Iowa Old Press

The Free Press
Mount Pleasant, Henry, Iowa
Thursday, Aug. 7, 1879

Local Matters.

-J.S. Craig is earning a reputation as a good detective.
-J.C. Throop is canvassing for the FREE PRESS and authorized to receive subscriptions for the same.
-The biggest oranges and the boss 5 cent cigar, the "Board of Trade," at Sullivan & Andrews' Bakery, east side.
-Miss Kittie Gill has been promoted to the principalship of No. 2, in the Central school, a place made vacant by the resignation of Miss Lynch.
-Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Vernon, of Memphis, arrived in this city last week, driven away from their home city (Memphis) again, at the approach of the dreadful scourge-yellow fever.
-Miss Florence A. Lynch has resigned her position in the public school, that of principal in No. 2, main building. The directors, on Monday, advanced Miss Kate Gill to her place, and elected Miss Rena Reynolds to Miss Gill's place.
-Mr. J.B. Lynch, who went from this place to Leadville a few months since, is so well pleased that he has sent for his family, expecting to make the west their home. They will probably say their goodbyes to our city in a couple of weeks.
-Our fellow-townsman, Mr. T. Whiting, had his seven children all at home with him last Friday evening and they had a genuine family reunion such as a family of that size, and scattered about in various states, can only rarely enjoy.
-L. Ketcham & Bros. desire to say to the farmers of Henry county, and elsewhere, that they are now prepared to receive all kinds of grain at the Elevator and Excelsior Mills, for which they will pay the highest cash prices.
-Mrs. Wm. Ketcham, who has been spending several months in Washington D.C., returned to her home in this city on Monday. She reports the appearance of several cases of yellow fever in Washington City.
-Mrs. J.F. Sargent died early on Thursday morning, July 31. Her funeral was on Friday afternoon and was largely attended by sympathizing friends. An obituary came in too late for our column this week. It will appear in our next.

Personal.
-J.J. Parker left for Kansas City on Friday evening, called there by the serious illness of his son, Samuel Parker. He returned on Tuesday evening leaving his son much improved.
-Miss Grace Rudsill is off on a month's visit to Burlington and Ft. Madison.
-Miss Kate Gill and Miss Clara Bird returned on Monday evening from an extended visit in the western part of the state.
-We received a pleasant call on Tuesday from Hon. Daniel Campbell, the independent greenback candidate for Governor of this state.

A STRIKE FOR FREEDOM
Seven Prisoners Escape from our County Jail.
    About 4 o'clock Tuesday morning, it was discovered that seven of the inmates of our jail had taken leg bail, by which proceeding under a new rule of court seven prisoners were cleared on one motion without payment of costs.
    Capt. Devol, residing just west of the jail, saw three or four men hurrying past his house, about 3 o'clock, and mistrusting something wrong he called up Deputy Sheriff Conner. Connor commenced looking around the city, expecting to find some thieving band. Finding Night Watchman, J.S. Craig, and not finding anything wrong, they concluded the fugitives were from the jail. On reaching the jail they found the birds had flown, leaving only Col. Crusen to keep house. The persons escaping were:
    John Bailey, a German, aged 36; 5 feet 7 1/2 inches high; black hair; complexion dark; ink star on right arm.
    William O'Neal; 35 years old; 5 feet 7 3/4 inches high; black hair; mustache; complexion fair; fresh cut on head.
    P. Raymond; 23 years old; 5 feet 8 inches high; smooth-faced; dark hair; complexion dark; wart on left elbow; 3 fore-fingers off left hand.
    R. Beard; 32 years old; 5 feet 7 1/2 inches high; auburn hair; complexion light.
    J.F. Fetrow; 24 years old; 5 feet 9 1/4 inches high; auburn hair; complexion light.
    Harlan McKune; 28 years old; about 6 feet high; complexion fair. Murder; killed Riley, near Marshall, Henry County, Iowa.
    Silas Casteel; 34 years old; 6 feet high; very heavy mustache; dark hair; complexion dark.
    They effected their escape by removing one of the rocks of the wall, this rock being 2 1/2 feet long, 18 inches wide and one foot thick. It is now evident that the strong wall which was believed to be burglar proof and on which we have been depending for ten years as giving perfect security is not safe at all. And the very devices which were relied upon as its safe feature, under the ingenuity of the confined, become one of the especial-if not indispensable-helps to open the jail. The wall is 18 inches thick and made by putting one stone upon the other, cutting in the center of the top and bottom of each rock a hole half large enough to let in a one and a half inch iron ball. The thickness of the mortar below and above the rock removed was 1 1/4 inches. When this was removed then they only wanted a trifle over one-quarter of an inch more space to let rock free. To secure this, they sawed a passage slanting upward in the rock below just wide enough and deep enough for the ball to roll in. When they had done this, all they had to do was to roll the rock into the cell and ease it carefully down upon the bed, and they had a hole that anybody could go through. In building the new addition to the jail, the cupboard is placed against the jail wall. The rock removed extended about six inches north of the addition. When they removed the rock, they came to the back of the cupboard, made of 3/4 inch pine matched, through this they cut, a hole 15 1/2 inches wide and 10 inches high. Across this hole, and about 2 1/2 inches from the bottom, ran a shelf 14 inches wide and 1 inch thick. It is supposed that one of the men crawled through the hole above the shelf, 7 1/2 by 15 1/2 inches. This one took the sheriff's buck saw out of the frame and they soon had the shelf out of the way. The extreme warm weather making it impossible for the prisoners to sleep in their cells with closed doors allowed them to work at night. And the other fact that the sheriff relied upon the assertion of the builder and others as to the perfect safety of the wall, we think relieves the sheriff from all blame.
    Now that the security of the stone wall has been demonstrated to be a humbug, we expect there will be an overhauling of the same, when there will be an opportunity to do something by way of ventilation and cleansing that will render the place fit for a person to live in.
    The only tool the prisoners left were a bit of steel corset stay, a table leg, and some pieces of chair rounds, about four inches long, used for rollers, and one old rusty gouge chisel. They used their bedding to deaden any sound.

