The Fort Dodge Messenger: April 22, 1904

Colonel Blanden Dies Thursday

Pioneer Business Man and former Soldier Succumbs to Long Illness.

His Life Ended Peacefully

His War Record of Note – Prominent in Banking business.

One more pioneer gave up this mortal life when Colonel Leander Blanden passed away Thursday evening. Men, the chapters of whose lives are incidents in the growth and upbuilding of the community, one by one are ending their lives of usefulness and passing to greater reward and the death of Colonel Blanden adds but another to the long list of pioneers who have passed before him.

Colonel Blanden died Thursday evening at 6:30. Death was the immediate result of apoplexy, altho the deceased had been a sufferer from Bright’s disease for several years previous to his death. Death was peaceful, the vital forces which had sustained life during his long illness gradually becoming exhausted until finally the spark went out and a life of seventy-four years was ended. Deceased passed his last moments on earth with his relatives, who were around his bedside when the death angel arrived.

The funeral will take place tomorrow afternoon at 3 o’clock from the residence on the southeast corner of Central avenue and Tenth street. The members of Fort Donaldson post, G.A.R. will attend the funeral in a body. Burial will be in Oakland cemetery.

Leander Blanden was born in Burlington, N.Y., in 1830. There he spent his boyhood days and the first years of his young manhood. When the gold fever spread over the country in 1849 young Blanden like many others in the east started for the gold fields of the west. For two years he remained in California, returning to Burlington in 1851. Soon after his return from California he decided to move to the middle west and soon after settled in Marengo, Ill.

In Marengo he was engaged in the grain business with his brothers and followed that pursuit until the outbreak of war between the north and south, when the young man, inspired by patriotism that led his grandfather to fight for liberty in the revolution forsook the peaceful pursuits of business life for the hardships and dangers of a soldier. Leander Blanden fought for the union as his grandfather had fought against English tyranny and oppression in the war of the colonies against Great Britain. His war record is an important one, and one that was a source of pride to deceased during life, and may well be regarded as such by his surviving relatives. three times he was promoted for meritorious service, first to major, then to colonel, and finally to the position of brigadier-general. It was the title of colonel received in the army that he retained in after years.

At the close of the war, Mr. Blanden returned to Marengo, but remained there only a few years. In 1868 he moved to Fort Dodge, and for thirty-six years made this city his home. During the first years of his residence he was engaged in the grain-buying business, and soon after entered the banking business, for some years being president of the First National bank.

Colonel Blanden besides being among the early and  most successful of Fort Dodge financiers, was also a pioneer in the gypsum industry, a business that especially in the earlier days was one of great importance to the city. He built and operated what is known at the Blanden mill, which was the second gypsum mill operated in the vicinity of Fort Dodge. During the last years of his life, colonel Blanden confined his interests (missing text) and other property, being especially interested in his farms, where he spent many hours of quiet and rest.

Colonel Blanden was united in marriage in 1885 to Mrs. J.M. Berry, who died some years ago. The union was blessed by no children.

The Fort Dodge Messenger: April 1, 1903

In Memoriam

August Lindahl, whose death occurred Tuesday at his home in West Fort Dodge was one of the best known and highly respected citizens of the community in which he lived. For twenty-three years he has made his home in this city, and during this time he has made his mark as a man of industry and worth. His death is generally regretted.

August Lindahl was born in Sweden on March 26, 1853. He came to the United States to live thirty-two years ago, and settled first in Illinois, where he followed the pursuit of forming. Twenty-three years ago he decided to come farther west, and traveling by wagon, as last reached Fort Dodge and settled on the west side of the river.

During two terms of two years each, Mr. Lindahl was a member of the city council, elected on the republican ticket, and in this manner was identified with the city’s management. His services in this capacity proved his ability and devotion to the city’s interests.

For the past two years, Mr. Lindahl has been a sewer contractor, but of late had not been active in his business on account of his sickness with diabetes, the disease which finally caused his death. It is a sad coincidence that four years ago Adolph, Mr. Lindahl’s only son, died from the same disease. Mr. Lindahl leaves one daughter, Amanda.

