Iowa
Old Press
The Iowa Citizen
Iowa City, Johnson County, Iowa
Monday, June 15, 1903
BRIEFS
MRS. JAMES GEARY of Cedar Rapids is visiting her parents, MR. and
MRS. M. BROGAN on East College street. MR. GEARY spent Sunday in
the city with his wife.
[transcribed by anonymous, January 2005]
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The Iowa Citizen
Iowa City, Johnson County, Iowa
Wednesday, June 24, 1903
NEW SECOND HAND STORE - Geary & Brogan Open Fine One
on South Dubuque Street.
Geary & Brogan have formed a co-partnership and will run a
good second hand store on South Dubuque street between College
and Burlington streets on the east side of the thoroughfare. They
will have a good stock of second hand goods and in addition will
carry some new furniture and general goods that are handled by
such stores. Every community of this size should have a first
class second hand store and the gentlemen propose to give the
people of Iowa City such a store.
[transcribed by anonymous, January 2005]
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Daily Iowa State Press
Iowa City, Iowa
June 25, 1903
D.J.L. VanGorden of Emmetsburg is in the city. He is visiting Dr.
Fitzpatrick and other friends. Dr. Van Gorden is a graduate of
the College of Medicine, Class of 1901, S.U.I. and has been
elected county physician of Palo Alto county. Other evidences of
prosperity have come to the deserving young man, in the conduct
of a lucrative practice.
VILE CRIME ALLEGED
W. S. CARPENTER, a Weaver, Charged with Disgusting Brutal Attack
on Mere Child.
A vile crime is credited to W. S. Carpenter who was charged with
it this afternoon in a warrant issued after the sworn statement
of MRS. SARAH C. BROGAN had been made in 'Squire Horak's court.
Carpenter is accused of luring BERTHA E. BROGAN, age 13, away
from the Salvation Army tents, last night, forcing her to
accompany him down an alley, and finally taking advantage of her
innocence in a disgustingly brutal way. The accused man is 49
years of age, and has a wife and seven children. He has a Market
street weaving shop and there too, it is alleged, he has tempted
the little girl to come. The wife of the accused man, herself,
appeared before Assistant County Attorney Baldwin today, and
reiterated the charges made by the mother of the little girl. The
latter seems even more unconscious of the evil than it alleged
her years might indicate, for she seems more of a child than many
girls at 13. The man's wife makes other grave charges against he
husband. Carpenter was arraigned in 'Squire Horak's court this
afternoon, and was represented by C. S. Ranck. The prisoner asked
for time, and County Attorney Fairchild expressed a willingness
to have a hearing Monday, June 29. This date was fixed, and a
bond of $300 was demanded Carpenter is seeking a
surety as we go to press.
[transcribed by C.J.L., Nov. 2003 & anonymous, Jan. 2005]
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Daily Iowa State Press
Iowa City, Johnson, Iowa
June 29, 1903
(Minneapolis Journal)
IOWA VILLAGE PRODUCED REAL MEN.
Three United States Senators and as Many Millionaires Came from
Provincial Keosauqua.
The retirement of Judge H.C. Caldwell from the bench of the
eighth United States circuit marks the departure from public life
of one one the last of the "Keosauqua colony," famous,
at least, in the west. The little provincial way-back town of
Keosauqua, Iowa, numbering at its last census scarcely 1300
people, has, however, furnished to the United States two United
States district judges, one United States circuit judge, one
United States supreme judge, three United States senators, two
members of congress, one nominee for governor, three
millionaires, tow of them having colossal fortunes, one attorney
general of Iowa, one secretary of state of Iowa, and one member
of the presidential cabinet. Among these men are Senator W. A.
Clark of Montana, the late A.G. Davis of Montana; Judge Caldwell,
United States Senator J.B. Howell, Judge George W. McCrary,
secretary of war under President Hayes, and John F. Dillon, the
renowned attorney of New York city, counsel for the Gould
interests. There is no town of any size in Iowa that has produced
half the prominent men as the village of Keosauqua, and it is
certain that no town so small anywhere else in the United States
can approach the Van Buren county metropolis. "How did it
happen?" repeated C.L. Wright of this city, son of Senator
Wright. "I don't know and I have never found any one who
could explain it. One of the remarkable phases of it is that
these men came from all parts of the east. They just chanced to
land at Keosauqua. Had to Seek it Out. It is certain that
Keosauqua possessed no attractions sufficient to account for the
settlement of distinguished personages. The town was even smaller
in those days and to-day has but one railroad. The men who became
famous trudged overland or rode horseback that they might find
the place. Later the line of travel passed up and down the Des
Moines river and as Keosauqua was but a short distance above
Keokuk, it was natural that settlers should make their way there.
