LeMars Sentinel
3 Jan 1919
SENEY: (Special Correspondent)
Mr. and Mrs. Ira Lancaster and daughter spent Sunday with Mr. and Mrs.
Schaffhausen of Hospers, Iowa.
Orville Cooper was called to Elgin, Neb., one day last week by the
serious illness of his father, Ben Cooper.
Frank Becker had a car load of hogs on the Sioux City market Tuesday.
Mrs. Agnes Berger and daughter, Dollie, who have been sick with the flu
in LeMars returned home last week.
Matthew Ewin, Mrs. Iona Clark and sons, Franklin and James, were dinner
guests of Mr. and Mrs. August Witt, of LeMars, on New Year's Day.
Mrs. Jake Berkenpas, who has been sick with the flu in the LeMars
hospital for the past two weeks, returned to her home on Saturday.
Mrs. Alvina Jeffers entertained the following guests on New Year's Day
at dinner: W.W. Jeffers of Sioux City, Mr. and Mrs. W.I. Jeffers of
Merrill and Mrs. and Mrs. George T. Hughes.
Miss Constance Chapman returned to Iowa City Wednesday after having
spent Christmas week with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Grant Chapman.
EAST PERRY: (Special Correspondence)
Ed Pence dragged the roads last Saturday.
William Greber is recovering from an attack of the flu.
Carl Andersen is suffering from a badly infected finger.
Mr. and Mrs. William Tullis spent Sunday with Sioux City relatives.
Mr. and Mrs. Carl Foster and family spent Sunday at the Ed. Rosburg
home.
Harley Swisher has been hauling grain to the Hinton market the past
week.
Relatives from Nebraska were over Sunday guests at the T. Sheridan home.
Raymond, the little son of Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Anderson, has been quite
ill of late.
Mr. and Mrs. Herman Klingibiel and family spent Sunday at the Wm. Hansel
home.
Sam Miller has finished his carpenter work for Mr. Sweetzer and is now
painting the buildings.
Mr. and Mrs. Victor Swanson and family were guests in the Carl Anderson
home on Christmas.
George Johnson, of Sioux City, is spending a few days at the home of his
cousin, Albert Swanson.
Dr. J.H. Robbins, of Hinton, was called to the A.J. Baker home Thursday
to attend to Mr. Baker, who was ill.
Word has been received here that Lloyd Worden has been quite sick from
influenza in a hospital somewhere in France.
Rural schools in this neighborhood did not have their usual Christmas
vacation this year on account of so much lost time during the flu scare.
C. F. Plummer has rented the Ole Pence farm for the coming year and will
take possession in the spring. Mr. Pence and family are contemplating
on moving to town.
Mrs. Victor Swanson and Mrs. Carl Anderson visited with their sister,
Mrs. Henry Andersen, in a Sioux City hospital Sunday. Mrs. Andersen is
slowing improving.
While trying to put the belt on a gasoline engine last Monday Mrs.
Tullis had the misfortune to catch her hand in it in such a way as to
badly bruise her fingers.
Paul O'Brien, who was stationed at Ames, has received an honorable
discharge and is now at home again.
Ray McCoy, who has been seriously ill at St. Vincent's hospital, was
removed to St. Joseph's hospital Saturday afternoon, so as to receive
the care of a special nurse, as one was not obtainable at the former
hospital.
SIOUX: (Special Correspondence)
Richard Milner returned to Merrill Saturday.
The Ernest Wilson family have recovered from the flu.
Some road dragging has been done and cars are running again in places.
Mrs. Allard and her son, Orice, have practically recovered from the flu
relapse.
The Allard young people spent Christmas Day with relatives in Jefferson
where a big family gathering in honor of the returning soldier boys was
in progress.
Mr. and Mrs. Winders and little son spent Christmas with Mrs. Winder's
parents, Mr. and Mrs. A.J. Horton, near Sioux City. Mrs. Winder's
brother, Stanley Horton, returned just before Christmas from the
overseas service.
A boy was recently born to Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Barnes, of Wessington
Springs, S.D. Mrs. Barnes had been very ill with influenza and the babe
did not survive its birth but a day or so. Mrs. Barnes was formerly
Miss Carrie Husted.
Mr. and Mrs. J.B. Hathaway and children were Sunday visitors at Val
Trometer's near Merrill. Orville Trometer returned with them and will
spend the winter with his grandparents.
Larry Weber, who was thought to be gaining strength last week, is again
very low, an attack of pleurisy coming on quite unexpectedly the last of
the week. His mother is nursing him and Miss Eva Ramesbotham, who had
gone home, returned to help.
Mr. and Mrs. T.B. Cassen and their daughter, Hazel, were visiting their
relatives in Millnerville Sunday. Howard Milner, who arrived in Sioux
City from Camp Dodge Sunday morning accompanied them and will remain at
home for awhile. He has been mustered out of the service.
