The Last Bear
from "Our Founder's Legacy"
by Helen Joos Cichy
©1981
pages 110 - 111
The last bear was killed in 1886 after a life and death encounter with John Hengen. As told by August Koeplin to Historian C. M. Klein (in German) "John Hengen and August Koeplin, neighbors, were out hunting for meat to fill the family's larders. They were in the vicinity of the Schneider homestead when Hengen found it necessary to attend to personal needs. As he was sitting in the shelter of a huge black stump, or so he thought, the stump became active. It let out a low groan then began to paw the earth. Hengen was truly caught with his pants down and no time to pull them up but his loaded gun was nearby so he fired at the bear which only infuriated the beast. To make matters worse, the gun would not release the spent cartridge. After what seemed like an eternity the gun was reloaded so he shot the bear again which brought the beast down on his hind quarters. He reared and pawed the earth even though froth and blood were spouting from his mouth from the wound he had received. In spite of this, the bear was about to pounce upon Hengen while he was still entangled with his suspenders and his pants. At this point and none too soon, August Koeplin arrived. He shot the bear five more times which finally killed him. Supposedly, this was the last bear killed anywhere in this area."
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Last Modified:
November 5, 2003