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LeMars Sentinel 12 July 1894

Married at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Kelvea, Thursday afternoon at two o'clock, Miss Clara Higday was united in marriage to A.E. Thompson. Rev. Will C. Wasser officiating. The bride is well known to Akron people having made this place her home for several years. Mr. Thompson comes from the eastern part of the country. He is a young man of energy and is highly respected. The happy couple left on the south bound train for Cherokee where they will be at home.


LeMars Sentinel
8 Oct. 1900
Killed by the Cars.


Word was brought to LeMars yesterday of the death of Abner E. Thompson, who until recently resided in LeMars. Thompson was engineer on a stationary engine used on flat cars for dumping gravel and was killed on the Great Northern railroad near Maynard, Minn., on Saturday. A card found in his pocket bore the address LeMars, and stated in case of accident to inform Sarah Thompson. Fowler Seaman, agent of the Northwestern was here yesterday trying to locate the Thompsons. They lived here until last July when they moved to Sioux City. Mr. Thompson worked here for some time, having been employed in the different machine ware houses here.

Mrs. Thompson is related to the Higdays residing south of LeMars and Mr. Thompson's father resides in cherokee County.

The deceased was a member of this city but he had permitted his dues to lapse, otherwise he would have been entitled to $1,000 insurance in that order.


LeMars Sentinel
15 October 1900
Was Not His Fault


Mrs. Thompson, of Morningside, Sioux City, widow of Abner E. Thompson, who was killed on October 6 by an accident at Maynard, Minn., writes in regard to the statement made that her husband's dues in the Forester's Lodge of this city had lapsed. Mrs. Thompson writes:

"Regarding his letting his dues in the lodge lapse. It was decidedly not his fault. Mr. Thompson left money with me to pay his dues, supposing the lodge at LeMars would notify him of the amount of dues at Sioux City as they had done for the months of May and June. But I have proof that I received no notices from the lodge. Then I concluded some of the brothers in the lodge were paying his dues and would send me a statement of the amount paid by them. If the notices had been mailed they would surely have reached me as the ones for the two previous ones did. Surely there is a mistake or failure somewhere. Mr. Thompson knew nothing of the affair, supposing I was attending to it if I received the notices. Kindly have this printed in your next issue. I would have no blame of which he is not guilty cast on the departed.

Mrs. Clara Thompson
Wife of Deceased.


LeMars Sentinel
25 October 1900
Company Settled With the Widow.


Mrs. Thompson, the widow of Abner E. Thompson, who was recently killed at Maynard, Minn., by the breaking of a chain on an engine while employed on the Great Northern railway, was in town last Friday and stated to friends that she had effected a settlement with the Great Northern company for the loss of her husband, the company paying her $2000 in full settlement in the case and defraying the funeral and other expenses.

Henry Thompson of Afton, father of the deceased, made a thorough investigation after the accident and finds that the facts were about as stated in a dispatch sent out from the place where the accident occurred.

"Freight train No. 55, on the Great Northern crashed into a work train one mile north of Marshall at 5 o'clock Saturday morning. A.E. Thompson, on the work train, a resident of Sioux City, and married, was killed. Brakeman Miller had his face and neck cut. No. 55 was on regular orders and was running at full speed. The work train was backing into Marshall slowly. The engineer of the freight train saw the red lights, but not in time to stop. The engineers and firemen on both trains jumped in time to escape injury. Both engines were wrecked."


The Cherokee Democrat
October 9, 1900
A.E. Thompson Killed
Was Working on Railroad at Maynard, Minn.
Body Brought Here Last Night
Mystery as to How It Happened.


Abner E. Thompson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Thompson of Afton Township, was killed at Maynard, Minn., on Saturday last. The remains were brought here from Sioux City last evening and taken to the undertaking room of Chas. M. Maynard.

At this writing there seems to be little information as to how Mr. Thompson's death occurred, as no one connected with the railroad company seems to have been willing to give out any information. The best information obtainable is that he was working on a steam shovel at Maynard, when a chain broke, the parts striking him and causing instantaneous death. The remains were taken to Sioux City and placed in charge of an undertaker. A letter or card in the dead man's pocket indicated that his wife resided in LeMars, but an effort to find her there proved futile. It is said that the company sent a man up there to search for her, and it was learned that they had moved to Sioux City. After a day's search Mrs. Thompson was found at Sious City. The parents of the yound man were then notified. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson went to Sioux City yesterday morning and brought the remains here last night on the Clipper. They were unable to learn anything definite regarding the nature of his death.


