Iowa
Old Press
Postville Review.
Postville, Allamakee Co., Iowa
October 1, 1881
A VERITABLE CYCLONE. IT BARELY MISSES POSTVILLE!!!
Houses, School house, Barns and Everything in the Track, entirely
Swept away, but no lives lost!
On Monday afternoon, about 4 o'clock, just at the close of the
Memorial Services, an omenous looking cloud was seen gathering in
the West, which later developed into the frightful appearance of
a cyclone, the appalling funnel-shaped cloud appearing, which
could be seen from town, twisting and whirling like a large
auger.
Many of people watched it with eager anxiety, supposing that it
would pass over our town, from the course it seemed to be taking,
but it veered to the North enough to miss us about two miles,
crossing the railroad track at the Makepeace school house, and
taking a North-east course, passed the JOHNSON farm, the Hardin
neighborhood, crossing the Waukon road north of the Van VELZER
place, and striking the summit again at Lybrand. Soon after
leaving there its worst fury seems to have been expended, as we
hear of no serious damage beyond that immediate neighborhood,
though the effect of it was felt near Rossville and Waterville.
So far as is now known it struck the earth first about a mile
south of Castalia, and followed the route indicated, its path
varying from a few rods to a quarter mile in width. The first
damage of consequence was at the residence of S.D. PUTNAM, which,
with everything else, was destroyed and blown away. It next
struck the residence of Mrs. PUTNAM, close by, tearing off a wing
of the house. Next the Makepeace school house, on Military road,
and not a splinter of it was left above the floor. The railroad
section men sought shelter in it and were all in it when it took
its flight. They miraculously came out with only sundry bruises.
Nothing but fences and corn fields intervened until the JOHNSON
Bros. buildings were reached. The house was badly damaged
throughout. T.B. EASTON's farm, this side, was considerably
damaged in fences and timber.
The next wholesale destruction was the residence of Dennis
HARDIN, which was a complete ruin along with all the household
effects. Mrs. HARDIN and all her children were in the house when
it was carried away, and they were scattered around for several
rods, all of them except the baby being badly bruised, one child
dangerously cut on the head, one having an arm broken and one an
elbow dislocated, while all were covered with bruises. Dr.
SHEPHERD reports that they are all doing well.
Next was the house of Hiram HAWKINS, which was torn in pieces.
The nearby school house was lifted off its foundation and
partially turned around, but stood the test. Matt SEBASTIAN's and
Joel COLE's houses were unroofed and the small shanty on the Wm.
MITCHELL farm was blown away.
From here no human habitation was struck until Lybrand was
reached. The large stone house owned and occupied by Elisha
HARRIS, and known as the old Lybrand Hotel, was not struck by the
full force, but it was unroofed and the walls of the entire
structure are so badly damaged as to be valueless. Mr. HARRIS'
damage is not less than $3,000.
The Lybrand school house was torn to atoms, as was the residence
of Mr. CLEMENS and Mrs. TRYON. That of Mr. CLEMENS was not
entirely wrecked, but was moved and turned around and one part
unroofed and wrecked.
The residence and barn of John MEYER were utterly demolished and
blown away and quite a number of hogs were lost. Mr. and Mrs.
MEYER both received sundry bruises.
Frank DRESSER felt a breath from the cyclone. His chimneys were
dumped, his house raised up and let down again and things
generally jarred around his premises. In the path of the tornado
it is said that the corn was husked and piled up into little
heaps, and that the feathers were blown off the chickens,
hitching posts were broken off and pumps were broken and carried
away.
--
MEMORIAL SERVICES.
The memorial services were held for President GARFIELD on Monday,
in accordance with the proclamations of the President of the
United States and the Governor of Iowa. Mayor N.J. BEEDY, was
selected Marshall of the day. The church bell commenced tolling
at 1 o'clock p.m., one toll for each minute. All business houses
closed at the first ring of the bell and remained closed until 4
P.M. The church decoration was most tasteful and elaborate,
making almost a garden of Eden in the profusion of flowers and
mourning decorations. The pictured face of GARFIELD was suspended
in the pulpit alcove, heavily draped and surmounted by a cross of
flowers.
Sunday evening considerable rain fell, and Monday morning
betokened a wet, muddy and showery day. It was a bad day for
people to get in from the country, and still very large
delegations from the surrounding country were present.
