Iowa Old Press
Paullina Times
Paullina, O'Brien co. Iowa
June 3, 1897
News of the death of Mrs. Helen Redford at Chicago last Monday
was received the same day. The intelligence came not as a
surprise, but caused universal sorrow among the friends who have
known the lady for years. She was returning from the south where
she had been spending the winter months for the benefit of her
health, being accompanied by her son and daughter. The lady had
been in poor health for about seven years, but her illness had
not become serious until last month when about to depart from New
Orleans for this place. At Chicago she remained about ten days
and efforts to restore her to health failed and she sank
gradually, expiring on Monday. Helen Robson Redford was born at
Lilliesleaf, Scotland, and moved to this country in 1881,
settling with her husband in Dale township, O'Brien county. They
resided here until 1892, and in November of that year her husband
died. Since then Mrs. Redford has been tenderly cared for by her
only surviving children, Andrew and Jane Redford, who were with
her in the last hours. Rev. Herron preached the funeral sermon at
the Presbyterian church at two o'clock yesterday afternoon. A
large number of friends were present, among them a great many
neighbors from Dale township who had known and loved the lady for
her agreeable womanliness and pleasant ways. The remains were
laid to rest in Union cemetery beside her husband and daughter,
Jessie, who died in 1892.
Died From Exposure
F. D. Frey of Osceola County Found Dead in Dale Township
Word was received at Primghar last Monday that a man had been
found dead in Mill Creek on the farm of Archibald Shearer, on
section 4, Dale township. The body was that of a man about 70 or
80 years old, and from papers found on his person, and through
identification by two Primghar citizens, it is learned that his
name is F. D. Frey, whose home is between Ocheydan and Sibley, in
Osceola county. Checks, drafts and money to the amount of $2,000
were found in his pockets. Of this amount about $90 was in cash.
The coroner's investigation and some special inquiry indicates
that the mane was in Sibley the day before and that he had then
in his possession some $7,000 in cash, besides nearly $2,000 in
checks and drafts. Working upon this information, the theory has
been advanced that the old gentleman was robbed and left in the
creek. Another theory regarding his death is that he got lost in
the darkness and his horse wandered from the road, as is shown by
the tracks over a plowed field, finally going through a wire
fence into the pasture. Here the old man gotten out of the buggy.
He had also taken the lines out of the saddle of the harness in
order to lead the horse and turn the buggy around, and while
doing so led the horse into the creek, which is only a mud hole
six or eight feed wide, containing about two feet of water and
mud. The horse and buggy evidently mired in the mud and in some
manner the old man got his foot under one of the front wheels, as
when found the wheel was resting on his ankle. This seems to have
thrown him on his back, as he was found. His feet were in the
water and his body was resting on the mud and grass. The grass on
each side of him was torn out by the roots, showing that he
struggled hard to regain his feet. The night being intensely cold
(ice forming on the water), it is evident that the old man
perished from cold and exposure.
The District Court
District Court is slowly grinding away. The criminal
case of State of Iowa vs. Chas. E. Magee in which trial was
commenced last Wednesday was finished Saturday night. It was a
contest from start to finish between the brightest attorneys of
northwest Iowa. The state rested its case on the testimony of two
convicts who alleged that Magee was their accomplice in the
burglary of the Peaker store at Sutherland and also on a letter
claimed to have been written by Magee incriminating himself.
Magee denies the story of the convicts and also the writing of
the letter. Samples of the handwriting of Magee were in evidence
and the attorneys spent a large portion of their arguments in
trying to prove or disprove the similarity in handwriting. A
large amount of circumstantial evidence was introduced. The
defense claimed that a conspiracy had been formed by the convicts
McDonald and King to convict Magee and get rewarded for their
treachery by receiving light sentences. On the first formal
ballot the jury stood three for conviction and nine for
acquittal. After being out four hours they returned a verdict of
acquittal. It was a hard fought case and will cost the county
several hundred dollars.
W. J. Warner, who is serving his sentence in the state
penitentiary for the killing of Maj. Inman, is reported as having
rather an easy time of it. He has been appointed steward and
overseer of the prison farm and is given unusual liberties as a
"trusty". He leaves his cell in the prison at between
four and five in the morning and goes out to the farm and is
wholly without restraint or guard till eight o'clock at night
when he returns to the prison to sleep over night. He is making a
success in the management of the farm and is held in high esteem
by the warden.
