Massacre headlines 'Potluck' stories
By Judy Bowman Journal correspondent | Posted: Saturday, March 25, 2006
John and Betty Winterringer of the Northwest Iowa Genealogy Society examine a tombstone dedicated to a 15-year-old boy at Memorial Cemetery in Le Mars, Iowa. On Sunday, they will tell the story of Radnor Clifton Earle, who was killed in an Indian massacre in 1862. (Photo by Judy Bowman)
LE MARS, Iowa -- Nearly 144 years ago, Radnor Clifton Earle, 15, died in an Indian massacre defending his father.
A tombstone for the boy in the Le Mars Memorial Cemetery sparked one of the stories to unfold Sunday during the "Pioneer Potluck" series at the Plymouth County Historical Museum in Le Mars.
The program about the boy and other heroes will begin at 2 p.m. A display about pioneer families opens at 1 p.m.
The two-year effort to identify pioneer families in Plymouth County is in its second month. A pioneer family is defined as one who has been in Plymouth County since 1900.
Leading off the program Sunday will be Betty Winterringer's story of young Radnor Clifton Earle. Her interest in the boy's story began more than 20 years ago when the Northwest Iowa Genealogy Society indexed Plymouth County cemeteries.
The information on Earle's stone, which is topped with a statue of a lamb, reads: "In Memoriam, Radnor Clifton, son of Jonathan W. Earle (and) Amanda M. Earle. B (born) Feb. 17, 1847. Massacred Aug. 18, 1862 by the Sioux, while defending his father. Noble boy too good for Earth. In Heaven rest evermore."
The boy is buried next to his parents. His father was a physician and a justice of the peace in Le Mars. Museum personnel said the timing of this story is good since the museum is now developing a Medical History Room, due to open later this year.
The room will be filled with medical history from the entire county and will be a place to honor physicians and other health-care providers of the past.
The heritage of Dr. Earle, who died in 1874, and his family began to unfold when Betty Winterringer uncovered the obituary of his wife, Amanda M. Earle, in an 1894 newspaper. That explains "the famous massacre by the Little Crow band of Indians" in Beaver Creek, Minn., where the Earle family lived. According to the account, more than 8,000 Indians were involved.
"The Indians captured Mrs. Earle and her two daughters and also other women and children. Mr. Jonathan Earle and his three sons escaped to a place they thought was safe, and that is where they witnessed the killing and scalping of Radnor Earle," Winterringer said.
The mother and girls were kept for six weeks in captivity and were finally rescued by government troops. The family came to Le Mars in the early 1870s. The obituary said the exposures that Mrs. Earle endured in captivity brought on problems that made her an invalid for 20 years, which caused her death."
Betty Winterringer said the presence of the stone in the Le Mars Memorial Cemetery remains a mystery.
"We do not know if the body of Radnor Clifton Earle was recovered at the massacre or if his body was brought to Le Mars, or perhaps the stone is just a memorial monument in his honor," she said.
The Winterringers have not found descendants of the Earle family. They hope someone will step forward to share in the special day Sunday.
Mrs. Earle was living in Sioux City at the time of her death. An obituary in the Le Mars Sentinel mentions two daughters as Mrs. G. W. Young and Mrs. A. M. Andrews.
Nine other pioneer families will tell stories. Those family names are: Dirks, Donlin, Dugan, Eyres, Fischer, Foley, Freking, Frerichs and Freymann.
Following the 2 p.m. program, the families and visitors will share in a potluck lunch at 3 p.m. All families have been invited to share their favorite family recipes and dishes for the lunch.
The Museum, located at 335 First Avenue Southwest, offers free admission to all.
A tombstone for the boy in the Le Mars Memorial Cemetery sparked one of the stories to unfold Sunday during the "Pioneer Potluck" series at the Plymouth County Historical Museum in Le Mars.
The program about the boy and other heroes will begin at 2 p.m. A display about pioneer families opens at 1 p.m.
The two-year effort to identify pioneer families in Plymouth County is in its second month. A pioneer family is defined as one who has been in Plymouth County since 1900.
Leading off the program Sunday will be Betty Winterringer's story of young Radnor Clifton Earle. Her interest in the boy's story began more than 20 years ago when the Northwest Iowa Genealogy Society indexed Plymouth County cemeteries.
The information on Earle's stone, which is topped with a statue of a lamb, reads: "In Memoriam, Radnor Clifton, son of Jonathan W. Earle (and) Amanda M. Earle. B (born) Feb. 17, 1847. Massacred Aug. 18, 1862 by the Sioux, while defending his father. Noble boy too good for Earth. In Heaven rest evermore."
The boy is buried next to his parents. His father was a physician and a justice of the peace in Le Mars. Museum personnel said the timing of this story is good since the museum is now developing a Medical History Room, due to open later this year.
The room will be filled with medical history from the entire county and will be a place to honor physicians and other health-care providers of the past.
The heritage of Dr. Earle, who died in 1874, and his family began to unfold when Betty Winterringer uncovered the obituary of his wife, Amanda M. Earle, in an 1894 newspaper. That explains "the famous massacre by the Little Crow band of Indians" in Beaver Creek, Minn., where the Earle family lived. According to the account, more than 8,000 Indians were involved.
"The Indians captured Mrs. Earle and her two daughters and also other women and children. Mr. Jonathan Earle and his three sons escaped to a place they thought was safe, and that is where they witnessed the killing and scalping of Radnor Earle," Winterringer said.
The mother and girls were kept for six weeks in captivity and were finally rescued by government troops. The family came to Le Mars in the early 1870s. The obituary said the exposures that Mrs. Earle endured in captivity brought on problems that made her an invalid for 20 years, which caused her death."
Betty Winterringer said the presence of the stone in the Le Mars Memorial Cemetery remains a mystery.
"We do not know if the body of Radnor Clifton Earle was recovered at the massacre or if his body was brought to Le Mars, or perhaps the stone is just a memorial monument in his honor," she said.
The Winterringers have not found descendants of the Earle family. They hope someone will step forward to share in the special day Sunday.
Mrs. Earle was living in Sioux City at the time of her death. An obituary in the Le Mars Sentinel mentions two daughters as Mrs. G. W. Young and Mrs. A. M. Andrews.
Nine other pioneer families will tell stories. Those family names are: Dirks, Donlin, Dugan, Eyres, Fischer, Foley, Freking, Frerichs and Freymann.
Following the 2 p.m. program, the families and visitors will share in a potluck lunch at 3 p.m. All families have been invited to share their favorite family recipes and dishes for the lunch.
The Museum, located at 335 First Avenue Southwest, offers free admission to all.
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