Iowa Old Press
LeMars Globe-Post
January 1, 1940
LOCAL NEWS.
Miss Helen Brucher departed on Tuesday morning for Des Moines where she has accepted a position.
Alfred G. Smaltz spent the weekend in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Rew in Sioux City.
Mrs. Esther Myers and Mr. and Mrs. Henry van Zwol of Mankato are visiting in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Louis D. Myers.
Miss Evelyn Mauer will leave on Sunday for Chester, Ia., where she teaches, after spending the holidays in the home of Dr. and Mrs. George Mauer, her parents.
Mrs. I. T. Martin has closed her home for the winter months and will spend the winter in the home of Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Winders at 329 Central Ave. S. W.
Mrs. P. P. Lucke and her daughter Margaret of Oberlin, O., spent the holidays in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Lucke at Hollywood, Cal.
Miss Lelia Huebsch returned to Mount Vernon, Ia., Sunday evening after spending her vacation in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Cannon.
SENEY: (By Special Correspondent)
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Janssen and family and Mrs. A. Jeffers attended Christmas day services in the Grant township church on Monday morning.
Miss Ruth McArthur, who teaches at West Side, Iowa, arrived home on Friday to spend the holidays with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. R. A. McArthur.
Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Buss entertained at a family dinner in their home Christmas, the guests were Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Darville, Mr. and Mrs. Irving McArthur, John Darville, Mr. and Mrs. Vern Burris and daughter Verna and son Eldon, and Miss Luetta Spray of Sioux City, Mr. and Mrs. Roy McArthur, Ruth and Raymond McArthur, Mr. and Mrs. Alex McArthur, Mr. and Mrs. Jas. Gunderson and sons Donald and Bobby, of Vermillion, S. D.
Mr. and Mrs. Alfred DeRaad and family, Mr. and Mrs. Elmer DeRaad and daughter, Shirley spent Christmas in the home of their parents, Mr. and Mrs. John DeRaad, near Kingsley.
Mrs. Will Detloff returned to her home last week from California, after an extended visit with relatives. She was accompanied home by her son, Warren, who is working in California.
Mr. and Mrs. Marshall Rees and daughters, Donna, Marilyn and Sherry, Mrs. Lena Rees, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Penning, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Hinde and daughters, Betty and Joan, and son Max, were Christmas day guests in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Will Penning in LeMars.
Mrs. Hollis Wills and baby returned home from the Sacred Heart Hospital in LeMars Tuesday.
Mr. and Mrs. James Gunderson and sons, who arrived here Sunday to spend the Christmas holidays with relatives, returned to their home Tuesday afternoon.
A large crowd was in attendance at the Christmas program presented by the Seney Sunday school in the church, Christmas eve.
Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Lancaster and son, Darrell, Mrs. Amelia Lancaster, Mr. and Mrs. M. J. Lancaster and family, Mrs. Elizabeth Hawkins and daughter, Harriet, were dinner guests of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Buss of LeMars Christmas.
Mr. and Mrs. Max Herman of Milford, Iowa, and Miss Eleanor Hendricksen of Sioux City, called on Mrs. A. Jeffers Saturday afternoon.
Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Rees and son were guests in the home of their mother, Mrs. Margaret Rees, Christmas.
Pupils and teachers of the Seney school are enjoying a ten-day vacation during the holidays. Miss Forbes left Saturday for the home of her brother, Edward Forbes, and Miss Boysen at the parental home in LeMars.
ELKHORN
Miss Florence Lindgren of Wayne, Neb., and Miss Ann Lindgren of Sioux City spent Christmas in the home of their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Nels Lindgren.
Mrs. Nye McConnell left Monday for a few days visit with her mother, Mrs. J. A. Mitchell, in the Guy Mitchell home in Des Moines.
Mr. and Mrs. Ben Franzen and Wyndham Bauer spent Christmas day in the Carl Peterson home at Pierson.
Mrs. George Fletcher and son, Frank, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Fletcher, Mr. and Mrs. Herb Fletcher and family, Raymond Fletcher and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Dell Spink and family, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Plendl, and Dreward and Daisy Henry enjoyed a family dinner on Christmas day in the R. V. Bowers home near Anthon.
Mr. and Mrs. Allan Bolton were visitors in the Melvin Bolton home near Oyens last Tuesday.
Mr. and Mrs. George Wink spent Christmas eve in the home of Mrs. Wink’s mother at Holstein Christmas day. Mr. and Mrs. Wink attended a family dinner at the home of Mr. Wink’s sister, Mrs. Lee Robinson near Moville.
Mr. and Mrs. Elser Jensen and Ella Tozler and Wm. Rhodes were visitors in the Ben Franzen home Friday evening.
LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
January 2, 1940
Charles von Berg Pioneer Citizen Passes Divide
Gifted With Variety Of Talents In Many Pursuits
C. L. von Berg, 75, resident of LeMars for seventy years and widely known in
Plymouth and surrounding counties, died early Saturday morning at his home,
214 First Avenue, following a lingering illness.
Mr. von Berg had been in poor health for seven years although not
continually confined to the house and was able to be out and attend to
occupational cares and meet friends whose names are legion.
“Charlie” von Berg, the name by which he was known almost universally, was a
man of versatile attainments and was proficient in many professional and
mechanical lines and in addition gifted with musical and artistic talents
and as a writer.
Intimates of his often said “Charlie” can fix anything from a watch to a
locomotive engine.
A lover of the outdoors, a characteristic inherited from his father, Charles
von Berg, pioneer Plymouth County settler. Charles von Berg was a sportsman
in the true sense of the word. He was a hunter not to slaughter but for the
skill and was a marksman of note gaining laurels in many competitions and a
string of medals he won in tourneys are among household souvenirs.
SENSE OF VISION
He was possessed of a forward looking mind and sensed the approach of things
in the elemental and was in the vanguard at the approach of new inventions.
As a youth on the farm he was interested in machinery and in early days
operated a threshing machine when horses were the motive power and later
when the steam engine was introduced operated a steam thresher and after
took up engineering, electricity and mechanical subjects.
FOLLOWED MANY PURSUITS
After receiving his education in the rural schools, he engaged in teaching
school in Plymouth and Sioux counties and in the years following was
employed in railroad work and in the eighties was operator and clerk at
Brainerd, Minn., and was employed at LeMars by the Chicago, St. Paul,
Minneapolis and Omaha railroad company. He was employed at times at Bingham
Lake and at various stations and at the Omaha office of the company.
In the nineties he sold and operated threshing machines selling machines in
a territory of five states and later engaged in selling typewriters.
He lived in LeMars most of his life with the exception of a few years
homesteading in Dakota and at another period ranching in Nebraska.
NOTED AS MUSICIAN
Mr. von Berg was well known to earlier residents as a violinist and played
at merry makings in the early days when the orchestra was accommodated with
a platform supported by planks stretched upon empty beer kegs.
The services of himself and his orchestra were in equal demand at weddings,
concerts and fetes in the most selected circles.
WAS AN ATHLETE
In his youth Charley was a noted bicyclist and made a number of record runs.
In 1890 he won the state championship at Des Moines.
When the automobile came into fashion, he was one of the first to drive the
then newfangled machines and in 1903 and 1904 won many races at county
fairs. He was apt at games, tennis, football and hockey and showed prowess
in swimming and skating.
When well over the age of sixty he played “goalie” for the LeMars hockey
team and his style of attack and defense was envied by hockey adherents a
third of his age in years. He was awarded a Red Cross life saving badge for
swimming when he was 61.
BORN IN IOWA
Charles Louis von Berg was born at McGregor, Iowa, March 18, 1864. When
three years old his parents after the return of his father from serving in
the Civil War, went to Water- where they conducted a store for a few years.
