Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 144, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 December 1903 — Eckstrom Lived Here. [ARTICLE]

Eckstrom Lived Here.

A farmer Resident Drowned In lake Michigan. Gus Eckstrom, a young Swede, who formerly lived in the vicinity of Rensselaer for a number of years, and for a short period in the town itself, was, with two companions. drowned iu Lake Michigan, off South Chicago, last Sunday. Last Sunday Eckstrom, who kept a bar for Swan Lundquist at Harvey, together with Lundquist hi mselfaad another man George Messenger, hired a row boat and went out on Lake Michigan, hunting for ducks. The water was rough, and drift ioe running badly and the boat was doubtless swamped or crushed in the ice, and all three men drowned Lundquist is said, to have had SBOO with him, and Eckstrom $l5O. Numerous searching parties have been out and the lake shore has been searched, from South Chicago to Michigan City, but so fais no trace of the lost men has been discovered.

Eckstrom formerly lived in the •vicinity of Rensselaer for quite a •number of years, for some time making his borne at Henry Shipman’s, some miles southwest, and working about for different farmers. Among others working for Walter Porter for a year, five or six years ago. He also worked in tow® here, when the waterworks system was installed. He was an industrious and amiable young e llow, and well liked by his acquaintances. He had, while living here, quite a celebrity as an accordion isdiyer. He has a brother and a sister living near Brook. A party at Chicago Heights wrote to G W. Goff trying to locate the brother .and sister, bid on telephoning to Brook it was learned that the brother had already heard of the occurence and left for South Chicago.