Jefferson Bee
Jefferson, Greene Co. Iowa
October 8, 1891
The untimely death of Dr. James SAUNDERS, of Scranton, on Friday
of last week, is one of the saddest events that The Bee
has been called upon to chronicle in many and many a day. It was
only on Monday of that week that a pretty, bright-eyed boy baby
was born into the family fold. Mother and child were doing
nicely, and the prospects for happiness in the SAUNDERS home
seemed assured. On Thursday morning the doctor complained of a
pain in the region of his lungs, and said he was going to take a
dose of something to relieve it. A few moments later he was found
in an unconscious condition by his wife, who immediately summoned
physicians, and everthing possible of a restorative sort was
done, to no avail. He had taken an overdose of opium, a drug he
had been accustomed to use when feeling badly, and his system
could not shake off the terrible effect of the poison thus
unwittingly taken in so large a quanity. The patient rallied
sufficiently to recognize friends, and it was thought for a time
could be brought out of his lethargy by artificial aid in
respiration, but at a critical time heart failure set in and took
him off in less than an hour's time. His death occurred just at
noon on Friday. The deceased was a young man, but thirty-six
years of age, and was one of the most promising medical
practitioners in the county. He was highly esteemed, both
professionally and otherwise, at Scranton, where his years of
industry had built the foundataion for a splendid business. A man
who knew him well and knows Scranton well told us that he would
be missed from the town as much as any single man who could have
been taken away. The family is of course left unutterable sad by
his death.
We heard a compliment for Jefferson the other day. Rather we
overheard it. It was along the line of the honesty of our people.
A couple of farmers were talking on the street and one of them
said "Yes sir, that's one thing about this town. I have
never lost anything here by petty thieving. I come and leave my
buggy, with robes and whip, on a back street all day, and go at
evening to find everything untouched. Nobody ever steals things
left lying carelessly exposed." The compliment struck us as
being a pretty wholesome one, for any place. We believe there are
various ways in which a town may acheive ignominy and shame. By
being the seat of the wholesale murder of a family of two it may
gain much unpopularity among neighboring people. But it a village
wishes to drink to its dregs the fullest cup of scorn humanity
can pour, let a sniek-thieving spirit get away, and let our
farmer friends feel called on to thank Heaven every time they get
out of town only moderately robbed of their little belongings,
Honesty is the best policy. Here's to Jefferson -- an honest
town!
The County Insanity Commission was called together Tuesday
morning to consider the case of Miss Etta SMITH, living down
soputh, who was taken to Independence last June, but came back
soon after and has since been staying at home. This latest
information was filed by her brother, Mr. Joel SMITH, and as a
result of the deliberations of the Commission she left for
Independence Tuesday evening incharge of her brother. The case of
this young woman, who is barely twenty years of age, and the
phantasies of her disordered brain, are peculiar to an extreme.
She imagines that it is her duty to commit suicide, and is
constantly working and contriving to that end with a terrible
cunning. On one occasion she walked four miles to find the rope
used by Mrs. LAIR in killing herself, and when questioned said
she wanted to use it for the same ghastly purpose. The friends
were fearful less the girl might succeed, so concluded to have
her put under the careful espionage of the attendants at the
asylum. Sheriff BLACK informs us that the three asylums in the
State are uncomfortably full now, and a fourth one is recommended
by the authorities. The insane in the State who are at present
cared for at public expense number upwards of 4,500.
PERSONAL PARAGRAPHS.
O.L. DICK returned Saturday from Chicago.
Mrs. Olivia FEEMAN, with her sister, Leota WYNKOOP, spent the
latter part of last week in Des Moines, on a fall
"shopping" tour.
Mr. Henry HOLLOWAY and wife, of this city, spent Sunday with
relatives at Linden, where Mr. H.'s parents reside. They went
down on Friday, returning Monday evening.
Mr. and Mrs. J.H. EICHARS, who have been stopping at the Head
House for about three weeks, looking after real estate interests
in this vicinity, left for a visit at the Corn Palace today.
J.T. SHERMAN, Esq. of Jackson township, a friend and patron of
the The Bee of over twenty years standing, favored us in
a neighborly way last Monday with a call and had his paper
credited ahead into the year to come. He is a genial man.
[note: the initials possibly could be I.T.]
