Iowa Old Press
Iowa Recorder
Greene, Butler, Iowa
Tuesday P.M., March 4, 1902
OF INTEREST TO IOWANS HAPPENINGS OF THE WEEK THROUGHOUT
THE STATE
Farmers Around Rockwell City Sign Receipts That Later Turn Up as
Notes - A Harlan Mother Poisons Her Children.
Some 10 days ago several agents for a patent creamery device came
to Rockwell City. They went into the country and left several
machines with farmers for trial. All they wanted was a receipt so
they would know where the machines were when they should wish to
come and either sell their outfit or take it away, as was
acceptable to the farmer. The price of the machine was said to be
$68. It now transpires that the receipts were in some manner
turned into notes and sold at the bank. Just how many farmers
were victims is not known, but they are not believed to have been
numerous, as the same schemes had been worked and exposed in
another part of the state and the officers were on the lookout.
Poisoned Her Two Children
Mrs. Anna Rasch, wife of Andrew Rasch, a Danish farmer near
Harlan, administered morphine pills to two of her children,
causing their death. She then attempted to end her own life by
taking a large dose of the drug.
Physicians were secured in time to save the mother, but the
children were beyond help. It was decided that an inquest was not
necessary as the mother was clearly insane and as soon as the
proper proceedings could be taken she was sent to the asylum at
Clarinda.
Nearing the Century Mark
"Grandma Harro Harris" of Cedar Falls has just
celebrated her 95th birthday. She is in good health and attends
to her household duties. She lives alone. The Pumpkin Seed club,
a social organization, has taken her case in hand and looks after
her comforts. Each member visited her and presented her with a
remembrance. When Mrs. Harris was a young girl she was captured
by the Indians and lived among them until rescued. Her husband
was an officer of the union army during the civil war and it is
her constant expectation and hope that she will be granted a
pension by the government ,which can never come to pass under the
present laws as she was married after the death of her first
soldier husband, thereby forfeiting her pension.
Refused to Prosecute
Night Watchman Enice of Cedar Falls arrested one of the oldest
residents of that city while he was in the act of stealing coal
from the Cedar Falls Lumber company. Abraham Wild, president of
the company, has refused to prosecute the party as he is old and
is really in need of assistance. In case he is detected in the
second offense he will be prosecuted to the limit of the law.
Horses Killed; Man Escaped
What came near being a fatal accident occurred at Cedar Falls
when the Illinois Central passenger struck a buggy containing
Earnest Stutson and R.S. Johnson. They were under the influence
of liquor and were driving upon the track in spite of the alarms
sounded by the engineer. Both were thrown out and Stutson
was badly shaken up. Both horses were killed instantly.
Fall Through a Bridge
T.P. Jones of Harlan has brought suit against Shelby county for
damages in the sum of $45,000 for personal injuries. While
crossing a bridge on Aug. 14 last he and his team and load of
wood fell through to the bottom of the creek. The bridge had been
repaired and pronounced good.
A train load of emigrants from Cerro Gordo county will
establish a colony in Dakota.
Joseph Cannon of Elms, Iowa, has secured a
patent on a machine for hanging wall paper. By using his device a
person can place the whole roll of paper in it and fill the paste
tank, which is rotatably mounted, in his paper hanger against the
wall. The paper unrolls and the paste is spread on the back
surface of it by
means of brushes fixed to the hangers and on the interior of the
paste tank, so that when the machine is moved in the desired
direction the paper is laid smoothly on the wall.
D.E. Lacey of Des Moines has invented and
electrical signaling kite for use by the army. He calls it a
"Starograph." It is a sort of balloon and parachute
combined, fitted with electric globes and has an electric cable
running down to the ground where hte operator is on hand to
signal distant points. Lights of different colors may be used and
the number of flashes or the color used may be regulated from the
ground thus avoiding the danger and exposure that attends the use
of a balloon in warfare. The signal can be used at any elevation
desired, even far into the clouds, and can easily be seen for
twenty miles.
Hampton, March 1- Butler Throssel, of Sheffield,
and county supervisor from that corner of Franklin county, has
sold to Manitoba parties his famous horse, "Bob
Fitzsimmons." The consideration is $5,000. The horse is one
of the celebrated race winners of the world and was the wonder of
the 1888 season. As a colt "Bob" was an ungainly
fellow, which led to his name and all-around poor prospect from a
horseman's point of view. Throssel offered him for sale to Hank
Weeks, of the Hotel Hampton for $40 and Mr. Weeks has been sorry
since that he laughed at the offer.
