Iowa Old Press

LeMars Sentinel
Tuesday, September 2, 1902

SENEY:  (Special Correspondence)

Mrs. Perry Albro, of Winnebago City, Minn., was calling on Seney friends
last Tuesday.  She left for her home Wednesday.

Frank March returned from his Kansas trip this week.  He reports having
had a pleasant trip, but says is Iowa is hard to beat.

Myron Mason, of Carnes, was calling on Seney friends last Tuesday.

Mrs. John Lancaster has been on the sick list lately.

Miss Emma Becker visited her relatives in LeMars Tuesday.

Mr. Muelke, a farmer from near Struble, was in this burg recently making
arrangements to rent a farm near Seney.

Friday, August 29, was the 57th anniversary of the birth of Mrs. Arthur
Reeves and her children and grandchildren to the number of nineteen
gathered at her home to celebrate the event.  They spent the evening
very pleasantly, not the least attraction of the evening was a bountiful
supper such as only Mrs. Reeves knows so well how to prepare.  Mrs.
Reeves was the recipient of several nice presents.

Elder Trimble conducted the quarterly meeting service in the church in
Seney Sunday evening.  He baptized the infant daughter of Frank Becker,
little Helen, Sunday morning.

Saturday during the heavy rains there appeared on our streets a
woebegone specimen who was traveling through the country on an
automobile.  In vain he tried to make it "go" but nary a go.  Friendly
hands gave a push as the stranger seemed very determined to get to
LeMars but after floundering around in the mud south of town for about
half an hour, he had to finally give up and implore the aid of a passing
buggy and a wary bedraggled, not to say disgusted owner.  He took the
evening freight south and the automobile is safely in a shed awaiting
dry roads to finish its journey. 

Mrs. John Walkup and children went to LeMars last Monday returning on
the evening train.

Our section boss, Wm. Myers, has taken a vacation from section work and
is trying his hand in the harvest field.  His place is being temporarily
filled by another man who is quite busy with a large force of men
working between here and Carnes.

[top of next column..no community name visible]

The home of Ed Fullbrook had a very narrow escape from being destroyed
by fire one day last week.  Mrs. Fullbrook turned on the two burners of
the gasoline stove and then went about her other household duties.  In
about twenty minutes she retuned to the stove to see how things were
going.  She found one burner going alright but the other was leaking
gasoline, in fact, it had leaked a large quantity onto the floor.  She
stepped to the stove to run off the burner when the current of air
started by her dress blew the flame so that in an instance the whole
exposed gasoline was ablaze.  By rare presence of mind the flames were
smothered by Mrs. Fullbrook before much serious damage was done.

YEOMANS:  (Special Correspondence)

Mr. McDonald, five daughters, and two sons arrived at Yeomans Saturday.
They traveled overland from Tennessee.  Mr. McDonald bought the J.C.
Stark half section and several houses and lots in Sioux City.  He is
undecided as yet whether he will remain on the farm or locate in Sioux
City.

Mr. McWilliams, our school director, wants to secure a good teacher for
our winter school.  Address applications to Yeomans.

Ben Stark was quite seriously hurt while threshing at the Widemer farm.

Mr. and Mrs. Jeston, of Sioux City, visited friends at Yeomans Sunday.

James O'Brien and family visited at the Stark home Sunday afternoon.

Frank Pepper who was working near Yeomans has returned to his home at
Sargeants Bluffs.

Selma Nystrom, of Sioux City, visited friends at Yeomans Sunday.

Hazel Herman visited relatives in LeMars the past week.

Frank Taft took a photo of the steam thresher and crews while they were
threshing at Yeomans.  The boys were much pleased with the pictures and
sent some of them to their friends and relatives.

Tom McNight, Ed and Frank Cromister, of the threshing crew play well on
the harmonic and are good singers.  Evenings and rainy days they keep
themselves lively with their music.

Eliga G. Southwood, engineer with the threshers, spent Sunday at this
home in Sioux City.

While going up the hill south of Herman Shootpelts the main shaft broke
on the threshing machine engine, causing the engine to back rapidly down
the hill.  The machine was damaged but no one was seriously hurt.  The
men jumped for their lives, receiving a few bruises and a good shaking
up.

Mrs. Widmer helped Mrs. Shootpelt cook for threshers.

Mrs. Hayes helped Mrs. Blood during threshing.

Mrs. Edward Bruford has been very sick for ten days.  She is recovering
slowly.  Mrs. Bruford's sister, of Sioux City, will spend the week with
her looking after the household duties and caring for Mrs. Bruford.

