LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel, Friday, January 4, 1918

SENEY: (Special Correspondence)
    Henry Siege had cattle on the Sioux City market Wednesday.
    Mrs. Ira Eldridge (sic--Eldredge) left Saturday for her home at Rock
Valley.
    Mr. and Mrs. Robert Chambers and Mrs. Frank Becker were Sioux City
visitors Thursday.
    Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Hennrich spent New Year's day with his parents in
Ireton.
    Ed Riter and daughter, Pauline, left Monday for Rock Rapids to visit
Mr. Riter's parents.
    Mr. and Mrs. John Hinde entertained a crowd of young people at their
home one evening last week.
    The families of Elam and Earl Chapman were entertained at the
Jonathan Alderson home on New Years' day.
    Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Reeves entertained Mr. and Mrs. Frank Becker
and family at dinner on New Year's day.
    Madge Parker, of LeMars high school,supplied for her sister, Mrs.
Merritt, in the grammar grades this week.
    W. C. and John Lancaster returned Saturday from Lamont, Wis., where
they were called by the illness of their brother.
    Misses Marie and Anna Siege, of Sioux City, were guests in the home
of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Werley a few days last week.
    Mr. and Mrs. Robert Chambers left Wednesday for their home in Hazel,
S. D., after visiting relatives here during the holidays.
    Mrs. Jessie Kennedy and son, Emerson, returned Tuesday from Akron,
where they visited a week in the Frank March home.
    The Ladies Aid society met in the hall Wednesday.  A nice dinner was
served after which the monthly business meeting was held.
    Mr. and Mrs. Chris Henricksen were dinner guests on New Year's day
at the home of the latter's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Hughes, in LeMars.
    The proceeds of the Christmas cantata given by the children of the
school amounted to over $28, which was donated to the Red Cross fund.
    Mr. and Mrs. Will Connor and family, of Kingsley, were guests on New
Year's day in the home of the latter's mother, Mrs. Mary Daughtery.
    Mrs. Harry Britton departed Saturday for her home in Spencer, Iowa,
after spending a week with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Albro.
    Mrs. Oscar Eason underwent an operation at the hospital in LeMars
Friday and her many friends are glad her condition is much improved.
    Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Hughes entertained Mr. and Mrs. Lee Hughes and
family of LeMars, Mr. and Mrs. W. I. Jeffers, of Merrill, on New Year's
day.
    Albert Hawkins was unfortunate last week when he received a bad
injury, caused by being thrown from a horse.  This will probably confine
him to the house for some time.
    Mrs. Melvin Merritt left Saturday for Camp Merritt, Jersey City, N.
J., where she will spend ten days with her husband.  Mr. and Mrs. O. D.
Merrit, of Parker, S. D., accompanied her.
    A surprise party was given for Mr. and Mrs. Robert Chambers Friday
evening at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Hughes.  After a very enjoyable
evening the hostess served delicious refreshments.

PLYMOUTH COUNTY'S ROLL OF HONOR

LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
January 15, 1918

MEN LEAVE TODAY
LAST TO GO ON THE ORIGINAL DRAFT
ALTERNATES WERE ALSO READY
The Return of the Questionnaires is Now Nearing Completion But So Far Little
Has Been Done in Classifying the Applicants.

Fred Erks, Akron; Andrew Brangwin, LeMars; Wm. J. Campbell, LeMars; Albert
Fromme, Remsen; and John H. Oetken, LeMars; leave at 7 o’clock this morning
for Des Moines, to complete Plymouth County’s contingent so far as called in
the national army at Camp Dodge. They are the last men to go on the
original draft call as the balance of that draft has been postponed until
the next call which will be made after the new classification. The four
alternates also presented themselves but will not be required to go unless
something interferes with the principals leaving.

The return of the questionnaires is now nearing completion but little has
been done thus far in classifying them, owing to the fact that there had
never been a full board at any session except for a short time Saturday
afternoon, when a few questionnaires were passed upon. Everywhere else in
the country the work of classification is nearly completed but in Plymouth
it will be impossible to get it finished by the date stipulated, February
15, because of the fact that all the work thus far has devolved on two men
and they cannot well proceed farther without a full board.

