Iowa Old Press
Paullina Times
Paullina, O'Brien co. Iowa
March 4, 1897
Mae Chapman was brought home from Missouri last Saturday whither
she had gone in the hope of benefiting her health. She has been a
sufferer from consumption for a long time and she passed away
last Sunday. The funeral was held Monday at the Congregational
church. She was 22 years old and was a particularly bright and
interesting young lady, and a favorite among her acquaintances.
A new son is reported at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Will Hoermann,
in Caledonia, the arrival occurring upon February 26.
Mr. John Gardner, the aged father of Mrs. A. Williamson, died at
the home of the latter in Paullina yesterday morning (March 2) at
nine o'clock. Mr. Gardner had been failing gradually for several
weeks, owing perhaps to the inroads upon his physical condition
brought by the weight of declining years. Mr. Gardner was born on
the twenty-second day of March, 1816, in Fermanagh county,
Ireland, so that had he lived until the twenty-second of this
month he would have reached the age of eighty-one years, an age
far more than the allotted three score and ten. In the year 1878
Mr. Gardner removed to this country from his native country,
settling at Warren, Ill., moving to Paullina in 1881. The
children, besides Mrs. Williamson, are John and James and Mrs.
Anna Gardner, all of this country, Archie now in Oregon and
Robert who is still living at the old home of the Emerald Isle.
The funeral was conducted at the Presbyterian church this
afternoon at one o'clock.
There appears to be no change in the condition of Mrs. C.
Gerlach, but she is sinking gradually, and friends and relatives
think that the end is near. The children and husband who are
constantly at the bedside are compelled to witness the lady's
intense suffering, as very little in the way of relief lies
within the knowledge of humanity.
The marriage of Mr. Henry Henderson of Cherokee county to Miss
Lizzie Henderson of Fostoria, occurred on the 21st of February at
the latter place. Henry will lease his father's large farm and
the latter will remove to Paullina.
Word reaches us that Walter Scott, a resident of Paullina in the
80's, died recently in the south where he moved some years ago.
R. M. Doherty vs. F. T. Piper, dismissed at the costs of Doherty.
This is the famous libel suit that was brought in an attempt to
mulct Frank Piper, of the Sheldon Mail, with damages for an
article written in regard to the Doherty divorce case. Mr.
Doherty thought to work a bluff but failed. He now pays the costs
and also his attorney.
[transcribed by A.N., November 2015]
-----
Sutherland Courier
Sutherland, O'Brien co. Iowa
March 5, 1897
p 4
Mae Chapman was brought home from Missouri last Saturday whither
she had gone in the hopes of benefiting her health. She has been
a sufferer from consumption for a long time and she passed away
last Sunday. The funeral was held Monday at the Congregational
church. She was 22 years old and a particularly bright and
interesting young lady and a favorite among her acquaintances.
p 5 col 2
Rolfe Reveille -James Parks is down from Sutherland this
week visiting old friends. Mr. Parks built the first house in
Rolfe and of course is pleased to see the town improve. He has
disposed of his furniture store in Sutherland and is now
interested in gold mining property near Cripple Creek, Colorado.
Willie Hoyt started out last week for a bit of travel. He stayed
over night at Cherokee Monday night and got on the "blind
baggage" of the "Cannon Ball" on the Illinois
Central early the next morning. The train runs to LeMars without
stopping and Willie got extremely cold. He tried to keep warm by
lying down on the platform and kicking, but by the time the train
stopped he was just able to roll off onto the ground. The police
picked him up, thawed him out and then sent him home. It would
seem as though he had experience enough to teach him a lesson,
but - you can't always tell.
p 5 col 4
Miss Lillian B. Hicks of Sheldon and Gerrit H. Vos of Orange City
were married at Sheldon Wednesday evening of last week. The bride
is a niece of Jas. Hicks of Sutherland.
E. C. Boyer, who from the effect of a sunstroke which he received
at Primghar, Iowa, last July, had been temporarily insane and was
for about six months taking treatment at Independence, Iowa, and
later under the care of doctors at Elgin, Ill., has been restored
to his former condition of mind and will soon return to his home
at Morrison, where his many friends will be glad to greet him in
good health once more. - Milledgeville (Ill.) Free Press
[transcribed by A.N., January 2012]
-----
Paullina Times
Paullina, O'Brien co. Iowa
March 11, 1897
The Early Days
The Subject of Fuel was Important in the 70's - How Coal was
Discovered in O'Brien County - The Hay Fuel Period of the County
(Advance Proofs of D. A. W. Perkins History of O'Brien
County)
In 1873, a hue and cry was made that in the under soil of a part
of O'Brien county, there was a strata of coal. Men are apt to
believe that which they want to believe, and while many took no
stock in the coal find, there were others who argued the point to
a scientific certainty.
Why not coal here, as well as in other parts of the state, was
asked with the positive assurance that there was no answer, only,
that there was no reason why not. People in some parts of the
country gathered together, talked, argued and resolved, and of
course among such people there is always one at least, who has
lived in a coal country and worked in a mine, and with the wisdom
of Solomon and none of his secretiveness, gives the significant
squint of his eye and that facial expression which simply says,
that he knows all the indications of coal, and it is right here.
The feeling in favor of coal was brought to bear upon the board
of supervisors, who did in January, 1874, offer a reward of
$1,000 to any one who would discover coal in any part of the
county. As this resolution has never been rescinded, it is in
order yet for anyone with the proper ambition and the tools to
work with, to go to work, and in addition to the wealth that
would pour in upon him, there would be no end to glory.
