Iowa
Old Press
Elgin Echo
Elgin, Fayette co. Iowa
February 4, 1897
Samuel Murdock Dead.
Upon the occasion of the death of Hon. Sam'l Murdock which
occured at his home in Elkader Jan. 20th, 1897, the Dubuque
Herald made the following comment on his past life work. This
even removes another of Iowa's old and honored citizens whose
name has been closely interwoven with her early history and in
the hearts of the people whose memories go back to the good old
days of pioneer life of simplicity, but of good fellowship and
peaceful pleasures, that are seldom found in the feverish and
restless spirit that follows in the wake of change and progress,
in strife and turbulent tide of city life. Judge Murdock was was
well known among the older residents of Iowa, who must ever
remember him as a man of strong integrity, of brilliant mind, and
yet whose nature was full of the milk of human kindness and a
gentleness that was as tender as the heart of a child.
For over half a century Judge Murdock has been a conspicuous
figure in the history of Iowa, as the first lawyer of Clayton
county, the first Judge of the Tenth judicial district, and on
account of the eminent place he had so long held in the political
and social affairs of this section of the state.
In 1845 Judge Murdock was elected a member of the territorial
legislature and remained in that body until Iowa was admitted as
a state. In 1855 he was elected to the position of judge of the
Tenth judicial district and held the first courts in several of
the ten counties then comprised within the district. Much of his
early training was received in the district schools of Ohio,
although he had the advantage of several years in a Cleveland
academy. He also taught several terms after attaining his
majority.
The young man finally made his way by the toilsome ways of
primitive travel, by ox teams or by foot through Indian trails to
the then far west until he reached Iowa City. As that lace had
been fixed upon as the future capital of Iowa, young Murdock
determined to locate there and was soon reading law in the office
of Bates & Harrison, and in 1842 he was admitted to the bar
of Johnson county. Before making his final arrangements for
locating, Mr. Murdock came to Dubuque with letters of
introduction to leading citizens and while here was impressed
with the glowing discriptions given him of the beautiful prairie
lands of Clayton county. Starting overland he arrived at what is
now Garnavillo, in 1843, and staked a claim just south of the
town. This became his home and was highly cultivated by Mr.
Murdock for nearly forty years, and was considered the model farm
of the state. During his long residence here he kept up his law
practice, and with few exceptions has taken part at every term of
court held in Clayton county for over half a century, making for
himself a remarkable record.
In 1845, Judge Murdock married Miss Lousia Patch, who had resided
in the county since 1837. She is a woman of forceful character
and strong mental ability. She and two daughters survive the
husband and father. Rev. Marian Murdock is well known in ths
section. She is the first woman in America to receive the degree
of Bachelor of Divinity. She is a fine speaker on pulpit of
platform and is a brilliant, scholarly woman. The younger
daughter, Amelia, is also devoted to learning and literature; is
a fine linguist and a graduate of the Chicago Kindergarten
college.
After serving for three years in the legislature Judge Murdock
was elected school fund commissioner in 1848, and held the
position for four years, during which time he sold most of the
school lands, consisting of section 16 and Clayton county's
portion of the 500,000 acres allotted to her school purposes. His
great discretion and foresight were shown in these transactions.
During the war he acted as correspondent from the south and later
wrote for northern journals on the exciting events of the times.
This brought him into great prominence as a writer, as many of
his contributions were marvels of patriotism and genius. During
his long professional career Judge Murdock was a most successful
lawyer and made a state wide reputation.
In the summer of 1869 he unearthed the "Hagerty
Massacre" one of the most cruel murders of modern times.
Through his efforts five dead bodies were brought to light, after
they had been hidden away for many months in different
localities, and then prosecuted the murderers.
Whether as lawyer or politician, Judge Murdock was a brilliant
success among public men. As a miscellaneous writer on most
important scientific and other subjects, he bore a reputation for
clearness and logical composition and in 1893 his able arguments
on the silver question attracted wide attention.
A natural orator, Judge Murdock's eulogy on the death of Gen.
Grant was conceded by good judges to be one of the finest pieces
of English composition ever delivered in the state.
In August of 1895 Judge and Mrs. Murdock celebrated their golden
wedding at their pleasant home in Elkader on which happy occasion
a great number of personal friends were present from this
locality and neighboring sections of the state. None will soon
forget the genial greetings and the warm hearted hospitality that
on that memorable day fell over the old home like a benediction
from the summer skies to diffuse warmth and brightness into the
last vanishing years of a noble, useful and virtuous life.
Judge Noble acted as best man to Judge Murdock on that happy
wedding day, another of nature's nobleman who passed on but a
short time in advance of his nearly life long friend. Judge
Murdock will be buried at Garnavillo, where the best and happiest
days of his early manhood and middle age were passed.
Locals.
-Fred Gruver, of West Union, was in Elgin Saturday.
-Peter Nelson, of California, was in Elgin last week called to
this locality by the death of his father, Halver Nelson, whose
remains were intered in the Clermont Lutheran cemetery in Marion
township. See obituary this issue.
