Iowa Old Press
Cedar Rapids Daily Republican
Cedar Rapids, Linn co. Iowa
Tuesday, July 9, 1901
Lyman M. Ayers
Lyman M. Ayers, one of the oldest citizens of Cedar Rapids, died
at his late residence at 6 o'clock Sunday evening after a long
illness. For the past few weeks his life has hung in the balance
and the end was expected. During his long illness he has been a
patient sufferer and his death will be a sad blow to the army of
friends who have been associated with hiim for a great many
years. Mr. Ayers was better known as "Lym" and was one
of the first to be a chief of the fire department in Cedar
Rapids, serving 18 years in that capacity when the department was
made up solely of volunteers. Seldom was there occasion to call
on the volunteers that the ever pleasant face of "Lym"
was not to be seen. For forty years he was in the printing
business in this city and was at one time associated with Dr.
McClelland, deceased. He was one of the most prominent promoters
of the paid fire department and worked diligently for the success
of it.
Lyman M. Ayers was born in Castine, Maine, June 23, 1842. He came
to Cedar Rapids in 1856. When civil war was declared Mr. Ayers,
who was then but 19 years of age, enlisted with the Twelfth Iowa
infantry and was sent to the front in Company D. He served three
years and came home after a long imprisonment at Shiloh.
In 1866 he married, his wife dying in 1882. Six children blessed
this union, two of whom survive. They are Mrs. E.M. Frazee and
Craig C. Ayers, both of this city. In 1885, Mr. Ayers married
Miss Crissie Bailey, who survives, as does a young son, Parker.
Besides the immediate family of the deceased, a sister, Mrs. E.T.
Hooper of this city, and a brother, Harris Ayers of Cassine,
Maine, survive.
The funeral will be private, and will be held at the family
residence, 1616 B. Avenue this afternoon at 4 o'clock. Interment
will be in Oak Hill cemetery.
J.W. Caffall
J.W. Caffall, for many years an engineer on the Illinois Central
and a resident of this city, died at the home of his brother,
George Caffall at Oskaloosa, after a brief illness, having been
taken sick a week ago last Monday with appendicitis. In this city
he resided at 420 South Tenth street and together with his family
had gone to Oskaloosa where he expected to spend a part of his
summer vacation.
The deceased was the third child of Mr. and Mrs. J.C. Caffall of
Stowell, Tex. Besides his wife and two daughters, Luemma and
Vera, and his parents, Mr. Caffall leaves to mourn his death four
brothers, Richard and George, at Oskaloosa; Frank, at Jennings,
La.; David, at Beaumont, Tex.; and three sisters: Mrs. H.W. Lanz
of Lake Charles, La., Mrs. V.B. Geyman of Vinton, Iowa, and Mrs.
L.G. Ogden of Stowell, Tex.
James W. Caffall was born March 31, 1863, at Dubuque, Iowa, where
he received his schooling. In that city he commenced railroad
work as a fireman on the Illinois Central railroad. He was soon
promoted because of his efficiency, to the position of engineer
and but a few months ago received from the Illinois Central
Railroad company a medal of reward and merit for seventeen years
of continuous service. He was for a time disabled in a head end
collision at Rock Rapids, Iowa.
In 1891 he was married to Miss Nellie Usher of this city, and
with his wife made Cedar Rapids his home. He was an active member
of St. Paul's Methodist church, having joined with that body in
1897.
The sad end of Mr. Caffall will bring sorrow to his many friends.
He left the city about two weeks ago to pass a two weeks'
vacation with friends in Oskaloosa as well as celebrate the
Fourth of July. While there he was attacked with the appendicitis
and was compelled to submit to an operation, soon after which he
passed away.
The remains arrived in the city Monday morning at 11 o'clock and
the funeral serviles will be held from the home, No. 420 South
Tenth street, this morning at 10 o'clock, Rev. Barclay of
Davenport officiating.
Personal
-Hon. S.L. Dows went to Chicago yesterday.
-James Herring went to Kansas City last evening.
-Miss Clara E. Henderson left for a visit to Vancouver, B.C.,
yesterday.
-E.J. McDole departed for St. Louis last night.
-Dr. Skinner went to Minneapolis last night.
-Miss Mabel Cook left last night for a two weeks' visit at
Kenosha, Wis.
-Charles Fletcher left yesterday for a two weeks' vacation in
Colorado.
-Miss Isabel Knox will leave tonight for Spirit Lake, to attend
the Clark-Dutton wedding.
-Dr. V. Hasek, V. Vane and A. Matik left yesterday for an
extended trip through Colorado, Yellowstone Park and other
western states.
-Mr. Joseph Smith of Philadelphia, arrived in the city Saturday
for a visit of a few days with his daughter, Mrs. Harry Freese,
of 1718 South Ninth street east. Mr. Smith will also visit in St.
Louis before returning home.
Knights Templars Leave
George B. Holmes, Rev. Thos. E. Green, William Flannigan, L.W.
Anderson and Charles Berry, were among a party of Knight Templars
who left Monday for Spirit Lake where the thirty-eighth annual
conclave will be held at Templar park. The delegates will stay a
week and besides taking care of the business of the order, will
enjoy themselves. Many of the wives of the delegates accompanied
them.
Shot by Drunken Man
Fort Dodge, July 8 - Ole McMillan, night watchman at the town of
Humboldt, eighteen miles north of this city, was shot and killed
by J.B. Metzner, at 3 o'clock yesterday morning. The body was
riddled with small shot from a shotgun in the hands of Metzner,
who was intoxicated.
It is reported here that Metzner came home drunk on Saturday
night and began to abuse his family, and one of the children went
to summon the police. McMillan started for the Metzner residence.
Metzner heard he was coming, procured a shotgun, and went to meet
him. The two men met on the road near Metzner's home and Metzner
shot McMillan down in cold blood. Only one barrel of the gun was
fired. The range was short and death was instantaneous, the full
charge lodging in McMillan's breast.
Metzner was placed under arrest. He does not deny shooting, but
says that he did it when crazed by drink.
McMillan was 28 years old and unmarried. The town of Humboldt is
in a ferment over the shooting, and threats of lynching have been
frequent, as McMillan was well known and popular. Metzner is over
50 years of age and has a large family. He is a miller at
Humboldt.
[transcribed by S.F., March 2014]