Iowa Old Press
Sutherland Courier
Sutherland, O’Brien co. Iowa
August (date unreadable), 1885
FORMER O’BRIENITES MISFORTUNE.
Sutherland, Iowa—Editor mail;--
Would it be asking too much to have you put the enclosed letter
in your paper? Perhaps it will satisfy some of his enemies
in Sutherland when they see what trouble they drove him
into. May God be more lenient to them than they were to my
boy, is the prayer of—
T. SHEPARD.
The letter above referred to is given herewith, as per request:
Chandron, Sioux County, Nebraska. August 2d, 1885
Dear Father and Mother:--Oh ! my God, how can I tell, but will
have to tell you the worst, Harry and Inez are both
drowned! We were in a water spout about eleven o’clock
at night; were in bed asleep when it came; we were living in a
tent; I grabbed Jessie by the arm; she took the baby; a wagon box
came along; I put them in it; we went about ten rods in that, and
then it struck a stump and turned over; and there Jessie lost our
baby. And then I took her about ten rods farther, struck a
tree—the water then was about three feet deep—I raised
Jessie up on my shoulder and told her to climb for her
life. She had not more than left my shoulder before the
water was up to my chin; I tried to climb the tree, but could
not, the water was too strong, and it broke me loose from it, and
I strangled, but floated about 20 rods, then heard some one and
made a noise and they helped me to the shore. Jessie staid
(sic) in the tree until almost morning with nothing but her
night-clothes on, and the wind blew so cold we were afraid she
could not stand it, but she did. Milt and Harry, were
sleeping together; I called to Milt to take Harry; he took him as
far as he could and then lost him. Milt went about 100 rods
and then got into a tree and was saved; We have found
Inez—the little darling—and buried her. She went
one mile and a half below and lodged in some drift wood.
But, oh, Harry we cannot find yet; shall look a good while for
our darling boy; I can not give him up until I find him; I wish
we could have gone with our poor children. They were
drowned Thursday night. They went to bed so happy.
Little did I think it would be the last time I would ever undress
Harry. Oh, what can we do without them. Mother, write
to all my brothers and sisters and tell them we have lost our
children. Dear father and mother, good night it is getting
late, I must get a little rest so as to look for Harry; I have
been in the water all day. We lost everything but our
horses, they were in the herd; we only got out with our shirts
on. But that is nothing if we could have saved the
children. Mother, if the girls will send something for
Jessie to wear I will be so thankful, send it to Gordon by
express. Save Harry’s picture for me for God’s
sake. Oh, father and mother, I wish you could see me
to-night and tell me what to do. It’s not like being
at home with such trouble as this. This is a different
country. I will write as soon as I find Harry. Jessie
is sleeping, her arms and body are all black and blue. Good
night. Direct to Chadron, Sioux County, Nebraska.
Later:--Have found Harry and buried them side by side at
Bardeaux.
Your Son,
James SHEPARD.
[transcribed by C.B., June 2005]
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Sheldon Mail
Sheldon, O'Brien co. Iowa
August 6, 1885
Bill Van Campen has had the front of his Fountain House
Restaurant painted red.
The latest way the ladies have of making a bustle is to take
three or four dozen turkish towels and wind them around a cracker
barrel.
[transcribed by S.F., September 2009
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Sutherland Courier
Sutherland, O’Brien co. Iowa
August 7, 1885
Snipe-Shooters, beware!
Salt--$1.75 per bbl. At ACHORN’S.
Baby carriages at the furniture store.
Straw hats at cost at HORSTMAN Bros.
John CLEVELAND is clerking for J. SLICK.
The Courier and State Register for $2.50 per
year.
Butter and eggs will buy machine oil at ACHORN’S.
The Courier and Sioux City Journal one year for
$2.50.
We learn that the Hartley Record is about to change hands.
Don’t forget the Courier office when in need of
stationery.
C.H. BRINTNALL, was doing business at Primghar Tuesday.
E.P. MESSER has a new advertisement on first page. Read it.
J.H. REAGER made a business trip to Hartley the first of the
week.
Read the business notices, and take advantage of the special
bargains.
Buy your Machine Oils at MESSER’S Hardware store and save
money.
Don’t forget this office when in need of any and all kinds
of job printing.
J.B. DUNN, Esq., was called to Peterson Tuesday to attend a law
case.
If you want the bet of lime, hair and cement cheap, buy it of
QUEAL & Co.
The Peterson whisky-sellers were prosecuted the first of the
week. ‘Tis well.
Go to MESSER & ACHORN’S or to C.E. ACHORN’S for the
finest grade of binding twine.