AKRON: (From the Register-Tribune)
Born, a daughter, to Mr. and Mrs. James Trautt, of Akron, Monday,
December 23, 1918.
Rollo Baker went to Sioux City today for further treatment for
rheumatism, which continues to give him considerable trouble.
The influenza epidemic appears to have subsided in Akron, with a few new
cases reported in the surrounding country.
Mr. and Mrs. Bert Walters departed Monday for their former home,
Holland, Mich., where will again reside.
In one of the recent casualty lists from the fighting front in France
appears the name of Private Henry Hitzeman, of Akron, as among the
slightly wounded. This young soldier is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Aug.
Hitzeman, who went to Camp Fuaston, Kan., for training with a Union
county contingent.
The rainy weather of last week and the solid freeze up that followed
this week left the roads in terrible shape, so that traffic with auto or
team has been next to impossible. The doctors made country calls on
horseback the last of the week.
[top of next column..community name not visible]
Mrs. Laurence Thomas and her uncle, Jos. Voss, went to Sioux City
Saturday to see the former's husband, who is in the hospital recovering
from the effects of the amputation of his left hand, which was injured
in a corn picking machine. His brother, Frank, was also down to see him
the first of the week.
Wm. Lias and daughter, Miss Elda, arrived last Friday from near
Grassrange, Mont., to spend the holidays with his mother, Mrs. Thos. W.
Lias, and other relatives and renew old time acquaintances in this
vicinity, where he resided a number of years ago.
LeMars Sentinel
Friday, January 24, 1919
DIED ON HOMESTEAD
MRS. ANNA LONG WAS PIONEER RESIDENT OF LINCOLN
LIVED FORTY YEARS ON SAME FARM
Mrs. Anna Long, a well known pioneer resident of Lincoln township, died at
her home on Monday night following a two weeks illness caused by pneumonia.
Mrs. Long was born in Pittsburg, Pa., on February 22, 1847. Her maiden name
was Anna Lundy. When she was nineteen years of age, she was united in
marriage with Marcus M. Long, who preceded her in death twenty-two years
ago.
Mr. and Mrs. Long came to Plymouth County shortly after their marriage and
homesteaded land in Lincoln township and lived on same place ever since.
Thirteen children were born to them, four of whom died in infancy. Mrs.
Elizabeth Smith, of LeMars, died five years ago; Albert Long, died eleven
years ago; and a son, Joseph, was killed by explosion of dynamite in 1902.
The surviving children are Mrs. Mae Gralapp, of LeMars; Mrs. Annette Loles,
of Los Angeles, Cal.; Miss Frances, living at home; John Long, of Hinton;
Thomas and Will who are in the Army in France.
The Funeral services were held yesterday morning at St. Joseph’s church in
Lincoln township and were largely attended by old neighbors and friends.
Mrs. Long was one of the pioneer women of the county, who did her part in
building up the community and developing the raw prairie. She was a good
wife and mother and homemaker and was highly esteemed by a large circle of
friends and neighbors.
PLYMOUTH COUNTY NEWS NOTES
ELGIN: (Special Correspondence)
August Albright left Saturday for Lynch, Nebr., to visit relatives.
Mr. and Mrs. F.A. Utech were Sioux City visitors Friday.
C.J. Utech was a Sioux City visitor Friday.
J. Miller, of Superior, Wis., was a caller in this vicinity Thursday.
A good many from this vicinity attended the A. Gerling sale Thursday.
Mrs. Wm. Stoll had some of her Barred Plymouth Rocks at the poultry show in
Sioux City this past week.
John Oetken moved to the Harms farm in Grant township Monday.
T. Abbott had a consignment of cattle on the Sioux City market Tuesday.
STRUBLE: (Special Correspondence)
Mrs. Henry Fett is recovering nicely from her recent operation.
David Hammond shipped a carload of sheep from Struble on Monday.
Herman Popken shipped a carload of hogs to Sioux City on Friday.
Mrs. Chester McDougall spent several days of last week with relatives in
LeMars.
Mrs. Lafe Trigg and little son, Lamonde, are both seriously sick with
pneumonia.
August Albright left for Lynch, Nebraska, for a visit with his sister, Mrs.
Ed Pritchett.
John Gehlerman is at home again having received an honorable discharge from
the government service.
Mr. M. Delperdang, of Remsen, is spending the week with her sons, Peter and
N.J. Delperdang, of this place.
The lecture given by H.V. Adams in the city hall Monday evening was very
good and a large crowd was present.
A number from this vicinity attended the A.J. Gerling sale on Thursday. It
was a fine day and everyone reported a good time.
EAST PERRY: (Special Correspondence)
Harley Swisher is hauling corn to the Hinton market.
