Iowa Old Press

LeMars Sentinel, approx. date 12 Mar 1926

ARE WEDDED FIFTY YEARS
Mr. and Mrs. E.M. Lancaster Came Here as Bridegroom and Bride
Settled Near Seney
Have Resided in that Vicinity Ever Since

Surrounded by their children, grandchildren and a few life long friends,
Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Lancaster, of Seney, celebrated their fiftieth
wedding anniversary Wednesday, March 10, [1926] at their home.  The
happy occasion was made the scene of a joyous gathering in which it was
a pleasure to participate.  The members of the family and friends
assembled early in the day and at twelve o'clock a bounteous wedding
dinner was served.  A feature was the wedding cake, in gold and white,
served by the mother and children. 

Mrs. Alice Cooper, of Hawarden, a life long friend, who was present at
the wedding fifty years ago, was also present at the golden jubilee and
made the presentation of a fine gold headed cane to Mr. Lancaster and a
beautiful golden necklace to Mrs. Lancaster.

Honeymoon On Prairie
Edwin Lancaster and Mary Alice Alderson were united in marriage at
Argyle, Wisconsin, Friday, March 10, 1876, and on the Monday following
their wedding day left for Iowa and came to Plymouth county and settled
on the prairie where Indians wandered in those days, buffalo and deer
roamed and wild game abounded.  They built a one room house on the farm
a mile and a half north of Seney.  Here they lived facing the blizzards
of the long cold winters, the prolonged droughts of the burning summer
days, the scourge of the grasshoppers and the devastation of the prairie
fires which prevailed before climatic and other conditions bettered.
They saw friends leaving disheartened by the drawbacks, but they had
faith in the future and continued to toil and at length attained their
goal and when better times came, prospered and enjoyed many seasons of
productive crops and abundant harvests.

Mr. and Mrs. Lancaster lived on the farm they entered as bridegroom and
bride for thirty-eight years and then decided they were entitled to some
respite and more leisure and moved to a small, modern farm adjoining
Seney, in the spring of 1913, where they now reside.

Autumn of Life
Mr. and Mrs. Lancaster have five children and eleven grandchildren all
living in this vicinity.  The children are Mrs. R.A. Hawkins, living
north of Seney; M.J. Lancaster, who resides on the home place; Ira
Lancaster on a farm east of Seney; Mrs. Ed Buss, living east of Seney;
and Vincent Lancaster living at home, being a partner with his father in
the thoroughbred stock and poultry business.

Edwin Lancaster was born in Milwaukee, Wis., in 1852, and with his
parents moved to Argyle where he grew to manhood.  Mrs. Lancaster was
born in Yorkshire, England, in 1853, and when a girl of ten years old
came to America with her parents, who shortly after their arrival
located in Argyle, Wisconsin.

LeMars Sentinel, Friday, March 19, 1926, Page 1, Column 2:

WOUND PROVES FATAL TO BOY

NINE YEAR OLD SON OF EARL McARTHUR VICTIM OF TRAGIC ACCIDENT

Donald, the nine year old son of Earl McArthur, a well known bantam
weight boxer, died Wednesday night, as the result of being shot below the
heart by boy companions with a revolver Tuesday evening. Earl McArthur is
well known here having grown up at Seney. The Sioux City Journal says of
the accident:

"The boy's condition was said by physicians to be critical from the
first. The bullet from a .32 caliber revolver punctured his left lung and
ranged downward, lodging against the spine. Early Tuesday (Wednesday?)
afternoon an operation was performed in an effort to save his life, but his
state was believed to be hopeless, even then.

Donald was playing with Warren Brindley, 9, and Raymond Woods, 10, at
the Woods home in South Sioux City Tuesday night. Raymond declared that
Warren, discovered the revolver beneath a pillow on one of the beds in the
house and took it out to play with it. A controversy arose, apparently,
about whether or not the gun could be "fixed" in such a manner that it would
not shoot. In some manner, it exploded, the bullet entering Donald's left
side.

Frightened, the boy's companions fled to their respective homes. The
wounded boy staggered to the door of the house, where he fell and was
discovered by Charles Woods, brother of Raymond, and owner of the pistol.
Warren Brindley is the son of Mrs. Maude Brindley, of South Sioux City.
Miss Eunice Brindley, sister of Warren, stated that her brother told the
family nothing of the affair when he came home. The facts were not learned
until the boys were questioned at school Wednesday morning.
When Warren Brindley was questioned by South Sioux City police, the
school authorities, and his relatives, he stoutly maintained that he had not
fired the gun, however, Miss Brindley said. No action will be taken by
authorities.

In addition to his parents, Donald is survived by two brothers, Harold,
12, and Robert 4. He was born in Sioux City in 1918 and moved with his
parents to South Sioux City four years ago.

Earl McArthur was slated for a match with Sailor Larson Wednesday
night, in Sioux City. The tragic death of Earl McArthur's son is something
that will bring a pang of sorrow to his hundreds of friends. Coming as it
did on the eve of an important fight, the tragedy that visited Earl's home
was doubly unfortunate.