Iowa Old Press

LeMars Globe-Post
May 7, 1936

66 YEARS AGO ALBERT T. STOKES FIRST CAME TO PLYMOUTH CO.
Drove Horses From Sioux City To Locate On Stanton Farm

[A photograph of A.T. Stokes accompanied this news article about his
birthday.]
Sixty-six years ago a small boy, 10 years old, hopped into a farm wagon,
without springs, for the comparatively short and easy ride from the frontier
town of Sioux City into Stanton township, a few miles south of the
insignificant new hamlet of LeMars to take up a homestead.

Four other children rode in the wagon with their parents, Mr. and Mrs.
Thomas Stokes. There was a home already prepared for the, one of the first
frame buildings in the county, for the father had gone ahead and found a
farm. Then he called for his family.

The pioneer children got quite a thrill out of seeing many Winnebago Indians
on their way back to their homeland in Wisconsin for fishing. It had been a
year or so before that the government moved them from, their home in
Wisconsin to the reservation in Nebraska.

When the family got to Stanton township, they noticed Plymouth Creek, and
learned that their father had located his farm and driven across the creek
in the month of March without knowing there was a creek there. It had been
the famous hard winter of ’69-70.

The Stokes family endured “hard times” all during the Seventies, but so did
everybody else. From ’78 on prices got better, and everything looked
brighter. This, Mrs. Stokes says, was due to the Bland-Allison law, which
obliged the government to get partly off the single gold standard by coining
some silver money. Wheat went up from 35c a bushel to about $1 a bushel.

Albert Stokes, the oldest boy, worked for his father until he was 30 years
old. Then he was married to Miss Annie Eyres of Union township and bought a
farm of his own in Section 6, Union township, known as the William Ruth
homestead.

Four children were born to this couple: Hazel, now director of a cafeteria
in Kalamazoo, Mich.; Carlton, at the old home place; Thomas R. Thermopolis,
Wyoming; Alfred Gordon, also on the home place.

In 1929 Mr. and Mrs. Stokes moved to LeMars. In September of 1934, Mrs.
Stokes died. Since then, he has been living with his sister, Mrs. John
Harker.

Mr. Stokes will spend his 66th anniversary in Plymouth county, as usual. He
will come downtown about 2 or 3 o’clock, play cards at the Elks for an hour
or two, and then go back home again. He is enjoying reasonably good health.

LeMars Globe-Post
May 11, 1936

MRS. C. VAN NIMWEGEN IS CALLED
Well Known Merrill Resident Died Saturday

Death claimed Mrs. C. Van Nimwegen, a resident of Merrill for 14 years, at
her home there on Saturday, May 9. She was 85 years and 29 days old.

Mary Elizabeth Van Nimwegen was born April 10, 1851, at Pella, Iowa. In the
spring of 1882 she was united in marriage to Cornelius Van Nimwegen at
Orange City, Iowa.

Survivors include her husband Cornelius Van Nimwegen; one daughter, Marie at
home; two grandchildren, Bethel and Joan Van Nimwegen of LeMars; one
daughter, Mrs. Homer Reed, of Sioux City.

One son, John Van Nimwegen, of Merrill, preceded her in death. Mrs. Van
Nimwegen is the last of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Dingeman,
consisting of five brothers and four sisters.

Funeral services were conducted from the First Methodist church of Merrill,
Iowa, at 1:30 o’clock Monday with Rev. Howdeshell officiating. Luken’s
funeral home was in charge of the arrangements.

BARN DESTROYED
A barn on the Frank Schultz farm in West LeMars burned to the ground late
last night. The blaze was discovered about 11 p.m. The origin of the fire
is unknown.
-----
The Misses Irene Haack and Dorothy Foley were Sunday guests of Miss Mildred
Cronin.

GUSS WIT FINDS FOUR-LEGGED CHICK IN HATCH

A few days ago when Gus Witt, candidate for the Republican nomination for
supervisor went out to his setting hens, he saw that one of them had
presented him “with a four-legged chick.”

The legs were perfectly developed, but the chick only used two of them to
get around on. The other two it carried where cars carry their spare tires.

The chick moved around and seemed to have a normal appetite for a few days,
but then it died for no known reason.

JOHN BEGG DIES IN STANTON TWP.
Born In Scotland, He Was Over 90 Years Old.