THURSDAY MORNING.
    Just as we go to press we can give the news that three of the prisoners, John Bailey, William O'Neal and P. Raymond, have been captured, and are returned to their old quarters in the jail. Craig had been down by St. Paul and had left full description. These men were seen on Wednesday and suspicioned, and on their arrival at St. Paul, about 2 o'clock p.m. they were all arrested. They state that one of their number while travelling a night stepped off a steep bank and fell striking his knee on a stone at the bottom. This so disabled him that he could only travel with difficulty, and had to be assisted by one of his comrades. He told them to leave him but they stuck by him though with the knowledge that in doing so they greatly increased the risk of their capture. At last, not being able to get along across fields and through woods, they came out on the open road and attempted to pass as ordinary tramps. Their whitened out complexion rather gave them away at last, and first caused them to be suspicioned. They say they were about four months getting the stone out of the jail, that as soon as it was done these three with McKune crawled through before the shelf was cut away. They got the saw to cut it away but were afraid to use if for the noise. These four then left. They suppose one of the three got out and sawed away the shelf, when the remaining two got out and departed.
    Mr. O.A. Garretson and Mr. Cowgill of Jackson township, are entitled to the credit of detecting and capturing them.

- How many of those who visited our jail on Tuesday morning felt that it was a good enough place for seven men to be confined during the sweltering summer weather? Should there not be some humanity shown even to these poor outcasts, at least before they are found guilty? The room should be made much larger and very much better ventilated, and as much more secure as it is possible to make it, with airy cells, where each prisoner could be safely locked at night.

Escaped from Jail.
    On Tuesday morning the Mt. Pleasant people were surprised to hear that several prisoners had escaped the county jail. But they are still more surprised to hear of the wonderful cures made by Dr. Van Cise's Neutralizing Cordial for summer complaints for children and for all acute and chronic diseases of the bowels, for sour stomach and sickness of the stomach in delicate females, it is unsurpassed.

- Sheriff Davidson, during his administration, has done all in his power to make the jail decent and inhabitable, yet no one can deny that our county jail is a disgrace to Henry county, and somebody should see to it that a better and safer place be provided for our prisoners. They should at least have enough pure air to breathe.

Take Notice.
    To all whom it may concern: All persons in this city are hereby notified and required to cleanse the premises on which they reside or have control, of all filth of every kind, including deposits in alleys, sewers, sinks, and all other places calculated to create a stench and produce disease. And to use plenty of lime or other disinfectant in all such places and especially in privy vaults. And it is recommended that the contents of vaults be not removed until cooler weather, but to use plenty of lime in them. Such cleansing to be done within ten days from this date or all places complained of will be liable to be dealt with as nuisances and be abated. To the end that a healthy condition of the city may be realized.
    By order of the Council,
    W.S. Burton, Mayor.
August 4th, 1879.
  
- Our enterprising townsman, Wm. Shultz, who invented the Wheel Scraper, now so extensively used in railroad grating, has just completed what may be termed a wheel harrow, by which a man or boy or woman can sit on a spring seat and thoroughly break and pulverize the soil, if needed, to the depth of five inches or one inch or any depth less than five inches. He has just finished his first model and is ready to put it to the test, and thus develop its perfections or imperfections- If I were a boy again I should take a lively interest in the success of such an invention. Even now I can remember the weary and monotonous work of following through the long spring days the creeping old harrow and those patient and unambitious old horses.          TIMOTHY.

- J.W. Tracy, after about a year of faithful labor, has succeeded in securing for himself a miniature lake of the clearest and purest water to be found anywhere in the county. We doubt if even Minnesota, the land of lakes, can excel it. The lake is fed from a clear, cold spring of water, and he has already secured a depth of nine feet. He intends to make it one of the city's most useful, attractive and health promoting surroundings. When the finishing touches are all added it will furnish our citizens with the purest ice, the smoothest and slipperiest skating, the choicest fish that can be reared from the choicest varieties of limpid lakes and mountain streams. And in summer a convenient bathing place and school for those aspiring to master the swimming art. We wish him entire success, and we doubt not the public will not be backward in giving aid and comfort to the enterprise.

