Iowa
Old Press
Postville Review
Postville, Allamakee co. Iowa
February 10, 1875
FATAL ACCIDENT
A Man Killed by a Falling Tree in Paint Creek Township.
From The Mirror: On Wednesday of last week, Herman
Thorson, a worthy citizen of Paint Creek Township, residing one
mile South-East of Waterville, lost his life, the result of an
accident. The particulars, as kindly furnished us by Mr. Bryson,
are as follows: He left his home late in the morning to cut down
some timber in the woods, telling his wife he would come home
early for dinner, as he intended to haul a log to the saw mill,
but as he did not come at the appointed time his oldest son, a
lad about fourteen years old, was sent for him, and found him
lying on the ground, bleeding at the mouth but still alive. The
boy was not able to help his father, nor remove him, so he gave
the alarm. Two of the neighbors were soon at the spot, and found
him still alive, his hands and feet cold and stiff and his face
black and swollen. This was about one o'clock.
It seems he had cut down a hickory tree, and it is supposed that
in falling a limb broke off the tree it hung to, and struck him
in the left eye, probably piercing it. They took him home and
sent for Dr. Drake of Rossville but Thorson died in half an hour
after reaching home, and a messenger was dispatched to stop the
Dr., so he was not closely examined, and the real cause of his
death remains a mystery.
He was buried on the 30th ult. (sic). He was an honest, hard
working, industrious man, and had just bought a small farm,
paying one third on it down and was trying to clear a piece more
for breaking. He came to this
country five years ago from Norway, and we expected him to make
an honorable and worthy citizen. He leaves a wife and five
children; the oldest fourteen years, the youngest four weeks. He
was about 40 years of age.
[transcribed by M.D., November 2006]
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Postville Review
Postville, Allamakee co. Iowa
February 17, 1875
Fire in Postville!
Last Tuesday morning about five o'clock, E. Pratt discovered the
hardware store of Ellis & Son to be on fire. He at once gave
the alarm, and in a few moments the streets were filled with
citizens armed and equipped with pails & c., to meet the
enemy, but too late to save the building or contents. E.J.
Ferry's jewelry store, which was the building nearest the
hardware, was also burned. The contents, however, were saved. It
was indeed a close call for N.J. Beedy's grocery and provision
store, but by hard work, and as the saying is, "by the skin
of the teeth" his building was saved from the flames. The
cause of the fire is unknown. Loss estimated to be near $4,000.
Insurance $3,100. Ellis & Son, $2,000, Ferry $300.
Postville and Vicinity
Remember the grand donation at the City Hall on the evening of
Feb. 19th, for the grasshopper sufferers. The proceeds go for the
relief of the sufferers. Bring in anything in the line of
eatables and wearables and send the same to the sufferers. No
matter how old that coat or those pantaloons are, bring them in
and donate them for the sufferers.
Last Sabbath S.S. Powers' team enjoyed a run-a-way. Lolo Powers
and two young ladies were in the cutter which was turned over and
they spilled out, but fortunately no one was hurt.
Card of Thanks - The citizens of Postville who so kindly and
earnestly assisted in saving the contents of my store from the
fire last Tuesday morning, will please receive my heart-felt
thanks for the same. E.J. Ferry
E.J. Ferry will, until further notice, conduct his business at
N.J. Beedy's store, where he is as ever ready to do the best of
work. Neither the cold or hot climate can drive out E.J. That's
right Edgar! You are considered a permanent fixture in Postville.
Card of Thanks - To my friends and fellow citizens, I return my
sincere and grateful thanks, for their earnest, untiring and
successful efforts in saving my property from destruction by
fire, the morning of 16th, ult, again I say, thank you, and may
none of you ever be in like danger, is the wish of N.J. Beedy
Corporation Election
To the legal voters of the Incorporated town of Postville, the
regular annual election will be held at N.W. Stiles Sewing
Machine office, Monday, March 1st, 1875, at which time will be
elected for the ensuing year, a Mayor, Recorder, five Councilmen
and Assessor.
By order of Town Council, Feb. 9th, 1875
N.W. Stiles, Recorder
Died - At his residence north-west of Postville,
Feb., 3d, 1875, John S. Hawkins, aged 59 years. We regret to be
called upon to announce the death of so worthy a citizen as the
deceased, though it is the debt all must pay. Mr. Hawkins was
born in New Hampshire in 1815, settled in Iowa with his family in
1860, where he remained until his death, and highly respected by
all who knew him. Died with disease of the heart, was sick but a
short time. There are left to mourn his loss, a wife and four
children.
An Old Citizen Gone
County Auditor Thompson is in receipt of a letter from his
brother, at Alexandria, Minn., through which announcement is made
of the death of Mr. Jacob Lybrand, which occured that place on
Jan. 21st, after an illness of three months, the last sixteen
days of which he was confined to his bed. Mr. Lybrand came to
Allamakee County in 1851 or 1855, and opened a store in Post
township, founding the little village which now bears his name,
and was well known throughout that part of the county as a
singularly honest and conscientious man. Since then for a dozen
or more years he has resided in Minnesota, but always took much
interest in the affairs of Allamakee. He was upwards of seventy
years old at the time of his death, but always appaered much
younger than the reality. He was never married. - Mirror
Grand Donation For the Sufferers!
On last Monday evening a meeting was held at the residence of
N.J. Beedy, for the purpose of making arrangements toward
relieving the grasshopper sufferers, of which the following [was]
adopted: That an oyster supper be given at the City Hall in
Postville, on the eve. of February 19th, 1875, at which time all
people throughout this section of the country will be expected to
make their donation for the sufferers of Kossuth Co. Iowa.
[transcribed by S.F., December 2013]
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Postville Review
Postville, Allamakee co. IA
February 24, 1875
Died. - On the 18th of February 1875 of
Pneumonia, and abscess on the lungs, George, aged 2 years, one
month, only child of Henry and Viola HUNTER of Grand Meadow
township [Clayton co.].
Died. - At Stafford Springs, Ct Jan. 27th,
Charlott STADLY aged 83 years, mother of Mrs. Edwin TOPLIFF of
this place.
[transcribed by M.D., January 2005]