Lewis Independent
Lewis, Cass County, Iowa
February 6, 1884

GENERAL LOCALS

Dr. ANDREWS is at his home east of town, confined to his bed with erysipelas of the face. His case is quite serious, through not at present particularly dangerous. Dr. EMMERT, of Atlantic, and Dr. DAVIS, of this place, have visited him professionally. At last accounts, he was improving and no doubt will soon be at his office ready for duty.

Mr. E.C. KENNEDY has bought out the Beckwith blacksmith shop, tools, building, and all, and placed it in charge of his son. He has hired Mr. BECKWITH for a year, and expects his son to learn the trade under his tuition. The building is new, and the stand a good one. Mr. BECKWITH's reputation as a workman is second to none, consequently we predict for Mr. KENNEDY success in his new venture.

We have been informed direct from headquarters that on the first of March, active operations will be again begin on the new railroad. Work will be pushed all along the line, both north and south of us, in the direction of terminal points. Mr. F.H. WHITNEY, Vice President of the company, is now in New York on business of importance connected with the road. The people along the line will see the road finished and in operation at an early day.

The Telegraph got an item mixed up last week in such a way as to make it announce that the "INDEPENDENT is talking of buying property in Atlantic." The Telegraph mean to say- "The INDEPENDENT says B.P. LEWIS is talking of buying property in Atlantic." As far as we are concerned, we have no hankering after property in Atlantic, at present. We will wait until the water works question is settled. We prefer to live where water is plenty and free.

M.D. HART, of Atlantic, is in serious trouble. If all we hear about the matter is true, he will not be likely to have the chance to repeat the operation very soon. It seems he has raised money, or starved off payment of money, by forging the names of good parties as securities on notes, and is now before the court in Atlantic to answer to the charge. Geo. CASE, Henry WISSLER, and some other gentleman, whose name we failed to learn, are the men who names figure on the forged notes.

Next Wednesday evening will occurs regular meeting of Abbott Post No. 201 of the G.A.R. We hope the members will all make a special effort to be present at this time. Important business will be transacted, and it is desirable that all members should take a part in the proceedings. Some time ago this paper misled some members, through mistake, as to the nights of meeting. The fact is the regular meetings during the present year will be the second and fourth Wednesday nights of each month.

Rev. J.B. HARRIS, pastor of the M.E. Church, is quite popular as a minister. His audiences are usually limited only by the capacity of the house. Last Sabbath evening nearly all the seats were filled. The sermon was interesting, logical and learned. Mr. HARRIS is young in years, but is a close student, a fine scholar, and displays considerable talent as a public speaker. With a new building, and a talented young pastor, we see no reason why the M.E. society should not make great advancement as a church.

Mrs. S.C. MURAN has been sick with rheumatic fever for some time past.

There is one happy girl in Lewis. Harry KENNEDY is back from his Illinois visit.

Miss Jennie CHIZUM, of Atlantic, visited her many young friends at Lewis last week.

Mr. Seth JACOBS, of Bushnell, Illinois, has lately paid a visit to his brother, A. JACOBS, south of town.

H.S. NEWTON, the Atlantic "impudent" man, as the Telegraph calls him, was in town Monday.

W.A. TERRY Sr. has a for sale notice in this paper. He expects to go to California for a year at least.

R.H. RYAN is doing business for C.E. MYERS, at Griswold, instead of for W.J. HARRIS, as previously stated.

Miss Mary FUSON has been laid up for the last two weeks, with a painfully sore finger, the result of a cut on glass.

L. STEELE thought he had sold out his business last week, but found he was mistaken. There was a woman in it.

Mr. R. MARSHALL will go to Shenandoah the lat of this week, on a visit to his brother, a dry goods merchant of that live city.

George COE informs us that he heard from his parents the other day, and that they are enjoying their visit in the old Bay State very much.

From the Messenger, we learn that Romeo LAWRENCE has received news of his father's dangerous illness. He resides in Central Illinois.

Memorial services, in remembrance of the recently deceased children of Mr. and Mrs. QUICK, will be held at the M.E. Church, next Sabbath, at 11 a.m.

One of the best men in the Iowa Legislature, J.M. HOLBROOK, Representative from Delaware County, died last Thursday about 10 a.m. at the residence of Judge W.E. MILLER, East Des Moines.

