Iowa Old Press

LeMars Globe-Post
April 2, 1931

FUNERAL SERVICES MRS. EMMA BARNES
Former Kingsley Woman Succumbs In Sioux City Hospital After Operation

Funeral services for Mrs. Emma Barnes, 41 years old, 4349 Filmore avenue,
Sioux City, were held this afternoon at 2 p.m. in St. Paul’s Lutheran
Church. Rev. E. A. Matthaidess officiating and interment was in Logan Park
cemetery directed by Westcott’s undertaking parlors. Mrs. Barnes died
Tuesday in a Sioux City hospital after an operation.

Mrs. Barnes was born near Kingsley, May 9, 1889, and spent her life in
Plymouth and Woodbury counties. She resided in Leeds during the last seven
years.

She is survived by her widower, Miller Barnes; five sons, Charles, Irvin,
Emory, Melvin and Glenn; six daughters, Mrs. Alice Menard, Grace, Bernice,
Mildred, Ruth and Lila, all of Sioux City; three brothers, William Utecht of
Kingsley, Fred Utecht of Leeds and George Utecht, of Brigham Lake, Minn.;
two sisters, Mrs. Caroline Law and Mrs. Elsie Fish of Sioux City, and three
grandchildren. She was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.

MOTHER GETS WATCH OF WAR VICTIM SON
Mrs. Wm. Nash of Kingsley Gets Relic of First Kingsley Boy Killed

Kingsley News-Times: Mrs. Wm. Nash received this week a watch, which was
formerly owned by her son Edward, who was the first Kingsley boy to lose his
life in the world war. The watch was sent to Mrs. Nash from a Felix A.
Berner of Minneapolis, who 14 years ago was engaged in the jewelry business
in LeMars. A letter which was received from that gentleman, explained that
while Ed Nash was a member of Company K and stationed at LeMars, he wished
to trade his pocket watch for a wrist watch. Mr. Berner says, “While in
the jewelry business in LeMars, your son Edward came in to purchase a
military strap watch and after learning that he wished to trade in the watch
I tried to discourage him from doing so for it wads a much better timepiece
than anything the jewelers had in imported strap watches at that time.
After repeated attempts to dissuade him, I was told that if I did not want
to deal with him, he would go elsewhere and at that point I consented to the
trade. The case was worn and I sent it to the manufacturer to e exchanged
for a new one. I carried that for several years personally, particularly
after your son was killed.”

LeMars Sentinel
April 3, 1931

PERRY CENTER: (Special Correspondence)

Amil Von Drak was ill several days this week.

A baby girl arrived at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Mulline Monday, March
23.

There will be a card party at Ellendale hall Thursday evening, April 9.
Everyone is invited.

Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Luken, of Chatsworth, spent Sunday at the Lawrence
Dilley home.

There was no P.T.A. meeting at school district No. 3 Friday night on account
of the stormy weather.

Mrs. Paul Hatfield entertained the Portfolio Club, of Sioux City, at her
home last Tuesday afternoon.

Mr. and Mrs. Chris Petersen and children, of Hurley, S. D., were visitors at
the Niels Hansen home Sunday.

Mr. and Mrs. Ernie Luce and son, of McCook Lake, S.D., were dinner guests at
the Lawrence Dilley home Sunday.

Mrs. Marguerite Von Drak was absent from high school in Sioux City several
days last week on account of illness.

Mr. and Mrs. Chauncey Griffith and Mr. and Mrs. Bert Haught, of Sioux City,
spent Thursday evening at the Chas. Kelley home.

A number from here attended the program and basket sociable given by Will
Koreige and pupils at the Beaulieu school in Liberty township Thursday
evening. A little over $65 was taken in. The highest basket sold brought
$8.00.
Willard Blaisdell, of Lake Champlain, Vermont, returned to Ames Wednesday to
resume his school work there after spending a few days visiting with Hans
Petersen. He made the trip down to Ames with Pete Sulzback, of Sioux City.

REMSEN: (Special Correspondence)

Miss Ida Christianson is spending the week with Dr. and Mrs. P. Beppler.
Miss Christianson is a sister of Mrs. Beppler.

