Iowa Old Press
Paullina Times
Paullina, O'Brien co. Iowa
May 2, 1895
At The State Capital
Cora Smith, or rather Cora McCauley, has been sent to
the penitentiary at Anamosa for life. Her mother is confined
there under a similar sentence, namely, for the murder of Michael
Smith, the husband of Cora's mother, and Cora's stepfather. Cora,
who has been living a life of shame for several years, seemed to
be haunted with the crime, that she confessed; and refusing
counsel, pleaded guilty. When her sentence was pronounced, she
fainted. She poisoned her stepfather with arsenic in coffee, in
this city about a year ago. And thus send another chapter in the
history of this horrible crime.
Primghar News
-A marriage license was issued last Thursday to John
Flannery and Francis Pro.
-Frank Herrick went to Sheldon Saturday morning, called thither
by the death of his sister.
-The wedding of Mr. J. W. Rowen and Mrs. Ellen B. Mills, of
Sutherland, was celebrated here Monday night and the average
small boy with his tin horn made night hideous in his efforts to
properly herald the event.
A son was born Monday to Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Millikin. John says
the little fellow has a neck like Farmer Burns and thinks if he
doesn't develop into a wrestler or prize fighter he may be a
harness maker, barber or congressman.
The youngest of C. R. West's orphan boys aged four met with a
severe accident on Saturday last. He was badly bitten by a dog.
The presumption is that he was in the wagon in the yard and fell
out onto the dog that was lying in the shade. The little fellow
was brought to town and Dr. Dudley sewed and dressed the wounds
and the boy is getting along as well as could be expected. The
dog, though a valued one, was shot.
[transcribed by A.N., July 2014]
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Paullina Times
Paullina, O'Brien co. Iowa
May 9, 1895
Primghar
-Harriet Ann Bjorkland was granted a permit to wed John
McConchie by Clerk Armstrong.
-A large number of people, including some seven or eight
relatives from Wilton Junction attended the funeral of A. M.
Hinkhouse here Tuesday. The boy was taken to Wilton Junction for
burial.
-A. A. Bull of Sheldon has filed a suit for $5000 damages against
S. H. Masters, a Sheldon physician. Plaintiff claims the
defendant has supplanted him in his wife's affections and
destroyed the peace and quietude of his once happy home, and
turned his wife against him.
Sutherland
A gloom of sorrow was cast over our little hamlet last
Friday when the sad news reached here that Rudolph Schwerdtfeger,
who was at the time working for Henry Weiss, just north of town,
had been killed by lightning. He was at the time working in the
field with a team of four horses, three of which were killed. The
particulars farther than this we are unable to give. The remains
were brought to town and taken in charge and embalmed by
undertaker Parks. The funeral took place Sunday afternoon from
the M. E. church in charge of the I. O. G. T. lodge of which
order he was a member. The funeral was the largest that was ever
held in this place, 75 teams following the remains to the
cemetery, besides a large number on foot. The relatives of the
deceased have the heartfelt sympathy of the entire community in
their sorrow.
Mrs. Ann Bazeley is reported very low at the home of her
daughter, Mrs. T. R. Stewart.
Born - To Mr. and Mrs. A. D. McClure, Saturday, May 4, a son. To
Mr. and Mrs. Dutch Worden, Friday, May 8, a daughter.
Ole Husaboe received a new 17-pound Spalding racing wheel
yesterday. It was built especially for Ole and will be used in
all his races this year.
During the storm of Friday last the station house was struck by
lightning and the family of Station Agent Thompson, including
himself, have yet to figure out just how the lightning's freaks
covering so much of the building and left them alive. And it is a
mystery. The bolt made its first appearance at the chimney and
left very little of the brick above the roof. Many small pieces
were found fifty feet north between the railway tracks. The
frisky thing passed into the sitting room above where Mrs.
Thompson was sitting and melted a hanging lamp, tore off
plastering, deposited loose parts of the heating stove about the
floor and kicked up more dust than a mouse at a ladies picnic.
After this is dropped into the telegraph office directly below
the sitting room and played tag with Mr. Thompson. Will has
handled a good deal of electricity in his time, but this terror
of the air was too much for him this time and the best that could
be done was to scare it out through the north side of the
building. Considerable paper was burned and one of the
instruments was demolished before leaving. A chain about eight
feet in length that was used to shift the signal in front of the
office was almost entirely melted. Assistant Agent McClure was in
the office at the time, and now believes the railway company
should place lightning rods all over the roof of their offices.
