Iowa Old Press
Hawarden Independent
August 18, 1927
LOCATED LONG LOST BROTHER
Chance Remark Leads to Discovery After 31 Years Separation
Mrs. Gale Bergsma of Center township had the pleasure of locating her
brother, Jacob Luikens of Norfolk, Neb., after being separated for 31 years
by a chance remark made by a salesman recently. Thirty-one years ago death
left the Luikens family of four small children motherless, the youngest
child being but three months old while the eldest was six years old. The
father was unable to care for all his children and so Jacob, who was two
years old, was adopted by a family at Akron. The youngest daughter was taken
by the grandmother on the mother’s side while the two eldest girls remained
with the father, who later married again.
For several years the children kept in touch with each other until Jacob
became old enough to feel the urge to see more of the world. He traveled
throughout the middle west but six years ago he settled at Norfolk, Neb. In
the meantime the sisters had separated and married. They had searched for
their brother in vain and had given him up for dead.
A short time ago a salesman called on the stepmother of the children and
told her he knew of a man by the name of Luikens at Norfolk and asked if he
was related to her. When told that the Luikens at Norfolk had been raised at
Akron, the stepmother communicated with Mrs. Elizabeth Pennings of Sioux
City, a sister of Mrs. Bergsma, and told her of the chance remark made by
the salesman.
Mrs. Pennings got in touch with Luikens at Norfolk by telephone and
discovered that he was her brother. Mrs. Pennings, in company with Mrs.
Bergsma, went to Norfolk last Friday where they met their long lost brother,
who is married and has four children. The third sister lives at Aberdeen,
S.D., and is expected to visit in Sioux City this fall at which time all
members of the family plan to hold a family reunion.
Hawarden Independent
August 25, 1927
BRAND STORY AN EXAGGERATION
The Independent is in receipt of a letter from Mr. and Mrs. Louis Luikens of
LeMars containing a correction of an item concerning a reunion of the
Luikens family which appeared in The Independent in common with a number of
other newspapers last week. Their statement is as follows:
“A story originating at Norfolk, Neb., to the effect that members of the
Luikens family were reunited after 31 years separation, is discredited by
member of the family who are in a position to know. Jacob Luikens, son of
Louis Luikens, lived in LeMars fifteen years ago, being employed by Kyrn
Verheul, and members of the family were together four years ago when Miss
Lucilla Luikens and her father went to Norfolk, Neb., for a visit with Jacob
Luikens. Too bad to spoil a good story, but facts are facts.”
HOME FROM WESTERN TRIP
C. A. Kuehnle and daughter, Miss Frances, arrived home Monday morning from
an auto trip of more than two months through the West. They went out through
the Black Hills and Yellowstone Park, north through Montana into Canada, and
then down the Pacific coast through Washington, Oregon and California and
into Mexico, returning home by the southern route. They report a very
interesting trip and enjoyed every minute of the time during their absence.
They traveled about 7,000 miles while on the trip.
WILL ENGAGE IN LAW PRACTICE
Attorney Frank Margolin departed Wednesday afternoon for New York City where
he will be connected with a law firm. Frank graduated from the law course
at the Nebraska University at Lincoln last spring and has spent most of the
summer here with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. H. Margolin.