Iowa
Old Press
Allamakee Journal & Lansing Mirror
Lansing, Allamakee co. Iowa
November 13, 1907
NEW ALBIN NEWS
- Gusta Yohe spent a few days of last week at La Crosse,
Wisconsin.
- Mr. and Mrs. John Gantenbine (Gantenbein) went to La Crosse,
Wisconsin, Monday.
- Emma Rudenick visited at La Crescent, Minnesota, and La Crosse,
Wisconsin, last week.
- Maggie Gabbet spent part of last week with her sister, Mrs.
Bellows.
- Lulu Hurley of La Crescent, Minnesota, spent a few days of last
week at New Albin.
- Mr. and Mrs. John Hurley and boys returned from Edgeley, North
Dakota , last week looking well.
- Miss Ellen Burke spent last week in Irish Hollow with the James
and Pat Burke families.
- Mrs. B. Phalen of Lansing spent a few days of last week with
her sons, John and Dan.
- Miss Minnie Waters returned from Waukon Saturday where she has
been attending school.
- A. Gantenbine (Gantenbein) took his baby daughter to the La
Crosse hospital, Saturday, for medical treatment.
- Mrs. E. Cox was called to De Smet, South Dakota, last
Wednesday, to attend the funeral of her nephew, Mr. Milks, who
was killed railroading.
- A pall of gloom was cast over this community last week when the
sad news of Mary A. Kerrigan’s death was heard. She was the
youngest daughter and child of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Kerrigan, and
was born in Iowa township December 8, 1890.
Mary was the idol and pride of her parents and a general favorite
among her schoolmates and acquaintances, as her genial
disposition made her friends wherever she went. Deceased was in
the full prime of her young girlhood, and her early demise is a
matter of universal regret. She was ill for a short only with
typhoid fever and quietly passed away at 1 o’ clock p.m.,
Monday, November 4, 1907, fortified by the last rites of the
Catholic church of which she was a devoted member.
She is survived by her parents, a brother, John, and a sister,
Lizzie, all of whom were at her bedside, and they have the
sympathy of the entire community in the loss of their beloved
child and sister.
Her funeral was the largest ever held at New Albin, over seventy
teams being in the cortege that followed the remains to their
last resting place in the Catholic cemetery. Many beautiful
flowers from schoolmates and friends were presented, among them a
floral pillow bearing her name. The school children marched in a
body from the home to St. Joseph’s church where Father Ryan
celebrated Requiem High Mass, and paid eloquent tribute to her
memory in his sermon, as he knew Mary was a good girl.
May her soul rest in peace.
ENGLISH BENCH NEWS
- Corn husking is in full force.
- Lizzie Spiegler was at Dorchester on Friday.
- Roads fine and the weather dandy for fall work.
- Charley Wild bought cattle in these parts last week.
- A brother of James G. Bulman arrived last week from Minot,
North Dakota.
- Wm. Beardmore and son, charley, were over Sunday visitors at
Decorah.
- Simon Medicus and wife spent Sunday on the Bench at the Regan
home.
- George Kish is doing the carpenter work on Mrs. J.B.
Sadler’s new corn barn.
- Miss Louisa Schroeder has been caring for a very sore hand the
last few days.
- The Mt. Hope church is being resigned. J.L. Hirth is doing the
work.
- Mrs. M.G. McNearney was a pleasant caller on the Bench Sunday
at the Healy home.
- Miss Anna Schultz is spending a few weeks at the J.C. Bulman
home at New Galena.
- Mesdames J.C. Bulman and H.B. May were at New Albin last week
having some dental work done.
- Levi Sires has again accepted a position in the W.D. Reynolds
blacksmith shop as a horseshoer.
- Roy Sires and wife moved to New Albin last week.
[transcribed by E.W., February 2009]
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Postville Review
Postville, Allamakee county Iowa
November 22, 1907
Fight's Fatal Finish!
Postville people were shocked to a standstill on Saturday morning
last by the report that during a dance in the Yellow River
country the evening previous, Joe Evans, a cream hauler for the
Postville Farmers' Creamery, had instantly killed one Alton Beals
during a fight by breaking his neck, and rumors were rife that
hinted toward murder. But like many "first reports"
this one was considerably exaggerated. As near as we are able to
learn, the facts are substantially as follows:
On the evening in question a goodly number of the young folks of
the Yellow River section were gathered at the home of Frank
Colvin, about nine miles northeast of Postville, a mile or more
this side of the Werhan mill, enjoying a dance. Among the
participants in the festivities was one Alton Beals, somewhat
under the influence of liquor. About ten o'clock Joe Evans and
Len Hummel, who were attending a church festival at the West
Grove school house, drove down to the dance. Soon after reaching
there and indulging ina dance or two, some one called Evans by
name and asked him to come out of doors.
Evans stepped outside and was confronted by Beals, who produced
either a bottle or a jug and said he had some alcohol they could
fix up if they had something to dilute it in. Evans allowed he
could furnish the receptacle required and going into the house
got a fruit jar with some sugar in it and came outside. Beals
then poured some alcohol (later developments, however, showed
some one had swiped the alcohol from beals' bottle and refilled
it with water) into the jar and told Evans to reduce it. Evans
stepped to the well close by and pumped in the usual quantity of
water. After shaking the mixture Evans tasted it and remarked to
Beals as he handed the jar over that it was too weak, and
suggested there was no alcohol in it. Beals then called him a
liar, and Evans replied "you are a bigger one."
