Iowa
Old Press
THE FREMONT COUNTY SUN
March 1, 1907
- Mel Mann made his last trip on the Thurman route Wednesday. He
has been on that route five years and 8 months. He was succeeded
by Mr. McCluskey.
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THE PIONEER SCHOOLHOUSE, by Geo. C. Hicks, Sidney, Iowa:
"In a gently sloping meadow,
..In one corner--many years
Stood the dear old country schoolhouse
..Built by sturdy pioneers.
Here one neighbor, there another
..Yonder lived another still
In the shadow of the forest
..On the overlooking hill.
"Gushing from the cliff up yonder
..Came a clear and sparkling spring
Down the gully near the school-yard
..Did its waters play and sing.
Looking southward near the roadside
..Sloping upward on the hill,
Lay the quiet, pensive graveyard
..With its headstones, white and still.
"Twenty years ago I pilgrimed
..To that loved old spot once more
Where my schoolboy life had ended
..More than twenty years before.
Still its crumbling walls were standing
..Drooped the roof, removed the floor
And no pupil's foot now entered
..At the ever-open door.
"And I gazed in pensive sadness,
..Gazed in silence, gazed and yearned
As the past came stealing backward
..And my mem'ry backward turned;
And I saw the teacher standing
..As the class before him stood,
And I heard their voices droning
..Knew their faces, caught their mood.
"Heard their rush and merry rattle
..As the noon recess arrived.
Saw their plays and heard their prattle,
..Saw the sports their wits contrived.
But alas! I was but dreaming.
..In my dream my heart had burned.
Yet my vision was but seeming
..And my waking thoughts returned.
"Where are now the honored teachers
..Whom my heart and mem'ry hold?
Where each term's returning pupils
..Now the years are backward told?
Then I knew that teachers, pupils
..All who gathered year by year,
All who met but now are parted
..Meet no more--and none are here.
"Then I wandered to the graveyard
..Sloping upward on the hill
Where the headstones yet were watching
..As they stood so white and still;
And I queried--"Gathered here
Are my early boyhood's neighbors?
..Gathered all--from far and near?"
"And I called the roll from mem'ry
..In that spot so lone and drear,
And as each name by name I murmured.
..Each sad gravestone answered, "Here!"
Then I sought one sacred corner
..As I sadly wandered round,
Then a voice--"Put off thy sandals,
..Where thou stand'st is hallowed ground."
"Here, God's angels watch are keeping
..Over those who long have died.
Here thy father and thy mother
..Now lie sleeping side by side.
Side by side they lived and labored
..By life's toils and sorrows tried;
Side by side they still lie pillowed
..Nor could death their rest divide.
"And when God's recording angel
..Over there the roll shall call,
And His dearest saints are gathered
..In His palace--gathered all;
Mid the mighty throng, unnumbered,
..Who the spotless white shall wear
I shall meet those happy parents
..Mid the saved ones gathered there.
"Far from youthful walks I've wandered,
..Many scenes of earth beheld,
Many friends I've made and valued,
..Wonders rare my vision spelled.
None can set my mem'ry roving,
..None my inmost soul can thrill
As the schoolhouse by the roadside
..And the graveyard on the hill!"
THE FREMONT COUNTY SUN
March 5, 1907
Raise in Carrier's Salary
C. W. Steven's informs us that from all he can learn the rural
route carriers' salary will be raised the first of July from $720
to $900 per year. There is certainly no route in the United
States where the carriers deserve a raise as much as they do on
Nos. 1 and 2 out of Sidney. These routes are each thirty-one
miles long and when the roads are in the present condition it
takes from nine to twelve hours to make the trip. They have to
keep two teams on these routes, so it is evident that a rural
carrier could not get rich on the salary of $720 per year. F. E.
Mann drives route No. 1 and Mr. Stevens route No. 2. We are glad
to learn that the rural route men will get better pay.
Chambers - Thornton. Clarence Chambers and Miss
Frances Thornton left for Omaha Saturday, where they were married
and will live on a farm near Shenandoah, where the groom had a
house ready furnished to take his bride into. Mr. Chambers had a
jewelry store in the Stephens building that was burned last fall
and where he lost his entire stock of jewelry. The bride is a
daughter of C. P. Thornton and has many friends in this city who
will join The Sun in wishing her happiness in her future
home.
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WHEN THE FROST IS ON YOUR LOCKS.
