Iowa Old Press

The Independent
Belle Paine, Benton co. Iowa
April 16, 1884

James Black was in town this week.

Mrs. Bohn spent Saturday in Marshalltown.

Hon. Jacob Springer visited Belle Plaine Monday.

George Barlow returned last week from his trip to California.

Mr. Grey will move his family to Belle Plaine in a short time.

A.H. Bell keeps organs and other misical instruments for sale.

Miss Florence Twogood has been appointed postmistress at Irving.

Rev. R.W. Milner was in Tama last week making another couple happy.

Mr. Brady, of Mitchell, Dakota, has been visiting at the Burley House.

Mr. Bohn returned to Belle Plaine with his bride on Thursday morning.

J.D. Nichols of Vinton, was interviewing some of our citizens on Monday.

A number of men to work on the new railroad arrived in town Saturday morning.

Read the advertisement of B. McQuinn, manager of the Skating Rink.

Joe Livingston, the supposed murderer of Thum, is an old soldier, having been in the war. Later ... Livingston has been set at liberty, no proof of his being the murderer of Thum being found.

Mrs. Tyler, of Mitchell, Dakota, with her two sons, is visiting her parents Mr. and Mrs. Burley.

M. Mierce, of Elberon, has located in Montana, and orders The Independent forwarded to him.

Mr. Arnold sold his furniture the other day by auction, preparatory to moving to Cedar Rapids.

Mr. and Mrs. Gaskeen have commenced housekeeping in the house formerly occupied by F.L. McCune.

Hon. G.C. Scrimgeour and Dr. J. McMorris were in Vinton on Saturday, attending the Democratic Convention.

William H. Ridgway, of Elberon, and Miss Lillie Simmons, of Belle Plaine, were married at Vinton on April 6th.

R. Grey spent Sunday and Monday with his family at Quarry, returning with them to Belle Plaine Monday evening.

Died, at Belle Plaine, in March, 1884, The Union, deeply regretted by a large circle of subscribers who paid in advance.

Mr. and Mrs. Connell, of Vinton, and Mrs. Sims and husband of Oelwein, were in attendance at the funeral of their mother, Mrs. Shults, last week.

A complimentary reception was given to the Hon. N.B. Holbrook, of Marengo, on his return from Des Moines, at the close of the Legislative Session.

The Rev. J.F. Childs, of Des Moines, conducted the funeral services of the late Mrs. Shults, which were attended by a large number of friends and citizens.

J.V. McCune, a telegraph operator of Dodge City, Kansas, son of J.V. McCune, of this vicinity, has been promoted to a higher position at La Junta, Colorado.

The Independent is now sent to the address of S.W. Hutton, Pendleton, Ind. Mr. Hutton is an old resident of West Irving, and has many friends in that vicinity.

Ed. J. Salmon has moved his family from Belle Plaine to Newton, having invested in real estate in that town. Mr. Salmon will still remain in Des Moines, and attend his rapidly increasing business in that city.

T. Lawrence, Jr., went to Chicago on Monday night.

J.B. Blue went to Chicago on Monday night to purchase goods.

Chas. Freeman lost a little child on Tuesday night, aged nine months.

Mrs. Addie Haines, of Chicago, is visiting her father and Mother, Mr. and Mrs. C. Snyder.

Langdon & Co. want 500 teams to work on the O., C.F. & S.P., between Belle Plaine and What Cheer.

Mr. and Mrs. John Kent, the daughter and son-in-law of S.L. Shults, have remained with him during the past week.

Mr. D. Bullock and Mrs. Johnson, father and mother of Mr. and Mrs. E.A. Bullock, have bee making them a visit.

S.W. Millers little child, aged ten months, died on Tuesday morning. Funeral service to-day by the Rev. R.W. Milner.

W.A. Hunter, postmaster at Belle Plaine is very ill with inflammatory rheumatism.

Miss Nora Donlon returned home last week after graduating at Fulton College, Illinois. She was the only lady in the graduating class.

A.C. Boggess, of West Irving, started for Dakota last night in search of land.

Dr. Brewer dentist, is in the front rank of the profession and all work will be done by him in a manner that cannot fail to give satisfaction.

Dr. M.D. Briggs located in Belle Plaine about a year since, and although a comparative stranger at that time, has since won many friends, and having come well recommended, he has succeeded in gaining a fair share of public patronage.

The friends of W.A. Hunter will be glad to know that he is improving, although slowly. Mr. Hunter has had a long and painful illness, and is not yet convalescent. His pleasant face is missed in the postoffice and upon the street.

E.M. Berger has returned to Bell Plaine and his Shoe and Repair Shop occupies P.W. Thompson's shop, first door north of Travis' livery stable. Mr. Berger has a few of his make of wagons on hand. Horseshoeing a specialty.