Tom Sheridan is erecting a new hog house on his farm.
Miss Freda Pence is enjoying a visit from a Sioux City friend.
Henry Gruber purchased a young team of horses at the Dennis Dunn sale.
Mrs. John Knecht enjoyed a visit from her cousin from Sioux City last week.
W.H. Fisher, of Hinton, was in this vicinity last week purchasing milk cows.
M.T. Mansfield hauled forty-two hogs to the Sioux City market last Friday.
William Tullis received the sad news last week of the death of a niece at
Madison, S.D.
J. McCoy was on the Sioux City market last Wednesday with seven loads of
choice porkers.
Miss Ruby Rollins, of LeMars, spent the latter part of the week with her
friend, Miss Lucille Mansfield.
A doctor from Leeds was called to the Harley Swisher home last Wednesday
evening
To care for Leonard, who was seriously ill of influenza.
The entertainment which was given by the district No. 1 school house by a
gentleman from Sioux City was well attended. Miss Mansfield was voted as the
most popular young lady present.
Mrs. Victor Swanson and Mrs. Carl Andersen received the sad news last
Tuesday of the death of their sister, Mrs. Henry Andersen, in a Sioux City
hospital. Mrs. Andersen was receiving treatment when she contracted
influenza, which resulted in her death. The funeral services were held at
the Emanuel Lutheran Church of Sioux City and the body was laid to rest at
the Liberty township cemetery.
MERRILL: (Special Correspondence)
C.C. Hauff went to Sioux City Tuesday on business.
Miss Ella Wetrosky gave a recital in the M.E. church Friday evening.
S. Hemphill and daughter, Lois, were in Sioux City Thursday.
Mr. and Mrs. Carl Martin and baby, Melessa, of Struble, visited at the
Martine and Denny homes over Sunday.
Oscar Baake came from Hinton Wednesday evening to attend the Woodman
installation.
Leo Hodapp and Clarence Morris are the first soldiers to reach home from
overseas. They arrived here Sunday.
The Rush boys, northwest of town, are enjoying a visit from their cousin,
Glen Sisson, who just arrived from camp.
Mrs. H. Larson went Saturday to visit her parents at Booge, S.D. Her father
is suffering from injuries received in a runaway.
The High School held a meeting Tuesday evening at the school house. A
program was given and preliminary steps were taken for the organization of a
literary society.
Mr. and Mrs. Hansen and family arrived in Merrill from LeMars Friday. Mr.
Hansen is preparing to start a plumbing shop. The family will lived in the
house previously occupied by Joe Strub, who has recently taken up farming.
At a joint installation with the Royal Neighbors, the Modern Woodmen
installed the following officers: V. C., Frank June; W. A. , Harry Hancer;
Clerk, Chas. Smith; Banker, Conrad Hauff; Watchman, Reuben Hoover; P. C.,
Oscar Baake. After the installation the ladies served an oyster supper
followed by a social hour and a general good time.
A goodly number of rooters journeyed to Akron Friday to witness the first
basketball game of the season. The Merrill boys defeated the Alton boys with
a score of 41-28, but the girls lost the game with a score of 15-2.
UNION: (Special Correspondence)
Harry Acker shelled corn Tuesday.
Arthur Parks has moved to the Gerling farm near LeMars.
John Sheehan has been on the sick list the past few days.
R.S. Eyres was in Sioux City Friday making the trip with his car.
John Tentinter was in Sioux City Wednesday of last week with a carload of
hogs.
G.W. Smith made a trip to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, last week on business.
Mr. and Mrs. Jas. Lindsey, of LeMars, spent Sunday with their children in
Union.
Don Wormley, assessor for Union township, was working in the northwest
section Tuesday.
The pupils of Union High School enjoyed a skating party at Pratt's Thursday
evening.
Gordon Stokes, of LeMars, assisted W.B. Hasbrook and Harry Acker with
shelling Saturday and Tuesday.
A doctor of LeMars was called Tuesday to see Mrs. Harry Acker, who was
suffering with a severe cold.
Mr. and Mrs. Lackey, who have been very sick with the flu, are improving.
Miss Day, a nurse from LeMars, is caring for them.
Friends have received work from Orren Garton, a former Union township boy,
that he has arrived in New York and expects to be home soon.
George Smith took his Buick touring car to Sioux City Monday evening to have
a limousine top put on it. Cecil McGruder and Bradford Pruyn accompanied
him. They returned Tuesday evening.
Harold, a little son of John Smith, while playing at school Tuesday fell
against a seat, cutting his tongue quite badly. Lloyd McGruder took him
home and Mr. Smith took him to LeMars to a doctor. The cut didn't require
any stitches and he is getting along nicely.
