Iowa Old Press

Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott Co, Iowa
Aug 3, 1911

PERSONAL
-Mrs. E. Reimers of Durant spent the day visiting in Davenport.
-Father Sceurer of Leonola, Ill, spent today in Davenport visiting with friends.
-Frank Marten departed last night for Waterloo, where he will spend several days on business.
-Mrs. Wm. Finefield and daughter departed today for Chicago for a visit of several weeks with relatives.
-Mr. and Mrs. John Boule and son, Jack, left last night for New York on a three weeks' vacation trip.
-Mr. and Mrs. L.E. Knocke leave tonight for Lake Minnetonka, Minn. where they will spend a months' vacation.
-Mr. and Mrs. E.M. Weaver, 2150 Farnum street, have gone to Shell Rock, Ia., for a visit of several weeks' duration.
-Mr. and Mrs. R. Morrison, 1023 Tremont avenue, have returned from a visit with friends and relatives in Riverside, Ia.
-Mr. and Mrs. Charles Passke, of LeClaire, are the proud parents of a baby girl which has arrived to gladden their home.
-Mr. and Mrs. J.P. Smythe, formerly of 1424 Gaines street, left last night for Seattle, Wash. where they will make their future home.
-Miss Margaret McSwiggen, 123 West Seventh street, left today for New York where she will spend three weeks visiting with a cousin.

OBITUARY

Behm
     Wm. Behm died last night at 9 o'clock at his home, two miles north of Durant, at the age of 51 years.
     He was born in Germany July 5, 1860, came to America when 7 years old and direct to Davenport, where he spent his school days. He then took up the occupation of a farmer which he has followed until the time of his death.
     He was married February 26, 1886, to Miss Lena Meckmann, who survives him. He is also survived by two daughers, Mrs. Emma Mohr and MMiss Emma Behm, two sons, John and Walter Behm, and an aged father, Johan Behm, four brothers, Henry, Charles, John and August, of Davenport, and one son-in-law, Julius Mohr.
     The funeral will be held at the late home, two miles north of Durant, Saturday morning at 10 o'clock, Rev. Holterman officiating. Burial will be in Walcott cemetery.

MARINAN
     Michael Marinan passed away last night at 6 o'clock at his home, 1808 West
Third street, at the age of 83 years.
     He was a native of Ireland and was born in the County of Claire, in 1828.
He spent his boyhood days in Ireland and when a young man came to Canada, in
1850. He lived in Quebec four years then came to Davenport. He was married in
1860 in St. Anthony's church to Bridget Marinan.
     When Mr. Marinan first came to Davenport he worked for the Rock Island as
foreman of the construction gang that built the trestle leading up to the
station. He then worked for years in the baggage room of the old Perry street
station. He has been retired for the last 20 years.
     He leaves to mourn his death his wife, Bridget Marinan, three daughters,
Mrs. Margaret Volz, Mrs. Catherine O'Conner and Mrs. Chas. Coen, one son,
Michael Marinan, two brothers, Cornelius M. and Martin Marinan, and two sisters,
Mrs. Peter Quinn and Mrs. Bridget Deloughery, all of Davenport.
     The funeral will be held Friday morning from the late residence, with
services in St. Mary's church at 9 o'clock. Very Rev. Mgr. Ryan will officiate.
Interment will be in Holy Family cemetery.

LIES IN HOSPITAL HIDING ASSAILANT
     Lying in the Davenport Hospital with a knife wound in this breast, John Lotius, a native of Greece, steadfastedly refuses to reveal the name of the man who stabbed him.
     The injured man claims in answer to the many questions put to him, that his injury was only the result of a little friendly scuffle but the nature of the wound indicates that the blow which inflicted it was a powerful one. The fact that the knife blade did not strike directly into his chest probably saved his life. As it is, he is badly cut, the cut being a long and jagged one. The blade glanced along the rib on the man's left side directly above the heart. All indications point to an attempt at murder.
     The cutting took place last night about 9 o'clock at the corner of Fifth and Brady streets and Lotius had to be removed to the hospital in the police ambulance. He will recover. The police are searching for his assailant.

HIGHLY PRIZES SOUVENIR CANTEEN.
     Among the numerous relics possessed by Buffalo Bill who shows in Davenport tomorrow, is a souvenir canteen presented to him last year by Prof. B.G. Squires, the world's champion tree trimmer, who favors Davenport with his residence. The canteen is made from a large white clam shell, picked up by the professor on the government island. The silver mounting was made by M.E. Nabstedt & Sons.

POVERTY PROMPTS GIRL TO SUICIDE.
     Prompted Ann Fagenberg to Take her Life in Central Park.

     The girl who suicided in Central park Wednesday afternoon by taking carbolic acid, has been identified as Anna Fagenberg, 909 West Eighth street. Abject poverty, hard work, and a life devoid of any of the pleasures enjoyed by the better classes, undoubtedly prompted the girl to end her earthly existence.
     Anna Fagenberg was 22 years old. She was born and raised in this city. Her father, John Fagenberg, died in 1905, leaving a widow and four children with no apparent means of support. It was therefore necessary for the children to seek employment in order to support themselves and their lonely mother. The bulk of this support fell upon the shoulders of two daughters, one of whom was Anna, and ever since their life has been one of toil and hardship, with pleasure and recreation barely unknown to them. Tiring of this constant toil and seeing no brighter hopes in the future, the daughter Anna evidently became discouraged and during a temporary aberation of the mind, took her own life.
     Miss Fagenberg left her home at 9 o'clock Wednesday morning. The family contemplated moving and were in search of a house in which to reside. With the greeting "Good-bye, mother, I am going out to look for a house; you are too old and tired to go with me and had better stay home and rest," the girl left her home at the above hour, apparently in a cheerful mood. that was the last of her seen alive by her mother and brothers and sister.
     Although they wondered at her long absence the family felt no concern until in the evening they picked up a copy of The Democrat and read the account of the suicide of an unknown girl in Central park. They at once went to the Nissen & Hartwig undertaking parlors to which place the body had been taken, and there recognized it as that of their sister.
     The mother and sisters aver Anna could not possibly have been involved in any love affair. She seldom went in the company of men and cared little for them. Ordinarily she was of a cheerful nature, but at times had complained of the hard life before her. By reason of this complaint, it is presumed she became morose and melancholy and upon determining to end her life sought the quietude of Central park, remote from her mother and other members of the family, as the locality in which to take the deadly poison.
     The deceased is survived by her aged mother, Mrs. Anna Fagenberg, and the following brothers and sisters: Mrs. Bertha Schroeder, Charles, Frieda, John and Edna.
     The funeral will be held Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the family home with services at 2 o'clock and interment at Fairmount cemetery.