Martin Ausland
Obituary written by the Rev. James E. Brereton
The Late M. Ausland
Funeral Services Held
At Congregational Church
Sunday Afternoon
(The following article appeared in the Palo Alto County Reporter of Emmetsburg, Iowa, on Thursday, December 11, 1924. It was written by the long-time friend and former pastor of Martin Ausland.)
Martin Ausland died in the New Augustana Hospital in Chicago at 3:18 o’clock last Thursday morning. He went to Chicago November 10, and on the 12th underwent a surgical operation. Immediately after the operation his situation was pronounced serious, but, after a few days, he seemed to improve a little. However, those nearest to him knew that he could never be well again and had serous doubts whether he would ever return to his home.
His body was brought to Emmetsburg on Saturday morning and lay in his late home until Sunday afternoon when a brief funeral service was held in the home and a more public service in the Congregational church. His pastor, Rev. William B. Kline, conducted the service and preached the funeral sermon. He was assisted by Rev. J. E. Brereton, who gave a brief obituary and he also gave his tribute of respect for one whom he had known in intimate ways for more than sixteen years.
Though a severe snow storm was raging at the hour of the services, they were largely attended. The church was filled to its capacity. There was present a large representation of the Masonic order, in which Mr. Ausland was a Knight Templar. The members of the Eastern Star, the affiliated Masonic organization, of which both Mr and Mrs. Ausland were members, attended in a body. The women’s Friday Club was also in attendance. The body was committed to the grave in Evergreen Cemetery, the Masons employing their beautiful ceremonial. The friends who carried the body to the grave were James Gowan, L.T. Mitchell, Dwight McCarty, Daniel Kelly, E.C. Davidson, and W.G. Middleton.
The wind was blowing and the snow drifted furiously amid the trees and against the forms of those who committed the body to its last resting place, increasing, it would seem, the anguish of heart of his loved ones; but someone soothingly remarked that such a closing scene was, after all, not inappropriate to one whose life began in the ridid climate of Norway.
Martin Ausland was fifty-eight years of age on the 25th of May. He was born and reared in Norway. Two months after his twenty-first birthday, he came to America, coming direct to Iowa. He was soon in the employ of the Smith Lumber Company of Osage, driving a coal wagon. Mr. James A. Smith, the founder, and at that time head of the company, believed that he saw in the young Norwegian a spirit and talents much worthwhile. He reposed confidence in him and promoted him in service. About a dozen years of increase of mutual confidence and sympathy between employer and employee, Mr. Smith helped Mr. Ausland to start in the lumber business for himself. He started the Royal Lumber Company with two yards, at Royal and Melvin, Iowa. At the time of his death the company had an even dozen yards. The beginning was in 1900, about twenty four years ago. Martin made good. Mr. Smith’s confidence in him continued and grew to the end of his life, which befell him a few years ago. Since Mr. Smith’s death, his sons and their co-laborers in their extensive business, held the same confidence. Their concern always maintained a fine co-operative relation with Mr. Ausland’s growing enterprise. The Royal Lumber Company is capitalized at more than a half million dollars. Mr. Stanley Smith of Osage is the president and Mr. Ausland was the manager and treasurer of the company. He owned a very substantial portion of the stock of the company.
A year after entering into business for himself, Mr. Ausland was united in marriage to Miss Una Ochsner of Chamberlain, S.D. That was on June 25, 1901. They started their home in Royal, Iowa. There they lived for about four years when they moved to Graettinger, which was their home for two years, and then moved to this city. That was in May, 1907.
Into their happy home, for this man of successful affairs was a home builder, three children came— Katherine (sic), William and James—all of whom remain with the mother to suffer the loss of his going.
Emmetsburg sustains a great loss in Mr. Ausland’s death. He was one of the city’s most enterprising business men. He had an unerring vision and great energy. He attended to his own affairs and brought things to pass. But he was public spirited, never too busy with his own affairs to lend a hand to any needy community interest. The Emmetsburg Community Club has not had in its membership a more ready or forceful community booster than he.
His real heart interests were his home, the school and his church. To these he showed a rare devotion. To the sweetness and beauty of his home life, not only his children and dear wife will certify, but other near ones of his fireside and friends like the writer of these lines who was privileged to have intimate glimpses. His loyalty to his church was almost the last word in church loyalty. He was always in his place sustaining the public service in God’s house, in sympathy with his pastor always, cooperating always with other offiders of the church. His cheerful spirit, scattering sunshine, his buoyant hope, his freedom from bitterness and the little grudges which sometimes characterize Christians, made it easier for other servants of the King to go forward. One of the last things he did before taking the train to Chicago was to send a check to the financial secretary of his church.
The friendship of the late Senator James A. Smith for Martin Ausland furnishes a good background for a good story. Who will write it? A young foreigner, empty handed and alone, but aspiring and strong and capable, touches hand and heart with an American citizen, broadminded, far visioned and kind hearted. Here the "melting pot" did a fine piece of work. An important factor in the process was the Christian American citizen.
See also, "Martin Ausland Leaves Norway," by J. Martin Bailey