They came to Plymouth county in 1869 and homesteaded 160 acre farm a mile
east of town.
Charles von Berg was married November 4, 1903, to Miss George Elliott
McManus, daughter of State Senator S. B. McManus and Mrs. McManus of
Elkhart, Ind. He is survived by his wife, one brother, William von Berg,
and one sister, Mrs. William Henry of Emmetsburg, Iowa, and his
mother-in-law, Mrs. McManus, who has lived in the von Berg home for years.
FUNERAL ON TUESDAY
The funeral will be held Tuesday morning at 9:30 at the Wiltgen funeral
home. Rev. R. H. Paulson of St. George’s Episcopal church will officiate at
the services.
The body will be taken to Omaha for cremation and the ashes placed in a
memorial urn.
LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
January 5, 1940
1939 Headlines Make Another Chapter Of History For County
A Week by Week Review of Story Of Past Year
A glance through 1939 shows that the decade went out as it came in—in a
hurry with much happening. This paper has been full of incidents of the year
and following are only a few, but they highlight the happenings of the year:
January 3—
Sixteen year old Roberta Boothby killed as car leaves road near Kingsley.
John Bogen dies unexpectedly while visiting brother in hospital.
New county officials take office.
January 6—
Henry Grimjes named chairman of County Board of Supervisors.
LeMars gets severe thunderstorm, January 4.
January 10—
Wm. V. Hansen, new manager for telephone company.
REA expects to receive allotment soon.
January 13—
Sumner Knox communicates with authorities from Washington lumber camp.
W. R. DeKay resigns as manager of LeMars Gas Co.
Dairymen protest against proposed milk ordinances.
January 17—
Wm. T. Kistle, early LeMars resident, dies in California.
Joe Bogen dies in Sacred Heart Hospital.
Henry Poeckes named president of Junior Chamber of Commerce.
January 20—
Plymouth County Corn and Grain show held in LeMars.
January 24—
Dr. W. W. Larsen, widely known LeMars physician passes away.
January 27—
Akron fireman injured when returning from fire on truck.
Plymouth County corn and grain show attracts over 200 entries.
January 31—
City Council refinances park indebtedness, which requires act of
legislature.
February 7—
Louis H. Cook starts suit against county to refund taxes totaling $3,986.35.
February 10—
LeMars high school band in midst of campaign to raise funds for new
uniforms.
Frigid wave freezes Hawarden man to death.
City finances in best shape in years as tax money comes in.
February 14—
Paul Paskert, Remsen, takes life with shot gun.
Thermometer drops to 16 below zero, February 11.
February 17—
Two men arrested for harness thefts in county.
Union township gymnasium completed.
WPA relief rolls decreased in county.
February 24—
R. L. Clark elected president of Chamber of Commerce.
First Plymouth County farm sold to renter with government aid.
February 26—
Doris Bride dies of injuries two months after fatal accident.
Illinois Central railroad sued in case of death of Western Union students.
March 3—
R. M. Neubrand dies after long illness.
Mayor Lemke sentences man to seven nights in city jail.
March 7—
Merle Mead, Sioux City, bound over to grand jury for attack on Clem Henke,
100 year old Akron farmer.
March 10—
Two political parties hold caucuses.
March 14—
REA allotment approved by Washington.
Republicans name Pavlik, Democrats name Langhout for candidates fro Mayor.
March 17—
Langhout refuses nomination and Democrats “borrow” Wm. Lemke to fill
position.
March 21—
Central high school of Sioux City wins Western Union debate tournament.
March 24—
Western Union trustees approve building plan for college.
March 28—
Nine LeMars high school musicians win division one rating in contest.
Ray Atwood elected chief of LeMars Fire Department.
March 31—
Wm. Lemke elected mayor of LeMars; Republicans win all other posts.
April 4—
All appointive city officials renamed.
LeMars high school band tried on the new band uniforms for the first time
and were pleased, the community relieved.
April 7—
Gus Alesch returned modestly to headlines when he stigmatized a fellow
representative as a “damm fool.”
April 11—
Clem Henke, 100 years old, dies at Akron.
April 14—
Lampert Lumber yard in Merrill completely destroyed by flames.
Everett Eastman dies in Pasadena, California.
April 21—
Public schools busy with spring music festival and speech festival.
Western Union college announces employment of Dick Crayne as football coach.
April 25—
The city closed the business year with a good balance in the treasury.
Tax payments for the year are ahead of those last year.
April 28—
Clem Henke estate valued at $88,217.02.
May 2—
Rural mail carriers convention held in LeMars.
Federated Women’s clubs of county elect Mrs. H. Shoulberg president.
May 5—
Post office at Struble robbed of $129.
LeMars residents bought $145,031.25 in government bonds in past year.
May 9—
Billy Butcher, 13, charged with killing playmate.
May 12—
Christine Petersen re-elected county superintendent.
School board lets contract for $6,500 in supplies.
High school to graduate 82 seniors.
May 16—
Crop conditions generally good, but rain needed.
May 19—
LeMars high school marching band competes in Minneapolis.
May 23—
Senator Charles Hoeven speaker in LeMars for Decoration Day.
Band places superior at Minneapolis.
May 26—
Grasshoppers become a menace farm experts warn.
May 30—
Boyd McLain killed in auto crash near Merrill.
Commencement festivities start at Western Union.
June 2—
Plymouth County collects $1,862.03 delinquent taxes from Henke estate.
Twenty-nine receive Bachelor of Arts degree at Western Union.
June 6—
Relief expenditures much lower latter part of year.
Orioles baseball team wins fifth game in succession.
June 9—
Chamber of Commerce starts corn yield contest.
June 13—
The REA completes contract for electrical lines in Plymouth County.
June 16—
Ten farmers aided in purchasing their land.
Thieves take six slot machines from Sheriff’s office in court house.
June 20—
Over 1,500 list to Townsend speaker in Municipal Park.
June 23—
Public schools cost $71.48 per pupil for 1938.
James McNally honored for being appointed national committeeman of
Democrats.
June 27—
Fred Adams killed in grad crossing accident one mile east of Kingsley.
June 30—
Bernice Rehnwall and Madeline Schumacher killed in auto smash near Sioux
City.
July 4—
Over 12,000 drivers license applications made from Plymouth County.
American Trust and Savings bank paid $64,740.29 dividend.
July 7—
Two hundred and eighteen students earn eighth grade diplomas.
July 11—
A hailstorm caused $125,000 damage in southeastern Plymouth County.
July 14—
Lester Duffy of Akron was killed when a drainage ditch caved in on him.
Tax levy for Plymouth County raised 1 1⁄4 mills.
A second hail storm caused considerable damage to county farmers.
Floyd Counter killed by hit and run driver near Sioux City.
July 21—
State examiners commend LeMars for state of business.
A third hail storm caused crop damage in Iowa.
July 25—
Monal Galles dies of burns sustained in an explosion July 11.
Personnel of liquor store reduced one clerk.
July 28—
Judge C. C. Bradley passes away in LeMars.
August 1—
Robert Kelley fatally hurt while diving into swimming pool.
Hail continues to fall on Plymouth County.
About 3,000 attend community picnic at LeMars.
August 4—
A trio selling a phoney directory was run out of town by police.
August 8—
Work started on REA lines in county.
Pete Westra, another all-American employed by Western Union as assistant
coach.
August 11—
Teaching staff of LeMars public school completed with twelve new instructors
hired.
August 15—
S. A. Skinner sentenced to three years in penitentiary for fraud.
August 18—
About 1,000 farmers and businessmen gathered at a mass meeting to draw farm
program.
Agents state eleven different hair storms struck Plymouth County this year.
August 22—
Eight-six men dropped from WPA rolls.
A.G. Blakeway passes away in LeMars.
