Editor of ‘Freeman Courier' Had Long, Colorful Career.
J. J. MENDEL, PUBLISHER OF WEEKLY
PAPER FOR 60 YEARS, DIES AT AGE 85
Freeman, S. D. – Jacob J. Mendel, 85, South Dakota teacher-farmer, and owner and editor of the Freeman Courier for the past 60 years, died at the local Community hospital Wednesday, Nov. 30. By strange coincidence that was also the day the last issue of the Courier was published under his ownership. A short time ago the paper was sold to the Pine Hill Printery.
Of Bohemian descent, Mr. Mendel was born in Russia and came to the United States with his parents when he was five months old. the family settled on a farm near Menno in 1875, where he spent the first 26 years of his life.
He furthered his education by attending an academy in Kansas and then he became a teacher. In 1901 he purchased a farm on the outskirts of Freeman and paid for it on the installment plan by farming in the summer and teaching in the winter.
"Talked Me Into it"
That same year the Freeman Courier was started by Osborne of Springfield, but before the end of the year the publisher decided to quit. the people of Freeman were eager to see the paper continue and suggested that teacher Mendel take over the printing office. Thus he became publisher and editor by default, not by choice. In his own words, "They talked me into it."
The Courier under Mendel's guidance increased from a circulation in the beginning of 200 to 2,000. This is unusual for a town of 1,100 population. In fact, at one time representatives of the FBI came to Freeman to investigate in this regard. He never hesitated to insert his philosophy of life and a bit of humor into his lines and always boosted enterprises which he believed to be good for the community.
Varied Interests
Mr. Mendel was Freeman's oldest active businessman and had always been active in community projects. He had an interest in the telephone company, owned the water plant, and for 28 years was on the Board of Directors of Freeman Academy and College. As an author he published two books. One dealt with the history of Freeman, and the second, ready to be published, tells of the area's pioneers.
Funeral services for Mr. Mendel were held Dec. 2 in the Hutterthal Mennonite Church. Services were held in the Walter Funeral Home.
Survivors include the widow; two children, Mrs. John L. (Marie) Hofer, and Jacob J. Jr., both of Freeman, and one foster daughter, Mrs. Peter Regier of Madrid, Neb.
Pallbearers were his grandsons, LaVerne Mendel, Raymond Hofer, Roland Hofer, Jacob J. Hofer, Joseph K. Hofer Jr., and Virgil Schmidt. Honorary pallbearers were J. J. Waltner, J. J. Wollmann, John T. Gross, Ben C. Graber and A. A. Schmidt. Interment was made in Hutterthal Cemetery.
Until recently the Pine Hill Printery, established about 50 years ago by the late J. C. Gering, was operated on a farm near Freeman.
The present plant is located at the edge of Freeman and operated by Glen and Vernon Gering, sons of the founder. the first Freeman Courier to be published by the new publishers will come off the press Dec. 8.
(MWR 8 Dec 1960 p. 7)
Jacob J. MENDEL
Birth: 18 Mar 1875 in Russia
Father: Jacob MENDEL b: 1 Oct 1850
Mother: Sarah TSCHETTER b: 22 Oct 1854
J. J. MENDEL, PUBLISHER OF WEEKLY
PAPER FOR 60 YEARS, DIES AT AGE 85
Freeman, S. D. – Jacob J. Mendel, 85, South Dakota teacher-farmer, and owner and editor of the Freeman Courier for the past 60 years, died at the local Community hospital Wednesday, Nov. 30. By strange coincidence that was also the day the last issue of the Courier was published under his ownership. A short time ago the paper was sold to the Pine Hill Printery.
Of Bohemian descent, Mr. Mendel was born in Russia and came to the United States with his parents when he was five months old. the family settled on a farm near Menno in 1875, where he spent the first 26 years of his life.
He furthered his education by attending an academy in Kansas and then he became a teacher. In 1901 he purchased a farm on the outskirts of Freeman and paid for it on the installment plan by farming in the summer and teaching in the winter.
