Fires! 1906

ADNEY, BERGMAN, BRATON, BROWN, CLASS, COONFARE, CRISTEN, DUFFIN, EDGINGTON, EGGERTH, FOX, GESKE, HURLEY, JENNINGS, KLOTZBACH, KRAMER, MCMICHAEL, MEYER, MILLER, MOLUMBY, PERRY, QUINN, RHODE, RONQUIST, SAWVELL, SHERMAN, WEBER, WOODEN, ZAHN, ZAPF

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 4/11/2017 at 13:24:17

Bergman Block - McGregor
We learn that a fire broke out in the Bergman block, the finest store building in McGregor, occupied by Kramer Bros., about 11 o'clock last night, and that the building and stock of the Kramer Bros. was entirely destroyed. The firm had an immense stock of dry goods and clothing. County Attorney M. X. Geske had his office in the second story, and his books and office furniture all went up in flames. Our McGregor correspondent says that when the fire was discovered it had gotten such headway that the fire department could do but little more than to keep the adjoining buildings from going. It is estimated that the loss will reach $50,000.

source inadvertantly not recorded, year was 1906

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John Sawvell
Fire completely destroyed the home of John Sawvell at Pleasant Ridge, Monday. The house, which was owned by A. A. Sawvell, was insured in the Farmer's Mutual Insurance Co. We understand that there was no insurance on the household goods.

Elkader Register, Thur., February 15, 1906. McGregor column.

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William Brown
The home of Wm. Brown, about three miles south of Monona, was burned to the ground at a late hour Tuesday night, the family being unable to save any of the household goods. The fire is supposed to have started somewhere about the furnace.

Elkader Register, Thur., March 1, 1906. Monona Column

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Cristen Bros.
Cristen Bros., of Marion township, suffered a heavy loss by fire about 4 o'clock this morning. A large barn was burned and with it about 20 head of young cattle and a like number of sheep. It was only by strenuous efforts on their part that another barn standing close by was saved, and one of the brothers had a hand severely burned while fighting the fire. It was insured in the Communia Farmer's Insurance Company. -Elkader Argus.

Elkader Register, Thur., March 1, 1906. Local News column. From the Elkader
Argus, undated.

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Class Store
Sunday afternoon about 5:30 o'clock smoke was observed coming out of the Class store building near the rear side door by Dr. C. W. Duffin, who was sitting in his residence across the street. He hurried outside and directed a passerby to turn in an alarm of fire, which was promptly done, and he then rushed upstairs to assist the Edgington's family, who occupy rooms on the second floor, down in safety. The first floor is occupied by Jacob Kramer with a stock of general merchandise, the greater part of which was more or less damaged by water and the loss cannot be safely estimated at present. The stock is insured for $2500 in the Keokuk Standard Insurance Co. Damage done to the building, Mr. Class estimates, is between $600 and $800. A policy for $2000 is carried in the Merchants and Bankers Insurance Co. of Des Moines, and also $2000 in a Davenport insurance company on the building. The structure is of stone and was erected in 1856 at a cost of $9,000.

Elkader Register, Thur., 5 Apr. 1906. Possibly in the Garnavillo column

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Mrs. Sherman
The home of Mrs. Sherman north of town burned to the ground Wednesday morning. The origin of the fire is unknown. We did not learn the full particulars.

Elkader Register, Thur. April 5, 1906. Volga City Views column

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F. Perry
The home of F. Perry on Main street burned to the ground early Sunday morning. But little of the contents were saved.

Elkader Register, Thur., April 5, 1906. St. Olaf column.

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Grant Braton
Wednesday night Grant Braton's house on the property he bought of Wm. Coonfare near here was burnt down, maliciously by some person. Mr. Braton lives near Manchester. He has been trying to get some one to move into the house. Some time ago the house was broken into and all the chamber windows stolen out. They were large windows - 4 lights 14X28 glass, therefore it is quite a loss to Mr. Braton. We hear he offered the house, part of the fruit and a large garden spot to the right man to move in and see to the place and to look after his young stock this summer. Mr. Braton had no insurance on the house. He has been up to see the place since the fire and thinks this part of the country tough and we who live here don't blame him for he never done anyone any harm around here.

Elkader Argus, Wed., May 16, 1906. Mederville column.

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Mrs. Alex Meyer
Mrs. Alex Meyer's house, windmill, woodhouse and wood was completely destroyed by fire last Friday. The fire was not discovered until it was too late to save any of the household goods. Mrs. Meyer was at home at the time with two of her little grandchildren, and barely escaped being burned. She had but a small amount of insurance, which will make the loss all the more keenly felt. The sympathy of the entire community is extended to Mrs. Meyer. She expects to rebuild immediately.

Elkader Register, Thur., May 24, 1906. Elkport and Vicinity column.

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Sig Eggerth
Last Sunday night the residence of Sig Eggerth was destroyed by fire. The origin of the fire is a mystery as Mr. Eggerth, who is a bachelor, was not at home at the time, consequently nothing was saved.

Elkader Register, Thur., 9 Aug. 1906. Elkport and Vicinity column.

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Fire and Death at McGregor.
Alfred Wooden, a pioneer citizen, met death Saturday evening in the electrical storm.

Rain fell during the day and evening and there seemed a great deal of electricity in the atmosphere, though no brilliant flashes or hard thunder were apparent. Many saw the sparks flying along the wires early in the evening, and continuing with the culmination about midnight, when McMichael's large barn was found to be on fire. It was totally destroyed, with contents. The loss is partially covered by insurance. The theory is that the lightning bolt followed the wires in to the end of the circuit and then caused the fire.

