LeMars Sentinel, March 1, 1883

SENEY ITEMS:

The snow plow on the St. Paul road going south yesterday morning struck
five head of cattle belonging to S. Reeves.  One was tore to pieces, two
was injured too much to be of any service and other two are badly
injured but will perhaps recover.

The first of March is nearly here when our neighborhood will be all a
bustle, all land leases expire on that day and tenants all change about
to new homes.

LeMars Sentinel, Febr. 20, 1884

SENEY ITEMS:

February 19:--Trade in merchandise was good the past week, but little
was done in produce and stock.  Farmers who have any grain on hand seem inclined to hold for higher prices.

LeMars Sentinel, May 25, 1886

SENEY: (Special Correspondence)

The ladies of the M.E. church have effected a permanent organization of their aid society under the title of the Seney M.E. Ladies Mite Society. The following officers have been elected. President, Mrs. Stephen Reeves; Vice President, Mrs. E. Lancaster; Secretary, Mrs. T.J. Reeves, and Treasurer, Miss Belle Smith. The membership fee is ten cents a month. The meetings are held on the first Wednesday of each month and everybody is invited to attend. The first meeting netted the society about $5 which is very encouraging and we wish the ladies abundant success in this new venture to secure funds for their church.

LeMars Sentinel, Febr. 21, 1890

SENEY: (Special Correspondence)

The literary meetings are held every Saturday evening in the school
house.

Platt Thomas of Hinton was in town Friday and delivered the new bell for
the school house to the committee.  The bell was put in the school house
cupola Tuesday, and is very satisfactory.

LeMars Sentinel, May 2, 1890

SENEY: (Special Correspondence)

A. M. Reeves, of the telegraph force of LeMars, was acting for agent Reeves Sunday.

The gang of horse traders that were camped at the south edge of town the
first part of this week pulled up stakes on Wednesday and moved on with
little success.

The Ry. Co., intend moving their depot which is now located on the side
track, up to the main line as soon as the material ordered for a new
platform arrives.  This will make a much needed improvement to our town and also grant a praying wish of ever passenger that has had to board a train from the present inconvenient station house and platforms.

LeMars Sentinel, Sept. 2, 1890

SENEY: (Special Correspondence)

Several of the boys hereabouts thought they would sample Mr. Dorrity's
fine melons one night last week, but ran against the contents of a shot
gun; it is reported that a couple of them had to go to a doctor to have
some of the shot removed.  Better desist boys it is dangerous besides
being naughty.

LeMars Sentinel, Sept. 30, 1890

SENEY: (Special Correspondence)

There was nearly fifty tickets sold here last Saturday for Sioux City.
Barnum's show was the main attraction.  The seven o'clock train was
overloaded when it reached here, and refused to take any more, but a
number of boys and their ladies were too quick for them and got on the
off side of the track and succeeded in getting on, but the old men got
left.

The St. Paul Co. have enlarged their stock yards here, to accommodate
the large numbers of cattle and hogs shipped from this point.

LeMars Sentinel, Oct. 17, 1890

SENEY: (Special Correspondence)

In matters pertaining to etiquette Seney leads the world.  It is now
fashionable in higher circles, when a young man calls on his lady love,
for the lady, after a reasonable length of time, to withdraw and retire.
The young man after counting the pictures on the wall for twenty or
thirty minutes and being satisfied in his own mind that the lady has not
gone to gather him a bouquet, takes his hat and quietly closes the door
from the outside, passes through the gate which he leaves open and
meanders home.  If the young man is an amateur at sparking the first
ordeal is rather embarrassing and it is quite probable that this rule
will not be generally adopted.

LeMars Sentinel, Nov. 11, 1890

SENEY:  (Special Correspondence)

Our township election has left several of our politicians on the
superannuated list.

Election passed off quietly, but the following morning gave us a bit of
sensation.  For a time we fared our new justice would require several
codes to protect his person from harm, but it only proved to be the
reaction of a sorehead and too early rising.

LeMars Sentinel, Dec. 9, 1890

SENEY: (Special Correspondence)

The ladies of Seney gave an oyster supper last Thursday evening at the
residence of Wm. Jackson for the benefit of Rev. F. A. Morrow.  About
sixty were present and all voted a general good time.  The ladies were
more than pleased with their success as they cleared $25.40.  It was so
thankfully received that it fully proved the adage "It is better to give
than to receive."