August 25—
Ira Lancaster takes life with revolver.
College boosters visit Cherokee.
August 29—
Emory Collins wins racing honors at Iowa State Fair.
Fire destroys Ernest Eyres farm property.
September 1—
Kirk Paulson of Akron charged with embezzling from Chatsworth bank.
September 5—
Remsen spends week celebrating Golden Jubilee.
Attendance in public schools sets new record of 1,049 students.
September 8—
Gus Anderson, Merrill resident, saved after Athenia is sunk by submarine.
September 12—
Mary Bonnie Woodall, Sioux City, killed in auto accident.
Public school enrollment mounts to 1,078.
Western Union college opens 39th year.
September 15—
Fred and Lawrence Kounkel killed in auto smash in Woodbury county.
September 19—
Two new school buildings open to public in LeMars.
Albert Krause killed in fall from silo.
September 22—
Geo. Kelley resigns from stewardship of County Farm after 25 years of
service.
September 26—
Company K ordered to increase enlistment.
LeMars Bulldogs take worst drubbing in years at hands of Spencer 33-0.
September 29—
Marion Robbins loses life in auto smash.
James E. Ross killed while hunting in Hancock township.
October 3—
County Bar Association honors the late Judge C. C. Bradley.
October 6—
Chamber of Commerce sets October 17 as date of corn picking contest.
Sixty-five miles of REA lines completed.
October 10—
Cyril A. Wiltgen sentenced to jail for one year for contempt of court.
October 13—
Grand jury approves county jails after inspection tour.
Western Union celebrates eighteenth annual homecoming.
Clifford Kilker escapes from county jail.
October 17—
Ralph Bruner fatally hurt when car hits school bus.
October 20—
Louis Kelly wins county corn husking championship.
Evening school planned for winter.
October 25—
LeMars high school marching band wins top honors at Cherokee.
Natural gas lines completed up to city limits.
October 27—
Police arrest 10 juveniles for destructive Hallowe’en celebrating.
LeMars Gas Co., submits tentative rates for new gas.
October 31—
Clifford Kilker shot and killed by Los Angeles police as he enters stolen
car.
Company K payroll boosted to $13,640.
November 3—
Brunsville lumber yard robbed of $22.
City Council approved rates of gas company.
November 7—
REA members find $5,000 available for wiring loans.
November 10—
C. D. Roseberry elected president of 21st District Bar.
November 14—
Company K takes field in war maneuvers.
About 95 percent of all taxes paid as delinquent tax list is published.
November 17—
Corn loans established at 57 cents per bushel.
Kirk Paulson goes on trial.
November 21—
John Kounkel sues Albert Kurtzhals for $20,000 for death of sons.
Western Union closes football season with 22-20 victory over Wayne.
November 24—
J. J. Moore passes away in LeMars.
Kirk Paulson pleads guilty.
Drought called most serious of years.
November 28—
Roy Sitzman proves to be hero as he saves wife and children from flames.
Stanley Englert, novice bank robber, blunders into arms of law.
December 1—
Over $156,000 paid to county farmers in one week.
Fredonia township dedicates new school.
December 5—
Neal Cagley killed as car overturns on city street.
December 8—
M. E. Haines, Sioux City, fatally injured when car crashes into bridge.
December 12—
John A. Kale passes away in Merrill.
Another group of checks totaling $68,785.20 distributed to farmers.
December 15—
Government pours $115,175.48 more into county for farmers.
Start work to obtain CCC camp here.
December 19—
Remsen circulates petition requesting clemency for Stanley Englert who
robbed Cleghorn bank.
December 22—
Petty thieves arrested for stealing iron from farmers.
Joe Duster named to handle census for county.
December 26—
Drought shrugged off as geologists say nothing unusual about it.
Farm Bureau holds annual meeting.
December 28—
Peter Zoller, Remsen, dies after slashing throat with razor.
City Council ends year in thoughtful manner and turns down beer permit
requests.
Early Settler Taken By Death
John Peter Gengler, resident of Plymouth County for 62 years, passed away Wednesday at the Sacred Heart Hospital in this city.
Funeral services will be held Friday in Remsen at St. Mary’s church of which Mr. Gengler was one of the first members.
He was born November 30, 1859, in Welscheld, Grand Ducy of Luxemburg, Europe, and came to America when a boy. The family came to Iowa in 1877 and settle on a farm near Remsen. Of late years he made his home with his nephew and niece, Mr. and Mrs. Michael Gengler, on the old home place.
LeMars Globe-Post
January 8, 1940
JOHN P. GENGLER, REMSEN, CALLED
Funeral Services For Well Known Resident Held Friday
After continuous residence in the Remsen community for 62 years, during which he held the highest respect of hundreds of good old friends, John Peter Gengler passed away Wednesday at the Sacred Heart Hospital, at the age of 80 years. Infirmities couple with heart trouble caused his death. Of the immediate family, he is survived by one brother.
Born November 30, 1859, in Welscheld, Canton Diekrich, Grand Duchy of Luxemburg, John Peter was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Gengler, parents of a family of seven. He was but a boy when the family came to the United States and settled in the town of Bridewood, Ill., where the grown children and father found work, two of the sons working in the coal mines. The family came to Remsen in 1877 and settled on the farm now occupied by the Michael W. Gengler family, five miles southwest of town, where John Peter spent the last 28 years of his life.
John Peter Gengler never married. He lived with his parents until they passed away—the mother 52 years ago and the father, 46 years ago—and after their departure, he continued to make his home among his brothers and other close relatives, always in that vicinity. The past 28 years were spent with his nephew and niece, Mr. and Mrs. Michael W. Gengler, on the old home place.
Six brothers and sisters preceded Mr. Gengler to the grave as did his parents, and the only remaining member of the family is a brother, John Gengler, living in Oyens.
Funeral services were held at nine o’clock Friday morning in St. Mary’s Catholic church in Remsen, of which the deceased was one of the first members. Interment was made in St. Mary’s cemetery there.
LeMars Sentinel
January 12, 1940
TRIAL OF TINDALL CASE OCCUPIES TIME OF COURT
Large Number of Witnesses Called to Give Testimony
Hearing in the case of J. D. Tindall vs. I. H. Knutson et al on trial four
days in the district court last week was resumed Wednesday on the return of
Judge O. S. Thomas, who has been holding court in Sioux County the first
days of this week.
TESTIMONY HEARD
Evidence was still being taken in the Tindall suit Thursday afternoon.
Tindall is suing the highway commission because in constructing primary road
No. 5 past his farm two miles west of LeMars, the commission closed openings
in the grade causing over flow of water on his crop and pasture land. The
case already occupied six days in hearing. A large number of witnesses have
been called and pertinent and technical evidence heard.
Application for guardianship papers was granted George B. Ross and he was
made guardian of the property of George Barker, an incompetent.
In the case of J. H. Eppling vs. Gertrude L. Eppling in divorce proceedings,
the defendant was granted a divorce on her cross petition on the grounds of
cruel and inhuman treatment and primary care of a minor child, Harold
Ordeal, given to the plaintiff. Division of property in a settlement
between the parties and a sale of effects held in escrow by the Farmers
Savings Bank of Remsen was authorized in court.
In the case of Will P. Varenhorst vs. Henry Borchers, Otto Kuehn, receiver,
lease of land in litigation was authorized to Wm. Ludwigs until March, 1941,
and a compromise settlement on lease for last year approved.
COUNTY SCHOOL OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Sixty-eight persons from ten churches enrolled in the Plymouth County School
of Religious Education at its first session Monday evening at the First
Methodist church in LeMars. The school will meet the next four Monday
evenings. There are two class sessions and an assembly period each evening
starting at 7:15 and closing at 9:25.
CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR HONORS FORMER LE MARS FAMILY
Mr. and Mrs. Clem Klosterman and children of Compton, California, were dinner
guests of Governor Culbert L. Olson in Sacramento recently in recognition of
the Klostermans being the largest California family.
Mr. and Mrs. Klosterman and fifteen children left LeMars several years ago
and moved to California, where Mr. Klosterman is in the insurance business.
SENEY: (Special Correspondence)
Seney school reopened Tuesday following a ten-day vacation.
Kenneth Rees of Sioux City visited his mother, Mrs. Margaret Rees, Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. Alex Nanninga spent Sunday at the Albert Collman home, west of
Craig.
Mrs. Amelia Lancaster, who has been suffering from an attack of influenza,
is improving.
The Home Missionary Society will meet at the home of Mrs. Lizzie Buss on
Wednesday, January 17.
Mr. and Mrs. Earl Chapman and daughter, Jean, visited with Mr. and Mrs.
Elmer DeRaad near Kingsley Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Westra and baby returned home Sunday from a three weeks
visit with relatives in Michigan.
Warren Detloff left for California last week after spending a short visit
with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Will Detloff.
Miss Ruth McArthur returned to Westside, Iowa, Tuesday after spending a ten
day vacation at the home of her parents.
Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Albert, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Reints and families were
guests of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Wurth of Neptune, Sunday.
Charles Carwell, who has been ill at his home for several months, entered
the Zimmerman Home in LeMars last week for treatment.
Frances, oldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Hartog, had the misfortune to
severely burn her face last week. She is much improved.
Rev. and Mrs. Richard Mohler attended a dinner and ministerial meeting at
the home of Rev. and Mrs. Hubbard in LeMars Thursday.
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Juhl and daughter, Janet, Mrs. Frank Scholer and Mrs.
Henry Theilen of LeMars visited at the C. F. Nanninga home Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. Gerben Keizer, sons, Milton, Gene and LeRoy, and daughter,
Doris, of Hawarden, were guests at the Albert Hawkins home Wednesday.
A number of men met at community hall Friday and split a large amount of
wood which was recently donated to the Seney church from the Jeffers estate
near Ruble.
The Volunteer Sunday school class held a party at the community hall Friday
evening. Games and social visiting were enjoyed and refreshments were served
in closing.
Mr. and Mrs. George Osborne, son, Billy, and daughters, Lois and Georgine,
motored to Paullina on New Year’s day and spent the day with Mr. and Mrs.
Ernest Reeves.
Rev. and Mrs. Richard Mohler, Misses Blanche Hawkins and Margaret Olson
attended the School of Religious Education held at the Methodist church in
LeMars Monday evening.
The Ladies Aid Society met at the home of Mrs. Clarence Albert on Wednesday,
January 3, with a small attendance. After the usual business held social
session, the hostess served a delicious luncheon.
Sunday evening, January 6, Epworth League met early in order to attend the
services at the Hildreth Memorial church in LeMars. Slides entitled, “The
Old Book Finding New Friends,” were shown.
Mrs. Lizzie Buss and son, Earl, and Mr. and Mrs. August Utech, Mr. and Mrs.
Glen Detloff and Mrs. Bertha Utech and daughter, Elsie, of LeMars were
guests of Mr. and Mrs. George Utech on New Year’s day.
The “losers” in a recent contest sponsored by the Epworth League entertained
the “winners” at a party at the Community hall on Friday evening. Games and
stunts were enjoyed and refreshments were served.
Mr. and Mrs. Elmer DeRaad and daughter, Shirley Ann, moved Wednesday to a
farm near Kingsley. Jake Mulder rented the Alderson home they vacated and he
and his bride will reside there in the near future.
A large group of young people were invited to the Albert Hawkins home on
Wednesday in honor of the birthday anniversary of Miss Blanche Hawkins. The
evening was spent in games and a delicious luncheon was served.
Mr. and Mrs. Earl Chapman had as New Year’s dinner guests Mr. and Mrs. Elam
Chapman and son, Orville, Mr. and Mrs. Marion Chapman and daughter, Mary
Eileen, Mr. and Mrs. Orville Cooper and son, Marvin, and Mr. and Mrs. D. F.
McArthur.
Mrs. Albert Hawkins entertained about 35 neighborhood ladies at another of a
series of teas sponsored by the Home Missionary Society on Friday. Ladies
pieced blocks to be used for a quilt to be sent to a children’s home. Tea
was served.
Mr. and Mrs. M. J. Lancaster entertained at a family dinner at their home on
New Year’s Day , Mr. and Mrs. Ed Buss and daughter, Elaine, of LeMars, Mrs.
Lizzie Hawkins and daughter, Harriet. The occasion was also the 27th wedding
anniversary of the host and hostess.
A group of neighborhood ladies were invited to the home of Mrs. Floyd Becker
on Friday afternoon for another of a series of teas sponsored by the Home
Missionary Society. The afternoon was spent in making quilt blocks and
visiting and a delicious tea was served.
Jake Mulder and his bride moved into the Alderson residence recently vacated
by Mr. and Mrs. Elmer DeRaad, Friday. A number of Seney friends furnished
them some charivari music Monday evening. Mr. Mulder will entertain these
friends at an oyster stew at the community hall Friday evening.
A family reunion was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Marshall Rees on New
Years Day. Those present were Mr. and Mrs. Pete Keizer, son, Louis, and
daughter, Ethel, of Alton; Mr. and Mrs. Will Penning and daughter, Rose, Mr.
and Mrs. Wayne Penning of LeMars; Mrs. Lena Rees and Mr. and Mrs. Albert
Penning.
Guests on New Years Day at the parsonage of Rev. and Mrs. Richard Mohler
included Mrs. Lizzie Buss and son, Earl, Mr. and Mrs. M. J. Lancaster, and
sons, Wesley and Edgar, and daughter, Evelyn, Mr. and Mrs. George Osborne
and family, Mr. and Mrs. Roy McArthur and family and Mr. and Mrs. Albert
Hawkins and family.
Mr. and Mrs. Glen Hinde and children together with Mrs. Stella Criswell and
son, Lee, and Mr. and Mrs. George Clark, of LeMars, returned home Wednesday
from a two weeks visit with relatives at Haxtun, Colorado. Wayne Hinde, son
of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Hinde, of Haxtun, returned with them for an extended
visit with relatives.
The Seney Epworth League represented their church at the sub-district League
rally held at Merrill Tuesday evening. Supper was served at 6:30 o’clock
followed by a recreational hour in charge of Mrs. Hubbard of LeMars.
Meeting was closed by a devotional period. Those attending from here were
Marvin and Alma Smit, Blanche and Richard Hawkins, Evelyn, Edgar, Bonnie and
Wesley Lancaster, Elvit Falk, Margaret Olson, Raymond McArthur, Rev. and
Mrs. Richard Mohler.
In the presence of a large number of friends and relatives, Jake Mulder of
Seney was united in marriage on New Years day to Miss Anna Hartog at the
home of the bride’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Hartog, of Sanborn. A
reception was held at the Masonic hall in Sanborn following the ceremony.
Attending the wedding from Seney were Mr. and Mrs. John Hartog, Bill
Berkenpas and Albert Olson. Mr. and Mrs. Mulder will make their home in
Seney where Mr. Mulder is employed at the Hartog Elevator company. Friends
here extend congratulations.
OYENS: (Special Correspondence)
George May has gone to Rochester, Minn., for medical attention.
Nick A. Gengler, of Elkton, S.D., visited relatives here the past week.
Mr. and Mrs. Peter J. Homan and family of Remsen visited in the John Meis
home Wednesday.
The Charles Kuster family spent New Years day in the Walter Meacham home in
Sioux City.
Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Kelly of Akron visited Thursday in the home of Mr. and
Mrs. George Kelly.
