Other reports had been received of his death, but it was hoped by his friends that there might be some mistake. But when the telegram was received, we realized more than ever before the pangs of war, for it has now come to our very door. He was the first Hartley boy to give his life for his country and were indeed proud of this young man who willingly went to seek freedom for his home and friends and gave his life for them. Who can do more? His death was not in vain.
Arthur Kirchoff, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Kirchoff, was born September 21, 1898, on a farm near Plessis, Iowa. There he resided with his parents until eleven years ago when they moved to Hartley. He attended the Hartley Public Schools and here won hosts of friends, as well as elsewhere, by his kind disposition and brave deeds. He enlisted in Co. E. after war was declared and was a member of the 168th Infantry, Rainbow Division and received training at Sheldon, Iowa for a short time. In August, 1917 he with hhis company left Sheldon for Des Moines where they remained a short time before sailing for England, which place they reached November 9th. On December 20, 1917, they reached France and drilled until March, 1918, and since then he had been in active service. He had been in the trenches several time with the Rainbow Division and in the great battles during the month of July, 1918, and it was in one of these that he met his death.
In his passing from us, we can say that he was indeed a good brave soldier. His letters home were always wrtten in good spirit and showed that he was not afraid. He had been praised by officers for his bravery in may instances. We regret very much that we must report the news of his death.
He leaves to mourn his loss, his parents, two brothers, and one sister, besides a host or friends here and on the other side of the Atlantic.
A memorial service will be held at the Methodist Church Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m.
From Hartley Sentinel October 3, 1918