While the firemen were working on the barn, it was found that Alfred Wooden's house, next door, was also on fire, having been started by the electric light wires in the cellar. The floor was burning, and dense smoke filled the house. It is supposed that Mr. Wooden started down the cellar with the hope of putting out the fire, but it is not known, as he did not tell of his intensions and no one knew where he was until, when he was missed, search was mad for him, with the result that his body was found at the foot of the cellar stairs. A live wire had burned through his trousers and into the leg just below the knee. The fire had been extinguished by the water from the hose, and Mr. Wooden's head and shoulders were in the water. It will never be known how he came by his death - whether by electricity, suffocation, or that shock caused heart failure. He was in very poor health and not able to withstand much of a shock.

Mrs. Wooden is in critical condition, caused by the severe strain and nervous shock.

Elkader Register, Thur., 16 Aug. 1906.

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Peter Zahn
Lightning struck a large barn on the Peter Zahn farm, burning it to the ground, last evening. The entire contents were destroyed, including the new grain, the threshers having finished work Saturday. The barn was recently rebuilt upon the old site, where lightning has struck four times. Mr. Zahn carried some insurance.- McGregor News.

Elkader Register, Thur., 30 Aug. 1906. Monona column. From the McGregor News, undated.

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Henry Miller
The large barn south of National belonging to Henry Miller was struck by lightning Sunday and burned to the ground, together with two valuable horses, 1200 bushels of grain and several stacks of hay and straw. It is a heavy loss to Mr. Miller, which was partly covered by insurance in the Garnavillo company.- Argus.

Elkader Register, Thur., 6 Sept. 1906. Local News column. From the Elkader Argus, undated.

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William Fox
Last night about 25 minutes of two the fire alarm called the fire boys to the residence of Wm. Fox. Mr. Fox had gone down stairs with a lamp which exploded, setting fire to the house. The fire spread so fast that none of the household furniture was saved. He carried some insurance. - McGregor News.

Elkader Register, Thur., 13 Sept. 1906. From the McGregor News, undated.

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Austin Adney
There was much electricity in the storm of Sunday night, and another house was the victim of the lightning's fury. Austin Adney's house in West McGregor was struck about 11:00 o'clock and burned. Most of the furniture was taken out, but the building was a total loss. Mr. Adney carried some insurance, but nevertheless the loss is a heavy one.

Elkader Register, Thur., 27 Sept. 1906. Local News column. From the McGregor Times, undated.

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Matt Weber
Last Thursday night Matt. Weber,, who lives near St. Olaf, was unfortunate in having his house and contents destroyed by fire. The family were preparing to go to bed when the lamp exploded, throwing flames over the bed and room. The family only escaped with the clothes they had on. He was insured in the Clayton County Mutual for $500.

Elkader Register, Thur., 4 Oct. 1906. Local News column.

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Jerry Hurley
On Sunday night the house on the old Molumby farm north of town, occupied by Jerry Hurley, was burned. There was no one at home at the time but the hired man, and he was milking out of sight of the house. The neighbors saw the fire and gave the alarm, but it was too far gone to save anything. All that was gotten out was a trunk. Mr. Hurley had some insurance on his household goods. The house was built many years ago, one of the first houses up that way.

Elkader Register, Thur., 11 Oct. 1906. Volga City Views column.

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Klotzbach & Ronquist
About 11 o'clock last Sunday evening the house on Ed Klotzbach's place east of the jail was totally destroyed by fire, with its contents and the wind mill near badly damaged. Aug. Ronquist lived on the place, but his wife was away. He had gone to a neighbors for some bread and was there when the fire was discovered. It is claimed that there had been no fire in the house since morning, which would indicate that it might be the work of an incendiary. Mr. Klotzbach had $800 insurance in the Clayton County Mutual and Mr. Ronquist has $500 on his furniture..

Elkader Register, Thur., 11 Oct. 1906. Local News column.

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Mrs. Rhode
The large new barn on Mrs. Rhode's place burned Tuesday morning, a total loss of barn, contents, and hay shed, with the season's hay supply. The fire was started by the lantern exploding when they were running the separator early in the morning.- McGregor Times.

Elkader Register, Thur., 25 Oct. 1906. Local News column. From the McGregor Times, undated.

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Hubert Zapf
Last Monday night Hubert Zapf's residence near Communia was destroyed by fire. Mr. Zapf, who lives alone, was awakened by the roof falling in. He lost almost everything except a few clothes. The origin of the fire is unknown. The windmill was burned also. The loss was partially covered by insurance.

Elkader Register, Thur., 6 Dec. 1906. Elkport and Vicinity column.

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Henry Jennings
Henry Jennings is having bad luck this winter for sure. He lost a horse three weeks ago and on Monday morning fire was discovered in his house. The house was a total loss. It was rebuilt last year and had all modern improvements, hot and cold water, furnace, hard wood finish and was, in fact, one of the best houses in the vicinity. We understand it was insured, but not anywhere near its value.

Elkader Register, Thur., 6 Dec. 1906. Volga City Views column.

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Larry Quinn
Larry Quinn, of Cox Creek, met with a misfortune Sunday morning by having his house destroyed by fire, which it is thought, caught from a defective flue. The house was burned to the ground, the furniture of the lower rooms only was saved. He had $1200 insurance on the house and some insurance on the furniture. It is hard to be turned out of house and home in the winter.

Elkader Register, Thur., 27 Dec. 1906. Local News column.