Iowa
Old Press
Sabula Gazette
Sabula, Jackson County, Iowa
November 1, 1899
A New Roadway
The township trustees completed a deal Monday whereby the much
dreaded mud hole in front of the Doyle farm on the Hauntown road
will be a bugbear to travelers no longer. A new roadway was
bought on top of the small hill directly north of Jerry
Petersen’s farm. This is an excellent move on the part of
the trustees as the small stretch of the road now to be abandoned
has caused the expenditure of much money. It could be put in
first class condition and the first rainy spell would cause it to
be almost impassable. A good sized spring crosses the road at
this point and this together with the surface water from the
rains, and the soil being of the nature of quicksand kept it
almost a constant mudhole. The new road is about 100 yards to the
north and it will be open for travel in the course of a few days.
[transcribed by K.W., June 2009]
-----
Jackson Sentinel
Maquoketa, Jackson County, Iowa
November 2, 1899
THE FIRST HANGING AT ANAMOSA
Charles Stegal, under sentence of death and in confinement at the
Anamosa prison awaiting execution for murder, the date for which
has been fixed for Dec. 1, next, at an hour to be determined by
the Sheriff between 12 o’clock midnight, and sunrise. Stegal
is a colored gentleman and his victim was also a negro. They
quarreled over a woman. Stegal finally lying in wait for his
rival, assaulted him with a knife inflicting numerous, frightful
wounds in his back and finishing the murderous work by severing
the jugular vein of his victim who bled to death in the street in
the presence of numerous witnesses. If Gov. Shaw intervenes to
commute Stegal’s fate in a term of life imprisonment it will
be entirely on his own motion, the people of Davenport being
unanimous in the opinion that the extreme penalty of the law is
the only adequate punishment for Stegal’s crime. This
execution, if consummated, will be the first to mark the history
of the Anamosa penitentiary and the first legal hanging in Jones
County for that matter. The statutes require that the death
penalty shall be administered within the walls of one of the
state penitentiaries after the condemned has been confined
therein for a period of not less than one year from date of
sentence and that the execution shall be under the immediate
supervision of the Sheriff of the county in which the crime for
which sentence was imposed was committed.
DORIS JACOBS was taken suddenly on the afternoon
of October 24th, 1899, with a severe stroke of paralysis and at 4
o’clock her spirit took its immortal flight. She was born in
Germany, August 26, 1833 and at the age of 12 years came to
America and made her home in Davenport, Iowa. June 14, 1850, she
was married to William F. Jacobs and the young couple came to
Sabula and settled on a farm a short distance from Sabula, coming
to town a few years later. To them were born eight children,
Charles H., Johnie, Henry C., William Frederick, Frank, Fritz,
Dora and Mina. Frank, Fritz and Dora are the surviving children.
-Sabula Advocate
[transcribed by K.W., June & September 2009]
-----
Sabula Gazette
Sabula, Jackson County, Iowa
November 4, 1899
Bowboat Satellite Sinks
Capt. George Winans, the well-known riverman, and owner of the
towboat, Saturn and bowboat, Satellite, both
very familiar in these waters, has had hard luck again. He is
credited with taking bigger risks and bigger tows than any other
man on the river and it appears that the losses are
correspondingly great. The bowboat Satellite sank near
Quincy the early part of the week, and will be wrecked, as there
is not enough left to pay for the raising of the little steamer.
The accident occurred when the Saturn was taking a raft
south. The Satellite struck a sandbar and before the Saturn
could be stopped she rammed the raft nearly through the grounded
boat. The entire side of the bowboat was broken in and a barge is
now engaged in removing the machinery which is yet good. -Dubuque
Telegraph
[transcribed by K.W., June 2009]
-----
Jackson Sentinel
Maquoketa, Jackson County, Iowa
November 9, 1899
BREEDEN
At his home, three miles west of Fulton, Tuesday, October 31,
Calvin Breeden suddenly expired while pumping a pail of water.