"Talked Me Into it"
That same year the Freeman Courier was started by Osborne of Springfield, but before the end of the year the publisher decided to quit. the people of Freeman were eager to see the paper continue and suggested that teacher Mendel take over the printing office. Thus he became publisher and editor by default, not by choice. In his own words, "They talked me into it."
The Courier under Mendel's guidance increased from a circulation in the beginning of 200 to 2,000. This is unusual for a town of 1,100 population. In fact, at one time representatives of the FBI came to Freeman to investigate in this regard. He never hesitated to insert his philosophy of life and a bit of humor into his lines and always boosted enterprises which he believed to be good for the community.
Varied Interests
Mr. Mendel was Freeman's oldest active businessman and had always been active in community projects. He had an interest in the telephone company, owned the water plant, and for 28 years was on the Board of Directors of Freeman Academy and College. As an author he published two books. One dealt with the history of Freeman, and the second, ready to be published, tells of the area's pioneers.
Funeral services for Mr. Mendel were held Dec. 2 in the Hutterthal Mennonite Church. Services were held in the Walter Funeral Home.
Survivors include the widow; two children, Mrs. John L. (Marie) Hofer, and Jacob J. Jr., both of Freeman, and one foster daughter, Mrs. Peter Regier of Madrid, Neb.
Pallbearers were his grandsons, LaVerne Mendel, Raymond Hofer, Roland Hofer, Jacob J. Hofer, Joseph K. Hofer Jr., and Virgil Schmidt. Honorary pallbearers were J. J. Waltner, J. J. Wollmann, John T. Gross, Ben C. Graber and A. A. Schmidt. Interment was made in Hutterthal Cemetery.
Until recently the Pine Hill Printery, established about 50 years ago by the late J. C. Gering, was operated on a farm near Freeman.
The present plant is located at the edge of Freeman and operated by Glen and Vernon Gering, sons of the founder. the first Freeman Courier to be published by the new publishers will come off the press Dec. 8.
(MWR 8 Dec 1960 p. 7)
Jacob J. MENDEL
Birth: 18 Mar 1875 in Russia
Father: Jacob MENDEL b: 1 Oct 1850
Mother: Sarah TSCHETTER b: 22 Oct 1854
Editor of ‘Freeman Courier' Had Long, Colorful Career.
J. J. MENDEL, PUBLISHER OF WEEKLY
PAPER FOR 60 YEARS, DIES AT AGE 85
Freeman, S. D. – Jacob J. Mendel, 85, South Dakota teacher-farmer, and owner and editor of the Freeman Courier for the past 60 years, died at the local Community hospital Wednesday, Nov. 30. By strange coincidence that was also the day the last issue of the Courier was published under his ownership. A short time ago the paper was sold to the Pine Hill Printery.
Of Bohemian descent, Mr. Mendel was born in Russia and came to the United States with his parents when he was five months old. the family settled on a farm near Menno in 1875, where he spent the first 26 years of his life.
He furthered his education by attending an academy in Kansas and then he became a teacher. In 1901 he purchased a farm on the outskirts of Freeman and paid for it on the installment plan by farming in the summer and teaching in the winter.
"Talked Me Into it"
That same year the Freeman Courier was started by Osborne of Springfield, but before the end of the year the publisher decided to quit. the people of Freeman were eager to see the paper continue and suggested that teacher Mendel take over the printing office. Thus he became publisher and editor by default, not by choice. In his own words, "They talked me into it."
The Courier under Mendel's guidance increased from a circulation in the beginning of 200 to 2,000. This is unusual for a town of 1,100 population. In fact, at one time representatives of the FBI came to Freeman to investigate in this regard. He never hesitated to insert his philosophy of life and a bit of humor into his lines and always boosted enterprises which he believed to be good for the community.
Varied Interests
Mr. Mendel was Freeman's oldest active businessman and had always been active in community projects. He had an interest in the telephone company, owned the water plant, and for 28 years was on the Board of Directors of Freeman Academy and College. As an author he published two books. One dealt with the history of Freeman, and the second, ready to be published, tells of the area's pioneers.
Funeral services for Mr. Mendel were held Dec. 2 in the Hutterthal Mennonite Church. Services were held in the Walter Funeral Home.
