John S. Selbher
Born: August 4, 1848 in Minden, Germany
Died: September 1, 1917 in Jasper Co., Iowa1
Buried: Lot 76, plot 8
Married: Louisa Pink on April 4, 1875 in Jasper Co., Iowa2
Children: George F., Gertrude, Josephine Sims. Stella, Harry, Andrew, Frank and Susan
Family History: Descendants of John S. & Louisa Pink Selbher
Early Newton Settler Dies
John S. Selbher, 70 Years Old Dies
After Long Illness.
Funeral Services Held Today
After many months of illness, John S. Selbher died at his home, seven miles west of this city Saturday afternoon at 3:30 o'clock. He was 69 years old.
John Selbher was born August 4th 1848 at Minden, Germany. He came to this country with two of his cousins in June 1864. The two cousins went to Philadelphia while Mr. Selbher came to the home of his uncle George Selbher near this city with whom he lived for eleven years. April 4, 1875, he was married to Louisa Pink, and to this union were born eight children, George, who died September 6, 1905, Josephine, Susan, Frank died June 10, 1893, Andrew died in infancy, Gertrude, Harry and Stella. The deceased had lived near this city the the exception of two years spent in Kansas, since coming to this country. He is survived by his widow and five children, Mrs. O. E. Sims, Mrs. H. M. Wheeler, Mrs. G. C. Warren of Newton, Henry of Ira, and Miss Gertrude who lives at home. Besides these he leaves one brother in Germany, and two cousins, J. W. Selbher and Mrs. Mary Harshiner of this vicinity.
Funeral services were held this morning from the home at 10 o'clock. Rev. R. B. Helser, pastor of the Christian church, read the funeral service. Music was furnished by Mrs. E. C. Smith and Mrs. J. R. Burr. The sang "Face to Face," "Some Sweet Day", and "Jesus Lover of My Soul." The pall bearers were old friends of the deceased. They were William Ramsey, William Moore, John Bale, John Helphrey, John Meyers and Louis Helphrey. Burial was made in the Metz cemetery. ~ The Newton Daily News, September 4, 1917
1. Jasper Co., Iowa Death Records
2. Jasper Co., Iowa Marriages Vol 2, page 448
3. Jasper Co., Iowa Death Record, Book 2, page 103.
4. Photo courtesy of Erlene Leonard.
Louisa (Pink) Selbher
Born: March 20,1858 in Paris, France3
Died: May 10, 1934 in Newton, Jasper Co., Iowa3
Buried: Lot 76, plot 5
Married: John Selbher on April 4, 1875 in Jasper Co., Iowa2
Children: George F., Gertrude, Josephine Sims. Stella, Harry, Andrew, Frank and Susan
Parents: Frank and Susan (Riffer) Pinck3
John and Louisa Pink Selbher4
Frank Selbher
Born: 1885 in Jasper Co., Iowa
Died: June 18, 1893 in Jasper Co., Iowa
Buried: Lot 76, plot 2
Parents: John and Louisa Pink Selbher
Two Boys Drowned
On Sunday last four little boys went to the Skunk River, none of them over nine years of age; went in a buggy with Mr. Geo. Feas to near the Cherry Creek bridge where there were quite a number of men washing horses and vehicles.
The little boys wanted to go in to bathe, and Mr. Feas allowed them to do so, at a place where he could watch them. After being in a short time, he told them to not go away. Mr. Feas continued to wash his buggy and thought the boys had not gone away. He does not think it was more than ten minutes when one of the boys came back and said two of the boys were drowned.
Cleveland H. Sherman, son of John H. Sherman, of our city, aged nine years old, testified as follows: "Together with Frank Silber, George Feas, Elmer Feas, went to the river in the wagon with Mr. Feas, where a lot of men were washing horses. We all went into the river swimming there, and after while we went out and put on our clothes. We then went to the pond in Forbes' pasture. We took off our clothes and commenced to hunt for frogs to fish with. Elmer Feas went in the water on one side of the brush and Frank Silber on the other, and intended to meet together. I then saw them struggling in the water, and then saw them sink out of sight. Then I ran and told the men at the river that the boys were drowned. Mr. Feas told the boys not to go into the pond as it was very deep." - Clevie Sherman
Other witnesses testified to the finding of the bodies. The pond looks like as though it was a very shallow one, but was found to be very deep and very cold. The two children drowned are Frank Silber and Elmer Feas, both aged nine years. Mr. Feas lives on the old Sim Kennedy farm and Mr. Silber on the Joe Kennedy place, about five and a half miles south of Newton.
The two children were fine looking boys, and even in death showed that they had been strong, active and healthy children. The sympathies of our people go out to the parents of the children in their great and sudden sorrow.
Frank Silber was buried at Metz on Monday afternoon, and Elmer Feas in the Newton Cemetery, on Tuesday forenoon.
The accident occurred about 10 o'clock Sunday morning, and the first body was got by seining about an hour afterwards. -The second body was not obtained until four o'clock, and then by a hay rake that had been weighted with rocks so that it would drag the bottom. The water was so cold in the pond that men could not stay in it long enough to dive. The pond is almost round at the point where the boys were drowned was not more than 18 feet in diameter.
Rev. R. Weese, officiating at the funeral of Elmer Fees, yesterday; Rev. D. Brown at the funeral of Frank Silber, on Monday. ~ The Newton Journal, Newton, Iowa June 21, 1893