Iowa Old Press

LeMars Sentinel, Tuesday, October 12, 1920, Page 1, Column 3:

FOUL PLAY FEARED
SEARCH IS INSTITUTED FOR MISSING MAN.
STOREKEEPER FAILS TO RETURN

William Pratt Drove to Sioux City on Saturday Morning and Failed to Return
Home-- Truck and Cap of Driver Found.

That William Pratt, storekeeper at the village of O'Leary, in Union
township, has met with foul play is the fear of his relatives and friends
and search was instituted for him yesterday. Sheriff Hugh Maxwell, of this
county, and detectives from Sioux City, are looking for the missing man, who
has not been seen by his friends since early Saturday morning.

Pratt left O'Leary on Saturday, about 9 o'clock to drive to Sioux City,
taking with him some produce and with the intention of buying supplies for
his store.

He failed to return as expected on Saturday evening. On Sunday morning his
wife became alarmed at his prolonged absence and a search was begun.

The truck in which Mr. Pratt drove away was found a short distance from
Leeds. In the truck was his cap and blood stains were observed on the side
of the truck. A little son of Mr. Pratt stated his father had the nosebleed
a day or two ago and had wiped off on the edge of the truck which might
account for the presence of blood.

His friends fear foul play and can account for his disappearance in no other
way.

LeMars Sentinel, Friday, October 15, 1920

Mourn the Death of Baby Boy

Mr. and Mrs. Albert Hawkins, residing near Seney, mourn the loss of their
infant son Albert Wayne, who succumbed to illness on Wednesday. The baby
was born on September 24, and died after a few hours illness on October 13.

The funeral will be held today at the Methodist church in Seney.

AFFAIRS IN TANGLE
MISSING STORE KEEPER FOUND HEAVILY IN DEBT
CREDITORS FILE CLAIMS IN COURT

Theory That William Pratt Met With Foul Play Abandoned in Light of
Later Developments--Had Invested Heavily in Stocks

Nothing has been learned of the whereabouts of William Pratt, the
storekeeper at O'Leary who mysteriously disappeared last Saturday. Pratt
left the store at O'Leary in a truck to go to Sioux City with produce and
buy groceries. The truck was found on Sunday morning on the road near
Leeds.

Search was instituted for him by Sheriff Hugh Maxwell and the Sioux City
police but their inquiries have so far been fruitless.

The first theory advanced that Pratt met with foul play has been pretty
generally abandoned in view of later developments. It appears that Mr.
Pratt's financial affairs are badly involved and it is thought that under
the press of entanglements he decided to leave.

Pratt is said to have invested heavily in promotion companies and got stung
for $10,000 in a cereal company which went to the wall. The American Trust
and Savings Bank of this city has filed a claim in court against him for
over $11,000 and other firms hold his notes. Mr. Pratt bought out the store
at O'Leary a year ago after having farmed successfully for a number of
years.

LeMars Sentinel
Tuesday, October 19, 1920

PIONEER AUTO MAN
C. L. TRENERY WAS FIRST DEAL IN NORTHWEST
PIONEER SUCCUMBS TO ILLNESS

Located in LeMars Nearly Forty Years Ago and Was Prominent in Business
and Community Circles During Active Life

C. L. Trenery, a resident of LeMars for the past thirty-eight years and
well known in business and social circles, died at his home, 799 Court
street, on Friday morning. His death was caused by cancer of the liver.

Mr. Trenery went to Omaha a couple of months ago to consult specialists
as his health was ailing somewhat and underwent an operation for relief
of gallstones. At this time was disclosed the fact that he was
suffering from a still more serious malady. After recuperating from the
operation he returned home and was able to greet the friends who called
upon him, but rapidly became worse. He realized his illness was serious
and met the end with fortitude. Comforted and solaced by his faithful
wife and cheered by the visits of his friends whose coming and
solicitude, he said, brightened the day of his painful illness.

Charles L. Trenery was born at Platteville, Wisconsin, August 15, 1849,
and died in LeMars, October 15, 1920. He was a member of a large
family. His parents came from Cornwall, England, at an early day and
settled near the mines in Wisconsin where Charles Trenery grew up. He
was educated in the public schools and in early youth started out to
make his own way in the world. After leaving Platteville, he became a
resident of Iowa and worked at Hampton, Iowa, for some years and later
moved to Fort Dodge, Iowa.