"When the frost is on your locks and time's furrows on your
cheeks,
When a voice from out the silence to your inner spirit speaks.
When every sense within you tells of sure and quick decay,
Can you meet death's stern monitions without murmur or dismay?
"When you seek your couch of weakness, when the body's
overthrown,
When disease has wrecked life's fortress and all healing has
outgrown,
Do you feel the rod and staff of the Mighty One at hand,
To guide you through the darkness to the ever sunlit land?
"When your breathing's weak and labored and but low and
feeble gasps,
And you feel death's potent angel as your vitals he enclasps--
Does your soul's clear inner vision, tho the death film dims the
sight,
See the angel escorts waiting to direct youir spirit's flight?
"When you reach the river's crossing and its dark'ning waves
you note--
The gloomy, chilling river over which we all must float--
Will you find a pilot waiting with a safe and strong canoe,
And the sweet and cheering promise, "Now I'll see you safely
through?"
"When you reach the heavenly landing and the pearly gates
unclose,
And the golden city's radiance to your ravished eyes disclose,
Do the friends who wait to greet you, all extend the welcome
hand.
While to celebrate the greeting all the hosts of heaven stand?
"When brought before the dazzling throne whose glory dims
the sun,
Will you hear from heaven's Great Ruler the welcome word
"Well done.
Thou hast run thy race with patience, thou hast kept my sacred
word,
Now enter thou the fullness of the glory of our Lord?
--By Rev. George C. Hicks.
THE FREMONT COUNTY SUN
March 8, 1907
- J. F. Lewis, the photographer, now of Sidney, took a picture of
Riverton's new Christian Church last Monday.
- Lon McCluskey is now on the mail route NO. 1, having succeeded
Mel Mann on Mar. 1, 1907.
OBITUARY
Sarah Shirley, daughter of Elias Alexander and Delila Hunter, was
born in Harrisburg, Pa., Oct. 16, 1837; died at her home near
Knox March 4, 1907. When about 16 years of age she moved with her
parents to Defiance, Ohio, where on Sept. 9, 1854 she was married
to Wm. R. Shirley. In 1859 she moved with her husband to Fremont
ocunty, where she lived on a farm until her Master called her
home. Ten children were born to this union, five boys and five
girls. One son and two daughters preceeded their mother to the
land of rest, leaving seven children an an aged husband to mourn
their loss.
Yes! mother's gone. Oh, how we will miss her. Never again will we
hear her sweet voice. We love music, but the sweetest music in all
this world was mother's voice. While we cannot call her back, thanks
be to God we can go where she is. We feel sure the pure christian
example she has always placed before our home and family will be the
means of leading us all to serve the same God mother served so
faithfully. With aching hearts we say, good bye mother, until we meet you in
heaven, where we will say good bye no more. --S.
THE FREMONT COUNTY SUN
March 12, 1907
H. J. Ross, of Farragut, one of the prominent Democrats of that
part of the county, while here attending
the farmers institute last month, nosed around among the county
books and was so shocked at what he discovered that he rushed
into print. He found that the county board, which up to the first
of January was Democratic, had been alowing exorbitant prices for
supplies, and paid interest on a bill of lumber before the lumber
had been received. He also stated that Fremont county had issued
nearly $12,000 worth more bridge warrants in 1905 than Page
county did, intimating, of course, that someone had profitted
unduly at the expense of this county. These things, he says,
would make the heart of an Egyptian mummy palpitate. Evidently it
was time that the political complexion of the county board was
changed. It is Repbulican
now and it will be wise for the voters of this county to keep it
so.
THE FREMONT COUNTY SUN
March 15, 1907
- Mrs. I. B. Adams of Sidney is a sister of Mrs. H. J. Ripley of
Colorado....
- Fred Hill is the local editor for the Fremont County Herald....
- Mrs. J. Grow of Mansfield, Texas, is the daughter of David
Hiatt, Jr. of Sidney.
THE FREMONT COUNTY HERALD
March 15, 1907
Of Historical Interest. The following copy of a
deed that was dated June 4, 1861, and written by Alex.