J.M. MEREDITH received a telegram, last Friday, from his wife who is visiting in Illinois, stating that their child was not expected to live, and asking him to come at once. He left on the first train.

G. J. ROTHMAN and family started Monday for Kansas in a parlor wagon. They go to the south part of the State, where they will visit a few days with Mr. ROTHMAN's sister, and then to Kansas.

Will MURNAN left last Monday morning for his farm near Kingsley, Iowa. He took J. KETTERING, the best carpenter in these parts with him, and will build a house and barn on his place before he returns.

I.L. CADY, the well known dry goods merchant of Atlantic, is selling out his large stock of goods at cost, with the intention of going farther west. Mr. Cady has been one of Atlantic's most successful and popular business men.

Mr. SUMERS has possession of the meat market which he purchased some time since. He has also leased the Commercial house for a year, and will take possession the first of March. Both institutions will be run in the name of M.W. SUMERS.

George SHINLEY met with a serious, though not dangerous accident one day last week. While chopping in the timber, he slashed the whole bit of the ax into his foot. Dr. CAMPBELL dressed the sound, and the patient may be out again in a few weeks.

J.W. SQUIRE & Co., of Council Bluffs, one of the most reliable loan and abstract firms in the State, have recently made a change in the firm, by the admission of Mr. E.L. SQUIRE. The latter gentleman has long been connected with the office, but not as a partner.

J.M. BULEN was in town last week, and informs us that he never heard of Pete HOPLEY stealing chickens, but can testify that he is the worst hog thief he ever saw. Perhaps it would be best for the denizens of "tony" street to put padlocks on their pig styes also.

------

Lewis Independent
Lewis, Cass County, Iowa
February 13, 1884

GENERAL LOCALS

Born:-Wed., Feb. 6, 1884 to Mr. and Mrs. Will Grant, their first, a boy.

Dr. Gannon reports the following list of births: Last week, to Mr. and Mrs. Wycoff, six miles southwest of Lewis, a girl; to Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Barton, four miles west, a boy; to Mr. and Mrs. Henry Carle, 12 miles west, a girl; and to Mr. and Mrs. Milton Funk, a girl, Friday last, to L.E. Conrad and wife, a boy.

Miss Lizzie Chizum closed her school last Friday evening, and is now finishing the unexpired term of Mrs. Henderson, in Pottawattamie County. Miss Addie Denison undertook the task of finishing the school after Mrs. Henderson's resignation, but was taken with diphtheria and was obliged to quit, when Miss Chizum was called upon.

Mr. H.W. Yowell returned to Cass to visit his many old friends last Wednesday, just a year to a day since he left for Nebraska. He says he is well pleased with his new home and has made money by the change. He reports J.B. Lewis doing well and very much pleased with his venture. Mr. Yowell is stopping with his brother-in-law, Mr. Vierson, during his stay.

The following list of names, headed "Part of Barnum's Greatest Show," appeared under date of Friday last on the Register at the commercial House: M. Walker, and wife; C.O. Lindeman and wife; F. Cady, and Bertha Temple; J.N. Foster, and Elia Burson; E.J. Dickerson, and Alice Ellsworth; Henry Dickerson and Nettie Kimball; C.C. Applegate, and Jennie Richards; Bert Petit, and Alice Chapman; John Fleming, and Eva Garretson; Chas. Everet, and Tessie Crouch; C.M. Reynolds, and Ollie Parker; David Gallagher, and Geo. Norris. The party were from Atlantic, as the names indicate, and were out for a sleigh ride and an oyster supper. They got it.

WAITS FROM WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP

Mrs. D.W. Smart is visiting relatives in Walnut for a few days.

We understand that J.T. Watson will soon move to Atlantic to reside.

Robert Marshall is in Shenandoah visiting his brother William, who is in the dry goods business at that place.

Died:-In this township, Feb. 8, Miss Eudora Law. The deceased was a sister of Mr. Andrew Law, who is at present in Nebraska.

--------

Lewis Independent
Lewis, Cass County, Iowa
February 20, 1884

GENERAL LOCALS

J.E. Keihl went to Griswold yesterday to see his brother John.

They say there is a new baby at Rev. J.A. Furnier's at Walnut.

Born:-To Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Reynolds, Tuesday, February 19, 1884, a daughter.

A. Williams a former resident of Lewis, and an old settler, died last Saturday, and was buried Monday, in the Lewis Cemetery.

