Iowa
Old Press
THE FREMONT COUNTY HERALD
February 1, 1907
DEATH OF BYRDIE FLETCHER.
Caused by Accidental Use of Poison
The people about Thurman were shocked Tuesday evening on
receiving the news of the death of one of its most popular young
ladies, Miss Byrdie Fletcher, at her home in that city. Miss
Fletcher had for some times past been in poor health, and
returned from her work as an instructor in Boyle's business
college in Omaha. When she got better she returned but only
taught one day, and two weeks ago again returned home, suffering
from a nervous break-down. On Sunday evening she took what she
supposed to be her medicine, but which afterwards, turned out to
be corrosive sublimate. Her mother, who was out at the time, came
in shortly afterwards and she told her mother to get some salt
and water in the hopes of throwing up the poison. The doctor was
soon called and everything was done to relieve her of her
suffering. She lived until 7:30 o'clock Tuesday evening. The
funeral services were held in the Christian church yesterday
afternoon, conducted by her pastor in Omaha. The members of her
Sunday school class also attended. The deceased was the youngest
child of Dr. and Mrs. W. H. Fletcher, and leaves a mother, six
brothers and four sisters to mourn her loss, her father having
died last summer. Miss Fletcher has many friends over the county
who will be pained to hear of her untimely death.
Savage Hits the Trail
There was a Savage in town Wednesday, who was looking for the
trail of former Rivertonites, and was directed to the rendevous
of J. F. Lewis, over the La Piana Cafe. He knocked on the door
some time between 8 and 11 o'clock in the forenoon and said he
was an old friend. "All right, Jake," said Lewis,
"wait till we change our clothes." Jake had strong
suspicions that Lewis was changing from his night to his day
raiment. They hadn't met for seven years, but Lewis said Jake's
voice gave him away and he knew him as soon as he heard it. The
Savage didn't tarry long, as he was on his way to his childhood's
home in Richland county, Wisconsin. He said: "I was the
first white child born in that county, if you call me white. The
county history makes that charge against me, but it was no fault
of mine; there was no premeditation on my part."
Jake now lives at Webber, Kansas, where he has a farm and a
son-in-law. There is no visible change in him, but he admits that
he is some younger than he used to be. Jake's a fellow that will
no more grow old than Lot Brown. When he moved to Kansas, Fremont
county suffered a loss which has never been repaired.
PIONEER HOME
History is ever present in Fremont county. It rises in mighty
vision from every direction and each hill and dell resounds with
the rhythm of the ages. It carries the student grandly along and
glides smoothly to the shore of some interesting story.
Washington Irving could have found subject matter for his
descriptive powers if he had dwelt here. For those who delight in
adventure or romance, old Fremont would cover the field of the
long felt want. To many the pioneer home is a place of the
deepest interest and such a home the Herald representative had
the pleasure of visiting and to this privilege the patriarchal
pioneer gave us a cordial greeting and bade us enter the parlor
where we accepted the ease of a rocking chair. "Are ye
travelin' or goin' somewhere?" was the first inquiry from
the venerable gentleman. We answered as politely as possible and
stated our business when he ejaculated "One of these
newspaper fellers who is tryin' to find out other people's
business, eh?" The ice was now broken and Simon Beckstead
led out with the story of his eventful life in Fremont county
since about the year 1848. He reviewed the past rapidly and
occasionally after a pause would say "I have been here a
long time." His home is about three miles east of Hamburg
where he pre-empted land when the land office was at Iowa City
but later the government land office was moved to Canesville
(Council Bluffs) and there he proved up on his pre-emption before
there was any Rock Port, Hamburg or Sidney, but there was a store
at Linden five miles north of Rock Port and nothing at Nebraska
City except the fort where soldiers were stationed. He went to
mill where Glenwood now stands and in so doing traversed the
unbroken prairie for a distance of some fifty miles. Wild game
was plentiful and the sight of deer or turkeys was a daily
occurrence and prairie chickens frequently sat in the bows of the
trees around his cabin. Uncle Simon was not considered a
sportsman, however he was a good shot and the aim of his trusty
rifle was almost sure to be rewarded. He was of powerful physique
and at hard work he gave the palm to no man. Four acres of wheat
was his day's work with a cradle and two hundred and twenty-five
rails per day told of his prowess with mall and wedge. Rough in
speech and manner and of no use for much of the modern etiquette,
yet Uncle Simon has a taste for the nice things of life and has a
home well furnished with comforts and conveniences. He rents his
farm and keeps no stock, but his sheds, orchard, etc., are well
arranged and cared for. Mr. Beckstead reached the eighty-fourth
milestone of his age on the 15th of January 1907 and the event
was celebrated by a number of his friends gathering at his home
and partaking of a splendid dinner. He is a native of Canada but
came to the United States when twelve years of age.