We may all be justly proud of our Memorial services in memory of
the loved and martyred President.
--
LOCAL ITEMS.
Mrs. W.N. PIPER has gone to Wis. on a visit. W.N. is hanging mud
down in the vicinity of Volney.
Mrs. Robert LAUGHLIN and daughter Lizzie, have gone to
Marshalltown, to spend three or four weeks on a visit.
Wanted. A carriage horse, one broke to drive single, one a lady
can drive, and used to cars. W.S. ROBERTS.
We acknowledge payment form the following subscribers since our
last issue:
Geo. RILEY and H.H. SMITH, Hardin; A.B. COOK, Post; Samuel
WATERS, Frankville; H. SIMMONSON, Waukon and J.C. TAYLOR (2
copies) of Postville.
DIED. Mrs. May [Mary] PATTERSON died at her home near Postville,
Iowa, Sept. 3, 1881, of paralysis. She was speechless for four
days before her death. The funeral services were held in the
Congregational Church, of Postville, Rev. Chas. Newhall
officiating.
Mrs. PATTERSON was born Sept. 30, 1802, in Westmoreland county,
Penn. When thirteen years of age she removed with her parents to
Morgan county, Ohio. Jan. 24, 1824, she was married to William
PATTERSON. In April, 1854, they removed to Iowa.
When she was thirty four years of age she united with the M.E.
Church and she has ever since lived an earnest and consistent
christian. At the time of her death she was an esteemed member of
the First Congregational Church of Postville.
[transcribed by S.F., August 2004]
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Postville Review
Postville, Allamakee co. Iowa
October 8, 1881
The county has let the contract to John Ratcliffe to build four
bridges, one over Bear Creek, and one over the Iowa river, at New
Galena, one over Silver Creek and one over Patterson Creek. The
timbers are on the ground and are mortised for the Iowa river
bridge. Michael Moore and Maurice Caughlin are doing the pile
driving on all the bridges. - Waukon Democrat.
Mr. Dunlevy, of the Lansing Journal, was one of the
soldiers that went to Des Moines.
Mr. Brown, of Bloomington, Wis., with his family, made a flying
visit to his brother, Dr. Brown, of this city, this week.
Rev. G.W. Pratt and family have left us for their new charge at
Cresco. We venture that no family ever left Postville with more
regards than Rev. Pratt's. A very social and genial gentleman,
Mr. Pratt was popular and respected by all classes, outsiders as
well as church members. In social life both he and his estimable
wife were the inspiration and the life. We commend them to our
old neighbors and friends at Cresco as being eminently worthy of
their highest regard and esteem. We wish them success and
hapiness in their new charge.
For Sale - on the farm of Wells Eaton, deceased, four miles N.E.
of Postville: 7 milch cows, 6 two-year-old steers, 7 yearling
steers, 2 yearling heifers, 1 thorough-bred Durham bull, 6 hogs
and 1 platform spring buggy, nearly new. - Mrs. Wells Eaton.
On Monday night the large barn belonging to Ira Payne, in Ludlow
township was burned to the ground with all its contents,
including three horses, 800 bushels of oats, farming tools, etc.
The farm was occupied by Jas. Doyle as a renter, and the grain,
horses, etc. belonged to him. It is a heavy blow for a poor man.
The fire is supposed to be the work of an incendiary.
Peter Miller will move his bakery and confectionery establishment
into his new rooms next week. He will have a fine business place.
[transcribed by S.F., August 2011]
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Postville Review.
Postville, Allamakee Co., Iowa
October 15, 1881.
DIED. In Postville on October 14, of inflammation of the brain,
Rolla, son of H.P. and Sarah DAWES, aged 2 years 8 months and 16
days.
MARRIED. At the residence of the brides parents in Fayette, Iowa
on October 12, 1881 by Rev. Mr. SCOBEY, Mr. Samuel KAISER and
Miss Estella FOWELLS.
BIRTH. H.S. LUHMAN came down from Bonair on Monday, and found
himself the father of a ten pound son of very tender age. All
well.
Chas. BURN?AIN of Hardin, has furnished us with a good supply of
the staff of life (potatoes) and his paper is paid for a long
time in advance.
Col. D.B. HENDERSON, of Dubuque, called on us for a moment's chat
on Monday. One of these days the Col. will have a high up seat in
the official positions of the state and nation.