A Card.
Editors Free Press:-
    Permit me, through your valuable paper, to express my heartfelt thanks to the many friends and neighbors for their kindness, attendance and assistance, during the sickness and funeral of my deceased wife, and for their sympathy in my late bereavement.
    These lighten the load of sorrow, by the assurance that heart feels for heart in its hour of trouble.
    May all, if ever so afflicted, meet with like sympathy.
    J.F. SARGENT.
    Mt. Pleasant, Aug. 6, 1879.

DIED.
    DODGE.- In Grantsville, Linn county, Mo., on Monday, July 21, 1879, Mrs. Maria Smith Dodge, mother of Mrs. O.J. Gimble of this city, aged about 75 years.

The Free Press
Mount Pleasant, Henry, Iowa
Thursday, Aug. 14, 1879

A Yankee's Notion of Iowa.
(Hamilton N.Y. Republican)
        MT. PLEASANT, IOWA,
        July 6, 1879.

    Mount Pleasant, a thriving young city of 5,000 or 6,000 inhabitants, is 28 miles west of Burlington. This city in southern Iowa is somewhat noted for its educational advantages, the Iowa Wesleyan University is here, founded by James Harlan, who lives here. Its advanced system of public schools is of the very best. It is called the Athens of Iowa. Also a model Lunatic Asylum, the best in the west; at least west of the Mississippi, where crazy folks can be as crazy as they wish to be, and be kindly treated, always.
    The season here is good and crops very good, corn, the ruling crop, best fields as high as a horse's back, and tasseling out, stalks an inch through, grass very good, I never saw such fine fields of timothy and white clover, meadows and pastures, very little red clover. The fall wheat and rye is about all harvested and stands in shocks, spring wheat and oats are beginning to turn yellow. The stock of horses and cattle and hogs are well bred. The best horses are grades from the Norman blood. I saw a gray Norman stallion of pony build, short back and long hips and broad and flat limbs and good motion, weight 1700 pounds. A three year old grade mare of fine proportions, weight, 1270 pounds. The cattle are mostly grade Durhams, good size and good in flesh. Hogs (the leading stock crop, for they pay the best,) are innumerable, and all black or black and white; white hogs are as scarce as white crows. I went to a farm where they had a cheese or butter factory. There was about 75 cows and they had the milk of 125 more, and 300 black hogs of the Berkshire kind, large and little and the soil and mud they rolled in made them shine so the dirtiest looked the cleanest.

THE PEOPLE
    I will try and describe an Iowa crowd in contrast with a New York state crowd. The Fourth was a great day in Mt. Pleasant. My brother, who has lived here since 1868, says it was the largest crowd he ever saw here. The county literally emptied itself into the city, and at the time of the balloon ascension, about 4 p.m., the vast crowd is variously estimated at from five to ten thousand people. The first contrast that struck me was the large number of vigorous men and women in the prime of life, and so many young men and women leading and carrying in their arms young children and babies, and such a large number of children and such a small number of old men and women. They are very scarce and of course are very dear. I felt rather lonesome, but consoled myself by thinking if I stayed here long enough I might become dear. There is also a large sprinkling of colored people. When the war began, they ran away from Northern Missouri and have never gone back. They are uniformly quiet and jolly, with their black faces, white teeth and numerous children. They are first rate to chink into a crowd. The people came in to town in the tidy phaeton, in the nice family carriage, in the square box democrat, in the strong built farm wagon, in the rude prairie vehicle, on horse back and mule back, for they are good riders, most always at a gallop; and thus they poured in in the morning, and poured out at night. I never saw so many people together, so quiet and apparently so happy, and for a wonder, I didn't see a single person the worse for liquor! Indeed there is no intoxicating drink allowed to be sold within to and a half miles of the city.
    Once more and I am done. One reason why I like to stay here is there are so many Throops. A brother and family, another brother's children, a nephew edits a paper, the FREE PRESS. Van Cise & Throop. Van Cise is in the Black Hills, and my bother takes his place as associate editor. I call it a very good western paper. Will send you a number. The country about Mt. Pleasant is well timbered. Big Creek, out two or three miles, surrounds it like a horse shoe, and four to ten miles out the Skunk River, a large stream, surrounds it in the same way. Both these streams are crookeder than fourteen rams horns. My brother says where Big Creek rises and empties- a running length of 100 miles- is only ten miles apart, and some bends in it, and the Skunk, are forty rods across and a mile and a half around. These streams are heavily timbered, with cottonwood , oak, elm, butternut and ash, some maple, soft and hard. The shade trees are most all soft maple, which grows very thrifty and high. All good farms have groves of them about their homes. One man showed me a nursery planted with the seed three years ago, and some of them were ten feet high.

GOSSIP.
    I saw one day riding into the country a sign, "Cabage Plants for sale." I wouldn't buy any thing of any body who couldn't spell right. A girl a dozen years old, astride a velocipede, bare foot and going fast. A woman riding a horse on a man's saddle, with a baby and a tin pail. A bright, plump girl on a smooth, bay pony, on which she sat as graceful as a duck upon the water. A young girl riding a horse to rope hay, in a twenty-acre meadow, with a barn at one end. These are some of the contrasts in the country compared with ours. It think, as B.F. Taylor said about California, "It's the climate."        T.

