Iowa Old Press
Hawarden Independent
June 5, 1919
IRETON AND VICINITY
News Items Gathered Expressly For The Independent
Memorial Day in Ireton
Decoration Day passed off in a halo of glory for Ireton. There were several
reasons for this, and the plans and purposes as proposed passed off without
a slip or a hitch. The committee that had the arrangements in charge, with
L. M. Black at the head, worked like beavers to have as much comfort and
pleasure as was possible for the hundreds that gathered. A platform which
was protected from the elements on top and three sides was provided and the
guests who had any part in the exercises of the afternoon were given a place
here. Facing this, seats for a large number were placed. In fact, the ones
in charge supposed that nearly enough seating capacity for the crowd
expected was in place, but they had not figured on such an immense throng.
Never in its history was the beautiful city of the dead in such presentable
array as on this occasion. Flowers by the loads were taken out early in the
day or the day before, and hardly a grave was to be seen without these
harbingers of spring time which had been placed there by loving hands, and
the graves of our soldier dead not only had floral tributes but the stars
and stripes, the flag they followed, fought and bled for, was in evidence
also. Standing on an eminent place was the soldier’s monument completely
draped from top to bottom which was at the appointed time to loosen and
standing in the sunlight of day the beautiful statue in its glimmer and
grandeur was before the gathered throng received with proud acclamation.
Long before the appointed hour of 1:30 when the procession was to leave Main
street, the autos in a continuous line were heading for the cemetery and
were lined up on each side of the roads, as well as in the cemetery itself.
At the appointed time the procession headed by Reed’s band of Sioux City
followed by our soldier boys with the seven Infs of the famous 168th
Infantry of the Rainbow Division in the place of honor, The Odd Fellows in
their regalia and others came marching on to the cemetery entrance. A
throng awaited them and many were the cheers received. After the seating
was accomplished and the many hundreds who could not find seats gathered in
places of nearest hearing distance, L. M. Black, the chairman of the
occasion, started the program by explaining the occasion of this gathering
and how the monument was secured.
Musical numbers by the band and some work by the different G.A.R. members
brought the large assemblage to the dedication of the monument. Here little
Mildred Wells, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Wells, nicely undid the folds
which draped the monument and while the band played “The Star Spangled
Banner” the many hundreds of auditors standing in expectancy came to review
the beauties of this piece of artistic work which is to commemorate the
deeds of our soldiers. At this time the speaker of the day was introduced
and Attorney Diamond of Sheldon gave the audience one of the finest
patriotic addresses ever heard in Ireton. His address was one of
Americanism from beginning to end and its uplifting Christian thoughts and
purposes left the gathering in a state of thought which can only add glory
to American citizenship. Numbers by the male quartette and ladies’
quartette, readings and talks by pastors present were much enjoyed. Rev.
Stegeman in his talk giving a most beautiful tribute to the unknown dead.
So ended an afternoon of exercises which can only leave noble thoughts in
the minds of those who heard and saw. We can not close without giving over
a few words of commendation to the neighbors of Hawarden who came over and
took part in the exercises, the G.A.R. Post and Women’s Relief Corps and
friends and well wishers by the score. We appreciated this neighborly
feeling and hope each of you retain pleasant memories of the day. After the
exercises were over, the local W.R.C. served coffee, buns and doughnuts to
its soldiers and visitors. They day was sultry and windy and things were
sometimes as little disagreeable, but the weather man held off with the down
pour until late at night when Jupiter Pluvius simply did things which
brought the smiles that won’t rub off to the tillers of the land.
Everything has again quieted down in our city of the dead, and all is as
before, except that the sentinel stands there keeping watch while the
sleepers sleep on.
The Hawarden Independent
June 11, 1919
Miss Georgia Bauerly and John Peck were married. They had planned to be
married in Hawarden but the Union county, S.D., license which they had could
not be used in Iowa, so they journeyed to the west end of the Calliope
bridge across the Sioux river into South Dakota where they were married.