SENEY: (Special Correspondence)
Clarence Reeves shipped hogs to Sioux City on Tuesday.
H.C. Detloff had two carloads of hogs on the Sioux City market Thursday.
Mrs. M.M. Kennedy received word on Friday of the death of her nephew,
Lawrence Treadway, of Cedar Rapids, Nebr.
Mr. and Mrs. Will Reeves and family were Sunday dinner guests of Mr. and
Mrs. George Hughes.
Miss Redmond, a trained nurse from LeMars has been caring for Dwight Riter,
who is sick with flu.
Clifford Bray, who has been seriously ill at his home with pneumonia, is
much improved at this time.
Gratia, Eldridge and Elizabeth Classen are attending school in Alton as our
schools have not opened up as yet.
Mr. and Mrs. Bert Criswell and son, Charles, were Sunday dinner guests of
Mr. and Mrs. Will Jeffers, of Merrill.
Mrs. Chas. Hennrich returned to her home at Ireton Friday after spending a
few days in the W.E. Hennrich home.
Orville Cooper, who was called to Elgin, Nebr., by the serious illness of
his father, returned last Saturday. Her reports Mr. Cooper is better.
Charley Kunath, of Jefferson, S.D., arrived on Saturday to visit a few days
with his mother, Mrs. Otto Knop, returned to Jefferson on Monday.
Mrs. Henry Detloff, of LeMars, visited on Monday with her daughter, Mrs.
W.E. Hennrich. She left Monday for Sioux City to visit her daughter, Mrs. M.
Myers.
W.I. Jeffers, of near Merrill, visited Saturday with his mother, Mrs. A.
Jeffers. She accompanied him home and spent the day Sunday, returning home
in the evening.
Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Albro, who have spent the past week with their daughter,
Mrs. H.L. Britton and family, of Spencer, Iowa, returned home on Monday.
Mrs. Britton accompanied them home and will visit there for awhile.
AKRON: (Special Correspondence)
The W.R.C. members installed officers on Tuesday evening.
Mrs. N.G. Rhodes is visiting with her daughter at Sioux Falls, S.D.
Miss Merle Bennett has begun teaching school at Hudson, S.D.
There is still a number of cases of the flu in town and the surrounding
country.
Miss Freda Post, who has been very low with the pneumonia the past week is
improving.
Miss Berdice Keech was taken to the LeMars hospital on Sunday to have her
tonsils removed.
Mrs. Biddlecome, who has been to St. Paul, Minn., the past few months
returned home on Wednesday.
Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Benifield, of Eagle Butte, S.D., are visiting with her
brother, M.M. Talbott and family.
Mrs. Arden Ross received a telegram on Monday from her husband, who had just
arrived in New York from France.
A farmer just out of town was discussing his fall plowing on Wednesday,
which is something unusual for the time of year.
Mrs. Pearl Tucker was called to Madison, S.D., Monday to attend the funeral
of her sister, Miss Freager, who died with the flu.
Herbert Cunningham was taken to the hospital in Sioux City for an operation
for appendicitis on Monday night. He is doing well.
Mrs. Jessie Johnson, of near Hawarden, was visiting with the Andrew Johnson
family east of town on Sunday and had the misfortune to fall and break her
ankle.
Miss Mamie Boden, aged 17 years, who died on Friday of pneumonia after an
attack of the flu, was buried Sunday afternoon in the Catholic cemetery east
of town.
Miss Delia Kimball, who had been at St. Paul, Minn., taking care of her
sister, Mrs. Maurice McElliott, returned last week, her sister being much
improved in health.
SIOUX: (Special Correspondence)
Thomas Dreezen has been visiting in Correctionville.
Pat Gant has gone to Texas for a weeks sojourn.
Floyd Taylor has returned to his old place at Alfred Fry's.
Mr. and Mrs. Wesley Huffman visited friends near Hinton on Sunday.
Mrs. Kellogg, Mrs. Orren Taylor's mother, is considerably improved in
health.
Waldon Fry has finally received his discharge and is expected home Monday.
Mrs. Valentine Trometer and her children have returned to their home near
Merrill.
Alfred Hardy writes from Texas that he is now employed as a motor truck
driver.
A.E. Harding has moved into the new house not quite complete on the
Richardson farm.
Mr. and Mrs. Dona Allard, who had been spending the week in Jefferson,
returned home Friday.
The B.E. Clark farm has again changed hand, Sargisson having sold to other
speculators in real estate.
The member of the school board met at J.H. Mason's Thursday afternoon and
allowed the necessary bills.
A force of men have been plastering the James tenant house. Clyde took them
back to the city on Saturday.
Miss Lydia Allard returned Thursday. She had been nursing the flu cases at
Admundson's just out of Westfield.
Phoebe Hathaway and her young nephew, Orville Trometer, spent Saturday and
Sunday at the Trometer home near Merrill.
