Iowa
Old Press
The Gazette
West Union, Fayette co. Iowa
Friday, September 27, 1872
To Administrators, Guardians, and All
Whom-it-may-Concern:
All probate papers on file in the Clerk's office were
burned with the Court House. It will, therefore, be necessary for
those who have unpaid claims against estates to properly
authenticate and refile them. Probate Record No. 7, containing
records of the appointment and reported transactions of all the
Administrators and Guardians appointed since February, 1871, was
also lost. Such Administrators and Guardians, viz: those
appointed since February, 1871, should early take legal steps to
place on record proper and satisfactory evidence of their
appointment and their official actions in the premises. Prompt
attention to those important matters will save loss, and probable
litigation, in the future.
W.B. Lakin
Clerk of the Circuit Court
A Wind Storm
On Tuesday at about 3 o'clock P.M. a roaring sound was
heard during a thunder shower, and soon a rushing wind swept over
our town. The path of the gale is reported about 40 rods wide,
and was the most severe that has occurred here since the
settlement of the town in 1849. Its course was east of north,
from the farm formerly owned by Mr. Wm. Wells, south-west of
town, passing near the school house striking the premises of
Messrs. Rich and Rickel and House. The grain on the farm
mentioned was blown from the stacks into the timber to a
considerable extent. Some trees were blown down in town; out
houses were blown over; the roof of Mr. H. Rickel's barn was
blown off and a board therefrom was blown through the wall of Mr.
A.E. Rich's house; and a small barn of Mr. Saml. Rickel was blown
to pieces. The buggy of Mr. M.M. House was blown over and
somewhat injured, and the buggy of Mr. H.B. Capwell who was at
Mr. House's residencee, was made a wreck of.
Married
On the 21st of September, 1872, at West Union, by the
Rev. J.W. Dickey, Mr. Wellington Descent to Miss Alima Palmer,
both of Fayette Co., Iowa.
Died
At Eldorado, at the residence of her daughter, Mrs.
Chick, September 13th, 1872, Lois Elliott, aged 89 years. She
lived the life of the righteous and praised the Lord when her
sommons came to call her home. Her husband died in Canada East,
forty-two years ago, and she was left with six children, four of
whom still live. Her daughter has taken care of her a great many
years and was sixty-seven the day her mother died.
Dick's Last Strategy
One of the sharpest attempts to escape from custody that
we have ever heard of came to light Tuesday evening, and is a
specimen of Dick Arthur's strategy. Dick, be it known, is held in
the Elkader jail awaiting trial or bail, and as he don't want the
first and cannot get the other, he conceived a little plan to
avoid both, which happily was frustrated by the arrival of the
following letter from the jailor, addressed to Sheriff Dorland:
Elkader, Iowa, Sept. 24th, 1872
Henry E. Barker, Esq.
Sir: Your order for the discharge of R.D. Arthur is received by
P.W. Seiberts, but Mr. Seiberts has no knowledge that P.L.
Hinkley is th eman before whom R.D. Arthur was tried or that
Hinkley is a justice of the peace. Whenever you send a clerk's
certificate that such is the fact, your order will receive
attention.
P.W. Seiberts
P.S. - Mr. Dorland, Sheriff, will you please hand this to Mr.
Barker, or obtain clerk's certificate and return same to me. I do
not wish to go on uncertainties.
P.W. Seiberts
Fearing that by some hocus pocus Mr. Seiberts might become
satisfied that the papers were genuine before a letter could
reach him, Mr. Dorland started for Elkader at 4 o'clock next
morning, arrived in time to effectually check the little game
right there and prevent any further possibility of his ever
succeeding at any similar scheme. While in Elkader, Mr. Dorland
secured all the papers and has permitted us to lay them before
our readers. The first step was the two following letters to
Dick, which were intended and did pass into the hands of the
jailor that he might known that "Henry D. Barker" was
in a fair way to get the needed bondsmen. The first written in a
scrawling, school-by sort of hand, and is as follows, verbatim:
West Union, Sept. 15, 1872
R.D. Arthur
Sir: I saw Smith he says he will sign bail bond the rest have
signed it and it only is waiting for Smith he will be in town in
a few days I have secured all them on the 320 and the 160 acres
of lands you may expect to be out in short
Respectfully
Henry E. Barker
The next is written by another person, evidently by Dick himself,
and is as follows:
West Union, Sept. 23d, 1872
R.D. Arthur, Esq.
Dear Sir: Everything is all O.K. Smith signed bonds, and I just
came from the Justices office and got discharge or release papers
and will send them to the Sheriff or Jailor today. Come to Union
at once as I must go to the farm.
Henry E. Barker
P.S. I have go to go to Decorah tomorrow on business.
And the order for the discharge is in the same handwriting as the
last letter, excepting the figures "23" in the date,
which were evidently put in after the other was written. This
order reads as follows:
The State of Iowa
To the Sheriff of Clayton County
R.D. Arthur who is detained by you on committment to answer a
charge for the offence of Burglary having given sufficient bail
to answer the same you are commanded forthwith to discharge him
from custody.
