Iowa
Old Press
Iowa City Citizen
Iowa City, Johnson co. Iowa
May 15, 1908
The Last Survivor * - Pioneer in Mexican War
It is probable that the death of Nathan Owens at Cedar Rapids
Wednesday morning removed the last veteran of the Mexican war in
Iowa. Mr. Owens enlisted from Ohio and served through the war.
Whether there were any other Mexican war veterans in Iowa at the
time of Mr. Owens' death is not definitely known, but at most
there are but very few others. Wm. owens of this city, manager of
the Western Union Telegraph office, states that he believes his
father was the last Mexican war survivor residing within the
Hawkeye state. He talked with his father concerning this matter
some time ago, and at that time Mr. Owens explained he was about
the last survivor of that early conflict in this state.
Mr. Owens first settled in Iowa City in 1856, and remained here
for a couple of years. Then he removed to Penn township near
North Liberty where he made his hom until a few years ago when
old age led him to removed to Cedar Rapids to live with his
youngest son. Nathan Owens was a man well known and highly
regarded by his neighbors. An evidence of the high esteem in
which he was held is the fact that for over a quarter of a
century he was justice of the peace of Penn township. He was
familiarly known as 'Squire Owens.'
The funeral was held in Cedar Rapids this morning. Wm. Owens of
this city attended the funeral.
Nathan Owens Dead
Iowa City Pioneer Passed Away in Cedar Rapids
Nathan Owens, father of manager Wm. Owens of the Western Union
Telegraph Co. and a pioneer of this city, passed away in Cedar
Rapids Wednesday morning at the age of eighty-two years. He came
to Iowa City over fifty years ago, but left here a number of
years ago, and has since resided in Cedar Rapids. Deceased was a
veteran of the Mexican war. All of the older residents who knew
him will regret to learn of his death.
Newman Sells Out
The Strawberry Point Mail-Press, owned by Clarence
Newman, formerly of The Citizen, has sold his paper to
Aruthur Williams of Hopkinton. The new owner will take possession
May 21. Mr. Newman will go to the University of Michigan to study
law.
The Epstein Case
There have been no particular developments in the proceedings at
Burlington commenced by Eugene Epstein to secure a division of
the estate of his father. The court has required Mrs. Louise
Epstein to deposit with the clerk certain cancelled checks and
other papers belonging to the estate.
The City
-A marriage license was issued yesterday to John Warner Cook and
Miss Anna B [her surname is cut off]
-F.L. Crosier of Dubuque was in the city yesterday, a guest of
his sister-in-law, Mrs. W.F. Hurley.
-Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Epeneter left yesterdaymorning for Denver,
Col., where they were called on account of the serious illness of
the latter's sister at that place.
-Friends in this city of W.A. Coad, pharmacy '03, now located at
Hull, Ia., have received announcements of his marriage at Lemars,
Ia. Coad was a member of the base ball team during his university
course and has many acquaintances here.
-G.D. Jones of Kalona was in the city Wednesday.
-J.A. White of Marengo was in Iowa City yesterday, calling on
friends.
-R.B. Crome, superintendent of schools at Washington, was in the
city yesterday.
-Mayor G.W. Ball returned Wednesday evening from Tipton where he
had spent several days on business.
-Dr. Henry Albert has an article in the May issure of the board
of health bulletin upon the diagnosis of diptheria cases.
-Mrs. Mary Wright on South Governor street has returned from a
visit of three months with her daughters at Sterling, Ill., and a
sister in Aledo, Ill.
-W.F. Carpenter and wife and Mrs. Leonard who have been visiting
in this city, left Monday for Springfield, Massachusetts. Mr.
Carpenter was formerly in business here.
-Contractor Bright is at work on the foundation of the R.H. Dill
home in Chautauqua heights. the new structure is somewhat on the
bungalow style and will be very novel in appearance.
-An illustrated lecture on "The Wild Birds of Iowa"
will be given Tuesday evening next in the high school auditorium
by A.D. Whedon, high school science teacher. The admission of
fifteen cents being for the high school magazine fund.
John Powell Dead.
John Powell of Frendale died early in the week after an illness
of about a week from stomach trouble. He was about forty-five
years of age, and leaves a wife and children.
Card of Thanks.
We wish to thank our friends for their loving thoughtfulness and
expressions of sympathy in the recent bereavement which we bore
in the loss of our wife and daughter.
Ray dicus
Ed. Slaby and family
Riverside News Items - Interesting Personals from
Riverside and Vicinity
-County Supervisor W.H. Cress spent Monday in Wellman with his
friend, Jesse Longwell, and on tuesday he started for a business
trip through Highland, Oregon, and Crawford townships.
-Mr. and Mrs. Thos. O'Connor of S.E. Highland worshipped in St.
Mary's church last Sunday.
-Miss Violet Safourek celebrated her seventh birthday anniversary
last Sunday.
-Frank Dautremont of Monticello put in his appearance here last
Monday morning. Four of his children live here.
-Miss Fairall, Barnett's bookkeeper, spent Sunday with her home
folks in West Branch.
-Robert Allen W.R.C. held memorial service in remembrance of Aunt
Becky Young last Saturday afternoon.
-Ben Kroes, the street commissioner has completed a fine piece of
grading on Washburn street from 3rd to 4th.
-C.S. Cummings went to Texas last week. He will visit in Oklahoma
before he comes home.
-Mrs. J.O. Saville and daughter, Eva, started to Colorado Springs
to join Mr. Saville last Saturday.
-Boy No. 2 stopped to live with Mr. and Mrs. Frank Droll last
week.
-Mr. and Mrs. W.E. Nicola and W.H. Cress went to Washington last
Thursday to attend the Nicola-McCleary wedding.
-Mrs. Geo. Waldschmidt spent a week in the tuberculosis hospital
and will try living more in the open air inthe future.
Coralville.
-Some important transfers of real estate have taken place here
recently. Art Jones has purchased Mrs. C.B. Koser's beautiful
home and has also bought eighty acres of land near it from Wm.
Reed at $100 per acre. Mrs. Jones is a daughter of Mrs. Koser and
every one will gladly welcome her and her family back to the old
home.
-Miss Myrta West, Miss Neta Portlock, E.L. Schaub and Misao Imai
of the university were guests of Miss Williams at Sunny Crest
Sunday afternoon.
The Noonan Funeral.
The funeral of Joseph A. Noonan was held this morning at 9:30
from St. Patrick's church. A large number of friends of the
deceased and his family were present. Mr. Noonan was only
twenty-five years of age at the time of his death. He is survived
by three sisters and one brother - Miss Anna Noonan, Syracuse,
N.Y.; Mrs. Frank Knochel, Los Angeles, California; Miss Nell of
Iowa city and Will of Iowa City.
[*transcriber's note: Mr. Owens was not the last veteran of
the Mexican war in Iowa. Among later survivors were: Stephen P.
O'Brien, Johnson co. pioneer, died in Cedar Rapids, 1912; John
Hefley, Emmet co. was still living in 1916; Alden Antrim died in
Traer, 1917 & Daniel R. Gonder, was still living in Rippey,
1925; transcribed by S.F., March 2009]