Mrs. Mike Weber and Della Kuster attended the Catholic Daughters of America
meeting in LeMars on Tuesday.
Mrs. John Peter Gengler and daughter, Mary, have returned home after a visit
with relatives at Whittemore, Iowa.
Wilbert Heuertz, Magnus Schnepf and Will Bell attended the 4-H Club short
course at Iowa State College at Ames last week.
Mrs. Ralph Doud and daughter, Eileen, have gone to Webster City to join
Ralph Doud, who is employed there as circulation manager for a daily paper.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kuster left Friday to attend the funeral of the late
Jacob Heymann at Caldedonia, Minn. Mr. Heymann was a brother of Mrs.
Kuster.
A daughter was born December 28 to Mr. and Mrs. Donald Kissinger of LeMars.
Mrs. Kissinger is the former Constance Kemp, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jos.
J. Kemp.
Mrs. Frank Lauters will attend the state Farm Bureau Federation convention
at Des Moines next week in her capacity of home project chairman for
Plymouth County.
Albert Duwoenhoegger has leased the Steinfadt farm one mile west of Oyens
for 1940. Vincent Streff will move from the Steinfadt farm to the Bloom
place two miles north of town and the present tenant of the Bloom farm,
Peter Reichling, will go to the Kemp farm two miles east of Oyens.
MELBOURNE: (Special Correspondence)
The Melbourne Evangelical Y.P.M.C. met at the B. A. Bogenrief home last
Saturday evening.
Mrs. Allen Schindel entertained the Melbourne Evangelical W.M.S. at her home
on Wednesday afternoon of this week.
Mr. and Mrs. George Zimmerman and Mrs. Minnie Schneider of Sioux City were
recent dinner guests at the home of Miss Dora Schneider.
Mrs. Fran Beguin and Mrs. R. Schneider attended the Eastern Star meeting
held at Sioux City this week. Mrs. Beguin was installed as an officer.
Mrs. Rush, of Sioux City, entertained her children and their families at a
holiday dinner before she left for Texas to spend the winter months with her
son.
Floyd Brehm motored with a friend to California arriving there in time to
spend the holiday season with his sisters, Gladys, Jeanette and Carolyn, and
other relatives and friends.
Rev. and Mrs. Roths and sons, John and Robert, of Hubbard, and Rev. and Mrs.
Roy Smith and son of Fort Dodge were recent guests in the Merlin Winter
home. John Roths is teaching at Oskaloosa at present.
Henry Schindel, Oscar Schindel and family, Early Schindel and family spent
Christmas day at the Phil Lucey home in Sioux City with Mrs. Henry Schindel,
who is recuperating favorably following her recent operation.
LeMars Sentinel
January 16, 1940
CARS COLLIDE NEAR MARCUS
DURING FOG
Marcus News: A heavy fog Monday morning caused a wreck about a mile south
of Marcus on highway No. 5 involving cars drive by William H. Wilcox and
Willard Benson of LeMars. The Wilcox car is reported by the highway patrol
to have run into the Benson car from the rear.
William Wilcox and his sister, Elizabeth Wilcox, who was riding with him,
received cuts and bruises about the head. Injuries to Benson are not
reported serious.
Wilcox reported that he was unable to see the car in front of him until it
was too late. The patrolman filed charges which were held before the Justice
of the Peace, J. W. Nield, here Tuesday and Wilcox was fined $5.00 and
costs.
SOUTHERNER WEDS NORTHERN WOMAN
Reuben Samuel Barney of Charleston, W. Va., and Maxine Graybill, of Sioux
City, were united in marriage January 11, in LeMars. Rev. G. O. Thompson,
pastor of Hildreth Memorial Church, performed the ceremony. The witnesses
were Mrs. G. F. Earnest and Miss Louise Schnur.
TINDALL CASE TAKEN UNDER ADVISEMENT
JUDGE O. S. THOMAS TO RENDER DECISION AT LATER DATE
Arguments by opposing attorneys were heard Friday by Judge O. S. Thomas
presiding in district court in the case of J. D. Tindall vs. I. H. Knutson
and the state highway commission, the trial of which has occupied the time
of the court the greater portion of the past two weeks.
The suit was instituted by the plaintiff who alleges the construction of
highway No. 5 interfered with proper drainage on his farm land.
The judge took the case under advisement and will render a decision later.
The judge adjourned the court and left for Orange City where the Sioux
County district court is in session and he is presiding at the term.
The court approved an agreement entered into by Plymouth County and Nels
Brynteson, executor of the estate of Charles C. Wolf, deceased, and H. F.
Nelson, guardian of Sarah Ann Wolf, incompetent, and John Westerberg and
Elizabeth Westerberg whereby the Westerbergs agree to purchase the southeast
quarter of section 12, township 90, range 47, for a consideration of $3,600.
The court issued a number of orders in probate and minor cases before
adjournment.
Charles Howes was appointed administrator of the estate of the late Edwin A.
Howes.
The next term of the Plymouth County district court will be convened
February 5.
NEW CASE FILED
J. M. Mackay filed suit in district court yesterday against George Kovarna
asking judgment for $261. He states in his petition that bills for
professional services by Drs. A. Sloan, E. S. Sibley and A. O. Johnson
rendered to the defendant were assigned to the plaintiff.
LeMars Sentinel
January 19, 1940
OUR RURAL SCHOOLS – PAST AND FUTURE
By Christine Petersen, County Superintendent of Schools
[Photographs published with this article: 1. Photograph of the District No.
One school, Johnson Township; 2. Photograph of the District No. Four school,
Westfield Township; and 3. Photograph of Miss Christine Petersen]
In this article, I shall first endeavor to give a brief summary of the work
which as been done in the Plymouth County rural schools during the past
fifteen years, while it has been my privilege to serve as County
Superintendent. Secondly, I shall attempt to point out some pertinent
problems, which are facing our rural school today, the solution of which
problems challenges the thinking of all citizens interested in education.
Although all of our goals have not been achieved, we feel that through the
tireless efforts of our rural teachers and the splendid cooperation of the
patrons and school officials, definite progress has been made.
Perhaps the greatest emphasis, from the county superintendent’s office,
during the past several years, has been upon the improvement of instruction.
Four years ago, a primer grade was added to all of the rural schools. This
grade, without additional expense to the tax payers, gives the children an
additional year of elementary training and a year’s more maturity, which,
together, equip them to keep pace with town children when they enter high
school. Detailed courses of study have been prepared for primer, first,
second, and third grades and an outline of study prepared for grades four
though eight. Supplementary materials and helps, covering examinations,
professional work, special day programs, and so forth, are mailed to the
teachers every six-weeks period. The teaching of the three R’s is not only
now being supplemented by social science, spelling and grammar, but emphasis
are being placed upon guidance and character development, elementary
science, and safety in the home, school and community.
The county board of education, every five years, carefully selects
up-to-date text books, with manuals and correlating work books and seat
work. The state choir plan for teaching music has been promoted and used,
until about 95 per cent of the rural schools are now supplied with a good
Victrola. Fullerton song books, and the victrola records containing the
state list of choir songs from year to year, with the result that rural
children are learning to sing. Standard reading tests are given from time to
time to ascertain where more teaching emphasis needs to be placed. Much
improvement in the health work has been made through the help of the county
nurse and the school’s education program. One of the objectives of the
physical education program is to stimulate an interest in physical activity
which may be carried over from the school into later life. Through the
nurse’s annual visit, physical defects in children have been noted and
suggestions offered for correction. Immunization programs for the
prevention of communicable diseases have greatly reduced school absences.
