Iowa Old Press
Hawarden Independent
Thursday, July 11, 1940
ATTRACTIVE CHURCH WEDDING
Miss Beverly Torwelle and Dr. R. C. Backus Take Vows
A pretty church wedding was solemnized at the Methodist church in this city
at one o’clock last Friday afternoon when Miss Beverly Torwelle became the
bride of Dr. Robert C. Backus of Pittsburgh, Pa. The ceremony was performed
by Rev. Aaron Backus, pastor of the Morningside Baptist Church, a brother of
the bridegroom, in the presence of a number of relatives and friends. Just
preceding the ceremony, Miss Mary Niemeyer, with Miss Willo Jean Niemeyer as
accompanist, sang “At Dawning” and “Because.” The bridal party entered the
church to the strains of Mendelssohn’s wedding march, played by Miss Pauline
Torwelle, a cousin of the bride. The bride was given in marriage by her
mother, Mrs. Mabel Torwelle.
The bride was beautifully attired in white, her street length gown being of
transparent velvet, fashioned with a sweetheart neckline, and she carried an
arm bouquet of sweetheart roses. Miss Anna DeBruin, her bridesmaid, wore a
turquoise bemberg gown with white accessories and her arm bouquet was also
of sweetheart roses. Her only jewelry was a bracelet set with an amethyst,
a gift from the bride. Both the bridegroom and the best man, Dean Torwelle,
a brother of the bride, wore blue serge suits. The bride’s mother wore a
dusty rose crepe gown.
Following the ceremony a reception was held at the home of the bride which
was attended by relatives and friends. Mrs. Torwelle, assisted by Mrs.
Drika Kool, Mrs. Wm. Ruttan and Mrs. Roy Patrick, served a two-course lunch.
The waitresses were Misses Helen and Myrna Greigg, cousins of the bride, and
Miss Leona DeBruin. Following the reception the bridal couple left for
Sioux City for a brief visit and from there they went to Chicago and then
continued on their way to Pittsburgh, Pa., where they will make their home
this summer.
The bride, only daughter of Mrs. Mabel Torwelle, has spent most of her life
in the Hawarden and Ireton vicinities. During her high school career she
took an active part in debate and was chosen a member of the National Honor
Society. She was graduated with the Class of 1937. After completing her
high school education she attended a beauty college at Rapid City, S. D.,
and for a time worked at Pierre, S. D. She taught school in a rural school
near Hudson during the last half of the past school year. She has many
friends in Hawarden who will wish her much happiness in her new home.
The bridegroom, a son of Roy Backus, who resides in the state of Washington,
is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh. At one time he was employed
as an instructor in Rapid City and it was while he was located there that
the romance, which has just so happily culminated, had its inception. The
coming school year he will be an instructor in the Junior College at
Braddock, Pa., which is connected with the University of Pittsburgh.
NEARBY-NEWS NOTES
Happenings of Interest in Towns and Country Around Us
Henry A. Boone was elected superintendent of schools at Sioux Rapids, July
1st. Mr. Boone has been superintendent of schools at Alton for the past four
years.
Mrs. Nels Larson of Norway township, Lincoln county, slipped in her bedroom
and fell in such a way as to break her left hip June 26th. This is a quite
serious injury for a lady who will soon be 95. She is one of the real
pioneers of that vicinity. She is being cared for by her son and wife, Mr.
and Mrs. Adolph Larson. (Transcriber note: The Lincoln county mentioned is
across the river in South Dakota.)
Calvin Jesperson, 14, of Royal was fatally injured, and Billy Long, also 14
and of Royal, Iowa, was burned critically July 4th when they tossed a
lighted firecracker in a pump house at Royal and it ignited a keg of
blasting powder. The boys suffered first, second, and third degree burns
and Long is still reported to be in a critical condition. The Jesperson boy
was burned the entire front length of his body. He succumbed to his
injuries last Saturday. Authorities reported that the boys lighted a
four-inch cracker and sparks from it ignited the blasting powder. The force
of the explosion blew out a side of the pump house and ignited the boys’
clothing and hair.