When the remains were brought here local physicians examined the body and were unable to find any wounds that would necessarily cause death. There were no broken bones. The calf of one leg was badly mashed, there was a slight cut over one eye and other slight bruises. There were no indications of internal injuries, judging from outside appearances.

The deceased was 33 years of age. The funeral will take place this afternoon and the remains will be interred in Oak Hill Cemetery.

Abner E. Thompson
New Articles
LeMars Sentinel
Contributed by Don Kelley


The Le Mars Semi-Weekly Gem
Friday, August 24, 1923
FIRST BORN IS NOW TAKEN
Follows Father and Mother to grave within a week


Wednesday, August 15, Mrs. Henry Klave, living six miles south of Neptune, died at a local hospital. Her husband died on Sunday at the farm home and on Tuesday John Klave, eldest son of the family, died. The deaths of the father and son were due to virulent typhoid fever.

Florence, the youngest daughter of the family, is in a critical condition in an isolation ward at a local hospital suffering from the same mailignant disease. Three sons of the family are ill with typhyoid fever, Alexander Klave and ______ home farm, where two physicians are in attendance together with two nurses and it is problematic whether their recoveries are assured. One son, Henry Klave, was killed while serving in France during the World War.

John Klave was the eldest son of the family and was born and raised in this county, where the thirty years of his life were passed.

The funeral of the father and son was held on Wednesday afternoon. Rev. J. J. Vollmar, of Le Mars, and Rev. J. D. Meyer, of Christ church. Mammen, officiating and the interment made in the Grand township cemetery , where the mother was laid to rest a few days previously.

Contributed by: Randy Treadway, his gggrandson.

The Le Mars Semi-Weekly Gem
FOURTH VICTIM OF SCOURGE
Other members of Family still battling for life


Another member of the Klave family which has been devastated the past two weeks by the ravages of typhoid fever, succumbed on Wednesday to the disease. This is the fourth death in the family since August 15 and members of the family are still suffering from illness and are not out of danger.

The mother, Mrs. Henry Klave, died of Bright's disease at a local hospital here on August 15. The father Henry Klave, died at his farm, six miles south of Neptune, on August 19, and the eldest son, John died on August 21. He and his father were buried together.

Adolph Klave died on Wednesday from typhoid fever, after fighting the disease for some weeks. His death took place at the farm where two brothers are battling for life stricken with the same malady. A sister, Florence, a young woman, is in an isolation ward at a hospital here, as are three children of Fred Kalve, a brother, who resides in this city.

Adolph Klave was twenty-one years old in June. He had lived all his life in this county and helped his parents farm. He is survived by three brothers and three sisters, Fred, Otto and Klay Klave, Mrs. Gus Mai, and Florence Klave of this vicinity, and Mrs. John Parks, of Leeds.

The funeral services were held yesterday at Grant township cemetery, Rev. J. D. Meyer, officiating.

Contributors Note: - The other children of this family survived. My great grandma was Mary Margaret Parks. My grandma never saw her mother. She died in the Cherokee State Hospital in 1930. Grandma heard two stories, one her mother died of TB, and the other that she went crazy at my grandma's birth. Since she died at the age of 35, I almost believe the TB story, although the latter could be tied in with it. Henry Klave was born on 30 August 1853 in Germany the son of Wilhelmal (William) Kleve, and Johanna M. Sophia Rhinehardt-They are buried in the same cemetery, and his wife was Katherine Johnson born 30 June 1863, also in Germany, the daughter of Fred Johnson. Hope this will help someone.

Contributed by: Randy Treadway, his gggrandson.

Hugh Maxwell married Isabella Barbara Ann Watson 10 Mar 1896 In Hinton Plymouth Iowa. Hugh was the sheriff of Plymouth county for many years according to family history their son William Alexander Maxwell died in a prison break, he was shot to death by and escaping prisoners 16, Nov 1919 as they were feeding the prisoners. Contributed by: Madalyn Fuqua

Article as it appeared in the LeMars Semi Weekly
Tuesday April 8, 1924

NIGHT FIREMAN BADLY SCALDED

Alex Roberts Is Painfully Injured When Boiler Flue Bursts

HALF DAZED BY SHOCK

Blinded with Pain Makes Way to Nearby Home

Alex Roberts, a fireman employed at the Iowa Light, Heat and Power Co., was seriously injured Friday night and is now in a local hospital recovering from his wounds. At first it was thought his injuries were fatal, but physicians in attendance say he will recover. The accident in which he was hurt occurred about a quarter to eleven, Friday night, when he was at his work firing (?) in the boiler room and a flue suddenly burst. Mr. Roberts was in the act of scooping up a shovel full of coal when the explosion occurred, and he was enveloped in a cloud of steam, scalding water, and flying debris.