He drove into LeMars with a buggy and team of ponies on April 27, 1882, and
this was his home until his death. On coming to LeMars he was engaged in the
land and insurance business and was employed by Clay Bros., a pioneer land
firm of this town. Their office was located on Court street, where the
Wasmer laundry is now situated. When the Clay Bros. left LeMars for
California, Mr. Trenery bought out their interests and conducted the
business for some years. Subsequently he engaged in handling farming
implements and did an extensive business in selling farm machinery and
threshing machines. He had large warehouses and storage rooms on Court
street, adjoining his present residence. He subsequently bought the Ablion
house, which in the early eighties was headquarters for the British Colony,
that flowed into Northwest Iowa from 1879 to 1885. He moved the house and on
the ground built a fine modern residence for himself and family. When the
automobile came into being, C. L. Trenery was quick to see the possibilities
of the new invention and bought one of the first machines extant. He was the
first automobile dealer west of Des Moines river and the second automobile
dealer in Iowa. He sold the first machine every bought in Sioux City, and
sold the first machine ever used in Yankton, S.D., to Nyberg Bros. of that
place, the first machine in Sioux Falls, S.D., to Ferin Bros. Carl Kuehule,
a law partner of former Governor Leslie M. Shaw, bought his first automobile
from C. L. Trenery and introduced it into Denison. The first automobiles
owned in Orange City, Paullina and other northwestern towns were obtained
through Mr. Trenery.

Mr. Trenery retired from business a few years ago but always maintained an
active interest in community affairs.

During the war he was recalled to hard activities and worked faithfully and
conscientiously, and was head of the Plymouth draft board during the
existence of that institution. Mr. Trenery was all his life deeply
interested in public affairs and was a prominent figure in the community,
and in local politics. He was an ardent Republican and was always found
working for the principals and interest of that party. He was president of
the Commercial Club a few years ago and instrumental in shaping civic
improvements. He was a dominant figure and aggressive in his stand for the
thing which he considered were for right and betterment. He was a fighter
for his ideas, being of a forceful, strong character, and naturally with
opposition, made warm friends and bitter enemies.

His strong personality leaves its imprint on the history of the town in
which he lived for forty years.

His home life was ideal. He was a loving husband and father and genial host
to those to whom his house was thrown open.

In his day, he was an accession to social and musical circles and in amateur
theatricals.

Mr. Trenery was married in LeMars on October 19, 1887, to Mrs. Fidelia
Sweetland Clarke, who survives him. He also leaves a son, Frank Trenery, of
Sacramento, Calif., and a step son, Dr. S. F. Clarke, of Omaha, Nebraska.
He is also survived by three brothers and four sisters who are Ed. Trenery,
Lorraine, Ia.; Nelson Trenery, Santa Rosa, Calif.; Rev. J. E. Trenery,
Barkier, Calif.; Mrs. Carrie Buston [copy gets very dark here for two
lines-unreadable] Mrs. C. W. Black, Platteville, Wis., Mrs. Rose Van Ness,
Oklahoma City, Okla.

Two brothers, Eldred Trenery, of Platteville, Wis., and Albert
Trenery, of Miller, S.D., preceded him in death.

The funeral was held yesterday afternoon at the home and the sermon
conducted by Rev. J. J. Steele, of Sioux City, a former minister in the
Congregational church in this city of which the deceased was a member.

Dr. and Mrs. F. S. Clarke and children, of Omaha, Neb., and Mr. and Mrs.
Frank Trenery, of Sacramento, Calif., Mrs. C. Butson, of Pomeroy, Mrs.
J. J. Pascoe, of Albia and Mrs. Chris Roehler, of Hastings, Neb., are
relatives who came to attend the funeral.

FORMER LE MARS WOMAN DEAD
MRS. H. N KERN SPENT HER GIRLHOOD IN THIS COUNTY

Mrs. H. N. Kern, a former resident of LeMars, died at her home in Oregon
City, Ore., on Thursday, October 14, following an operation for
appendicitis.