The 3-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Anderson, who reside in the
Akron, Iowa, vicinity, was the victim of a most painful and distressing
accident recently when the index finger on one hand was torn off in the
wringer of a power washing machine.
William Zwak, 17, son of Mr. and Mrs. Herman Zwak, of Rock Rapids, Iowa, was
killed Sunday night in an automobile accident. Zwak died of a fractured
skull before help arrived on the scene. He was riding in a car driven by
John Hop and Peter Warheim was also a passenger. Hop and Warheim escaped
with bruises. It is stated that Hop lost control of the car on a curve and
that the machine rolled over four times.
Judge R. G. Rodman sentenced Walter Anderson and Dick Holmes, both of
Marcus, Iowa, to six months and ninety day terms, respectively, in the
Plymouth County jail July 3rd without the option of a fine, as this was not
a first offense. The men were arrested after a crash between their car and a
Brady Company truck four miles south of LeMars about 4 a.m. the morning of
July 1st. After grilling by Sheriff Frank Scholer on the charge of driving
a vehicle while intoxicated, the men stated they had obtained liquor from
John Waldschmidt, beer parlor operator at Remsen, Iowa. Waldschmidt was
arrested on a charge of illegal sale of liquor and was fined $300 and costs,
and he paid $200 and costs on the spot.
Helen Van Buskirk, 17, of Craig, Iowa, who has been missing, was located at
Canby, Minnesota, during the last week in June. She was found among a
hectic lot of followers of the West Bros. Shows. Sheriff Frank Scholer made
the trip to Canby after her.
Cars driven by County Supervisor, Jake Hop of Maurice, Iowa, and a Fort
Dodge salesman collided at an intersection three miles east of Maurice, June
29th. Mr. Hop was knocked unconscious by the impact for a few moments and
later several stitches had to be taken in a cut above his left eye. The
salesman was not injured. Neither car overturned. Mr. Hop’s glasses were
knocked off into the road but were not broken.
A 1933 model Dodge panel truck belonging to F. W. Richter of Ashton, Iowa,
was completely destroyed by fire June 29th as a result of an accident
occurring on the old highway No. 9 about a mile east of Sibley. Mr. Richter
was driving west along the road when his machine struck a culvert abutment,
bending the right front wheel and swerving the car into the ditch. Fire
broke out immediately and quickly demolished the truck. Richter suffered
from minor cuts and bruises.
A barn on the James Lewison farm, two miles southwest of Sioux Rapids, Iowa,
burned to the ground June 29th. When fire departments from Sioux Rapids and
Rembrandt arrived the blaze had gained such headway that saving the barn was
out of the question and efforts were turned to saving the adjoining
buildings. Four head of horses were driven to safety but other contents of
the barn, including harness and other equipment, was burned. A brooder
house and about 350 chickens also was destroyed. It is surmised that the
fire started from sparks from a tractor used in cornshelling.
An automobile accident five miles northeast of Sutherland, Iowa, July 5th by
cars driven by Laurence Swanson of Hartley, Iowa, and Mrs. Art Olhausen of
Sutherland, resulted in the internment of five persons in the hospital at
Hartley. The injured are: Mrs. Olhausen; her husband, Art Olhausen; a
daughter, Dolores Olhausen; his mother, Mrs. Charles Olhausen; and Mrs. Ike
Ewildt, all of Sutherland, and Mr. and Mrs. Laurence Swanson. Mrs. Ewildt,
suffering only from bruises, is not in the hospital. Mrs. Olhausen suffered
head injuries and a broken clavicle, as did her husband. Their daughter
received a bad gash and Mrs. Charles Olhausen suffered a fractured neck.
Mrs. Swanson’s scapula was fractured and Mrs. Swanson received a fractured
clavicle and scapula and three fractured ribs.