Mr. and Mrs. G. A. Null and son, Donald, and Dr. and Mrs. Null of Hawarden
drove to DesMoines Monday on business.

Mrs. Louise Lang is seriously ill at her home. She is 92 years of age and
one of the oldest residents in Remsen. Her recovery is doubtful.

Joseph Meinert arrived in Remsen from Iowa City Thursday to spend the Easter
vacation with his mother, Mrs. Anna Meinert. He is a junior at the
university.

Detlef Lindemann held an auction sale at his home on south Main street
Saturday afternoon and disposed of his household furnishings. Mr.
Lindermann recently sold his house to Sylvester Fiedler. He is now making
his home with his daughter, Mrs. E. Peoples in Morningside, Iowa.

Donald Null, son of Mr. and Mrs. G. A. Null, arrived home from Spearman,
Texas, last Thursday to spend a month with his parents. Donald has been
engaged in theatrical work for several years in Texas, Colorado, and
Oklahoma. He has been with a company which presented plays and in which he
took a leading part. He also managed and lead an orchestra. After a month
he will join another stock company and will travel in Minnesota and North
Dakota. Donald is a talented musician and actor and has been successful in
this work.

SENEY: (Special Correspondence)

E. H. Riter and E. F. Anstine shelled corn Monday and Tuesday.

Charles Connor, of Moville, Iowa, visited with relatives here Sunday.

The Seney School was closed Thursday afternoon for the spelling contest.

W. E. Hennrich went on Thursday to Iowa City returning Tuesday.

Mr. and Mrs. Herman Renken, of Ireton, visited in the Hennrich home on
Monday.

The Ladies Aid held a meeting at the home of Mrs. Ed Pech Wednesday
afternoon.

Jake Berkenpas, Henry Berkenpas, and Henry Berkenpas, Jr. left for Iowa City
Wednesday.

Miss Lois Hendricksen, of Alton, who had been visiting with Mrs. A. Jeffers,
returned home on Saturday.

The pageant scheduled for Sunday night was postponed and will be given in a
few weeks. The date will be announced later.

Mr. and Mrs. Harry Buss and Mr. and Mrs. Ed. Buss motored to Harlan, Iowa,
on Saturday to attend the funeral of a relative.

Miss Pearl Reeves, who is an instructor in the high school at Sheffield,
Iowa, is spending the Easter vacation in the home of her parents, Mr. and
Mrs. Wm. Reeves.

KINGSLEY: (Special Correspondence)

Mr. and Mrs. Ray Hawkins were LeMars visitors Monday.

Mr. and Mrs. Ed. Kelley and family spent the week end at Cherokee.

Mr. and Mrs. Henry Holland, of Pierson, were Kingsley visitors Monday.

Mr. and Mrs. Bill Mahrt and family visited the Victor Harvey home at Cushing
Sunday.

Mrs. Ray Harvey, Mrs. H. Brunning and Dorothy Nelson visited over Sunday in
Omaha.

Mr. and Mrs. Arendt, of LeMars, visited at the D. W. Schneider home here
Sunday.

Glenn Martin, who is working in Cherokee, is visiting at the home of his
mother this week.

Miss Esther Cornish, an eighth grade pupil here, won in the spelling contest
held Tuesday.

James Heacock, who is attending Morningside college, spent the week end with
his parents here.

Mr. and Mrs. Forest Hammer and family visited in the Henry Holland home near
Pierson Sunday.

Bill Dunn, Lloyd Bainbridge, Louis Meister and Ed Bride, of Cedar Falls,
spent the week end at their homes here.

Akron Register Tribune
April 4, 1931

MOTHER OF TEN
CHILDREN DIES IN
AKRON HOSPITAL
Mrs. J. Howard Searls Summoned
After a Very
Brief Illness

One of the saddest deaths to be re-
corded in this community in a long
time was that of Mrs. J. Howard
Searls, who passed away at the
Akron Hospital, Sunday noon, April
26, 1931, following the birth of a
baby daughter, who survived. Mrs.
Searls became ill from the excitement
attending a fire which did considerable
damage at the Searls farm two weeks
ago, when one of the Searls children
was thought to be endangered by the
flames.