The board of exemption received a return of the questionnaire yesterday
forwarded to Geo. F. Drago, at San Jose, Cal. Mr. Drago formerly lived in
this county. The questionnaire was mailed him on December 17, and has been
following him all over the western country. Mr. Drago, in a letter, states
he received the questionnaire on January 9 and promptly filled it in and
forwarded it to LeMars.

NEW SERVICE FLAG
PATRIOTIC MEETING HELD IN HONOR OF SOLDIERS
EXERCISES WERE VERY IMPRESSIVE
Rev. J. K. Hawkins Made Fine and Aggressive Address Paying Tribute to the
Young Men Who Have Gone to the Front

At the First Methodist Episcopal church at 3:30 o’clock on Sunday afternoon
a patriotic service was held and the church honor roll and service flag were
unveiled.

Thirty-six boys have gone into the army and navy from this congregation and
the families represented therein and their names have been inscribed on an
honor roll which will be hung in the church and these young men will receive
the special interest of the congregation so long as they are in their
country’s service.

A new service flag with thirty-six blue stars on its white field, will also
hang on the church walls as a testimonial to the patriotism of these young
men who have volunteered to fight for their country.

The service opened with the singing of the Battle Hymn of the Republic, a
prayer by Dr. C. A. Mock, and the reading of the scriptures by Rev. Joseph
Steele, of the Congregational church. The honor roll stood at one side of
the pulpit and the service flag the other. While the audience stood and
sang, America, Dwight Koenig pulled the cord that allowed the service flag
to unroll and LeClaire Engelken raised the silk flag that covered the face
of the honor roll.

Rev. Hawkins, the pastor of this church, made the first address, paying
tribute to the young men who had gone out to defend their country and
reviewing the history of the Teutonic attempt to dominate the world by
military force. His talk was aggressively American and well presented.
Commander Freeman, of Mower Post, G.A.R., spoke on behalf of the Veterans of
the Civil War, ten of whom attended the service. He made an excellent
patriotic talk and predicted that the American soldiers would see the war
through to a successful conclusion that would mark the end of Kaiserism and
Prussianism. Jas. C. Gillespie, on behalf of the laymen of the church, paid
a tribute to the roll of honor men and urged they be given hearty support by
the folks at home.

The music furnished by the church choir was especially good and included,
“God is Peace,” by the choir, and two numbers by the Haas-Jones quartet,
“Comrades in Arms,” and “Keep the Home Fires Burning.” Joseph Bogen presided
at the service and E. J. Helmick assisted in the unveiling exercises and
read the honor roll.

Following is the list of names that appears on the honor roll:
Alfred Bogen, Harold Bogen, Walter Bogen, Arthur Bogen, Lyle E. Board, Robt.
Dempster, Stephen Dier, Sanford Johns, Carlyle Kennedy, Walter Held, Nelson
Hart, Oscar Hart, Clarence Langendorfer, Clay Sexton, Lyle Sexton, Glen
Winders, Luther Green, Loyal Haynes, Wayne Huxtable, Warren Lodge, Frank
Edwards, Harry Weagle, Chas. Harker, John Harker, M. C. Newell, Harry
Demaray, Ainslee Briggs, Arthur Coombs, Will Dack, Earl Gearke, John Ivey,
Clarence Tripp, Elmer Featherston, Chas. Ewin, Albert Ewin, Garland Warner.

RANGE EXPLODES AT HOORNEMAN HOME.
The cold weather Friday night was responsible for an accident at the
Clarence Hoorneman home on Saturday morning that wrecked the kitchen range
and made the interior of the kitchen look like a zeppelin had dropped a bomb
into it. A frozen water pipe is supposed to have occasioned the explosion
which blew pieces of the stove through a door and left the imprint of the
stove lids on the ceiling. Mrs. Hoorneman was in the room at the time, but
far enough away from the stove to escape injury from steam and the flying
pieces of steel.

SCHOOL FIGHT AT MERRILL
People There Divided on Merits of the Case

Merrill Record: The Merrill public schools and the superintendent, Prof. C.
O. Smith, have given much publicity in the press of Northwest Iowa the past
week, which is sincerely regretted by almost every citizen of the town and
especially every patron of the school.

