Iowa
Old Press
Fredericksburg News
Fredericksburg, Chickasaw co. Iowa
February 3, 1898
The News in Iowa
Double Iowa Murder
Burlington, Jan. 31 - The dead bodies of Mrs. Fanny Rathburn and
her 12-year-old daughter Mary were found frozen stiff in pools of
blood at their home just west of the city. The woman had been
struck in the head with an ax, shich was found leaning againsta
near-by wall. Her head was split open. the body of the child was
found in a bedroom with her throat cut from ear to ear. Proof of
a terrible struggle for life was visible on all sides. It is
thought the crime was committed nearly a week ago, as the woman
had not been seen since that time, the neighbors thinking they
had gone to the country. Four men have been arrested, being men
who had visited her from the neighborhood of Greenbay township.
Acetyline Gas Explosion.
Columbus Junction, Jan. 30 -- While men were engaged in putting
in the piping for a new acetyline gas plant in the drug store of
T.P. Hendricks, leaking gas caused a terrific explosion which
blew out both ends of the building and wrecked the interior,
smashing show cases and bottles and doing two or three thousand
dollars' worth of damage. There were thirty or forty people in
the store and on the sidewalk in front of it at the time of the
explosion, all of whom were knocked about in confusion. T.P.
Hendricks, the proprietor, had his eyebrows burned off and head
badly cut by glass. James Connor, of Muscatine, who was
superintending the work, was badly cut and bruised. W.W. Wilton
and H.F. Noy, of Columbus Junction, sustained severe cuts and
burns. The other persons were more or less shocked, but not
injured. The drug store was the finest busines house in the city.
Two hundred dollars' worth of crockery was smashed i the china
store of Julia Williams near by. The explosion was heard for
blocks and caused great excitement.
Murderously Assaulted.
Ottumwa, Jan. 29 -- Charles Campbell, head cook at the Ballingall
hotel, was brutally assaulted about midnight while on his was
home and was badly hurt. Henry Taylor, a negro, is in jail,
charged with the crime. Campbell was struck down from behind by
some one who hit him in the head with a loaded cane. He did not
lose consciousness, however, and claims to have recognized his
assailant as Taylor, whom he had discharged at the hotel while in
kitchen service. Only the possession of a thick skull saved
Campbell from being killed.
Victim of a Saloon Row.
Eldora, Jan 28 -- John Mullen, a butcher at Wellsburg, was hit in
the head with a beer keg during a saloon row and died later from
the effects of the wound inflicted.
Was 104 Years Old.
Ottawa, Jan 28 - William McCarty died, aged 104 years. He was the
oldest man in the state of Iowa. He retained all his mental
faculties to the last.
Nomination Confirmed.
Washington, D.C., Jan 28 - The senate in executive session
confirmed the nomination of George E. Roberts, of Iowa, to be
director of the mint.
Cost Three LIves.
Cedar Rapids, Jan 26 - A head end collision occurred at
Alburnett, on the Illinois Central, in a storm. Fireman Ellis
Sweet was killed. Engineer L.S.J. Harvey and Postal Clerk A.
McDuff were badly injured, and both may die.
Arnold Not Guilty
Dubuque, Jan 25 - Frank Arnold, charged with murdering Captain
Duffy, the leading merchant of Waukon, was acquitted, the jury
returning a verdict by instructions of the court after the state
had rested its case.
Fire at Mason City.
Mason City, Jan 29 - The Union block, owned by James Rule and
A.H. Gale, was badly gutted by fire. Watson's shoe store, Kurtz's
bakery, Dr. Stockman's and Dr. Huntley's offices and Kirschman's
law office were badly wrecked. The approximate loss is $20,000.
Iowa Condensed.
Leon Jones, a school teacher at Portland, attempted to enforce an
order by the use of a gun. Reports say that he had taken a horse
whip to school and the scholars soon destroyed it. A second whip
was secured, and when he attempted to use it the scholars put up
a defense and the teacher drew the gun and threatened to blow
their brains out. Jones was arrested and taken before a
magistrate and heavily fined.
Mason City dispatch: Frank Wiltz, who, on June 2, killed his
sister, Mrs. Jerome Dow, is on trial in Floyd county court before
Judge Clyde. Wiltz owned a farm which he leased to Dow. It is
alleged that Dow sold some stock contrary to agreement. The men
met, an altercation arose, abusive language passed, and Wiltz
hurled a stone at Dow, which went wide of the mark, striking Mrs.
Dow and killing her almost instantly. Wiltz was grieved with
pain, and immediately gave himself up.
At New Hampton recently fire broke out about 4 o'clock a.m. in
Farringe's pool parlors and destroyed three buildings, the pool
parlors, Barney Tierney's saloon and Blatt's shoe store. Mr.
Malcom, who was sleeping in the upper story of Blatt's shoe
store, leaped from a window to save his life, and received
serious injuries and a broken leg.
Brevities.
President McKinley a few days ago made the following nominations:
C.H. Duell, of New York, to be commissioner of patents; George E.
Roberts, of Iowa, to be director of the mint; H.G. McMillan of
Iowa, attorney for the northern district of Iowa.