Maydie Christison was born June 26,
1891, in Illinois and attained the age
of 39 years and 10 months. She came
with her parents to western Iowa twenty-
five years ago. On December 31, 1913,
she was united in marriage with J. Howard
Searls in Sioux City, Iowa, and they have
made their home in Portland township,
three miles northeast of Akron, ever since.

Eleven children were born to them, one of
whom died in infancy. Besides her hus-
band, she is survived by six sons and
four daughters: Walter, Lloyd, Anita, Irving,
Alvin, Dorthy, Daniel, William, Caroline and
Maydie; also by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Nels
Christison, of Chatsworth, Iowa, and two
brothers and four sisters. The relatives have
deep sympathy of the community in their
bereavement. Mrs. Searls was kind and
devoted wife and mother, and her ministrations
to this large family will be sadly missed.

Funeral services were held Tuesday
afternoon in. the Baptist church, conducted
by Rev. U. G. Miller. The singing
was by a quartet composed of Louise
Anflinson, Mildred Lemen, Karl Silkebakken
and W. E. Mellen. Interment was In Riverside
cemetery.

Relatives who came from a distance
to attend the funeral were Mr. and
Mrs. Mattison and daughter, of Graettinger,
Iowa; an uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Elmer
Christison, of Pomeroy, Iowa;
and two sisters, from Ida Grove, Iowa.

LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
April 7, 1931

AKRON: (From the Register-Tribune)
A license to wed was issued at Elk Point to Elmer R. Anderson, of Akron, and Hazel Wilson, of Alcester, S.D.

Mrs. F. B. Ross, of Kalispell, Mont., came Tuesday for a visit in the home of her husband’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Boysen Ross, and with other relatives and friends.

Born, a son, to Mr. and Mrs. Hugo Granstrom, northwest of town, March 27; a son, to Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Whitaker, of Akron, March 28; a son, to Mr. and Mrs. Fred Halvorsen, west of town, March 31, 1931.

A fire alarm was turned in from the Ed Burnight home Saturday afternoon, but the services of the department were not required. One of the Burnight boys was filling an oil stove, when the gasoline ignited, singeing his hair, but doing no other damage.

Louis W. Koch, of this city, who has played a lot of good golf in Northwestern Iowa and southeastern South Dakota during the past few years, and is champion of the Akron Country Club, has been appointed golf “pro” and groundkeeper of the Country Club at Yankton, S.D., assuming his duties there April 1.

Frank Moore passed away at the Akron hospital Thursday morning, April 2, 1931, from complications following an attack of influenza, aged 66 years. Mr. Moore came to this vicinity several years ago from Missouri and worked on the Meinen farm, and more recently for Ernest Frerichs, northeast of here. He was a reliable workman. Two of his brothers came from Missouri to make funeral arrangements.

Wm. L. Butcher, a former resident of Akron, passed away at his home in Elk Point, S.D., Saturday, March 28, after an extended illness, aged 75 years and six months. He had been in the employ of the Milwaukee railroad for twenty years. His widow, two sons and four daughters survive, one of the children being Mrs. Herb Sargent, southeast of this city. The funeral was held in the Methodist church at Elk Point, Monday afternoon, and interment was in the cemetery there.

Raymond Luverne, little son of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Huls, passed away at their home near Spink, S.D., Wednesday, April 1, 1931, of sarcoma, aged 3 years, 3 months and 24 days. Last fall the little one was operated upon at the Akron hospital, but the ailment returned, and death came as a relief to continued suffering. Besides the parents, he is survived by two brothers, one sister and one half-brother. The bereaved family have the sympathy of all who know them. Funeral services were held Saturday afternoon in the Brule Creek Lutheran Church.

Akron Register-Tribune
April 9, 1931

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES
The undersigned will receive bids for the erection of a new school house known as the Stony Point School, located four miles east and three miles north of Akron, Iowa, in Portland township, Plymouth County, Iowa, until 1:00 p.m. Saturday, April 25, 1931.