The people of Merrill have contributed their money without a murmur the past
ten years to place the home school right up to the top in efficiency, thus
enabling its graduates to stand with equality by the side of the graduates
of other high schools in the colleges and universities of the county. This
has been done at the cost of many extra thousands of dollars. The Record
editor is not a pessimist and consequently believes that the school will
soon be where it belongs, but its efficiency for this year has been greatly
curtailed and it will take a lot of extra hard work to repair the damage.
Some one has made the worst blunder in the history of Merrill schools, place
the blame where you please.

Prof. C. F. Clarke, of Sioux City, has been elected superintendent of the
Merrill public schools and assumed his duties last Monday. Prof. Clark was
superintendent of the Woodbury county schools a few years ago and has also
been at the head of several city schools in the county. He is a man of
considerable experience and, no doubt will again place the Merrill schools
on the high plane to which it justly belongs. Prof. C. O. Smith, the
deposed superintendent, reported for duty Monday morning but was told that
his services were not wanted. We understand that Prof. Smith has appealed
his case to the County Superintendent and that a date for trial will be set
soon. Our people are pretty evenly divided on the merits of the case and it
is probably that many will attend the hearing.

SUITS FILED IN COURT
Several Minor Cases For Trial At Coming Term.

The next term of the Plymouth County district court will convene on Monday,
January 28, with Judge Hutchinson presiding. A few cases filed for trial at
the approaching term were filed the past few days.

The Parlin & Orendorff Plow company, of Canton, Ill., has started suit
against H. P. Peterson, to replevin $674.78 worth of machinery, and also
claim damage of $100 for unlawful detention of the property in question.

Kennedy & Parsons has instituted suit against S. E. Patterson on a not for
$300 with six per cent interest since last July, made out to the Worth Auto
company.

Lilly Menchin versus Ella Rehms, H. Sommermeyer and Earl R. Johnson is a
suit for partition of land owned by the late Henry Menchin.

Geo. Thurber is plaintiff in a suit against Hermann Dobbert. The plaintiff
claims $240 as commission in a deal he made for the defendant in a sale of
land in Thomas county, Kansas.

The First National bank of Remsen is plaintiff in a suit against the county,
naming County Auditor Hayes as defendant. The bank deems its assessment on
stock and property excessive and claims the Remsen board of review reduced
the assessment. The County Auditor fixed the assessment in accordance with
the ruling of the state department and the action of the board of
supervisors. The bank appeals to the district court.

Blanche Lower has commenced action for divorce from her husband, Lone Lower,
alleging cruelty and inhuman treatment. They live in Portland township.
The plaintiff states in her petition that the defendant has repeatedly
ordered her from her home and abused her and their eighteen months old
child.

HEARING IS CONTINUED
Alleged Bandit is Now Confined in the County Jail.

The preliminary hearing of Albert Frazier, who was arrested as a suspect of
being concerned in several recent holdups on the Hawkeye road between Hinton
and Leeds, which was to have been held on Friday, was continued until he can
obtain an attorney to represent him.

Frazier is now in the county jail. He was arrested in Sioux City and turned
over to Sheriff Maxwell. The preliminary hearing was continued until
January 16, at two o’clock before Squire Alline.

LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
January 25, 1918

ANSWERS THE CALL
JOHN WASMER FIRST LE MARS YOUTH TO DIE IN SERVICE
SUFFERS ATTACK OF PNEUMONIA
Youth Volunteered Last April When Barely Eighteen Years of Age and Joined
Co. K
Was Transferred to 168th Infantry Now in France.

John Wallace Wasmer is the first LeMars youth to die in the service of his
country. News of his death somewhere in France was conveyed to his parents,
Mr. and Mrs. L. R. Wasmer, in a telegram from the war office at Washington,
D.C., received on Tuesday morning. The dispatch signed by Adjutant General
McCain said: “Deeply regret to inform you that first class private, John
Wasmer, infantry, is officially reported to have died of pneumonia.”

