Iowa Old Press

LeMars Sentinel
April 1, 1895

DEATH FROM THE FLAMES

A Little Daughter of John Swain Tries to Save Her Brother's House from Being
Burned and is Severely Injured that She Dies

One of the saddest bereavements that has ever happened to any family in the
county was the one that last Thursday deprived Mr. and Mrs. John Swain, of
Merrill, of their youngest daughter, a little girl of nine years, the pride
and pet of the household.

She had been staying with her brother, George, and her sister, Ms. Murtha,
who keeps house for him on his farm south of Remsen and on Thursday had been
left alone in the house while they went to Remsen, the hired man being at
work in the fields. At noon, as S. B. Miller, who travels for Myers, Tice &
Co., of Dubuque, was being driven from Kingsley to Remsen, in passing the
farm he and the driver noticed the house on fire and the little girl, whose
clothes were all in flame, running swiftly towards the field, where the
hired man was working, and crying loudly for help. The driver jumped out
and rushed to the house and soon succeeded in putting out the fire which had
caught in the straw banking and was burning up the side of the building. In
the meantime, Mr. Miller had raced his horses after the little girl and
quickly catching her jumped out and with his overcoat succeeded in
smothering the flames. He carried the little girl to the house and after
sending the driver for her brother and a doctor, he did everything in his
power to soothe the poor child and alleviated the frightful pain from the
burns which covered the entire front of her body except for her face. Dr.
Hunter accompanied George Swain back from Remsen and word was telephoned to
his father who was in LeMars and he arrived late in the afternoon shortly
before the little girl's death which could not have been averted. Dr. Hines
was telephoned, but too late to secure his presence before death came.

The little girl was conscious through the hours of agony before death came
to relief her and tried to be as brave and cheerful as possible. She
conversed about the accident and seemed to know that death would follow.
She said that she had been getting dinner ready for herself and the hired
man and that she saw smoke outside and ran out to find the banking on fire
and that when she tried to stamp it out her clothes caught fire.

[Transcriber note: Per the Iowa State 1895 Census index this little girl was Laura Swain, age 9, the daughter of John & Charlotte Swain, Plymouth County, IA. This couple had an older daughter, age 19, named Murtha--who is also mentioned in the above news article.]

DIED:

LaBERGE—March 30, 1895, at his home on the Sioux in Plymouth county, Ia.,
Joseph La Berge, aged 63 years.

The funeral was held at his residence today at 2 o’clock p.m.

Joseph La Berge was a French Canadian by birth. He came to St. Louis when a
young man where he resided a few years, in the interval going to California
in the early years of the gold excitement. He went to Elk Point, S.D., in
1860, and settled at his present residence on the Sioux (river), about seven
miles from Sioux City in 1867 and has resided there ever since and has
accumulated a snug competency. He is well known to the old residents of
Sioux City and to many of the latter ones. He was unusually quick and
bright in speech and well informed, especially in political history and not
withstanding his French birth and education his clear cut, polished
pronunciation and use of English was remarkable. He leaves a widow and a
large family of grown children and will be missed by a large circle of
friends.—Sioux City Journal, April 1.

RESIDENCE FOR SALE

Owing to the fact that I am arranging my business to move to the south for a
permanent residence, I will sell my home on Main street, LeMars, on very
reasonable terms.—Henry Hoffman

OUR COUNTY NEWS
By Our Correspondents and From Exchanges

REMSEN: (From the Bell)

Mrs. Helms and family left Monday, March 25, to live hereafter in Sterling,
Ill.

John Tjaden, whose wife died last week, is himself at the verge of death,
suffering from heart disease.

The creamery is being built. G. Uveling has nearly completed the well and
the stone for the foundation is on the ground, and John Bentz is at work.

Miss Mary Schaul, of LeMars, arrived here Monday evening and she will assist
in the millinery department of M. Beck’s store during the busy season.

Mr. Dwight, the photographer, received a dispatch last Sunday from Illinois
saying that his younger brother had died there and he took the next train
thither.