Still ALDRECH and family broke up house-keeping and hotel-keeping
arrangements at the Revere House on Monday of this week, and are
now esconced in Mrs. MARSH's new house on North Chestnut Street,
where they will remain for the winter. STAKE & Son have
already commenced the proposed alterations in their late purchase
thus vacated, and will be occupying the premises by November 1.
They purpose to make it a first class hotel.
We are not advised as to other sections of the city, but do know
that the southern suburbs are well stocked with cowboys, morning
and evening. Some are astride, and rush through the streets at a
breakneck speed, and the barefooted brigade are quite numberous,
alll bent on placing the time-honored cow where she can absorb
most cream. It is absolutely surprising how many juveniles find a
little nest of money in this bossy-driving business.
A pitable and fatal accident happened in the years of the
C.M.& St.P. Railway at Cedar Rapids last week. A car-coupler
named John N. PULLEY got his head caught between the bumpers of
two passenger coaches that were being shunted together, and it
was crushed into a lateral space of less than four inches. The
poor fellow lived a few hours, and his head seemed to be shaping
back into normal proportions, when a reaction set inand ended the
unequal struggle.
An important real estate deal is reported by Messrs. LAWERNCE
& HAAG, this week, by the terms of which Mr. M.S. JACOBY and
his son Charles get a title to the 480 acre farm of Mr. Zeb.
FERRIN of Bristol township, for a consideration of $14,400 and
Mr. F. takes the fractional eighty from Mr. JACOBY at $3,000. The
parties will exchange residences as soon as matters can be
conveniently arranged.
See our $1.85 Ladies' Kid Shoe -- McCULLY Bros.
Watch RILEY's show windows for bargains.
The people of Greene county are finding out that OPPENHEIMER is
here to stay and making a big business success in our midst. His
store has come to be the central point for people looking for
bargains in suting and all sorts of gentlemen's furnishing goods,
and he and his courteous clerking force has a kindly word and a
woarm greeting for everbody, whether they have come to buy goods
or not. They have no old clothing carried over from season to
season. It's all bright and new and clean, and their tables and
shelves are piled full. There's nothing shoddy about the
OPPENHEIMER store. Their stock, both in the hat department, where
they handle the very best goods at lowest prices, and in the
clothing and overcoat department where special bargains are
offered, is complete in every respect. They are also making a
special sale of under clothing these fall days at prices
surprisingly low, only 50 cents a piece for undershirts and
drawers. Julius spent a long two weeks in the eastern markets
this fall, in company of his uncles at Chariton and Webster City,
and they bought for cash, and in such big lots that the goods
cost them less than they do the ordinary merchant, hence can be
sold cheaper.
[note: The first words of the following items were cut off of my
copy of the paper the "--" indicates missing words or
letters]
-- Anna DICKSON moved her -- sleeping quarters the first of the
-- from Mrs. J.F. ANDERSON's residence -- the cottage just west,
which -- lately refitted for her occupan -- It will make a cosy
winter --
-- the meeting of the City fathers -- evening, Mr. O.L. DICK
tendered his resignation as recorder, having -- the duties of the
office to in -- more time and attention than -- afford to give
under his present business pressure. No one has as -- chosen to
succeed him.
-- Equality Club held -- with Mrs. REMICK, -- evening, with a
fair attendence. -- president Jno. GRAY in the -- of study was
carefully outlined and the evening for meeting was changed from
Monday to Friday. Mr. E.W. FOY was chosen instructor for the next
session. This new "Club" will derive intellectual
profit and social pleasure through this literary connection.
-- from Charlie KEELER, the -- town piano tuner, and one of -- on
the road, states that he -- in Jefferson the last of this --.
Anyone needing first-class -- in this line, will do well to com
-- work to Mr. KEELER.
[transcribers note: the top part of the following article was cut off of my copy]
The most important criminal case is the one against John
GREGORY, who was brought back from Polk county two months ago and
has lain in jail ever since, accused of stealing a team belonging
to Mr. MARBLE, of near Churdan. He has been in practical solitary
confinement a good portion of the time when on one else in the
county was bad enough to be deprived of liberty, and his mother,
Mrs. HOSHAW, has paid him an occasional visit. He has been in the
penitentiary before and is a bad lot. The two young men who
forged the order in Calhoun county will also get a full hearing.
Then there is the usual routine of civil cases almost an even
hundred of them, many of which have been continued on and on from
term to term indefinitily. The docket comprises 116 cases of all
sorts.
[transcribed by S.F., August 2003]