Thereupon Beals struck Evans in the face with the jar, Evans
returning the compliment with his fist, and the two then
clinched, Evans getting his opponent down and began pommeling him
about the face with his fists. The onlookers called
"enough" and proceeded to pull Evans off, he kicking
Beals once in the posterior portion during his removal. Evans at
once hitched up his team and left for home. Beals, apparently
stunned, still lay on the ground, and failing to show any signs
of recuperating he was carried into the house and placed on a
sofa to regain consciousness, but instead expired shortly
thereafter.
We understand Evans did not know Beals was dead until the next
forenoon, when Sheriff Hall arrived from Waukon and arrested him
while he was at work in the field husking corn.
A coroner's jury was empaneled Saturday and after hearing the
testimony of a number of eye witnesses to the affair, and after a
post mortem examination of the body had been made, which
disclosed an abnormal condition of the heart but no injuries
sustained sufficient to cause death, returned a verdict as
follows:
"We find that Alden Beals came to his death from cause or
causes which we are unable to discover. We find, however, that
Alden Beals died immediately after an altercation with Joseph
Evans, and recommend that the said Joseph Evans be held to appear
before a Justice of the Peace for examination."
Awaiting the findings of experts, to whom some of the internal
organs of the deceased have been sent for examination and
analysis, by consent of the coroner and county attorney, Evans
has been released from custody under $2,000 bonds.
It is related that when several members of the Beals family came
to take the young man's remains home to prepare them for burial,
they asked the jury to exonerate Evans from any malicious intent
in the case. All knowing Evans are of the same opinion, as tho' a
giant in strength he is the soul of good nature. Evans is about
28 years of age and Beals' age about 28.
Evans hearing is expected to come off at Waukon tomorrow. The
affair is a most regrettable one, and shows how booze-fighting
may lure the drinker down to death. Beals funeral was held at
Waukon Monday.
Booze Beat the Boys
While the terrible tragedy of Friday night was yet the talk of
every tongue, two boys, boozed, bruised and bleeding, and
unconscious, Ike Huffman and Geo. Bell, aged about 17 and 16
years respectively, were brought to the Postville House in this
city a sorry plight by A.M. Candee and Geo. Sander, at about 10
o'clock Saturday night, they having been picked up by the
roadside between here and Hardin where they had been thrown from
their rig by a runaway team. The facts as gleaned from various
sources, are as follows:
The boys were in attendance at the dance at the Colvin home the
evening previous, where booze had raised a rumpus that ended in a
fatality. But undaunted by this, the boys with little or no sleep
after the night before, came to Postville on Saturday last and
proceeded to imbibe from the "cup that cheers." About
seven o'clock that evening left for their homes in the Volney
section, some 13 or 14 miles northeast, in an open buggy behind a
pair of colts. Indications are that while descending the hill by
the Geo. Thoma farm, 2 1/2 miles east, on the Hardin road, the
team ranaway from some cause or other, overturning the rig near
the Simpson corner at the foot of the hill, throwing both
occupants out and demolishing the rig. Huffman lay by the rig,
while Bell, who was driving, was dragged by the lines some rods
farther down the road, nar a bridge, before being released.
The above must have happened nar 7:30 o'clock. About nine o'clock
Dell Rounds, enroute from the Dick McNally to the John Steele
home emerged from the Ridley crossroad into the Postville road
and turned west toward his objective point, about a mile and a
half toward town. He was driving a steady horse and as the night
was a bright moonlight one he was paying little attention to the
horse or road either. Just as they passed over the bridge above
alluded to, the horse of a sudden shied to one side and nearly
upset the buggy. Looking to see what had so frightened the animal
he discovered Bell lying by the side of the road. Being unable to
hld his now excited horse he gave him free rein and hurried
toward the Geo. Thoma farm from where he knew he could telephone
for assistance. A few rods further up the road his horse shied at
another object (Huffman) and broke into a run and he was scarce
able to rein him in at the Thoma place. Telephone communication
was at once established between the Asa Candee and Chris Sander
homes, near which the boys were found, and they at once gathered
the boys up and hurried them to town as above stated.
A physical examination disclosed no broken bones, though both
were considerably bruised. Young Bell got the worst of the
bruising, his head and face being banged up terribly and swollen
out of all proportion. The boys were unconscious when found and
up to yesterday noon had been conscious only at short intervals
since, the first signs of returning reason appearig Wednesday
morning. They have been unable to partake of any nourishment save
in liquid form. Against the wishes of the attending physician,
both boys were conveyed to their homes by their parents on
yesterday afternoon. J.B. Hart's covered camping wagon being used
for that purpose.
Brains paralyzed by liquor, coupled with the bruises sustained
and the most two hours exposure by the roadside in the chill
November night has sapped much of their vitality, and the outcome
is yet a matter of doubt, yet it is hoped they may pull through.
That someone will be called roundly to account for furnishing
liquor to minors there is no doubt, as nothing that has occurred
in this vicinity in a long time has roused the people to such a
spirit of indignation, and expressions of denunciation of such
acts are heard from all classes.
[transcribed by S.F., June 2012]