[transcribed by A.N., September 2015]
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Sutherland Courier
Sutherland, O'Brien co. Iowa
June 4, 1897
p 4 col 2
Mrs. E. R. Streeter was arrested by Sheriff Carter at Sanborn
last Friday. She claims that she will be able to pay everybody
and clear herself before next term of court. She gave bonds for
her appearance before the next Grand Jury.
W. J. Warner who is serving his sentence in the state
penitentiary for the killing of Maj. Inman is reported as having
rather an easy time of it. He has been appointed steward and
overseer of the prison farm and is given unusual liberties as a
"trusty". He leaves his cell in prison at between for
and five in the morning and goes out to the farm and is wholly
without restraint or guard till eight o'clock at night when he
returns to the prison to sleep over night. He is making a success
in the management of the farm and is held in high esteem by the
warden.
p 5 col 3
Andrew Knutson went home Saturday night being called there by
news of his father being worse. Mr. Knutson died before Andrew
got home.
Mrs. E. R. Streeter was in Sutherland last Friday. She said, we
understand, that she intends to settle up all claims against her
and proposes to begin legal proceedings against some of her
creditors. She ways she has been sick since leaving Sutherland
and but for that she would have been back long ago.
p 5 col 4
Not Guilty
The trial of Chas. Magee on the charge of burglary was concluded
last Saturday in the District Court at Primghar. The work of
impaneling a jury began on Wednesday at nine o'clock and the jury
agreed on their verdict at four o'clock Saturday afternoon. And
there was no lost time in the whole four days.
It was a trial that attracted much attention. There were many
from Primghar present as well as those more directly interested
from Sutherland and vicinity. The case was a mysterious one. It
was expected that something startling might develop at almost any
time. But it ended as it began so far as any direct testimony was
concerned. The charge made by the prosecution was that Magee
while acting as Marshal and night watch in Sutherland had
arranged with two tramps that they should break into Chas.
Peaker's store and he would not interfere with them and would
help them to get away safely; that they broke into the store and
while there talked with him through the closed front door, he
being outside; that they wrote to him after they were put in the
county jail and he answered the letter in such a way as to
virtually acknowledge his guilt; and that he visited them at
night while they were in the jail and promised to help them as
much as possible. These were the main points the prosecution
relied on. The defense entered a general denial of all the
charges and stated that they would show that a plot had been laid
to convict an innocent man. The verdict showed that the jury
agreed with them.
The prosecution introduced the testimony of the two convicts, a
letter which they claimed to have written to Magee but which was
kept by the authorities and a copy sent to Magee, and a letter,
dated and mailed at Sutherland and signed with the letter,
"M." The testimony of the convicts was the only direct
testimony that cut any figure in the attempt to prove Magee's
guilt, and the law has wisely provided that testimony of an
acknowledged guilty person against another shall not be taken
without other proofs to back up such testimony.
The state had a letter signed, M, but the writing in the letter
was alleged by the defense to more nearly resemble that of a
certain other interested party than that of Magee. And the jury
evidently agreed with this theory. Another fact that showed
conclusively that Magee did not write the letter was shown thus:
The tramps' letter, copied by Sheriff Carter, was kept and the
copy sent to Magee. The sheriff mailed the copy on Wednesday or
Thursday, February 24th or 25th. Assuming it to be sent on
Wednesday, the 24th, it could not have been received by Magee
until the next morning - Feb. 25th - because the Sutherland post
office closes at eight o'clock in the evening - before the
Primghar mail gets over from Calumet - and the letter claimed to
have been an answer was dated February 24th. At the time the
burglars said they were in the store Magee proved that he was at
home. At the time he was said to have visited the jail he proved
by three witnesses that he was elsewhere. So the state had
nothing left but the testimony of confessed burglars and the
county attorney's theory. The chief convict, McDonald, plainly
swore falsely concerning his past life. He said he was
twenty-five years old, that he left Milwaukee in February 1896,
that for nearly five years before he had been a fireman on the C.
M. & St. P. railroad and that for the next four years
preceding he had been a brakeman on the same road. This would
show that he began brakeing at the age of fifteen. The attorneys
for the defense did not need to argue much to convince the jury
that railroad companies do not hire boys of fifteen as brakemen.
There were plenty of other inconsistencies pointed out, and
although the testimony of the thieves, especially that of
McDonald, was given very glibly and smoothly, it was only a badly
tattered mess after it had been reviewed by Attorney Colcord.
The first of the closing arguments was given by Attorney Herrick
of Cherokee who had been employed to assist in the prosecution.
