Iowa Old Press

Akron Register
August 11, 1904

The Hawarden Chronicle emptied itself of some green matter last week,
which it spewed over the farmer.  Among other things it hints that the
farmer sends his children to schools furnished by townspeople, drives on
roads worked exclusively by the same lot, attends their churches, uses
their hitching posts, etc.  Ignoring the rotten innuendoes cast at
farmers in general, in the article, we would like to have the smart
aleck editor tell its half dozen readers where these town people get
their bread and butter.  How long would the town stand if there were no
farmers?  Just point out one enterprise in town that can exist in town
without the farmer.  Also stroll out in the country when the roads and
bridges are being worked and see how many city dudes are holding the
plow and scrapers or are leveling the grade.  You will find these
fellows in town figuring how to get their living out of the farm,
without much manual labor.  If the editor would exhort the town people
to make it an object to the farmer to patronize them instead of slurring
him, the big department stores would soon be forgotten. It is this kind
of dirty flings from brainless editors that drive farmers to the cities
to trade.

Mr. and Mrs. A. P. Johnson and two boys from Alcester visited at the A.
W. Johnson's Sunday.

Will Hoscher lost a valuable cow by lightning Monday night.  As he
carried insurance the loss will be paid.

Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Arronson and daughter, of Hawarden, visited here
Monday at A. W. Johnson's.

S. W. Harker was at Paullina, Iowa, Wednesday inspecting the town and
country.

Lester Bennett sent word from Chatsworth Tuesday that a nine-pound war
hair boy arrived that morning and would probably be on hand to play ball
with the Missourians in Smith's pasture next Sunday.  Lester will
probably rent a larger farm  next year, as he has solved the hired man
problem and can laugh at strikes and labor troubles.

Richland and Chatsworth played ball in Smith's pasture Sunday afternoon.
The team from Richland got the most runs, but we have not the figures at
hand.

Missouri walloped the Union Creek ball club in Manning's pasture Sunday
fifteen to ten.  Some of the Union Creek players went to see their best
girl Saturday night and they were in poor trim for playing.  When the
Creek players are in shape the score runs up into the hundred on each
side.

J. F. Waterbury lost three cattle and six hogs by lightening Monday
night.

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Altogether the most alarming storm of the season, we have heard of now
particular damage being done.

Rufus Cilley and family, accompanied by Mrs. Angeline Wheeler, attended
the birthday given Mrs. Clark, of Akron, Tuesday.

The McCaull-Webster Co., has secured the services of J. P. McEwen, of
Minnesota, as manger of the elevator here.

Mrs. Clarence Bordwell and Miss Edith Barber spent Sunday at the home of
the former's parents at Ethan, S.D.

Mrs. Clara Jeffries, an old-time resident of Westfield, has been
stopping at the home of Mrs. Wheeler the past week and visiting old
friends and renewing acquaintances.

Mr. and Mrs. Grove Lily departed Thursday for an extended visit in
Massachusetts, their former home.

ADAVILLE ITEMS:  (Special Correspondence)

Adie and Waldo Hilliker, of Akron, were over-Sunday visitors with
friends here.

Mabel Fletcher returned home after a weeks visit in LeMars.

A son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Ed. Fletcher, Friday, August 5.

The new lamps at the U. B. church give good satisfaction.

The Ladies Aid society met with Mrs. Robert Taylor Thursday of this
week.

Mrs. Taylor was the guest of Mrs. John Fletcher Sunday.

Basil Kenaston of Akron is visiting his aunt, Mrs. Hugh Kanago, for a
few days.

Mabel Fletcher and Ada Chew are visiting in Onawa with the former's
sister, Mrs. H. Courtright.

Mrs. Lampton Morehead and children and her mother, Mrs. Sophia Stinton,
went to Struble Wednesday for a few days
visit with Josiah Stinton and family.

Warren King and family who moved down to Kansas from here last spring,
are expected back here as the high water took most of his crops and one
of the children has the ague and will live on Andrew Wilson's farm.  No
place like Iowa.

Le Mars Sentinel, August 12, 1904

FARMER HANGS HIMSELF
Fred Schwier Takes His Own Life Without Apparent Motive
WIFE FINDS THE LIFELESS BODY

He Was Happy in His Domestic Relations and Well Fixed Financially. The
Tragedy is a Shock to the Community Where He Lived

On going out into the farm yard at an early hour on Wednesday morning to
gather cobs with which to light a fire in order to get breakfast, Mrs. Fred
Schwier was confronted by a gruesome and appalling sight. From a beam
extending between two corn cribs, dangling at a rope's end was the lifeless
body of her husband.

Mrs. Schwier screamed loudly for assistance and the other inmates of the
farm came quickly to her aid. Neighbors soon arrived on the spot and the
body from which life had been extinct for some time was cut down.