J.A. Spoor and daughters, Mrs. Henderson and Miss Jessie Spoor, went to Omaha today for a week's visit with Mr. Spoor's mother and sisters, residing there.

Mrs. Vaughn reached home last Friday evening. She has been absent a month on a visit to her sister at What Cheer. She also called on Charley Smith at the same place, and J.E. Cowen, Des Moines.

Married:-At the residence of the bride's father, by Rev. A.F. Sharpnack, of Audubon, Iowa, Feb. 11, 1884, Mr. J.A. Pollock to Miss Mollie C. Ballentine, both of Franklin Township, Cass County, Iowa.-Telegraph

Treasurer Chizum is busy receiving taxes. He informs us that he gets along smoothly with the duties of the office. His son John is assisting him, and will soon make an efficient clerk. John is a good accountant and penman.

Some days ago, J.H. Winn received a telegram in forming him of the serious illness of a younger brother, and later on, another bringing the sad news of his death. The message was received Saturday morning, and John took the afternoon train for home.

Mrs. Weirick, of Griswold, went to Atlantic last Monday on business, and favored this office with a call on her way. Mrs. Weirick is a sister of Miss Emma Floyd, one of the teachers in the Griswold school, and formerly from Lisbon, Linn County, Iowa.

Mrs. C.J. Keihl has a sister residing in one of the submerged towns on the Ohio. After the flood last year, her husband bought property farther back, thinking to escape the floods in future, but the present unprecedented rise put the second story of their new house under water.

The funeral of Mrs. Jennie Temple Calvey took Place at Atlantic, last Friday at 2 p.m. Rev. E.S. Hill conducted the funeral services. The deceased had many warm friends all over the county, and a large number showed their respect for a departed friend by their presence at the obsequies. Mrs. L.O. Renig and Miss Anna Jones, of this place, were among the number.

Married:-On the 19th inst. at the residence of L.O. Renig, the Rev. T. Youngblood officiating, Mr. Fred Saemisch, of Noble Township, to Miss Ida Krueger, of Lewis. The groom is a well known and respected resident of Noble Township, and the bride, Miss Krueger, is one of the best of girls, and has been making her home at Mrs. Renig's. The Independent joins the family of Mr. Renig and many other friends in Lewis and Noble Township in congratulations.

--------

Lewis Independent
Lewis, Cass County, Iowa
February 27, 1884

GENERAL LOCALS

One of Mr. Benedicts children died with measles last Friday.

Miss Sheldon, a Stuart teacher is the guest of her sister, Mrs. Cutting during vacation.

John Oleson has moved to Plymouth County, and will live on Wm. Murnan's farm there.

Herod Murnan has ordered his address changed to Kingsley, Plymouth County. He goes there to reside.

John Anderson, a former resident of Lewis will go to Plymouth County with his family this week, where he has purchased land.

Mr. L.D. Marden, a brother of our Ephraim was in town last week. He is traveling as a special agent for a Perfect Fitting Pattern Co.

Geo. Ingraham of Laurel, Marshall County is visiting relatives at Pleasant Ridge and Lewis, and called at this office last Tuesday evening.

Mrs. O. Mills took the Saturday morning train for Illinois, in response to a letter informing her of a serious and perhaps fatal accident to an aged aunt residing in that state.

Miss Ella Cary, who has been staying with Mrs. M.E. Hotchkiss for some time past went to Milford last Thursday. She expects to go to California with W.A. Terry about the first of next month.

Married:-At the residence of the brides parents, on Wednesday, Feb. 20 at 6 p.m., Mr. W.A. Terry Jr., to Miss Jennie M. Erion, Rev. Chas Little officiating. The wedding was a private one, only a few of the immediate relatives of the couple being present.

CASS COUNTY YEARS AGO

Through the kindness of a friend we have been favored with a copy of the Iowa State Register, dated Wednesday June 12, 1867, containing a lengthy history of Cass County in early times. Much of it is familiar to a majority of our readers, but for the benefit of others we cull as follows:

Cass County was organized in 1853, by the organizing Sheriff, Mr. Wm. S. Townsend. It is 24 miles square, is in the third tier of counties from the southern line of the State and the second county from the Missouri River, or western border. It was named for Gov. Lewis Cass.