Schools have, also, been supplied with first aid kits, thermometers,
provisions for hot lunches, covered water coolers, and improved hand washing
facilities. A loan library, consisting of approximately one thousand books
for boys and girls, has been established in the county superintendent’s
office. This, and the recreational reading in the rural school libraries, is
still inadequate to meet the needs of the children. It is an objective upon
which more emphasis is to be placed this year and years to follow.
The school building program in Plymouth County has kept pace with that of
the average county in Iowa. Of the 133 buildings, thirty-nine are new and
modern, twenty-six of which have been built during the past fifteen years,
and an additional sixteen have been modernized. Forty-six of these
buildings are equipped with indoor toilets. Three have electric lights.
Considerable improvement has been made in the heating of these 133 rural
school buildings. Unjacketed stoves have been replaced by the following:
fifty-five basement furnaces, forty-five room furnaces, twenty-one
circulating heaters, one oil burner, and eleven jacketed stoves.
In 1932-33, the number of standard schools in Plymouth County reached its
peak. In 1925 there were only four standard schools in the county. In
1932-33, this number had increased to fifty standard schools and that year
state aid to the amount of $1799.19 was received. The standard school law,
which requires an average daily attendance of ten pupils per school, has
reduced the number of standard schools in Plymouth County to forty for the
current year. The state aid, received annually for the standard schools, has
been used to purchase instructional materials, readers, recreational and
reference books, kindergarten tables and chairs, health equipment,
victrolas, attractive pictures, indoor games, playground equipment, and so
forth. The standard school law, however, makes no provision to improve the
schools in the poorer districts, where they have been unable to meet the
requirements for standardization.
More significant than the improvement in the building and equipment is the
encouraging report observed from these statistics: In 1925 ninety-nine
rural pupils graduated from the eighth grade, whereas, 207 rural pupils
graduated from the eighth grade in 1939. In 1925, 233 rural pupils were
enrolled in high school. In 1939, this number has increased to 486, a gain
of over 100 per cent. Another encouraging fact is that the number of pupils
who failed to comply with the compulsory school law has decreased from
approximately fifty cases per year to less than three cases the present
school.
The district tax paid by tax payers in 1925, for the support of the county’s
rural schools, amounted to $170,533.42. With the improvements made in
equipment and buildings, and an addition of one year’s work, it will be of
interest to note that the district tax for the school year 1938-39 was only
$151,926.40.
What is to be the future of our rural schools, when we note that the
elementary schools in the state of Iowa have decreased in enrollment from
434,046 in 1923 to an enrollment of only 380,817 in 1939? As an
illustration, we cite Plymouth County which had in 1925, 148 rural schools,
with a total enrollment of 2543 pupils, an average of 17.1 per school, as
contrasted with the 133 rural schools in 1938, with an enrollment of 1768
pupils, an average of 13.3 per school. This means that the decreased
enrollment has closed, during the past fifteen years, over ten per cent of
the county’s one-room rural schools. The decrease throughout the state has
been even greater. We quote from a report recently received from the office
of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction: “During the year of
1930-331, there were 10,096 one-room rural schools operating in the state of
Iowa. In 1937-38 this number had been to 8918.” While other causes may
operate in some cases to account for the small number of school children in
certain districts, in the main a falling birth rate is the most common
cause.
This year, the salaries for Plymouth County rural teachers range from $50 to
$75 per school month, nine months per year. It is of interest to note that
these teachers have a much wider range of training than the range in salary
would indicate. In this group, five are four-year college graduates;
twenty-one have had two years of college training; twenty have had one year
of college work, and the other eighty-two have had a few weeks above a high
school course, or only the minimum requirement of high school graduation.
The present minimum wage law, with its only provision that no teacher be
paid less than $50 per school month, offers little inducement to the rural
teacher to acquire additional training. One of the reasons for the large
turnover in the teaching profession and the movement of many of our
outstanding personalities to other walks of life, or to educational
positions elsewhere, is the unsatisfactory economic outlook for the teaching
profession.
This set of figures is sufficient to illustrate the point: The average
annual salary in the state of Iowa is $767, as compared with $1400 for
teacher’s salaries in the nation, as per recent reports. With no tenure law
at all and no state-wide retirement system, the present situation is most
discouraging for the teaching profession. This point is not given as
criticism, nor indictment of the people whose sacrifices to keep their
children in school during these strenuous times have portrayed their faith
in education. Let us place the fault where it more properly lies; namely,
the weakness of our taxation system for school support. Ninety-eight per
cent of Iowa’s school tax is derived from local property taxes. Contest this
with the road construction and maintenance program, which program receives
less than thirty per cent of its revenue from property tax. The state must
need recognize its obligation for the support of public schools and to
provide a state school fund, sufficient in size to become an important part
of the total school budget of the state. This state school fund should not
be distributed in the same manner as our present meager state aids, but
should recognize the great inequalities between districts in their abilities
to finance a satisfactory program. We should not longer over look the fact
that many districts do not have sufficient resources to provide the
education to which their children are entitled and this difficulty cannot be
corrected until the state comes to their aid. In formulating such a program,
we need not only the action of our legislators, but the interest, thought,
and support of our voting citizens and the cooperation of all educational
agencies.
Mrs. Jessie Becker Answers Final Call
Member of Well Known Family
Mrs. Jessie Becker, 52, well known resident of LeMars, where she lived the
greater part of her life, died at her home 222 Seventh Avenue SW, Tuesday,
January 17.
Jessie Calhoun was born in Plymouth County July 8, 1887, and with the
exception of fifteen years when she resided in South Dakota, lived in and
around LeMars.
She was married to Nick Becker October 18, 1910, at Elk Point, S.D. She is
survived by her husband, Nick Becker, and three children; Dorothy and Donald
of LeMars, and a daughter, Mrs. Vern Myers, of Bowman, N.D.; her father,
Frank Calhoun, two sisters, Mrs. Dorothy Wilmes, Mrs. Jos. Sutton; three
brothers James, John and Frank Calhoun, of this city.
FUNERAL FRIDAY AFTERNOON
The funeral will be held Friday afternoon at 2 o’clock in St. John’s
Lutheran Church. Rev. L.L. Belk, the pastor, will conduct the service.
Nephews will act as pallbearers: Lercy Calhoun, Joseph, Arnold, Francis and
Cecil Sutton and Stanley Wilmes.
Interment will be made in the City Cemetery. The arrangements are in charge
of Wiltgen’s.
Carl Jahn Marries Luella Wetrosky
Pretty Wedding Held At Kingsley Sunday
The Lutheran church at Kingsley was the scene of a pretty wedding Sunday
evening at 6 o’clock when Luella Wetrosky, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph
Wetrosky of Kingsley, and Carl Jahn, son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Jahn of
Kingsley, were united in marriage. The ceremony was performed by Rev. W. H.
Wehrspaan in the presence of a large number of relatives and friends. Ushers
were Junior Herboldt and Fred DeRocher.
Miss Darlene Wetrosky, a sister of the bride, was bridesmaid, and Ervan
Jahn, a brother of the bridegroom, was best man.
Mendelssohn’s wedding march, played by Miss Alice Cooper of Moville,
preluded the taking of the vows and a chorus of girl friends sang, “Oh,
Perfect Love.”
The double ring ceremony was the choice of the bridal pair.
The bride appeared charming in a light blue crepe dress with accessories and
slippers to match and a wreath of white flowers fastened in her hair in
coronet effect. A gold locket, a gift of the bridegroom, and a bouquet of
pink carnations completed a picturesque effect.
Her bridesmaid wore an aqua blouse trimmed with gold thread and black silk.
A wreath of white flowers and a bouquet of pink carnations formed a
finishing touch.
Following the services at the church, a wedding supper was served in the
home of the bride’s parents to about thirty guests. The home and altar were
prettily decorated in the bride’s chosen colors, blue and gold, and with
chrysanthemums and carnations. The bridal cake, which centered the bride’s
table, was made by the bride’s sisters and sister-in-law, Mrs. Lydia Lau,
Mrs. Loretta Porsch and Mrs. Grayce Wetrosky.