The circumstances surrounding the tragedy point conclusively to suicide but
why Fred Schwier should take his own life remains a mystery to his relatives
and friends. Well to do, owning a quarter section of land in Grant
township, two miles west of Struble, where the tragedy occurred, loved by
his wife and family, like and respected by his neighbors, prosperous in no
small degree, with no bad habits, a religious man and a regular church
attendant, those who know him are at a loss to account for his rash act.

Mr. Schwier was in Struble on Tuesday where he marketed some hogs. He
greeted many acquaintances while in town and was apparently in his cheerful
and equable frame of mind. He took out a load of binding twine at his home
where he arrived about seven o'clock. He and his hired man, Thos Kyle, did
up all the chores and finished up the work for the night. Mrs. Werley, a
sister of Mrs. Schwier, was visiting with the family and the women and
children went upstairs to sleep. They retired after nine o'clock leaving
Mr. Schwier and Kyle to sleep downstairs. In the morning it was found that
Schwier had stated he was going to help a neighbor, called Harms, thresh in
the morning and supposed that Schwier had gone over to the Harm place.

When found the body was cold.

From appearances Schwier had deliberately gone to work and made sure of
ending his life. He chose a place in a covered driveway between two
corncribs. Stretched between the two cribs were some boards. Schwier
climbed up and sat on these boards, as the imprint in the dust shows, and
adjusts noose taking an old and frayed rope, which he tied securely round
his neck. He then jumped off, dislocating his neck in the fall. When found
his feet were about three feet from the ground.

John Beely, the coroner, was informed of the tragic affair by telephone on
Wednesday morning shortly after 8 o'clock and drove out to the place. An
inquest was held. Ed Durband, C.P. Rath and Geo. Ostermann being empanelled
as jurors. They examined a number of witnesses, the dead man's wife and
Kyle, the hired man, being the principal witnesses. A number of neighbors
also testified to coming over and seeing the body hanging between the corn
cribs. After hearing the evidence the jury returned a verdict to the effect
that the deceased came to his death by hanging himself.

Schwier was about forty years of age, and has lived in the county more than
twenty years. He was married and leaves a wife and two children. He was
well known by many people in this city, who speak in high terms of him and
who were shocked to learn of his inexplicable act.

There is only one theory advanced which is considered tenable and that is
that Mr. Schwier suffered at times from violent and severe headache. When
these attacks came on he suffered great pain from them and they sometimes
were so acute as to prevent his working. It is stated that he complained of
headache on Tuesday afternoon.

The funeral will be held today at the residence in Grant township at eleven
o'clock and the remains brought to Le Mars for interment.

Special Train to the Alta Fair on August 18 and 19

On account of the great Alta fair, the Illinois Central will run a special
train on the above dates, leaving Le Mars at 7:25 a.m., and will sell
excursion tickets to Alta at a rate of $2.05 tickets limited to August 20
for return. Returning, the train will leave at 6:30 p.m.

The Alta fair will be bigger and better than ever before. With $4,000.00
hung up in purses and over one hundred horses entered the races are sure to
be exceptionally good. Special attractions galore have been provided.

Don't forget the base ball carnival in which teams from Cherokee,
Correctionville, Newell, Sioux Rapids and Alta will contest for a purse of
$200.

J.F. Merry, Assistant General Passenger Agent, Dubuque, Iowa.

LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel Tuesday, August 16, 1904 

SUDDEN DEATH of OLD RESIDENT 

Mr. Peter Bauma, residing in the southeast part of town, died very suddenly on Sunday afternoon at his home about half past four o'clock, after a few hours illness caused by intestinal obstruction. Mr. Bauma attended early mass at St. Joseph's church and was apparently in his usual health. He was taken sick shortly after reaching home and Dr. Kueny and Dr. Schwind were called in to attend him but medical science was unable to prolong his life. The funeral will be held at St. Joseph's church in this city at half past nine this morning. The deceased was seventy-one years of age and was a native of Holland. He has resided in this country for the past twenty years and two years ago came to LeMars to make his home. He leaves a widow, two sons, George and James, two daughters, Mrs. John Gengler and Mrs. Henry Rangel. The children live in this county, except Mrs. Pangel, who went to Hibbings, Minn. A telegraph dispatch was sent to Mr. and Mrs. Pangel informing them of the death and an answer was received saying they could not be located.

LeMars Sentinel, Friday, August 19, 1904

SENEY
Special Correspondence

Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Demaray received word last Sunday that their son,
Earnest, who has been in the Yukon and Klondike region for about seven
years, was married on the twelfth of July to Miss Electa Harris, of Cal.

Little Midge Becker, of Sioux City, is visiting her aunt, Mrs. O. C.
Haviland this week.

Willie Jeffers entertained a number of his friends at an informal party
last Friday afternoon.  Mrs. Jeffers was assisted in the entertaining
and serving of lunch by Miss Bernice Gleason, after which the young
people returned home well pleased with their afternoon's entertainment.

Pearl Kennedy returned to his home at Burlington, Kansas the first of
last week after spending several weeks at this place.