It was an hour well spent and ye reporter caught a glimpse of
pioneer life as the story was related by Uncle Simon.
--
- L. H. Hanson, who has been visiting his brother Sam, left
yesterday morning for his home in Boomer township, northeast of
Council Bluffs....
- Mrs. A. E. Wade arrived from Paden, Ind. Terr., last evening to
be with her mother, Mrs. Mose DeFreece, who has been sick for the
past month....
- S. S. Lewis, author of the beautiful poem, "My
Ships," published in this issue, is the editor and publisher
of Lewis' Ledger, in Cannon Falls, Minn. He is a cousin
of J. F. Lewis....
- Word has been received of the drowning of Frank Low, formerly
of Tabor, on one of the lakes in Minnesota last Tuesday. No
particulars have been received as yet....
- Jacob Savage, of Weber, Kansas, was in town Wednesday calling
on old friends. He visited at the T. H. T. Sahm home, Mrs. Sahm
being a cousin of Jakes. He left yesterday for a visit in
Reedstown, Wis., his childhood home. Mr. Savage is well known
over the county having been a resident of Riverton for a number
of years before moving to Kansas.
Quilting Party
A friendship quilting party was held at the L. J. Abbey home near
town yesterday, in honor of Mrs. E. Drew, of Bear River Valley,
Utah, who with her husband and son have been visiting relatives
and friends here for the past month. The house was well filled
with old friends and neighbors and a nice social time was
enjoyed. The quilt was presented to Mrs. Drew, and on each block
was worked the name of the donor.
Death results from Croup
Melville,a the son of Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Webster, of this city
died yesterday evening after a few days illness from croup, aged
1 year, 10 months and 14 days. The funeral will be held a the
house today at 3 o'clock the services being conducted by Rev.
Enoch Hill. Interment in the Sidney cemetery.
[transcribed by W.F. September 2003]
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THE FREMONT COUNTY SUN
Feb. 8, 1907
- N. Hickey of Sidney has a brother living in LaCrosse,
Washington.
- The ice harvest is now in earnest and teams and men are busy in
storing up the shining blocks....being
a foot thick and solid as blocks of glass...
[transcribed by W.F. September 2003]
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THE FREMONT COUNTY SUN
Feb. 19, 1907
- T. J. Thompson of Anderson departed Thursday for Bonesfield, S.
D., where they will live.
[transcribed by W.F. September 2003]
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THE FREMONT COUNTY SUN
February 22, 1907
Public Sale
As I am going to quit farming I will sell at public auction at
the G. W. Kuhn farm two and one-half miles west of Farragut, and
1/2 mile east and 1/2 mile north of Sidney, or, eight miles west
and one mile south of Shenandoah, or, one-half mile east of Mount
Hope school house.......the W. H. Matthews' farm is one-
half mile west and three fourths mile south of this place... Amos
A. McElroy
Thurman News
- Mrs Delos Williams died at her home in Upland, California, on
Feb. 21, 1907; she moved from Percival five years ago; leaves her
husband and five children who live in California and one son who
lives in Kansas.
- Mrs. Susan Parker died on her 74th birthday; her husband died
not too many months ago; her funeral was held at Pleasant Valley
and the burial was at Thurman. Mrs. Drum is her sister.
[transcribed by W.F. September 2003]
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The Fremont County Sun
February 25, 1907
Charley Acton married Eva Staton at her parents on Monday.--
Thurman News
Little Nellie Adamson was buried Sunday.--Mt. Zion News
Mrs. Beatson who died Wednesday, was buried in Lincoln.--Imogene
News
Mr. Blair who was buried Monday was the father of Mr. J. A. Blair
and Mrs.
George Warner.--Imogene News
The mother of Mrs. John Clark and of Mrs. W. C. Johnson was
buried in
Alexandria, Nebr.--Randolph News
Mrs. Miller, who lived 3 miles southwest of Randolph, was buried
Wednesday.--Randolph News
Frank Priest and Lena Dickabaugh were married Monday.--Imogene
News
M. P. Server's daughter was born Sunday.--Local News
[transcribed by W.F., January 2008]
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The Fremont County Herald
February 25, 1907
-Charley Acton married Eva Staton at her parents on Monday.--
Thurman News
-Mrs. Beteson was buried in David City, Nebr.--Imogene News
-Mrs. Hannah Chadwick, deceased, was the mother of Mrs. J. J.
Cook.-- Local News
-The mother of Mrs. John Lena Dickersbaugh and Frank Priest were
married on Monday.--Imogene News
-John Driscoll married Della Shirley at the home of Grant
Neeley.--Local News
-Andrew Langston, 23, married May Dammon, 18, on Feb . 24,
1897.--Local News
-Emma Miller's mother of Randolph died Tuesday.--Local News
-Capt. W. C. Mitchell, brother of E. H. Mitchell, was buried at
Clayton, Indiana.--Local News
-Al More's son was born.--Hamburg News
-N. W. Morrow's son was born Feb. 20, 1897.--Riverton News
-Lew Nix married a lady from Woodbury county.--Hamburg News
-M. P. Server's daughter was born Feb. 21, 1897.--Local News
-Emma V. Sheldon died Feb. 22, 1897 aged 23 years.--Percival News
-Mrs. Walter Sheldon of Percival has died; was a sister of S. J.
