Iowa Old Press

LeMars Sentinel, Monday, January 8, 1900, Page 4, Column 3:

Death of Mr. Pech.

Gustavus Pech died on Saturday evening at his residence on Clark street
after an illness lasting several months. Up to last summer Mr. Pech was a
particularly hale, strong and rugged man, but the insidious work of disease
in a few short months pulled him down until he was only a shadow of his
former self.

The deceased was a native of Germany and was born in 1851. In 1871 he came
to the United States and shortly afterwards settled at Bloomington, Ill.,
where he lived some years. Subsequent to that he came to Iowa, locating at
Storm Lake. About ten years ago he came to LeMars and established himself in
business and has since operated the LeMars Foundry and Iron works.

He was married at Storm Lake in August 1878 to Miss Mary Willstumpf, who
survives him with nine children, seven girls and two boys. They lost one boy
some years ago. His brother, Ferdinand Pech, and his sister, Mrs. Henry
Detloff, live north of town. His nephew, Will Pech, assisted him in his
business and resided with him. Miss Dora Pech, the eldest daughter, is
employed in the Iowa Telephone company's office. Another sister of the
deceased, Mrs. Duschinske, lives at Storm Lake and a brother, Robert Pech,
at Atlanta, Ill.

The funeral was held this afternoon from the Presbyterian church and was
largely attended.

Mr. Pech combined in his personality many virtues. He was a big, strong,
hearty man physically and his mental attributes were on a par. He was big
hearted, generous and of a bluff, good-natured disposition. A devoted
husband and loving father and loyal friend. He was ambitious and hard
working and possessed a great mechanical skill and ingenuity and was the
author of several inventions for labor saving in the working and
manufacturing of iron. Mr. Pech was public-spirited, ready with his voice
and purse to aid any enterprise for the good of the community in which he
lived and enjoyed a great popularity among a large circle of friends.

LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel, LeMars, Iowa, Thursday, Jan. 11, 1900
DIED FROM HER INJURIES

Mrs. Thomas MOHAN, who with her husband and family moved from this city
to Sioux City a year ago, died there on Sunday morning.  Her death was
the result of injuries she sustained from falling on a hot stove a few
days previously.  Mrs. MOHAN was standing near the stove when she
suffered a paralytic stroke and fell helplessly on the stove. She struck
on her left side and on one side of her face and neck and other portions
of her body were badly burned.  Her cries attracted the attention of
others in the house who hurried to her assistance.  She suffered a great
deal from her injuries before passing away on Sunday. Mrs. MOHAN was the
daughter of the late Patrick COWAN of this city.  Mrs. COWAN, her mother
and her sister, Mrs. Thomas LAMB, and Harry FITZPATRICK and Jas. MOHAN,
relatives in this city, attended the funeral which was held on Tuesday
morning at St. Josephs Catholic Church in Sioux City.

LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel

Thursday, January 18, 1900 

DEATH OF MRS. RICHEY.

Mrs. M. W. Richey died at her home in this city last night between eleven and twelve o’clock after an illness of two weeks of pneumonia.

Mrs. Richey’s condition was reported as dangerous last Saturday and throughout the following two days her death was hourly expected.  On Tuesday the attending physicians observed a slight change for the better and hopes were entertained that she might recover and many friends buoyed up with the hope that her life would be spared, but it was not to be and she succumbed to the inevitable.  Although but little hope of her getting better was held out, her death came as a shock to her many friends and a gloom is cast over a large portion of the community by the news this morning.

Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. L. D. Reeves, of Mitchelville, arrived the early part of the week and with the bereaved husband and other relatives administered comfort and aid during her last hours on earth.

Mrs. Richey, by her long residence and personal qualities, is known by nearly everybody in the city and her death is in the nature of a personal bereavement to a large circle of friends.

The funeral will be held on Sunday morning at the Presbyterian Church at 11 o’clock.

LeMars Semi-Weekly Post

Friday, January 19, 1900 

DEATH OF MRS. RICHEY.           

The people of LeMars were pained on Thursday morning to hear of the death of another of the old-time residents of our city, Mrs. Richey, wife of Dr. Richey, the cause of death being pneumonia contracted only about one week ago.  Mrs. Richey was taken violently ill from the start and although everything that medical skill and loving hands could perform were done for her, it was of no avail and death claimed her on Wednesday evening about 10 o’clock.

Mrs. Richey, whose maiden name was Electa A. Reeves, was born in Meigs county, Ohio, November 17, 1852.  In 1869 she went with her family to Wisconsin where they remained for about four years when they moved to Colfax, Jasper county, this state, which has been the family home and where she married to Dr. M. W. Richey, on January 22, 1878.  After they married they resided at Clyde, Jasper county, this state, until January, 1881, when they came to LeMars, and this city has since been her home.  She has made a large circle of friends who loved her for her noble Christian character and lovable, true, womanly ways.  Mrs. Richey was a member of the Presbyterian Church, in which she took an active interest in all its workings.  She was conscientious and consistent in her religion and lived up to it at all times and in all places, in her every-day life, exerting a noble influence with her associates.  She was a charter member of Acorn Lodge Daughters of Rebekah of this city, in which she took a great interest, and was greatly beloved by its members who will truly mourn this bright link that has been broken from their fraternal chain.

Mrs. Richey was conscious up to the time of her death and was resigned to the will of Providence.  Her family, father, mother, one sister and one brother, were with her when she passed away.

Besides her husband, she leaves two children, one daughter Edna, and one son, Floyd, who will miss her loving care.  Three children—two sons and one daughter preceded her to a better world.  Mrs. Richey was a sister to Dr. J. L. Reeves and Mrs. C. H. Sperling of this city.

The funeral will occur on next Sunday at 11 o’clock when services will be held at the Presbyterian Church, after which the Daughters of Rebekah will take charge and perform the last rites at the grave in accordance with the ritual of the Order.