Iowa
Old Press
Postville Herald
Postville, Allamakee co. Iowa
May 13,1926
pg1
Merton P. Cook Meets with a Tragic Death -
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Bert Cook Killed When Caught in Ferry Cable
at Keller, Washington
Postville friends will sympathize with Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Cook,
of Keller, Washington, in the loss of their son, whose tragic
death is related in the following excerpt from the San Poil
(Wash.) Eagle of May 6th.
Merton P. Cook, Ferryman, met instant death on the Clark ferry,
seven o’clock last Sunday morning when his body cam in
contact with the cable wheel which, apparently, was running wild.
Mr. Cook slept on the boat that night and had crossed several
cars after dawn. He was alone at the time of the accident, and no
one knows just what happened, but it is quite possible that the
boat had just left the Ferry county shore and Mr. Cook had let
out the north end cable in preparing to cross the stream, and
then turned to do something else, perhaps to lower the keel or to
wind up the south end cable, discovering that the south end
cable, discovering that the cable wheel he had just left had
broken loose and, of course, it would be running at great speed
before he could get to it. In his rush to stop the wheel he
either missed the foot brake or his knee gave away throwing his
body on the wheel. It is also probable that his body was pinned
or deposited on the framework supporting the wood awning over the
ferry wheels, where the ferry wheels, where the wheel sawed a
great hole in his left side, tearing out the ribs, lung and
liver. The body probably brought the wheel, it dropped its victim
on the floor of the ferry, and resumed its speed until the some
sixty feet of cable was spent. Aroused by the peculiar action of
the boat Albert Eckel saw, from his bed on the porch of the Eckel
home, the wheel running wild and knew something serious had
happened. The boat was then two-thirds of its way across, and
drifted to shore. Cook’s body was found lying between the
two wheels horribly mutilated. The force was so great that one of
the spokes of the wheel, projected for hand holds and about one
and a half inches thick, was broken off entirely and several
broken over.
A STORE AND GARAGE BURNED AT GUNDER
Last Saturday evening the village of Gunder, ten miles south of
Postville, suffered a heavy fire loss when the garage of Oscar
Nyborg and the general store of Martin Nelson were totally
destroyed. As we hear it the fire originated in the Nyborg garage
where someone was engaged in putting gasoline in the tank of an
engine operating an electric lighting plant while the motor was
in operaton. An explosion resulted that fired the garage and the
general store of Martin Nelson adjacent, both of which were
destroyed as the village is without equipment to fight fire. The
fire companies from Elgin and Postville responded with their gas
engines, but arrived too late to save any of the property. Four
autos, some accessories and machinery burned with the garage and
the loss is considerable and we understand there is some question
regarding the insurance. Most of the merchandise was taken from
Mr. Nelson’s store, but his household effects on the second
floor were practically all burned. The building was owned by
Harold Landsgaard. We are told both these losses are fairly
covered by the insurance.
WILL DEDICATE I.O.O.F. HALL, FRIDAY, MAY 21
Friday, May 21st has been set apart by the members of Postville
Lodge I.O.O.F. for the dedication of their new lodge home, the
former M.E. church, and they are planning to make it a red letter
day in fraternalism. Grand Master Seneca Cornell of Ottumwa will
be here to dedicate the hall and deliver an address and will be
assisted by Major General J.A. Cutting of Cresco. Local lodge
members are working hard to make it a gala occasion and will
spare neither pains nor expense to make it a great fraternal day,
not only for the three linkers, but for the general public as
well, as everybody is cordially invited to attend the program and
listen to the splendid addresses. Twenty-four lodges in northeast
Iowa have been invited to participate and from reports already
received it is assured they will be here in large numbers. The
exercises of the day will be held at the hall, starting at two
o’clock p.m. and it will be an occasion well worth the time
of all who can do so to attend. Our local lodge brethren never do
anything by halves, they are and of right ought to be a bit proud
of their new lodge hall. Hence let everybody come to Postville,
Friday, May 21st, and see the hall and listen to the splendid
fraternal talks.