All bids must be sealed and accompanied by a certified check for five percent of bid, payable to the Secretary, to insure that the successful bidder shall enter into a contract. Checks of the unsuccessful bidders will be returned.

The Board reserves the right to reject any and all bids.

Bids will be opened at the Searls School house in Portland township at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, April 25, 1931.

Plans and specifications may be seen at my home, five miles east of Akron, Iowa.

By order of the School Board of the Independent District of Portland township, Plymouth County, Iowa.
ALFRED BUEHRE, Secretary.

LeMars Daily Sentinel
Friday, April 10, 1931

DOCTOR HERE FIFTY YEARS

M.W. Richey Was Pioneer Physician Locating in LeMars in Eighties
Was Early Motorist
Prominent in Medical and Business Circles

Death claimed Dr. M. W. Richey, pioneer physician and well known resident of
LeMars for the past fifty years, at his home, 401 Central avenue, SW.,
Tuesday evening shortly after nine o'clock following a brief illness which
developed into pneumonia, proving fatal to a constitution weakened the past
four months by inroads of increasing years.

Dr. Richey was up and about his usual affairs until last Friday when he
suffered from cold and chill. His condition rapidly grew worse the
beginning of the week and hopes for his recovery were abandoned by his
family and friends Tuesday.

Dr. Richey was a resident of LeMars for half a century and his passing marks
the end of a career spent largely in efforts to help humanity. He was
distinguished in the ranks of men who have helped to build up the city of
LeMars. In addition to ministering to the sick in the course of his
profession Dr. Richey was a man of affairs. He possessed vision and had an
abiding faith in the future of LeMars which was a prairie outpost when as a
young surgeon he commenced practice here. As opportunity presented and
circumstances afforded the young doctor made judicious investments in land
and later years gave proof of his acumen and foresight.

WAS HARD WORKER

Coming here in 1881 when LeMars was the boom center of northwestern Iowa,
Dr. Richey at once found a ready demand for his services.

He attended sick calls far and wide and in early days drove ceaselessly over
Plymouth county and adjoining counties with his faithful team of horses and
constant relays of horses from livery stables. However fierce the storm or
bad the roads Dr. Richey, in his younger days never refused to venture out
and heed the call when either birth or death was imminent and made trips to
bedsides of patients in conditions which now appear to the present
generations as sagas or myths.

In addition to the work of his profession Dr. Richey took an active interest
in public and community affairs. He was interested in financial
institutions and banks at various times and was for twelve years a director
of the LeMars school board and ardent in advocacy of better educational
methods.

Dr. Richey was a member during his lifetime of state and district medical
societies and was recognized by members of the fraternity as a physician of
repute and high standards.

He was a Republican in politics and took an active interest in national,
state and local affairs.

Dr. Richey was a member of the LeMars lodge of Odd Fellows and a member of
the LeMars lodge of Elks.

DROVE FIRST AUTOMOBILE

Dr. Richey was the first man in LeMars to own and drive an automobile and
use that mode of conveyance in his business superseding the horse and buggy
age.

His appearance driving an automobile in a street parade in Sioux City
thirty-one years ago was subject of comment throughout the country. He with
two or three other men in LeMars were leaders in the adoption of the
automobile.

NATIVE OF IOWA

Milton W. Richey was a native son of Iowa. He was born at Delhi on the
DesMoines river October 19, 1854, and spent his boyhood there. After
completing work in high school, he graduated at Mitchellville and attended
medical school at Iowa University where he attained his degree and then
attended the university at Louisville, Kentucky, passing the requisite
examinations for medical degrees.

Dr. Richey on receiving his diploma started in practice at Clyde, Iowa, and
in 1881 came to LeMars where he hung out his shingle, practiced many years,
gained preferment and honor and the respect of all who knew him.