---
    There has been a high state of excitement the past week at Marshall and vicinity over the report that McKune had been seen near that town and was receiving aid from his friends. The citizens in large numbers were out scouring the woods in a vain attempt to find him. At last, on Saturday, the excitement got so high that McKune's brother-in-law, John Lute and his uncle Henry Knott were told summarily that they must make a clean breast of all they knew or suffer the consequences. Hesitating, a rope was produced and placed around Knott's neck. After a while, seeing they were deadly in earnest, they confessed. Lute furnished money and Knott handed it to McKune. McKune came to them in the harvest field and demanded their assistance. They afterwards raised six dollars which they gave him as above. McKune then left and was advised to go south-west to Texas. They suppose that he went away on Friday. He was lame, having wounded his foot in his escape, by stepping on a nail. They also informed where the gun was secreted after the murder, and it was found just where they stated. This makes the evidence of McKune's guilt more complete. And now the question is will he be captured? If captured he will be punished, if not he will be a despised fugitive and vagabond so long as he lives.

    The three prisoners first caught, Bailey, O'Neal and Raymond, after traveling two nights and one day, brought up on Wednesday morning in a retired spot on the farm of William Loomis, five miles southeast of town. They supposed they were from thirty to fifty miles from Mt. Pleasant.- They were pretty wet from rain and wading the creek, and built a fire to dry themselves and to roast some corn to eat. The smoke was observed by Mrs. Loomis from the house and about 8 o'clock Mr. Loomis and James Peckham went down to see what it was. They found the men and conversed with them. They had not heard of the escape from jail, yet they suspicioned there was something wrong.-
    The men soon after made some excuse and departed. That afternoon they were captured.

WINFIELD.
    We had a fine rain last night. The corn crop needed it badly, as it had commenced to fire, some fields as high up as the ears. The small grain is nearly all stacked, and some have commenced to thresh. The oats are of a good quality and turns out well.- The wheat is not so good, but fair. Business is looking up and trade is more lively.
    They of the B. & N. W.R.R. will soon commence to lay track. Six to nine carloads of ties arrive every night, and the cars will soon run to Washington.
    Hiram Kirkpatrick and wife leave soon for Northwest Missouri, to visit children.
    Report says the Beer saloon has changed hands. It is a pity, but it could be changed for something better and more useful.
    Rev. Thome is away, attending a sick brother. The Rev. Mr. Hays, of Illinois, supplied his pulpit last Sabbath.
    Miss Julia A. Moore, of Summerville, Mahoning Co., Ohio, is visiting at Will Stewart's druggist of this city.
    A. Miller is buying all kinds of grain at this point, as is also Smiley & Bryant, and paying the highest market price for the same.
    No quarantine against yellow fever here yet, and no bad cases, but very warm.
    Jerome Mullen had a narrow escape from fire. The little girl lit a match and probed it into a bed quilt, and set the room on fire. Burned all the clothing, etc., in the room. The family is left without a second suit, but saved the house.
    Hon. Dan Campbell, Greenback candidate for Governor, is here to-night.      Aug 4, 1879.

BURGLARY.
     There was a blundering attempt made to break into the store of Newbold & Houseman, on Monday night last. The operators were self-nominated, juvenile candidates for States prison, and there is little doubt of their ultimate election. The attempt was made to open the cellar door- which is fastened by dropping a cross-bar into some hooks or half staples. They had evidently made the proper measurement by day light, so that with a two-inch augur they could bore just below the bar and raise it out of one of the hooks. But they struck a nail and gave it up, then went to the window and cut out the sash, and removed four lights. At this juncture, Watchman Craig- or some other guardian- frightened them off. Any advice to them to give up night walking and go to bed at nine o'clock will never be heeded, till their trusted adviser- the Devil - drops them into jail, for he has his grip firmly fixed upon them.

PERSONAL.
    -Miss Mary McVey, who has been teaching school near Hopkins, Mo. returned last week to her home near Salem.
    - Mrs. O.J. Gimble left on Friday morning for a visit with her sister at Pekin, Illinois.
    - Prof. Leigh Hunt, the newly elected principal of our public schools is this week conducting an Institute at Shell Rock, Iowa.
    - H.C. Hollingsworth is in town a part of this week. He has been doing very successful work in the Louisa County Normal during the last few weeks.
    - Mrs. Jane Butler, from Springfield, Ill., a former resident here, is visiting in town.
    - Miss Sue Collins leaves for her home in Knoxville, this (Thursday) morning.
    - Mrs. Berry is in this city is visiting her daughter, Mrs. Dr. Spaulding.