A 1940 Buick couple driving by Dr. A. L. Birch, of Worthington, Minn., went
out of control 400 feet from the north end of a bridge, three and a half
mile3s south of Sibley on Highway 33, directed itself to the left side of
the bridge, and plunged on its back into the muddy creek bottom below on the
morning of July 2nd. Mrs. Birch suffered painful injuries, including a bad
cut on the leg, while Dr. Birch received only slight cuts and bruises. The
car was badly wrecked. The scene of the accident is rather notorious as on
the east side of the highway there stand six “Think Signs.” There have been
two previous accidents there involving the death of all six occupants of the
vehicles. “Death Bridge,” as it is called, seems to be very innocent place,
with nothing to obscure the view and only a slight grade.
Seven children and a mother separated by the giant flu epidemic of 1919 were
united June 30th at Paullina, Iowa, through the efforts of the oldest son,
William Bohlen, Spencer trucker, the only one retaining the family’s
original name. Two other children have been located, but could not attend
the gathering. The father, a blacksmith at Akron, Iowa, died in the
epidemic, and the mother was not financially able to care for her nine
children. Bohlen, 14 at the time, earned his own living as a farm hand,
while the younger children were adopted by different families though the
Children’s Orphans’ Home in Des Moines. The mother later married and became
Mrs. Gus Patrick, of St. Louis, Mo. Bohlen began his tracing of the family
ten years ago. Attending the reunion were Mrs. Eddie Mieras, Maurice, Iowa;
Mrs. Clifford Conroy, Kingsley, Iowa; Mrs. Roy Kricks, Schaller, Iowa; Mrs.
Carl Weseman, Paullina, Iowa; Fred Arendt, Fonda, Iowa; and Mrs. Ernie
Egdorf, Boyden, Iowa. The two who were unable to come were Mrs. James
Katsumis of St. Louis, Mo., and John Sawyer, of Ruppert, Idaho.
Funeral services were held July 2nd for Henry Stickney, 78, of Elk Point,
S.D., one of the oldest pioneers in Union county, S.D., born in that
vicinity. He was born in a log cabin a mile southeast of Elk Point and
except for two or three years spent his entire life in Union county. His
wife and a son survive.
When a big semi-trailer truck struck the low Illinois Central railroad
underpass in Cherokee, Iowa, the night of July 1st, 400 cases of fresh eggs
were broken. The truckload of eggs was on its way to Chicago at the time of
the accident. When the driver noticed the low underpass, it was too late to
avoid the crash. The truck was not greatly damaged and the driver escaped
injury.
Death claimed Mrs. Eleanor Erickson, 70, long time resident of Union county,
S.D., July 3rd, at the home of her son, Alve D. Erickson, in Union county,
near Akron. She had been ill for two years. She was born in Sweden and came
to this country in 1883 and moved to Union county in 1895. She is survived
by her son, Alve, and a daughter, Mrs. Elsie Anderson, and four
grandchildren.
Helen Van Klompenburg, three year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Van
Klompenburg, of Orange City, Iowa, gave her parents quite a scare June 27th
when she fell out of the back of the car in which she was riding. She was
found lying on the pavement when her mother picked her up. She cried but
did not answer to her name. Examination revealed that she suffered a slight
brain concussion and burns to her left side and arm.
Louie Steward, 18, of Cherokee, Iowa, was injured by a horse while working
for Gilman Fee in a barn on the Thomas Fee farm near Cherokee, July 2nd.
The man was found by Thomas Fee, lying in the barn with a horse standing
beside him. Although conscious, he was unable to talk. Physicians said the
extent of his injuries had not been determined but that apparently he was
not seriously hurt. An inspection showed that Steward had put in all the
horses except the one which was found near him. It is thought that this
horse either crushed the man against the barn or trampled him.
Lowell Haenze, 27, is one of the three men suspected as aids in the
attempted prison break at Fort Madison, Iowa, this past week which resulted
in the killing of a guard and the suicide of one of the inmates and would be
escapists. After a daring break through a supposedly electrified fence at
the penitentiary June 22nd, began their desperate foray of crime which
rivals that of John Dillinger in the Midwest. Haenze was arrested at New
Ulm, Minn., in 1936, and charged with the robbery of two Orange City, Iowa,
stores and the theft of an automobile at Alton, Iowa. He received two
consecutive ten year sentences for these offenses.
HONORED AT FAREWELL PARTY
A group of friends of Mrs. Fred Gefke entertained at a farewell party for
her Monday evening, prior to her leaving for Sioux Falls to make her home.