Uncle Wash. ALEXANDER was down from Primghar the first of the
week.
H.N. VILES and W.H. DURHAM, of Paullina, were in town for a few
hours last Monday.
Don’t fail to notice the new advertisement of “Price,
the Druggist,” on the first page.
Mr. and Mrs. E. COLVIN, of Odebolt, are visiting with E.P.
MESSER’S people this week.
Butter in Jars—when the jars can be changed—brings as
much as tub butter at ACHORN’S.
Miss Rose MASTERSON, of Paullina, was in town last Saturday, the
guest of Miss Mattie INGRAM.
Nels MYERS has a bad thumb on him, the effects of getting too
close to a piece of broken glass.
Mrs. J.J. VULGAMOTT has been quite sick for several days
past. Dr. J.C. BONHAM is attending.
The doctors smile when they see the draymen unloading the barrels
and boxes of green fruit at the groceries.
W.P. DAVIS made a trip to Cherokee last Monday.
Read the call for the Democratic caucus in this issue.
In ladies and children’s hose we take the lead.
HORSTMAN Bros.
C.W. INMAN and family are this week “camping out” on
the farm northeast of town in Grant township.
We have a few summer suits left which we are offering at a
bargain. HORSTMAN Bros.
Rev. Geo. SHEAR, of Toledo, and Rev. SLINGERLAND of State Center,
were in town the first of the week looking around with a view of
purchasing land.
Call and get one of those cassimere (sic) shawls before they are
all gone. We are selling them at cost. HORSTMAN Bros.
J.H. MCNEILL, the lather, finished lathing the school house
yesterday. The plasterers will now make short work of their
job, and it will be only a few weeks before the school
house will be completed.
Bread For Sale!
Parties so desiring can purchase fresh Bread at the Sutherland
House Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays of each week until
further notice. C.H. WILSON.
But very little grain in this vicinity was injured last Saturday
night’s rain. Farmers are working hard to save every
bit of their grain this season, and very little was caught out of
the stack or shock.
Baby Carriages.
I have a fine lot of baby carriages and boys’ wagons for
sale cheap. J.D. TOWBERMAN.
Thirty new books were sent to the Paullina branch of the Baker
Library last Saturday. We learn that the people of Paullina
propose to organize a library of their own next fall, and will
then withdraw all their books form this library.
Marsh – Whitney
Platform cord binder. Call and see it. Six foot cut
and fully warranted. A.J. CILLEY, Agent.
Prairie chickens can be legally shot after September 1st, instead
of the 15th, as stated last week. Parties in this part of
the country will be perfectly safe if they don’t shoot the
chickens, but it is hard to tell what the outcome will be if they
are found guilty of shooting them before September 1st.
Farmers Attention.
See the Flax Attachment to the St. Paul Binder before placing
your order. A.M. CILLEY.
Butter and eggs wanted at ACBORN’S (sic).
Harvest is well along, some of the farmers having already
finished.
Rev. FANNON spoke at the church last Sabbath morning, at
Hiatt’s grove in the afternoon and at the Sunday school
concert at the church in the evening. He will be here again
a week from next Sunday, August 16th.
E.C. HERRICK, of Cherokee, has been engaged to deliver the
address at the memorial services to be held here to-morrow.
Mr. HERRICK is reported as being a very fluent speaker, and will
no doubt deliver a fine address.
Samuel WAGNER, of Sheldon was arrested at Lemars Tuesday by
Sheriff GREEN for kidnapping his 4-year-old child. It seems
WAGNER and his wife have lately separated, and it is said WAGNER
has been partially insane since.
A.TOWBERMAN, with a full force of workmen, commenced work on the
iron bridge across the Little Sioux Monday morning. We were
not informed as to how long he expects to be employed in making
the necessary repairs.
Our machine men are having but very little trouble with their
harvesters this season. About all they have to do is to set
the machine up and start it to running, and nearly all of them
work like a charm. It pays to handle good machinery.
Clothing—a splendid line just received at ACHOTN’S
(sic).
Lay aside your business to-morrow between the hours of 12 and 4
o’clock and attend the memorial services at W.H. WOOD’S
grove. E.C. HERRICK, the gentlemen who is to deliver the
oration, will please you all. Come out and hear him.
What do the people say about that fine 50c Japan tea sold by
ACHORN?
Aug. WOLF, the shoemaker, has been working on a pair of boots for
Alex. MARTIN of Grant township, nearly all of the pleasant days
of the past week. He expects to get them finished in a few
days, if the weather is fair enough to allow him to work
out-doors.