LOCAL MATTERS
    - W.H. Barkuff, blacksmith at Winfield, knows how to do a good job of shoeing.
    - Milton H. Price is building a fine new house near Winona.
    -Hogs in various localities in the county are dying with cholera. Pure water and good care is a preventive.
    -Watermelons are being brought into market in large quantities. Some days there being ten to fifteen wagon loads.
    -The FREE PRESS is under many obligations to J.N. Malone and J.H. Goodspeed, of Winfield, for favors the past week.
    - Louis Schleip is canvassing this week, and is authorized to receive subscriptions for the FREE PRESS.
    - The biggest oranges and the boss 5 cent cigar, the "Board of Trade", at Sullivan & Andrews' Bakery, east side.
    - On the farm of Wm. Loomis, five miles southeast of town, there is an alum spring. The water is very strong and impregnated and tastes strong of alum.
    - Wm. Smith, reported killed in a Leadville, Col. fire, is all right. Mrs. Campbell in her communication on our first page reports that he took dinner with them lately and is looking quite well.
    - J.W. Beard, near Mt. Union, lost his pocketbook containing about fifteen dollars about the first of the month. He more than half suspects that it is packed away in his wheat stack, lost from pocket while stacking.
    - Henry Payne, the democratic committeeman for Jefferson township, gives notice that a meeting to select delegates to the county convention will be held at Marshall on Saturday, Aug. 16th at 3 o'clock in the afternoon.
    - Mrs. C.T. Cole, Miss Clara Cole, Ollie and Artie Cole started on the Friday morning mail train west for a two weeks visit to Earnest, Ralph and Addison Cole, in Adair county.
    - Fairfield has appointed a committee to solicit subscriptions to aid in securing Joel Turney's wagon shops there. They want to raise for him $2,000 and propose to do it.
    -N. Senseney and wife keep hotel at Marshall. Mr. Senseney is 85 years old, yet seems as hale and hearty as a man of fifty, and Mrs. Senseney gets up a meal that is a delight to the hungry traveler.
    -O.T.N. Turner, living near Merimac, is a gentleman of the Kentucky school, given to pleasant, genial, hospitality, giving a cheerful greeting and good cheer to the chance caller.
    - DIED. In Marengo, on the 9th inst., Paul, infant son of N.E. and E.W. Lieb. Mrs. Leib will be remember as Miss Ella Crane, and this sweet child, about one year old, was one of her twin children. The bereaved parents have the sympathy of many friends in this city.
    - During the month of July there was paid as back pension in this county, the following amounts:
    J.W. Beeber, $520.53; B.F. Cummings, 605.87; Albert Cochrane, 498.00. Total 1624.40.
    -The residence of Wm. Allen, at New London, was broken into on Tuesday night. Mr. Allen was awakened just as the burglar was leaving with his pants.- He gave chase but it was no use. He is out a pair of pants and about thirty dollars in money.
 

    Dr. Bird and Leslie and Mr. Ed Kauffman returned home from the Indian regions on Saturday night. They seem well and happy, and, if we must judge from appearances, not averse to a civilized life. We are glad to have them all back with us again.

    W.T. Stansbury has returned and is now canvassing for that most excellent and useful book "Hill's Manual of social and business forms." A good many subscribed while he was here before and this time he proposes to make a more thorough canvass.

    A new M.E. church is being built in Jackson township, 2 1/2 miles from Webster's mill. The committee found they could do better to buy their lumber of Messrs. Ross Brothers in this city, than at Ft. Madison, on the river. Several loads were taken away on Wednesday. We glean these facts from E. Barney.

    One of the finest entertainments ever given in Mt. Pleasant was that of Miss Ella J. Meade, at the High School building, on Friday evening. Her readings, recitations and impersonations showed her to be most thoroughly accomplished in the art. It is seldom we have anything so well worthy of liberal patronage as was this entertainment. It was unfortunate that so few were present to enjoy it. We were surprised that no more of the teachers attending the Institute were out.

    Hon. Delos Arnold, state senator from Marshall county, arrived in the city on Wednesday. He take quite an interest in geological specimens of which he has a large collection. He came here to examine the geodes found near Lowell, in this county. On Thursday, in company with Messrs. Woolson and Babb, Prof. Mansfield and H.N. Crane, they made a visit to the geode creek and brought away a quantity of very fine specimens. Senator Arnold returned to Marshalltown on Friday.

    Sol. Hewitt, for many years one of our most popular grocers, and wide awake citizens, has concluded to sell out his business in this city and remove to Des Moines, where several of his children are now living. Mr. Hewitt will be missed here, in social and business circles. He has lived here many years, and has hosts of friends. We rather think, when once away from Mt. Pleasant, he will long to be back again. He advertises in another column to sell his entire stock, fixtures and good will.

    J.J. Stansbury, a former resident of Jefferson township, who a few years ago suffered some very heavy losses in the cattle business and soon after removed to Gentry county, Mo., is now in luck. A railroad from St. Louis to Omaha has established a depot on his farm near Mt. Pleasant. A new town will thus be started which he has named Stansbury, and all this greatly increases the value of his property there. The many friends of Mr. Stansbury, in this county, will rejoice over his good fortune.

