Iowa
Old Press
The Anamosa Prison Press
Anamosa, Jones co. Iowa
March 19, 1904
Through the courtesy of U.S. Congressman R. G. Cousins, of Iowa,
the Colony Library is in receipt of the "Abstract of the
Twelfth Census" (1900), containing the latest U.S. census
returns. The book will be placed in the Library and issued on
demand.
Warden Hunter was in Des Moines this week attending the quarterly
meeting of State institution heads with the Board of Control. A
paper read by Judge Kinne on "Alcoholism" was a
thorough exposition of the evils due to intemperance and
attracted considerable attention.
Again we are confronted with the sorrowful duty of chronicling a
death. This time the home of Officer G. W. Hamaker is the scene
of grief and his beloved wife the victim of fatal sickness. Mrs.
Hamaker died at 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon, alter a long siege
of severe suffering. The sympathy of our Colony goes out to the
bereaved husband and children in this time of grief.
Guiavanno Cervo, 5047, a one-year man from Polk county, died of
dropsy in the Colony Hospital March 17 and was buried the next
day. Cervo's time was up Jan. 2 of this year, but his condition
precluded his being removed. He was a transfer from the Fort
Madison prison, 26 years of age and friendless.
Sheriff J.T. Hogan, of Cherokee county, came Tuesday P. M. and
took away Harry Hortman, tor retrial. Hortman was under sentence
of death. The Supreme Court reversed the trial court because
Hortman was denied the right to withdraw his plea ot guilty and
stand trial. For the last several months Hortman has done
creditable work as a compositor in this office. He is a quiet,
agreeable young man and well liked by his fellow workers. If he
comes back with a second degree sentence we'll forgive him for
leaving us shy a printer on so short a notice. But we don't care
if he never comes back.
Forty years in a wheel-chair has made Jehu, of the Sixth Ward, an
expert chauffeur. The way the old fellow steers around corners,
cuts figure 8's and glides up to his place at the table, by
manipulating the wheels w ith his hands, would be amusing if his
physical condition were not so appealing to one's sympathy. From
the hips down Jehu has been helpless for about forty years.
Otherwise, he is apparently as robust as one could wish. When
comparatively young, Jehu and his brother, Uriah, who, also, is
an occupant of the Sixth Ward, were stricken with ankylosis, a
disease of the bones, resulting in stiff joint. Uriah manages
with the aid of crutches to get around fairly well. Jehu sits in
his wheel-chair all day and moves about the spacious Ward with
surprising quickness. Of late he has taken upon himself the
commendable office of reader for the two blind men. Uriah has
developed quite a talent for drawing and manages in that way to
spend his time very pleasantlv. Both are cheerful and
good-natured. Their retirement next July will leave "Coxie's
Army" minus two of its staunchest supporters.
Death of Mrs.. Boylan
For the following information relative to the death of Mrs.
Boylan The Press is indebted to the Anamosa Eureka.
The funeral services over the body of the late Mrs. Emily Coglan
Boylan, wife of Turnkey A. W. Boylan and mother of Officer E. A.
Boylan, of the Prison force, took place at their rooms on Ford
street Monday morning at 10 o'clock. Rev. De Witt White, ot the
Presbyterian Church, officiating, after which the remains were
interred at Riverside. At the service a touching solo was
rendered by Mrs. Clifford Niles. The young men who had boarded at
the same place with her were the pallbearers.
Emily Coglan was born near Rome, Oneida county. N. Y., Dec. 13,
1841. About twenty-three years later she moved west with
"her parents and settled near Joliet, Ill. There she was
married, on Dec. 23, 1868, to Mr. A. W. Boylan, who survives her.
To this union there were born two children, Mr. Eugene A., of
this place, and Miss Evelyn, of Chicago city schools. Mrs. Boylan
united with the Presbyterian Church at Joliet about 1884, where
she held her membership about ten years until she removed to
Lockport. where she joined the Congregational. Church, of which
she was a member at the time of her death. She came with her
husband and son to Anamosa in the summer of 1902 and died at the
Anamosa Sanitarium March 12,1904.
The sympathy of the community goes out to the bereaved ones irf
this hour of their sorrow, to the husband whose life has been
saddened by the loss of a companion and helpmeet in life; to the
children who have been deprived of the love of a mother and the
many friends who enjoyed the acquaintance of so amiable a woman.
Card of Thanks
TO THE OFFICERS AND GUARDS: I wish to express to you my sincere
and heartfelt thanks for your kind remembrance of me in my hour
of affliction, in sending the beautiful wreath of flowers for my
wife. It was placed on the casket and consigned with her to the
tomb. I shall always remember your kindness.
March 15, 1904. A. W. BOYLAN.
Late Arrivals
5185, John Sutter. Dubuque county, nine months.
5186, John Sullivan, Dubuque county, one year and six months.
5187, John G. Grady, Dubuque county, one year and six months.
5188, Fred Close, Jones county, one year and six months
[transcribed by S.F., March 2010]