Niels Rahbeck - Elines første mand Længe før Eline mødte Mogens Uhrenholt var hun forlovet til anden side, men skæbnen ville det anderledes Text in English   Eline blev i foråret 1897 22 år. Og netop denne sommer skulle have været noget ganske særligt. Eline havde i flere år været forlovet med præsten Niels Marinus Nielsen Rahbeck fra samme by, men som på grund af skrøbeligt helbred var rejst til Texas. Her var han præst i United Brethren Church of Arcola, Texas. Men nu var han hjemme i Cedar Falls, Iowa, hvor brylluppet skulle stå senere på sommeren.  Skæbnen ville det dog anderledes, og 28. may 1897 døde Niels Rahbeck af en lungesygdom. Nyheden om dødsfaldet blev bragt i the Cedar Falls Gazette 1. juni 1897: "After an illness of some months of lung trouble, Rev. N.M. Rahbeck, pastor of the United Brethren Church of Arcola, Texas, died in E. Cedar Falls Saturday evening.  Rev. Rahbeck lived in Cedar Falls several years ago, but owing to failing health went to Texas, where he has been ever since, coming here about six weeks since.  He was a Christian man of strong character, beloved by a large circle of friends who regret his untimely demise.  The funeral will be held next Friday afternoon."         "Efter flere måneders lungesygdom, døde pastor N. M. Rahbeck fra the        United Brethren Church i Arcola, Texas, lørdag aften i Cedar Falls. Pastor        Rahbeck boede i Cedar Falls i flere år, men rejste pga. svigtende helbred til        Texas, hvor han har boet indtil han for seks uger siden kom hertilbage.        Han var en kristen mand af stærk karakter, elsket af en stor skare af venner,        som begræder hans tidlige bortgang. Begravelsen finder sted næste fredag        eftermiddag." Brylluppet mellem Eline Arildsen og Niels Rahbeck blev altså ikke til noget.  Tre uger før sin død, 21. may 1897, skrev Niels Rahbeck testamente, hvori han testamenterede alle sine ejendelle og besiddelser, bl.a. et stykke jord i Texas, til Eline. Dette håndskrevne testamente findes i dag på historisk arkiv i Cedar Falls. Den fulde tekst er gengivet nedenfor. Læs også testamentet som facsimile.    Will   I Niels Marinus Nielsen Rahbeck of Cedar Falls Black Hawk County Iowa being of sound and disposing mind do make publish and declare this to be my last will and testament hereby revoking all wills at any time heretofore by me made.   Item I It is my will that all my just debts and funeral expenses shall be fully paid.   Item II All the remainder and residue of my property whether real personal or mixed of which I may die sei[ged to?] of which I may in any way be entitled shall be disposed of as follows: 1st I give devise and bequeath to Eline Marie Arildsen forty acres [16 hektar el. 0,16 km2] of real estate in Brazoria County Texas, same being all the land Lawn in the state of Texas. 2nd It is farther my will that the said Eline Marie Arildsen shall have and own all the monies and personal property of which I may die possesend of or entitled to and that all personal property shall be converted into money by my executor and the proceeds given to the said Eline Marie Arildsen. 3rd I hereby nominate and appoint as executor P. L. C. Hansen of Cedar Falls Black Hawk County Iowa and it is my will that he be exhonorated from giving bonds of such executor.   Witness my hand this 21st day of May 1897. Niels N. Rahbeck   P. Rasmussen H. P. Sørensen, witnesses   On this 21st day of May 1897 the foregoing will was signed and executed in our presence by the said Niels Marinus Nielsen and by him declared to be his last will and testament and at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other we have hereunter subscribed our names as witnesses thereto. P. Rasmussen H. P. Sørensen of Cedar Falls Black Hawk County           Læs også testamentet som facsimile