Iowa
Old Press
DeWitt Observer
DeWitt, Clinton co., Iowa
January 14, 1887
Iowa State News
Two Croston (Union County) women are about to establish a
wholesale suspender manufactory in that city.
James Fox, living near Perry, Dallas County, fell from a hay
stack upon a pitchfork a few days ago and four of the tines were
run clear though his body, inflicting fatal wounds.
Lannie McAfee, a Des Moines billiardist, says he can beat any man
in the world in a one-thousand-point French carrom game, for $225
a side.
Early the other afternoon Willard Young, until recently of the
firm of Roth & Young, committed suicide at the home of his
parents in Fairfield, Jefferson county, shooting himself twice,
one bullet entering the abdomen and the other his head. The
affair was shrouded in mystery. His life was insured for $2,000
in favor of his two sisters.
McCord & Works' furniture store at Des Moines was destroyed
by fire the other night, and L.B. Abdill's fine art and book
store was badly damaged. The total loss was $24,000 with
insurance of about $21,000.
A fire broke out the other evening in Fatland's furniture store
at Cambridge, Story County, and spread rapidly, burning most of
the lower business part of town. The loss was estimated at
$15,000. The insurance was unknown.
Dell Smith, and employe of the Northwestern railway, was killed
the other morning in Muchachinock (Mahaska County) yards by being
caught between the bumpers of tank cars.
Mrs. George Sage, of Harlan, Shelby County, is reported to have
traveled fourteen thousand miles in pursuit of her husband, who
last fall ran off with the hired girl. She doesn't care
particularly for the man, but she had nothing else to do and is
fond of travel.
Martin Stork, Jr., a bartender at Carroll, Carroll County, was
arrested in Chicago a few days ago on a charge of forgery, and
taken back to Iowa by Sheriff Samuel Todd, of Carroll. Stork was
charged with securing $200 on two forged checks from the Carroll
County Bank and the Bank of Carroll. When arrested he had in his
possession several other forged checks.
Hon. John M. Stowell, a member of the Illinois legislature in
1876, died at Des Moines a few days ago, aged sixty years.
Rev. E.L. Mabee died in Des Moines the other morning, after a
lingering sickness. The deceased was a son of Rev. C.C. Mabee,
pastor of Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church.
[transcribed by C.J.L., February 2007]
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DeWitt Observer
DeWitt, Clinton, Iowa
Friday, January 28, 1887
REPORTER'S PAGE
At Home and Abroad
LONG GROVE [Scott Co.]
- Pay day on the St. Paul Ry Wednesday.
- A very enjoyable time at A.S. and R. K. Brownlie's last Friday
evening. A fine supper of oysters and othe rgood things was
served to an appreciate assemply of young people. Games, charades
and a dialogue were some of the amusements of the evening.
- Then again the young people met at Mr. John Evans' to the
number of 30, where all enjoyed themselves with the good host and
hostess and family.
- M. Eckerman is having his pasture cleared of the large trees.
We hate to see those old land-marks go, but suppose it is really
better for the pasture.
- W.E. Owens has purchased C. Bluhm's stock of tile and will
handle them in the future.
- Grain is not coming in very lively of late. The roads are not
in very good condition in some places.
Long Grove on Paper
By Our Home Author.
Where'er you wander, where'er you rove,
You'll not find a place like Long Grove.
If you look on the map you will see
It is situated on the R.R., C.M., and St. P.,
A noted place, with depot and stock yards on east side of town;
Also contains the great Curtis hall, a place of renown.
There is one fact never made public before:
Its population (at times) numbers 10,000 or more,
It being a favorite summer resort
For frogs, mosquitoes and all that sort.
As we arrive by team we meet Agent Owen.
Who is jolly and clever and looks kind of knowin'
And, if he is not busy, I have no doubt
He will take us up town and show us about.
We first visit the great warehouse of Sherman & Kuhl
Who in agricultural implements and products deal.
They will take your produce at a price that is fair,
And sell you machinery and warrant it square.
Then to the mercantile establishment of Curtis & Rice,
Who display their fine stock with artistic device.
They exhaust ingenuity, try every plan
To attact the eye of the fastidious man.
We then walk down Broadway, the chapel pass by
And visit Ahren's shoe factory, on whose goods you rely.
Then, as we continue our walk, further along
We hear singing, and this is the song:
"Serene and happy is this light heart of mine,
As I gaze on the Short Horns and our Poland swine.