We believe him, too.
Dr. and Mrs. E. H. Greene of New Vienna, Ohio, are visiting at
the home of Hubert Sprague. The doctor is an uncle of Mrs.
Sprague.
F. T. Nokes, an experienced dentist and graduate of a Chicago
dental college, has decided to locate in Paullina for the
practice of his profession. Mr. Nokes is a relative of Mrs. A. F.
Upham. We believe there is a good opening here for such an
enterprise and hope it may prove a success.
Suicide at Primghar - A. M. Hinkhouse, a Prominent
Primghar Man, Kills Himself While in a Fit of Despondency
The suicide of A. M. Hinkhouse Sunday night was a
tragedy so startling in its nature and horrifying in its details
that a gloom was cast over our entire town, and expressions of
sympathy for the widow, mingled with shudders of dread at the
terrible affair, were heard everywhere. Deceased was a young man
who had not an enemy in town and was well-liked. While he was
inclined to be unsociable or at least untalkative and hard to
make acquaintances, he was a kind husband and thoroughly devoted
to his wife, and made friends with everyone who became acquainted
with him. Financially he was well fixed in this world's goods,
owned a fine farm adjoining Primghar and several other pieces of
real estate throughout the county. He had been in the land
business with G. R. Whitmer until about the first of January when
the partnership was dissolved and Mr. Hinkhouse bought eighty
acres of the old Schuck farm lying directly within the corporate
limits of the town, and intended to and had commenced to farm it
this season. He was naturally of a gloomy temperament and had a
habit of brooding over the least little business trouble until he
greatly magnified its importance. This habit probably brought on
a temporary fit of melancholy that led him to do the rash act.
The remains will be taken to his former home at Wilton Junction
and the funeral services were held here Tuesday preparatory to
taking the remains away. He leaves a wife. Following is a
synopsis of the testimony of the most important witnesses before
the coroner's jury, and verdict:
W. N. Lowe, the proprietor of the creamery, testified that Mr.
Hinkhouse came to the creamery Sunday afternoon about three
o'clock. Affiant was writing and busy, and aside from passing the
time of day and a short commonplace conversation nothing unusual
was said. He had something heavy in his coat pocket that knocked
against the chair when he sat down, and I thought at the time
that it was a revolver. He was at the creamery for from half hour
to an hour, but I did not notice which way he came from when he
came in nor which way he went.
R. Reader had a talk with deceased some two or three weeks ago
prior to the present rains and deceased seemed very much downcast
over the crop prospects. In that talk Hinkhouse asked witness if
he ever had the blues, and being answered in the affirmative Mr.
Hinkhouse stated that he was having a very bad dose of the blues,
and he seemed to be quite downhearted and worrying.
Eugene White testified that he had borrowed a revolver of
deceased last August, and tried to purchase it from deceased, but
latter refused to sell. Sunday afternoon about one or two o'clock
deceased called on witness and asked for the revolver and it was
given him. Deceased did not state why he wanted it. The revolver
was an "American Bulldog" pattern, and 38 caliber. It
was loaded full of cartridges and cleaned and in good order.
Witness identified the revolver that was found with the body as
the one belonging to deceased.
Ed. Lindstrom lived adjoining the Hinkhouse residence. About nine
o'clock Sunday evening Mrs. Hinkhouse came to my house and wanted
me to look for Mr. Hinkhouse who was missing. I got a lantern and
went to the barn. After searching the lower part of the barn I
went upstairs. Mr. Yungbluth, of Gaza, was with me. We went to
the barn because Mrs. Hinkhouse had said he went there about half
past six or seven o'clock. Up in the hayloft we found Mr.
Hinkhouse lying on his back with his head towards the north. His
head was lower than his feet, and his arms were crossed over his
breast. The revolver here was lying on his left breast, down
between his arm and his side, the handle of the revolver was up
towards his shoulder. There was blood running from his mouth and
I thought he was dead. I ran after Dr. Brown and brought him to
the barn. When I found Mr. Hinkhouse his shirt was buttoned up in
front, but had been pushed aside between the buttons where he had
evidently stuck a revolver in against his breast.