TEACHERS ALL ENGAGED FOR POSTVILLE SCHOOLS
The board of education has finished its work of hiring teachers
for next year and it goes without saying they have been very
careful in making their selections. The Postville schools have
ranked with the best schools in the state for some years past
– a fact of which we all are proud – and that they are
to be maintained at the same high standard will meet with hearty
approval from the public. With the exception of four teachers the
force next year will be the same as is now in charge. Secretary
Geo. S. Tuttle hands us the following list of those who will next
year comprise the teaching force:
Superintendent – R.D. Noble
Principal – Amy K. Meier
Manual Training and coach – Palmer O. Johnson
Smith-Hughes Agriculture – Fred C. O’Riley
Social Science and History – Margaret Hill
English and Latin – Katherine Bryan
Home Economics – Lois Farrington
Music – Sylvia Dorweiler
Junior High Principal – Claretta Staary
Junior High – Mary K. Hanson
Fifth Grade – Amelia Bruene
Fourth Grade – Ada De Vries
Third Grade – Helen Fuller
Second Grade – Rachel Minton
First Grade – Cora B. Darling
Reincke-Knapp
On Thursday of last week, May 6th, Chas. F. Reincke of this city
and Amy L. Knapp of Monona stole quietly away to Dubuque and were
united in marriage, after which they spent several days visiting
relatives and friends in Dubuque, Guttenberg and prairie du
Chien, arriving in Postville last Sunday. The groom is the
popular proprietor of the Commercial Hotel in this city and his
bride is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Herman Moritz of Monona. Both
parties are well and favorably known in their home communities
and with their many friends the Herald joins in
extending its heartiest well wishes and hopes that health,
happiness and prosperity may be theirs abundantly
What the Postville Folks Were Doing 25 Years Ago -
Intersting Items Taken From the Files of the Iowa
Volksblatt of May 10, 1926
-Geo. Schuler has gone to Chicago for a visit
-The farmers are very busy now planting corn.
-A big shoe sale begins Monday at Luhman & Sanders.
-Skelton & Tangeman are paying 11cents per dozen for eggs.
-Mrs. E.H. Prior and children are visiting her parents in
Fayette.
-A wide-awake little son arrived at the Pearl Ellis home Sunday.
-Fritz Weber, Holter’s clerk, has been ill for a number of
days.
-Marshall Hawkins was kicked in the leg by a cow and is a half
invalid now.
-The Frauenverein will serve dinner at noon, in Turner Hall on
Decoration Day.
-The excursion to LaCrosse last Sunday took 48 people out of
Postville.
-Calvin Collins and Annie Steffens of Castalia were married in
Decorah recently
-Harvey Cornell has recovered from the scarlet fever and the
quarantine has been lifted.
-Last Wednesday the August Schultz family circle was enlarged by
the arrival of a fine son.
-Henry Muchow of Waukon was here Thursday to have his youngest
daughter baptized by Rev. Bockelman
-Carl Schulz Sr., and Henry Webb have gone to Prairie du chien to
sweat themselves well in the Turkish baths.
-John Schultz and his men have started to clean up the streets
and the town is beginning to look cleaner already.
-A number of families were guests in the John Pahlas home in
Grand Meadow Sunday and report a royal good time.
-Wednesday evening a supper and handkerchief bazaar was held in
Turner Hall for the benefit of the Catholic church.
-We hear that Wm. Thoma returned home from California Saturday.
He did not stop in Postville but went right on through to Waukon.
-Fritz Ruckdaschel was surprised Saturday evening by a company of
his young friends who remembered that it was his eighteenth
birthday. They all had a good time.
[transcribed by D.H.D., March 2013]
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Postville Herald
Postville, Allamakee Co. Iowa
May 20, 1926
Want-Ads
-For sale - a quantity of oats. T.H. FOLEY, Postville.
-For sale - baby buggy in excellent condition. F.H. LUHMAN.
-All kinds of vegetable and flower plants for sale. Mrs. David
MEYER
-For sale - Second hand Round Oak Rang. Good condition. L.L.
HILL.
-For sale - Buildings and 26 acres adjoining Postville. Wm. MOLL.
-Farmers Mutual Insurance, Fire, Lightning, High wind, Tornado
& Cyclones. John WALTERS, agt.
-For sale - Poland china Boar, also seed barley, which took first
prize at the Farmers' Institute. Will KUGEL, Luana, Iowa, rt. 1.
-Lakenvelders eggs for hatching, $1.50 per 15. these birds began
laying when 6 months old and have laid all winter. They are
practically non-setters. The Country Gentleman calls them the
best laying fowl in the world. Mrs. Irvin ALLEN.