Remsen heard the fire alarm Friday morning, March 22, about nine o’clock,
and a little blaze that consumed the smoke house or wash house of Nic Kass,
Sr., was the cause of the alarm. The damage was concentrated to the small
building and its contents, and fifty dollars will make it good.

About a year ago a young man by the name of H. C. Drushel came to Remsen and
passed himself off as an attorney who had thousands of dollars at his
disposal. He was an old acquaintance of the parents of Peter Lotz and got
in to Peter’s confidence in great shape. He accompanied Mr. Lotz to South
Dakota and bought one-half section of land because it was so cheap and
nicely located. He would make the bargain solid if friend Peter would only
for a few days advance the small sum of thirty dollars and of course Peter
did so. Drushel would go east and telegraph back full payment for the
entire tract purchased. Drushel went east and shortly after came back,
loudly proclaiming that his purchase was paid for. Friend Lotz advanced a
little more ready cash and Drushel left once more never to come back. He is
now in jail at Cherokee on another charge and Mr. Lotz went to Cherokee
Tuesday to take a hand in the trial.

NORTH FREDONIA: (Special Correspondence)

The “sheriff” has failed to appear to “oust” our schoolma’am.

The literary at the Smith school house has been changed from Thursday to
Saturday evenings.

Miss Jennie Winkel has returned from her visit to Ashton.

About thirty-five of our young folks gathered at the home of Mr. and Mrs. C.
L. Weber Monday evening to enjoy themselves. Dancing and cards were the
order of the evening and a splendid time is reported by all.

Sunday school was organized last Sunday. The officers elected were as
follows: superintendent, Mr. Winteringer; assistant superintendent, Mrs. W.
J. Collins; organist, Miss Lucy Weber; secretary, Miss Bessie Smith;
treasurer, Mr. James Smith; librarian, Miss Gusta Paulson.

Mr. and Mrs. Weber had what might have been a very serious accident while
returning home from Seney Sunday evening. Their horse shied at a hole in a
culvert and ran the carriage into the ditch, the horse falling into the
ditch at the same time. The carriage was over-turned, but fortunately Mr.
Weber got out and caught the horse as he was struggling to get away. They
escaped with a few bruises and slight damage to the carriage.

MERRILL: (From the Record)

Henry Calhoun and family are moving back on their old farm near town this
week. Their success in broom manufacturing business at Shenandoah, Ia.,
was not as good as anticipated.

Peter Miller, of this place, and Maud Laughlin, of Sioux City, were married
here last Tuesday by Rev. Toohill.

The machinery for the Ellendale creamery arrived Saturday. It will be
placed in position this week and by the first of April it is thought that
all will be ready for work.

V. Bolinger’s team broke loose last Tuesday and smashed up his wagon, but
they did not get hurt much.

Henry Weinheimer is here on a two weeks visit. He says when he left St.
Cloud, Minn., there was some snow on the ground.

J. G. Schmidt, of Melbourne, broke his finger last Saturday. He got his
finger in a feed grinder.

The marriage of our genial Geo. W. Turner to Miss Mamie Leekley of Galena,
Ill., was celebrated at the bride’s home Wednesday, March 20. They arrived
here Friday evening and a grand reception was accorded them at the Jas. E.
Rose home. Over one hundred guests were present and enjoyed the occasion.

AKRON: (From the Register)

Born, to Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Raish, March 25, a girl.

The infant child of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Olson died last Wednesday and was
buried Thursday.

Miss Elphene Kendall left last Monday for Hot Springs, S.D., where she will
accept a position as book keeper in one of the large hotels at that place.

Beck & Burrill moved their stock into Bly Bros’ building last Tuesday.

Rev. Mr. and Mrs. J. Smith arrived in Akron last Tuesday from Holly Springs
for an extended visit with relatives.

A. F. Whitney sold his butcher business this week to C. P. Vargason, of
Edgerton, Minn., who will continue to cater at the old stand.

Mrs. O. F. Deuell who has been very ill for the last few weeks is reported
to be improving slowly and is expected to be up in a few days.