King and of John King.--Bartlett News
-Thomas J. Wade, b. Dec. 18, 1848 - d. Feb. 8, 1897; married
Leticia Barrett; he was the brother of Mrs. W. S.
Bartholomew.--Riverton News
-W. H. Wade, b. June 8, 1817 - d. Feb. 18, 1897; buried in Redd
Cemetery; father of Mrs. W. S. Bartholomew and of A. J.
Wade.--Riverton News
[transcribed by W.F., January 2008]
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THE FREMONT COUNTY HERALD
February 26, 1907
AN OLD RESIDENT INTERVIEWED. G. W. Smay of Tabor
Tells the Herald Man How People Did Things in Early Days
While in Tabor last Saturday a representative of the Herald
met G. W. Smay, and as we knew that Mr. Smay came to Fremont
county in an early day, we felt that a bit of history of pioneer
times would be interesting to hear, especially from such a person
as our informant. In the autumn of 1856, Mr. Smay and his
father-in-law, Simeon Smith, started from Marion county, Indiana,
with three teams for the west and about one month later they
pulled into Sidney and remained here all winter. It will be
remembered that 1856 was the winter of the deep snow and the cold
was intense. Conveniences were few and the amount of fuel
required to keep warm in the old shell of a house they lived in
was surprisingly large and the greater part of the time was spent
in getting wood which had to be hauled from Pleasant Grove, a
distance of three miles. During these trips Mr. Smay froze his
feet so badly that he could not wear his boots for three months.
He next located near the Waubonsie lake, having rented land of
Judge Fred Rector and a few years later he purchased land three
miles west of Tabor which he still retains and calls it home,
although he resides in Tabor. He has been a farmer and content
with his lot as it gave him many privileges over that of the
business man which time he gave to study. He also found enjoyment
in the hunt or being one of a company in quest of the finny
tribe, and stated that his aim was generally good when a wild
turkey presented itself within a reasonable distance.
The civil war coming on found him a subject for draft and three
times he was enrolled and pressed into service. He spoke kindly
of his old neighbors and friends long since gone and recalled the
names of some, they being John, Joseph and Daniel Rhode, John
McClelland, Amos Williams, James Darby, Lafe Lambert, Fred
Rector, Luke Tarpenning, William Holloway, etc. Mr. Smay is a
native of Maryland and the event of his birth was on April 23,
1831. For one of his age, he is remarkably strong and active
which he claims is due to honesty, simplicity of life and voting
the straight democratic ticket.
Caught in Cupid's Coils
Wednesday evening Feb. 20th occurred the wedding of Miss Lulu
Kemp to Mr. R. V. McClenahan. The wedding took place at the home
of the bride's parents in North Tabor. Promptly at eight o'clock
the sweet strains of Mendelssohn's wedding march began. It was
played by Miss Hattie Hume. The bride and groom were preceded to
the altar by two little girls who unwound white ribbon making a
path for the bridal party. The bride was dressed in a beautiful
costume of white silk and carried a garland of
lilies-of-the-valley on her arm. The groom was attired in the
conventional black. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Chas. Fry
of Council Bluffs. Immediately after the congratulations, Miss
Inez McClenahan sang "O Promise Me"; after this an
elegant three course supper was served to guests which numbered
fifty-five. The house was tastefully decorated with smilax and
pink and white carnations. The guests received small boxes of
wedding cake as bride's favors. The bride is a daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. George Kemp of Tabor. Mr. and Mrs. McClenahan will
reside on a farm near Henderson, Iowa. This esteemed couple have
the best wishes of their large circle of acquaintances for a
happy and prosperous voyage through life.
Farewell Party
About seventy-five guests assembled at the C. W. Clark home near
Randolph recently to give them a farewell party before leaving
for their new home in Walter, OK., where Mr. Clark has purchased
a farm. The evening was spent in having a general good time and
all present enjoyed the affair greatly. At a late-hour a luncheon
consisting of sandwiches, coffee, salad, cake and sauce were
served. These people have been residents of this county for many
years and their revmoval is much regretted by their many friends.
They have always been identified with the best interests of the
community and the loss will be one much felt in Randolph. Before
leaving they were presented with a handsome center table and set
of silver spoons. Mr. Clark and family left yesteday for their
new home.
- Charles F. McCracken died Feb. 25, 1907 in Hamburg.
[transcribed by W.F. September 2003]