The news of the young man’s death was a great shock to his family and
friends as only a day before letters were received from him, saying he was
well and enjoying life.

John Wasmer volunteered for service last April when barely eighteen years of
age and joined Company K, Second Iowa Infantry. The company went into
training at Camp Faber. With sixty-eight other Plymouth County boys from
Company K, he was transferred to the camp at Des Moines, and attached to the
168th Infantry. The regiment was ordered from there to Camp Mills, Long
Island, and left for France on November 14.

John Wasmer was the only son of Mr. and Mrs. L. R. Wasmer, of this city. He
was born on April 19, 1899, at Monroe, Louisiana. When a baby his parents
moved from there to Sioux City, and when he was four years old they went to
Hawarden. John received his education in Hawarden, attending St. Anthony’s
school. The family moved to LeMars four years ago from Hawarden. John
assisted his father in the laundry business and later was employed with
Kilburg-Rickabaugh company being in the employ of that firm when he joined
the army.

He is deeply mourned by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. L. R. Wasmer, his two
sisters, Marie, of this city, and Aloysius, who is attending school at
Clinton, his aunt, Mrs. J. A. Prairie, and his cousin, Mrs. A. J. St. Onge,
of Sioux City, and a large number of friends.

John Wasmer was a member of Trinity council, Knights of Columbus, of this
city.

John Wasmer was willing to fight for his country and his friends say it was
the proudest day of his life when he first donned Uncle Sam’s uniform. His
early death is to be regretted but a lasting consolation to his
grief-stricken parents and sisters is that he died in helping to uphold the
just and righteous cause of freedom.

Members of Trinity Council, Knights of Columbus, are in communication with
the adjutant general’s office at Washington, D.C., in regard to whether the
remains can be shipped home for interment, but up to yesterday afternoon had
received no definite reply.

KEEP TRACK OF BOYS
Many Interesting Letters Were Exchanged.

Since the Plymouth County boys went to camp at Des Moines to join the 168th
Infantry early in the war and later accompanied that regiment to France, Mr.
and Mrs. B. C. Woolley have taken a special interest in keeping track of
three of them who chummed together—Warren Lodge, John Wasmer, and Chas. N.
Wood. While the boys were at Camp Mills they sent them many letters and
numerous little contributions to their material comfort and the boys have
shown their appreciation back in letters they sent back. The day after
Christmas, John Wasmer, the first LeMars boy to give his life for his
country in France, wrote a letter which was received the same day that the
cablegram reached LeMars announcing Wasmer’s death from pneumonia. That
Wasmer was, when her wrote, in the best of health and spirits, is evidenced
by the letter to Mrs. Woolley, under date of December 26th, from which we
make the following extracts:

Somewhere in France, Dec. 26, ’17.
Dear Friend: Received your welcome letter and sure was glad to hear from you
and that you are all well. This finds me the same. I should have written
before but we are kept pretty busy during the day and pretty tired at night.
We drill eight hours a day, four in the morning and four in the afternoon,
so you see my time is pretty well taken up.

We sure are having some time over here now. We are living in barns and hay
mows until we get to our permanent camp. There are nine of us where I stay.
We lived up over some old people. They are sure good to us. They gave us a
stove and let us come down in the house and get warm and write letters. In
return we do odd jobs for them. Most of the people around here are poor
people as most of the men have gone to the Front. So the villages around
here are pretty well run down. We cleaned the town up when we first came.

As to the sweaters we are all supplied except me and I have lost the
wristlets to my set and they would come in pretty handy now.

Sgt. Lodge has been on the sick list for about a week but is better now.
“Red” Strouse was made our mess sergeant today.

By the time you get this letter that tobacco you gave me before we left will
be gone, so maybe you had better send those smokes. As to magazines the
Y.M.C.A. has some but not many as they just moved here. As to other needs I
don’t know of any right now except all of us like sweets pretty well.

LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
January 29, 1918

When information was received in LeMars of the death of John Wasmer, the
local council of Knights of Columbus took up with the War Department the
matter of having his body brought home, but have been advised that it will
probably be impossible to bring home the bodies of soldiers who died in
foreign service until after the war.