HAD REACHED A RIPE OLD AGE
Claus Gehlsen, one of our pioneer settlers died Thursday at his home on Main street after a short illness. Mr. Gehlsen had no ailment of any kind but was failing in health due to old age. He died peacefully at the ripe old age of nearly 79 years.

Claus Gehlsen was born in Thielen, Schleswig Holstein, Germany, January 11th, 1850. He spent his boy-hood days in Germany, received his education there and was conscripted in the army at the age of 19 years. In 1870-71, he was in active service in the army and when the Franco-Prussian war broke out he was one of the first to go over the line into France. He fought through the war in many hot battles but was never seriously wounded. After he was honorably discharged from the army, he left soon after for America and landed in Clinton, Iowa, in 1874. Making his home in Clinton, he was united in marriage to Miss Maria Joens, in 1878.

Coming to Carroll county, they settled on a farm 5 miles north and 3/4 of a mile west of Manning where his wife died in 1883, leaving her husband and three small children. The children were Peter, Bertha and Emma. Remaining with his children on the farm he moved later to the place on the Langen section 10 miles north of town, where he was married to Miss Minnie Tack in 1890. To this union six children were born, of which John died at the age of 18 years and Herman dying in infancy. In 1893 he purchased a fine farm two miles east of the Five Mile House where they made their home for many years. On June 12, 1920, his second wife was taken from the family by death, when they lived in West Side, after which he went back to his farm, staying with his children until in March 1927, when he purchased his I home in Manning, where he passed away Thursday, October 11th, at the age of 78 years and 9 months.

He leaves to mourn his sad departure three sons, Peter of Flandreau, South Dakota; Fritz of Webster City, Iowa; William of West Side, Iowa, and three daughters, Emma Schelldorf of Des Moines, Erna Graves of Denison and Hilda Gosch of Arcadia, and 17 grandchildren. One daughter, Bertha, preceding him in death in 1911.

The deceased, it can be truthfully said that he was a man truly of the pioneer type. He worked hard early and late, always with due consideration for his fellowman. He took an active interest in the up-building of the community in which he lived, and it was men like him who were responsible for the changing of this country from its virgin state to a highly productive locality as it is today.

The funeral services were held Saturday, October 13, from the Lutheran church at two o'clock p. m., the Rev. Johann M. Ansorge officiating. Interment was made at the Hayes Township Cemetery. The services were largely attended, speaking of the esteem of the departed relative and friend.