Martin Ladner, son of Mr. and Mrs. C.D. Ladner, was born April 21, 1901 near Wheaton, and passed away at Spencer, S.D., on Octobr 19, 1930, aged 29 years, 5 months and 29 days. Martin met his death in an automobile accident. He had driven into town from a road construction camp where he had been employed for the past year, went to his boarding place wrote a long letter to his mother, leaving it to be mailed the following morning and then started to drive to another part of town to spend the evening with a friend. As he turned a corner his car hit a pile of sand which had been left on the street and turned over. Martin was thrown clear of the car and was picked up by a witness who heard the noise a half block away. Martin died instantly, having received a blow from some source over the heart. The car rested on one side slightly damae.
Martin grew to manhood in the home community and entered the high school at Westmoreland in 1916. Then came the call to the colors and he began to experience that feeling of restlessness that so many of his comrades felt, and left his home at the age of 16 years and enlisted on Feb. 12, 1917 in the aviation corps, Squadron O, of the U.S. army. From Jefferson Barracks he was sent to Ellengton Field, Houston, Texas, where he remained in training until he received his honorable discharge in June 1919.
He leaves to mourn his death his mother, Mrs. C.D. Ladner, five brothers and eight sisters; Charles R., of Vermillion, Christian D., of Claremont, S.D., ERnest of Topeka, George, at home, and Aaron, of Burden, Kansas: Flora becker, of Onaga, Margaret Becker, of Centrailia, Barbara Jeannerett, of Vermillion, Mae Millick, of Onaga, Rachel LaMott, Marie Kennedy, Myrtle Jessop and Isobel Benander, all of Topeka, who were all in attendance at the funeral excepting Barbara, who was sticken with peritonitis the evening following news of his death and was rushed to the St. Frnacis hospital in Topeka for an operation and remains very sick. The remains arrived on Wednesday afternoon and were taken to the home of his brother, George, where funeral services were held Thursday afternoon, Oct. 23 the date of his father's birthday, who proceeded him in death three years ago.
Funeral services were in charge of Rev. Gardner, pastor of the Congregational church of Wheaton. A mixed quartet, Mrs. L.A. Summers, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Andrick, and Mr. Geo. Grim, sang. A firing squad of the American Legion of Onaga took charge at the grave. Just as the sun set in a clear sky, the bugle sounded and another Soldier was laid to rest. burial took place in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery beside his father.
Those from a distnce who attended the funeral were: Andrew Ladner and son, Wm., of Topeka; Joe Thomas and son Lee, of Fredonia; Forest Brown of Stockdale; Mr. and Mrs. James Lempenau of Westmoreland, Mrs. J. H. Harris and family of Wamego; Mr. and Mrs. Albert Pierson, of Belvue; Floyd Surdez of Sioux Falls, S.D.; Dewey Surdez of Leavenworth and Mr. and Mrs. Willard Armstrong of Vermillion.