W.J. Bowen, the woolen mill man of Nashua, is
making extensive additions to the machinery in his mill,
including a new mule spinner with 300 spindles, two 108 inch
broad looms, a new fuller and washer, warping reel and lesser
additional machinery. He has not been able to meet all the
demands for his goods.
Picked Up a Live Wire
Charles Paine, one of the best known firemen in Burlington, was
killed by a live wire in the street while on his way to the hose
station. He attempted to pick up the wire and in stepping on it
came in contact with an exposed part and was instantly killed.
[submitted by C.J.L., August 2003]
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Iowa Recorder
Greene, Butler, Iowa
Tuesday P.M., March 11, 1902
OF INTEREST TO IOWANS
Happenings of the Week Throughout the State.
Startling Discovery Made That John Edmunds of Navoo Was Buried
Alive-
The Hubbards Ask Heavy Damages.
A strange case has come to light at Navoo. John Edmunds, a farmer, died suddenly from what was supposed to have been heart disease. He had been driving in the cold and suddenly became unconscious. He was taken home, pronounced dead and buried next day. Some suspicion was aroused as to the cause of his death and a post mortem was decided upon. The body was exhumed and it was found he had been buried alive. The body was found in the grave face downward. Had the body not been interred so hurriedly the friends of the dead man believe he would have been alive to-day. There were evidence of a struggle in the casket. The case has excited unusual interest.
Ask for Heavy Damages.
Damages aggregating almost $50,000 are claimed by the
Hubbards of Sioux City for their arrest by the Knights and Ladies
of Security last summer on the charges of forgery, which was not
established in the district court. When the Hubbards were
arrested last June there was a sensation in local lodge circles
because of the prominence of the accused. The elder Hubbard was
district deputy for the order and he and his son and
daughter-in-law had been assisting him in procuring members. It
was claimed they forged the name of Dr. Dean to a medical
certificate of a candidate for the lodge.
Will Be Named "Fort Des Moines"
In accordance with orders received at the headquarters of the
department of Missouri the new fort at Des Moines will be known
as "Fort Des Moines" to perpetuate that name. The
christening is made at the direction of President Roosevelt, who
says it is for the purpose of perpetuating the name of the
original military post established in 1843 by Captain James
Allen's company of the First dragoons and Captain J.H.B.
Gardiner's company of the first infantry, around which grew the
settlement of which the city of Des Moines is the development.
Merchants Swindled.
A slick swindler and forger got hold of a number of checks of the
Fred W. Eagen Lumber company of Eldora and has been successful in
filling them out for amounts of about $15 each and realizing the
cash upon them from merchants in a number of small towns of
Northern Iowa. The man went to Eldora about two weeks ago,
introduced himself to F.W. Eagen as a lumberman from Gillman and
while Mr. Eagan was engaged in talking to a customer the fellow
stole a whole sheet of the firm's lithographed checks.
Will Probably Die.
Fred Crissey, an Iowa Central brakeman, was probably fatally
injured in the yards at Belmond. He attempted to catch a brake
beam and was carried under the tank, one of the wheels striking
his leg and dragging him over the rail for 25 feet. His leg was
completely stripped of flesh from the thigh to the ankle and was
fractured in two places above and below the knee. It is probably
the leg will be amputated at the hip if the man recovers
sufficiently to stand the operation. The doctors give but little
hope.
Killed by a Train.
George Rosenfelt, a prominent farmer living seven miles south of
Ames, was killed by a passenger train at the crossing two miles
south of Ames. The engineer claims that, seeing the team
approach, he applied the air and gave three whistles. Rosenfelt
whipped up and the engineer thought he had crossed and relaxed
the brakes. The body and part of the buggy were carried a quarter
of a mile before being discovered by the brakeman. Every bone in
the body was broken. The remains were taken to Ames.
Dragged to Her Death.
Mrs. Ava Hollingsworth, wife of a prominent citizen of Rose Hill,
was dragged to death in a runaway. Her body was dragged on the
frozen ground for a mile and a half and terribly mangled. Another
woman who was with her was thrown from the buggy and escaped
injury.
Colored Man Kills Himself.
Harry Bryant, a colored barkeeper at New Hampton, shot
himself and died instantly. No cause is known except great
suffering caused by an injury.
Celebrate Golden Wedding.
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Faber of Cascade last week celebrated their
golden wedding. They have resided in Dubuque county over 46
years.