LeMars Sentinel, Dec. 26, 1890

SENEY: (Special Correspondence)

The Christmas Eve entertainment at the M.E. church, given by the young
people of the Sabbath school, was a pleasant success.  The house was
crowded to its utmost capacity.  Great credit is due the teachers of the
different classes in bringing out the young talent of Seney.  The
children were liberally supplied with presents.  The pastor received the
most useful present of all, $13.50 cash.

LeMars Sentinel, Sept. 6, 1892

SENEY: (Special Correspondence)

The Sunday Schools of North Fredonia and Seney will join in having a
Sunday school picnic in Mr. Howard's grove, one mile west of the
Fredonia school house.  They will gather at the picnic ground next
Thursday, September 8, at ten o'clock in the morning.  Bring your
baskets well filled and let us have a large table spread in common.  Old
and young are invited to attend.  The Seney children will gather at the
church where means of conveyance will be provided for them.  Ice cream
will be served in the afternoon.  Come to the picnic.

LeMars Sentinel, Jan. 4, 1894

SENEY: (Special Correspondence)

The Christmas concert, "Telephoning Santa Claus" was a grand success.
It was somewhat out of the usual order of Christmas entertainments, but
was full of practical points.  Lafe March, who presided at the
telephone, and Will Cook, who represented Santa Claus, deserve special
mention.  Probably the best thing of all was the song of Bobbie McFlynn,
the street waif, by little Willie Kennedy.  Everybody was remembered by
chromo boxes filled with candy and nuts.

La Grippe still lingers in the vicinity.

LeMars Sentinel, May 10, 1894

TRIED TO BURN A SCHOOLHOUSE.
An Old Man Caught in the act of Setting the Fire at Seney.

J. L. Britton, of Seney, was brought to LeMars yesterday morning on the charge of incendiaryism in setting fire to the schoolhouse in the village of Seney.  Monday night near midnight W. H. Kennedy, who lives near, saw a bright blaze suddenly start up at the school house and he ran over there and put the fire out for it had only started under one corner of the building.  He heard some person running away in the darkness, but did not try to ascertain who it was as he thought the most important thing to do was to save the building.  On Tuesday night Kennedy and Jonathan Alderson kept watch.  Another attempt was made to burn the building, but this time the man did not get away. They caught him and put out the fire afterwards.  A large cloth soaked in kerosene had been stuck in under one corner where some bricks were out of the foundation and then set on fire.  It was quite a surprise to the community when it was learned who had been caught.  There have been a great many fires of doubtful origin in that neighborhood in the past year or two.  Alderson and Kennedy guarded their prisoner until morning and then turned him over to Sheriff Boyle.

LeMars Sentinel, Jan. 28, 1895

SENEY: (Special Correspondence)

The revival meetings which, have been held here for the past three
weeks, came to a close Sunday evening, after some good being
accomplished.

The anti-mustache fad seems to have struck our neighborhood.  It came on us like a cold wave last week and now many of our best looking men are entirely beardless.

LeMars Sentinel, Febr. 15, 1897

SENEY: (Special Correspondence)

The Peavey Elevator company are making arrangements to build a corn crib at this place of about five thousand bushels capacity.

LeMars Sentinel, March 1, 1897

SENEY: (Special Correspondence)

Peavy's new corn crib is now in course of construction and they expect to
be ready to receive corn in a few days. They are offering 10 cents per
bushel for dry ear corn.

Miss Alice Belau, our efficient teacher, is making preparations to close
her school with an exhibition Friday evening, March 12. A good program is being arranged which will be well worth hearing. A small admission fee of ten cents will be charged. Proceeds to be devoted towards purchasing a school library. Everyone who is interested in the school should attend, and
every citizen should interested in our public schools.

LeMars Sentinel, March 8, 1897

SENEY: (Special Correspondence)

Two young ladies, normal students presumably, took the Omaha train at
LeMars, Saturday morning for Remsen and landed in Seney. They procured a rig to take them back to their starting point and proposed to take another route to Remsen. We trust they started right the second time.

The oyster supper given by the Ladies Mite Society at the cheerful home of M.G. Mills was a grand success. A large crowd was present, not withstanding the short notice given. A large sum was realized which will go towards improvements to the parsonage.

LeMars Sentinel, March 15, 1897

SENEY: (Special Correspondence)

The entertainment given by the pupils of the Seney school Friday evening
drew a good audience. About six dollars were raised for the library fund.