ACHORN is not selling goods at cost or below, but just as near it
as he can afford to. Remember that.
The Sutherland base ball club was invited to go to Sanborn
to-morrow and play a game with the Sanborns. The boys
decided not to go on account of the memorial services at this
place, but the invitation will no doubt be accepted at no distant
day. My! How our boys will get it “waxed to
‘em.”
Lime Brick, Cement, Etc.
Buy your lime, hair, brick and cement J.H. QUEAL & Co.
Henry LEOPOLD, of St. Joe, Mo., has taken charge of E.
MCCOY’S lumber yard at this place, succeeding A. MCCOY, who
goes to Paullina to take charge of a yard. Mr. LEOPOLD is
an old lumberman, evidently understands his business, and will no
doubt to his share of the business. His wife is with him,
and both are boarding at the REAGER House.
Memorial Services.
E.C. HERRICK, Esq., of Cherokee, to Deliver the Oration.
The arrangements have been nearly perfected, and it is expected
that a good-sized crowd will attend the memorial services at this
place tomorrow (Saturday). E.C. HERRICK, of Cherokee, has
kindly consented to be with us and deliver the oration. He
is spoken of as being a very fluent speaker, and we are sure it
will be worth while for all of our readers to quit work and come
out and her him. Good comfortable seats can be found at the
grove, and a nice musical entertainment will be given in addition
to the speaking. The procession will form in town between 1
and 2 o’clock and march to the grove where the following
program will be given:
Music by choir.
Prayer by Chaplain.
Music by choir.
Reading G.A.R. General Orders.
Introduction of Speaker.
Oration by E.C. Herrick, Esq.
Music by Choir.
Forming of procession and march to town.
A Threshing machine for sale or trade. Inqure (sic) of A.W.
H. STONE.
The committee on arrangements are fixing up the seats and
speaker’s stand in Woods’ Grove for tomorrow’s
memorial services.
Business men should not forget to decorate their buildings
to-morrow, in honor to the memory of General Grant. We hope
to see every business house properly draped, and closed between
the hours of 12 and 4 o’clock.
E.H. FARNSWORTH received a letter from Nebraska yesterday stating
that both of J.F. SHEPARD’S children, a boy and girl, had
been killed in a waterspout, a few days since. At the time
the letter was written the body of Harry, the oldest, had not
been found. The water-spout came upon them suddenly, and
Mr. and Mrs. SHEPARD barely had time to save themselves.
Their household effects were nearly all destroyed. The
friends of Mr. and Mrs. SHEPARD in this vicinity will deeply
sympathize with them over their great loss.
[transcribed by C.B., June 2005]
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Sutherland Courier
Sutherland, O’Brien co. Iowa
August 14, 1885
Town and Country.
Political Announcement.
Ed. Courier—Please announce my name as a candidate
for county auditor, subject to the decision of the Republican
county convention. C.H. DRINTNALL.
I hereby announce myself a candidate for Sheriff of O’Brien
county, subject to the decision of the Republican county
convention. Ralph DODGE.
Ed. Courier—Please announce my name as a candidate
for Representative from the 83d Representative District of Iowa,
consisting of the counties of O’Brien and Dickinson.
Geo. W. SCHEE.
There has been a change of postmasters at Sutherland, Mr. H.A.
SAGE being the new hand at the bellows. Mr. SAGE is an old
resident of O’Brien county and was postmaster at the old
county seat many years ago.—NEWS.
Yes, Mr. SAGE has received notice of his appointment as
postmaster at Sutherland, and it is expected that his bond will
be forwarded to the Department in a few days. It will
probably be several weeks before he receives his
commission. We have not yet learned on what grounds Mr.
FARNSWORTH was removed, but presume he was considered an
“offensive partisan,” as he voted for Mr. BLAINE for
President. A large majority of the patrons of the office,
Democrats as well as Republicans, would have been well pleased to
have seen Mr. FARNSWORTH remain in the office, but the
“hungry” must be fed, and the offices in Iowa are so
“few and far between” that they must have every one of
them in order to satisfy their appetites. “To the
victors belong the spoils” is as true to-day as it ever was,
and the party in power should dispose of the offices as it sees
fit. The hopes of all is that Mr. SAGE will make as good an
official as has Mr. FARNSWORTH.
Clothing for sale cheap to clean out old stock before it is moved
upstairs to new quarters. C.E. ACHORN.
C.N. CASS left Tuesday morning for Des Moines to attend the
Republican State Convention. The other delegates went on
the Milwaukee, via Algona.
ACHORN wants you to compare his prices with any one’s.