Miss Emma Pallutz was called to Westfield to attend to the adjustment of her
loss in the recent depot robbery there.
A daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Al Mathwig, former Millnerville
residents, last week and now both mother and babe are suffering from
smallpox.
Roads to Sioux City and Westfield have been in fairly good condition the
past week but the Merrill road is pretty bad in spots and many spots.
Dr. Brunner lost a wheel off his car while in Millnerville neighborhood on
professional business early Monday morning. No one was hurt and repairs not
difficult to obtain.
The two Harding children, Elmer and Irene, who were so ill with pneumonia,
are greatly improved and will recover, although their convalescence is
necessarily slow.
Mr. and Mrs. Parks, of River Sioux, have been spending the week at Will
Harding's helping take care of the sick children. Mr. Parks is Mrs.
Harding's brother.
A bunch of old schoolmates gather at the Milner home Saturday night to greet
Amos Brown.
LeMars Sentinel
January 31, 1919
DIED IN SERVICE
Plymouth County Volunteer Succumbs to Pneumonia
Charles Schnepf, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Magnus Schnepf, of Remsen, died in a
hospital at Corpus Christi, Texas, on Thursday night, January 23, of
pneumonia. His parents were notified of his death on Friday and the news
came as a severe shock as they had not known that he was even ill. The young
man was in the service having enlisted in August, 1917.
Charles Schnepf was born on a farm near Remsen on May 22, 1896, and lived in
that vicinity all his life until he went into the service. His death is
mourned by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Magnus Schnepf, and his brothers and
sisters, who are Mrs. Elizabeth Kunkel, of Adrian, Minn.; Marie and Carrie
at home; William, Winifred and Joseph, living on farms in Fredonia township;
and George, who is with the Army in France.
Charles Schnepf was a fine young man with many friends who regret his early
death.
The remains were shipped from Corpus Christie to Remsen and the funeral was
held at St. Mary's church in that city on Thursday. The young soldier was
accorded military honors.
WAR STAMPS CAMPAIGN
Plymouth County Runs Well Over Her Quota
Plymouth county bought about one-third more war savings stamps in 1918 than
her quota. The total sales in this county were $630,118.75, which is
$154,138.75 more than our quota. In every call fro men, money or work
Plymouth county made a response of 100 per cent plus. Almost without
exception the people of Plymouth county responded promptly and in splendid
spirit to every patriotic call.
*****
Mr. and Mrs. Nic Wiltgen, of America township, mourn the loss of their baby
boy, Vernon, aged four months who succumbed to illness on Tuesday night.
Mrs. Wiltgen has been seriously ill for some time and her condition is
regarded as serious. The funeral of the child was held on Thursday morning
at St. Joseph's church in this city.
DR. H. F. RUBEL IS KEPT BUSY AT A CAMP HOSPITAL
Lieutenant H. F. Rubel, who is in France with the Army, writes that he is
constantly on the move and is very busy. Lieutenant Rubel, who formerly
practiced his profession of medicine in LeMars and Struble, enlisted for
service over a year ago and was appointed to a medical corps and went
across. When he wrote he was working in a hospital in France. He says
France, except in the devastated regions, appears exactly the same to him as
it did when he visited there fifteen years ago.
*****
Mr. and Mrs. Phil E. Held and family and Paul Rossburg, Jr., of Sioux City,
were Sunday dinner guests at the Arthur Detloff home. In the afternoon and
evening they were entertained with saxophone music by Mr. Rosburg and piano
accompaniment by Miss Gladys Held.
*****
Twins sons, recently born to Mr. and Mrs. Jos. Becker, residing on Franklin
street, were christened at St. Joseph's church on Monday morning.
*****
N.A. Reisch, of Marion township, who was stationed at Fort Omaha in a
balloon school, has returned home having secured an honorable discharge from
service.
BUYS HARDWARE STORE
JOS. BOGEN WILL EMBARK IN BUSINESS AT HINTON
Joseph Bogen closed a deal Tuesday for the purchase of the Haas-Shuenk
hardware store in Hinton and took possession at once. The deal does not
include the building. C.J. Rohlfs, who has been the manager of the store,
will continue with the business in that capacity. Mr. Bogen has for some
time worked as bookkeeper for the Haas-Shuenk company, spending a day or two
of each week in the Hinton store and is familiar with the business and its
patrons. Mr. Bogen's family will remain in LeMars for the present.
The Hinton store has done a prosperous and steadily increasing business ever
since Haas-Shuenk took hold of it and their principal reason for selling is
a desire to confine their business activities to the one store where they
can personally supervise all of its operations. Mr. Bogen is a good citizen
and capable business man and this community regrets to lose him but can
commend him to the people of Hinton as deserving their confidence and
esteem.
