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This newspaper page contains 14 articles. Subscribers can read the full text of each article.
Newspaper
Remsen Bell Enterprise
Location
Remsen, Iowa, United States of America
Date
Aug 24, 1939
Page
13
Elizabeth Schmeltzer born 1865 Luxemburg came to Remsen with the Nothem family in 1879. She recalls a box car depot serving as the town’s first hub as grasses and grasshoppers delayed trains. The Wiebersch and Schmeltzer families helped build Remsen, now a 1200 population with her living in the oldest home since 1882.
The Nothem family of Remsen, pioneers in town, built the fourth house and first church, ran an early furniture store later seated at the current site, and contributed to town growth through carpentry and commerce. Hubert W Nothem born 1858 in Luxembourg, married to Mrs Nothem who was born 1862 in Chicago. they had 15 children, with Katherine and Joe later managing the store after Mr Nothem's 1909 death.
Early real estate dealer Peter Schmidt, deceased, with J. P. Wies platted the south part of Remsen known as the Wies and Schmidt addition. Schmidt, born in 1875 in Luxemburg, settled four miles northwest of Remsen, later moving one mile north. He farmed there and ran a real estate business with Wies. Mrs Schmidt died in 1911 and Mr Schmidt in 1914. Their home farm is now run by son-in-law Nick Kirpes.
Ambrose Jermann an early Remsen resident recalls six years in the U S Army starting 1895. Born 1870 in Weiler Alsace Lorraine Germany he came to the United States in 1883 settling near Kankakee Illinois then Remsen. He served three years with Troop F First U S Cavalry and three years with the Hospital Corps of the 10th U S Infantry through the Spanish American War and Cuba. He describes Cuba as no man suld land with shortages and fever tolling soldiers before an army of occupation replaced them. He was discharged in 1901 returned to Remsen and later retired from rural mail service in 1933.
Plymouth County officers list 1889 includes State Representative A M Duus County Auditor Fred Becker County Recorder Wallace Winslow County Treasurer C A Rodlef Sheriff cece Wu M Boyle Coronet Lu M Doty Supt of Schools Carrie Byrne Supervisors Albert Downing Dominic Bradley James Hughes Elli Peters J B Perkins In Remsen Justice of Peace J P Kieffer E Jorgensen Constables A Butler L Harnack
Remsen Benn reports that around the first of March 1899 John Duster will open a pool hall and lunch counter in the building now occupied by Mrs. Goebel, converting it from the current restaurant use.
Remsen boasts three banks First Trust and Savings First National and Farmers Savings which withstood the economic low mood and hold about 1 850 000 in combined resources The piece urges pride in local banking history and the community heart reflected in sound financial principles and resilient institutions
Mr and Mrs Will Miller long time Remsen residents hail from pioneer lineages Henry Miller and Dominick Weiler. Henry Miller born in Germany came to the U S with wife in 1875 farming near Remsen where he died in 1892. Their children include John and Will Miller of Remsen and others. Mrs Miller is a Weiler by birth with Luxemburg roots. their eight children span Remsen Dell Rapids and Egan. The Millers and Weilers helped Remsen grow over 50 years as they continued farming at the town’s southern edge into their 32nd married year.
J H Ley of Carroll has leased the Wagner hotel from current owner C G Wagner and will take possession on April first. The notice appears in the Remsen Bell dated March 1899.
The Strohbeen family were early Remsen settlers from Belle Plaine Iowa arriving in 1893. Father Johann born 1831 in Danzig and mother Christian Staak expanded farming, meat trade, and livestock work while supporting nine children including George and Ferd. The family linked to Remsen’s early business and civic life with George’s long residency and Ferd’s meat market and council involvement.
The narrator recalls a harsh prairie winter with weekly snows and quiet fireside seclusion. The wind rests until renewed storms arrive, lashing the land and driving snow into shelters. At last, spring nudges people from hiding as they greet neighbors and reflect on surviving the season.
Beginning of 61 Years of Happily Married Life Mr. and Mrs. John Hoffman as they appeared in 1882. Early settlers and leading farmers, they built the Hoffman House hotel and hosted many travelers and gatherings. John Hoffman died in 1934, leaving Mrs. Hoffman at the old home with son John N. and daughters Lena, Mary Stewart, and Maggie Wentz, plus other children visiting from Seattle, Los Angeles, Sutherland, and Kinghill.
Josephine Barry Donovan recalls a dramatic late seventies grasshopper swarm described as a dark cloud moving from the west, producing a deep hum then a deafening roar as millions of insects settled overhead. She notes the winged insects with buzzing, shining bodies and long legs, portraying them as a prairie scourge.
Early Saturday morning fire was discovered in the basement of the Beck & Bmann store. An alarm was turned in and the fire extinguished after some difficulty.
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