Bitten by Mad Dog
Mrs. Q.E. Pollock and little son,
who reside a short distance from Charles City, were bitten by a
mad dog. A strange dog came into the house, which Mrs. Pollock
attempted to drive out. It at once attacked her little son whom
it bit on the side of the head. The mother attempted to rescue
her boy, when the dog turned and bit her severely on the right
arm. Both mother and son have gone to Chicago for Pasteur
treatment.
----
Iowa Recorder
Greene, Butler, Iowa
March 18, 1902
OF INTEREST TO IOWANS.
Happenings of the Week Throughout the State.
Fireman Fatally Injured at Oskaloosa,
Latter-Day Saints Looking for Second Coming of Christ.
Neut Strain, a fireman in the Iowa Manufacturing company's shops at Oskaloosa was fatally injured at the shops of the company. The man attempted to push a belt from a pulley and his clothing was caught and the helpless fellow was quickly carried to the shafting on the ceiling of the shop where he was whirled around the shaft pulley fully 50 times before the machinery could be stopped. The man was taken down in an unconscious state. An examination showed that the right leg was crushed, the head was mashed, three ribs broken and several bruises was about the body. He has a family residing at What Cheer.
Looking for Christ's Coming.
At Lemont the Church of the Latter Day Saints, which has its
eastern headquarters in that village, is awaiting the second
coming of Christ. No date for the event has been assigned, but
the president of the church, Joseph Smith, Jr., son of the finder
of the book of Mormon, has predicted it, and the faithful refuse
to believe otherwise. The saints are making extensive
preparations for the annual conference of the church, which will
commence at Lamoni April 6 and last three weeks.
Had a Close Call.
Two hunters from Sumner, Charles Patterson, a man past middle
age, and Roche Carroll, a boy of 17, were crossing a branch of
the Wapsipinicon on floating ice when the older man broke through
and his shotgun was discharged, wounding Carroll severely in the
leg and wrist. Patterson would have drowned had not the plucky
boy pulled him to shore in spite of his injuries. As soon as the
man was safe Carroll collapsed. His wounds were dressed and he
will recover.
Township to be Reclaimed.
Twin lakes, in Marshall county, once one of the most beautiful
bodies of water in the state, will soon pass into history. A
contract has been let to a construction company of Britt to
construct a big ditch over five miles in length, which is
expected to drain not only the lakes, but a whole township
surrounding them, and thus convert thousands of acres of wet land
into tillable soil.
Prouty Sues for Libel.
County Clerk Tate of Des Moines, manager for Judge Prouty in the
Hull-Prouty congressional campaign, has brought suite against the
Des Moines Register for $20,000 damages for alleged libel. He
says The Register charged him with perjury, subornation of
perjury and forgery in securing the affidavit of L.A. Gray
relative to election frauds.
Was Horribly Mutilated.
Fay Booth, aged 18, whose father lives at Emmetsburg, was struck
by a Union Terminal engine at Sioux City. and the engine and
three cars passed over his body. His head was ground off, his
trunk was mashed to a pulp, then dragged along the tracks and
torn into shreds. When collected the remains bore only the
sembance [sic] of a human body.
Board of Health Bill Passed.
The state board of health bill, giving that board power to
enforce its regulations where local boards fail or refuse to do
so, has passed the house and will now become a law. The epidemic
of smallpox over the state was the reason for the bill being
introduced.
Oldest Woman in State.
Probably the eldest person in Iowa, Miss Jane Smith, died at
Marshalltown at the age of 103. Her father fought under
Washington in the Revolution and her family was highly connected.
The deceased was a native of Virginia.
Preached for Sixty Years.
Rev. Moses K. Cross, for 60 years a Congregational minister, is
dead at Cedar Falls, aged ?? years. He is survived by one son,
Dr. William Cross, of the geological survey.
Dubuque Saloon Regulations.
Mayor Berg of Dubuque has issued an order the saloons to close at
11 o'clock p.m.. All wine rooms will be abolished and on Sunday
all saloons remain closed till 2 p.m.
Des Moines, Iowa, March 17- President A.M. Linn of the state board of health will go to Tama tomorrow for the purposes of burning tents, blankets, etc. and fumigating such effects as do not need to be burned on the Indian reservation. Rumors have reached the state board of health that the Indians are very much opposed to the burning and fumigating of their effects and have said that they will offer resistance. Dr. Linn said the Indians would doubtless be up in arms and that a lively scene would be witnessed. Dr. Linn will be accompanied by others who will attempt to make matters right in the event the Indians become boisterous. It is proposed to burn the bed clothing, blankets, and such other effects as seem to need it while the remainder will be fumigated.