    It having been announced that Miss Anna Fuller would assist the choir at St. Michael's Church on last Sabbath, the church was crowded to overflowing. Mr. Sam H. Tiffany, to the great delight of his friends, presided at the organ and opened the exercises by a voluntary, played in his usual admirable style. Then followed a solo, "Salve Regines," by Miss Cleaves, one of the leading singers of Davenport. Miss Fuller's rendition of a selection from the Oratorio of the Messiah, entitled, "He shall lead his flock like a shepherd," was superb. The choir deserved great praise for their rendition of the beautiful anthems of the church service. The music could not fail to delight the audience, the choir being led by J.W. Sattherwait, Messrs. Lehew and Hare also assisted. The sermon by Mr. Farrar was an excellent one, and the occasion one long to be remembered.

Pleasant Hill Cemetery.
    The trustees of the Pleasant Hill Cemetery desire to inform the public that they have set apart Thursday, Aug. 21st, and the following days if necessary to "clean off", repair fencing and improve said grounds. That those that have friends interred therein or otherwise interested are invited to aid by labor, or contributions of money will be applied if sent to
    JACOB HOUSEMAN, Chairman.

Wedding Anniversary
    Rev. D.S. Tappan and wife celebrated the tenth anniversary of their wedding day on Tuesday evening, Aug 12. At an early hour their pleasant home in the east part of town was crowded with friends, who gave them hearty greetings, on this anniversary occasion. David S. Tappan and Anna L. Grand Girard were united in marriage at Hillsboro, Ohio, on the 12th of August, 1869. Over eight years of their married life they have resided in this city. They have had four children, three of whom are now living, two girls and one boy. Mr. Tappan was educated at the same institution at Oxford where Prof. Swing graduated. During the eight years of his pastoral charge, the Presbyterian church here has become more united and prosperous than ever before. The friends of Mr and Mrs. Tappan are not confined to the membership of the church, but in an unusual degree they possess the esteem and confidence of the people outside. As expressed by one of his friends, Mr. Tappan in not only a true preacher, but one who earnestly tries himself to practice what he preaches, and in every way possible to do all the good in his power. That Mr and Mrs. Tappan may live to enjoy yet many other as pleasant anniversaries of their wedding day is the sincere wish of their many friends.

Obituary.
    The obsequal observances for Mrs. Sarah Sargent, wife of Mr. J.F. Sargent, so well known to our business public, occurred at his residence on Main street, in this city, Friday the 1st inst. the day succeeding the lady's death. The number attending upon the observances was unusually large, even for a funeral occasion, which usually attracts public attention.
    Mrs. Sarah Sargent, nee Mailing, was the daughter of Jeremiah Mailing, one among the oldest residents of this city. Mrs. Sargent was born at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, Dec. 6th, 1840, having always resided here. She joined Mr. Sargent in marriage in 1866, and very soon took up their abode at their very pleasant residence where the lady died. Mrs. Sargent was a home woman, and found in her husband congenial tastes, favoring and encouraging domesticity, home culture and home embellishment which become at length the noticeable characteristic of their lives. No religious exercises were held. Mr. Sargent and his lady being unconnected with any religious organization, the ceremony was made, at his suggestion, to correspond to his and his late wife's ideas of life.

Old Settlers' Reunion at the Office of Judge Palmer.
    At a meeting held on the 10th inst. of the committee appointed to prepare for an organization of the society of the old settlers of the county in May last, on motion of Judge Palmer, Hon. James G. Green was chosen president and Joel C. Garretson was appointed secretary. The following proceedings were had:
    Resolved, That the early settlers of the state, without reference to the exact date of residence be requested to meet together in the Park in the city of Mt. Pleasant, prepared to partake with each other, a basket dinner, each one adopting his own taste, on Thursday, the 18th day of September, 1879. Exercises to begin at 10 o'clock a.m.
    Resolved. That committees be selected from each township to supervise, canvass for and take all proper steps to make such meeting general, comfortable, and a success. Such committee being as follows:
    Baltimore- Jos Brown, I P A Box, Jos Tague, L L Beery, John F Tryer, Mrs. Lucy A. Smith and Rev. Frank Britton.
    New London- S H Dover, John E Lynn, Capt. E Richards, Wells Andrews, James Forgy, J J Burge, E H Stephenson, Jesse Burge, Mrs. Lewis and John Bangs.
    Canaan- John Redfern, Thomas A Lee, Wm Caulk, Mrs. Jesse Matthews.
    Scott- John Lee, W C Plants, Jacob Lauder, S B Plants, A Hockriter and Mrs James Patterson.
    Wayne- C A Smith, San'l Conn, N H Zickerfoose, Geo. Hammond, Mrs. Arthur McClure, and Bennett Martin.
    Marion- P C Ramsey, Jasper Dutton, Capt. Samuel Steel, John Sacket, Shadrack Scott, Mr. L. Farmer, Mrs. Geo. W. Martin.
    Center- Presley Saunders, P C Tiffany, John B Lash, E H Hill, Mrs. E C Tiffany, Susanna Williford, Benton Caulk, Mrs. H Burnett, Mr. C M Snyder, Wm Kean, John Wilson, Mrs. Lydia Moore.
    Jackson- S P Ratcliff, W T Jones, Arch Walters, J W Frazier, Noah Johnson, Mrs. E T Garretson, S Carnahan.
    Salem- Wm Pidgeon, S W Henderson, R T Joy, John A Pope, Mrs. Ransom, Mrs. Virgia Bryson, R S Frazier, Levi Cammack, Mrs J W Henderson.
    Tippecanoe- Nathan White, Jesse Hockett, Wm B Lusk, L Fairchild, Mrs William Scott, Baily Williford, W H Lyon, Mrs Eliza Davis.
    Trenton- Frank McCray, Wm H Jackson, Jacob Morrison, J D Scott, John Lee, M R Montgomery, Mrs J C Green.
    Jefferson- Jackson Allen, Lewis Farmer, A R Scott, M M Cook, William Jessup, Mrs E Van Evans, Jacob Moore, Amos Adams.
    Resolved- That any plan of permanent organization be deferred until the meeting provided for in the first resolution.
    Resolved- That L.D. Lewelling be appointed to deliver the welcoming address.
    The central committee desires that the township committees use every reasonable exertion to make the reunion of the old folks as large and pleasant as it is possible to make it.     J.C. GREEN, President.     JOEL C. GARRETSON, Secretary.