John Begg, age 90 years, 11 months, 11 days, died early Monday morning at
the home of his daughter, Mrs. Ralph Schrooten, in Stanton township. Mr.
Begg had been in poor health for some time.

John Begg was born near Edinburgh, Scotland. When a small boy, he came to
Canada with his parents. In 1870 they homesteaded in Union township.

He is survived by one son, Charles Begg, in this city; three daughters Mrs.
Hazel Pratt, Los Angeles, Calif.; Mrs. Ralph Schrooten, LeMars; Mrs.
Margaretta Lieb, Sioux City, Iowa; and one brother, Wm Begg, of LeMars.

The body is at Beely’s undertaking parlors pending funeral arrangements.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday afternoon at 2:00 from the home
of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Schrooten, Stanton township. Burial will be made in
the City cemetery. Rev. Harold Smith will officiate.

LeMars Globe-Post
May 14, 1936

‘UNCLE JOHN’ OF SENEY IS CALLED
Well Known Resident In Poor Health For Three Years

John Lancaster sr., aged 87, of Seney, died Wednesday evening at 7:30
o’clock.

“Uncle John,” as he was known to the Seney community, was born in Yorkshire,
England, on August 27, 1848. When two years of age, he came with his
parents to Argyle, Wisconsin, and there under the training of a Christian
father and mother grew to young manhood. In 1875, he came to Plymouth
County and started farming. He was united in marriage to Amelia Mills on
November 20, 1880 (correction 1879). They continued to farm in spite of the
drought and grasshopper plagues, until they retired to Seney where he
resided till the time of his death.

He united with the Methodist Episcopal church at Seney when a young man and
has been an active member of that church until his death. He remembered his
early Christian training in his daily life. He was strictly temperate in
his every speech and action, always feeling the responsibility of his
example as a professed follower of Jesus Christ and his devotion to the
cause of Christianity was always consistent and persistent until his
physical condition prevented further participation, in his active church
work.

He had been in failing health for 3 years and passed away midst the loving
ministrations of a wife and family, May 13, 1936, at the age of 87 years, 8
months, 18 days. He was preceded in death by three brothers and one sister.
He leaves to mourn his departure a wife, Amelia, a son John, of LeMars, a
daughter, Ina, who is living at home, and a large family of nephews, nieces
and other relatives and friends.

The funeral services will be held in the Methodist church at Seney on Friday
at 2:30. Interment will be made in the Seney cemetery.

LeMars Sentinel, Friday, May 15, 1936, Page 1, Column 6:

Lancaster, Seney Pioneer, Answers Call
Was Member of Well Known Family Coming Here In The Seventies

Death claimed John Lancaster, 87, at his home in Seney Wednesday night following an illness of three years.

Mr. Lancaster had lived in Plymouth county over sixty years and was widely known and esteemed as a good citizen and a christian gentleman.

Born in Yorkshire, England, August 27, 1848, he came to America with his parents when he was two years old. They were pioneers at Argyle, Wis., and John Lancaster received his early training and school there. Coming to LeMars in 1875 he engaged in farming near Seney and made his home there ever since.

Mr. Lancaster was imbued with strong religious convictions and was an active member of the Methodist church.

He was married to Miss Amelia Mills, November 20, 1880 (error--1879).

He leaves his wife, a son, John Lancaster, of LeMars, and a daughter Ida (sic--Ina), living in Seney. Three brothers and a sister preceded him in death.

Funeral This Afternoon

The funeral will be held Friday afternoon in the Methodist church at Seney at 2:30, Rev. M. B. Phillips officiating, and interment made in the cemetery at Seney.

Hinton Progress
May 21, 1936

Charles Wolf, 78, of Morningside, died from illuminating gas some time
Friday night and the body was not found until Saturday afternoon, according
to officers, says the Sioux City Journal.

Mr. Wolf's body was found by George Gunderson and William Lyman, who live
downstairs at the same address, a property owned by Mr. Wolf, who kept an
upstairs apartment for himself and rented out the downstairs. Mr. Gunderson
and Mr. Lyman had not heard their landlord moving about upstairs and
investigated, finding the corpse.

Mr. Wolf owned the apartment house and a farm near Hinton.

He was born in Lichtenstein, Saxony, Germany, December 28, 1857.

LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
May 22, 1936

WILLIAM VEIDT, LIBERTY PIONEER, TAKEN BY DEATH
WAS WELL KNOWN MEMBER OF FAMILY LOCATING HERE IN THE SEVENTIES
Wife Seriously Ill
Unable To Attend Last Rites For Husband

William L. Veidt, resident of Plymouth County since boyhood days, died at
his home in Merrill, Monday night, following a stroke. Mr. Veidt has been
in poor health for a long time.

He was a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. George Veidt, who settled in Liberty
township in the seventies.

William Veidt was born near Sac City, Wis., January 24, 1864.

He received his early education in the rural schools and helped in the work
on the farm and on attaining manhood engaged in farming on his own account.
Of late years he made his home in Merrill.

He was united in marriage in 1894 with Fredericka Elizabeth Dennler, who
with two sons, Howard Veidt, of Stanton, N.D., and Loren Veidt, of Waterloo,
Iowa, survive him. A daughter, Clara, preceded him in death May 5, 1922.
He also leaves five brothers and two sisters, Geo. W. Veidt, Merrill; John
J. Veidt, Sioux City; Henry V. Veidt, Stanton, N.D.; Frank Veidt, Merrill;
Louis Veidt, Whitefish, Montana; Mrs. Emma Dennler, and Mrs. Amelia Dennler,
Merrill.

Mr. Veidt was widely and favorably known in the community where he passed
his life. He was an upright and conscientious man, who gained the respect
and confidence of all who knew him.

FUNERAL HELD WEDNESDAY
The funeral was held Wednesday in Merrill with services in the Methodist
church.

Pallbearers, old friends and associates, were: Edward Mertes, John Mertes,
Conrad Hauff, Otto Helm, Chris Schneider, Jos. Becker.

Mrs. Veidt was unable to attend the last rites being a patient in the Sacred
Heart Hospital here. She suffered an attack of illness Monday night and
suffering from strangulated hernia, was rushed to the hospital to undergo an
emergency operation.

MARRIED IN LE MARS.
A. G. Fortin, of Salix, Iowa, and Eda Brown, of Kankakee, Ill., were united
in marriage Wednesday in LeMars. C. E. Clarke, Justice of the Peace,
performing the ceremony. The witnesses were Vera Daniels and Will C.
Daniels, of Salix.

SUPREME COURT DENY APPEAL OF SIOUX CITY THUG
Lloyd Peterson Must Serve Sentence For Torturing Aged Couple At Leeds

The appeal of Lloyd Peterson, 25, Sioux City thug, sentenced in the Woodbury
county district court to twenty-five years in the penitentiary for robbing
and torturing Mr. and Mrs. Frank Utech, former Plymouth County residents, at
their home in Leeds a year ago, was denied by the Iowa Supreme Court this
week.

Peterson was convicted of assaulting and tying up Mr. and Mrs. Frank Utech,
of Leeds, an elderly couple, and robbing them of $16. The indictment
charged him only with the robbery of Utech. The crime took place April 5,
1936.

Howard Vernon, bank robber, who now is serving a life sentence, testified on
behalf of Peterson that it was he and not the defendant who committed the
crime. County Attorney M. E. Rawlings and his assistant, Tom Murray,
however, introduced evidence accusing Peterson and he was convicted. He was
unable to furnish bond and was taken to the men’s reformatory at Anamosa,
where he began serving his sentence of twenty-five years.

The Hinton Progress, May 26, 1936

PIONEER PLYMOUTH COUNTYAN DIES IN CALIF.

The following obituary of Robert M. Crouch is reprinted from the LeMars
Sentinel. Mr. Crouch was also a pioneer banker and business man at Hinton.

"Robert M. Crouch, a well-known pioneer resident of Plymouth county, died
Saturday at his home in Los Angeles, Cal., at the advanced age of 83 years.
Unusually vigorous for one of his advanced years, Mr. Crouch had been in
good health until the last few months when he began to fail. Burial was in
Los Angeles, where he had lived for about 20 years.

Robert Crouch was born in New York state in 1847 and when 10 years of age
moved with his parents to Grant County, Wis., where he grew to manhood. When
16 years of age he enlisted in the Union Army and served until the close of
the war. He was with Sherman on his march to the sea and spent two months
in Andersonville prison. In 1871, Mr. Crouch came to Plymouth County and
homesteaded in Perry township, where he lived until 1890, when he retired
from farming. Subsequently he was in business in Merrill, LeMars, and in
Aberdeen, S.D.