[submitted by C.J.L., Sept. 2003]
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Iowa Recorder
Greene, Butler, Iowa
March 25, 1902
OF INTEREST TO IOWANS HAPPENINGS OF THE WEEK THROUGHOUT
THE STATE
Youthful Train Wrecker in Jail at Webster City
Silas Johnson, a young lad but 17 years of age, has been
incarcerated in the county jail in Webster City for attempting to
wreck a Northwestern train. The reading of yellow novels is
responsible for his crime. Lately he conceived the idea that it
would be great sport to wreck a train. He made several bungling
attempts before the last episode, which landed him in jail. About
6:30 o'clock in the evening, as a heavily loaded freight train
about two miles north of Jewell coming down the grade, approached
the bridge crossing, the engineer caught sight of a huge boulder
upon the track a short distance ahead. He succeeded in stopping
the train before running upon it. Immense piling placed between
the ties protruded. An hour was consumed in removing the
obstructions. The matter was reported, and the officers went at
once to the place. Suspicion attached to young Johnson, who, when
accused, confessed to the crime. He is elated over the notoriety
he thinks himself to have gained. He has been bound over to await
the action of the grand jury which meets April 17. The penalty
for his offense is extremely severe, ranging from two years to
life sentence in the penitentiary at the discretion of a judge.
Coal Discovered at Frederika.
Additional interest has been aroused in regard to the oil find at
Frederika by the discovery near that place of a vein of coal. The
coal was found by well drillers at a depth of 170 feet and was of
a thickness of from five to seven feet. While the coal find may
not result in its being mined in paying quantities, it is said to
be an encouraging sign that the oil found there may be in large
quantities. The price of land has gone up in that vicinity and
high prices are being paid for mineral and oil rights and
options. Three oil wells are being worked at Frederika.
Aged Woman Cremated.
Mrs. Betsy Bailey, an old and well known resident of Maquoketa,
burned to death. She was at the home of her brother, D.F. Bailey.
How the accident happened will probably never be known. She was
alone in a room and it is thought her clothes caught fire and
that she fell in a helpless condition before she reached the
door. A niece, who detected the odor of smoke, went to the room
and on opening the door found the aged woman breathing her last.
The body was burned to a crisp.
Stepped in Front of Train.
Henry Rockenfield, residing near Chelsea, was instantly killed by
a Northwestern train three miles east of Marshalltown. He was
walking along the tracks towards the city, and stepped off to
avoid a train. In doing so he stepped immediately in front of
another train coming down on the other track. Death was
instantaneous, the unfortunate man's neck being broken and badly
mangled.
Asks Heavy Damages.
Lizzie Griffis, administratrix of the estate of Samuel Humphrey,
a miner killed in the explosion of Lost Creek, has brought suit
for damages against the company for $10,000. Negligence is
charged. The 19 other victims' families are awaiting the outcome
of this suit. In case it is decided against the corporation and
other suites are filed for like amounts, it will cost the Lost
Creek Fuel company $200,000.
To Meet Redmond and Devlin.
William Redmond and Joseph Devlin, members of the British
parliament, among the most prominent living Irishmen, will be in
Sioux City about April 1. It is proposed by the local branch of
the Ancient Order of Hibernians to make this event one of much
importance and get together one of the biggest gatherings of
Irish-Americans ever held in the northwest.
Fund for Dead Marshal's Family.
C.B. Mills of Sioux Rapids, president of the Iowa Bankers'
association, announces the fund he started for the family of John
Sunblad, the Albert City marshal who was one of the men shot by
the Greenville bank robbers last fall, has now reached $4,000,
contributed by the banks of the state. It is practically certain
the fund will reach $5,000.
Negro Convicted of Murder.
Albert Smith, a negro aged 20 years, was convicted of murder in
the second degree for killing Bruce Martin in a saloon riot at
Des Moines, Feb. 2. The weapon used was an end gate. Mrs. Martin
had entered the saloon a few moments before and begged her
husband to accompany her home.
Pioneer Iowan Dead.
Mrs. Mary Smith, the first white woman settler of Hardin county,
died at Eldora at an advanced age. She and her husband, the late
Samuel Smith, located in that county in 1850, and were its first
settlers. They endured many of the hardships which are now a part
of Hardin county history.
[submitted by C.J.L., March 2004]