He had a wife
and daughter in the old country and two children in this country, Mrs. Geo.
Doring and a son, Henry Ommen, living west of Merrill. The old gentleman was
of a peculiar disposition and had often threatened to kill himself and once
made the attempt by hanging. The jury found that the deceased had come to
his death by his own hand and rendered the verdict accordingly.

The remains were brought to LeMars Wednesday and buried in the City
cemetery, Rev. Horney, of the German Methodist church conducting the
service.