Emma, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Johannes Jansen, was born May 4, 1891, at Holstein, Ida County, Iowa. To mourn her loss are her parents, four brothers, Albert, Emil, Eddie, Harry, and a married sister Mrs. Alma Gruhn. On Friday afternoon she ended her life by taking carbolic acid. The coroner pronounced it suicide. At her death on February 16, 1912, she was 20 years, 9 months and 12 days.

Here we have an innocent young country girl, barely of age, unfamiliar with the ways of the world, mocked by society, a victim of her own hand. It is sad to contemplate the deed. She never killed herself. That sham hypocrisy known as society killed her. Depressed by the cruel finger of scorn, humiliated by her friends of both sex, her mind gave way under the terrible strain. She seemed cheerful when her parents went to town that afternoon. When her mind reverted to the deeds of the past year no doubt a great struggle raged within. How terrible no one will ever know. Perhaps she thought of her life when a school girl, then of her trouble, of the death of her children, enough trouble to drive any girl insane and then in an insane moment the deed was committed.

She sleeps peacefully now in the graveyard. Her struggles are over. Rev. Fruechte, before a large congregation, spoke comforting words to the parents and prayed for the soul of the departed one. The Ruler of all men will be the final judge. In his infinite wisdom he will take everything into consideration and will say, "Not thy hand but others brought thee here."