Iowa
Old Press
Iowa City Citizen
Iowa City, Johnson co. Iowa
November 3, 1917
First Iowa Men Killed in Civil War -- First Casualties
Occurred in Battles in Missouri
The first Iowa soldier killed in battle during the Civil War was
Cyrus W. West of Co. H., Third Iowa Infantry, according to data
collected by a member of the research staff of the State
Historical Society. He was nineteen years old when mustered in
with the company from Mahaska County on June 8, 1861. He was
killed at the battle of Monroe Station, Missouri, in July, 1861.
John Austin Gibbons, while not a member of an Iowa regiment, was
probably the second Iowa soldier to be killed in action. He was a
Dubuque boy, a member of Co. C, First Cavalry, United States
Army, and was killed at Spring Creek (Dug Springs), Missouri, on
August 2, 1861. At the battle of Wilson's Creek, Missouri, on
August 10, 1861, the following members of the First Iowa Infantry
were killed: Shelly Norman of Co. A; William R. Munsey of Co. B;
Alexander L. Mason, Alesander Buchanan, and Charles C. Michener
of Co. C; Jacob V. Whippo of Co. F; Hans Juazen Nehm of Co. G;
Fred Rhomberg and Louis Goennel of Co. H; Joseph H. McHenry of
Co. I; and Perry Hoyt of Co. K. Frederick Dettmer of Co. H was at
first reported killed, but later was found to be only severely
wounded.
Sioux City -- The bite of a bulldog so shocked,
frightened and injured A.L. Brown that he brought suit for $5,000
damages against Tom Green, 1205 Nebraska street, owner of the
dog. Brown alleges in his petition that on the night of Oct. 25,
as he was passing the Green residence, the dog, without warning,
seized hold of his right leg near the knee, tearing his clothes
and flesh.
[transcribed by S.F., April 2005]
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Iowa City Citizen
Iowa City, Johnson co. Iowa
November 5, 1917
First Casualty List Is Announced Today; Iowan Among The
Dead
Washington, Nov. 5 -- Three American infantrymen are dead, five
wounded and twelve captured as a result of a sharp attack by the
Germans on a salilent of front line French trenches held by
Pershing's men on November 3. One wounded German was captured.
Those reported killed were:
Private Merle D. Hay, whose father is D. Hay of Glidden, Iowa.
Private James B. Grescham of Evansville, Indiana
Private Thomas F. Enright of Pittsburgh, Pa.
Among the wounded was Private Dewey D. Kern whose mother is Mrs.
Eva Tilton of Collins, Iowa.
This report announced by the war department brought home to
America today the first casualties in dead and captured resulting
from actual fighting between the Sammies and the Germans.
Attacking before daylight under the protection of heavy barrage
fire which cut the American salient off from the rest of the
line, the Germans apparently completed their operations before
reinforcements could reach them. No word in Pershing's statements
indicates the extent of America's part in the fighting. An
ordinary trench salient holds between twenty-five and thirty men
so it would appear the little force of Sammies was practically
wiped out. That a wounded German was taken prisoner, however,
showed that a fight was put up before the Americans yielded. The
size of the attacking force and the German losses are not given .
The war department has cabled for full details.
Father of Iowa Hero Proud of His Son.
Glidden, Ia., Nov. 5 -- "I am proud of my boy that he has
given up his life for his country," D. Hay, father of Merle
D. Hay, 21, one of America's first three soldiers to die for his
country told the United Press today when informed that his son
had been killed in France by the Germans. Mrs. Hay, mother of the
dead hero, collapsed when told of her son's death. Young Hay
enlisted in the army the 9th of last May shortly after the
declaration of war according to his father. He had been working
on the Hay farm but could not work any longer after war was
declared. "He had my consent to go and I am not sorry,"
said his father today. "I won't object to his brother going
although just now he is too young." Young Hay is survived by
a brother, Basil, aged 18 and a sister, Opal, 14.
Not Sorry Son Enlisted.
Collins, Ia, Nov. 5 -- Chins were tilted just a little bit and
there was a satisfied smile on the faces of the sisiter and
mother of Private D.D. Kern reported among the captured or
wounded as a result of the Sammies' first conflict with the
Germans in France. "We are not sorry Dewey enlisted. I
should say not. We are more proud of him than ever. We encouraged
him to enlist," said his sister today. "Somebody has to
go to war. Somebory has to be killed or captured."
Iowa City Boy Writes of Life in Camp Kelly
Frank Van Nostrand, who was graduated from the University in
1917, now clerk in the Aeronautical service at Camp Kelly, has
written of his work there. "Except for bitulithic pavement,
it would look like a street in some old Mexican village. The
place is a combination of old Spanish, Mexican and American, all
touched here and there by modern improvements," Mr. Van
Nostrand says. He rides twelve miles in the morning and night to
his work: an army chauffeur drives the car for him. "Things
are going great here," he reports, although it is as he
expressed it, "sure a busy job."
Plan To Beautify Iowa City Cemeteries.
Plans for the beautifying and rearranging the ceemeteries of Iowa
City, St. Josephs and Oakland, were taken up at the session of
the city council. Blue prints on the subject were submitted by
Ray F. Weirick, an expert landscape architect of Des Moines. He
submitted plans for beautifying the cemeteries and showed where a
vast improvement could be made at a reasonable cost.
Your Chance To Help Our Soldierboys. We will
donate to Company A Engineers and Iowa Field Hospital No. 3, all
moneys received from 7 to 8 p.m., every evening from our 7 pocket
tables and 3 billiard tables from now until Dec. 15th. Epeneter
Bros. 5-7 So. Dubuque St.
