Iowa Old Press
Maurice Times, October 1, 1909
A. Van Wechel and J.C. Harrison drove to Orange City Sunday. The former went to see his sister, Mrs. Werkman, who is sick, and the latter just to fill up space.
Mr. and Mrs. H.C. Kuhl and son John, of Sioux Center, visited here Sunday.
Alton Democrat
October 9, 1909
Mrs. Margaret Hansen died at the home of her daughter Mrs. Engeldinger in LeMars on Monday, October fourth aged eighty three years, She had been failing for several weeks from the infirmities of old. Deceased was born at Cruthten Luxemburg Europe September twenty fourth 1826 and came to the United States in 1865. She became a Sioux county pioneer in 1870 and with her husband passed through all the hard ships of that day. She was married to Frank Hansen at Cruthten in 1850—who died the fifth of last February 1909.
Six children were born to them —of whom four survive. The four are Mrs, Kate Engeldinger of LeMars, Peter Hansen on the old homestead east of Alton, George Hansen in Oregon, Sister Euphrasia in St. Louis. The children who preceded her to the grave were John Hansen and Mrs. Math Kellen of Alton, Besides the children, deceased leaves thirty one grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Funeral services were conducted by Rev. Father Feuerstein from St. Joseph’s church in LeMars on Wednesday. About twenty five of the pioneers and members of their families and a number of other relatives and friends were present from Sioux county to attend the funeral.
Among them we are able to note Peter Hansen and wife, Mrs. Kate Hansen, Matt Kellen and wife and Will and the Misses Martha and Celia Kellen, Nic and Miss Frances Hansen, Peter Kilburg and wife, Mike Schroeder and wife, Mrs. Antone Huss, Mrs. Mary Schneider, Theo Hosmeier and wife, Jacob Klein and wife, Mrs. Joseph Krebs, Nic Probst and wife, Mrs. Nic Scheckel, Peter Wagner and daughter Miss Leona, Mrs. Peter Engeldinger.
Mrs. Hansen was a splendid wife and mother and a woman of strong Christian character. She was ever willing to help those in need and during the hardships of the early days did many a kindly deed for those in distress. She was often called upon among the pioneers—when ox teams were the only means of travel and doctors were no nearer Alton than LeMars to take the place of both physicians and nurse at the birth of a child and in sickness was ever looked to for advice and help. With it all she was noted for her cheerful and happy disposition and her memory is cherished by all who knew her.
Maurice Times, October 15, 1909
Mrs. A. Van Wechel was suddenly ill Sunday night with an attack of cholera morbus. At present she is greatly improved.
Maurice Times, October 22, 1909
The Misses Ella and Eva Mensink visited in LeMars Saturday.
The Alton Democrat, October 23, 1909
THE DEATH ROLL
The LeMars Sentinel says of the late Mrs. Hansen: After fourteen years in Luxemburg, she and her husband and five children came to Jackson county, Iowa. There Mr. Hansen went to work to make a home in the new land for his wife and children and worked hard clearing land and chopping timber and splitting rails. After five years of residence in Jackson county they decided to move further west in search of fortune and came to Sioux county—settling on a farm about three miles southeast of where Alton now stands. They made the trip across the prairies of Iowa in a prairie schooner drawn by oxen—the only means in those days by which poor people could convey their belongings from one place to another.
Mr. and Mrs. Hansen were among the very early settlers of this section of the country and they endured the hardships and vicissitudes which befell the pioneer but by hard work and frugal living and steady purpose they surmounted difficulties and brighter days came when the earth yielded of its abundance and bountiful harvests were garnered from the land. After attaining a comfortable competency they left the work of the farm to younger hands and moved to LeMars to spend the autumn of their days in peace and comfort.
Mrs. Hansen was a good Christian woman and a loving wife and mother and a homemaker and helpmate in the highest sense of the words. In the early days when she lived in Sioux county, she was always ready to attend the sick and neighbors recall how in those days she was ever willing to hasten to the bedside of the sick and do what she could. Doctors were few and far between in those days and Mrs. Hansen attended the advent of the stork in many pioneer homes when blizzards and storms made it impossible for a doctor to get out in the country. An incident is recalled where Mrs. Hansen was lost in a blizzard for a night and a day—returning from one of her errands of mercy at the home of a neighbor. Her memory will dwell in the hearts of many of those old friends and neighbors who know of her womanly virtues and her generosity and her kindness in the pioneer times when mutual hardships and privations closely knitted the bonds of affection and neighborliness.
Maurice Times, October 29, 1909
Frank Mieras was on the sick list a couple of days this week.