LeMars Sentinel, March 29, 1897

SENEY: (Special Correspondence)

A number of our farmers began sowing wheat last Friday.

Tramps are becoming quite numerous along here, are all going north. A sure sign of Spring.

LeMars Sentinel, April 26, 1897

SENEY: (Special Correspondence)

One day last week while Arthur Reeves was delivering milk to the creamery, he was met by a number of tramps who asked him for some milk. Upon meeting with a refusal, they proceeded to hold him up, but Mr. Reeves drove up his horses and got away without the loss of a drop of milk.

LeMars Sentinel, April 28, 1897

SENEY: (Special Correspondence)

The bridge across the Floyd at this place is now completed so teams can
cross safely. Work is begun on the one a mile and a half west of here.

LeMars Sentinel, Dec. 13, 1897

SENEY: (Special Correspondence)

Frank Becker and Lee Burwell have set up a telegraph instrument in the back of Lancaster’s meat market and expect to be full fledged operators by spring.

LeMars Sentinel, June 27, 1898

SENEY: (Special Correspondence)

Seney is proud of the fact that she has four brave boys who have volunteered to give their lives, if necessary, for their country. Watson Kennedy and Will Ewin went to Sheldon Thursday to enlist.

They both passed a satisfactory medical examination and were accepted. They will go to Sheldon Monday morning and will leave for Chickamanga in the afternoon. They will be mustered into company M of the Fifty-second Iowa regiment. Mark and Zip Aukema will also go to Sheldon Monday for the purpose of enlisting. These boys tried to get into the regular army about a year ago, but were rejected on account of slight physical disabilities. Mark underwent a surgical operation some time ago to remove his disability. They both expect to be accepted this time and be able to go to Chickamauga with the other boys. All honor to our brave boys, we wish them Godspeed. May they soon return to us as sound as when they leave.

There will be an ice cream social at Mr. Councilman's Friday evening, July first.

LeMars Sentinel, July 10, 1898

SENEY: (Special Correspondence)

Thanksgiving and prayer service were held at the M. E. Church Sunday evening in accordance with President McKinley's proclamation.  The church was tastefully decorated with national colors.

LeMars Sentinel, August 1, 1898

SENEY: (Special Correspondence)

The board of directors of the Seney School held a meeting Saturday evening. It has been decided to build an addition to the school house and employ two teachers.

LeMars Sentinel, August 15, 1898

SENEY: (Special Correspondence)

At the Republican caucuses held at the school house here Saturday evening the following delegates were elected to represent Elgin Township at the county convention; Sam Penhalegon, Henry Albert, W. J. Collins and Mr. Walkup. The delegates were instructed to cast their ballots for Mr. Jeffers, of Akron, county attorney. J. B. Owings was nominated for justice of the peace, Frank Becker for constable, J. Alderson for town clerk and Henry Albert for assessor. E.F. Austine was elected permanent chairman of the township central committee.

LeMars Sentinel, August 18, 1898

SENEY: (Special Correspondence)

There will be a "harvest" picnic in the Seney grove, Wednesday. Everybody invited to come and enjoy the day. A good program will be rendered during the day, consisting of recitations and vocal and instrumental music. Also croquet and ball playing will be indulged in. Everyone bring a lunch basket well filled.

LeMars Sentinel, Sept. 9, 1898

SENEY: (Special Correspondence)

Seney Camp Modern Woodmen of America was organized at Mc Arthur hall last Saturday evening by S. Adelshein, of Sioux City, deputy H.C. A large delegation of Woodmen from Struble was present and had charge of the initiatory ceremonies. After the election and installation of officers the
crowd repaired to the genial home of M.G. Mills and partook of a bounteous supper prepared by the ladies.

LeMars Sentinel, Sept. 12, 1898

SENEY: (Special Correspondence)

Elam Chapman got so excited over riding the goat at the Woodman Lodge last Saturday night that he forgot his wife and left her here in town, drove home alone and forced his way into the house through a cellar window and had the key in his pocket.

