Iowa
Old Press
Adams County, Union-Republican
Corning, Adams co. Iowa
Wednesday, November 27, 1912
DIED.
P. Y. N. Johnson, of near Iveyville died at his home Monday,
November 18, 1912, of hardening of the arteries. Funeral services
were held Wednesday afternoon, November 20th, at 2 o'clock, in
the Methodist church at Guss, conducted by Rev. J. A. Nayle.
Interment was in Guss cemetery. Mr. Johnson was born November 19,
1845, near Redington, N.J. In the spring of 1885 he moved with
his parents to Fulton county, Ill., where he made his home until
1873, when he came to Iowa and located in Taylor county. He lived
on the farm where he first located in Taylor county until his
death. Early in life Mr. Johnson united with the Dutch reformed
church in Fairview, Ill. On the 16th of February, 1877, Mr.
Johnson was married to Miss Sarah Ana Jackson at Kewanee, Ill.
Four children were born to this union. Three of the children and
the wife preceded Mr. Johnson in death, Mrs. Johnson having
passed away August 23, 1892. The only surviving child is Miss
Nola, who made her home with her father. Mr. Johnson is survived
by an adopted son, Elmer T. Johnson, of Hannibal, Mo., also one
brother, John H. Johnson, of Aliceville, Kan.
OBITUARY.
Bolivar Walker Harlow, son of Joshua and Betsy (Walker) Harlow,
was born in Jackson county, Indiana, on the 9th day of March,
1826. Died at his home in Carl, Adams county, Iowa, on the 31st
day of October, 1912, aged 86 years, 8 months and 22 days.
Funeral services were held at Carl, on Sunday, November 3, and
interment was at the northern cemetery, at Corning, in the family
burial plot.
Thus in a few words is chronicled the beginning and the final
passing away of one of the pioneers of Adams county. Believing
that a short historical sketch of the deceased will prove
interesting to the few surviving neighbors of early days and in a
measure worthy of more than a passing notice by the press of his
adopted county, a few facts have been collected and are herein
published.
As above indicated, the subject of this sketch was born in
Jackson county, Indiana, where he grew to manhood; his life being
commonplace and uneventful. In 1850, he joined the caravan of
good seekers and went to the gold fields of California, going by
ox-team, consuming some seven months in making the trip. He
remained in the mines a few months and accumulated a nice little
fortune, as measured in those days. The return trip was made by
ship from San Francisco to Panama and from there to New York and
home. In the month of March, on the 7th day, he was joined in
marriage with Lydia Adaline Kelly, at Lancaster, Indiana, in the
year 1853. Three years later Mr. and Mrs. Harlow came to Adams
county in the month of November, 1855, and settled on a
preemption in Nodaway township, on the farm just west of Nodaway
station, and now known as the Bullock farm. At the time of their
arrival in Adams county there were just 57 other families
residing in the county. The county seat was then at Quincy. At
that time there was not a wagon bridge in the county, and
neighbors were few and far between. There was not a church
building in the county, except the one in Quincy, which was
builded by E. Y. Burgan and a few of the early lay Methodists,
and it was built of native lumber.
Mr. Harlow was a charter member of the old Masonic lodge at
Quincy, and when it finally became defunct, he joined Instruction
lodge No. 275 at Corning, retaining his membership for a number
of years but was non affiliating, having a dimit from Spivey,
Kan., lodge, at the time of his death.
After a short residence in Nodaway township the family moved to
Brookville, as it was called in those days, and later to Corning,
in the spring of 1860. At that time there were but five or six
houses in Corning and perhaps ten families. The houses as now
remembered were the old 'Corning House,' the only hotel and stage
station; the brick store house and dwelling combined of Daniel
Ritchie; the two-story frame building occupied by the Corning
Sentinel, Adams county's first newspaper, edited and
published by Raquet; the John Antill home; a blacksmith shop
conducted by a Mr. Parmenter; and the widow Yates and daughter,
and an old hermit by the name of Hamilton, who had excavated a
hole in the bank of the river, at or near the present foot of
Grove avenue, which he used as a habitation, and the drug store
of A. A. and H. C. Rawson, which was later moved to Quincy.