Leitch who was then clerk of the district court may be of
interest:
Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal church at Sidney, Iowa,
Fremont county before the board of supervisors of Fremont county,
Iowa, June term 1861--TO -- The board of Supervisors of Fremont
county, Iowa:
Your petitioners, the trustees of the Methodist Episcopal church
of Sidney, Iowa, would respectfully
represent that the Methodist Episcopal church at Sidney, Iowa,
purchased of Fremont county on the 1st day of June 1852, lots 1,
2 and 3, block H, in the town of Sidney, Fremont county, Iowa,
for which said church paid
the sum of eighty dollars ($80) which amount has been fully paid
by said church all of which will now fully appear by reference to
the original book of sales of town lots in the town of Sidney on
page 42. ln consideration of the foregoing premises your
petitioners ask that said lots be conveyed by good and sufficient
deed by said county to Asahel Mann, Benjamin Rector, Job
Throckmorton, J. D. Lacy and E. A. Reeves as trustees and their
successors in office to hold for the use of said church.
--Benjamin Rector in behalf of the Methodist Episcopal church at
Sidney, Iowa.
All of the above named parties are dead except E. A. Reeves who
resides in Sidney.
Here And There
- Henry Field, the seedsman of Shenandoah, now employs over 100
people.
- William Kimberling and wife of Locust Grove township buried a
small son of theirs last Sunday in the Locust Grove cemetery. He
died from scarlet fever which was brought to the Kimberling home
by visitors from Rockport, Missouri.
- Mrs. Elizabeth Michaels died at the home of her son-in-law, H.
M. Bridensteiner, in Locust Grove township on the 8th inst., aged
83 years 11 months and 24 days. She was a native of Germany and
came to America 17 years ago. Her husband survives her.
Operated Upon at Omaha. Mrs. M. J. Lowrey of
Boise City, Idaho, was operated upon at the Emanuel hospital,
Omaha, last Friday for bone tumor of the hip, that disease being
caused by a fall from a hammock while Mrs. Lowrey was living in
Kirksville, Missouri, five years ago. This is the fourth
operation and promised to be a permanent cure. Mrs. Lowrey
formerly resided in this city and will be remembered by her
friends and her daughters, Maude and Mabel who were graduates of
the Sidney, Iowa, schools. Her father, William Lincicum, who was
at Omaha during the time of the operation states that he is
hopeful of his daughter's
speedy recovery.
An Old Hymn Book. Mack Young, of Knox, made this
office a call Wednesday and stated that he had a book of some
note and presented a small volume about four inches long, two and
one-half inches wide and two inches thick containing hymns of
that day, they being taken from the Psalms. The book was
published by D. & G. Bruce, of New York in 1808, and was the
property of James Randolph Hall, Mr. Young's great grandfather,
who was a missionary Baptist preacher in Ray county, Missouri.
The volume finally came into the hands of Mrs. Eliza Young, who
has now reached the advanced age of 81 years, and one day last
week while her son, Mark, was sitting by her bedside she made him
a present of the old family book that had in early days given his
forefathers so much spiritual comfort.
Death of William Monson
The Herald goes forth today bearing the sad message of
the death of William Monson, which occurred Tuesday night, the
12th inst., at his home in Prairie township from heart disease
superinduced by rheumatism. Deceased was a son of Charles Monson
and was born in the same house where he died, the
date of his birth being September 19, 1884. There he grew to
manhood under favorable circumstances as the farm afforded
opportunities for physical and mental power and the district
school gave him the advantage of discipline in the rudiments of
literature and the church services and Sunday school at Nishna
Valley gave him a perception of the spiritual welfare of man. He
was united in mariage to Florence Roberts, daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. Nathan Roberts of Riverton, July 3, 1904, and they have
since made the Monson farm their home. No children were born to
them. (submitters note: Mary Jane (Monson) Ross was born several
months later.--W.F.) The funeral services were conducted at the
Nishna Valley church on Thursday afternoon by Revs. M. R. Harned
of Riverton and Enoch Hill of Sidney. Approriate hymns were used
for the occasion and a deep sympathy prevailed over the vicinity
as the loss of a worthy young man was great. He had been a member
of that denomination (Methodist) for some six years. Interment in
the Sidney cemetery. The pall
bearers were: Ed and Jesse Gordon, John Vansant, Walter and
Orville Malcom and Clyde Goodner.