The deceased was born in Edgar County, Illinois, May 29, 1830,
and moved to Iowa in 1838. September 22, 1853, he married Miss
Adelia Martin, to which union four children were born, three of
whom are still living- F. M., Otto N., and daughter, Rosa M. The
deceased was 2d Lieutenant of Company B, 26th Iowa Volunteer
Infantry, and was given a soldier’s burial. The funeral was
held at the late home last Thursday, Rev. Henry Clark of this
city officiating. Comrade Fred DeGrush made a few appropriate
remarks.
CARTER
At the home of her daughter, Mrs. George A. Isbell, on East Platt
Street, Saturday, October 4, 1899, occurred the death of Mrs.
Nancy Nearing-Carter, aged about 87 years. The deceased was born
near Syracuse, New York, in 1812, and was married there in 1835
to Jonathan Carter. In 1854, they moved to this city, where Mr.
Carter died in 1895. The deceased has not enjoyed good health
since the death of Mr. Carter, and for the past four weeks has
failed rapidly until death released her from the earthly ills.
She leaves one daughter, Mrs. George Isbell, to mourn her death.
The funeral was held at the home Monday forenoon, Rev. Samuel
Shepherd officiating, and the remains laid to rest at Mt. Hope
Cemetery.
CRANE
At her home, in the Fourth ward, Thursday, November 2, 1899,
occurred the death of Mrs. F. W. Crane, after suffering from
paralysis for seven years. For a number of months she has been
helpless. Amorett A. Reed was born at Moriah, Essex County, New
York, May 30, 1834, and was married to Mr. Crane, who survives
her, January 1, 1852, In May, 1855, they moved to Iowa, and
settled on a farm west of this city, where they lived until 1870,
when they moved to Maquoketa. Besides the husband, two sons,
Harlan S. and Elmer R., remain to mourn her death. The funeral
was held at the home last Saturday forenoon, Rev. Samuel Shepherd
officiating and the remains were laid to rest in Mt. Hope
Cemetery.
A MISTAKE
ELWOOD, IOWA-November 6-Dr. Hugo White, a prominent veterinary
surgeon of Maquoketa, was killed by a St. Paul train today.
The above dispatch in the Cedar Rapids Republican
Tuesday morning created something of a sensation, as Dr. White is
a resident of this city and well known here. But the truthfulness
of the rumor was soon discredited by Doc’s appearance upon
the street. In explanation, however, he said he understood there
was a brakeman killed at Lost Nation on the above date, who was
known by the name of Doc White. It’s not often you are
privileged to read an account of your own death, but the
Maquoketa Doc is quite sure it is not him for he has not been in
Lost Nation for several weeks.
[transcribed by K.W., June 2009]
-----
Bellevue Herald
Bellevue, Jackson County, Iowa
November 14, 1899
Last Saturday occurred the funeral of Peter Weinert, a brother of
John Weinert, living about four miles north of Bellevue. Mr.
Weinert’s death occurred last Thursday. He had been an
invalid for a number of years caused from exposure while in Army
services during the troublous times of 1861-65. He was a member
of the 15th Iowa Cavalry and was buried under the auspices of
Iuka Post G. A. R. of this city. The following members of the
post acted as pall bearers: Mike Maloney, Geo. Young, Pat Hannon,
Wm. Becker, Mose Bean and Tom Redmond.
Government boats “Wynoka”, “Nokomis”
and “Leota”
The government boats “Wynoka”, “Nokomis” and
“Leota” passed Bellevue going south yesterday morning
at about 7:30 o’clock. The boats were in charge of E. M.
Dickey and their destination was St. Louis. The Dubuque Sunday
Herald has a two and a half column article in reference to the
craft in which they give a technical description. The Herald says
the “Wynoka” and “Nokomis” will carry steam
and will tow the “Leota.” The crew is all ready and the
boats are stored with provisions for the trip. The fleet will get
away about 3 o’clock this afternoon. The management of the
Iowa Iron Works extend a cordial invitation to the public to
visit and inspect the boats today, and there doubtless will be a
large number to witness the start. The building of these boats,
together with the other work done by the Iron Works in the last
two years, assures the revival of that plant and in the near
future its operations will be conducted on even a greater scale.