Lewis, the county seat, was located on the 11th day of March, 1853, by the locating commissioners, Thomas G. Palmer and Milton Richards, neither of whom now live in the county. The name was given in honor of the same man for whom the county was named. Gen. or Gov. Lewis Cass was early identified with the government of the Northwestern Territory, having been its Governor-afterwards for many years, Secretary of War of the United States, and for the latter half of his long life; was a citizen of Detroit, Michigan. The name was more worthily bestowed than those to many of the counties in the State. There are 260 acres in the town plat.

The first settlement in the county was made on the highland west of the Nishnabatna River, about one and a half miles west of the place where the Court House now stands, and was given the name of Indiantown, from its being an Indian village, belonging to the Pottawattamie tribe of Indians. As late as 1852 some two hundred bark wigwams, and the old log Council House, over 100 feet in length were there. Many graves are still found on this site. The early settlers were astonished occasionally by the dropping from trees of the bones of young children. Upon examination they found that after their death the Indians wrapped the bodies in bark, and placed them high up on the limbs of trees, where they could readily be wafted to the good spirit land. The site is now dotted over with well cultivated farms. For two years after the location of the county seat at Lewis, this continued to be the only place for business of all kinds in the county, where there were three stores which had a !
large trade, chiefly with immigrants, being on the principal thoroughfare between the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. The first bridge in the county was erected over Indian Creek, near this settlement, 2 ½ miles west of Lewis, from which toll was collected.

The first election for County Officers was held in 1853.

The first officers of the county were elected in 1853 as follows:

County Judge, Jeremiah Bradshaw

Drainage Commissioner, Levi M. Mills

Treasurer and Collector, V.M. Conrad

Surveyor, David Chapman

School Fund Commissioner, J.E. Chapman

Sheriff, Francis E. Ball

Coroner, James W. Benedict

Assessor, H.L. Bradshaw

Supervisor, T.N. Johnson

County Clerk, C.C. Woodward

Lewis, The County Seat

Lewis is situated four and a half miles from the western line of the county, near the center north and south, embracing an area of about 260 acres. About three-fourths of the town plat is a gentle slope towards the Nisbnabatana River, embracing five gentle rolling ridges, three running east and west, and to north and south, which afford excellent building spots, and the very best of drainage for the streets. The other fourth, or east side of the plat, is the highest and nearly level, 150 feet above the river bottom, and from the eastern line descends eastwardly. There is no part of the town site but what affords good position for building, and from most of these sites very extended and pleasant views are had of the surrounding country. Standing on the highest point farm houses are easily seen ten miles southwest and northeast, up and down the valley of the Nishnabatana River. The best and most beautiful view from the town is on the west side. The drainage is so perfect that !
the streets of the town are dry enough to walk over comfortably in a very few hours after a two days' rain, as we experienced whilst there.

Lewis is in the center of the stone region of the county, there being four excellent sand stone quarries from half a mile to one and a half miles from Lewis. From one of these, the nearest, is obtained a stone of a dark brown color, from which several houses in Lewis are built, and look very well. It is soft when first taken from the quarry, but hardens from exposure to the weather. The vein is from five to nine feet thick, about two feet under the surface, easily worked, and covers about three acres. Price per perch at quarry, $1.25; other quarries, $1.00. Not less than six limestone quarries are within from a half to three miles from Lewis. Price of lime at kiln, 50 cents a bushel.

ROUND ABOUT IRANISTAN

Mrs. Morgan is at present on a visit to her daughter, Mrs. Byrne, near Walnut.

Mr. Matt Meredith has not yet returned home from Indiana, but we understand that his sick child is slowly recovering.

W.A. Morgan, who has been for the past weeks engaged in Atlantic on the jury, is again at home.

WAITS FROM WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP

Mrs. D.W. Smart was called to Momence, Illinois where her mother is very ill.

Miss Lizzie Chizum spent Saturday and Sunday with her Ellsworth friends; and returned to her school at the Fairview schoolhouse Monday morning.

Henry Watson has rented a farm in the southern part of Audubon County, where he will soon take up his place of residence.

Mr. Tilma of Jasper County brother-in-law of Mrs. M.M. Grant has settled on the Milton Kenyon farm, where his home will be for the future.

G.F. Dashiel has moved to Atlantic where his residence will be for a time. C.D. Denison to the Dashiels farm, which he had purchased; Mr. Storms to the Hicks farm vacated by Mr. Denison.