Iowa
Old Press
The West Union Republican Gazette
West Union, Fayette co. Iowa
July 15, 1870
Local and Other Items
-Coll Foster is in town. How about that cat now?
-Miss Orrel Depew is visiting among her hosts of friends in this
city.
-Mr. Ropes informs us that he is getting out stone for the new
bridge at Eldorado.
-Carroll and Clara Cole, of Tama City, appear to be enjoying
their visit here.
-A hive of bees came in the mail on Wednesday, directed to Seth
Gurdy. Theywere as lively and musical as though sucking honey
from a clover field.
One of the horses attached to Canfield's stage line was taken
with blind staggers on the road from Postville, on Tuesday, but
recovered sufficiently to be led into town. Just at dusk on the
same day it took another fit, broke from the stable and charged
down the crowded sidewalk of Vine street, scattering men, women
and children promiscuously, but providentially injuuring no one.
Married
At the residence of Mr. J.B. Lindsay, by Rev. Wm. Young, July
7th, Mr. Robert A. Broadbent, of Sioux City, to Miss Lizzie W.
Murray, of Waucoma.
Kicked by a Colt
A little four-year-old son of John Lindsey, living near Waucoma,
was playing in the pasture with his brother, on Tuesday, when a
colt kicked him just above the right eye, breaking in the skull
and making a bad wound. Dr. Robinson was called and placed his
little patient as comfotably as circumstances would admit, and
thinks there is a possibility for his recovery.
Injured
Last Saturday, while Mr. G.P. Joslin, of this place, was on his
way to Ossian with a load of wheat, he stopped to water his team
at a spring a short distance this side of Ossian. While off the
wagon, a dog frightened his team and they started to run. He
grabbed for the reins, but in doing so fell beneath the wagon so
that one of the hind wheels passed over both his legs near the
hips. We believe no bones were broken, although he was severely
hurt. He will be about again in due time, we hope.
Railroad
The Fayette railroad is now assured beyond the shadow of a doubt.
We learn that the people of our neighboring embryo city assembled
on Wednesday last, at 1 o'clock P.M., and listened to an
enthusiastic speech from Hon. H.S. Brunson, who may be called the
paternal projenitor of the Fayette end of the road - after which
that gentleman held the plow that turned the first furrow. It is
said that the contract for grading from Fayette to Strawberry
Point, twenty miles, is let to B. & H.M. Burch. Hip! Hip!
A Bridge
Mr. John Heale has finished the bridge at the Fair Grounds. It is
an arch, of limestone, and, as far as we are able to judge, is a
structure that will wear many years. It looks like a neat job,
and it is hoped that our bridge builders will appreciate true
economy and place more such across our streams.
Breach of Promise
Miss Jane Lumsdun commenced loong ago in the circuit court of
this county a suit against Lewis Stansbury for damages in the sum
of $2,000, which she alleged to have sustained by his neglect to
marry her. The case had a hearing on Wednesday, and the jury gave
her $175.00 and costs.
Sentenced
The murderer Andrew Thompson was sentenced by Judge McGlathery,
on Thursday, to be hung by the neck until dead, on Friday,
September 9th. The sentence had no more apparent effect on the
man than did the verdict of the jury - his face being as placid
as during the entire trial. If the Supreme Court sustains the
verdict of the jury, Thompson will undoubtedly hang on that day.
It is said that the Thompson trial will cost Clayton county not
less than $10,000.
Lamp Explosion
Last Monday evening a lamp exploded in Ed Meskel's house, on the
Elkader road, four miles from town, severely buring Mr. Meskel's
hand, but doing no other damage, though for a few moments it
seemed almost impossible to extinguish the flames of the burning
kerosene. It is hoped that Ed's hand is not permantly injured.
Dubuque has an Enoch Arden Case
In 1863 Ralph Mason went to the war from that city, and at
Corinth was wounded and reported killed. He was taken prisoner
and held in the dungeons of the south until the close of the war.
On his way home he reached St. Louis, where he was persuaded to
go across the plains, and in Washington territory he accumulated
quite a sum of money. On the 1st of May he concluded to come back
in search of his wife, and arriving in Dubuque a few days ago he
learned that after properly mourning him as dead, she married a
man named Edson, and is now living near Elkader. Not wishing to
disturb any such domestic arrangement, Ralph started next day for
California. So says the Times.
[transcribed by S.F., April 2014]