Edith Irene Burrill was born in Dubuque county on October 13, 1879, and
came with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Burrill to LeMars in 1883.
The family settled in Johnson township on a farm where they lived until
1902 when they moved to LeMars.

She was united in marriage with H. N. Kern on October 6, 1904. They
moved from here to South Dakota in 1909 where they lived until 1913 when
they went to Oregon.

She is survived by her husband and five children who are: Lola, Gladys,
Robert William, George Christian, Lois Irene, and Mary Martha.

She also leaves to mourn her death her father, three brothers and four
sisters. One sister and two brothers preceded her in death.
----------------------
~Math. M. Helbach, who has lived near Billings, Montana, for about five
years, has returned with his family to Plymouth county. Dry seasons for the
past three or four years made farming unprofitable in that section of the
country. Mrs. Helbach is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Philip Boever, of this
city.

~Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Zimmerman, of Sandborn, S. D., former LeMars residents,
came from Dakota last week. Mrs. Zimmerman went to a local hospital and
underwent an operation for appendicitis. They were called here by the death
of their grandson, Albert Hawkins, whose funeral was held on Friday at
Seney.

~The second division of the Ladies Aid Society of the First Methodist
Episcopal Church will meet on Thursday of this week with Mrs. Sol Perry.

~Twins, a boy and a girl, were born Friday to Mr. and Mrs. Peter Treinen,
residing near Alton. Mrs. Treinen is a daughter of John Greff, of Meadow.

~Dr. E. B. Cummings, the chiropractor, is enjoying a visit from his wife
from Lincoln, Neb., who will remain in the city for a few days.

DEATH OF OLD RESIDENT
Mrs. Steinheuser Succumbs to Long and Painful Illness

Mrs. M. Steinheuser died at her home, 920 Washington street, this city on
Monday following a long and painful illness. Death was due to hardening of
the arteries complicated with infirmities of old age. She had been
seriously ill for the past fourteen weeks.

Mrs. Steinheuser was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, on June 25, 1843, and was
77 years of age. Her maiden name was Minna Schroeder. She was educated and
grew up in her native place and came to America in 1866. Shortly after her
arrival in the states, she was united in marriage to Frederic Steinheuser,
whom she had known in the old country. The marriage took place at
Rochester, N. Y., where they lived for a short time and then moved westward
living in Indiana and Illinois. In 1885 they located in Spink county, South
Dakota, where they farmed until seventeen years ago when they retired from
active life and came to LeMars to make their home. Nine children were born
to their union. Seven of whom mourn the death of their mother. Mr.
Steinheuser died several years ago. The children are: Hermann and August,
of Hitchcock, S.D.; Mrs. Emil Laux, Miss Lillian and Hattie Steinheuser, of
this city; Louis, of Sioux City; and Otto, of Wellington, Kansas. She also
leaves one sister, Mrs. Lena Pries, of Michigan City, Ind. There are twelve
grandchildren.

The funeral services will be held at St. Paul’s Methodist church at 2:30 on
Wednesday afternoon, Rev. S. C. Steinbrenner officiating. The children will
all be here to attend the funeral.

Mrs. Steinheuser was a member of the Methodist church since girlhood and was
active in church and community work. She was highly esteemed in a large
circle of friends, and was a loving wife and mother and good neighbor.

BRIDE IS AN INDIANA GIRL
Alex McDougall and Edna Hanstein Married.

Alexander R. McDougall and Miss Edna Hanstein, of Grant township went to
Sioux City last Thursday, where they were married the Lutheran minister.
They were accompanied by Grant Hanstein and Miss Tilli Boock. After a brief
trip they returned to the McDougall farm, which the groom has rented.

Mr. McDougall is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Alexander McDougall of LeMars and is
a progressive and successful young farmer. His bride came to this country
from Indiana three or four years ago and has made her home most of the time
with Mr. and Mrs. Henry M. Boock. She is an accomplished young woman with
many friends in this community.

On Friday evening of this week there will be a reception in honor of the
young people at the home of Mr. and Mrs. C. T. Nanninga, near Struble.