Iowa
Old Press
The Weekly Citizen
Centerville - Appanoose co.
Saturday April 8, 1871
Joseph Strickler and Miss Lizzie McClasky, of Centerville, were
married last Thursday evening. The ceremony was performed by Rev.
C.S. Jennis at the house of Mr. Bird in the presence of a large
circle of friends.
--
Two of the soldiers of the war of 1812-14 are now living in this
county, as far as we know. Wm. S. Manson, was born in Pendleton
county, South Carolina, Nov. 19th, 1790. In 1802 his father
removed to Warren county, Kentucky, and from thence to Madison
county, Alabama, in 1810. At Huntsville in that State at the age
of 22 he joined Gen. Jackson's army then on its way to punish the
Creek Indians. Mr. Manson belonged to Capt. Wm. Evans' company of
scouts who were ordered on duty in the mountains away from the
main body. After the Indian troubles were settled the company was
discharged. In 1813 he removed to East Tennessee and in 1814 was
married. His wife is still living though quite feeble. In 1843 he
moved to Lee county, Iowa, and two years after to this county. He
was clerk of the Board of Commissioners who located the town of
Centerville, in the spring of 1847. Mr. J.F. Stralton, still a
resident of this place, was the surveyor. Father Manson preached
the first sermon in this place in the summer of the same year in
a loghouse on the east side of the Square, built by old Squire
Wadlington, now living in Independence township. He served four
terms as Clerk of the District Court and has been postmaster
since July 1st, 1861.
John Arrison, of Lincoln township, is also a veteran of our last
war with England. He entered the army from Pennsylvania as 1st
Lieutenant. He removed from that State to Delaware county, Ohio,
immediately after the war. He was married in 1819 and in 1830
removed to Illinois and to this county in 1856. He is now 81
years old and his wife is 76, both quite feeble. They have five
children, three sons and two daughters. One son was killed at
Champion Hill, Miss., 1864. One daughter is also dead.
--
A boy calling himself Riley Lewis, aged about 22 years, was left
at Moulton three weeks ago by the cars. He is subject to fits and
is almost an imbecile. The day after he was put off the cars he
was found wandering in Wells township, and taken to the poor
farm. He says his father died when he was quite young, and he
went to live with John Beeler at Iowa Point, but cannot give the
county or state. There is an Iowa Point, however, in Kansas, 30
or 40 miles above St. Joseph, Mo. The boy says he lived with
Beeler over one hundred years, and by him was sent to Dayton,
Ohio. He has no idea how he happened to get out here. The
probability is that some one considered him a burden and has
carried him some distance on the cars and then abandoned him.
--
There are men in Appanoose county who say they are not able to
take a newspaper. They cannot afford 'one cent a day' for good
reading matter for their families, yet they expend from ten to
fifty cents a week to feed some gross appetite, entirely selfish,
and will admit of no participation on the part of wife and
children. But while he shudders at the idea of them chewing
tabacco, smoking, &c., let him not withhold from them that
which tends to elevate their intellectual and moral natures. A
good weekly paper contains both religious and secular reading;
current news of the day, local and foreign; and much general
information of importance.
"Breathes a man with a soul so dead,
Who to himself hath never said,
I will a family paper take,
Both for my own and children's sake?
If such there be, let him repent
And have the 'Citizen' to him sent."
Nine miles south-east of this place, in Pleasant township, will be found the bustling little village of Cincinnati. The country round about is as fine as any the sun shines upon in Iowa. The farms are in an excellent state of cultivation, good fences, commodious houses, orchards, contentments and happiness abound. The town contains about forty houses, business and dwelling. The Methodist Episcopal church has an organization with a good building and parsonage, and a membership of ninety; Rev. T.M. Kirkpatrick, pastor. The Congregationalists have a church building, and parsonage, and a membership of fifty; no pastor at present. The Christians or Campellites have an organization twenty-five strong, but no building or pastor. The business of the place is as follows: Wm. Jaquiss, general dry goods; Holbrook & Atherton, dry goods, &c.; J.M. Sturdevant, drugs; Wm Sayres, groceries; Henry Jaquiss, stoves and tin-ware; J.A. Chambers, wagon maker; Baker & Ault and E. Buck, blacksmiths; O.B. Warner, cooper; A. Lord, harness maker; Holbrook & Eichorn, millers; Drs. T.M. Wall and J.M. Sturdevant, physicians.
[transcribed by P.E., January 2006]