The force of the hissing vapor threw hot cinders and live coal from the fire box over him scalding his face, chest, and legs.

Half dazed with the shock and pain and thinking that the other men engaged at work in the engine and boiler rooms were badly injured, or, perhaps, killed, Roberts made his way to the residence of P.J. Simeon, where his appearance with coal black face, hair standing on end, hatless, coatless, breathless, and writhing with pain from the burns, startled the family and Mr. and Mrs. Roy Calhoun, who were spending the evening there. Roberts told the Simeon family he thought the other men had been hurt or killed.

Mr. Simeon and Mr. Calhoun hastily summoned a doctor to attend to the injured man who was conveyed to the Community Hospital, and then preceded to the power plant as quickly as possible.

Harry Landgraf employed at the plant, was at the door of the fireroom when the explosion took place and was thrown several feet landing out of harm's way. The engineer at the plant, Hans Hansen, had just stepped upstairs a minute or two before the flue blew out.

Hansen on going to the boiler room was confronted with a flood of scalding water over the floor and hot steam still belching forth. He and Landraf were under the impression for several minutes that Roberts had been caught in the explosion and that he was lying lifeless behind the boilers and their feelings were relieved when Simeon and Calhoun appeared on the scene to render any assistance they could.

Alex Roberts was seen at the hospital yesterday. He is badly burned about the face, hands, chest, and legs, but his condition is much better than was expected and he has shown remarkable recuperative power and nerve since the accident, and is progressing favorably.

Mr. Roberts said the explosion occurred so suddenly that he could scarcely tell what happened. He said something hit him on the back of the head and he was spun around facing the escaping steam and hot cinders. His first thought was that the explosion had wrecked the plant and killed his fellow workmen, and he started out instinctively to secure help and hardly realizes how he got out of the boiler room.

Note: Alex survived the accident/explosion but remained hospitalized until his death from the results from the injuries. Over a period of time, it affected him not only physically but mentally and he died in the Cherokee State Hospital on July 27, 1926 – more than two years after the accident. Contributed by Paula Curcio

Sioux City Sunday Journal, September 8, 1929 Vol 60, no 21 Section D, p 1, col 8

Pioneer Church and Saloon in LeMars is being Razed

LeMars, Ia- Special: "Old timers" in LeMars are growing sentimental over the dismantling of the Beaufils building, one of the first in LeMars, which was erected in 1870 when LeMars was nothing more than a few shacks on the prairie and a more or less mythical plat on file at the old county seat in Melbourne. "The building first was occupied by Roe Amsden, who supplemented his business with hardy pioneers by occasional Indian trading. The upper story was known as Amsden's hall and here, by the light of smoky oil lanterns, early settlers danced square dances, hoe-downs and Virginia reels to the accompaniment of squeaking fiddles and the howling blizzards. "In the early days, religious services also were held in Amsden's hall. Bishop Sumner Lee, first Episcopal bishop in Iowa, helped services there. Mrs. B.C. Woolley, president of the Plymouth County Abstract Company, underwent the rites of christening on the bishops visitation. Her father, the late D. W. Clarke, operated an implement and hardware store in one of the few building that formed the primitive prairie village. "But before long Amsden's hall fell from grace and became a saloon, which was conducted by Pat Gainor, famous Missouri and Mississippi river pilot and friend of Mark Twain. The place was patronized by land seekers and members of the early English Colony established by Cap Moreton. Pat Gainor dispensed a well known brand of "Old Crow" which he had come to know and respect on the Missouri river steamers, and his sample room always was liberally patronized by the habitues of such famous old resorts as the English "House of Lords," "House of Commons," "The Continental," and "Windsor Castle." "In the days when LeMars had a famous race track and polo team, congestion was so bad that visitors paid $5 for the privilege of sleeping on the bar from 2 a.m. to 8 a.m. Pioneers relate many a tale of wassail and song in the old building." Contributed by Jan Johnson

Obituary as it appeared in the LeMars Daily Sentinel
Wednesday, October 30, 1968
Page 1, Column 1
VAN VOORST, LILL DIE OF OXYGEN LEAK, GAS IN CHEROKEE WELL


Alfred Van Voorst, 28, Seney, formerly of LeMars and Merle Lill, 28, LeMars formerly of Nebraska, died Tuesday afternoon while working on a 45 foot well northeast of Cherokee.