He talked about half an hour, spending considerable time in
comparing writing. He was followed by Attorney Colcord for the
defense who made a masterly speech, analytical and logical. He
showed up the contradictions of the testimony of the convicts,
and also devoted considerable time to a comparison of writing.
Saturday morning W. D. Boies of Sheldon closed for the defense.
He gave more time than either of the others to comparing writing.
But his plea for the prisoner and his family was perhaps the
strongest part of his speech. It brought tears to the eyes of
nearly every one in the court room. County Attorney Babcock
closed, following out the theory of the state as given at the
beginning of the trial, with much amplification.
The case was a hard fought one and had to be fought on the part
of the defense largely in the dark as a considerable part of the
state's testimony was in such shape that they could form no idea
in regard to it. They had a clue however in the fact that a
letter had been written by some one who was in some way
interested in the case and they acted on this theory and
succeeded. They worked hard for victory and won. The county will
have a bill of probably $500 or $600 to pay but it is perhaps
worth that much to show conclusively the innocence of a man
accused of a foul crime.
p 5 col 5
A Happy Marriage
At Calumet Tuesday occurred the wedding of Miss Katie Reifsteck
and Rev. E. Rall. The marriage ceremony was performed at the
Calumet German church by Rev. Meinzen. Following the ceremony,
which was very formal and interesting, about 150 invited guests
partook of a grand wedding dinner at the parsonage. The entire
second floor was set with tables, elaborately decorated. A
general time of jollity prevailed throughout the afternoon. A
dance was held in the evening by some who are not easily
satisfied with feasting.
Many beautiful and costly presents were bestowed on the young
couple and the wishes for their future prosperity and happiness
were unanimous. Rev. Rall and his bride left on the evening train
for a two weeks' trip to Dubuque.
Rev. Rall has been for several months pastor of the Calumet
German church and is well liked by the community. Miss Reifsteck
is the daughter of one of Calumet's merchants. Her brother is
postmaster in the town and another brother does business for
Uncle Sam at Gaza where he manages a store. Miss Katie has been
one of the most popular young ladies of Calumet and everybody
there seems to rejoice in her happiness. Mr. and Mrs. Rall will
begin housekeeping in the parsonage upon their return from the
east.
Died from Exposure
Last Sunday while the Memorial exercises were being held at the
M. E. church Dr. Parker was called out and informed that a man
had been found dead near Primghar and that his services as
coroner were needed. He and D. C. O'Brien drove to Primghar and
the doctor went out to the farm of Archibald Shearer. The dead
man had been found about eight o'clock in the morning in Mill
Creek which crosses the farm.
The man, named F. D. Frey, was 76 years old and lived in Osceola
county. He had driven to Sibley on Saturday to attend Memorial
exercises and left, going toward home, about noon. It is supposed
he became lost and got into the neighborhood west of Primghar in
the evening. His horse got off the road, went through a wire
fence and finally into Mill creek. As the buggy went into the
creek obliquely the horse could not pull it out. It seemed as
though Frey had got out of the carriage and pulled the lines out
of the terret rings and tried to lead the horse out. The lines
were out of the rings and Frey's hat and overcoat were in the
carriage. Whether he tried to lead the horse out or not he got
alongside the buggy finally and the horse pulled the front wheel
onto his right leg just above the ankle and crowded the limb down
into the mud and water so deep that he could not get up nor
extricate himself. He had struggled desperately but to no
purpose. He was within reach of the bank and in his struggles had
pulled up all the grass within reach. As it was cold enough to
form ice he probably died from cold and exhaustion and the jury
so decided. It is possible however that heart disease may have
been the immediate cause of death as it was found that he wore a
porous plaster on his chest in the region of the heart.
He had $80 in cash in his pocket and certificates of deposit on
Sibley banks to the amount of nearly $1,920 more. One of these
certificates, however, for $100 was on the bank that failed a
year or so ago.
The man was warmly dressed, having on four shirts and two pairs
of drawers beside his other clothes. The sheriff was sent for as
soon as the body was found and he stayed at the place until Dr.
Parker arrived and kept back the crowd that collected, sot that
all tracks and marks about the place might not be disturbed.
After looking over the surroundings the body was taken to
Primghar. It had been previously identified by a Primghar man and
word had been sent to his sons who live in Osceola county. Two of
them were found who hurried to Primghar. A third son lives in the
same neighborhood and a married daughter near Lanark, Ill.
