Iowa
Old Press
Lansing Mirror
Lansing, Allamakee co. Iowa
June 1, 1869
Strawberries! I.O. Place & Co. have a fresh lot of
strawberries.
We have "hear'n tell" of somebody who is going to get
married at DeSoto. Did you hear of it Bob R?
There were so many teams and people in town yesterday that
several buildings had to be removed in order to find room for
them.
Theo. Morgan is at home again from St. Paul. If the boy grows six
feet taller his old friends hereabouts will cease to know him.
The notes and accounts of the Village Creek manufacturing Co.
have been placed in H.O. Dayton's hands for collection. See
notice.
To Grand Lodge. S.H. Kinne, Esq., left last Sunday for Davenport,
to attend the Masonic Grand Lodge of Iowa, which meets on
Wednesday.
Lightning Rod Agency.
W.H. Burford, Esq., of this city, has secured the general agency
of the Prof. Foot's Fluted Copper Lightning Rod, for Iowa,
Southern Minnesota, Western Wisconsin and Eastern Nebraska. This
rod us far superior to any we ever saw, and is sold so cheap that
no man can hardly refuse to have his house or barn protected from
lightning by it. Mr. S.J. Van Valkenburg started out yesterday
morning to take orders for these rods in the vicinity of Lansing
and we expect to see him coming back with his pockets full of
business. Mr. Burford is anxious to secure the services of a
number of good, live, energetic men to canvas in his [illegible],
and he offers them very liberal inducements. For particulars,
address W.H. Burford, Lansing, Iowa.
Obituary.
In West St. Paul, Minn., on Sunday, May 23, Michael Lyons, father
of Mrs. James O'Brien of this city. Deceased was a native of
County Tipperary, Ireland, was born in the year 1810, and
emigrated in 1830 to this country where he resided up to the time
of his death. If honesty, uprightness and candor deserve the
tribute of a tear, those that best knew him will not be sparing
of the offering.
--
C.A. Gandolfo, recent Secretary of the Dubuque & Minnesota
railroad, is in the city, and will probably open a law office
here. Mr. Gandolfo is a young man of fine legal talents and will
undoubtedly build up a good business. We welcome him to our city.
[transcribed by S.F., October 2006]
Lansing Mirror
Lansing, Allamakee co. Iowa
June 8, 1869
The May Murder
We publish below the statement in full of Henry May, brother of
Charley May, was was murdered on the 25th of January last, and
the particulars of which were published i nthe Mirror at the
time. We publish this statement at the request of parties who are
immediately interested in the affair, they desiring to have the
mater presented in its true light and thus correct false reports
which may have been circulated in connectio with the murder:
Dorchester, Iowa, May 28, 1869.
Frank and Charley May, uncle and nephew, rented a farm known as
the Degnan farm in Iowa township, in partnership. They were to
receive two-thirds of the product, to be equally divided between
them; bought a team, traded company stock; got two cows; obtained
grain for seed, farming tools, &c, part of which was paid for
with Chas. May's means, the rest to be paid equally; all
necessary help on farm ditto. They went on and put in the crops
together, then entered into an agreement to the effect that one
or the other of them should go out to work on the river or
wherever he chose, the surplus after expenses out to be equally
divided; and if an extra hand was needed on the farm during his
absence the one that left was to pay the laborer.
Charley left, going back occasionally and working on the farm a
few days and then go away and work, somewhere else. Finally,
after harvest Frank went and mortgaged the crops, and when
Charley returned they had some difficulty in regard to
settlement. Help had been hired to harvest all of the grain and a
laborer to fill vacancy of the one absent. They tried to settle
but could not agree, and J.H. May went with Charley to try and
get them to a settlement but availed nothing. Charley then goes
to lawyers in Lansing for counsel. They advised him to go and
take his share of the crops and sell it and pay his share of the
debts. Charley got teams, went and took his share of small grain
then commenced taking his share of corn, which was 21 loads. He
had taken a few loads then got me to help him.
On Monday, Jan. 25, we went after a load. I advised Charley to
take a revolver with him but he refused, so I took one with me;
stopped on the road and I borrowed some powder and loaded three
barrels with small balls. On arriving at the farm found Frank was
absent, and we went in and warmed. His wife sent her sister after
him. After warming we went out and commenced filling the sacks.
Frank came home went in the house staid a few minutes then came
out and went to chopping on a log at the door; chopped a few
minutes then stopped and called me and asked me if I would come
there. I said yes, and went. Says he, "Jim, I want to ask
you a question and I don't want you to lie about it." I said
"well, go on." He dropped the ax, stepped back put both
hands in his pockets and asked me if I did not think that Charley
had got more than his share of the crops. I told him that he knew
as much about it as I did. I also told him that I would not
answer questions on either side that would connect me with the
trouble. We talked of the past and present. I told him that
Charley wanted to go with him to Lansing and have the lawyers
settle for them. I advised him to settle with Charley. He said
they could not settle.
