Iowa
Old Press
The People's Telephone
Red Oak, Montgomery co. Iowa
Wednesday, February 9, 1881
FIRE!
About 2:30 last Wednesday morning a fire broke out in
the two story frame building on the southeast corner of the
square, occupied by F.C. Tolman as a grocery and restaurant. The
alarm brought the fire company promptly, but all efforts to save
the building and two unoccupied buildings adjoining, proved to be
in vain. The three buildings were entirely consumed, with the
stock and furniture of Mr. Tolman. The loss to Mr. Tolman is
estimated at $4,000, wich is partly covered by insurance. The
other buldings belonged to Mr. H.C. Shank. Great effort was
required to save Mr. I.H. Nazarine's bulding on the west, and Mr.
J.F. Fisher's on the north. The public wells were frozen up, and
the pumps were not in working order.
TOWN and COUNTY AFFAIRS
Mr. Linehan, of the Red Oak Democrat, took a trip to the
north part of the State, and returned last week.
Mrs. Clara Turner, while using coal oil to kindle a fire last
Monday afternoon, was seriously burned by the explosion of the
can.
We hear that H.C. French, Esq., is a candidate for Mayor.
A tea party at Mrs. T.W. Crandall's last Friday night, is said to
have been an enjoyable affair.
Mr. Hamilton White contemplates moving with his family, to
Evanston, a Chicago surburban town, in the early spring.
A new organization under the name of the "Red Oak Driving
Park Association" will hold summer races, July 1, 2 &
4th. H.H. Palmer is president of the new organization, and H.E.
Deemer, secretary.
Dr. Richey has been kept so constantly busy at Nebraska City,
ever since he left here, that he has not been able to get here
sooner, and will not be here for two or three weeks yet.
Mr. P.C. Dillon of Jackson township, and Dr. Safford, of
Villisca, were callers at our sanctum on Wednesday last. Mr.
Dillon says he has lost 100 hogs with the Cholera.
Last week Deputy Marshal Jim Cook caught Andy Taylor in the act
of stealing coal of Mess. Carlson & Powers. Justice Gray sent
the thief up for five days.
Married - On the 2nd day of February, 1881, at the home of the
bride's father, in Sherman township, this county, Mr. John Rush
and Miss Mary J. Powell, daughter of A.M. Powell, Esq. The Telephone
extends its congratulations.
Died - On the 2nd of February, 1881, at his home in Walnut
township, in this county, Elder Robert Stephenson, aged
sixty-three years and two months. The subject of this sketch was
among the old citizens of this city, having moved with his family
from Illinois, in the spring of 1871, and located here when the
city was in its infancy. We became acquainted with Mr. Stephenson
soon after he came here, and always admired him for his strict
integrity, and upright character, even in serious financial
reverses. Mr. Stephenson was a ruling Elder in the Presbyterian
Church of this city, and was highly esteemed by the Church and
the community.
Some two years ago Elder Stephenson was attacked by cancer,
making its first appearance in the mouth, gradually growing
worse, until he finally went east to be treated by eminent
scientific surgeons. He received temporary relief and returned
home, but alas! the disease made its appearance in the
face, more virulent than ever, and never ceased its relentless
ravages, until death came to his relief.
His family consists of a new bereaved widow and five children,
three daughters and two sons, all of whom are grown to man and
womanhood. The funeral services were held in the Presbyterian
Church in this city, last Friday, at 11 o'clock, Rev. S.L. McAfee
officiating. The remains were followed to the cemetery by the
mourning friends and a goodly number of citizens who came to pay
the last tribute of respect to all that was mortal of a good
citizen, a christian gentleman and honest man.
IOWA NEWS
-Muscatine has had a fatal case of small-pox, and the
small-pox is raging at Mount Ayr, Ringgold county.
-Henry Zalen has located his headquarters in Chariton, and is
buying black-walnut logs for shipment to England.
-E.B. Backus, a promising young business man, of Independence,
who had been missing for some time, was discovered lying dead on
his wife's grave. A revolver was found on his body, and his death
was entirely the result of a bullet wound near the right temple.
[transcribed by S.F., March 2015]