Mr. F. Mall's son, who is studying medicine at Heidelberg, Germany, during a recent vacation at the College, has been traveling through different parts of Europe, visiting Italy, the garden of the word, and seeing the sights of Switzerland. He also visited Vesuvius, and says the roaring sound made by that volcano is terrible to hear,and makes the listener glad to get a safe distance away from it.

List of Letters
Remaining uncalled for in the post office at Belle Paine, Iowa, for the week ending April 12, 1884.
Freinell, Daniel
Anderson, James
Mallson, Andrew
Weaver, Miss Rosa (2)
Nordstrom, John

In Memorium
Mrs. Hannah H. Shults, wife of S.L. Shults, of Belle Paine, Iowa, died suddenly Tuesday night, April the 8th, 1884. Her maiden name was Hannah H. Allee. She was born Sept. 1st, 1815. Her age was 68 years, 7 months and 8 days. she confessed conversion to Christ in early life, and was baptized into the Ebenezer Baptist church, Indiana, by Rev. Mr. Curtis.

Oct. 10, 1838, she was married to her first husband, who died Sept. 27, 1845. On Nov. 29, 1849, she was united in marriage with S.L. Shults. They have lived together nearly 35 years.

They removed from Indiana to Iowa in October, 1854. They resided in the southern portion of Fayette county, till the fall of 1868, when they came to Belle Paine.

To say that as a wife, a mother or friend, she was affectionate, true and generous, through it would be high praise yet would hardly meet her merits of character. She was more than all, a christian wife, woman, friend and neighbor. Her piety was of a hopeful, helpful and cheerful kind, and her love for, and attachment to the church of which she was so long an active member, was most tender and devoted. The prosperity of Zion was to her the most important interest. She has been frequently heard to say, "I have nothing to live for only my Saviours cause, and my family, and when He sees fit to call me, I am ready to go." It is safe to say that those who knew her best, will ever cherish hermemory most tenderly.

In her last illness, which was occasioned by a fall that crippled her hip, she was, though prostrate and helpless, yet most cheerful, not a word of impatience or a compalint escaped her lips. Her cheery and hopeful spirit, even to the very last, when she passed away, without even a sigh or an expression of pain, will be remembered by her afflicted husband and family with the most affectionate interest, and will greatly soften to them, this very great bereavement.

Card of Thanks
We desire to express our sincere gratitude and heartfelt thanks to our many sympathizing friends for their kind and generous assistance during the late illness and the interment of our dear wife and beloved mother, sister and aunt.
S.L. Shults
Mr. and Mrs. John E. Kent
Mr. and Mrs. J.C. Meyers
Mr. and Mrs. G.A. Sims
Mr. and Mrs. W.C. Connell
Mr. and Mrs. Geo. A. Allee

Marriage.
Mr. J.W. Rucker and Miss Flora Greenice were married on Wednesday evening of last week,, at the residence of the bride's sister, Mrs. C.C. Furnas. The Independent offers congratulations on this happy event, and joins with their many friends in wishing this worthy couple a long life, and a pleasant one.

Married
On last evening, April 15, 1884, at the residence of D.W. Read, Esq., Mr. Elias E. Hughes and Miss Ida M. Read, Rev. M.H. Ambrose officiating. Mr. Hughes took his bride at once to his own, recently purchased and furnished house on Main Street, where all is ready for house-keeping. Their many friends wish them a long life an much happiness.

Married
At the residence of the bride's parents, on Thursday, April 3d, 1884, by Rev. W.N. Hail [or Hall], Mr. Ira E. Springer, of Watkins, Benton county, Iowa, and Miss Belle May, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John May, of Washington township, Iowa county.

Ira E. Springer, son of Hon. Jacob Springer, whose marriage is her recorded, is a worthy young gentleman, much respected in the community in which he lives. His many friends wish that prosperity and happiness may follow him through life, while The Independent also offers congratulations on the happy event. The bride is a young lady whom to see is to admire, and who has a large circle of friends to wish her well.

Married
At the residence of C.C. Furnas, Belle Paine, April 9, 1884 [day is 'best guess'], by Rev. R.W. Milner, J.W. Rucker, of Belle Paine, and Miss Flora Greenlee, of Iowa county.

Shortly after the ceremony and supper, a delegation from the Odd Fellows lodge invaded the premises and presented the happy couple with a large addition of useful and costly presents; among which was a marble top center table, a beautiful hanging lamp, and a very fine spring rocking chair, the presents being selected by I. Miller, and presented in a short appropriate sppech by Dr. McMorris. The band boys remembered them with a silver cake dish, card receiver, and several other very useful presents. These gifts were well bestowed, as the bride and groom are among the best and most influential young people of our town and vicinity. They have settled down to house keeping and will make this their permanent home. May their way be smooth and joyous through life, is the earnest wish of all.

[transcribed by S.F., July 2014]

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