-Marshall Schneider was among the sick the fore part of this
week.
-Will Neuenschwander's three children have been quite sick for a
week past.
-Valentine Wander, of Klemme, Iowa, was in Elgin the past week
visiting friends and transacting business.
-E.G. Stoehr is still shipping rabbits. He informs us that his
business is only limited by the output of the rabbit factory.
-Friday of last week J.W. Ainsworth and Dr. F.L. Ainsworth, of
West Union made a very pleasant afternoon's visit at the Echo
office.
-Frank Schveska, daughter and son were down from West Union
Monday. Frank looking after tailoring orders and the younger ones
a visit with friends.
-Pearl Greenley, the little daughter of our popular drayman, has
been a sufferer from lung fever for the past week. We are glad to
announce an improvement in her condition however.
Halver Nelson Dead.
On January 20, 1897, occured the death of Halver Nelson at his
home near Gilroy, California. The remains were brought to his old
home for interment and were placed at rest in the Clermont
Lutheran church cemetery, in Marion township, Clayton county,
Iowa.
Halver Nelson was born at Hallingdale, Norway, September 12,
1825, and was therefore seventy years, one month and twenty days
old at the time of his death. In 1846 he came to America and
settled in Rock County, Wis. In 1849 Mr. Nelson emigrated to
Grand Meadow township Clayton county, Iowa, where he lived until
1892 when on account of ill health he was obligated to seek the
milder climate of California.
In 1855 he was united in marriage with Miss Caroline Peterson.
Seven children blessed this union, only two of whom are now
living, Peter and Henry, the other five and the mother having
preceeded the father to the grave. In December, 1892, Mr. Nelson
was again united in marriage. This time to Mrs. Matilda Anderson,
who with the two sons of the first wife, several grandchildren
and hosts of old and true friends are left to mourn his demise.
Mr. Nelson was a man of sterling qualities who improved on long
acquaintance. He was honest, industrious and frugel in his
habits; as a father he was loving and indulgent and as a friend
and associate he was true and always to be relied upon for
incouragement and substantial help where assistance was merited.
Living as he did for almost half a century in one locality he
acquired a large number of acquaintances all of whom held him in
the highest esteem and respect.
In later years time dealt with Mr. Nelson, as time does deal with
all organisms and he became feeble in body from old age, but his
mind, never effected, was as tenacious of life as when in early
manhood he had looked forward to a future with expectations of
sorrows and hardships to be counter balanced by satisfactions and
joys; thus finding body on the decline and hoping to preserve it
and prolong this life a few years he removed to California. The
alloted time of man, however, is three score years and ten, and
Mr. Nelson though exceptional in many respects, could not and did
not break the longevical law of man's time in recording nature's
eyeles. He died beloved and respected by all and the memory of
him and of his acts will always serve as a reforming and refining
element in the advancement and betterment of posterity.
Card of Thanks
To all who so kindly comforted with their assistance and sympathy
and attendance at the burial of our husband and father we hereby
return heartfelt thanks and hope that in afflictions and
berevements you may also be recipicals of comforting aid and
sympathy in like measure.
Mrs. Mathilda Nelson
Peter Nelson
Henry H. Nelson
Mrs. Julia Nelson
Highland News
-Rev. Hummel and wife returned from La Porte last week where they
had been summoned by the sudden death of a relative.
-Mr. and Mrs. Edward Klingman are rejoicing over the arrival of a
baby girl at their home a few days ago.
-Hugh MacKellar came over from McGregor for a short visit not
long since. He will resume charge of his farm March 1st.
-Mrs. John Robbins is recovering from quite a severe illness.
-Mr. William Robbins and wife, of Britt, Iowa, former residents
of this place are visiting at Postmaster Doty's home.
Died From Boxing - Postville correspondent, Waukon
Democrat
John Nagle, residing in the Dickson neighborhood, in Franklin
township, went to Luana last Saturday in apparent good health.
While there he engaged in a friendly boxing match and exercised
quite sharply. He started home apparently all right but before
getting home he became unconscious, the horses started to run and
the sleigh bed was thrown off but he was not thrown out. He was
taken home unconscious and never came to his senses, the vital
spark leaving him the next morning. He was about 30 years of age
and unmarried. The doctor says that the cause of death was the
rupture of a blood vessel in the brain. A sudden summons, truly.
As if by Indians.
Le Mars, Iowa, Jan 29 - Charles D. Webster of O'Leary was
completely scalped in a runaway near Oyens early this week. While
turning a sharp corner his team threw him from his wagon, cut a
gash from his neck to his forehead, pulling the scalp nearly off.
Jury Said He Did It.
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Jan 29 - The jury in the case of Wiggin vs
Huston has returned a verdict of $5,500 for the plaintiff. Huston
is a prominent farmer and politician, and Wiggin sued for $10,000
damages for alienating the affections of his wife.
Frozen to Death.
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Jan. 28 - The man found frozen to death near
Amber, Jones county, has been identified as John Scholtre of
Lisbon, Lynn [sic] county.
[transcribed by S.F., September 2009]