Iowa Old Press

Iowa State Reporter
Waterloo, Black Hawk co. Iowa
January 10, 1877

Died. At Laporte City on Thursday, January 4, at the residence of his parents, after a lingering illness of consumption, Samuel W. Pray, eldest son of R.J. and E.E. Pray, aged 21 years, 11 months and 12 days. [mothers initials may be F.E.- difficult to read]

Samuel W. Pray, who was under indictment for the killing of Geo. W. Emert in a fracas at Laporte City on the 7th of February, 1876, died at his father's residence, in Laporte City, of consumption last Thursday and was buried on Saturday. The young man's health has been quite poor ever since his arrest and for several weeks before his death he had been confined to his bed. The case against him was to have been tried at Vinton next March, but it has now been transferred to a higher court by death.

Married
Manigold-Chown. On the 4th inst., by Gilson Gardner, Esq. Mr. Jacob O. Manigold and Miss Louisa A. Chown, both of Eagle township.

Connell-Prescott. In Waterloo, Iowa, Dec. 31, by W.A. Crowther, Esq., Mr. John Connell of Grundy county and Miss Susie Prescott of Fifteen Mile Grove, Tama county.

Hogs Dying
G.W. Humphrey, of Lincoln township, informs us that George Severance, of Blackhawk township, recently lost sixteen shoats and Peter Klinefelter, of Lincoln township, eight hogs from influenza.

Resigned.
H.A. Henderson who has been steward of the Poor House for a number of years past, sent in his resignation to the Board last week, to take effect on the 1st of April next. We understand Mr. H. intends leaving Waterloo, and will go on a farm near Dyersville. The Board will have a special meeting in February to elect his successor. The applicants so far are P.S. Bundy of this city and Ex-Supervisor J.C. Burnham of Laporte City.

Death of Urias Casteel
Mr. Urias Casteel, of Bennington township, died at his residence last Friday afternoon, and was buried on Sunday. The cause of the death was the accident which happened several weeks ago by which he was thrown from his wagon and received severe injuries about his head. After the accident he was taken to Mr. Parsons' residence where he remained a few days and was then taken home. Inflammation of the brain set in, which baffled all the efforts of his physician and on Friday he died.

Mr. Casteel was one of the old settlers of the county, coming here in 1855. He was universally respected and esteemed by those who knew him, and had been prominently identified with the growth of his township which he formerly represented on the Board of Supervisors. He was also an active member and friend of our Agricultural Society. He was a kind neighbor, a good citizen, an honest man, and his death will be heard with saddness by all who knew him.

Local Brevities.
-The firm of Bouck & Pitcher has been dissolved, and Mr. Pitcher will hereafter deal out the steaks alone.
-Abram Daniels, a farmer living in the Cowlishaw neighborhood, died of consumption last week and was buried on Saturday.
-John Palmer's turkeys became disgusted because they were not killed off for Christmas and all but one have laid down and died.
-The number of interments in the Toledo cemetery for the year 1876, was 56. Thirty-two of the deaths were caused by diptheria.
-The death of the lamented P.P. Bliss was generally referred to in our churches and Sabbath Schools last Sabbath, and we believe the collection suggested by Mr. Moody will be taken up next Sabbath.

Memorial Services
Memorial services commemorative of the life and death of P.P. Bliss, the sweet singer, and composer of many of our finest "Gospel Songs," who was one of the victims of the Ashtabula railroad disaster, were held by the Lafayette Street M.E. Sunday School last Sabbath afternoon. Remarks were made by Rev. J.R. Berry, Mr. Cowin, Mr. Gates and Mr. Galloway, and several of Mr. Bliss' own songs were sung. During the impressive services all felt how good and beautiful is the life and death of the righteous, for though in his own words:
"I know not the hour wen my Lord will come
To take me away to His own dear home;"

Yet he was ready to go when called, even though it was through the fiery gateway of Ashtabula's horror.

County News from the Cedar Falls Gazette, Jan 9th
-Mrs. Ann Helm, an old resident of Washington township, died on the 19th ult. She was 76 years old.
-J. Rheil, while going home last Sunday night, saw three wolves in the road, just beyond J.Q. Rownds' place.
-Dr. and Mrs. S.N. Pierce were made the recipients of a pleasant surprise visit last Friday evening, the occasion being the twentieth anniversary of their wedding. The gifts consisted of a beautiful china tea set of 72 pieces, a breakfast set of three peices and a heavy silver castor holding eight bottles.
-Mrs. Shanks, near Fitchford, presented her husband with two Christmas presents - a girl and a boy. The combined weight was sixteen pounds.

County News from the Cedar Falls Recorder, Jan 5th
-Frank Webster, recently killed by a railroad accident in Kansas, was formerly a resident of this place. He was an oly brother of Kate and Clara Webster.

County News from the LaPorte City Progress, Jan 5th
-Dr. and Mrs. C.T. Ingersoll, of Laporte City, had a jolly surprise tin wedding from their friends on the 27th alt. Among the gifts were an immense tin ear, watch, chain, collar, cuffs, hat, bonnet, etc. There was much fun as well as good feeling.
-John Klingaman helped push out the old year by giving a social party at his residence last Friday evening.
-The law partnership existing between G. and C.A. Bishop has been dissolved.

Death of John Dunn
John Dunn, for several years a resident of Waterloo, died at Dubuque last Monday, and was buried in the Catholic cemetery near this city on Thursday last. The [Dubuque] Herald of Wednesday makes the following notice of the deceased:

Some 50 years ago John Dunn left the place of his nativity in Queens county, Ireland, and came to America. After remaining in the eastern States some twenty years he pushed farther west, and located in Iowa, before the territory became a State. He was one of the oldest residents in Dubuque county, living there (save a short interval) some 30 years and was widely known and universally respected, rearing a large family of children to honor his name. Some years ago himself and wife moved to Waterloo, and while there Mrs. Dunn died. Sick in body and mind at his loss, he returned to Dubuque, and expired at his son John's residence on the first instant, Monday morning. The remains will be conveyed to Waterloo to-day, for interment at the side of his wife.

[transcribed by S.F., March 2011]


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