When a young man Dr. Richey was married to Miss Electa Reeves, of Colfax,
and brought her to LeMars as his bride. She died in 1900. Dr. Richey was
married in 1903 to Miss Odessa Harris, of Colfax, who with four children
mourn his death. The children are Floyd Richey, of this city; Miss Edna
Richey, teacher in the schools of Honolulu, Mrs. Robert Brodie, of LeMars;
and Miss Alice Richey, at home. He also leaves a sister, Mrs. I. F. Fisher,
of Rolfe, Iowa, and a half brother, Frank Richey, of this city.

FUNERAL HELD AT HOME

The funeral services were held at the home Thursday afternoon, A. E.
McGogney and Dr. J. J. Reeves of the First Presbyterian church officiating.

The pallbearers were Dr. J. L. Reeves, Dr. Chas. Reeves, Minneapolis; Will
Brodie, Geo. Koenig, Will Fisher, of Rolfe; Leslie Harker of Ireton.

Honorary pallbearers were J. G. Smaltz, G. J. Richards, S. W. Spotts, A. M.
Duus, F. M. Pelletier of Sioux City, and Malcom F. Brodie.

PERRY CENTER: (Special Correspondence)

A new slide has been put up on the play grounds in school district No. 8.

Miss Julia Strong spent the week with her parents near Hawarden.

Miss Helen Kelly, of Sioux City, spent Sunday at home with her parents.

Miss Sue Waddell was able to leave the Lutheran hospital in Sioux City last
Thursday.

Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Flannery and sons, of Sioux City, were out on the farm
Monday.

Miss Opal Dodd, of Sioux City, spent the week end with her friends, Minnie
and Pearl Bonnes.

A fine baby boy was born to Mr. and Mrs. Sherman Heath Thursday, April 2.
All are getting along well.

Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Dilley and daughter, Constance, spent Saturday night
and Sunday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Lukken at Chatsworth.

Miss Vera Ferguson became seriously ill Friday morning and was removed to a
Sioux City hospital where she submitted to an operation for appendicitis
Friday afternoon. She is getting along nicely.

A joint program and basket sociable will be given at the Perry Center school
house Friday evening, April 10, by Miss Julia Strong and pupils of Perry
Center school and Will Kreig and pupils of the Beaulieu school of Liberty
township. An instrumental trio will play during the supper hour. Ladies
please bring baskets.

SENEY: (Special Correspondence)

Mrs. Wick spent the week end at Bigelow, Minn.

Jack, Dollie and Myrtle Hinde motored to Rock Valley on Saturday, returning
on Sunday.

Charlie Kunath is back to work after being under surgical and medical
treatment for two months.

The Farmer's Union will hold a meeting in the Seney hall Friday night, April
10. Everyone come.

Mr. and Mrs. Herman Renken and family, of Ireton, spent Easter Sunday with
Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Hennrich here.

A pageant will be given in the church Sunday night at 8:00 o'clock by Rev.
Smith and his players. Everyone invited.

Mr. and Mrs. E. S. Butler and son, of Sioux City, spent Sunday in the home
of Mr. Butler's parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Butler here.

Misses Myrtle Hinde and Clara Bergman, students at Morningside college,
spent the Easter vacation in the home of their parents.

Mr. and Mrs. Louis Siggins and children, Jules and Shirley, of Sioux City,
and Mr. Siggins, of Mt. Vernon, visited in the J. W. Butler home on Sunday.

The Woman's Home Missionary society will meet at the home of Mrs. Harry Buss
Wednesday, April 15. Members please bring Lenten offering.

Arthur and C. W. Reeves motored to Watertown, S.D., on Saturday and visited
Mrs. Jessie Chambers who has been confined to a hospital for the past few
weeks. Friends here learn that she is improving.

*****

Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Lauters and Miss Geraldine Lauters, of Sioux Falls, S.
D., were visitors over Sunday in LeMars, the guests of Mr. and Mrs. Pete
Thoma.

LeMars Sentinel

Tuesday, April 21, 1931

PLYMOUTH COUNTY NEWS

SENEY:  (Special Correspondence)

Lucile March, of Sioux City, was a guest in the E. M. Kennedy home Sunday.

Mr. and Mrs. Eldon Riter and son, Terry, visited in the home of W.E. Hennrich on Sunday.