Quite a number of our people attended the carnival in Struble last
Saturday.

Mr. and Mrs. W. N. Redmon and family, of Merrill, visited at the home of
Alfred Demaray last Sunday.

There will be no evening service in the M. E. church next Sunday on
account of the camp meeting which is in progress at LeMars.

Mrs. Dan McArthur and son Miles, of Sheldon, visited at the home of Mrs.
E. March the first of the week.

Miss Lela (sic--Lelia) Osborne invited a number of her friends to her
pleasant home last Tuesday afternoon to help celebrate her birthday.
About sixteen little girls were in attendance.  Toward the close of the
afternoon Mrs. Osborne served delicious refreshments to the little
folks.

Otto Becker returned to Seney last Tuesday after spending some time in
Minnesota acting as night operator.

Mr. and Mrs. Watson Kennedy returned home the middle of last week after
visiting for several weeks with Mr. Kennedy's parents at Benson, Minn.

John Alderson attended the carnival at Merrill last Monday.

Mrs. Lymon (sic--Lyman) Britton received a dispatch last Tuesday morning
stating that her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Harry Britton, had died at her
home in Spencer on Monday morning.  Mrs. Britton went to LeMars to take
the noon train in order to be present at the funeral.

UNION:  (Special Correspondence)

Dick Eyres and David Yarnell spent Sunday at the home of the former in
LeMars.

Over twenty children and young people are taking instrumental music lessons
from Miss Pearl Clarke.

Wheat threshed from the stock averages from ten to twelve bushels per acre,
barley, twenty-five, and oats forty or more.

C. H. Kehrberg, of LeMars, and J. A. Kehrberg, of Sanborn, visited their
brother, F. W. Kehrberg on Monday making the trip in an automobile from
LeMars.

Charles Kellner, of Kingsley, was a business visitor here on Wednesday.

John Carpenter visited over Sunday with his family at the home of his
parents.

Mr. F. W. Kehrberg was tendered a surprise party on Friday evening in honor
of her birthday.  Her daughter, Mrs. A. Blecker and family, of Merrill,
drove over to attend the party.

Harry Sigler is helping his father stack grain near Akron.

Featherstone, Lindsay and Blewett threshed for Mr. Echen on Thursday and
Friday.

Mrs. Steele entertained relatives from O'Brien county this week.

Rev. J. W. Robb has written that he will be home to fill his pulpit Sunday,
August 28.  His resignation takes effect on September 1.

Rev. W. A. Richards conducted commission services at Mt. Hope on Sunday and
a collection was taken for the mission cause.

CHURCHVILLE:  (Special Correspondence)

Mr. and Mrs. H. Kallas, of Perry Creek, visited at the home of L. Danne on
Sunday last.

The W.M.S. gave a missionary program at the Emmanuel church on Sunday
evening.  A large number of people from LeMars and Melbourne attended.

Mr. J. Lippke is preparing to have a large new house built on his farm.

Miss Minnie Koenig, who has been spending several months with her sister,
Mrs. Chas. Wendel at Audubon, visited relatives over Sunday here.  She has
accepted a position as teacher in the Orphan's Home in Flat Rock, Ohio, and
will leave the first of September to assume her duties there.

Akron Register
August 25, 1904

ADAVILLE ITEMS:  (Special Correspondence)

Adaville will have a picnic in Fred Fletcher's grove Wednesday, August
31.  Remember the date and come.

Will Fletcher and daughter-in-law, of Reinbeck, Iowa, and Mr. and Mrs.
Elijah Stinton, of Morrison, Illinois, are visiting relatives here.

A few have finished stacking and are now busy plowing.

Nettie Fletcher returned home on Wednesday from Onawa, where she has
spent the last two months with her sister, Mrs. H. Courtright.

Mrs. Ed. Stinton and children spent Saturday and Sunday in Akron.

Those who took the excursion to Duluth Thursday were Chas. Sr., and Hugo
Kanago, Ed. Stinton, Chas. Kanago, Jr., Miss Rose Montagnue, and Mr. and
Mrs. Frank.

Miss Grace Potter, of LeMars, is a guest at the Tindall home.

Come to the picnic, Aug. 31.  A program is being prepared to include
singing, address by Revs Chew and Moore, baseball, potato sack and foot
races, etc.  Everybody come.  Don't miss a good time.

Mrs. Maude and children, of Burbank, S.D., visited Mrs. Tindall the past
week.

CEMETERY ASSOCIATION OFFICERS
The interest shown in the annual meeting of the Cemetery Association was
very encouraging.  The following officers were elected for the year
1904-1905:
Pres. - Mrs. A. N. Williams
V. Pres. - M. A. Biddlecome
Sec. - Miss Avis Williams
Treas. - Mrs. E. B. Frank
Board of Directors - Mrs. Geo. W. Raish, M. A. Muhs, F. W. Burnett
Advisory Board - Dr. H. H. Cilley, B. F. Wintersteen, R. B. Ogden