September 5, 1902, Remsen Bell-Enterprise

Obituary of Nic Arens 1858-1902

DESPAIR AND DRINK Drive Nic Arens To Commit Suicide. A Red-Letter Day.

          Saturday August 30 will be marked as a Red-Letter Day in the
history of Remsen. When shortly after nine o'clock in the forenoon the
news spread around that Nic Arens had been found dead, killed by his own
hand, everybody was shocked! Nic Arens killed himself! Isn't that too
bad! Isn't that horrible! Sad, but alas, too true!
          For about eight years Nic Arens had held the position as
manager of the Gehlen flour and feed exchange at Remsen.
          About 9 a. m. last Saturday customers called for flour, but
Arens was nowhere to be found. J. P. Brucher and Burl Atkinson resolved
to open the warehouse, and Burl Atkinson climbed in through a small
window to open the door from the inside, where he found the man they
looked for, sitting in an easy chair, cold in death, killed by his own
hand as all surroundings indicated. Preparations for the cruel
proceeding were made by the suicide as only one, whose mind had become
fixed on that subject, and deranged for all other thoughts, could
arrange them. The front and side door of the wareroom were carefully
locked, and there, in the arm chair, his feet crossed on the table
before him, his head gently resting against the back of the chair, his
left hand resting in his lap, holding the 38 caliber Bull Dog revolver,
sat the unfortunate man, cold and stiff in death, when found. The bullet
had been fired with a wonderful accuracy, entering the forehead between
the eyes, apparently causing instant death. Coroner Beely was notified
and he arrived with the 11:35 train. A jury was empanelled and an
inquest held in the office of Kass brothers. After having heard all
evidence obtainable, the jury returned a verdict, that deceased came to
his death by his own hand. The circumstances that lead Nic Arens to the
rash act are as follows: -
          About the 25th of August Nic Arens was notified in a letter
from Gehlen Bros., his employers, that on the first day of Sept, for
economical reasons, his place in Remsen would be declared vacant, and
the work of the office done by Mr. Brucher. The same letter declared
that a job would be open for Arens at the Gehlen mill in LeMars. From
the time Arens had received this letter he was restless. He complained
to his friends over his misfortune saying, "I am not used to hard work,"
I cannot work! I am too old to learn to do hard work! What will become
of me! But one thing is left for me to do!" The constant brooding over
these things and the free use of liquor drove the unfortunate man to
madness. On Friday evening he became unruly at home, and an officer had
to be called. He declared then. "Tomorrow is my last day." He left his
house shortly before 5 o'clock Saturday morning, and was sitting in
front of John Kramer's butcher shop about 5 o'clock, when Mr. Kramer
bade him good morning, and invited him to a morning drink, which offer
was accepted. Mr. Kramer says that Arens appeared sober then, was not
talkative as usual and wore a disturbed look. No one claims to have seen
Arens after that, until he was found dead in the warehouse. Deceased
leaves a wife [Nellie (Vanderberg) Arens] and four children. His aged
mother [Elisabeth (Ehleringer) Arens 1822-1916], Mrs. N. Kass [Susan
Arens 1867-1945], Mrs. P. Homan [Angeline Arens 1849-1928], Mrs. J.
Duster [Antoinette Arens 1861-bet 1928 and 1945], and Mrs. J. P. Mersch
[Margaret Arens 1854-1944], his sisters, residing in Remsen, as is Mrs.
M. Lehnertz [Mary Arens 1852-1945] who resides in Muenster Texas. Toni
Arens of Currie Minn., and Frank Arens of Lake Park, Iowa, are his
nearest surviving relatives.
          Nic Arens was born in Angelsberg, in the Grand Duche of
Luxembourg in 1858 [February 23, 1859]. When but six years old he came
with his parents to the United States. He resided later in Alton and for
the last 18 or 19 years in Remsen. Sure he had his faults, but the hand
of friendship was extended to him from all sides, for his faults were
those that injured only himself, and brought on the fatal rash act. If
there are those who wish to cast stones, let him who is without fault,
be the first. Bear in mind that human prejudice and human judgement do
not reach beyond the grave. The departed soul is in the hand of her
[the] maker, who has reserved for himself the exercise of revenge. He
had in mind the miserable and unfortunate when he said, "Suffer the
little ones to come unto me," Let him be the mild and kind judge of his
fallen child. Let His will be done. To Him we bow and to Him only.
          The funeral was held Monday morning and a large concourse of
friends of the sad and bereaved family attended.    
          The pall bearers were N. B. Miller, J. P. Kieffer, Peter
Clement, Louis Singer, J. P. Brucher and Theo Fideler.
_________________________________________________________
From the September 5, 1902 Remsen Belle-Enterprise:

          An unfortunate misunderstanding carried a message meant for
Frank Arens of Lake Park, Iowa, to Lake Park, Minnesota, and Frank did
therefore not arrive here to attend the funeral of his brother, Nicolas.
Toni [Anthony] Arens arrived from Currie Minnesota Sunday morning, and
returned Wednesday.