He is satisfied that he can and does sell you more goods (and at
better quality) for the money than any other store within twenty
miles.
The new school house is rapidly nearing completion, and the lower
rooms will be ready for occupancy by September 14th.
It is hardly necessary to call the reader’s attention to
C.E. ACHORN'S big advertisement. As Mr. ACHORN says, he
means business, and will make it an object for people to trade
with him.
Business men report to the effect that, considering the amount of
grain being marketed, collections are coming in rapidly, and they
are well pleased with the business outlook.
The only store in town that carries a full line of goods in
Sutherland is ACHORN’S. He treats you square, and it
will pay you to trade with him.
Jerome SLICK returned to Sutherland last Thursday evening and has
taken his old position behind the counter in his brother’s
grocery. Jerome’s many friends are glad to see him
back again.
ACHORN has ordered another car load of the famous Mankato
flour—making two cars ordered since July 29th.
The Courier is so crowded with advertisements this week
that it is impossible for us to give an extended report of last
Saturdays convention. A condensed report will be found in
another column.
L.W. FAIRBANK left for Chicago last Tuesday evening to purchase a
stock of general merchandise which he will offer for sale in
Sutherland. He has rented the building on Second street,
his old stand, and expects to have his goods on hand and be ready
for business about the first of next month.
Somehow the Democrats in this part of the county don’t
appear to “hitch” very well. The men who thought
they had just lots of “inflooence” have at last
discovered that they are very small fish and don’t begin to
compare with Jerry, the “Great, I Am.” The boys
will probably wheel into line in time to vote the straight
Democratic ticket in November, but just at present Jerry’s
scalp is safer in Sheldon than it would be in Sutherland.
One would infer from reading th4e papers that the town of Sheldon
was a trifle hard up—on the verge of bankruptcy, so to
speak. Well, the good people of that town will find a
sympathizing friend in Sutherland.
The Teachers’ Normal Institute will convene at Primghar next
Monday—August 31st, and Supt. ALGYER wishes all who expect
to attend to be on hand the first day. Sutherland will send
up quite a delegation, and we will wager the “smokes”
that they will be the best looking lot of school ma’ams in
attendance at the Normal.
Chas. SLACK of Grant township, and Father COMPTON of Waterman,
brought in some fine specimens of Apples raised on their farms
during the pat week. The fruit is large and smooth and as
fine as any we have ever seen in Iowa. Both gentlemen
report their trees as bearing well, and they are confident that
good fruit can be grown in Northwestern Iowa. Specimens of
the fruit can be seen at the ‘Courier’ office and our
farmer friends are invited to call and examine them.
Ralph DODGE, of Liberty township, this week announces himself a
candidate for Sheriff subject to the decision of the Republican
county convention. Mr. DODGE is an old resident of
O’Brien county, and has served very credibly for several
years past as a member of the Board of Supervisors. He is
well known throughout the county, and his friends are numerous,
and they are quite enthusiastic over his candidacy The
Republicans of O’Brien county can do no better than to unite
on Mr. D. and give him an unanimous nomination and then see to it
that he is elected—as he can be if he receives the full
party vote. He requires no booming at all. He is a
man in whom all have confidence, and should he be elected he
would make a first-class official.
[transcribed by C.B., June 2005]
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Sheldon Mail
Sheldon, O'Brien co. Iowa
August 20, 1885
Town officers: Mayor, W.S. Lamb; Recorder, C.C.
Birdsall; Treasurer, W.L. Ayres; Assessor, W.S. Lamb; Marshal,
J.C. O'Donnell; Street Commissioner, A. Charles; Councilmen, H.W.
Conant, C.M. Spencer, F.W. Cram, George E. Berray, E.F.
Parkhurst, J. Shinski.
Church Directory: Baptist, Rev. Pratt, pastor;
Congregational, Rev. L.W. Brintnall, pastor; Catholic, Rev.
Father Sullivan, pastor; Methodist, Rev. W.W. Cook, pastor; St.
Mark's Episcopal church, Rev. Nassau Stephens, clergyman in
charge
Civic Societies: Malta Lodge, K. of P.; Charles
Stinson, K. of R. & S.; W.S. Wilson, C.C. Locust Lodge
I.O.O.F. - James Wykoff, Secretary, George E. Berray, N.G.;
Mistletoe Lodge A.F. & A.M. - W.N. Strong, W.M., W.J.
Anderson, Secretary; McKinzle Post G.A.R. - Calvin Hook, Adjuant
& Oliver Lias, Commander.
[transcribed by S.F., September 2009