Iowa Old Press

LeMars Sentinel, Tuesday, October 12, 1920, Page 1, Column 3:

FOUL PLAY FEARED
SEARCH IS INSTITUTED FOR MISSING MAN.
STOREKEEPER FAILS TO RETURN

William Pratt Drove to Sioux City on Saturday Morning and Failed to Return
Home-- Truck and Cap of Driver Found.

That William Pratt, storekeeper at the village of O'Leary, in Union
township, has met with foul play is the fear of his relatives and friends
and search was instituted for him yesterday. Sheriff Hugh Maxwell, of this
county, and detectives from Sioux City, are looking for the missing man, who
has not been seen by his friends since early Saturday morning.

Pratt left O'Leary on Saturday, about 9 o'clock to drive to Sioux City,
taking with him some produce and with the intention of buying supplies for
his store.

He failed to return as expected on Saturday evening. On Sunday morning his
wife became alarmed at his prolonged absence and a search was begun.

The truck in which Mr. Pratt drove away was found a short distance from
Leeds. In the truck was his cap and blood stains were observed on the side
of the truck. A little son of Mr. Pratt stated his father had the nosebleed
a day or two ago and had wiped off on the edge of the truck which might
account for the presence of blood.

His friends fear foul play and can account for his disappearance in no other
way.

LeMars Sentinel, Friday, October 15, 1920

Mourn the Death of Baby Boy

Mr. and Mrs. Albert Hawkins, residing near Seney, mourn the loss of their
infant son Albert Wayne, who succumbed to illness on Wednesday. The baby
was born on September 24, and died after a few hours illness on October 13.

The funeral will be held today at the Methodist church in Seney.

AFFAIRS IN TANGLE
MISSING STORE KEEPER FOUND HEAVILY IN DEBT
CREDITORS FILE CLAIMS IN COURT

Theory That William Pratt Met With Foul Play Abandoned in Light of
Later Developments--Had Invested Heavily in Stocks

Nothing has been learned of the whereabouts of William Pratt, the
storekeeper at O'Leary who mysteriously disappeared last Saturday. Pratt
left the store at O'Leary in a truck to go to Sioux City with produce and
buy groceries. The truck was found on Sunday morning on the road near
Leeds.

Search was instituted for him by Sheriff Hugh Maxwell and the Sioux City
police but their inquiries have so far been fruitless.

The first theory advanced that Pratt met with foul play has been pretty
generally abandoned in view of later developments. It appears that Mr.
Pratt's financial affairs are badly involved and it is thought that under
the press of entanglements he decided to leave.

Pratt is said to have invested heavily in promotion companies and got stung
for $10,000 in a cereal company which went to the wall. The American Trust
and Savings Bank of this city has filed a claim in court against him for
over $11,000 and other firms hold his notes. Mr. Pratt bought out the store
at O'Leary a year ago after having farmed successfully for a number of
years.

LeMars Sentinel
Dated Tuesday, October 19, 1920

PIONEER AUTO MAN
C. L. TRENERY WAS FIRST DEAL IN NORTHWEST
PIONEER SUCCUMBS TO ILLNESS

Located in LeMars Nearly Forty Years Ago and Was Prominent in Business
and Community Circles During Active Life

C. L. Trenery, a resident of LeMars for the past thirty-eight years and
well known in business and social circles, died at his home, 799 Court
street, on Friday morning.  His death was caused by cancer of the liver.

Mr. Trenery went to Omaha a couple of months ago to consult specialists
as his health was ailing somewhat and underwent an operation for relief
of gallstones.  At this time was disclosed the fact that he was
suffering from a still more serious malady.  After recuperating from the
operation he returned home and was able to greet the friends who called
upon him, but rapidly became worse.  He realized his illness was serious
and met the end with fortitude.  Comforted and solaced by his faithful
wife and cheered by the visits of his friends whose coming and
solicitude, he said, brightened the day of his painful illness.

Charles L. Trenery was born at Platteville, Wisconsin, August 15, 1849,
and died in LeMars, October 15, 1920.  He was a member of a large
family.  His parents came from Cornwall, England, at an early day and
settled near the mines in Wisconsin where Charles Trenery grew up.  He
was educated in the public schools and in early youth started out to
make his own way in the world.  After leaving Platteville, he became a
resident of Iowa and worked at Hampton, Iowa, for some years and later
moved to ----
[the copy runs out here….and picks up again..same obituary..top of next
column]

Mrs. C. W. Black, Platteville, Wis., Mrs. Rose Van Ness, Oklahoma City,
Okla; two brothers, Eldred Trenery, of Platteville, Wis., and Albert
Trenery, of Miller, S.D., preceded him in death.

The funeral was held yesterday afternoon at the home and the sermon
conducted by Rev. J. J. Steele, of Sioux City, a former minister in the
Congregational church in this city of which the deceased was a member.

Dr. and Mrs. F. S. Clarke and children, of Omaha, Neb., and Mr. and Mrs.
Frank Trenery, of Sacramento, Calif., Mrs. C. Butson, of Pomeroy, Mrs.
J. J. Pascoe, of Albia and Mrs. Chris Roehler, of Hastings, Neb., are
relatives who came to attend the funeral.

FORMER LE MARS WOMAN DEAD
MRS. H. N KERN SPENT HER GIRLHOOD IN THIS COUNTY

Mrs. H. N. Kern, a former resident of LeMars, died at her home in Oregon
City, Ore., on Thursday, October 14, following an operation for
appendicitis.

Edith Irene Burrill was born in Dubuque county on October 13,  1879, and
came with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Burrill to LeMars in 1883.
The family settled in Johnson township on a farm where they lived until
1902 when they moved to LeMars.

She was united in marriage with H. N. Kern on October 6, 1904.  They
moved from here to South Dakota in 1909 where they lived until 1913 when
they went to Oregon.

She is survived by her husband and five children who are:  Lola, Gladys,
Robert William, George Christian, Lois Irene, and Mary Martha.

She also leaves to mourn her death her father, three brothers and four
sisters.  One sister and two brothers preceded her in death.

Math. M. Helbach, who has lived near Billings, Montana, for about five
years, has returned with his family to Plymouth county.