DESCRIBES HIS IMPRESSIONS
Capt. Loomis Black Writes of Experiences in France
Capt. Loomis O. Black, of the Machine Gun Co., 352 Infantry, whose wife is
with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John V. Harker, of LeMars, while he is
serving his country in France, has written a letter describing some of his
impressions and the experiences of the 88th Division, from which we print
the following extracts:
"We have been billeted in over twenty different places and that in itself is
very interesting, the people we have met, the places where they have put us
and our attempts to learn this language over here all have been good. We
have asked the simplest questions and received the strangest replies,
sometimes very embarrassing. Nearly all French beds are very comfortable but
one of the officers in our company was assigned one which was too short for
him and when he tried to tell the old lady about it, well she did not
understand him correctly. I was assigned to one place where my bed was a
real work of art and at night the dear old lady would always take it down
for me so that all I had to do was climb in . One night she forgot it. I did
not understand how it worked, I was afraid I would not fold something
properly, so I took my blankets and slept on the floor, which really was no
hardship at all. I was used to doing that, but I nearly broke the old ladies
heart, really it was pathetic. The natives generally do all their cooking
over a fire place and it is very surprising how well they do. And the finest
biscuits I have even tasted, our cooks prepared in old fashioned ovens, in
which a fire is built, the oven heated, then the fire pulled out and the
biscuits put in.
Nearly every village has a beautiful Catholic church. They are truly
wonderful and the strangest part of it is that practically all of the were
built during the years 1000 and 1100. The Gothic architectures predominates,
though sometimes, it took so long to build them, two or more styles are
evidenced. Those churches were pretty old when Columbus discovered America
and have not been changed at all. In fact everything in the villages is
quite permanent including the dirst, smells and public buildings. So much
over here convinces a man that he is a mere worm, and that his stay on earth
is very brief. I am also convinced that all the reasons for the French
Revolution were not realized.
Our division did not take part in any great battle or little one either for
that matter, so I have no historic event to report from a personal
experience viewpoint. I know it is easy for one to say that he is either
very glad or very sorry that he did not participate in a big battle. Had the
war lasted forty-eight hours longer, we surely would have been in an
historic engagement. When peace came, we were in the St. Mihiel sector,
ready for real action, and judging from previous reports from the sector, my
chances fro coming out whole would have been considerably less than fifty
percent. At first thought, I was very glad, very glad and of course am so
still, yet later, I stood by the grave of some American soldier, with its
little wooden cross and it seemed almost selfish to be alive and sound, that
soldier had given so much and I so little. Deep down below every other
thought, I can not help but feel very seriously, that he has won an honor,
which I have not, an honor deeper and more glorious than I can ever hope to
win.
When I wrote the other letter, we were in the Belfort sector. It was a
so-called peaceful sector, but that was true only when the French were in
there. Our division had only a little trouble, but the U.S. divisions in
there before us had caught "hell." We were looking for the same treatment
and the constant strain was not agreeable. Our regiment lost some men there,
I don't know just how many and the division lost some more but altogether
not very many. One of my friends, a captain, was killed and among
twenty-five or thirty prisoners taken were two captains. You, of course, did
not read about us in the papers but I can assure you that for about three
weeks, the men of the 88th were on their toes for awhile. It was surely a
rare experience.
Taking a company into the trenches is, to say the least, very interesting.
We had bee just back of the trenches for quite awhile, we had heard about
the casualty reports, we had seen some of the "big ones" coming over and had
been rather near a real bombardment and I'll say our imaginations were keyed
up the night we went in. Still at that, you would have been proud of the
temper of the men. I really do not believe the American soldier as a whole
knows the word fear.
It was a black night and a black night in France means something, when we,
that is our company, took over our part of the machine gun positions. We had
to go through two or three miles of thick forest. The Hun positions were not
so very far away and big guns were booming all the while but their noise was
not constant enough to kill the rattle of our carts, how they did rattle
that night. They sounded to Berlin, I can hear them yet, and we knew the Hun
had the range to our road for he had shelled it a day or so before. But we
got in all right. The only time when we became really excited was when a
guard called, "Halt," he supposing we were a wagon and a team of mules; of
course we halted the head of the column but the tail of it was not easily or
quickly halted. I guess the guard thought he was being attacked, he kept
calling, "halt" and so did the rest of us in front. We knew he had us
covered and had a right to shoot but he did not.
Our regiment shortly after we got in was bombarded and raided on our left. I
can hear the sound yet also. We lost some men there but so did the Huns. And
then one a.m. at just six o'clock a bombardment started on what I thought
was the right of our own company position. It lasted for an hour and a half
and as I fully believed one of our platoons was knocked off, I can
truthfully state that I suffered. The fog was so great that we could not see
two rods. Fortunately it was ____ and right on some African troops, who are
real soldiers by the way. All we got was some stray machine gun bullets.