West Union, Fayette County, Iowa, Sept. 23d, 1872
P.L. Hinkley
Justice of the Peace
There was also another order, similar to the above, showing that
his bond covered the other charge, aiding and secreting stolen
property, for which he was committed. There is no such man as
Henry E. Barker living in or near West Union. This matter was
undoubtledly all arranged before Dick went to Elkader, and these
papers left in the hands of some one to be mailed at the proper
time. Mr. Hinkley is justly indignant that Dick should thus forge
his name, and all are delighted that the thing proved so
ignomious a failure.
Other News
Mr. H.D. Shattuck returned Saturday.
The bridge across the Turkey at Burnham's Mills is nearly
completed.
R.E. Burlingham, tailor, has moved into rooms over the bank,
where he is always ready to attend the wants of customers.
Mrs. A.E. Phillips, who has been residing in Colorado since June
1871, returned to her home here on Saturday last - improved in
weight and health.
The unpleasant features of being an invalid are much ameliorated
by such neighborly kindnesses as a plate of large, luscious
grapes from the hands of Mrs. Linnell.
Our public schools commenced last Monday, with Mr. Dudly Sacket
as principal, Miss Emma Rice, 2d grade, Mrs. Jennie Lacy, 3d
grade, Miss C.T. Dodd, 4th grade and Miss Julia Capwell, the 5th
grade.
A son of Mr. Wilson T. Miller fell a few days since while walking
over the ties on the railroad, and broke his arm must above the
wrist. The fracture has been reduced and the limb is doing well.
Mr. Lewis H. Davis has left in our office two stalks of corn, ten
feet high and corresponding size, raised on the farm near town
formerly owned by Mr. E. Van Dorn. No special preparation of the
ground, or extra cultivation was given.
Last Wednesday while Mr. Oscar Nutting was engaged about a
threshing machine at the farm of James George, of Dover, his arm
was caught in the gearing, and the entire flesh, from shoulder to
hand, was literally mangled into a horrid mass. Dr. Armstrong was
called and rendered the needed surgical aid, and, as no bones
were broken, hopes to avoid an amputation, although he says it
was the worst appearing flesh wound he ever witnessed.
Last Tuesday was a day of accidents. Besides others recorded
elsewhere, a young man, son of E.D. Ash, while engaged about a
threshing machine had the misfortune to stand in the way of
pitchfork in the hands of another man, which penetrated his leg,
making a severe wound.
And a boy, six or seven years old; living with John Crowe, had
his left hand drawn into a can mill, crushing it to a jelly. Drs.
Robinson and Armstrong amputated the thumb and forefinger, and
hope to save the other three fingers.
Mr. W.W. Tibbets, a young gentleman who carries a government arm,
having lost his in defense of his country, has opened a stock of
groceries and confectionery in the building recently occupied by
Mr. Tracy.
The storm of wind which was so active about here Tuesday did
great damage at Monona, among other things demolishing the
railroad depot, unroofing houses, and generally destroying
property, estimated in the township, at a loss of not less than
$25,000. We gleam from the McGregor Age.
West Union Township has a constable 75 years old on the 24th
inst. - Mr. S.F. Shepard. Mr. Shepard enjoys a hale and green old
age, being now able to do a good day's work in field or wood; and
declared himself able to walk 40 miles on his 75th birthday. He
is a good straight Republican withat, believing that the party of
reform.
The safe from the Court House, was removed to the Stone Block on
Monday. It has stood where the fire found it since 1861, when the
senior editor of this paper purchased it, while acting as County
Judge and made it a fixture of the Court House. It has done good
service since. It's cost was $575. The contents were found
unharmed, the locks work well and the safe is practically
uninjured by the fire.
F.Y. Whitmore, deputy County Treasurer, arrived Saturday,
responding immediately to a telegram informing him of the illness
of Mr. Stewart. He was in New York on his wedding tour, but left
his bride at the call of duty, and reports at once for ervice. It
is to be regretted that the exigences of the case were so urgent
as to interrupt the pleasures of a visit at home; but Frank is
disposed to make the best of it, and with the coming of his wife,
in a few days, will be happy again.
We were never more surprised than on Monday last to learn that
George H. Clawson, of Auburn, was dead. He had been ailing for
some days, but neither his friends nor the physician deemed his
case at all dangerous. Saturday he was taken worse and that
evening drew his last breath. Mr. Clawson was in the prime and
vigor of manhood, and his untimely death casts a gloom over the
community where he was so loved and respected. A tried and true
man, and a public spirited citizen, his place cannot soon be
filled. Mr. Clawson was a Mason and a member of the West Union
Lodge, which on Monday paid with all due honors its last tribute
of respect to his remains.
[transcribed by S.F., September 2014]