Canaan Township Bible Society.
    The Canaan Township Bible Society was organized on Sunday, Aug. 10, by selecting Wm Kneen for president, and J.H. Armstrong secretary. After reading a portion of scripture by Rev. Mike See, music by the choir and prayer by Rev. See, the audience was addressed by Hon. J.S. Woolson and Rev. E.M. Battis, both gentlemen gave us very interesting, instructive talks of some fifteen or twenty minutes each.- Mr. T. Whiting, president of the County Bible Society then reported on the condition of the Bible work throughout the county. Mr. Whiting informs us that each township society must pay in advance for all Bibles ordered, thus making each township society self-supporting. On the suggestion of Mr. Whiting, a committee of one for each school district in the township will be appointed to canvass their respective districts, distribute Bibles and solicit aid for the cause they represent. And it is earnestly hoped they may meet with abundant success in the work.
    W. KEEN, President.     J.H. ARMSTRONG, Secretary.

The Free Press
Mount Pleasant, Henry, Iowa
Thursday, Aug. 21, 1879
   
 Local Matters.
-Grapes are becoming quite plenty in the market although the price is rather high.
-Dr. Carter, of Rome, is just out with a handsome matched team of greys.
-Al Virden has started a drug store at Rome.
-Geo. Talbot has started a branch shoe store at Hillsboro.
-Our Court House looks quite aristocratic with the new walk and iron fence which have been lately built.
-Farmers are requested not to leave their teams standing under the shade trees in front of private residences in the city.
-Harrison & Son say they will return to their butchering business in this city by the 10th of September, at furtherest.
-James M. Rand sent some fine mineral specimens of quartz from Leadville, Col., to his father in this city, received last week.
-H.H. Reynold's little boy Charlie, that was so severely kicked some three weeks ago, is now all right.
-Messrs. Henry Ambler, W.J. Jeffries, John Fitzgerald and Reuben Eshelman, of this city, attended the railroad meeting at Wapello.
-Henry Payne, the democratic committeeman for Jefferson township, gives notice that a meeting to select delegates to the county convention will be held at Marshall on Saturday, Aug. 23d at 3 o'clock in the afternoon.
-Next Sunday, the eleventh after Trinity, there will be singing of a high order in St. Michaels Church by an efficient choir under the leadership of Mr. Satterthwaite. A sermon appropriate to the occasion by the Rector. The public are cordially invited to attend.
-Hugo Beyer has quite a field of McClure's Prolific corn. One kernel in a hill grows from two to five stalks and from five to eight ears. The corn in just immense. A tall man could scarce hang his hat on the ears, and it is said to yield in the neighborhood of two hundred bushels to the acre.
-DIED.- At Des Moines, Iowa, May 22, 1879, Mrs. Lucy Lewis, aged 81; at North Boston, N.Y., August 1879, Mrs. Submit Clapp, aged 77-sisters of John M. Hanson, Mrs. M. Riggs, and Mrs. P.H. Fisher of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa.  
-There will be a ten cent supper and sociable at the Congregational church on Thursday evening of this week, 21st.- Supper will be served from 5 to 7 1/2 o'clock. Sociable continued during the evening.  -- Mrs. L.D. LEWELLING, on behalf of the Committee.