--------------------------------------------------------------------
(An interesting article immediately followed the Nic Arens obituary.)

Unhappy Events.
This appears to be a period of unhappy events. The tragic end of Nic
Arens came on Saturday Aug 30. On the same day a farmhand, a man about
50 years, destroyed his life with a rifle and on the farm, of his
employer, Mr. Gust Ament in Sioux county, just over the line, somewhere
near the Nic Gehlen farm. Despondency is said to be the cause of the
suicide. On Sunday afternoon Ed Hueck, who is a clerk in the store of
Beck and Ahmann, went out for a recreation and took with him his girl
and his rifle. At a time when Ed was talking to the young lady, he paid
less attention to the gun; it discharged a bullet into the calf of his
right leg. The missile past through the fleshy part of the leg and
through the heel of the foot, causing a painful, but not too serious
wound. The patient is getting along well under the care of Dr. Jastram.
On Monday last Mr. J. J. Tierney received a message bearing the
intelligence, that George Doph, a man who worked for him for two years
at Oyens, had committed suicide at Rock Rapid, Iowa.

LeMars Sentinel
September 19, 1902

MARRIED.

Miss Nettie Engles and Mr. Arthur Hammond, of this city, were united in
marriage on Wednesday, September 17, at St. Jean's church rectory, Sioux
City, Rev. Father Dagnault performing the ceremony. Miss Millie Beck, of
Leeds, and Mr. Fred Forette, of LeMars, were witnesses of the ceremony.

The young people returned to LeMars last evening and will make their
residence at the Hammond home in the west part of town. The young people
have resided in LeMars all their lives and have a large number of friends,
who will wish them joy and happiness.

***

Miss Laura Long and Mr. Frank Luksan, of Lincoln Township, were united in
marriage on Tuesday, September 16. The marriage service was performed by
Rev. Bear at the Lincoln Township Lutheran Church in the presence of a large
number of relatives and friends. After the ceremony, the wedding party
repaired to the Long home near Neptune where the wedding day was duly
celebrated. About two hundred guests partook of the bounteous hospitality
provided and a dance in the evening was enjoyed. The young people will
reside on one of the Luksan farms.

MEETING OF BUSH LEAGUE DIRECTORS.

J.U. Sammis, manager of the LeMars baseball team, attended a meeting of the
directors of the Iowa-South Dakota league in Sioux City on Wednesday
evening. Treasurer Baker, of Sioux Falls, S.D., was absent from the meeting
and the affairs of the league in consequence could not be finally settled.
The outstanding bills against the league were allowed. President Lockhart
was delegated to go to Sioux Falls and check up the reports of Mr. Baker.

Sheldon and Rock Rapids both claim more points than they have been credited
with and it will be necessary to look over the reports of the secretary to
settle this point.

The meeting adjourned to meet again on the second Tuesday in January.

DEATH OF C. S. SYDENSTRICKER

C.S. Sydenstricker died at his home on Clark street on Thursday morning at
four o'clock after an illness lasting several months. For several years he
was subject to heart trouble and for some time has been aware that his end
was near.

Charles Augustus Stewart Sydenstricker was born in Green Briar county,
Virginia, on June 27, 1841, where he attended school and grew to man's
estate. He taught school and farmed in his native county. When the war broke
out, he acted as scout in the mountains for the Union army and afterwards
enlisted in Company G., 36th Ohio regiment, receiving an honorable discharge
at the close of the war.

He was married at Charlestown on April 1863, to Miss Nancy Thomas. Eleven
children were born to them and nine are living. Five reside at home. His
eldest son lives in Seattle, another son in Omaha, and one daughter, Mrs.
Hutchinson, lives in Los Angeles, Cal., and Mrs. H.A. Johnson, another
daughter, lives near Perry, O.T.

The family came to LeMars in 1882 and have lived here since.

The deceased was a member of Mower Post G.A.R.

Mr. Sydenstricker was a member of the First Baptist Church, of which he was
a devout and consistent member. He was of a fervent religious temperament
and few men studied the Bible and its teachings more than he.

He died at peace with all men, meeting the angel of death fearlessly,
confident in the hope of the future life and glorious resurrection.

The funeral will be held on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. at the Baptist
church and the members of Mower Post will conduct the services at the
graveside.