-P.B. Tom Barron English S.C.W. Leghorns, winter egg strain,
hatching eggs from carefully culled flock. $4 per 100; $12 for 30
doz. case. Rudy EVERMAN, Postville.
Candidates for Allamakee Co. offices, primary election:
D.D. ROGGENSACK - for re-election to county recorder, republican
L.D. SMITH - for Board of Supervisors, republican
Ole N. THOMPSON - for Board of Supervisors, republican
Sid P. QUAM - for county auditor, republican
Merlin W. MUTH - for county auditor, republican
Geo. C. TONEY - for sheriff, republican
John P. KING - for sheriff, republican
Walter L. HALL - for sheriff, democrat
W.C. BENDER - for sheriff, republican
[transcribed by S.F., August 2004]
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Postville Herald
Postville, Allamakee Co. Iowa
May 27, 1926
Postville Remembers our Nations Honored Dead, Sunday May 30th.
The general public is invited to participate in paying a just
tribute to the nation's honored dead. The procession will form at
the school grounds at 1:45 p.m. under the direction of Col.
Darius ORR and Chief Marshal L.A. BELLOWS. Order of the parade:
Postville HS band
Colors
G.A.R. Veterans
Spanish-American Veterans
World War Veterans in command of Lieutenant J.A. PALAS
Women's Auxiliary
Flower girls in charge of J.M. HARRIS
Postville Public Schools
Community chorus
President of the Day, Speaker & Chaplains - in autos
Mayor & City Council, citizens - on foot
Automobiles
Exercises at Opera House:
Mayor W.J. HANKS, presiding
Rev. P. HOGAN, invocation
R.R. DOUGLASS, remarks for Legion
Rev. H.E. MORROW, address
Song, "America" by the audience
Services at Cemetery:
Decoration of the Graves, Legion ceremonial, firing salute, taps
& benediction by Rev. E.T. FINCK.
Flower girls:
Dorothy Hinman, Esther Deering, Vivian Welch, Carolyn Campbell,
Loretta Schlee, Clinda Gercke, Marion Hinman, Opal Handy,
virginia Finck, Josie Koevenig, Margot Musser, Pauline Everman,
Naomi Harris, Ruth Service, Ruby Ellis, Naomi Ellis, Nina Folson,
Anna Larson, Jean Horgan, Aileen Peterson, Kathryn Beucher,
Gertrude Sanders, Mary Gray, Bessie Brooks, Martis Weihe, Lucille
Hammond, Doris Schultz, Loretta Horgan, Neva Kluss, Jeanette
Sanders, Eileen Meyer, Bernice Burling, Eleanor Galoway, Irene
Meyer, Florence Everman, Alice Cole, Ruth Meyer, Leona Mohs,
Janet Service, Lucille Harris, Gretchen Gordon, Lois Turner,
Romilda Gass, Mardella Schultz, Gertrude Schultz, Marie Everman,
Vella Meyer, Marie Muchow, Helene Meier, Helen Wegner, Ruth
Green, Jeanette Bloxham, Ellen G. Miller, Lois Harris, Anna
Hangartner, Genevieve Ohloff, Ora Schroeder, G. Hangartner, Amy
Miller, Hilda Pearson, Frances Casten, Francis Pearson & Ruth
Turner.
--
R.B. WATERS of Grand Meadow township, planned and perpetrated a
neat surprise on her husband last Sunday on the occasion of his
birthday anniversary. She invited in a goodly number of guests
who most heartily enjoyed the sumptous dinner and the fine social
season following. Those present to participate in the happy event
wish Bert many happy returns of the day.
[abstracted] The bankers of Allamakee co. held a special meeting
at Waukon...One of the main objects...was to complete the
organization of the county vigilantes committee...Dennis COTA of
Waukon was chosen as Chief. The vigilantes in this county have
been on the job for some time and are already equipped with arms
and ammunition...shot guns, rifles and pistols and before long
chief COTA will have the boys assemble for target practice and
will round them into shape so they can hit the bulls eye every
shot. The vigilante system is considered the most effective means
of warding off bank robberies...no attempts have been made to rob
the banks of this county...due to the fact that the vigilantes
have been on the job in Allamakee for the past several years. The
officers of the Allamakee Co. Bankers association are:
L.O. BEUCHER, Postville, President
S.W. LUDEKING, Waukon, Vice President
J.H. LARKIN, Lansing, Secretary
G.M. KERNDT, Lansing, Treasurer
[transcribed by S.F., August 2004]