Dr. Brown confirmed testimony of Ed. Linstrum as to the position
of the body. Found a bullet hole in his breast, about an inch and
a half to the left of the sternum and about an inch and a half
below the left nipple, and directly over the heart. There was a
powder burn on the skin around the wound with a radius of two
inches. I think the shirt had been pushed to one side while the
shot was fired as I saw no hole in the shirt. He must have been
standing when the shot was fired, and death was instantaneous.
There was only one shot fired into the body. The shot passed
through the heart and the lower part of the left lung and lodged
in the vertebrae of the backbone.
Matie Rerick boarded with the family and had known Mr. Hinkhouse
for about three months. He was never very talkative but he and
his wife seemed to be happy together. Saw nothing unusual about
him Sunday. He had a habit when he was thinking of running his
fingers through his hair, and I often noticed this peculiarity. I
never saw anything about him that would indicate mental weakness.
Mrs. Minnie C. Hinkhouse, wife of deceased testified: We have
been married about a year and six months. He left the house
Sunday evening about a quarter after six to go to do his chores
and asked how soon supper would be ready. When he did not return
soon I went to the barn and called him but he did not come nor
answer. Physically Mr. Hinkhouse was all right, but he had been
troubled quite a bit. He never had any responsibility till he
came here and the responsibility over his land made him gloomy,
especially since we moved to this place. Yesterday afternoon he
acted queer for the first time. He went off in the afternoon
until about four o'clock and said nothing to me about it and he
never did that before. He had been at the barn in the afternoon
but came into the house before supper. He seemed cheerful and all
right at dinner time. He used always to worry over a little thing
that really did not amount to much. One of his brothers had his
mind somewhat deranged.
The coroner's jury, after hearing the above evidence, brought in
the following verdict:
State of Iowa, O'Brien County. An inquisition holden at Primghar,
Iowa, on the fifth and sixth days of May, 1895, before David
Algyer coroner of said county on the body of Aaron M. Hinkhouse
there lying dead, by the jurors whose names are hereto
subscribed. The said jurors upon their oaths do say that the said
Aaron M. Hinkhouse came to his death on the fifth day of May,
1895, at about half past six o'clock p.m. in a hayloft in a barn
on the premises of the said deceased at Primghar, O'Brien County,
Iowa, by a gunshot wound through the heart and left lung, said
shot being fired from a revolved held in his own hand and no
other person is responsible for his death. We further believe
that at the time he was laboring under temporary mental
derangement of the mind. In testimony whereof the said jurors
have hereunto set their hands this sixth day of May, 1895.
H. L. Williams
F. D. Whitehouse
C. H. Slocum, Jurors
Attest, David Algyer, Coroner
[transcribed by A.N., July 2014]
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Paullina Times
Paullina, O'Brien co. Iowa
May 16, 1895
Mrs. Hinkhouse has returned and will sell off her household goods
next Saturday preparatory to removing from Primghar.
R. B. Little and wife were made the parents of a bright baby boy
last Friday.
Preparations are being made to celebrate the seventy-fifth
birthday of Mrs. Thomas Eddington next Thursday.
"Grandma" has hundreds of friends in Primghar, and all
will be pleased to assist in wishing her long life and happiness.
Master Thomas Berry died of diphtheria last Thursday and was
buried Friday. The sympathy of the community goes to the
afflicted family.
The infant son of the Mr. and Mrs. Schillmoeller was buried in
the Catholic cemetery Saturday.
Born - To Mr. and Mrs. Martin Puhrmann,
northwest of Paullina, on Wednesday, May 15, a daughter.
[transcribed by A.N., January 2015]
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Paullina Times
Paullina, O'Brien co. Iowa
May 23, 1895
Mrs. Whitmer and Mrs. Hinkhouse left Wednesday for Wilton
Junction where Mrs. Whitmer will make an extended stay and Mrs.
Hinkhouse will remain permanently.
District Court Work
Butler vs. Butler, divorce granted.
Born - To Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Warden on Tuesday,
May 14, a son. On Monday, May 20, to Mr. and Mrs. Frank M.
Bethel, a son.
The friends here of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Resene, formerly of
Paullina but now of Cherokee county, will be grieved to hear of
the death of their little 11-month old baby last Thursday. The
burial was held Friday.