After one season Mr. and Mrs. Harlow moved to Quincy and remained
there and in that vicinity for a number of years, later moving to
Corning again, about the time the county was located at Corning.
At the time of the 'County Seat Fight,' B. W. Harlow & Son
(John) were editors and proprietors of the old Adams County
Gazette, which they published for a number of months, or
until they sold the paper to W. H. Hoxie. Later, B.W. Harlow
& Son were engaged in business in Corning, conducting an
immense hardware establishment at the old 'Vance Corner,' a big
frame store house situated at the southwest corner of the present
court house square, and later the site of the Gillet building.
And in many and diverse channels the deceased was prominent in
social, civic and religious life, always on the side of morality
and good government, and an especial friend and patron of the
public schools.
It is not believed that there are now to exceed a half dozen
families residing in Adams county, who were residents of the
county when Mr. and Mrs. Harlow arrived here in 1855. The old
settlers, for the most part, have like the subject of this
sketch, folded their hands across their breasts and like him are
now sleeping their last long sleep in some one of the cemeteries
of this good county, the county of their adoption, where they
toiled and planned and laid the foundation for the splendid
civilization which the present generation enjoys.
And as we laid his tired body to rest, as the autumn leaves were
silently falling to mother earth, it was with feeling of
veneration that we listened to the words of the minister, when he
said, "Earth to earth, dust to dust," for we could not
help thinking that in the life and final sepulcher of the
deceased, "He has fought the good fight and henceforth there
is laid up for him a crown of rejoicing." And as the son of
a noble and worthy sire, we in our humble manner thus do homage.
~J. J. Harlow, Kingman, Kan., Nov. 19, 1912
MARRIED.
Rev. A. Y. Cupp officiated at another wedding Wednesday evening,
November 20, 1912, at 7 o¹clock, when Miss Mattie Yerington and
Walter Hoskins were united in marriage. The ceremony took place
at the home of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. William
Yearington, in Washington township. Mr. and Mrs. S. E. Yearington
acted as bridesmaid and groomsman. The guests were the immediate
relatives of the contracting parties. The groom is one of the
hustling young farmers of Nevinville vicinity, where he and his
bride will be at home to their friends. Congratulations are
extended.
DIED.
George N. Nickerson died at the home of Mr. and Mrs. George H.
Bickford last Wednesday evening, November 20, 1912, of paralysis.
He was born in Ohio, but had been a resident of Washington
township for a number of years, residing alone in a cabin on the
Bickford farm. Mr. Nickerson was a day laborer and had been
employed around Corning and Mt. Etna a good deal. The day before
his death he went to the Bickford home where he was in the habit
of taking his breakfast and as he was not feeling well he
remained at their home, passing away as stated above. The funeral
services were held Friday afternoon, November 23, 1912, at 2
o¹clock, at the First Baptist Church in Washington township,
conducted by Rev. A. L. Walker, and interment was made in the
Baptist cemetery.
SOUTHEAST DOUGLAS
-W. O. Kemp and family came Saturday night for an over Sunday
visit with their daughter, Mrs. Will Gray, and family.
-Gail Ewing and Alice Weber, of Cromwell, came last Friday for a
visit of a week with the former's cousin, Miss Nellie Ruethen.
-Mrs. S. R. and Mrs. J. L. Lawrence spent last Saturday at the
Baldwin home.
-M. D. Carothers delivered fat hogs to Corning buyers last
Saturday.
-Mrs. Mallaguerra, of Canada, spent several days last week with
Mrs. Wm. Roath.
-W. L. Perryman and family spent Sunday afternoon with B. Means.
-Lee Gray and wife visited with his father's Sunday.