PERSONAL
-Gustav Belton, a brother of Mrs. Hugo Beyer, by occupation an architect, residing in Chicago, is stopping a few weeks with Mr. and Mrs. Beyer east of this city.
-Mrs. Hugh Pickel of Des Moines is in the city visiting her parents, MR. and Mrs. Beattie, and many friends.
-Mr. and Mrs. Weaver are visiting here with Mrs. Weaver's parents, Dr. and Mrs. Corkhill.
-Miss May Whiting expects to start for Wellesley Female College, Massachusetts, next Monday morning, where she will have the privilege of pursuing her studies under peculiarly favorable surroundings.
-M.J. Blanding came down from Red Oak and spent last Sunday with his family and friends.
-On Monday of this week Miss Carrie Ferris returned from a lengthy visit in Morning Sun. Her sister, Mrs. Corley, came back with her and will visit here for a few weeks.
-Joseph Bentley and wife, from Ohio, have been visiting friend in Hillsboro, the guests of Mrs. Elizabeth Pope and her sister, Mrs. Bryson.
-Mrs. R.M. Martin returned from an extended visit at Elgin, Ill., on Friday last. She was accompanied by Mrs. Naomi Martin, mother of R.M. Martin, who will remain several weeks visiting in our city.
-Rev. W.R. Cole joined his family on their prairie farm in Adair county on Saturday last. They all expect to be home on Saturday morning, this week.

DIED.

     KINNEY- At her residence near Rome, August 10, 1879, Margaret Kinney, aged 63 years.
    Mrs. Kinney was born in Green County, Ohio. She was married to David Kinney, December 22, 1836. They resided in Kentucky and Illinois until 1850, when they came to Iowa and settled on a farm near Rome, where they lived pleasantly together until the wife was called to her final home. She united with the Presbyterian church about thirty years ago, since which time she has lived a consistent member of that denomination. She was firm in the faith, and died with a saving trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as her redeemer. Her sickness was of short duration, but her suffering intense until the last few hours, when she appeared to fall into a quiet sleep and then passed away. She leaves a husband and three children who mourn her loss, but, while deeply bereaved, they can find cause of rejoicing in the fact that she is where they "die no more." The funeral was attended by a large congregation of friends and relatives of the family. Sermon on "The Perpetuity of bliss in Heaven," by Rev. J. Lee, pastor of Baptist church: "None of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, that I might finish my course with joy." The language expresses the noble Christian courage that inspired the soul of Mrs. Kinney as she was nearing the river of death.

 DIED.
    On Sunday evening, August 17, 1879, about 10 o'clock, Elizabeth, wife of George Trimble, in the 49th year of her age.
    Mrs. Trimble, before her marriage Elizabeth Fry, was born in Indiana county Pennsylvania, on the 18th day of April 1831. She was married to her now bereaved husband in that place in 1853.- They have resided in this city since August 1856. They have had six children, four of whom, two sons and two daughters are now living; John, the elder son, is living at Beardstown, Ill., the rest of the children reside at home in this city.
    Mrs. Trimble was a woman careful and conscientious in the discharge of all the duties of life, one of the kindest and attentive of mothers, anxious always for the welfare of her children, a faithful wife, a loving friend. She will be sadly missed in the family circle, as well as in the circle of her acquaintances and friends.

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O.P. Taylor is running a steam thresher west of Salem. He can thresh 1000 bushels of oats per day. He feeds his power about three quarters of a cord of wood per day instead of oats or corn. He makes business lively when once fairly at work.
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Special services were held at Asbury church last Sunday morning in anticipation of which the pulpit had been tastefully decorated with vines and flowers. After an excellent sermon by the pastor, fourteen persons were baptized and about thirty received into full membership in the church.
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Henry Harrison finds that some unknown parties have been hunting on his premises south of the cemetery, and shooting game on the same. He warns all such, and says that he will not permit this, and any one doing it hereafter will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
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Mr. and Mrs. Hugo Beyer have just received a large beautiful portrait of the two children they lost a few years since, Hugo and Max. The portrait was taken from a photograph. It is a most perfect work of art, true to life. The artist, H.A. Smith of Fort Madison, is certainly a genius in his profession.
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On Tuesday Richard Jericho was arraigned before our Mayor for the illegal sale of beer, and the evidence was conclusive enough to convict. The Mayor fined him $20 and costs. We understand that the complaint was made by one who wanted beer and was refused by Dick. Surely things are mighty uncertain in this world, and Jordan is sometimes "a hard road to travel."
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Mr. Anderson, one of the Asylum workmen who has been so long and seriously afflicted by an eating sore on his upper lip, caused by wounding a diseased gum in extracting a tooth, is now able to be about. He has had a long and painful illness. His fellow-workmen and the officers of the Asylum have kindly remembered him in his affliction. Dr. Ranney and Mrs. Ranney have been specially mindful of him.
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The entertainment by Prof. O.P. Howe assisted by the Misses Comstock, Woodward and Goan, with the music furnished by a number of the teachers in attendance at the Normal, was of a most interesting character. The Reading room and hall was crowded to their utmost capacity and numbers came away without getting in at all. These Reading Room socials are fairly established as one of the interesting things of the town.
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C.B. Minshall, of Mt. Pleasant, has been appointed agent for the sale of B. & M. land in Nebraska, for the counties of Henry, Des Moines and Louisa. He will have an excursion to Lincoln, Nebraska, Sept. 8th, during the State Fair. This will give persons a good chance to visit this growing young state, and secure a good cheap home. Round trip tickets can be purchased at Burlington and Mt. Pleasant, good for forty days. Call on him for books, maps and general directions.
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Eleven of the incurables from our Hospital breakfasted at Kettle's on Wednesday, on their way to the Lee county poor house.

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