Mr. Crouch married in Grant County, Wis., to Miss Maria Fultz, and they
celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary a few months ago. Mrs. Crouch and
three children survive him, all living in Los Angeles. The children are:
Frank W., Mrs. Will McNeill and Elaine.

Robert Crouch was a brother of Andrew Crouch, of LeMars, Plymouth county's
only surviving Civil War veteran."

LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
May 26, 1936

DEATH CLAIMS AKRON SETTLER IN EARLY DAYS
Mrs. Joseph Gardner Was Widely Known Among Pioneers In Western Plymouth

Mrs. Joseph Gardener, early day settler of Akron vicinity, died May 16, at
the age of 86, after a brief illness.

Mary Louise Juber was born in Rochester, N.Y., January 23, 1850, and moved
to Clinton county, Iowa, in early childhood, where she grew to womanhood and
was married November 2, 1865, to Joseph Gardner. In August, 1870, they
drove overland to Union county, Dakota Territory, where they homesteaded and
made themselves a home, enduring with fortitude the troubles and privations
of early frontier life. In 1920 they retired from farming and moved to
Akron, where the husband and father passed away March 29, 1923. Mrs.
Gardner continued to reside in Akron until August, 1929, when she went to
lived with her son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Welch, on the
home place.

She leaves seven children: Mrs. Cora Bly, of Long Beach, Calif.; Wm. H.
Gardner, of Mound City, S.D.; Mrs. Lillie Goodroad and Mrs. Myrtle Goodroad,
of Whitewood, S.D.; Mrs. Ada Heasley, of Vermillion, S.D.; Eugene Gardner
and Mrs. Josie Welch; thirty grandchildren and three great great
grandchildren; two brothers, Moses and George Juber, of Clinton; and two
sisters, Mrs. Delphine Trude, of Alcester, S.D., and Mrs. Emily Cook, of
Thayer, Iowa.

Funeral services were held Monday in the United Brethren Church, Rev. J. L.
Gorman officiating, and interment made in Pleasant Hill Cemetery.

Relatives present from a distance were: Mrs. Ed. Goodroad and Mrs. Bert
Goodroad and son, Ross, of Whitewood, S.D.; Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Bly, of Long
Beach, Calif.; Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Ellsworth, of Bruce, S.D.; Mr. and Mrs.
Thos. Gilbert and Mrs. John Nanninga, of Sioux City; Mr. and Mrs. Lewis
Gardner, of Stevens, S.D.
[Transcriber Note: There is a Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Union County,
Alcester, S.D.]

SISTERS REUNITED AFTER LONG YEARS
One Adopted By Jauer Family Of Hinton

Two sisters who had not seen each other since they were tiny children, Mrs.
Dale Luckey, of Sedalia, Mo., and Mrs. H. A. Tool, of Sioux City, were
reunited last week in Sioux City.

Mrs. Luckey was two years old and Mrs. Tool five when their mother died at
South Fort Des Moines. The younger child was taken for rearing by a family
at Salina, Kan., and her sister by the William Jauer family, at Hinton.

Through an aunt, Mrs. Francis Laverty, of South Fort Des Moines, the sisters
each learned the other’s whereabouts. Mr. and Mrs. Luckey visited Mr. and
Mrs. Tool Wednesday and Thursday, after having stopped at South Fort Des
Moines.

Mrs. Laverty saw one of the nieces, Mrs. Tool, for the first time in more
than thirty years as a result of bringing the two together.

Akron Register-Tribune
May 28, 1936

STONY POINT SAYINGS
(Special Correspondence)

Lenora Klemme returned to the Dr. Mattison home in Akron, Friday after spending a few days in the home of her parents.

The Pleasant Hill school was closed Thursday with a picnic at the John Tammen home.

Luella Eilers closed her school Wednesday by having a picnic on the school grounds.

Mr. and Mrs. Arvel Jurgenson and son and Mr. and Mrs. August Osterthun were visitors in the John Tammen home Sunday.

Mr. and Mrs. Harry Klemme and family were visitors in the John Bultman home Sunday evening.