LeMars Sentinel, Oct. 13, 1898

SENEY: (Special Correspondence)

Arthur Reeves had an experience last Monday night which he is not likely to soon forget.  He bought an excursion ticket to Omaha in the evening, intending to flag the early morning train which leaves here at 3:56 a.m. and started out afoot for the depot, as he thought in good season, but when yet quite a distance from town he saw a pasenger train coming and made a run for the depot, but got left, so he went to Mr. Cook's house to stay until daylight, when Mr. Cook told him that that was a special train and it was not yet time for the regular train.  Mr. Reeves went back to the depot and waited until about 4:30 a.m., when he made up his mind that the regular train must have gone after all and started for home this time.  But he hadn't gone very far when he saw the train coming around the bend about two miles away.  He made another dash for the depot and caught the train all right this time.  But when the conductor came around for his ticket, Mr. Reeves discovered to his consternation that he had lost his ticket.  When the train reached LeMars, he got off and walked back to search for his ticket.  He found it about thirty rods north of the Seney depot where it had fallen out of his pocket when he was running a race with the train.  The last seen of him here he was boarding a hand car that was just starting out toward LeMars.  We presume he changed cars and took a passenger train somewhere between here and Omaha!

LeMars Sentinel, Nov. 17, 1898

SENEY: (Special Correspondence)

The new blacksmith, who will occupy the shop vacated by Ben DeVries, is
expected here tomorrow from Blair, Neb. He will reside in the house
formerly occupied by J.B. Owings.

LeMars Sentinel, Dec. 26, 1898

SENEY: (Special Correspondence)

The shooting match at Seney last Friday was a big success, the Seney
boys capturing all the prizes, the LeMars boys getting one turkey that
they paid one of the Seney boys to shoot for them.  Fred Baldwin took
the best prize in the live bird shoot, of thirteen dollars, and John
McArthur the second best, of seven.  There is talk of having another
match before long.  We hope the boys will practice up so they can print
the scores.  The turkey raffle in the evening got away with the turks
faster than the boys could shoot them, ducks and geese, going at the
same gait.

The Christmas entertainment at the church Saturday evening was much
enjoyed by all present.  The music and singing and recitations were
worthy of great praise and the children were greatly pleased when Mr.
and Mrs. Santa Claus appeared on the scene and distributed beautiful
gifts to almost everyone in the house.

LeMars Sentinel, Jan. 2, 1899

SENEY: (Special Correspondence)

Watch night service was held at Seney in the M.E. church, and was very
well attended, considering the extremely cold weather.  The services
were varied by a reception held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Cutland.
Coffee and sandwiches were freely dispensed by the W.C.T.U. society and the social hour was enjoyed by all.  At the close of the meeting Happy
New Year greetings were exchanged.

LeMars Sentinel, Sept. 20, 1904

ONE DEAD AND MANY SICK
Over A Dozen Victims of Ptomaine Poisoning At Seney
Birthday Feast Ends in Tragedy

Lela (sic--Lelia) Osborne, the Six Year Old Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Osborne Succumbs to the Effects and Several are Dangerously Ill--Was Busy Time for Doctors

One dead and fifteen suffering more or less from the effects of ptomaine
poisoning is the result of eating pressed chicken at a birthday party
given at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Reeves at Seney on Saturday
evening.  Members of more than a dozen families in Seney and vicinity
are suffering from the effects of the poison and Lela (sic--Lelia,) the six year old little girl of John Osborne, succumbed at eight o'clock on Sunday
evening to the effects.  He sister, May (sic--Mae) Osborne, aged ten years is in a precarious condition and Paul Reeves the five year old son of Robert Reeves is in a very serious condition.

Those who were acutely effected by the poison are:
Miss Jessie Reeves, aged 17,
Ralph Hughes and Vera Hughes aged 10 and 8, children of Ed Hughes
May (sic--Mae) Reeves, aged 8
Earl, aged 10, the son of Elam Chapman
Thurit Chapman, aged 11, the son of Grant Chapman
Guy, the eleven year old son of Elmer Anstine
Mrs. John Osborne
Mr. and Mrs. George Reeves and their little daughter, Edna.
A twelve year old boy named Daugherty was also one of the victims.

Dr. Richey was called out Sunday morning and later Dr. Mammen was called and they worked hard all Sunday and Sunday night in their efforts to relieve the sufferers several of whom spent hours in agony.

The cause was traced to some pressed chicken by the physicians.
Several ladies assisted in the preparation of the chickens which were
killed, boned and pressed early on Saturday morning in preparation for a
birthday party which was held at the Reeves home for the young people in
the afternoon and evening.  Supper was served at half past five, but no
bad effects were apparent until well along on Sunday morning, when a
dozen different households had patients in dire distress.  The neighbors
who had been lucky enough to escape were soon busy aiding the sufferers
and the little village of Seney was converted into a hospital for the
time being.