Deceased was a member of the West Fort Dodge fire department, whose members feel deeply the loss of one of their number.

Shortly before his death Mr. Lindahl made a will whose contents have not as yet been public.

The funeral will be held from the West Side Methodist Episcopal church at 2 o’clock on Thursday afternoon.

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The Fort Dodge Messenger: April 2, 1903

West Fort Dodge Business Houses Closed

Honor Shown to Late August Lindahl Whose Funeral Was Held This Afternoon.

Business in West Fort Dodge was practically at a standstill this afternoon on account of the funeral services of the late August Lindahl, which were held from the Riverside M. E. church at 2 o’clock this afternoon. The merchants of West Fort Dodge without exception, closed their places of business during the time in which the funeral was in progress.

The services were conducted by Rev. C.J. Messenger, pastor of the church, and were in every way suitable to the sad occasion. Interment was made in the cemetery in West Fort Dodge.

The West Fort Dodge fire department of which Mr. Lindahl was a member, attended the funeral in a body.

The Fort Dodge Messenger: March 26, 1906

Death of Pioneer Veteran G.A.R. Man

J.M. Fibbs Died at his Home Here Sunday Morning at Four O’Clock

Soldier Through Civil War

Early Iowa Pioneer; Resident of Fort Dodge the Past Seven Years; And a Successful Business Man – A Loss to City.

J.M. Fibbs, a veteran of the civil war and long time resident of Iowa, died at the family residence here Sunday morning, March 25th, at 4 o’clock. His death was from a variety of causes, largely the result of afflictions growing out of the hardships he endured while a soldier in the Union army during the entire period of the war of the Rebellion.

Some months ago he sought relief through an operation, but never regained his wonted health, and has been gradually losing in strength throughout the winter. His death came as a relief from protracted suffering.

Mr. Fibbs was born in Pennsylvania in 1836, and spent his earlier years in Maryland and New York. In the last named state he was married, and later moved to Iowa, settling at Ida Grove where he become (sic) a miller and flour merchant, which business he followed successfully till when by reason of failing health, last fall, he was compelled to give up active business pursuits.

With his family, Mr. Fibbs has been a resident of Fort Dodge the past seven years, where he has established an extended acquaintance and enjoyed the confidence and esteem of a large number of friends in business and church circles.

From the age of 18 years to the time of his death, Mr. Fibbs was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church; and with his family, has been most faithful and efficient in his work and relations with that denomination. His death will be sincerely mourned, and his presence greatly missed, by his associates in the church and his friends everywhere.

His services in the war entitle him to a place upon the soldier’s roll of immortal honor, his death being a reminder and evidence of the fast thinning ranks of the vanishing hosts of the survivors of the civil war. As private and officer he fought in the First Regiment of the Maryland Cavalry the whole period of the Rebellion.

Mr. Fibbs’ wife, and four daughters, Mrs. Nettie Fibbs Zorn, of Cody, Wy.; Mrs. C.F. Basore and Mrs. W.C. Ross, of Ida Grove; and Miss Grace M. Fibbs, of Fort Dodge, survive him; all but Mrs. Basore being present at the time of his death. The stricken family are assured of the sincere sympathy of a large circle of friends here, in expensions (sic) of which sympathy  The Messenger desires to join.

The interment will be at Ida Grove. a brief funeral service will be held at the family residence here Tuesday morning at 9 o’clock.

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The Fort Dodge Messenger: March 27, 1906

Funeral of J.M. Fibbs

Brief Service at the Residence – Body is Then Shipped to Ida Grove.

The funeral of J.M. Fibbs who died Sunday morning at his home on 4th avenue south after a long illness with a complication of diseases was held this morning at the Fibbs residence. The service was in charge of Rev. Geo. C. Fort of the First M.E. church, and was very brief. The body was shipped to Ida Grove, where interment will be made.