My dugout was in a hill from which, a week before, the Huns had captured two
French majors and the place was alive with rats and all sorts of false
alarms. We wore our gas masks at the alert all the while and had our guns
ready for instant use. A man was not allowed to move around alone; the
ground had all been captured from the Huns, they knew it far better than we.
When I come home, I'll tell you more about our life there and that
bombardment. I can't in a letter.
After peace came, a few of us had the opportunity of going over the St.
Mihiel sector. It is an awful sight; village after village just flat from
bombardments, not a person in them for miles and miles. It was all very
depressing to me. One of us picked up a Hun rifle and fired at a Hun helmet
down the main street of a good sized town and not a soul heard that shot but
ourselves.
I went to Metz a few days after the armistice; we crossed the Mozelle river
at the Point a Mousson and wend down the east bank. It is a beautiful river
but there was ruin everywhere. Metz is a fine city and the Huns had just
left there. We secured an excellent meal for $1.25 and nearly everyone was
talking Dutch. Wood was used for shoe soles and rope for bicycle tires. A
life size statue of the Kaiser was pulled over and children were walking on
its head.
Then I went down the east bank of the Meuse from St. Mihiel to Verdun and
from there out to the Verden battlefield. Of course, all through this
country there is nothing but destruction. Both St. Mihiel and Verdun were
nice little cities, really beautiful and the country near them must have
been wonderfully beautiful, but it is not so now, everything is completely
ruined.
In reference to the battlefield of Verdun, I suppose that during the war
2,000,000 men have been killed there and it looks it. Before the war there
were woods, productive fields, and villages there; now nothing for miles and
miles but complete ruin, not a tree, not even a stump, not a wall, not a
green living thing is left, all has been bombarded into a mass of debris,
sprinkled quite well with human skeletons. It all has the appearance of a
great, awful, rolling white desert with signs of death everywhere. I could
write pages and then you would have little idea of the horribleness of it
all. The worst though was the numberless skeletons on top of the ground and
in the strangest positions, a half of a skull in a helmet, a pair of shoes
with the feet still in them, and I saw men there trying to put those bones
together, using them as puzzles, just for the fun of it. And do you know
that you cannot tell a Hun skeleton from that of an American or a Frenchman
or an Englishman. Well, some Carlyle, two hundred years from now, will show
how brainless it all was.
The hills of Verdun have become sacred ground, if the highest human endeavor
can make them. Those men died for a great cause, they will not have died in
vain if out of and because of this war, war no longer is possible. At home
and over here there are people waiting for them to come home. But many of
those men, all that is left of them, are lying on the many Verduns of
northeastern France, the millions of rats have eaten their flesh, and
bombardment after bombardment has blown their bones from shell hole to shell
hole. My heart goes out to some sad, lonesome homes-the tragedy of it all, I
am so sorry. I hate war.
I have lost some friends over here, fine fellows, they died facing the
terrible enemy of civilization. We had worked together, we used to "fall in"
in response to the same bugle call, we camped together and ate our mess
served from the same kettle, and now they are gone, they have "fallen out"
for the last time over here, but for some reason I am not troubled. I feel
sure of the reveille yet to be, and my friends will wait for me, then we
will "take up the march" and "carry one" from over there.
We are now located at Bonnet, near Toul. We have been here for a month. We
do not know how long we will be here or where we will go from here. We
really know little or nothing about when we will be home, but it is about
all I am thinking about and all the little reports are listened to with
great interest.
What a wonderful thing for me my home coming is going to be, with Blanche
and little Mary, whom I hardly know. I think we are going to live in Boone,
at least we hope so, I have planned on my office there.
Please pardon this long letter. I did not mean to write so much. It is not
all elegant. I have not tried to make it such. I was not writing about an
elegant subject. I have not used my imagination. I have just tried to tell
you a little of what a real battlefield looks like and means."
LOCAL:
M.A. Cass returned this week from a trip to Hot Springs, Ark.
Patrick Mooney was taken to the city hospital this week for treatment.
Mr. and Mrs. Dan Royer, of Amboy, Minnesota, are visiting friends in LeMars.
Dr. J.M. Fettes is visiting his mother at Grannore near Montreal, Canada.
Phone 193 Von Berg's taxi and auto livery. Trunks and baggage to and from
trains.
A.C. Colledge left yesterday on a business trip to Russell and other points
in Minnesota.
Mrs. R.W. Harrison went to Sioux City yesterday to visit her son, Geo.
Harrison and family.
Dewey McMullan, has arrived home from the Great Lakes training station where
he was in service.
Corporal R. J. Mead, son of Jas. Mead, has received his discharge from Camp
Upton, N.Y., this week.