At that day ever since the village householders sat on boxes in
the local stores and told yarns over their whittled sticks. Today
the people of Keosauqua point with pride to the products of the
village but they are still on the store boxes. The town itself is
a forgotten shell, like a nest that has freed its larvae.
Advent of George Wright.
George Wright, in an early day left his Indiana brother, Joseph,
who later became governor of Indiana and minister to Berlin under
Lincoln, and went to St. Louis. At St. Louis he bought a horse
and rode up the Mississippi river until he cam to the Des Moines
when he turned to the northwest and followed its shores. He came
to a settlement of a hundred straggling houses, clinging to a
high bank and skirted by a graceful bend of the river. It was a
likely spot and he stayed here. Here he found Joseph Knapp, just
beginning as a lawyer, and they decided to become partners. Henry
Clay Caldwell came to Iowa when about 15 years old. He too went
to Keosauqua with his parents. He had ambitions to be a lawyer
and Wright & Knapp gave him the chance. After studying with
this firm a few years he was admitted to the bar, and in 1856 the
firm became Wright, Knapp & Caldwell. Caldwell was soon sent
to the legislature but went to the war when it broke out. While
he was gone, George F. Wright, a cousin of Knapp, was a member of
the firm. He is now at Council Bluffs, one of the first attorneys
at the state bar. Caldwell became major of the 4th Iowa cavalry
and when he came back from the war he settled at Little Rock,
Ark. There he was appointed United States district judge, prior
to 1870, and later to the circuit bench. In the meantime Wright
had been elected to the state supreme bench, in 1855, where he
served till 1873, when he was sent to the United States senate
two terms declining re-election. Knapp had no limitations except
that he was a democrat, which was shortcoming in Iowa. He was
twice nominated for governor and once for supreme judge, but
majorities were against him and he practiced in Keosauqua until
his death twelve years ago.
Clark and Davis.
In the meantime a red-headed boy was playing with a few not very
select companions in the streets, or, rather, street, of
Bentonsport, a tiny embryo of a town a few miles below Keosauqua.
Occasionally his father would take this boy to Keosauqua with him
to "see the sights" and they were admitted by the
youngster to be marvelous. That lad was William A. Clark now of
Montana, whose name today is the symbol of a quantity of dollars
that cannot be counted. A.G. Davis, the Montana millionaire whose
name became famous by the contest over his estate, was a
Keosauquan in early days, as was Edwin Manning, who became a
millionaire and the richest man in Iowa in his prime. He made it
by banking and buying land. A boy who was born and grew to early
manhood without attracting especial attention in Keosauqua town
was George W. McCrary. He later became congressman, United States
district judge and finally secretary of war under Hayes. He was
associated in the practice of law with Judge Samuel F. Miller of
Keokuk and had such intimate relations in Keosauqua that the town
claims him.
John F. Dillon, now of New York, was a boy in old Keosauqua,
serving on the Iowa supreme bench for a time. Other Keosauquans
were J.C. Bonney, secretary of state for Iowa, beginning in 1848;
J.B. Howell, later editor of the Keokuk Gate City and appointed
United States senator in 1870; C.C. Nourse, now a Des Moines
lawyer, attorney general in 1860-'67; J.C. Hall whose son
Benjamin was congressman from the first district.
SAYS HE MAY KILL HER.
Wife of W.S. Carpenter, Man Under Cloud, Swears out Warrant
Against Him Today.
Another cloud swept across W. S. Carpenter's horizon this
morning, for his wife secured his arrest on the ground that he
would kill or greatly injure her, if he carried out certain
threats which she swore that he had made since his arrest last
week. Carpenter is the weaver against whom MRS. BROGAN, in the
name of her child, preferred most grave charges. Mrs. Carrie
Carpenter is the wearied worn and overworked wife, who avers that
the prisoner declared he would kill her or injure her greatly
unless she secured the nullification of the criminal proceedings
now in court, as the result of the complaint of MRS. BROGAN.
Carpenter was arrested this morning by the same constable who
took him in custody last week --John Matthes--and the
captive appeared before Justice Horak and pleaded not guilty. He
declared that everything in the information was as false as the
assertions of the earlier accusation. The court gave him a chance
to an attorney and he went for C.S. Ranck, whom he had retained
before. The latter secured an adjournment of the case until July
8--and until that day, also, the case involving the more heinous
offense charged was postponed. Justice Horak decided that the
prisoner be placed under bonds to keep the peace until the
preliminary hearing should be given. Coroner Mueller met a rumor
at every turn Saturday to the effect that Carpenter had committed
suicide. Investigation of officers proved this absolutely false.
The court set $500.
as the amount of the bond, and the prisoner is searching for
surety now. He was at liberty, under a bond of $300. when
arrested.
[transcribed by C.J.L., Feb. 2004 & anonymous, Jan. 2005]