Iowa Old Press

Kellogg Enterprise
Kellogg, Jasper co. Iowa
January 4, 1889

The New Year made its debut Tuesday with a partial eclipse of the sun in the afternoon. the sky was coudless and the strange phenomenon was viewed by our people through smoked glass. Very few of the present generation have seen a solar eclipse on New Year's day.

The two persons who taught the first schools in Iowa are still alive. Berryman Jennings, who taught near Montrose in October, November and December, 1830, now lives in Oregon. And J. Robinson taught school where Keokuk now is in December, 1830 and January and February 1831, and is still living.

Iowa Condensed Items.

-Hon. Patrick Gibbons, postmaster at Keokuk, died Dec. 31st. the cause of death was cancer of the stomach. Deceased had been prominent in business and political circles for nearly thirty years.

-Luther Blood, the ignorant and innocent-appearing country boy, about twenty years old, living in Humboldt county, whose forgery escapade in duping an old banker created a sensation a short time since, has been arrested at Albany, Mo. the youth became enamored of a pretty school ma'am and forged a $2oo note on Taylor & Thorpe, the well-known horse dealers, to get funds to get married. He sold the note to George Hanna, a banker of Luverne, Iowa, for $180, but his enamorita playing false he was obliged to leave alone. Hanna immediately offered $100 reward for Blood's capture.

-A special from Fort Dodge says: Ransom Johnson, a well-to-do farmer, has filed a warrant charging his wife with robbery and attempted arson. The couple separated recently, and during Johnson's absence the wife broke nto the house and carried off a number of articles and then set fire to the place. The husband returned in time to prevent the destruction of the property, and now brings action at law.

-Mr. and Mrs. Adam Loucks celebrated their golden wedding at Albion Christmas day. They settled north of Marshalltown in 1855.

-H.T. Martin formerly a resident of Odebolt, and superintendent of the schools of Sac county for four years, died at his home in San Marcos, Cal., Dec. 14. Consumption, from which he had suffered for years, was the cause of his death.

-Charles Johnson, a mule driver, fell off his car in the Phillips coal mines near Ottumwa and was run over and instantly killed.

-Thomas Dolan, a farmer whose team ran away at Fort Dodge, died from injuries received.

-Mr. Geo. Higby of Anamosa, while horseback riding, was thrown from his horse and it is thought received fatal injuries.

-Marion Rush, son of Z. Rush, an old settler of Iowa county, committed suicide by hanging.

-One of the most cold-blooded murders that has been perpetrated in Davenport in many years occurred in Dick Howard's saloon. Thos. Shaughnessy, a young man about twenty-one years of age, was the victim, and Howard, the saloon-keeper, was the slayer. He shot Shaughnessy in the abdomen. Howard states that Shaughnessy refused to pay for an oyster stew and called him names, which caused him to shoot.

-At Ottumwa, a few nights ago, bootleg whiskey flowed freely at a dance, and Billey Morgan shot Andy Sweeney in the face, wounding him severely but not fatally.

Notice of final report
State of Iowa, Jasper County: To whom it may Concern and Eva Ann Whitcomb, heir of Ann Whitcomb, deceased, and sole legate under will; You are Hereby Notified, That there is now on file in the office of the Clerk of the District Court of Jasper County, Iowa, the final report and petition for discharge of Joseph Braley as executor of the estate of Ann Whitcomb, deceased, and unless objections to said report are files on or before the 15th day of January, A.D. 1889 an order will be entered discharging said executor, approving his final report, and all his doings herein, and releasing his bondsmen.
Joseph Braley, exec of last will and estate of Ann Whitcomb, Dec'd.
Harrah & Myers, Attys for Admr.

Local and Otherwise.

-Born January 3rd 1889 to O. Bellis and wife of Rick Creek, a son.
-Miss Cora Burke, of Sioux City, is spending the holidays in Kellogg
-Geo. Stuart, from Nebraska is visiting his parents in Rock Creek township.
-Mr. Joseph Braley made a business trip to the western part of the state this week.
-Fremont Vance returned last Friday evening from a three weeks sojourn in Indiana.
-Mr. and Mrs. Henery Raymond were guests of Mr. and Mrs. C.H. Miller, New Years.
-Prof. J.A. Callison of Lynnville, was renewing old acquaintances in this vicinity the first of the week.
-Mr. A.F. Swaney paid a visit to his mother, who is in very delicate health, at Marengo last Saturday.
-Mrs. Frank Saum and sister, Miss Nellie Smith, returned last Friday night rom a visit with their parents in Scott County.
-Mrs. Samuel Orebaugh and two children started for a six weeks visit with relatives and friends in Allen county, Ohio, Wednesday.
-Mr. W.W. Tilton died at his home in Hickory Grove Township, on Sunday, Dec. 23, 1888. The remains were interred in the Kellogg cemetery.
-J.G. Cotton the defaulting cashier of the Newton bank has been released from the state's prison, after serving a five years sentence. He relieved the aforesaid bank of some $43,000 dollars and action has been commenced to recover.
--
About 3 o'clock last Saturday afternoon the sad intelligence was brought to town the Hermon, the 13 year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Jefferson Koger, of Richland township, was found in the barn near the house about 2 p.m. hanging by a bridle rein, dead. Mr. Koger was in town at the time and Mrs. Koger and a daughter about 17 years of age were the only members of the family at home at the time. Coroner Robbins was notified and arrived about 8 p.m. A jury was impanneled composed of Messrs. R.M. Brooks, O.J. Turner and C.C. Wilson, but the evidence elicited was unsatisfactory so far as furnishing a satisfactory reason for the sad occurence. He left the house about one hour before, and a neighbors boy, Will Stuart by name came to the house and inquired where the boys were, and was informed that Hermon was about the barn. Young Stuart went to the barn and found him as above described. He immediately notified Miss K. who went to the barn and found the boy as Stuart had said who in turn notified her mother. The two repaired to the barn, removed the strap and carried the lifeless body to the house. A. Brooke testified he had found a bridle at the place indicated with the head stall fastened to a beam, with the reins hanging down with a knot in them about 12 inches from the lower end, and forming a loop which was about 18 inches from the ground. Dr. J.W. Beck made a post mortem examination, and states "I find as near as I can determine the death of herman Koger, was caused by strangulation. I find no marks of injury or violence except the mark (made by the strap) around the neck." The jury found that he had died from strangulation either accidentally or feloniously, but which they could not determine. Hermon was a bright and promising boy, of cheerful disposition, and his untimely death is a sad blow to the family.

Newton Journal: Married. At "Elmwood Farm" Rushville, the home of the bride's parents, Thursday evening, Dec. 27th 1888, Mr. J.B. Case, of College Springs, Page county, Iowa, and Miss Gertie Owings, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J.B. Owings, Rev. A.H. Shaffer, of Des MOines, being the officiating clergyman.

Rushville.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Thos. Mahar, this morning, a pair of boys. It is too bad that Tom is a Democrat. Harrison and Morton are pretty names."

[transcribed by S.F., May 2005]

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