Grant Chapman arrived home on Saturday after spending the winter at Carlsbad, New Mexico.

A number of people from here attended the funeral of Mrs. John Mandelkow on Tuesday.

Rev. M. L. Metcalf, former pastor here who is now in Sioux City, was a caller here on Tuesday.

Anthony Daugherty, who was recently appointed road master of the Omaha railroad, visited in the home of his mother here Friday evening.

REMSEN:  (From the Bell-Enterprise)

Mr. and Mrs. Earl Thurber, of Winnipeg, Canada, spent several days last week in the Reese Parry home.

At the regular meeting of the town council last week, Councilman Nick Hatz was appointed weed commissioner for the town this year.

Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Hamman and children, of Brookings, S.D., drove to Remsen Sunday morning and spent the day in the home of Mr. Hamman’s sister, Mrs. Ben Hinken.

Many friends of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Stoos, of Alton, extend their sympathy over the death of the infant daughter, Patricia Anne, six months old, who passed away at the family home last Wednesday at noon.  The child had been suffering with erysipelas.

Mrs. Anselm Schmeizer was complimented by a group of her relatives, including her children from LeMars, at a surprise party Monday evening, the occasion being her birthday anniversary.  The guests included Mr. and Mrs. Frank Wiebersch, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Wiebersch, Miss Elizabeth Wierbersch and Nels Calfas, all of LeMars, and Mr. and Mrs. Nick Scholer and daughters, Callista and Catherine, of Remsen.  The evening was spent with cards and social visiting.

CRAIG:  (From the Independent)

Mr. and Mrs. M. D. Edwards and little daughter, Jacqueline, of Sioux Falls, were guests of Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Morey Friday.

Dr. and Mrs. F. C. Bendixon and daughter, Dona Lee, of Ireton, visited here at the home of Vernon Morey, Thursday evening.

Ed. Durband, of Struble, was in Craig on business Tuesday.  Mr. Durband has just been released from St. Joseph’s hospital at Sioux City, where he submitted to an operation for removal of an inward goiter.

The Farmers Elevator is doing all kinds of feed grinding at greatly reduced prices 6, 7, 8, and 10 cents per 100 pounds, according to screen used.  Bring in your grain to be ground and have it done while you wait.

Mr. and Mrs. Lauren Lester, Mrs. Maude Lester and Harvey Howard, all of Trent, S.D., and Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Dunn and Donald Simpson, of LeMars, were visitors at the home of Mr. and Mrs. F. L. Hoahr Sunday.

A family reunion of the Eilers children and their families was held at the John H. Eilers home in Craig last Sunday.  Those present were M. F. Eilers, Ed Eilers and family, Gerd Eilers and family, Fred Eilers and family, Fred Baack Jr. and family, Emil Becker and family, and Mr. and Mrs. E. H. Schulz.

A bonfire on the Richard Johnson estate, tenanted by J. R. Warner, the latter part of last week caused considerable excitement and only for the timely arrival of help from neighbors might have resulted disastrously.  A fired had been set to dispose of some rubbish and the wind whipped it into a pile of dry firewood.  A shower of sparks was blown onto the roof of the house nearby and a bucket brigade kept the roof and side of the house from igniting by keeping it wet with water.  An alarm was phoned and about a hundred neighbors with two or three hundred pails responded in a surprisingly short time.  Water was thrown onto the burning wood and dirt shoveled over it and the fire was soon smothered.

LeMars Globe Post, April 27, 1931

VETERAN OF CIVIL
WAR IS SUMMONED
William Parker Dies At Home of Son
Military Funeral
Held Saturday

William Parker, 88 years, 2 months and 3 days of age, died at the home of
his son, Wenzil Parker, in Johnson township, on Thursday evening. Pneumonia
was the cause of his death. The funeral was held Saturday afternoon at 2
o'clock from Beely's funeral parlors, Rev. F. E. Burgess officiating. Burial
was made in the LeMars cemetery. John Ruble had charge of the G.A.R.
services a t the grave.