Local News.
-John Dayton transacted business at New Hampton Monday.
-W.H. Mohling transacted business in Bremer county Monday.
-Mrs. Jos. Copeland visited with friends in Sumner Monday and
Tuesday.
-D.P. Moody of Waucoma visited his son, C.A. and family, Thursday
of last week.
-Mr. Farr of West Union was in this vicinity last week looking
for coach horses.
-Mr. Murry Brooks of Sparta, Wis., is visitin ghis brother, Frank
Brooks at this place.
-C.T. Haskett made a business trip to Austin, Minn., since last
week's issue of the News.
-Mrs. Chas. Haskett of New Hampton was the guest of Mr. and Mrs.
C.T Haskett Friday.
-Mrs. John Buck left Tuesday for Illinois where she will make an
extended visit with her parents.
-Al Blanchard and R.V. Marvin made everybody hunt their holes in
New Hampton Monday.
-Met McGee and Phil Rourke went to Tripoli Tuesday morning,
Matthew will play at the Fireman's Fair.
-Ed Pratt and family will leave this week for Worthington,
Minnesota, where he has rented a farm.
-E.F. Dayton left Monday for Sibley, Iowa, where he has purchased
an interest in a barber shop.
-Robert Benner, of Winnebago City, visited several days last week
with his brothers in this locality. Mr. Benner has been a
resident of Blue Earth county, Minnesota, sixteen years. He
reports that farmers in that section of country are in good
condition financially.
Married.
Blanchard-Sheldon.
At the M.E. parsonage in Fredericksburg, Wednesday evening,
February 2, 1898, by Rev. H.R. Salisbury, Mr. Alvin Blanchard of
Fredericksburg to Miss Hattie Sheldon of Republic. We have
noticed for some time Al's mind has been wandering and this
accounts for it. His many friends here will wish him and his
bride a happy and prosperous jurney through life.
Born.
To Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Pratt, January 31, 1898, a daughter.
To Mr. and Mrs. James Elliott, Jan. 17, 1898, a son.
Died.
Anderson. At her home near Williamstown, January 31, 1898, Mrs.
Robert Anderson. Cause of death, Typhoid-pneuminia. Mary Jane,
wife of Robert Anderson, was born in the county of Down, Ireland,
1867 [may be 1857], and came to America in 1881; settling at
Philadelphia, Penn., where on November 2, 1885, she was united in
marriage to Robert Anderson. In 1888 they removed to this state
and located in Bremer county; four years ago they became
residents of this community. Deceased was a sincere member of the
M.E. church, a kind mother and loving wife. She leaves a husband
and two little daughters, a father, mother, five brothers and two
sisters to mourn her loss. The family have the sympathy of the
entire community. The funeral was held at the home Wednesday
afternoon, REv. H.S .Salisbury preaching the sermon. The
interment was at the Frederika cemetery.
"She sleeps, she sleeps!
And never more
Will her footsteps fall by the old home door,
Nor her voice be heard with its loving tone
By the lone ones left round her own hearth-stone,
She has gone, she has gone to her home afar
To the beautiful land
Where the angels are."
In Memoriam.
William H. Linderman - The subject of this sketch was born in the
state of New York, February 29, 1824, in which year his parents
moved to Manchester, Illinois. He was united in marriage with
Miss Permelia Adams, November 3, 1846. In 1854 with his family,
he came to Chickasaw county, Iowa, settling on the farm in
Dresden Township, where he has since made his home. Of a family
of eight children three survive to mourn his loss; viz. M.H.
Linderman, Ed. Linderman and Mrs. Fannie Wesp, the mother having
died aobut two years since.
Mr. Linderman will always be remembered as one of the sturdy
pioneers of this section, bearing cheerfully the burdens incident
to life and labor in the "wild west" doing manfully his
full share in making Chickasaw county what it is to-day, one of
the very best and most properous counties in the commonwealth of
Iowa.
After a lingering and painful illness of several weeks, he
peacefully passed away on Jan. 27, 1898, at the well rounded age
of 73 years, 10 months, and 27 days. The great respect in which
he was held in this community, and the esteem and affection for
him, was most touching and fittingly demonstrated by the immense
concourse of neightbors and friends who gathered at the old home
on Saturday, Jan. 29th, in token of their last tribute of love
and respect for his memory.
Rev. C.V. Bently of the Baptist church in this city delivered a
very touching and feeling address, from the beautiful text,
"God is Love," Dr Pitts, Mrs. C.T Haskett and N. Wesp
sang several beautiful numbers; (with organ accompaniment by Miss
Maude Grems.) He was then followed to the West Ceemetery where he
was tenderly laid to rest beside the "loved one gone
before." Together they shared the joys, the sorrows, the
tasks, the triumphs, and trials of life; Together may they
"rest from their labors," while the good work of a life
time will "follow them".
"Friend after friend departs,
Who has not lost a friend;
There is no union here, of hearts,
That has not here, an end."
Silently, swiftly, slowly, these noble, grand and worthy land
marks of the "old days" are passing to eternal rest.
A Friend.
[transcribed by S.F., February 2007]