[transcribed by A.N., March 2012]
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Paullina Times
Paullina, O'Brien co. Iowa
June 10, 1897
Claus Claussen of Tama county is visiting his cousin, Fred
Yetter.
Mrs. J. W. Nield of Calumet was the guest of her sister, Miss
Jungers, last week.
J. V. and D. H. Adkins returned yesterday from the eastern part
of the state, their sister, Mae Adkins, returning with them,
where they were summoned by the illness of their father who died
on Wednesday of last week and was buried on Thursday. Mr. Ezra
Adkins has visited his two sons here at different times. His home
was at Newton, Iowa, and was over 72 years of age. He was born in
Plymouth, Litchfield county, Conn., December 5, 1824. He was a
soldier in Company D, 112th Illinois Infantry, losing his right
arm during the siege of Knoxville. Mr. Adkins had held important
positions in public life, and was a man of education and
confinement, and was respected for his generous impulses and
manly, courageous bearing. [see note in The Paullina Times,
17 Jun 1897, p. 5]
The death of Miss Genette M. Traver, daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
Henry Traver, occurred at the home, eight miles south of
Paullina, on Tuesday evening, June 8th, 1897. Miss Traver had
been a sufferer for several months with the dread disease,
consumption, and her death had been momentarily expected for
several days prior to the sad end. She was born July 12, 1863, in
the town of Linn, Walworth county, Wisconsin. Moved with her
parents to Effingh[am] county [Illinois] in 1864, to Iowa in 1882
and to their present home in 1893. The funeral services were
conducted from the home at 10:00 this forenoon, and were in
charge of Rev. A. Herron. The remains were laid to rest in the
Union cemetery at this place.
[transcribed by A.N., September 2015]
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Sutherland Courier
Sutherland, O'Brien co. Iowa
June 11, 1897
p 1 col 2
In talking with F. D. Frey's sons last Saturday Dr. Parker asked
the youngest son if he had ever heard his father complain of
heart trouble. The two older sons had said at the inquest that
they had not. The youngest son (with whom the father had lived)
replied that his father had said that he sometimes felt as though
a lot of water were coming up around his heart and it seemed as
though his heart were drowning and because of this trouble the
old gentleman used a porous plaster on his chest. This confirmed
the suspicion the doctor had, and he now thinks that the
immediate cause of the old gentleman's death was heart failure.
Dr. Parker thinks that if Frey had lived long after getting
fastened down by the carriage he would have torn the sod and
grass to a much greater extent than he did. If this theory is
accepted the dead man's friends may feel relieved from the
horrors of imagining that Mr. Frey died a lingering death from
cold and exposure.
p 5 col 2
Miss Stella West returned Saturday from the school for the blind
at Vinton and will stay at home during the summer vacation.
Dr. Parker went to Primghar Saturday to settle as coroner with
Dirk Frey who has been appointed administrator of the estate of
his father, R. D. Frey, who was found dead near Primghar last
week. The three sons and daughter were all present. They had
found a will which divided all the property equally among the
children. All were contented with the will and expected to settle
the estate promptly.
p 5 col 4
The event predicted in last week's Courier came to pass
before the paper was off the press. The contracting parties are
Charles Hanson and Miss Charlotte Woodcock. The marriage took
place in Cherokee and the happy couple are staying for a few days
with Gus Hanson and family. They expect soon to being
housekeeping in rooms of Innes's furniture store. The
calithumpians visited them Monday evening.
[transcribed by A.N., March 2012]
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Paullina Times
Paullina, O'Brien co. Iowa
June 17 1897
Reinhart Snyder, an aged gentleman, suddenly died at his home in
Caledonia township last Saturday. We have not learned of further
particulars as yet.
