Iowa Old Press
The Observer
Fontanelle, Adair Co. Iowa
May 26, 1898
Page 1
Death Without Warning
Mr R M Morgan, of Cumberland, died suddenly on the lawn of his
sister. Mrs W H Jones, in this city, about nine o'clock yesterday
morning. Mr and Mrs Morgan, their daughter, Mrs Gene Pierce, and
T R Nance and wife had driven down from Cumberland Tuesday to
visit with relatives and friends for a few days, and Mr Morgan
appeared to be in his usual health. He and Mr Jones were standing
in the front yard engaged in casual conversation, when Mr Morgan
suddenly stopped talking and it was evident that he was in great
distress. Almost instantly he fell down and after a few gasps,
died. Dr Keith was called but the unfortunate man was beyond aid
before the messenger was well started. The death is attributed to
heart disease. The remains were prepared for burial and sent to
the afflicted home in Cumberland on the afternoon train, becing
escorted to the train by a committee from the Grand army Post,
the deceased having been a member of the 28th Illinois. Mr Morgan
was fifty six years of age in March, of quite rugged physique and
enjoying fairly good health. He had frequently visited in
Fontanelle and made many friends who extend profound sympathy to
the family so shockingly bereaved.
One of Geo. baker's heavy horses were so badly injured in barbed
wire fence Monday that it had to be shot.
W F Snyder and Dave Norris went down to Adams county Monday,
where they will build a barn for a Mr Krolik.
Super Taylor strongly endorses the Fontanelle summer school.
There is no official County summer School in Adair county.
Dr R W Anderson, dentist, of Griswold will be at the Gibbs house
on Jue 1. Any one in need of dental work call on him
Mrs S Bennett went to Des Moines Monday to visit the family of
Capt Barker, and incidentally to visit Mr Bennett, who is serving
as a trial juror in the federal court.
Three young ladies of Fontanelle started for Bridgewater by rail
Friday evening, but inadvertently boarded the east bound train
and landed in Greenfield. Don't ask us who they were, for we just
won't tell any body, so help us-Dewey!
Miss Mae Johnson visited in Masena the latter part of last week,
and returning suday was accompanied by Lena Emmig and D P Hogan.
Dr R W Anderson makes a specialty of crown and bridge work. Call
and see samples of his work at the Gibbs house at Fontanelle,
Wednesday, June 1.
Walter Decker was out to church Sunday morning, his first visit
to town in over two months. He has had a terrible siege of
suffering with sciatic rheumatism.
Emmet Thomas, E J Green, A J Miller, C A Carver, Lulu Miller,
Anna Garver, Lois Reed and Mrs H M Reed started yesterday to
drive to Des Moines to attend Adventist camp meeting. E H Reed
went up last week.
The Ladies Club will meet with Mrs Gow Friday afternoon.
Louis champlin returned Monday from Cedar Falls, where he hasbeen
attending normal school.
Darby's ice cream always on hand at Mrs W A Whiler's parlors on
the north side of the square.
Mrs Ed Porter returned to her home in Adair Sunday after a visit
of ten days with her sister, Mrs A E Renner.
Art Harper was down from Massena Monday shaking hands with his
numerous friends. He has just returned from Newton, where he has
been pitching successfully in several matched games.
COMMENCEMENT
The commencement exercises of the Fontanelle High School will
occur at the Stewart opera house tomorrow evening, May 25th. The
graduates are: Grace Adams, Ernest Root, Melbon Brant, Otto
Kaemmerer, Hicks L Adams, and Fred Mathes. The small number of
graduates makes it possible tohave a program liberally intersped
with music. Seats have been reserved for the fourteen members of
the Orient class of '98.
Bee hives, 50 cents apiece at Carver & Hulbert's lumber yard.
Mr and Mrs A G Green left yesterday morning by way of Casey and
St Paul for Eau Claire, Wis, where they will enjoy a couple of
months visit with relatives and old friends.
Martin Dunlap came home from Des Moines Sunday expecting to
remain until Thursday, but received a telelgram on Wednesday
calling him back to camp as his regiment is expected to move
soon.
The dates of the county C E Conventions which is to be held at
Bridgewater, have been changed and it is now decided that it will
be held Thursday evening and friday, June 30 and July 1. All C E
societies of the county are barely reminded of the dates and
urged to arrange to send delegates and all who can do so should
attend and make it aninspiration giving meeting.
- A brick foundation is being put in the residence of Wm Morley.
-E E Warren and wife were over to Greenfield last night to attend
the theatre.
Page 2
The May appearance of tornadoes in Iowa is unusually early.
Perhaps they will clear the atmosphere and bring immunity later
in the season.
Senator Mason's Washington home was robbed of $4,000 worth of
valuables sunday night. Billy's wind is unaffected so that he
still has the means of securing a livelihood.