Mr. Parker was born in Yorkshire, England, on February 20, 1843, and came to
this country at a young age. The family settled in Wisconsin. Deceased
enlisted in the 16th Wisconsin Infantry during the Civil war serving four
years and then enlisted in the artillery, making a total of four years in
the service of the G.A.R.

He came to this county in 1880, settling in Johnson township where he took
up farming. He retired from the farm several years ago and came to LeMars to
live. He had made his home here until his sickness, then moved to the home
of his son near Akron.

He leaves to mourn his loss five sons and three daughters, who are: William
E. Parker, Wenzil Parker, Lee and Peter, all of Akron, Ia., and Rollie
Parker of this city; Mrs. Katherine Morse, Akron, Mrs. Anna Oaks, Westfield,
Mrs. Fannie Butler, Seney.

Mr. Parker was well liked by everyone and his many friends paid their final
respects at the funeral Saturday. Company K, American Legion and the G.A.R.
had part in the services.

JULIA P. ELLIS TAKEN TO REWARD
Resident of City for Six Years Laid to Rest Today—Was 68 Years of Age

Julia P. Ellis, a resident of LeMars for six years, died at her home Friday
afternoon, following a stroke. At the age of her death, Mrs. Ellis was 68
years, 5 months and 16 days of age.
Funeral services were held this afternoon at 2 o’clock from Lukens Funeral
Parlors, Rev. F. Earl Burgess officiating. Burial was made in the LeMars
cemetery.

Deceased was born in Vernon, Mich., on November 8, 1862, and was united in
marriage when she was 16 years of age. She came to Iowa in 1919 and leaves
to mourn her loss the following children: Roy Ellis, of Vernon, Mich.; Ray,
of Butte, Mont.; Guy, of Sioux Falls; Mrs. Lisle Gillions, Sioux Falls; Mrs.
Ed Luscher, Ashton; and Mrs. Bryson Muirhead, of Capa, S.D.; and also 16
grandchildren.

Mrs. Ellis suffered a stroke two years ago and since that time had not been
well.

LeMars Globe-Post
April 30, 1931

A ‘COWBOY KING’ OF PLYMOUTH CO.
Friedrich B. Helgen Recalls He Rode Range 50 Years Ago [1881]

Friedrich B. Helgen, who was at one time “Cowboy King” of Plymouth County,
was induced to reminisce a little when he recalled this week that he started
his brief business career which for about five years made the western part
of Plymouth county a real “Wild West” with grass ranges, cowboys and
bellowing herds of cattle.

Mr. Helgen came here from the Low German settlement in Jones county, the
starting point of may other Plymouth county citizens. His first job was
picking a 20-acre field of corn which had been left over from the year
before, so that the wheat could be put in.

Mr. Helgen noticed that there were thousands of acres in western Plymouth
county, with a splendid stand of grass, that were seemingly good only for
the annual sweep of prairie fire. The first farmers to settle here wanted
none of the hill land. They thought it was no good.

Range $1 a Head.
So Mr. Helgen called on the farmers and offered to take their cattle and to
herd them on the free range for $1 a head for the summer. He collected a
herd of 360 head that first year, and this increased greatly the following
years, so that he was soon known as “The Cow-Boy King.” The deal was a good
one for the farmers. They could turn their surplus cattle over to “The
King” from April to October, and at the end of that time, for a dollar, have
them returned, fat and sleek and in excellent condition.

“The King” said that he had no trouble with the steers, but about sixty milk
cows gave him plenty to do. As his herds increased, he hired other cowboys.

Plows Conquered.
But in Plymouth county was enacted the first act of the drama that was to be
re-enacted again and again as the west was settled. The free rangers, like
the antelope and buffalo, had to retreat before the plow. Settlers very soon
found out that the despised hill land was about as good as any other, and in
a few years fences began to cut across the range, and corn and wheat
sprouted in the virgin prairie instead of grass and wild flowers. Mr.
Helgen adapted himself to the changing times and became a farmer himself.
Still, he likes occasionally to hark back to the times when the song of the
lark and the mellow toll of the cowbell were the principal sounds heard
above the low hiss of the free winds through the hilltop grasses.