The great advance in iron, which, of course, has increased the
contract price of machinery of all kinds, may hold back work a
little, but the people will soon before used to the prices and
since they must have the work, they will pay for it. The Iowa
Iron Works has put in bids on several contracts and has orders
enough to keep the machine shop and foundry busy through the
winter. By spring it is expected it will have several contracts
that will keep the ship yards busy all next season.
A LONG VOYAGE
Rev. N. J. Bies Will Start About January 1, 1900, On An Extended
Trip. He Will Visit Many Countries.
We take the following account of the Rev. Father’s intended
trip around the world from the Dubuque Telegraph. It no doubt
will be of interest to many of his parishioners.
About January 1, 1900, Rev. N. J. Bies, a Catholic priest who has
charge of St. Joseph’s Parish, Bellevue, Iowa, will start on
a trip around the world if all necessary arrangements can be
completed by that time. The journey will be across the country to
San Francisco, thence by Pacific mail steamship to the Sandwich
Islands, 2,000 miles, where he will first visit at Honolulu on
the Island of Oahu. From there to Yokohama, 5,000 miles, a side
trip from this place to Manila, a distance of about 600 miles
will be taken. From Yokohama the trip will take him to Singapore,
2,500 miles, through the Mallacca Straits to Calcutta and Bombay,
1,500 miles. These India cities will be visited at some length.
From India the route will lay to Aden and then through the Suez
Canal to Alexandria, Egypt. The Holy Land, especially Jerusalem
and the places made famous in history will be one of the
principal features of this extended trip of over 30, 000 miles.
From Egypt he will cross the Mediterranean Sea to Naples, Italy,
thence of Milan and Rome. The Paris Exposition will be visited
and then a trip through England and Scotland and thence to New
York and back home will conclude the trip.
Rev. Bies, for many years the pastor of St. Joseph’s Parish
has built up a fine congregation. He has just completed a $4,000
parochial residence, a fine two story brick, 22x50 feet, equipped
with hot air, electric bells and all modern improvements. The
interior is finished in southern pine. The plans were made by F.
Heer & Sons, Dubuque, and the contractor was Jno.
Vandanacker. Rev. Bies has an able assistant in the person pf
Rev. Joseph Hageman. Together they supply the spiritual needs of
the large congregation and that of the Spruce Creek mission
several miles from Bellevue.
[transcribed by K.W., June 2009]
-----
Jackson Sentinel
Maquoketa, Jackson County, Iowa
November 16, 1899
Sentenced to the Penitentiary
Charles Yancy and S. Smith, who shot Conductor Hicks of the
Northwestern, were sentenced to the penitentiary, the former for
five and the latter for ten years. There are strong reasons for
believing these men are the ones who killed two brakemen on the
Great Western a short time previous to wounding Mr. Hicks. –
Preston Times
[transcribed by K.W., June 2009]
-----
Miles Reporter
Miles, Jackson County, Iowa
November 18, 1899
Prehistoric monster
Dan Sinkey, living near Iron Hills, recently found in a small
stream near his house, three ribs and part of a leg bone of a
prehistoric monster, probably a mastodon. The bones were found
near where a large tusk and several teeth-some of the weighing
fifteen pounds each-were found several years ago. Professor Ellis
of this city heard of the find and drove out and secured the
bones for his museum. -Record
[transcribed by K.W., June 2009]
-----
Maquoketa Record
Maquoketa, Jackson County, Iowa
November 22, 1899
SHOOTING IN LYONS
Late Sunday night a shooting scrape occurred at Pringle’s
Saloon, Lyons, in which George Mealey, a stove molder employed at
the Mississippi Valley Stove Works in Fulton, Illinois, was shot
through the head and is now lying at the point of death in Mercy
Hospital. Frank Strohm, who fired the probably fatal shot, is now
imprisoned in the city jail. Strohm had no intention of shooting
Mealey it seems, but intended the bullet for Billy Reagan, a
cigar maker, with whom he had been quarreling. Strohm and Reagan
came out of Pringle’s Saloon about 12 o’clock and
renewed their quarrel. Strohm finally drew a revolver. Seeing
this, Mealey sprang between the men and cried for Strohm to not
shoot, but the trigger was pulled and a bullet crashed into
Mealey’s forehead.
[transcribed by K.W., June 2009]