There is a promise of a splendid year for the farming community.
With a prospect for bountiful crops and remunerative prices there
is every incentive to hard work. When agriculture thrives in this
western country there is promise for all.
The new board of control of state affairs is causing
consternation by introducing business methods at every point, and
a few of the people who come under its authority regard it as
encroachment. The board will improve the public service of the
state and decrease the expense.
Page 3
-W H Longworthy came down from Massena Monday.
-Mrs Richard Hale went to Hawthorne Friday to visit her parents.
-Mrs Alice R Bennett went to Des Moines Monday to visit
relatives.
-Ed Hibbs went to Sidney friday evening to relieve the agent for
a short time.
Ramer Brant arrived home Friday afternoon from Shambaugh, where
he is located as a station agent, to spend a week at home and to
attend commencement exercises.
Mrs Job Smith was called to Mendota, Ill., last week by the
critical illness of her father. Job and his son, John, are
baching it and looking as cheerful as they can under the
circumstances.
Pete Hinck is making extensive improvements on his residence,
adding two wings, 14 x 16 and 14 x 18, to original upright which
is 16 x 24. It will amek him a commodius and comfortable home.
This section was visited by unusually copious showers from Friday
noon until Saturday morning. The rain fell so fast and so thick
as to suggest thatthe bottom hadfallen out of the heavenly water
tanks. The rain was needed for the crops and afforded men in the
fields a chance for a rest.
Jas H Hulbert has rented a commodious furnished house in Council
Bluff, and about the 1st of June will move his entire family that
place in order to be near the exposition. They will occupy the
place for two months. It is a splendid arrangement, affording the
best possible facilities for studying the exposition.
John Taylor At Rest
The remains of John Taylor were brought from Murray to Fontanelle
last Friday, by special train, and laid to rest on the cemetery
on the hill. The funeral was conducted by the Masonic
fraternities and elaborate preparations had been made for
ritualistic burial ceremony, but the plans were frustrated by a
drenching rain which commenced falling about the time the
procession reached the cemetery. A large company of friends of
the family and fraternal brethren made up the funeral cortege,
mingling their sympathy with the mourning relatives and paying
the last tribute of respect to the departed brother.
John Taylor was born April 27, 1831, in Westmorelard county,
Penna., aand was a few days more than sixty-seven years of age.
He was married on his twenty seventh birthday to Lucinda J
Snyder, daughter of "Grandma" snyder, and a sister of W
F Snyder. He located in Galesburg, Ill., in 1855, and in 1861
moved to Warren county, Iowa. Two years later he came to Adair
county, where the most active years of his energetic life were
spent. In this county he had very large general interests, but
his chief ccupation was in building and contracting and operating
a lumber yard. He was in the broadest sense of the term a man of
affairs and was interested in promoting all public enterprises of
a beneficial nature.
Personally, he was among the most genial of men, generous and
kind to all, and loyal for his friends. the many who had known
him during his residence here attended the burial services and
paid sincere tribute of respect to the dead, and sympathetic
sorrow for the bereaved family. Mr Taylor moved with his family
to Murray in 1800. For a number of years he has been annoyed by
recurring spells of liver complaint, which became so serious in
the last instances that an operation was determined upon, and was
performed on tuesday morning of last week. the patient was too
weak to endure the shock, and did not fully rally, but died near
the close of the next day.
The Masonic blue lodges of Murray, Creston, Orient, Greenfield
and Fontanelle participated in the funeral ceremony and bethany
commandery, Knights Templar, of Creston, constituted the escort.
The fraternal tribute was well observed, as Mr Taylor has been a
Master Mason since the early sixties, a member of the commandery
for a number of years and to each and all he was devoted.
--
-A class of fourteen will graduate from the Orient schools on
Friday, June 3.
-The Epworth League gave an enjoyable and well patronized social
at the M R parsonage last Friday.
-A L Stewart was in town Friday in company with W H william, the
Grove township candidate for recorder.
Lorenzo Fuller and wife, of Alleghany county, New York, arrived
the latter part of last week to visit his sister, Miss L A Dorn.
They will remain until about the first of July.
The Adair News announces that they have rigged up their
ball ground and are open for a challenge. We'll see you a little
later when Peter McDermid returns from Chicago with his Waterbury
movement, which Adair knows all too well.
Jacog Fink, of Lincoln township, was adjudged insane last week,
and taken to the asylum at Clarinda. On the previous Saturday, he
started for Stuart, in company with his wife and baby, but
insisted on driving through town, when he threw the lines out and
lashed the team into a run, which was only stopped when they
became tangled in a wire fence. The family walked back to town,
Fink carrying the baby and occasionally kneeling in the mud to
pray. While in Chicago recently, Fink became infatuated with
Christian Science with the result that his mind is completely
shattered.
[transcribed by M.W., February 2006]