A dinner was served to the women at the Wilson Tea Room at seven o’clock
after which a few hours were spent at the home of Mrs. Glenn Hansen at
bridge. Mrs. Gefke was presented with a set of California pottery dishes as
a token of remembrance.
TRANSFERRED BACK TO THIS DISTRICT
Harry Waite, who was transferred to Mason City, Iowa, the latter part of May
as state cigarette, beer and sales tax inspector, has recently been
transferred back to this territory as district inspector, succeeding the
late H. P. Jennings, of Sheldon, Iowa. He is making his headquarters at
Sheldon. His duties during the summer months are especially heavy, as in
addition to the usual run of work he is obliged to take a hand at all
celebrations in order to collect sales and amusement taxes from temporary
concession holders and amusement enterprises. Since there is a celebration
at some point in his district nearly every day, the assignment keeps him
constantly on the jump. He was in Hawarden a short time Saturday on
official business and greeting friends.
HONORED ON 4TH BIRTHDAY.
Mrs. Merle Pocklington entertained a group of little folks Saturday
afternoon in honor of the 4th birthday of her son, Kay Dean. The children
played games during the afternoon hours and in conclusion refreshments were
served. Kay Dean was presented with a number of gifts as remembrances of
the occasion.
SWIMMING POOL HOURS CHANGED.
Hours for use of the swimming pool have been changed to 3 to 5 o’clock in
the afternoon each week day, and the pool will also be open from 7:30 to
8:30 in the evening. No swimming will be permitted on Sundays and no one
may go in the pool at any time unless there is an attendant present.
Hawarden Independent
July 12, 1940
Richard Zimmerman, who is stationed at San Diego, Calif., is visiting his
parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Zimmerman.
Mr. and Mrs. B. Muilenburg and Mrs. H. W. Braaks motored to Wentworth, S.D.,
Sunday to visit Mrs. Siebels, a daughter of Mrs. Braaks.
Mr. and Mrs. Louis Roberge and children of Minneapolis and A. E. Hefferman
of Garvin, Minnesota, were visiting friends here Saturday.
Miss Helen Greigg spent the Fourth and Friday at the home of her parents,
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Greigg at Hawarden and attended the wedding of her
cousin, Miss Beverly Torwelle, and Robert Backus of Pittsburgh.
Bernard Goodmanson of Exira is here visiting with his mother, Mrs. B. T.
Goodmanson.
The young people of the First Ref. and Presbyterian churches will sponsor a
union meeting at the Reformed church at 7:30 next Sunday evening. Mayor Te
Paske of Sioux Center, the youngest mayor in Northwest Iowa, will be guest
speaker. Special music will be present by the groups. A silver offering
will be taken. Everyone is cordially invited to attend.
MRS. WILLIAM STRANDSTRA
Mrs. William Strandstra, age 69 years, passed away at her home Sunday after
a lingering illness with kidney and heart disease.
Mrs. Strandstra, nee Elsie Mulder, was born in the Netherlands on March 3,
1871, and came to this country about 48 years ago. She was married to
William Strandstra at Merrill, Iowa, Feb. 23, 1890, and for the past 23
years had made her home in Rock Valley. Prior to the family moving here
they were engaged in farming in the vicinities of Inwood, Hull, Merrill and
Leota, Minn.
She is survived by her husband and one brother, Nick Mulder. Two brothers
passed away during the past winter.
Funeral services were held Wednesday at one o’clock from the home and 1:30
at the Chr. Ref. church with Rev. Triezenberg officiating. Burial took
place at Valley View cemetery.
Hawarden Independent, July 25, 1940
M.J. Lancaster, of LeMars, was seriously injured last Thursday when the car
in which he was riding collided with a car occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Earl
Spawn of Chester, S.D. Mr. Lancaster suffered a fractured skull and two
vertebrae in his back were cracked and his entire body was badly bruised and
cut. Edgar Lancaster, driver of the Lancaster car, and Mr. and Mrs. Spawn
escaped serious injuries. Both cars were badly damaged.