They are handsome and symmetrical, they are so trim and neat,
The herds of Brownlie Bros. I am sure cannot be beat.
They are so trim and neat,
They can never be beat-
The herds of Brownlie Bros.
I know cannot be beat."
Now, we've reached the city limits. We about face,
And northward on Broadway our steps we retrace
And visit the shops of Martindale & Son
Where all smithing is neatly and speedily done.
As we walk along our informant explains: Here Mr. Elder resides;
This is the Skimmin ranche, o'er which Mr. Weber presides.
Below, is the office of Knibritch, who of late
Has been dabbling somewhat in real estate.
Across the way is the great "Art Gallery" of Marriatt & Ahrens,
Who paint portraits, landscapes, and Sir, homes and barns.
That is Mr. Thompson, our legal adviser,
And Mr. Russel, reporter for the Advertiser.
We have a largely attended school.
Under Mr. O'Conner's efficient rule.
And two rising young orators, W. Brownlie and E. Curtis, who
In "discussion" of "Man and Circumstances," made their debut.
Wit and eloquence, such as those boys did display
Is not heard in this town every day.
And now, dear friends, ere I conclude
There's another class to which I'll allude.
Tho' I dislike (in public) to mention the name,
I refer to our "old bachelors" - shame on them! shame!
I would tax every bachelor pate, however bold or wary
Until each and all were willing to marry,
For in this world of vexation, turmoil and strife,
A man is not half a man, if he hasn't a wife.
WELTON
- Hiram A. Harrington, of Beatrice, Neb., was in town on Tuesday
shaking hands with his hosts of friends. He says the Observer is
an ever-welcome visitor and he could not do without it, under any
circumstances. "Hiram" is getting on well in this
world, of which we are glad.
- Albert Archer, after spending a month with relatives in Canada,
has returned.
- John Schrom, who is grubbing for Jas. McMannus and keeping
house by himself, had the misfortune of having his home and all
the contents destroyed by fire on Monday, except his trunk. He
thinks it took fire from the stove. It was quite a loss. No
insurance.
- Our community has again been called on to mourn the loss of one
of its most respected citizens, Mr. Martin Dobler, who died at
his home on Sunday, Jan. 23d. He was born in Alsace, France,
1821. He came to America in 1829 and settled in Pittsburg, Pa; he
moved to Clinton county in '57 and has been a resident of the
same up to the time of his death; he was a man who had the esteem
of all who knew him - upright and honest in all his dealings; of
late years he had been troubled with neuralgia, which was the
cause of his untimely death. He leaves a wife and eight children
to mourn his loss. G.W. of Marion; Charles, Edward, and Louis of
Crawford county; John M. of DeWitt; Frank and Joseph of Welton.
Mrs. O P Cornish of Elwood, was not present. He was buried at
DeWitt on Wednesday from the Catholic church, of which he was a
devout member.
ELWOOD
- On last Friday night, on the 11:30 train, arrived the body of
Charles Maxwell, son of J.S. Maxwell, formerly of this township,
no living at Rockwell, Iowa. The body was accompanied by J.S.
Maxwell, jr., brother of deceased. His death was caused by
typhoid fever. His sister Anna and Mrs. John Whitsell were the
only ones of the family present. His grandfather, J.R. Twiss, and
some other relatives living near here were present also. Mr. John
Whitsell wishes to tender his thanks to friends and neighbors who
were so kind in rendering assistance at the burial of his
brotherinlaw, Charlie Maxwell.
- Benjamin Ward and wife, of Sac county, were here last week to
attend the wedding of Mr. Will Philips and Miss Gerty Jepson.
CALAMUS
- Clas Hulce of Vail, is visiting his brotherinlaw, Cad Blake,
and family. Stopping off while on his return from Chicago,
whither he had been marketing live stock.
- Jas. Teachfather, living south of town, will have a sale Feb.
9th, and in a short time thereafter will remove his family to
Davenport.
- C.F. Davis, general collecting agent for the Champion Reaper
Co., was visiting his sister and brotherinlaw, R.W. Damon and
wife, Wednesday.
- Born, to Mr. and Mrs. John Peterson, a daughter on Wednesday
last.
- Dan Conwell spent Sunday with his parents at Charlotte.
[transcribed by C.J.L., April 2007]