A very large number from this vicinity attended the carnival in Chatsworth, Friday and Saturday.

Bill Popken was a caller in Sioux City, Tuesday.

The Stony Point school was closed Wednesday. In the afternoon a shower was given for the teacher, Miss Elvera Marple, and she received many useful gifts.

GARLAND NEWS ITEMS
(Special Correspondence)

Well, school is out once more, with a picnic last Friday afternoon. All had a good time, with lots of eats and ice cream to top it off.

Church services at the Pleasant Hill U. B. church next Sunday at 9:45 a.m. Everybody welcome.

Miss Menga Wilken was a supper guest of Mrs. Ed. Lewison, Saturday evening.

Mike Hultgren was a Sioux City visitor Thursday.

Mr. and Mrs. Bill Skinner visited Sunday evening at the Melvin Hanson home.

Mr. and Mrs. Ed. Lewison and son, Howard, were Sunday evening visitors at the Ball brothers’ home.

Mr. and Mrs. Mike Hultgren and sons and Mrs. Harm Fisher and daughter were visitors Sunday at the Will Kapfer home in Akron.

Mr. and Mrs. Albert Lewison and family and Henry Stryzewski were dinner guests Monday at the Eddie Lewison home.

Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Hanson and sons and Howard Lewison were callers at the Mike Hultgren home Friday evening.

Quite a large number from around here attended the shower given for Miss Elvera Marple at the Arthur Wilcox home Saturday afternoon.

Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Lewison and son, Howard, were Alcester callers Sunday afternoon.

LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
May 29, 1936

WILL OBSERVE MEMORIAL DAY THIS SATURDAY
Entire Community Will Join In Patriotic Observance of Tribute to War
Veterans
SERVICES AT CEMETERIES
Prof. Harold Smith Will Deliver Memorial Address

The people of this community will drop their ordinary vocations Saturday,
May 30, and join in their annual tribute to the soldier dead who sleep in
local cemeteries. The usual program will be followed, the column forming at
the city building at 9 a.m. and proceeding to St. Joseph cemetery where a
brief service will be held, participated in by the children of the parochial
school. The column will then proceed to the City cemetery where the
exercises will include a service for the unknown dead by the women’s
patriotic organizations and an address by Rev. Harold Smith, of Western
Union college. The city and high school bands, the American Legion drum
corps, Spanish-American veterans and women’s auxiliaries of the veterans of
three wars and Boy and Girl Scouts will participate in the exercises as
organizations and hundreds of citizens will join them in this Memorial Day
tribute to our dead heroes.

This annual observance of Memorial Day in this community is not only a
fitting tribute to those who have gone before but a patriotic inspiration to
the youth of this community that will help them to be better citizens of the
country they are inspired to love by these Memorial exercises.

Following is the program at St. Joseph’s cemetery:
Song by school children.
Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, Dolores Meyers.
Song by school children.
Logan’s Order, Sylvester Harms.
Decoration of veterans graves.
Taps.

At the City cemetery, A. W. Crouch, the last survivor of Mower Post G.A.R.,
will preside and the following program will be given:

Prayer, Rev. J. R. Tumbleson.
Music by band.
Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, Beulah Wolfe.
Logan’s Order, Walter Koenig.
G. A. R. Ritual by Miss Monah Hord.
Decoration Service for Unknown Dead, Woman’s Relief Corps, Spanish-American
and American Legion Auxiliaries.
Address, Rev. Harold Smith.
Decoration of graves during address.
Salute, Firing Squad from Co. K.
Benediction.
Taps.
Star Spangled Banner.

LE MARS PIONEER PHOTOGRAPHER DIES
George Gosting Spent His Youthful Days Here

Friends in LeMars received word this week of the death of George Gosting at
his home in Mitchell, S.D., Monday night.

Mr. Gosting spent his early life in LeMars, and was a son of the late George
Gosting, who with his brothers, William, Edward and John Gosting, came from
Hopkinton, Delaware county, Iowa, in the Seventies and took up land in
Plymouth county, all being Union soldiers.

The elder George Gosting conducted a photographic gallery in LeMars in the
pioneer days of the town, and his son followed in his footsteps for some
years.

The George Gosting family later acquired land near Westfield.

Funeral services for George Gosting were held at Mitchell, S.D., Thursday.