Honors of serving were accorded to Misses Genevieve and Dolores Mathwig of
Sioux City and hostesses were Mrs. Will Langle and Miss Frieda Rosenmerkel.
The young people left on a honeymoon trip and on their return home will
reside with the bridegroom’s parents until March 1 when they will establish
their own home on a farm west of Kingsley.
The bride graduated at Central high school in Sioux City after attending
rural school. The bridegroom has been employed in Sioux City since finishing
school work at Elkhorn.
The young people are members of well known families in the south part of the
county and are popular in community and social circles.
LeMars Globe-Post
January 22, 1940
DON RICKABAUGH KILLED IN NAVY SERVICE IN SECRET MANEUVERS
Was First Class Electrician Believed On U. S. Destroyer
According to word received word by the family here this morning, Don
Rickabaugh, son of Mr. and Mrs. Pat Rickabaugh, died January 18, from the
effects of an unspecified accident January 15, in line of duty while on
secret maneuvers with the United States Navy.
Mrs. Rickabaugh, the boy’s mother, was prostrated with grief and is under
the care of Dr. C. V. Bowers.
No details of the accident have been received. When young Rickabaugh was in
LeMars on furlough, he said that he had just been promoted to the grade of
1st Class Electrician, and that he expected to be transferred to the
destroyer, Flusher. But the family does not know whether or not he was on
that ship, for the maneuvers are being carried on under simulated war-time
conditions, and no information is allowed to trickle through.
Nothing is known of the disposition of the body. Presumably the injured man
was put into the sick-bay of his own ship, or transferred to a hospital
ship. It is believed that the body will be taken to San Diego by a Navy
tender.
Nothing is known of the nature of the accident, nor if there were any other
victims. First intimation of the trouble was when the victim’s wife, whose
home is in San Diego, received a radiogram via official channels informing
her of her husband’s serious injury, on January 15.
When he died, the Navy did not send a cablegram direct, but to the Navy
yard, and a chaplain was sent to break the news.
The widow assumed that the family here had also been notified of the
accident, and did not herself send a telegram. When the Navy chaplain told
her of the fatal outcome, he also told her that none of the family except
her were being notified.
Plans for the funeral have been necessarily held in abeyance until the body
is returned.
Besides the C. Rickabaugh family here, Donald is survived by his widow, and
two children, a daughter Carolyn and a son Donald, one year old. The family
expects, however, that the interment will be in LeMars.
HAD PERFECT RECORD.
First Class Electrician Don Rickabaugh was one of the Navy men who are
honored receiving a 10-year certificate of perfect record. This means that
in 10 years service, he did not have a single demerit against his record.
This is very unusual as a demerit can be given for ____ nor things as
failing to salute an officer, or failing to pass an inspection of quarters.
Deceased was 28 years old at the time of his death and he had completed 10
years service. He had an unprecedented and service record was slated to
promotion to 1st Class Electrician’s rating, and ____ in another 10 years,
be able to retire on a pension suitable of high rating. He spent the early
part of his life here and the news of his death was a shock to a number of
LeMars residents who remember him.
MEINT F. EILERS TAKEN BY DEATH
Well Known Grant Township Resident Died Friday
Meint F. Eilers, well known resident of Grant Township, passed away Friday
at his home following a lingering sickness of over two years. He had
reached the age of 64 years, 3 months and 20 days.
Deceased was born September 29, 1875, at Harvel, Montgomery county,
Illinois. He was baptized in infancy and confirmed in the Lutheran faith.
He came to Plymouth county, Iowa, in July 1897, and was united in marriage
to Minnie Borchers on June 8, 1905, at the Borchers home in Preston
township. Mr. Eilers followed the occupation of farming and after several
years they purchased the Henry Heeren farm in Grant township, where his wife
died on September 4, 1929.
On July 8, 1935, he married Carrie Meiners of Stanton township.
Surviving to mourn his passing besides his wife, are the following brothers
and sisters: G. J. Eilers, Hawarden; John H. Eilers, LeMars; G. E. Eilers,
LeMars; Mrs. Anna Schulz, Craig; Mrs. Lena Becker, LeMars; Fred E. Eilers,
Ireton; Mrs. Marie Baack, LeMars; three brothers and one sister died in
infancy and one brother, Herman D. Eilers, of Dell Rapids, S.D., preceded
him in death.
Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday afternoon at one o’clock from the
residence and at 1:30 from the Preston township Lutheran church with Rev.
Karl Fenske, pastor, officiating, and Rev. Theo. Meyer, assisting.
Pallbearers will be Wm. Johnson, Adolph Popken, Leo Reichel, Louis Kruse,
John Ludwig, and Henry Luschen.
LeMars Sentinel
January 23, 1940
YOUNG SAILOR DIES WHILE ON FLEET PATROL
ACCIDENTALLY HURT WHILE IN DISCHARGE OF HIS DUTY
Mr. and Mrs. C. Rickabaugh, residing 235 First Avenue NE, received a message
Friday stating their son, Donald Rickabaugh, had died the previous day. The
news was conveyed by their daughter-in-law, Mrs. Donald Rickabaugh, who is
residing in San Diego, Calif., and details were meager awaiting later
reports. Two later messages received by the Rickabaugh family contain
little additional information as to the cause of his death.
Naval officials notified Mrs. Donald Rickabaugh that her husband serving on
one of the ships composing the Pacific fleet, had been injured in an
accident while in the course of duty and later a second message arrived
stating he had died.
Mrs. Rickabaugh had not seen her husband since the fleet sailed for foreign
waters November 15, with the expectation of returning to harbor in San Diego
sometime in April.
SERVED TEN YEARS
Donald Rickabaugh had served ten years and seven months in the Navy and was
employed on board a naval vessel as a first class electrician. He had an
excellent record for faithful service and performance of duty since the time
of his enlistment.
Donald Rickabaugh was born in LeMars June 26, 1912, grew up here and
attended the city schools, enlisting in the Navy when a youth of seventeen.
He was married in San Diego, Calif., in 1933, to Miss Annie Laurie Gaskins,
who with two children, Caroline and Donald, survives him. His death is also
mourned by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. Rickabaugh, and his brothers and
sisters, Loren of this city, Perry of Sandusky, Ohio, Jack, Max, George and
Dale, Madge and Patty at home, and Mrs. Leo Mack, of Sioux City.
The body will be returned to San Diego and from there will be brought to
LeMars for interment within a couple of weeks according to information
received yesterday by Mr. Rickabaugh.
----------
Sioux City Journal: Madeline Dutrow, 30, was granted a divorce from Ira
Dutrow, 39, after she testified that he was cruel to her during the year
they lived together. The married at LeMars March 20, 1937, and separated
April 9, 1938.
MARRIAGE TAKES PLACE AT REMSEN
Arnold Ruden Weds Florence Schreier
The wedding of Miss Florentine Schreier, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John
Schreier of Marcus, and Arnold Ruden, son of Nicholas Ruden, of Remsen, took
place Tuesday morning in St. Mary’s church, Remsen. The nuptial mass was
celebrated by Rev. M.A. Schemel pastor of the church, in the presence of a
large number of relatives and friends.
Attending the bridal couple were Mrs. Frank Ruden, sister of the bride, and
Sylvester Ruden, brother of the groom.
The bride wore a floor length white moiré taffeta dress with long veil and
carried a bouquet of white roses and sweet peas.
The bridesmaid was attired in a gown of electric blue taffeta floor length,
and carried a bouquet of carnations and sweet peas.
