Iowa Old Press

Elkader Argus
Elkader, Clayton co. IA
Wed. May 29, 1907

Local Items
Miss Clara Gilbert leaves today for Des Moines where she expects to make her home.

Blanche Schroeder and Louise Hofer returned Saturday evening from La Crosse, having completed courses at the Wisconsin Business University.

Wm. Walther and his force of painters have started work on the court house job. The old chimneys on the court house are being torn down and the new tin roof is being put on. The old seat of justice will hardly be recognized when all the work is finished.

Asgrim Olson and Ole Nelson, two veterans from Marion township, were in town Friday, making application for their second papers as American citizens. Both have been residents of this county for many years and enjoyed all privileges of citizenship without being aware that they had not legally received them.

Daniel Wolf, of Dubuque, a former resident of Elkader, continues to be seriously ill.

A boy was born to Mr. and Mrs. G.R. Engelhardt, of Wagner township, Tuesday morning.

Miss Pearl Maher is seriously ill at her home in Chicago with little hope of recovery. Her aunt, Miss Sarah Molumby, is in Chicago assisting in caring for her.

C.H. Williamson and his gang of bridge builders are at work on the bridge across the Turkey in Marion township. They will build a concrete pier and approach and put in a new 140 foot span.

L.D. Zahrndt, of Lodomillow township, the Holstein cattle and Duroc Jersey hog man, visited his parents at the Merchants Hotel Sunday. Louie is meeting with good success in the cattle and hog business and has some males for sale that he says look good to him.

Guido Von Webber departed for Cassville Monday. The young man expects to take a position at Cedar Rapids soon where he will have work at his trade. He is an engraver by a process little known in this country and had with him some fine specimens of the work. Guido made friends with everybody despite the fact that he is just over from Austria and has rather a hard time grasping the intricacies of American language and slang. He has received his first papers and expects to become an American citizen.

Misses Carrie and Amelia Becker entertained a party of young ladies at a linen shower Monday evening in honor of Miss Ida Stemmer.

Thos. Barrett, of Castalia, and Thos. Higgins, of Rock Valley, former residents of Read township, are visiting relatives in this vicinity.

The oldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Koehn is quite sick.

J.B. Scott, a resident of McGregor, was drowned by falling from a boat at Dubuque.

Elkader friends will be pleased to learn of the birth of a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Fred Schoch at Sederowooley, Wash., on May 12th.

Sam Boots and his force of cement workers went to Wagner township Tuesday where they have a large job of cement walk laying on the farm of F. Herterich.

Mayor Schulte was at Garnavillo Tuesday to attend a meeting of the citizens looking toward the incorporation of that town. Garnavillo has gotten along without incorpoating for many years but will now get into the procession.

Monday night Dick Layton had an experience with a runaway horse near the residence of Henry Polkow in Read township. A dog frightened his horse and it ran away throwing Dick out and before the horse stopped it had run under the bridge across Dry Mill Creek and completely demolished the buggy.

The Odd Fellows and Rebekahs had a pleasant surprise party at their lodge rooms Thursday evening in honor of Mr. and Mrs. J.G. Hagensick who expect to leave next month to take up their residence on a claim in North Dakota. They were presented with souvenirs of the event to remind them of Elkader friends.

J.E. Corlett arrived home Tuesday evening from his trip to the Pacific coast.

Miss Mary Meyer, of Communia, has been elected teacher in the Grammar department of the Edgewood schools.

Emil Wagner, one of the long time residents of this township, died at his home up the river Tuesday night, aged 83 years. He was one of the oldest members of the Elkader Masonic Lodge and the funeral will be conducted by the order Friday afternoon.

Died. At her home in Highland township on Friday, May 24th, occurred the death of Mrs. Margaret Turkelson at the age of 84 years. The funeral was held from the Highland church on Saturday. Mr. Turkelson died about 15 years ago and there are three children living, Theodore, Halvor and Hattie L.

A.M. Duff, who was injured by the kick of a horse Tuesday evening, died Saturday evening at his home in Highland township. Mr. Duff was about 50 years old and was one of the prominent citizens of the township, having served as assessor for many years. He had many friends in Elkader who esteemed him as a good citizen and were sincerely sorry to hear of his death. He was a member of the Grand Jury for 1907 and served on the panel at the last term of Court.

When the people of Elkader became aware that the vine on the court house was being cut down considerable indignation was aroused and Mr. V.T. Price began the circulation of a petition remonstrating against the wanton destruction of the vine, and in a very short time secured over 60 signatures. The work of destruction was stopped and the Board came here the next day and reconsidered their order and will endeavor to save the remainder of the vine. There is but lettle to save, the main part of the vine on the west side of the building having been cut off before the people took notice of what was going on. The vine was planted over a quarter of a century ago by the late Chas. Schecker and was the chief and about the only charm of the old court house building; visitors to Elkader invariably remarked about its beauty and many expressed the wish that they possessed it. It did not take over a quarter of an hour to destroy what had required a quarter of a century to grow.

Fifty of the long term prisoners at the Anamosa penitentiary have been removed to the Fort Madison penitentiary where they will hereafter be confined according to the new law making a reformatory out of the Anamosa penitentiary. Edward West* was one of the number taken to Fort Madison.

[*transcription note: Edward West was serving a life sentence for the murder of John L. Boland, a Clayton co. farmer, on November 4, 1906 - transcribed by S.F., September 2016]


Iowa Old Press
Clayton County