Survivors include the widow; two children, Mrs. John L. (Marie) Hofer, and Jacob J. Jr., both of Freeman, and one foster daughter, Mrs. Peter Regier of Madrid, Neb.
Pallbearers were his grandsons, LaVerne Mendel, Raymond Hofer, Roland Hofer, Jacob J. Hofer, Joseph K. Hofer Jr., and Virgil Schmidt. Honorary pallbearers were J. J. Waltner, J. J. Wollmann, John T. Gross, Ben C. Graber and A. A. Schmidt. Interment was made in Hutterthal Cemetery.
Until recently the Pine Hill Printery, established about 50 years ago by the late J. C. Gering, was operated on a farm near Freeman.
The present plant is located at the edge of Freeman and operated by Glen and Vernon Gering, sons of the founder. the first Freeman Courier to be published by the new publishers will come off the press Dec. 8.
(MWR 8 Dec 1960 p. 7)
Jacob J. MENDEL
Birth: 18 Mar 1875 in Russia
Father: Jacob MENDEL b: 1 Oct 1850
Mother: Sarah TSCHETTER b: 22 Oct 1854
J. J. MENDEL, PUBLISHER OF WEEKLY
PAPER FOR 60 YEARS, DIES AT AGE 85
Freeman, S. D. – Jacob J. Mendel, 85, South Dakota teacher-farmer, and owner and editor of the Freeman Courier for the past 60 years, died at the local Community hospital Wednesday, Nov. 30. By strange coincidence that was also the day the last issue of the Courier was published under his ownership. A short time ago the paper was sold to the Pine Hill Printery.
Of Bohemian descent, Mr. Mendel was born in Russia and came to the United States with his parents when he was five months old. the family settled on a farm near Menno in 1875, where he spent the first 26 years of his life.
He furthered his education by attending an academy in Kansas and then he became a teacher. In 1901 he purchased a farm on the outskirts of Freeman and paid for it on the installment plan by farming in the summer and teaching in the winter.
"Talked Me Into it"
That same year the Freeman Courier was started by Osborne of Springfield, but before the end of the year the publisher decided to quit. the people of Freeman were eager to see the paper continue and suggested that teacher Mendel take over the printing office. Thus he became publisher and editor by default, not by choice. In his own words, "They talked me into it."
The Courier under Mendel's guidance increased from a circulation in the beginning of 200 to 2,000. This is unusual for a town of 1,100 population. In fact, at one time representatives of the FBI came to Freeman to investigate in this regard. He never hesitated to insert his philosophy of life and a bit of humor into his lines and always boosted enterprises which he believed to be good for the community.
Varied Interests
Mr. Mendel was Freeman's oldest active businessman and had always been active in community projects. He had an interest in the telephone company, owned the water plant, and for 28 years was on the Board of Directors of Freeman Academy and College. As an author he published two books. One dealt with the history of Freeman, and the second, ready to be published, tells of the area's pioneers.
Funeral services for Mr. Mendel were held Dec. 2 in the Hutterthal Mennonite Church. Services were held in the Walter Funeral Home.
Survivors include the widow; two children, Mrs. John L. (Marie) Hofer, and Jacob J. Jr., both of Freeman, and one foster daughter, Mrs. Peter Regier of Madrid, Neb.
Pallbearers were his grandsons, LaVerne Mendel, Raymond Hofer, Roland Hofer, Jacob J. Hofer, Joseph K. Hofer Jr., and Virgil Schmidt. Honorary pallbearers were J. J. Waltner, J. J. Wollmann, John T. Gross, Ben C. Graber and A. A. Schmidt. Interment was made in Hutterthal Cemetery.
Until recently the Pine Hill Printery, established about 50 years ago by the late J. C. Gering, was operated on a farm near Freeman.
The present plant is located at the edge of Freeman and operated by Glen and Vernon Gering, sons of the founder. the first Freeman Courier to be published by the new publishers will come off the press Dec. 8.
(MWR 8 Dec 1960 p. 7)
Jacob J. MENDEL
Birth: 18 Mar 1875 in Russia
Father: Jacob MENDEL b: 1 Oct 1850
Mother: Sarah TSCHETTER b: 22 Oct 1854
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