Iowa
Old Press
Iowa State Register
Des Moines, Polk co. Iowa
Saturday Morning, May 14, 1881
PELLA.
Death - Personal and Social Gossip.
March 13.
Two deaths of aged residents of this township have occurred since
my last writing. Last Saturday morning, Mrs. Jansen Van
Dimselaar, after a long and painful illness at the age of about
sixty years, breathed her last. She left an aged husband and
several grown children to mourn her death. Sabbath evening, as
the sun was setting, they laid her body in the bosom of mother
earth.
Wednesday evening, a Mrs. Comeen, living near the depot, a woman
who had suffered much lately, also exchanged this world for the
next. She and her family have only the last year been making
their home here. They came here from Keokuk. She was also
somewhere near sixty years of age. This afternoon her funeral is
to be.
Mrs. David Cassatt nee Fanny Homeo, at one time a resident of
Pella but now of Pueblo, Colorado, is visiting her relatives here
and at Eddyville, the present month.
Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Gibbs, of Harlan this state, arrived here last
Friday. They will remain here, as Mr. Gibbs come to assist his
father-in-law, Mr. B. G. Bonen, in his store here. That is right.
Pella girls, even if they
think at times that they would rather live any other place than
Pella, are rather glad whenever they have a chance to come back.
Mrs. O. D. Post and daughter left here Tuesday for a visit with
her relatives at Albert Lee, Minnesota. Orange is lonesome now.
Mr. John Thomasson left again last Wednesday morning with his
"lightning express" for Orange City. This time his
passengers were A. Lenderink and family, consisting of six
members.
Mrs. A. E. Cotton left here one day last week for Newton, at
which place she is still visiting.
Mr. P. G. Gaas, of this city, who, the last few years, has been
carrying a gripsack, first for Mr. Wm. Blom and afterwards for
Kellogg, Birge & Co., of Keokuk, last Saturday quit the
business, as he had too much of a good time of it the past winter
during the heavy snow storms; he will now take a much needed rest
for a few months, after which he may again take up some kind of
business in our city.
Rev. Cyrus Cort and family left for their new home in
Pennsylvania this morning. The good wishes of many Pella folks
attend them to their new home.
Dr. W. H. Barker was at Davenport this week attending the Dental
Convention in session there.
Mrs. Bach of Oskaloosa, mother of Mr. L. Bach of this city, is
here this week paying her son a visit.
Since Mr. Geo. P. Sheesley has given up being the editor of the Visitor,
he has been holding another important office, and it is Constable
Sheesley now.
To-night occurs the third tournament contest of A.O.C.A. at the
Baptist church. Eight contestants are to participate, Mrs. Rev.
Thickstun, Mrs. Prof. Prouty, and Mr. J. A. Rice are to be the
judges, and good music is to be furnished by the Misses Lillie
and Mary Viersen, Miss Nellie Cassatt, and the Misses Hattie,
Cory and Jennie Snow.
Mr. T. J. Edmund was about a month ago called to Charleston,
Illinois, on account of the severe illness of his aged mother and
has not yet returned. His mother died while he was there, and
since then his sister has been taken ill, so that he has not been
able to come away at all.
[transcribed by M.K., May 2005]