Vilhauer Party Escapes Death
Michael Vilhauer, wife, and daughter and Mr. and mrs. Harry
Schrock escaped death when the Ford in which they were riding
turned over about four miles this side of Kalona. the car struck
a rut and was going at such a rate of speed that it caused it to
turn turtle. The most severely hurt is Mr. Schrock who received a
broken collar bone. The rest of the party were not injured
seriously altho all were bruised.
Fountain - Zabs Nuptials
Miss Lilly Fountain of sharon and William Zabs of Riverside were
married by Rev. s.E. Ellis on the evening of October 17th. Their
many friends extend congratulations.
Duffenbach Funeral This Morning
The funeral of the late Mrs. Agnes Gough Duffenbach of Des Moines
took place this morning from St. Patrick's church at 9:30. Rev.
Father shannahan officiated. A great throng was present as an
honor to so great a young life that had gone out. As a girl and
as a wife she had been loved and her death will bring sorrow to
many.
The City
-Ella Cromer spent the weekend in Davenport.
-Ruth Judson was in Des Moines over Sunday.
-Myrle Sinn spent the weekend in Williamsburg.
-Minnie T. Ehlert has gone to her home in Dewitt.
-Henry G. Walker is a Des Moines visitor today.
-Verna Tagge visited at Durant over the weekend.
-K.J. Lorimer of Jefferson is in the city on business.
-Frances Sueppei was a visitor in Davenport Saturday.
-Friend Hoar, of the Western Construction company is in Iowa City
inspecting the school house on the west side.
-Miss Troy, who has been seriously ill for the past two weeks, is
able to resume her work of hem-stitching once more.
-Mrs. John Die was arrested for being drunk and sentenced to ten
days in jail. Sentence suspended during good behavior.
-Noah C. Baldwin reports having collided with the car of A.R.
Kirk on east Iowa avenue yesterday morning. No serious damage was
done.
-Peter Wise was arrested yesterday and this morning he plead
guilty to a charge of drunkenness and was given a sentence of ten
days in jail.
-Frank Konvalinka was arrested for being drunk. He plead guilty
this morning before Mayor Stebbins and was fined $1 and costs
which he paid.
-Mrs. Annie Doe was brought before Justice Ewing this afternoon
charged with adultery. She waived preliminary examination and the
amount of bond was placed at $400.
Oscar Anderson and company are painting the steeple of the St.
Mary's church today. this is one of the highest spires in the
city but has no terrors for Anderson and his men.
[transcribed by S.F., June 2006]
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Iowa City Citizen
Iowa City, Johnson co. Iowa
November 21, 1917
Iowa Flags Now Float to Breeze.
Mrs. Henry Prentiss, of Iowa City, who has been a leader in the
movement to design and supply an Iowa flag for all Iowa regiments
and units, reports that the work is progressing nicely and that
eight of the flags have been made and presented to the various
regiments and subdivisions. With the organization of the new
militia companies and the field hospital of the state the ladies
of the organization will doubtless take steps to supply suitable
flags to all these units. The flag, as described inthe Citizen
recently: These flags are of silk, regulation regimental size,
earing the colors blue, white and red in vertical stipes, the
central white stripe bearing the eagle from the Iowa State Seal,
with the motto, "Our Liberties We Prize and Our Rights We
Will Maintain," done in blue, while beneath is the word
Iowa, in red and gold. The military units of Iowa to whom the
Daughters of the American Revolution have presented the Iowa flag
are:
1st, 2nd, 3rd Iowa Infantry
1st Iowa Cavalry
1st Iowa Field Artillery
1st Iowa Engineers
1st Iowa Ammunition Train
1st Iowa Medical Corps, including Ambulance and Field Hospitals.
Copies of the Iowa flag may be had in all sizes and materials of
the makers, Camrin and Co., Fulton and Williams Sts., New York
City.
Stanley Hands, City Engineer of Iowa City, having volunteered and
taken the examination to enter the aviation department of the
United States service at St. Louis recently, today received word
by postal card, from the war department notifying him to report
at Berkley, California on December 8, to "enter active
service." This means, of course that he is to enter the
aviation training school located at that city. Stanley has been a
most capable and efficient city builder and great things will be
expected of him by his many friends when he enters the service of
your Uncle.
Knoxville -- Pierre Bousquet, son of Mrs. Mary Bousquet of this
city, recently joined the bomb-throwing and liquid fire division
of the United States army, and is now in training at the American
University at Washington, D.C.
Davenport -- Joe Johnson was arrested by the Rock Island police
last week. He was brought to Davenport Saturday and over Sunday.
He admitted a total of fifteen roberies in Davenport since Oct.
26. He has also confessed to a number of petty burglaries in Rock
Island
Fairfield -- Millard Cox, who was sent by Jedge Corell to serve a
term of not more than five years in the state reformatory at
Anamosa, has been discharged from further liability by Governor
Harding. Cox was sent to Anamosa on the charge of assault to
commit a felony on Joseph Dunlavy. when brought into court he
plead guilty of the charge, and the sentence was given him by
Judge Cornell, Oct. 12, 1916. Cox, it will be remembered, was one
of the trio of men who attempted to rob the Court hotel about a
year and a half ago.
Knoxville -- Paul M. Black, city clerk of Knoxville, is carrying
his right arm in a sling this week as a result of a backfire from
a Ford car while cranking, resulting in the breaking of both
bones of the right wrist last Friday evening.
[transcribed by S.F., April 2005]