I went back to the crib and Frank went into the house. We
finished filling the sacks and Charley went and asked him for the
basket. He said he could have it as soon as he fed his hogs. He
came out to the crib, got some corn, fed the hogs, brought the
basket, set it down, said there you can use it and asked if we
were coming after another load and went in the house.
We used the basket to fill the wagon box and were in the act of
putting the sacks on the wagon and had got several on when
Charley spoke for the last time and said "guess I will
straighten those sacks around," got up on the box, reached
across and moved two or more. I turned part way around, stooped
over, took hold of a sack to put on the wagon when Frank shot
from a chamber window with a musket loaded with small balls
killing Charley instantly, five balls taking effect. I dropped
the sack, turned and looked at my brother, then at the house;
could see no one nor any smoke, stepped to the wagon and called
Charley by name when Frank fired at me I think with a revolver. I
looked in the direction of the report and saw Frank looking out
of the chamber window. I then stepped back, took my revolver,
took a rest on a log of the crib and fired at his head. He then
disappeared and I stepped out and shot again.
I retired behind the crib and stayed some minutes, then started
to the neighbors for assistance. I had gone 10 or 15 rods when he
came to the door and fired at me again and disappeared. I
advanced, had gone several rods, when he came out and hallowed
and said, "Jim, come back and unload that corn, take Charley
and drive off about your business" and he would not hurt me.
I drawed and was going to shoot and he said " g--d d--m your
soul don't you draw that revolver me for I can reach you from
here" he put his gun to his face, held it on me and advanced
to a tree near him, took a rest against it then withdrew his gun.
His wife then came out, looked down where Charley lay on the
wagon then went and stood by Frank a few minutes, then returned
into the house. Frank looked towards Charley and then said to me
that he had killed Charley and that he would kill me and then he
was done.
We exchanged some hard words and he went into the house and I
went to Mr. Morgan's for assistance. They positively refused to
go with me and get my brother, said they did not want anything to
do with it. I then went to Mr. Yeomans and got some men and went
back. Frank had gone to Lansing. We sent for a Coroner but could
not find one, and concluded to move the corpse without an
inquest.
Mortgage Foreclosure.
Whereas Ronald Kean on the 2d day of April A.D., 1868, executed
and delivered to Susanna Kean and John Kean a chattle mortgage
dated on said day upon the following described property: The
Blacksmith shop on Main street in the city of Lansing, now
occupied by said Kean and a set of blacksmith tools, and also on
the lease on which said shop stands, which said lease will expire
the first day of April A.D. 1872, to secure the payment of two
hundred and twenty-five ($225) dollars within one year from date
of mortgage. And whereas default has been made in payment of the
money secured by said chattle mortgage. Now therefore notice is
given, that in pursuance of the sttute in such cases made and
provided the chattle mortgage will be foreclosed by a sale of the
property therein described, at public auction at the front door
of said shop on Main street, in the city of Lansing, on the 22d
day of June, AD. 1869, at 2 o'clock P.M., or so much therof as
shall be necessary to satisfy the said sum of $250 Dollars with
interest and expenses and costs unless the same shall be sooner
paid by the mortgager.
SUSANNA KEAN
by her atty's Camp & Watts.
I, Ronald Kean, the mortgager, in the within entitled proceeding
do hereby accept due and legal service of notice of the within,
this 1st day of June A.D. '69
RONALD KEAN
Fire.
Last Thursday morning about 1 o'clock the residence of Mr. George
Miller, on Main Street, was discovered to be on fire, and the
flames made such rapid headway that the entire building, with a
portion of its contents, was consumed. The insurance upon the
property was ony $400, in the North America of New York, and ws
promptly adjusted by Mr. Burford, the agent in this city. Mr.
Miller is one of our oldest citizens and has labored hard for
years to gain that which was so speedily taken from him by the
fire fiend.
Fire Organization
The burning of Mr. Miller's residence a few nights ago has
aroused our citizens more than ever to the necessity of some kind
of an organization requisite to the extinguishment of fires. The
City Council have made provisions for a hook and ladder company.
It seems to us that something mre than a company of this kind is
necessary. It is very true that in certain instances hooks and
ladders can accomplish good service at a fie, but in most cases
the allaying of the flames is what is most needed. This can only
be accomplished by water. The long and short of the matter is, we
need, and most assuredly ought to have one or two fire engines.
The present and rapid increasing population of our city demand
that we should have these. A hand engine can be procured for,
perhaps, $1,000 or $1,500 which is, comparatively but a tithe of
the amount of property it would be the means of saving from
destruction in one single night.