The school vacation has been extended one week on account of the sickness of
some of the teachers. The spring term will commence Monday, April 8.

Mrs. Oli Hamilton, formerly of Akron, died of grip at her home in Chambers,
Neb., Wednesday. Her mother, Mrs. L. D. Hall, was with her until the last
moment.

J. L. McCorkell is rejoicing over the arrival of an 11 ½ pound baby boy
which came to brightened the home last Wednesday. Mother and child doing
well.

The school closed last Friday for a week’s vacation. Prof. Hise’s legs now
shuffle around behind the letter boxes in place of Postmaster Wintersteen
who has been sick for some time.

There was a very pleasant surprise party in honor of Miss Anna Jenkins at
her home last Wednesday evening. There was a large number of her young
friends in attendance and a good time is reported by all.

Sheldon Mail: Joe Gallagher was here from Akron over Saturday and Sunday.
The rumor is current that he is soon to lead one of Sheldon’s fair daughters
to the matrimonial altar. In fact “they say” that Joe himself does not deny
the soft impeachment.

The special election to vote on the proposition of extending the boundaries
of the town of Akron was held last Monday with the following result: For
the propositions of extending the boundaries 74. Against the aforesaid
proposition 37.

O’LEARY: (Special Correspondence)

David Harvey is rejoicing in the arrival of another young son.

Bert Severance attended the Presbyterian church Sunday, March 24, and
returned to his home at White Lake, South Dakota, the next day. He was
accompanied as far as Plankinton by Mrs. Frank Pinney and children.

Quite a number of people from Union township attended the funeral of Tom
Carl Tuesday, March 26, at the Catholic church in Lincoln township. There
were ninety-two teams in the procession from the house to the church.

Miss Bena Kohl is attending the LeMars Normal School.

Mrs. R. G. Smith made a miss step Tuesday evening and gave her ankle a
severe sprain.

Mr. and Mrs. Geo. B. Lewis, of LeMars, visited over Sunday at Mr. Watson’s
and attended morning service at the Presbyterian church.

Many farmers have been sowing wheat the past week and trying to cover it
deep enough so the wind cannot blow it out of the ground.

Greg Croston has moved to a farm near Oyens instead of on the Sam Miller
farm.

Mrs. Thomas Eyres and children have been visiting relatives in LeMars for a
few days.

Misses Jennie and Agnes Steele were stricken with mock measles as soon as
they returned from their visit at Paullina and Cherokee.

The Y.P.S.C.E. concert was quite well attended considering the busy season..
The program was all well rendered and every one seemed to enjoy it. Nearly
six dollars was added to the treasury.

Bert Cummings, of Fielding, Iowa, is spending a few days with friends here.

School in district No. 2 will begin Monday, April 1.

LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel, April 15, 1895, pg 4

A School Scrap

The trouble over the contract of Miss Margaret Rea as teacher in school
district, No. 1, in Fredonia township is creating lots of bad blood between
residents of the township. It seems that Miss Rea was hired by W.L. Freeman,
the old director, just previous to his removal to Minnesota, for a six
months term, but that the president of the board did not sign the contract
as required by law. After the election of W.S. Darville, as director he
hired another teacher for the school and an injunction was gotten out to
prevent Miss Rea from teaching; but it appears that she paid no attention to
the injunction, but continued to teach the school under her contract with
Mr. Freeman.

The signing of teachers' contracts by the president of the board is not
closely observed in many townships it being considered sufficient to have
the sub-district directors' signature and this case will assume something of
the nature of a test case. On account of the non-observance of the
injunction, a suit was necessary to test its validity and it was heard by
Judge Gaynor Saturday night.

LeMars Sentinel, Thursday, April 25, 1895, Page 4, Column 3:

MARRIED.

McARTHUR--BREEDEN--At the home of the bride's parents on Seventh street
Friday evening, April 19, Mr. Alex McArthur and Miss Eva Breeden, Rev. Mr.
Bixby officiating.