That the poisoning was directly due to the pressed chicken is
conclusively shown by the fact that Lela (sic--Lelia) Osborne, the victim of the sad occurrence, was not at the party.  Her older sister, May (sic--Mae,) brought home two sandwiches made of pressed chicken and her mother, Mrs. Osborne and the little girl ate them and were taken violently ill early on Sunday morning.

Mrs. Osborne was suffering terribly and was unable to minister to her
little daughter, Lela (sic--Lelia,) who died in the evening.

The tragedy has cast a gloom over the pretty little city, and the
calamity is deeply deplored by all.

The funeral of Lela (sic--Lelia) Osborne will be held today at the Methodist church in Seney.

LeMars Sentinel, Dec. 15, 1905

SENEY: (Special Correspondence)

The telephone men from LeMars were up the middle of last week putting up a new wire.  The phone in J. Alderson's store is now connected directly
with the LeMars Central office which will prove more satisfactory in
many ways.

LeMars Sentinel, May 8, 1908

SENEY: (Special Correspondence)

The telephone line men, from LeMars, were in town Wednesday and changed some of the wires on Line 24, putting the phones at the depot and lumber office on the toll line connected with the phone in J. Alderson's store.

LeMars Sentinel, Feb. 23, 1917

SENEY: (Special Correspondence)

The hall is a very busy place and has been the center of attraction for
the last two weeks.  Much work as well as material is being donated and
an addition is being built on the east side for a stage.  The ceiling
has been kalsomined and the side walls are ready for a coat of varnish.

LeMars Sentinel, June 15, 1917

SENEY: (Special Correspondence)

Pine Grove grange will hold their next meeting in the hall Friday
evening, June 22. The following program will be given: Music, male
quartet, R.A.Hawkins, leader; reading, Sadie Alderson; recitation, Roy
McArthur; vocal duet, Dora and Mayme Falk; the Origin and Object of the Grange, Mrs. M. M. Kennedy; instrumental music, Moir boys; What a grange may and should do for its members and community, Rev. Watson; vocal soolo, Mrs. Anstine; reading, Dorothy Darville; instrumental solo, Amy Darville; The Young People and the Grange, Mrs. Jessie Kennedy; recitation, Henry Penning; music, male quartet. A new attraction will be launched at the next meeting to be in charge of Mabel Robbins and Lillian Utech. Come and learn what it is. Eleven new members were taken in at the last meeting.

LeMars Sentinel, Dec. 28, 1917

SENEY: (Special Correspondence)

Seney was exceptionally favored this Christmas when at an early hour a
large group of children accompanied by Miss Manz went from home to home singing beautiful Christmas carols.  As the children's clear voices rang out upon the air we were all made to realize that Christ had come and there was indeed "peace on earth, good will toward men."

LeMars Sentinel, August 27, 1926

SENEY: (Special Correspondence)

Some time ago the correspondent read an article about various claims for
record gas stations in various cities of the state.  Sheldon seemed to hold
the record with one station for every 388 people.  Seney can decidedly go
Sheldon one better because we have three gas pumps with a boasted population of eighty-nine, or one pump for every thirty people.

LeMars Sentinel, Febr. 17, 1928

SENEY: (Special Correspondence)

The roads in this vicinity have been bad owing to recent snow and warm
days.  As it is hard for cars to get through our young men have taken to
going on horse back or in buggies and while they may be somewhat a back number they are more sure to get through the mud.

LeMars Sentinel
Tuesday, November 19, 1935

SENEY:  (Special Correspondence)

The paving which has been under construction on Highway 33, north of Seney, has been completed as far as Carnes.  The contractors, Western Asphalt Co., have pulled their machinery into Carnes for the winter and will continue paving from there to Alton in the spring.

LeMars Sentinel
July 9, 1937

SENEY:  (Special Correspondence)

A large crowd attended the celebration at Pine Grove in Seney on Monday.
Rev. Golden Thompson gave a splendid address. At noon many family groups
met for picnic dinners together. A ball game, races, and sports of all
kinds were enjoyed during the afternoon hours. The refreshment stand,
sponsored by the Volunteer Sunday school class, was well patronized.

LeMars Sentinel

Friday, May 28, 1943

The Seney male quartet furnished music for the funeral services of Elmer Thompson held in LeMars Sunday afternoon. The members of the quartet are Frank Becker, M. J. Lancaster, C. W. Reeves and Harry De Jong.