Mr. and Mrs. O. P. Dagger left Monday for Buena Vista county to
witness the wedding of Mr. Dagger's sister to David Fordyce,
which occurred yesterday. Mr. Fordyce is the efficient engineer
at the roller mills, and will begin housekeeping in the residence
he recently purchased of H. M. Andresen.
Cards are out announcing the marriage of Miss May E. Masterson to
Guy W. Rich of Rolf at the home of Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Crow on
Tuesday, June 4, at high noon. Both parties are well and
favorably known to our people. Miss Masterson is a sister of Mrs.
Crow. Guy is a son of Peter Rich who recently moved to the south,
and is known to all of the older residents of Paullina.
[transcribed by A.N., January 2015]
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Paullina Times
Paullina, O'Brien co. Iowa
May 30, 1895
Florence Sullivan and Tille E. Brown of Sheldon were granted a
permit to wed the first of the week.
A large number of our citizens attended the funeral of Wm. Harker
at Sanborn Wednesday.
Mrs. Wm. Harker and David Palen passed through here Sunday night
on their way to Baden Springs, Indiana, from whence they will
return with the body of Mr. Harker.
The local members of the Masonic fraternity as well as a large
number of our citizens in general go to Sanborn Wednesday to
attend the funeral of Wm. Harker. Mr. Harker was well known here
and his death is felt as a personal loss to many of our people.
The wedding of Mr. Wm. Hoermann to Miss Anna Wollenberg took
place on Sunday in Caledonia township, Rev. J. Horn conducting
the ceremony in the German church. Afterward the couple
accompanied by guests, which included some seventy families, were
taken to the home of the groom's father, Mr. Hoermann, where all
the necessaries had been provided to make the occasion enjoyable;
to this, the gladdening effect of spring weather was truly
essential. The young couple are well known throughout the
neighborhood. They will live on a farm in which occupation Mr.
Hoermann is already experienced. We wish them abundant success
and happiness on life's new journey.
The disgraceful proceedings at the residence of Mr. A. F. Upham
on Monday night of this week are so repulsive in their character
as to abash The Times in giving them publicity. We had
hoped to refrain from publishing the names of the principals in
the matter but things have assumed that shape that anything short
of a full and truthful report of the ribaldry would be exercising
dishonesty with our readers. The facts are these:
Mr. and Mrs. Upham were away from home. On Monday evening two
disreputable women of Cherokee, who had been in or near town for
a couple days, were spirited to the Upham residence which was in
charge of their son Terry. Their horse and buggy were also there
at the barn. About midnight Marvin Temple was aroused from his
sleep and informed that his young brother was at the place in
question. Temple summoned the marshal to his aid and with
deputies, went to the Upham house. The deputies were placed at
the rear of the house with instructions to arrest anyone who
attempted to escape. Temple made an alarm or two at the front
door and after stating his mission received the response from
Terry within that he had better "go home and mind his
business." As we understand, Temple pushed the door in and
being met by Terry a scuffle ensued and the latter was floored.
The women and one or two men went out of the windows or door at
the rear of the house. The women were captured after a short
chase. They agreed to leave the town if permitted to do so and
their rig was procured from the barn and they were sent on their
way.
Why they were not detained and brought before the proper
authorities is not known to The Times. It is said others
besides Terry were there. No one has acknowledged that, however,
and it will be only a presumption at this time that they were.
Mr. and Mrs. Upham returned home on the succeeding evening and
were much angered at the state of things. It was reported that
arrests would be made Wednesday, but nothing of the kind
happened. It is now said that they will follow as soon as Mr.
Upham can procure an attorney. He censures Mr. Temple, the
marshal and all the men who were gathered at the place excepting
his son, who, he claims, was led astray. He claims to have the
names of those who are the most guilty and will soon compel them
to answer the charges he will make. Mrs. Upham has gone
personally to several of the suspected ones and accused them of
being at her house on the night in question. That is about all
and the truth as far as we have given it attention. It is the
first occurrence of the kind in Paullina since the days of the
Bundy and Peterman nastiness and will be a damage to the fair
name of Paullina. We do not deem it appropriate nor necessary as
a newspaper to express an opinion in any way upon the matter. The
public is at liberty to do that. Mr. and Mrs. Upham have always
been considered of good character. Some of those against whom
they make nasty charges have also been considered good, moral
citizens, and the sons of refined people in one or two instances.
We think the matter will all blow over some time.
[transcribed by A.N., April 2015]