THE FREMONT COUNTY HERALD
March 19, 1907
Retains Gold Nuggets. Daniel T. Rhode, who died
in Oregon about a year ago and who for many years was a resident
of Green township two miles southwest of Tabor, was the possessor
of a fine collection of gold nuggets and in the distribution of
the estate his wife was privileged by order of the court to
retain these nuggets from being sold by the administrator. These
nuggets have a history if the details
could be followed, but only a mere mention can be made from facts
gained by interviewing W. B. Cantwell of this city, who knew
Rhode at Virginia City, Montana in 1864. D. T. Rhode and John
Argyle discovered the Summit district of Alder Gulch on July 4,
1863, and the fame of that noted mining camp soon spread through
the length and breadth of the whole west and thousands of people
rushed thereto, a few to succeed and many to be disappointed.
Rhode and Argyle had their claims which they worked from July
until the mining operations stopped on account of cold weather
when they sold out for a sum amounting to perhaps $13,000 a
piece. How to get away with that much money was a question , as
the road agents were so bold that it was
almost impossible to get money out of that locality by stage or
private conveyance, but Rhode and Argyle hit upon a plan that was
successful. They put the gold dust into bucksin sacks and these
sacks they put inside of
the collars they worked upon their mule team. The sacks
containing the nuggetts they took care of in some other way and
of nights when they camped, they hid these nugget sacks in the
snow and thus they followed that plan until they reached Salt
Lake City, Utah, and from there they came home by the way of
Denver, Colo, by more safe protection of travel.
66 Years Old Last Sunday. Rev. S. S. Orr was at
the county seat last Saturday from his home near Knox
and while sitting in the Herald office he incidentally remarked
that he would be 66 years of age on the following Sunday. He was
born March 17, 1841 in Wayne county, West Virginia, and there
grew up on a hill farm where he learned the splendid art of using
the hoe in the cultivation of corn. He attended a select school
and later began teaching near Jefferson City, MO., the profession
he followed for nearly 30 years. He came to Fremont county in
1865.
Mrs. Stiles Gave Birthday Party. Last
Sunday was a day long to be remembered at the home of Mr. and
Mrs. Eugene Stiles on Main street. It was for the purpose of
celebrating the birthday of Mr. Stiles and also that of Mrs. M.
M. Thornton, sister of Mrs Stiles. The occasion was one of
pleasant memories and the hours passed under social conversation
until dinner was announced when all repaired to the dining room
where a bounteous repast was in waiting and all did ample justice
to the splendid menu. The table was presided over by Gwendolyn
and Beatrice Stiles and Vesta Thornton.
Death of Dr. Dwight Lumm. The sad news of the
death of Dr. Dwight Lumm was flashed over the wires last
Friday from Council Bluffs where he was recently taken from his
home at Percival to be treated in a hospital at that place. In
his passing Fremont county loses another of her old time citizens
and a gentleman of great
worth. His remains were brought to Percival on the midnight train
last Friday and on Saturday the funeral services were held in the
Congregational church at 10 o'clock conducted by Rev. J. W.
Ferner, pastor of the Congregational church at Tabor. Interment
was made in the Rector cemetery near Knox. Deceased
was born June 25, 1834 in New Haven county, Connecticut, where he
grew to manhood and received his education. He came to Iowa and
located at old Civil Bend (Percival) in 1858 and in 1859 he began
the study of medicine under Dr. R. R. Hanley under whose
instruction he remained for five years. He was a successful
practitioner of medicine and for many years administered to the
needs of suffering humanity. He also held several offices, that
of postmaster, school director and for twelve years was justice
of the peace. In all of these positions he did his duty as he saw
it and his influence was wide-spread. He was united in marriage
to Miss Matilda Smith April 13, 1855, and to them five children
were born, namely Mary A., Frank R., Sarah E. and Lulu I., also
one who died in infancy. The pall bearers were: Will Rogers, Lum
Keyser, George Graham, Jay Rogers, and W. H. and Walter Sheldon.
Farmers Worked Hard. Three sturdy farmers came
into town last Friday and their cheeks of tan showed
that they were accustomed to braving the elements and their hands
of brown gave evidence of the strength underlying out-door
exercise. They were true to their duty and gloves were not
thought of, but the old fashioned way of grappling with the
problem was pursued. You all know them--E. S. Murphy, A. T.
Birkby and Emmett Bobbitt, and they were doing work for the Knox
Mutual Telephone company and when they closed their labors Frank
Brandon and Hodges, Goy &n Co., were supplied with
insturments and these firms now have the splendid privilege of
communicating with the world at large and the three farmers are
ready and perfectly willing to make others happy who may desire
the benefits of the Mutual.
[all submitted by W.F. Aug. & Sept. 2003]