Breakfast was served for the bridal party at the home of the groom’s father
south of Remsen and the reception was at the home of the bride’s parents,
northeast of Marcus, where 80 guests were entertained at noonday dinner. The
reception and dining rooms were decorated in the bride’s colors, blue and
white. [copy runs out]
LeMars Globe-Post
January 25, 1940
DON RICKABAUGH DEATH DUE TO FALL OF SLINGLOAD OF LUMBER
Military Funeral In LeMars On February Sixth
Members of the C. Rickabaugh family have received additional information on
the death of Donald Rickabaugh while in active service in the U. S. Navy,
and are planning a military funeral possibly Feb 7 or 8, depending on when
the body arrives. K Company will take part.
Before the body is shipped east, the United States Navy will also sponsor
military services at San Francisco. The chaplain of the San Francisco Naval
station will make these arrangements.
Considerable confusion has been caused by garbled reports printed in the
Sioux City papers and given over the radio. The body is not being shipped
to San Diego on a hospital ship, but was placed on board a regular passenger
liner which will dock at San Francisco. All Naval communications were sent
direct to the widow, who sent them on to her husband’s family here.
WAS IN PEARL HARBOR.
Additional details of the accident were sent to Mrs. Rickabaugh upon her
request to the Pearl Harbor station. In a telegram, the commander stated
that the accident happened while the destroyer, the Flusher, was taking on
lumber for repairs. A load of lumber was being lifted by a derrick in a
sling, and when this load broke loose, Don Rickabaugh was caught underneath.
The kind of lumber often used in ships is much heavier than landsmen are
used to, many of the timbers being 20 inches square, of heavy oak.
Electrician Rickabaugh was caught under the load when it fell.
He was rushed at once to a hospital at Pearl Harbor, where it was seen at
once that his condition was very serious. In addition to a fractured skull,
he suffered fracture of the third, fourth and fifth ribs, fracture of both
pubic bones, a broken right thigh bone, injuries to the spinal cord, and
numerous lacerations and bruises.
HAD JUST TRANSFERRED.
Having just successfully passed the examination for promotion to the grade
of electrician, first class, young Rickabaugh was transferred to the
destroyer, the Flusher, from another ship of the same kind, the McDougall.
At the hospital, the victim at first showed signs of improvement, and his
mind was clear. He asked that a reassuring message be sent to his wife. The
next day, however, he succumbed.
WIDOW COMING HERE.
After the Naval services at San Francisco, Mrs. Rickabaugh will accompany
the body to LeMars. Her two children, Caroline, 4, and Donald, 1, are just
getting over the measles, and can not make the trip. They will be left in
care of a neighbor until she returns home.
Other survivors, besides the sorrowing parents, are six brothers: Loren,
Jack, Max, George and Dale, LeMars; Perry, of Sandusky, Ohio; three sisters,
Patricia, at home; Mrs. Melba Mack of Sioux City; and Madge, of Sioux City.
SENEY WOMAN TO FATHER’S FUNERAL
Mrs. Ole Olson On Way To Champaign, Illinois
(By Special Correspondent)
Mrs. Ole Olson received word of the death of her father at his home in
Champaign, Ill., after a linger sickness. She left Tuesday morning to
attend the funeral. Sympathy is extended to Mrs. Olson by her friends in
this community in her bereavement.
Mr. and Mrs. Irving McArthur of Sioux City visited in the home of their
parents, Mr. and Mrs. Alex McArthur, Sunday.
Bob Conner of LeMars visited relatives here Monday.
Mrs. Mary Daugherty and John spent a few days the end of this week with Mr.
and Mrs. Glen Whitlock in Sioux City.
Vernon Ewin of LeMars was a guest of his friend, Raymond McArthur Friday
night and Saturday.
Mrs. Richard Mohler, Mrs. Albert Hawkins, Mrs. George Osborne attended a
“Steward” institute at the Y.W.C.A. in Sioux City Wednesday under the
auspices of the Women’s Missionary Society.
Miss Blanche Hawkins spent Wednesday with her aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs.
Richard Zimmerman, in Sioux City.
Alex McDougall of Craig, visited Friday afternoon with Mrs. C. F. Nanninga.
Mr. and Mrs. Jack Hinde spent Sunday in the home of Mrs. Criswell of LeMars.
Mrs. Criswell is confined to her bed suffering with an attack of lumbago.
Dorothy Janssen has been confined to her home the past weeks with a severe
cold.
Akron Register-Tribune, January 25, 1940
Miss Delores Hoffmann, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Hoffmann, of Merrill, and Leonard J. Woll, son of Mr. and Mrs. Emil Woll, of LeMars, were joined in marriage January 16, 1940. The wedding took place at St. Joseph’s church at Ellendale at 8 a.m., Rev. Fr. F. H. Greteman, officiating at the celebration of the nuptial mass. The bride was attended by Miss Margie Nemmers and Cecil Kennedy.
The bride wore a becoming costume of navy blue, with matching accessories and a corsage bouquet of white sweet peas. The bridesmaid was attired in a wine colored dress, with lace to match.
Following the service, a wedding breakfast was served in the home of the bride’s parents and a reception held later in the day in honor of the young couple.
After a brief wedding trip, the newlyweds will be at home on a farm in Johnson township.
The bride is a graduate of St. Joseph’s high school in LeMars and a popular young woman in a large circle of friends. The bridegroom is a well known and popular young man in the community.
LeMars Sentinel
January 26, 1940
LIVES THREE DAYS AFTER BEING HURT ON SHIP BOARD
Body of Young Sailor To Be Returned To His Home
Further particulars of the tragic death of Donald Rickabaugh, 28, LeMars
youth, who died in the discharge of his duties while serving in the Navy, as
related in the last issue of the Sentinel, were received Tuesday by his
parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. Rickabaugh, of this city.
The accident happened aboard the Flusser, a warship, which had anchored at
Pearl Harbor, Hawaiian Islands, to make repairs.
While engaged in work Rickabaugh was crushed under a falling timber. The
extent of his injuries precluded recovery although he lived three days after
being conveyed to a hospital. The accident happened on January 15 and he
died on January 18.
The impact of the heavy timber practically crushed out his life. He suffered
head injuries and fracture of several ribs on his right side, his left leg
broken at the thigh, and the spinal cord was severed. He retained
consciousness to the end.
Return Body to Native Land
In a letter to the Rickabaugh family here, Mrs. Don Rickabaugh, living in
San Diego, Calif., said she had been notified by Naval authorities that the
body of her husband would be returned to the United States and would arrive
in San Francisco on the return of the fleet February 2.
Under tentative arrangements the body will arrive in LeMars February 6,
where the final rites will be held and the youth accorded full Naval honors.
Mrs. Don Rickabaugh will accompany the body of her husband to LeMars.
She will be unable to bring their children, Caroline and Donald, with her as
they are at present recovering for an attack of measles.
VINCENT A. GERGEN AND MISS BERNICE PROBST WEDDED
The marriage of Miss Bernice C. Probst, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Otto
Probst, and Vincent M. Gergen, son of Mr. and Mrs. Mike Gergen, all of Sioux
County, took place at the St. Mary’s church in Alton. Rev. Father Neppel
officiating, January 22.
The bride was lovely in a white satin gown, floor length, trimmed with lace.
She carried a bouquet of white roses and wore a gold locket as her only
ornament, the gift of the bridegroom. She wore a three-quarter length veil.
Miss Petty Probst, sister of the bride, was bridesmaid and wore a frock of
rose taffeta with bouquet of red roses.
Kenneth Probst, brother of the bride, was best man.
A four-course wedding dinner was served at the home of the bride where the
dining room was decorated in the bridal colors of white and rose and a
wedding dance was held in the evening at the Hoxmeier hall in Alton.
The young couple will live on a farm east of Alton.