If there is anything that gives us a longing for eternal rest and
a deep, damp grave it is a bullish blunder in print. Although
there are 56,000 words in The Times every week this does
not allay our suffering when we find such a word as
"confinement" in place of "refinement" as was
found last week. The error was inexcusable, intensely cruel and
worse because it referred to the death of a friend. But it was a
mistake just the same, and would have been exactly the same if it
had cost the editor $40,000. [clearly in reference to the Ezra
Adkins obituary, Paullina Times, 10 Jun 1897, p. 5]
In talking with F. D. Frey's sons last Saturday Dr. Parker asked
the youngest son if he had ever heard his father complain of
heart trouble. The two older sons had said at the inquest that
they had not. The youngest son (with whom the father lived)
replied that his father had said that he sometimes felt as though
a lot of hot water were coming up around his heart and it seemed
as though his heart were drowning and because of this trouble the
old gentleman used a porous plaster on his chest. This confirmed
the suspicion the doctor had and he now thinks that the immediate
cause of the old gentleman's death was heart failure. Dr. Parker
thinks that if Frey had lived long after getting fastened down by
the carriage he would have torn the sod and grass up to a much
greater extent than he did. If this theory is accepted the dead
man's friends may feel relieved from the horrors of imagining
that Mr. Frey died a lingering death from cold and exposure. - Sutherland
Courier
The Times is requested to announce the holding of a
"Cemetery Bee" on Friday, June 25th, for the purpose of
placing gravel in the driveways and walks of Union cemetery.
While the cemetery is the property of the township, the people
still retain a general interest in this home of the dead, as many
have relatives buried there and no one can tell when he, too,
will appreciate the need of pleasant surroundings in which to lay
some relative or friend. The duty of keeping the cemetery in
repair properly belongs to the township, but in the absence of
funds, some of the more progressive element have determined upon
this project to beautify our burying-ground and preserve what is
already there. J. A. Warner has tendered all necessary gravel, so
that all that remains to be done is to haul it to the cemetery
and unload it in the driveways. Mr. and Mrs. Warner have also
tendered to all the use of their grove and home for a basket
dinner to those who participate in the work. The ladies are
invited to be present, bringing well-filled baskets, and all
conveniences of the place will be open and free to all. This is
certainly a liberal offer, and should be readily accepted by all.
Farmers and others owning teams and wagons are urged to be
present, reporting at Mr. Warner's house in the morning. Every
able-bodied man in the township should plan to be on hand with a
shovel in the morning and remain as long as possible. Do not let
this matter lag.
News reaches The Times from Dickens, Clay county, that
Mr. Henry Kock and Miss Lena Horstman were united in marriage
Wednesday, June 2. They are both well known and highly respected
in this vicinity.
[transcribed by A.N., September 2015]
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Sutherland Courier
Sutherland, O'Brien co. Iowa
June 18, 1897
p 5 col 2
John Barry who lived near Trimello died at Spencer on Wednesday
of last week, of tumerous cancer. Our readers will remember that
Mr. Barry was badly hurt in a runaway a year or two ago.
In settling up H. A. Sage's estate Chas. McCormack tried to find
the collateral heirs in order to get them to consent to a
settlement, but in trying to trace them found that they are
scattered in all parts of the world and that in order to get a
clear title it would be easier, cheaper and quicker to have the
mortgage upon the property foreclosed. The legal notice of sale
running in the Courier is the result of such
determination and will quiet the title for Mrs. Sage as soon as
the proceedings are completed.
p 5 col 4
A Shooting Affray
Last Saturday night the families of Hans Theissen and Chrs. Otto
were at the home of the latter on the Little Sioux river. They
were fishing, and had with them a keg of beer. About two o'clock
in the morning D. L. Story came along and stopped and joined the
fishers,
From this on the accounts differ. As we hear it Story says that
he drank some beer with them and paid for it and that afterward
Theissen got quarrelsome and began fighting him. He retreated and
Theissen followed him, beating him violently in the face and
knocking him down. That finally he got cornered in such a way
that he could not escape. He then fired at Theissen with a
revolver shooting him in the right leg. He then went home. Monday
morning he came to Sutherland and offered to surrender himself to
Esquire Hitchings. As no information had been filed in the matter
Mr. Hitchings could find no authority for keeping Story a
prisoner and did not do so, and at night Story went home.
The other side of the affair as it comes to us is that the
Theissens and Ottos finding that Story was somewhat intoxicated
did not like the idea of having Story with them, but offered him
no affront. Soon after he stopped he picked up the keg and drank
from it without being invited to do so. He drank thus several
times. Finally Theissen suggested that perhaps Story better go
home. Story assented and started away. He was walking roughly in
a potato patch when Theissen jokingly said to him that he ought
not to trample down the potatoes. Story began cursing and struck
Theissen in the face. The stem of a pipe which Theissen was
smoking was driven into the back of his mouth, making a bad
wound, and two of his front teeth were knocked out. He asked
Story what he meant by such actions and Story responded by
striking him again.
