April 4, 1935 - The Reporter - Former publisher of the Reporter, postmaster and state representative passes away after a long illness. Age, 76. Prominent and influential citizen here several years. Military funeral services Friday afternoon Spanish War veteran - 

L.H. Mayne for many years one of the most prominent and influential citizens of Emmetsburg, died at his home here about five o'clock Wednesday morning. He had been ill since early last fall with hardening of the arteries, and gradually became weaker until at last death took him. At times he appeared better then others during which intervals, hope was held for his recovery but such was not to be. 

At Christmas time he managed to come down from his bedroom saying that he wished to look around the downstairs of his home, and expressing the belief that it would be the last time he would ever see it. That belief was correct. He did not live to again view those downstairs rooms. Further, he frequently expressed the belief that he should be taken, during the month of March. This too came near to being accurate, the end coming only three days after March ended. 

Funeral services will be held Friday afternoon at 2:30 at the Methodist church, preceded by services at the Mayne home. Rev. Pruitt will officiate, probably assisted by other ministers. It will be a military funeral in charge of the Spanish War veterans. Active pall bearers will L.H. Bauck, E.W. Carpenter, W.E.G. Saunders, and Tom Rutledge, of Emmetsburg, J.F. Sundermeyer of Mallard, and L.P. Stillman of Doliver.

Lewis Henry Mayne was born to Thomas and Jane Mayne near Ogdensburg, St. Lawrence county, New York, September 2, 1858, thus he was almost 77 years of age at the time of death. He was the fourteenth child of a family of sixteen. When he was 5 years of age, the family moved to Mendota, Illinois, where they resided until the deceased reached the age of 17, at which time they moved to a farm near Prescott, Ia. The following year he returned to Illinois and after some months, entered Eureka college, later entering the University of Indiana at Valparaiso, where he prepared for the ministry. After teaching in a number of Illinois schools, he entered the railway mail service at Tiskilwa, Illinois. 

September 2, 1891 he was united in marriage with Miss Isabel Jane Vander-Vort, whose death occurred July 17, 1906. Four children were born, three of whom survive as: follows: Clifford, of Washington, D.C.; Isabel, who teaches at Olivia, Minn.; and Mrs. Winifred Van Etten, of Independence. A daughter, Hortense, died in 1932, a death which was a severe blow to her father and is said to have shortened his own life.

Shortly after his marriage in 1891, Mr. Mayne came to Algona, becoming connected with the Upper Des Moines Republican newspaper. Less than a year later he came to Emmetsburg and entered partnership with J.C. Bennett in publication of the Palo Alto Reporter. In 1898 he became sole owner, and continued as its publisher until disposing of the Reporter to its present operators in the fall of 1925.

In 1898 he enlisted for service in the Spanish American War, and served at historical Chickamauga until the war ended. His service fired him with a patriotic spirit that always held a prominent place in his life. A Mason for many years, he was a member of the local Blue Lodge and Commandery, and was also a member of the Knights of Pythias here. After coming to Emmetsburg he joined the Methodist church and since been one of its very devoted members. Over a period of 26 years, he acted as lay minister at various charges, including South Vernon, Emmetsburg, Livermore and Woden.

July 24, 1907 Mr Mayne was united in marriage with Florence Mabel Davis of Sioux City, who survived. He is also survived by three grandchidren Lewis William and Margarette of Washington, D.C.; two sisters, Mrs Sarah Graves of Pasadena, CA, and Mrs Elizabeth Dorey of Homestead, OK; and one brother, Gilmer Mayne of Creston, IA. These in addition to three children mentioned, Clifford of Washington, D.C., will be unable to be here for the funeral services. He made a visit here late last fall and is unable to get away at this time. It is fortunate that he saw his father only a few months before the end came. 

Mr. Mayne served the community as postmaster through two terms, the first from 1902 to 1911 and later from 1922 to 1933. He was Palo Alto's state representative in the legislative sessions of 1919 and 1921. In the passing of Mr. Mayne the community loses a figure of splendid citizenship. During his several years here he always took a prominent part in advancing the interests of the community, state and nation. Few local people were better informed in public matters, and he was never found wanting when needed to take influential leadership in worthwhile movements, patriotic, civic, charitable, or political.

Old files of the Reporter are rich in words of wisdom from his fluent pen. They represent a remarkable collection, bearing testimony to his knowledge, influence and fearlessness in matters of vital significance. Many years of his life were devoted to public service, during which he gave freely of his time and effort in fighting for what he firmly believed to be right. Patriotically, he was a leader, taking an active part in everv movement for the honor and glory of his country. Politically, he was a staunch Republican, that party having few of greater loyalty and manifestive service. He believed most firmly in Republican principles of government, and was very courageous in expounding those principles, often in the face of the most discouraging opposition. Year after year he worked and fought for his party, and was never to be swayed away from it by short lived experiments that were attractive for the moment. To his influence and leadership many Palo Alto Republican victories can be traced. 

The forthcoming state convention of the Iowa Spanish War Veterans to be held here in June, is the result of Mr. Mayne's influence and standing in the organization. He passed up an honorable state office in the organization, offered him at the 1934 convention, in order to be in a better position to bring the 1935 convention to his home community. It was long his dream to bring his state convention to Emmetsburg. Now it is indeed sad that he died just a few weeks before that dream is realized. The Spanish War veterans owe much to Mr. Mayne for the prominent part he took to perpetuating the principles of the organization here and at other places throughout the state of Iowa. His comradeships among the Spanish War soldiers meant everything to Mr. Mayne. The hardships endured at Chickamauga mellowed into life long devotion to the "boys" who suffered with him. 

Mr. Mayne's death brings to a close a long and useful career, a career filled with worthwhile interests and activities a lifes great many years of which were devoted to public service. He was a student of good government, scrupulous in his sense of right and wrong principles, in their application to matters of state as well as personal matters like any man of influence he had his opponents, but they were more than outnumbered by his friends and others who rallied to his leadership. His absence will leave a community vacancy hard to fill. His home will indeed be lonely without him.

The sincerest of sympathy is expressed to Mrs. Mayne, the son and daughters who are called upon to become separated from a truly excellent husband, father, and citizen.