They were employees of Darrell Sordrager, 31, Brunsville, owner and operator of the well digging firm.

Dr. D.C. Koser, Cherokee County Medical Examiner, ruled the deaths to be due to asphyxia, a deficiency of oxygen and excess of carbon dioxide in the blood. He stated that there was gas in the shaft as well, and both inhaled the irrespirable gases. Frank Buckingham, Cherokee Times Editor, who was at the scene, said it was very frustrating for all who were trying to rescue the men because of the cramped quarters of the deep shaft.

He said firemen on the scene reported the men could not have lived more then 5 to 10 minutes in the well atmosphere. It took about one and a half hours to bring the bodies up. Sordrager said Lill was the first man down into the shaft and he was immediately overcome. When he did not respond to calls from above, Sordrager said Van Voorst went down into the well to assist Lill.

After a short time Van Voorst yelled "Bring me up". The owner of the equipment said, but as Sordrager was pulling Van Voorst up, he apparently became unconscious and slipped off the device used to lower the men into the shaft.

Phil Fassler of Cherokee Fire department Rescue Squad, wearing an air pack had gone down into the shaft earlier in an attempt to rescue the men.

The Cherokee Civil Defense Unit, Cherokee County Sheriff's Office, Iowa Highway Patrol and an Iowa Public Service Company crew assisted in the rescue effort. Sorgdrager said he had warned both men of the danger of gas and reminded them to wear safety belts. However, he said both men entered the well shaft without.

Mr. Van Voorst was born Dec. 29, 1939 in LeMars the son of Richard Van Voorst. He was a life long resident of Plymouth County.

December 3, 1965 he was married to Maryann Kramer at Vermillion. His mother, who preceded him in death, was Cleo Roberts.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at the Mauer Funeral Chapel. Rev. Gerald Marlow will officiate and burial will be in the LeMars City Cemetery. Survivors include his wife, Margaret, rural LeMars and two children, Douglas and Diane at home. A Brother Alex Richard Van Voorst, Fort Madison, a sister Mrs. Laverne(Rosemary) Vanders Beek, Omaha his father Richard Van Voorst, Merrill and his grandparents who live in LeMars.

Contributed by: PCurcio@aol.com

LeMars, Iowa, LeMars Daily Sentinel, Tuesday, February 8, 1977

Clagg House on old Eagle St. will be Razed for Parking Lot

Second generation descendants of the late William M. and Mary Elizabeth Gideon Clagg recently recalled a house in downtown LeMars, soon destined to become a parking lot, was the home of the Clagg family as early as 1886. Address at that time was Eagle St., now known as 1st Ave. NW.

As reported in the Daily Sentinel, the house to be razed is the Harry Bonnema property just north of the Centel Telephone building. This is an 8400 square foot piece of property and will be sold to the city for $35,000. The Bonnemas have owned the properyt or a number of years and it has been thehome of Mrs. Dora Bonnema.

Mrs. James Hoyt, rural Remsen, who is a granddaughter, of Mr. and Mrs. Clagg, said her grandfather brought his family here in 1886 and established the Clagg Hide house down the street about a block This building was also torn down and is a parking lot just south of the JoNee Mfg. Co.

Mr. Clagg was born Oct. 21, 1838. At age 16, in 1854, he went with his parents to Clinton, Ill. His marriage to Mary Elizabeth Gideon took place May 10, 1860. In 1869 the family moved to Fort Dodge; in 1882 they moved to Sioux City and in early 1886 to Baxter Springs, Fort Scott, Kan. Later that year they moved to LeMars, Iowa.

Mr. Clagg served as a second lieutenant in the Civil War in 1862. He was assigned to the 107th Illinois Infantry Co. D. on the staff of Gen. E. H. Hobson. When he became a lieutenant, he served in General Thomas' brigade.

When he left school he went into the fur and hide business. In the early days he bought fur and hides from the Indians all over the great northwest before the country was settled.

The Clagg family lived in their house on Eagle St. until 1914. Mr. Clagg died in 1911. Two of their children, Paul and Fannie had died in infancy. Mrs. Hoyt recalled her grandfather was one of the five person to start the First Baptist Church in LeMars.

He was buried at Fort Dodge, July 4, 1911, after his death on July 2.

Submitted by Linda Ziemann, Plymouth CC



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