Then Theissen began fighting but when the others came up he
turned toward them when Story shot him. Theissen's wife started
to her husband's assistance when Story aimed the revolver at her
and threatened to shoot her if she came any further. He did the
same to a young girl who started to assist Theissen. All of the
party then ran back to the house leaving Theissen lying on the
ground. Story then went away. There were a dozen or fifteen
present in all, some besides the Theissen and Otto families.
Since writing the above we are told that Story claims Theissen
was threatening him with a pitch fork and that he warned Theissen
several times to keep away or he would shoot.
The bullet hole in Theissen's leg extends obliquely from the back
to the front of the thigh and the bullet in its passage through
the leg struck the bone causing it to turn a little away from a
straight line. Whether the bullet entered from the back or front
we failed to learn.
It is likely Story will be prosecuted as soon as Theissen is
sufficiently recovered to allow him to appear at the hearing. One
thing against Story is the fact of his carrying a revolver, and a
point against Theissen is the reputation he has of being
quarrelsome. In advance of a judicial hearing the Courier
will express no opinion as to where the blame lies.
[transcribed by A.N., March 2012]
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Paullina Times
Paullina, O'Brien co. Iowa
June 24, 1897
Attorney Hunter, who has been absent for some time attending his
sick brother at Tucson, Arizona, sent out the news that his
brother had died on Saturday, June 19. Deceased was a practicing
physician at Remsen, and went to Arizona last winter for his
health. He was 29 years of age. The remains were taken to
Allison, Iowa, for burial.
John Klink of Dale township is very low, and it is thought cannot
recover. He first called a physician on last Saturday, growing
gradually worse up to the present time. Dr. Hornibrook was called
in consultation this week.
[transcribed by A.N., September 2015]
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Sutherland Courier
Sutherland, O'Brien co. Iowa
June 25, 1897
p 5 col 1
Mrs. G. W. Louthan was granted a pension last Saturday.
p 5 col 2
A telegram came for H. A. Peck while he was at Chicago with stock
the first of the week, announcing the death of his brother's wife
at McCallsburg, near Marshalltown. The telegram was forwarded to
Chicago and Mr. Peck arrived at McCallsburg on Tuesday in time to
attend the funeral, getting home Wednesday.
p 5 col 3
Mrs. Geo. Siefkin died last Saturday and was buried Sunday. She
was 59 years old. Our readers will remember that her husband died
in March, 1896. The family moved to this neighborhood thirteen
years ago. Mrs. Siefkin died from some kind of liver disease.
Held to Grand Jury
Justice Daggett of Sanborn heard, Monday and Tuesday, the case of
Mrs. E. R. Streeter, charged with obtaining goods under false
pretenses. The following named persons were summoned from
Sutherland as witnesses: Chas. and Frank Peaker, Bert Hicks,
Albert Schwerdtfeger, Claus Jenner, E. O. Woodbury, Chas.
McCormack, A. Miller, James Hakeman, A. J. Innes, Geo. Brander
and Miss Lulu Speer. The general opinion of those from Sutherland
seems to be that the justice's ruling was very much in Mrs.
Streeter's favor. The verdict however was in favor of the state.
Mrs. Streeter was held to the grand jury and the bond fixed at
$300.
We have not heard who are the bondsmen but we understand some of
the business men in town were asked to act in that capacity but
they hardly felt justified in doing so. Mrs. Streeter was in
Sutherland Tuesday evening. We are told that she gave one of her
attorneys as a fee a bill of sale of some corn and that the corn
is claimed by other parties. We wonder if that means further
complications.
A Sudden Death
Last Friday evening Adolph Rohde and Jno. W. Koelln went bathing
in the Ocheyedan near Everly. Koelln after undressing took a
running dive into the stream. As he did not appear again Rohde
thought for some time that he was swimming under water but
finally became alarmed and summoned help. Koelln's body was found
at the bottom of the stream in eight or ten feet of water. The
remains were buried Saturday. The report reached Sutherland
Wednesday that on Tuesday the body was exhumed by citizens who
suspected there was something wrong in the affair. It is said
there were found evidences of injuries not likely to have been
caused by drowning. Something in the nature of a will is said to
have been produced, purporting to have been made by Koelln.
Koelln was twenty-three years old and has only been over from
Germany a few months. His father lives in Germany but he has no
relatives in America. He was one of the charter members of the
homestead of American Yeoman, recently organized at Everly. He
carried $2,000 insurance in the order, the amount being made
payable to himself. The order conducted the funeral. The reports
in regard to taking up the body may be only rumors without much
foundation.
[transcribed by A.N., March 2012]