We have received a copy of the Argo, a new paper started
at West Union, by the HOBSON Bro's. It is a nice little paper,
but we can hardly see the "field" for a third paper
there.
J.H. WILSON took the 2nd premium on "blonde babies,"
under two years old, at the late Linn county fair at Cedar
Rapids, in the shape of a $10.00 Dolman. J.H. attributes his good
fortune to the atmosphere of Postville.
The following list of names, with amounts added, is the donation
list for the benefit of S.D. PUTNAM, whose house and contents
were entirely destroyed by the late cyclone. This list does not
include the Postville donations, which amounted to $65.00.
B.H. WELLS, $5; A.L. OBERT, $1; J.V. VANCE, $1; S. SHROYER,$5;
A.B. SHROYER,$1; L.H. SHROYER,$1; E.S. LAMBERT,$2; John WINN,$1;
A.S. RIGGS,$1; A.W. KRAMER, $2; N. GEORGE,$1; B. SPINNER, .50; A.
MOONEY, $1; A. OWEN, .50; M. CLARK, .50; S. ALLEN, $1; S.
TOWNSEND, $1; J. THORNTON, $1; Wm. W. CLARK, $1; Mrs. Wm. CLARK,
.50; F. BAKER, $1; Wm H. BAKER, $6; P. POWERS, $1; G.W. BUCKNAM,
.50; D. BUSH, $2; A.K. TREADWELL, $2; M.A. BOLLMAN, $1; D. PERRY,
$5; F.P. CORNELL, $2; Hans PETERSON, .50; Abram LAMBERT, $5; A.C.
TATUM, $1; L. TAYLOR, $1; A.E. WAUGH, $1; George ALLEN, $5; A.H.
UHLEY, $1; L.B. HIX, ?; C.B. RIGGS, $5; Truman ALLEN, .25; Isaac
ALLEN, .50; C. BLANCHAINE, .75; J.L. McLAUGHLIN, .50; R. CLARK,
$3; M. GREEN, $1; W. BEARD, $2; Jas FAIRWEATHER, $1; Ben SHARP,
$3; Dan SHARP, $2; Henry SCHROEDER, $2; John EVERHARDT, $1; Ed
LAVELLE, $1; Tom MORIARTY, $1; Mark HORN, $1; M. McGAHARAN, $1;
Thomas SMITH, $1; Mrs. CARSWELL, $1; Mrs. Annette HENDERSON, $1;
John FRIDAY, .50; A. HENDERSON, .50; J. GORDON, $1; Mrs. J.
GORDON, $1; Geo KERR, $5; W. MITCHELL, ?; O.A. [or G.A.]
MAKEPEACE, $10; W.I. GORDON, .50.
A card. To each one of the above, and all others, whose names I
am not in possession of, who so promptly and generously assisted
me n my misfortune, I wish hereby to express my most earnest and
sincere thanks, trusting that should a like visitation ever
overtake any of you, you will find as ready assistance as you
have rendered me. S.D. PUTNAM.
--
FRANKVILLE NEWS.
On the 21st there will be a grand ball at Cavin's Hall for the
benefit of Jas. DOYLE, who lost all his horses, harnesses, farm
machinery and grain, in the burning of the PAYNE barn in Ludlow.
We sincerely hope Mr. DOYLE will get enough out of it to get him
another team, as he is an honest, hard-working man.
Next Monday Mr. C. BARKER will sell at auction all his blooded
stock.
Mr. TEEPLE made a call on election morning, but the rains stop
newspaper men as well as other people, and so he had to adjourn
for dry weather.
[transcribed by S.F., August 2004]
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Postville Review.
Postville, Allamakee Co., Iowa
October 22, 1881
MARRIED. At the residence of the bride's parents in Luana, Iowa,
on Wednesday evening Oct. 19th by Rev. J. DOLPH; Mr. John L.
JAMISON and Miss Linnie L. BURGESS.
[transcribed by S.F., August 2004]
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Postville Review.
Postville, Allamakee Co., Iowa
October 29, 1881.
Frank McCORMACK still lingers with us.
Fred WELZEL is cashier at ROBERTS store.
Abram HART delivered hogs to the value of $1,090. on Monday.
--
FROM FRANKVILLE.
Mr. D.J. BURROWS just returned from a years residence in Texas.
The donation dance for the benefit of James DOYLE, netted $250
despite the rain.
[transcribed by S.F., August 2004]