Iowa
Old Press
The Anamosa Journal
Anamosa, Jones co. Iowa
Thursday, February 6, 1890
We think we shall change the head of our personal column and call
it the "Grippe Column" instead. There is nothing so
personal and stickative in its friendship as the grippe has been
since beginning of December.
Personals
-Lew Waggoner, his brother Charlie and Mrs. Dr. Waggoner, are all
sick with la grippe.
-C.E. Wales of Dubuque, the former citizen of Jones county, is
seriously sick with a relapse of the grippe.
-Mrs. S. Needham's condition is considerably improved.
-Will McIntyre is sick with an attack of lung disease, and is
under the doctor's care.
-Mrs. H.W. Sigworth's condition is said to be more favorable this
week and the chances for her ultimate recovery are much better.
-Banker Niles is convalescing with the grippe.
-W.D. Gordon and Mrs. Gordon are both sick at this writing. He is
prostrated with grippe, and she is still suffering with
pneumonia.
-Mr. and Mrs. C.M. Carter are experiencing the beauties of the
prevailing epidemic - by turns. One takes it awhile and the other
rests, and vice versa.
-Rev. Corbyn is still on the sick list.
-Dr. Hodgin's family are sick with the grippe - also M.F.
Sullivan - this is Mike's second attack - Frank Bagley of Cass is
in line, and others too numerous to mention.
-Fred. Ellis is sick in Davenport with the omulpresent grippe.
William V. Corwin, cousin to the late Phineas Robinson of Linn
county, and one of his heirs, left for his home in New York state
Saturday night. Mr. Corwin said to this writer that he was highly
pleased with the equitable and courteous manner in which Matt D.
Finn, Esq., has performed his duties as executor of the Robinson
estate.
George Taylor, recently sentenced from Maquoketa to a term of
eighteen months in the penitentiary for robbery, hanged himself
in his cell recently at Anamosa with his neck-scarf.
Mortuary.
Died at the home of her parents, in Highland Grove, this county,
Jan 31, 1890, Cora A., wife of C.E. Mershon, at the age of 19
years, nine months and 23 days. She was a devoted wife, a dutiful
daughter, and beloved by all who knew her. The bereaved husband
and sorrowing parents have the deep sympathy of many friends. The
funeral was held on Sunday last, Rev. Kemp of Olin officiating.
The service was very appropriate and consoling to the friends.
Card of Thanks
We desire to return thanks to our friends and neighbors for their
kind assistance during the days of sorrow through which we have
just passed.
A.C. Decious
Carl E. Mershon
Highland Grove, Feb. 4, 1890
Shot Himself to Death
O.M. Watson, one of the oldest resdients of the town of Wyoming,
this county, committed suicide, January 27, by shooting himself.
He had lived in the town for nearly forty years and was closely
identified with its history and business interests. For upwards
of twenty years he was a clerk in the store of James A. Bronson,
and was on terms of warmest friendship with that gentleman. After
severing his connection with Mr. Bronson a few years ago, he held
a clerkship under F.M. Rhodes for nearly two years.
The cause of his suicide is something of a mystery. It is
probably traceable to an incident not generally thought of at
Wyoming. About three years ago he suffered a sunstroke while
fishing on a hot August day. This sunstroke affected his brain,
and he never recovered from its effects. It produced a mild
abberration which gradually took the form of an intense
melancholy and culuminated in his self destruction.
The suicide occurred between 1 and 2 o'clock in the day in a barn
on Mr. Watson's premises. He shot himself through the head from
temple to temple. He was found about an hour after death by his
brother-in-law, R.A. Norton. A wife and daughter survive him. He
was a man of comfortable worldly means and had no reason to do
away with himself except the strange impulse that comes up out of
the depths of sullen despondency.
IOWA STATE NEWS
Mrs. Frank Myers, wife of the miller at Deloit, Crawford County,
while laboring under temporary insanity the other night, rose
from her bed and without dressing, left the house and started in
the direction of the Boyle river. Her husband heard her as she
left the house, and immediately getting up and going to the door,
he called her and heard her voice from the direction of the
river. He then got help and went in search of her. She was found
some two miles down the river, near the house of Oscar Ainsworth,
frozen to death. The deceased leaves a husband and two children
to mourn her loss. She had been in ill health for some time.
Miss Jennie Halverston, the 17-year-old daughter of wealthy
parents of Sioux City, recently eloped with a gambler, James
Carroll, alias "Foxy."
Captain John G. Scott, steamboat inspector for the Dubuque
district, died in that city recently from pneumonia, caused by an
attack of the grippe.
Judge Macomber, of Ida Grove, who was recently reported dead from
the grip, is alive and is recovering.
The grand jury at Creston recently indicted Charles Samuelson, a
tailor, for attempting to poison a family.
Dr. J.P. Lull, a prominent capitalist and business man of
Dubuque, died a few days ago of the grip.
Judge Phelps, of the Burlingon district court, recently sentenced
James Tracy, over 70 years old, who had stolen a hog and sold it.
He pleaded guilty to the charge of grand larceny and got eighteen
months.
Miss Augusta Buchlmeyer and Anton Crawford, of Dubuque, were
engaged to be married, and everything was in readiness, when
Crawford, for no known cause, left for parts unknown.
Three deaths directly traceable to the influenza occurred in
Burlington the other day. Mrs. Susanna Davis, aged 79; Mrs.
Sophia Pilgram, aged 23, and Mrs. Catherine Jackson, aged 77.
Colonel John C. Abercrombie, an old and prominent citizen of
Burlington, died the other day. He was well known by veterans of
the war with Mexico and the South.
The home of Ernest Everett, near Council Bluffs, was burned the
other night. The mercury was 20 degrees below zero, and the
family were compelled to walk half a mile in their night-clothes
before reaching a neighbor's house. All were badly frozen.
[transcribed by S.F. March 2014]