The Hawarden Independent, July 11, 1940

NEARBY-NEWS NOTES

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.