It has been suggested by some of our citizens that public cistern
be built in certain parts of the town for fire purposes. This is
a very good idea, but without engines how is the water to be
conveyed from those cisterns to the fire. It cannot certainly be
done by merely pumping or taking it out by pailsful; because
there must necessarily be more or less confusion created by that
process. There is great necessity for engines, and engines we
must have. Lansing has most luckily escaped the dread disasters
occasioned by the fire fiend, but how long wil it be thus?
Tomorrows dawn may perhaps see some of our most valuable business
blocks in ruins, which might have been saved by some well
regulated fire organization. We trust that our citizens will no
longer delay this important matter, but act at ONCE and carry out
some plan whereby our city may not be wholly at the mercy of the
seething flames.
A Ride.
In company with "Gregg" Orr, our efficient postmaster,
last Wednesday we "took a ride" down to Harper's Ferry.
The trip through the country was delightful. Nature at this time
of year is dressed in her loveliest garb, and the fields of
growing wheat, oats and corn present an appearance which the
loves to eye look upon. A rich and highly cultivated scope of
country lies between Lansing and Harper's Ferry and many
substantial dwelling betoken the thrift which attends the honest
toil and industry of the husbandman.
At Harper's Ferry we found business rather quiet, more so than
usual. A good meal at Parell's hotel made us feel all
"huky," for we were sadly in need of it; after which we
went out around the town to see how the folks looked. Peter
Coppernoll was at the old D. Harper store doing duty well in the
new capacity of salesman and general business manager. G.L.
Miller was putting up goods lively for the many customers who
sought his store. Skinner and Jackson, at th epostoffice, were
trying not to do any business, but they couldn't help it. Mr.
Jackson we found over at the mill making himself generally
useful. Mr. Guthrie was at his well stocked store and was as
happy and contented as a clear conscience and a "heap"
of trade could make him. Murray Bacon is the same old Murray. He
does just as he pleases, insures all the property he can;
speculates when he gets a good chance, don't never get whipped,
nor whip anybody, laughs and grows corpulent.
There is not a prettier located town in the Mississippi valley
than Harper's Ferry, and it were only on the main channel of the
river what a business it would do. A railroad will prove a
blesing to them, and a railroad, we hope they may soon have.
--
Ruprecht & Ibach have just got a new passenger wagon, just
the thing for accommodating a large family of fifteen or twenty
children, more or less. As liverymen they are "on it"
That new meat wagon of Schack & Kennedy's is as pretty as a
peach. Bockfinger & Rockemier made it.
The rush at Shaw & Daniels continues unabated. They have a
magnificent stock of goods, cheap for cash.
Mr. Breyer's Troupe is accompanied by a splendid brass and
orchestra band. In number they are not many, but in music, huge.
--
Returned.
S.H. Kinne, Esq. has returned from Grand lodge at Davenport. He
informs us that a large assemblage of the Craft were present and
the affair passed of pleasantly, as do these meeting always. The
following are the Grand Lodge officers elect: John Scott, of
Story county, Grand Master; William P. Allen, of Dubuque, Senior
Grand Warden; W.K. Ross, of Ottumwa, Junior Grand Warden; J.W.
Jamison, of Davenport, Grand Treasurer; T.S. Parvin, of Iowa
City, Grand Secretary; Wm. J. Purvis, Grand Chaplain; U.D. Taylor
and C.A. Croney, Senior and Junior Grand Deacons; J.B. Cummins,
Grand Marshal; Jesse Wasson and W.P. Crowley, Senior and Junior
Grand Stewards; Theodore Schriner, Grand Tylers; C.P. Waters,
Deputy Grand Master.
The next session will be held at the same place.
In Town.
O.E. Hale, of Victory, Wis., and Judge Edmonds, of Waukon, were
in the City yesterday. They report business unusually lively in
their respective towns.
Personal.
Mr. A. Baake, of the Milwaukee "See Boten," was in the
city last week. The "See Boten" has a very large
circulation among our German citizens and is said to be a most
excellent paper.
Decorah is Going to get "Bussed"
John Curtin, the liveryman, is going to get an omnibus, and
another one is talked of. Why don't some of our Lansing liverymen
"go for" one? We believe it would pay to run to and
from the boats. Show your enterprise some of you.
--
"A life on the ocean wave"
Go to Nelson's for a lather and shave,
He'll take off your beard,
And you need'nt be 'Skeered'
For it is an honest fact that Nelson can cut your hair, shave your face, dye your whiskers, dress your wig, fix your waterfall or do anything in his profession in ship-shape, "so help us Bob." He'll do it or dye in the attempt. Try him.
[transcribed by S.F., October 2006]