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DICKINSON COUNTY Another IAGenWeb Project |
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DICKINSON COUNTY Another IAGenWeb Project |
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OBITUARIES OF DICKINSON COUNTY - G - |
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Mrs. Abbie Gardner Sharp Dies at Colfax WAS 77 YEARS OLD Sole Survivor of the Indian Massacre at Spirit Lake
Des Moines, Iowa, Jan. 22 [1921] --Mrs. Abbie Gardner Sharp, sole survivor of the famous Spirit Lake massacre of 1857, died Friday evening at the Colfax Sanitarium. She was 77 years old. Mrs. Sharp had been a patient at the Colfax [Jasper County, Iowa] institution for the past six months, and had been confined to her bed during the last two months, following a stroke of paralysis which was directly responsible for her death.
Mrs. Sharp is survived by one grandson, Albert Sharp of Des Moines and Spirit Lake, and a granddaughter, Mrs. Fred Wiggle of Spencer, Iowa.
Funeral will be held in Spencer on Wednesday, and interment made at Arnolds Park.
Mrs. Abbie Gardner Sharp was born in New York in 1843,and was 14 years old at the time of the famous massacre in 1857.
Her father, Rowland Gardner, had migrated west in 1856, building his log cabin finally at what is now Pillsbury's Point, West Okoboji lake. It was at this cabin, which is still standing, that one of the grewsome [sic] episodes of the 1857 massacre took place.
There was constant trouble between the Sioux and Winnebagos. A neutral zone running north and south in Iowa had been established to keep the Sioux and their enemies the Sac and Fox, apart. Winnebagoes had been put in possession of this neutral zone. The Sioux also were always a terror to the white settlers.
In March, 1857, a band of fourteen Sioux under Inkpaduta raided the settlers' cabins in the Dickinson county lake region. They started their raid at Smithland, but reached their climax at the lakes. Their procedure at the Gardner cabin was typical. Here they entered the cabin under the pretense of friendliness but after eating and squabbiling [sic] awhile they murdered Mr. Gardner and all the others but Abbie. The women were beaten and mangled. Three children, one a baby, were torn from little Abbie and butchered also.
Twenty settlers were killed on the first day at the lakes, March 6, and others later. Four young women, three wives of white settlers and Abbie Gardner, were taken off as captives. They were painted like the reds, forced to braid their hair, given heavy packs to carry and were treated as slaves.
Volunteer military companies and some regulars from Fort Ridgley pursued, and once the regulars were almost in touch with Inkpaduta's fleeing band, but no battle occurred. Two of the volunteers were frozen to death on the prairies. The winter was exceptionally severe.
The flight was west and northwest. Mrs. Thatcher was brutally killed in the big Sioux river. A brave pushed her into the stream. As she approached first one shore and then the other in her frenzied efforts to escape, she was beaten with sticks and stones. Finally she was shot. Mrs. Marble was traded to another band of Sioux and eventually found her way back to Freedom.
Finally Abbie and Mrs. Noble were sold to a Yankton Sioux, but he remained with Inkpaduta's band and took them along. Mrs. Noble was beat to death, despite her owners objections, by Roaring Cloud, a son of Inkpaduta, because she repelled his overtures. She was only 20 years old.
After Abbie, the only captive, had been taken into a great Yankton village on the James River in Dakota, she was ransomed by friendly Indians representing the government of Minnesota. Mrs. Marble's escape had led to this successful effort on Abbie's behalf.
Source: Vindicator and Republican, 1-26-1921, Estherville, Emmet County, Iowa newspaper. Transcribed and contributed by Ruth Hackett. |
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GUN SHOT DEAD Fred Gilbert Succumbs Following Stroke of Apoplexy Monday
The long career of Fred Gilbert, as the World's champion trap and wing shooter is ended. Death came at 8:15 Monday evening at his Spirit Lake home following a stroke of apoplexy which came upon him at about 4:30.
Glenn Hall, his son-in-law, had driven him to the State Park at the Orleans at about 9 o'clock in the morning, that he might mingle with many of his friends who were taking part in the annual Tournament and Pow-Wow ?? the Sioux Indians, he being a member, which opened on Sunday for a four days program. He had not shot but visited with his old gun comrades and had lunch at the grounds.
A number of different events were on the Monday schedule among which was the Monkey shoot wherein all members attired themselves in Indian costume. Mr. Gilbert had donned his full Indian uniform and had posed for several pictures singly and with groups of friends and had enjoyed himself possibly beyond his strength. He had intended to crack a few, but began feeling badly and asked to be taken home. His request was immediately appeased but upon his way home he lapsed into periods of unconsciousness. Dr. Shultz and the members of his family were immediately called and administered to him. It is thought he recognized the members of his family but he soon passed into a state of coma. Life lingered until 8:15 when the end came upon him.
Mr. Gilbert had not been in good health for a number of years, being afflicted with high blood pressure, and only occasionally did he did he even consider the pleas of his friends, to break a few over the traps.
In the death of Mr. Gilbert, Spirit Lake loses its most heralded citizen, and a man held in the very highest regard by all who knew him.
For more than 30 years Gilbert was a prominent figure at trap shooting tournaments in all parts of the country. He was about 30 years old when he began his professional shooting career.
Practically every challenge trophy in the world has been won, at some time, by the Iowan. In 1902 he won permanent possession of the National Wingshot championship four-year challenge cup, and in 1908 he won permanent possession of his second national Wingshot championship cup, also a four-year challenge. The professional championship of America has been his since 1909.
The funeral services were conducted from the First Presbyterian church in Spirit Lake this afternoon at 2:30 by Rev. Herbert Marsh. D. D., Rev. C. M. Crowell, assisting, when the following obituary was read:
Fred Benjamin Gilbert was born in Spirit Lake, December 18, 1865, and passed away in his Spirit Lake home on August 8, 1927, at the age of 61 years, 7 months and 23 days. In the year 1882 he came to live in the John Klein home on the John Gilbert farm, now owned by E. D. Arthur. He made his home most of the time with Mr. and Mrs. Klein until his marriage to Maggie Klein, which occurred March 9, 1892.
To this union two children were born, Tom Marshall, now of New York City, and Ann Hall of Spirit Lake.
Besides his two children he leaves to mourn his loss his wife, a sister, Mrs. Loomis of Minneapolis, and a half brother, Earl Taylor of Spirit Lake, and one grand child, Gilbert Hall, together with hosts of friends.
The years of his life were not many but into them he packed tremendous activities. His profession as a shooter carried him far and wide. During his thirty years as a professional shooter he became known as "the wizard of Spirit Lake."
His many competitors and friends will remember his manhood better than his records. He won without bragging and lost, though this was seldom, without grumbling.
On July 2, 1926 Spirit Lake dedicated the city park in his honor as a shooter and citizen.
He was a member of Twilight Lodge No. 329, A. F. & A. M. of Spirit Lake; Esdraelon Commandery, No. 52 Knights Templar of Estherville; Sioux City Consistory, No. 5; and also of Abu Bekr Temple, Mystic Shrine of Sioux City.
He was a member of the Baptist church in Spirit Lake. Interment was made in Lake View cemetery.
The funeral was one of the largest ever held in Spirit Lake. Friends and sportsmen came from over the middle west to pay tribute.
The business houses closed during the funeral hour. We reproduce elsewhere a most befitting tribute by Sec. Taylor, sports writer for the Des Moines Register, and personal friend of Mr. Gilbert
Contributed by Donna Young and transcribed by Mike Peterson |
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