SOLDIER WINS BRIDE
CLINTON DIEHL AND DOROTHY DIER ARE MARRIED
PRETTY WEDDING IN FREDONIA
Miss Tina Kloster, Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. P. Kloster, and Carl Miller
United in Marriage in the Presence of Many Friends
Miss Dorothy Dier and Clinton Diehl were the principals in a pretty home
wedding which took place on Wednesday noon in the home of the bride's
mother, Mrs. C. Dier, 924 Broadway.
The ceremony which was witnessed by only the immediate relatives was
performed by Rev. W.T. McDonald, of Storm Lake, a personal friend of the
family and a former pastor of the local Methodist church. There were no
attendants. The bride wore an attractive gown of embroidered white voile,
fashioned over a foundation of white silk.
Following the ceremony a wedding dinner was served. Pink roses made
attractive table decorations and a color scheme of pink and white was
favored in the appointments and courses of the dinner menu. Mrs. Jessie
Kehrberg and Miss Mabel Huebsch extended the courtesies of the hour.
After a short trip the young couple will be at home at 1220 Tremont street.
The bride's traveling suit was dark blue broadcloth with accessories to
match.
The bride is a young lady of sterling qualities and both the young people
are very popular among a large circle of friends. The groom recently
returned from Waco, Texas, where he was in an officers training school. He
was a member of Co. H, Second Battalion.
Out of town guests who attend the wedding were: Mr. and Mrs. Z. Diehl, Mr.
and Mrs. Ralph Diehl, and Rev. W.T. McDonald, of Storm Lake, Mrs. Rachel
Goodrich, of Storm Lake, Goodrich of Denison, Iowa.
*****
The marriage of Miss Tina Kloster, daughter of Mr. C. P. Kloster, of
Fredonia township, and Carl Miller, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Jens Miller, of
Marcus, took place on Tuesday and was attended by about 140 guests.
The wedding ceremony was solemnized at the Danish Lutheran Church in
Fredonia at one o'clock. Rev. J. Soe pastor of the church officiating.
The chancel was prettily decorated with flowers, ferns and potted plants.
The strains of Lohengrin's wedding march played on the organ by Miss Fannie
Kloster, a cousin of the bride, heralded by the approach of the bride and
bridegroom as the wedding party.. [several lines are missing] .afternoon
and evening was devoted to celebrating the happy event.
The young people will make their home on the C.P. Kloster farm three miles
northwest of Remsen. The bride and groom are members of well known families
and have a host of friends and are very popular in church and social circles
among the young people of the community.
DESERTION IS ALLEGED
Young Woman Leaves Three Babies Motherless
Mrs. Henry Muss, who was visiting at the home of her brother-in-law, E.
Friskey, in Westfield township, died yesterday morning following an attack
of influenza. Her maiden name was Anna Hoelz. She leaves three little
children without a mother's care, the oldest three years and the youngest
only a month old.
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Muss left this county last year for Gregory county, South
Dakota.
Inquiries made for the husband following the wife's death developed the fact
that his whereabouts are unknown and the supposition is that he has deserted
his family.
County Supervisor G.J. Miller is making inquiries and has taken charge of
the remains.
WOULD LIKE TO GO TO FRANCE
John Haas, who was taken to the city hospital suffering from erysipelas, was
sufficiently recovered to leave the hospital on Tuesday and returned to the
county farm where he has been cared for the past few months. Mr. Haas owns a
small property in the southeast part of town, on which he desires to realize
and says with the proceeds he would like to go to France, where he has
relatives, to end his days. Mr. Haas, who is somewhat of a recluse and
eccentric, for many years conducted a market garden on a small scale.
*****
Mr. and Mrs. John Cronin, living a mile east of town, are shipping their
goods to Westfield this week, near where they will farm a half section of
land. This worthy couple have made their home around LeMars all their lives
and leave many warm friends who will miss them and wish them good luck in
their new home. John Brennan, of this city, will move to the Cronin place
which he has rented.
*****
Gus Schmidt, of Sioux City, was visiting LeMars friends yesterday. Mr.
Schmidt and son, Fred, returned Saturday from a five weeks stay in southern
California where they met many Plymouth county people including the Will
Kistle and Garver families and Miles Bolser. They did not find any better
weather while away than northwest Iowa has had for a month.
ADMINISTRATOR'S NOTICE.
Notice is hereby given to all persons interested that on 27th day of
January, 1919, the undersigned was appointed by the district court of
Plymouth county, Iowa, administrator of the estate of Anna Long, deceased
late of said county. All persons indebted to said estate will make payment
to the undersigned, and those having claims against the same will present
them legally authorized to said court for allowance.
Dated January 27th, 1919
C.W. Gralapp, Administrator; Roseberry & Rosberry, attorneys for estate.