-Virgil, Grace and Katherine Campbell visited their aunt, Mrs. N.
Snethen, Sunday.
-Mrs. E. Tucker and daughter and Mrs. S. R. and Mrs. J. L.
Lawrence visited Friday with Mrs. Artie Brown.
-T. McMillin visited M. D. Carothers the first of the week.
-Mrs. McGinnis has gone to the home of her son, Will, near Lenox,
to spend the winter.
-W. R. Perryman and wife went to Hurley, S.D., to spend the
winter with their sons there. Lloyd Perryman accompanied them as
far as Omaha and took in the sights of the city.
-B. Means met with quite a serious accident last Saturday. He was
driving a mule team near Quincy, when it became frightened and
ran away, throwing Mr. Means out of the buggy and bruising him
considerably.
-Misses Evelyn, Grace and Bernice Arthur went Saturday for an
over Sunday visit with their uncle, Matt Darrah.
-Kenneth McCreedy visited last Friday night with his aunt, Mrs.
W. S. Lyons, in Corning.
-Bert Cassel and family and Art Williams and family of Corning,
also Art Hayes, were guests of Mrs. William Roath for dinner
Sunday.
-Mrs. Frank Snethan called one Mrs. Wm. Gray Monday afternoon.
-Mrs. W. L. Perryman and children spent from Wednesday until
Friday with her parents, G. R. Means and wife.
-Mrs. P. A. Strait and Mrs. J. L. Lawrence visited Sunday with
Blain Strait's.
-Miss Delpha Means went to Creston last Tuesday with her brother,
Orphas Means, and wife. They are consulting an eye specialist for
Mrs. Means.
-M. Barker lost a valuable colt last week.
-Mrs. L. V. Richey is visiting her son, J. T. Richey.
-The ladies aid will meet Wednesday of this week with Mrs. M. D.
Carothers. They will have a bazaar and chicken pie dinner at the
S. M. Richey home December 14th.
FAIRVIEW
-Everyone is enjoying the beautiful weather we have been having.
-Mr. and Mrs. John Shimer, of Kent, spent Sunday with Mr. and
Mrs. Peddly Faucett.
-Mr. and Mrs. Earl Madden, of Creston, Mr. and Mrs. Everett
Emerson and Roy Emerson, of Lenox, spent Saturday evening and
Sunday with Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Moore.
-Jerry Cramer, of Wyoming, and Mrs. Nettie Randolph, of Idaho,
spent several days visiting Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Leonard, the
guests being brother and sister of Mrs. Leonard.
-Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Davis and son, Dorte, Mrs. J. T. Davis, of
Gravity, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Fudge and family, Mr. and Mrs.
Peddly Faucett and their daughter were guests of Mr. and Mrs.
Edgar West Sunday.
-Several from around Fairview delivered hogs to Brooks, Corning
and Lenox last week.
-Mrs. Edgar West spent from Wednesday until Friday visiting her
parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Davis, and relatives of Gravity.
-Mrs. J. W. Leonard and children spent Wednesday and Thursday
visiting her mother, Mrs. Cramer, of Corning, who has been very
poorly. Mrs. Cramer is reported some better at this writing.
-Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Coulter entertained for dinner Sunday, Mr.
and Mrs. Arthur Leonard and daughter, Mae, and several other
families.
-Mrs. R. B. West and daughter, Hazel, spent Sunday with Mr. and
Mrs. R. W. Cox.
-Mrs. Cha. Huntington and Miss Nellie Coulthard returned home
Monday from a couple of weeks visit with relatives in Wisconsin.
-Mr. and Mrs. John Spring and family and Mr. and Mrs. Fred Spring
visited Mr. and Mrs. Joe Groff Sunday.
-Little George Hewitt has been on the sick list.
-Miss Lizzie Thomas left Monday for Missouri to visit her sister,
Mary.
[transcribed by L.Z., August 2010]