The coal fever did not abate; some actually went to work
investigating the bowels of the earth in O'Brien county, and
feeling that every foot further of research in the hidden depths
of the soil, would bring about the discovery. The wind of
enthusiasm, so as to speak, kept blowing in upon the board of
supervisors, and as such feverish questions are contagious, the
Board did it at its June meeting in 1874, resolve again, that for
the purpose of encouraging the prospecting for coal in O'Brien
county, they would in behalf of said county, pay $25.00 per ton
for one hundred tons mined in the county, and delivered at the
court house within two years. This was certainly a very generous
offer, and it was felt by some, that before another blizzard in
the coming winter of 1874, that there would be a strife of speed
as to who would get their hundred tons of coal at the court house
first, but the coal never materialized. The coal question after
repeated efforts, was soon lost sight of, and now has passed into
utter forgetfulness. The fuel question however became one of
importance during the few years following the year 1874, and
especially during the first years of the grasshoppers.
Money was scarce, fuel must be had, and if there were not funds
in the pocket book with which to buy coal, then something else
must supply its place. If ever the mind of man is prolific with
suggestions and theories, it is when necessity demands it. In
casting about for something that would take the place of coal,
there seemed to be nothing in sight but the prairie grass which
was produced right here from the soil, and especially in sloughs,
up to six feet in height. This discovery of available fuel at our
very doors went over the country like wild fire, and soon the
horny hand of many a struggling homesteader was straining its
muscles twisting the prairie grass into a compact form, so that
it could be placed in the stove and answer all the purposes of
fuel.
The hay it was true, did considerable heating, but the twisting
and firing up took about all the time one man could spare, and as
women could not do the twisting, the head of the household had to
practice, and perhaps improve upon the art with devoted industry.
Ingenious ones entered the field of invention and the brain of
many an ambitious settler was racked with devices for twisting
the "dod burned stuff" as Capt. Edwards called it,
until the patent office at Washington was crowded with models,
which each one furnishing them believed would revolutionize the
heating forces of the world. One fellow's invention consisted of
two upright pieces of wood, of sufficient height, manipulated the
hay by hooks, and then a crank, which carried a roller catching
the hay and winding it, until it was a solid stick of proper size
for using.
This burning of hay for awhile was universal throughout the
county among the farmers, all using it with but few exceptions,
and these who were able to buy coal. One fellow who run for
office in 1875 was nearly slaughtered in his election, because he
was charged with being so "stuck up" that he would not
burn hay. During those winters the shack with only room enough to
live in it, would be so filled with twisted hay, the inmates
could hardly get around themselves, and the stranger who entered
it would see no room for him. The first hay twister in the county
was manufactured by J. E. Daniels now of Paullina [not now], but
after him, in devices and construction there was a multitude. But
still, hay placed in proper compact form and size, is not after
all such poor fuel, and when necessity demanded it, was an
admirable substitute for something better when it could not be
had.
--
The death of Mrs. Carl Gerlach occurred last Sunday morning at
1:15 o'clock, after an illness of nearly two years. In full
realization that the end was near, surrounded by the sorrowing
husband and children, this noble hearted woman approached the end
with that unconquerable self control which was so apparent
through all her months of suffering. All of the children were
present at the last moments, some arriving but a few short
moments before, but in time to meet the last look of recognition
of a mother good and kind in all that the word implies. Mrs.
Gerlach's face was not a familiar one to a large number of people
in Paullina, the lady having been an invalid a greater part of
the time she had lived here. Those who had come in social contact
with the lady, however, will ever remember her as a character of
kind disposition, warm hearted, and free. She had reared a family
of children whose promising careers must have served to buoy her
spirits in later years. With her husband she had labored
faithfully to accumulate a competence for the afternoon of life.
Upon him the loss of a loving wife and dutiful companion falls
heavily. The funeral was held on Tuesday afternoon at two o'clock
at the Presbyterian church, the pastor, Rev. A. Herron, preaching
a touching sermon, after which the remains were taken to Union
cemetery for final interment. Christina Blaesser was born at
Esselburn, Germany, October 6th, 1835. She was one of a family of
five children, a brother residing at Hawarden, Iowa, and the
remainder of the surviving ones are still in Germany. She came to
America in 1848 with an uncle and located at Mequon River,
Wisconsin. She was united in marriage to Carl Gerlach at the
latter place in 1856 and resided there until 1870, when they
moved to Illinois. From there they moved to Cherokee, Iowa, in
1874. In 1891 they moved to Granville, Iowa, and from there to
their present home a few years later. She was the mother of ten
children, eight of whom still survive her and were at her bedside
in her last moments. Two of her sons are located at Cherokee,
Iowa, one at Marcus, Iowa, and one at West Bend, Iowa. Richard,
the youngest, was called home from Highland Park college, Des
Moines, where he is completing his course in pharmacy. A
daughter, Mrs. Robert McFeeters, is living here, and the
remaining girls, Misses Lizzie and Olga, are at home. Deceased
was a member of the Reformed Lutheran Church, and was loved by
all who knew here for her quiet, endearing ways.
Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Fisch and C. C. Cannon and wife were here from
Granville Tuesday to attend the funeral of Mrs. Gerlach.
Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Blaesser of Hawarden, Mrs. Benton of Alton,
Mr. and Mrs. Theo. Linden of Sanborn and Walter Blasser of
Cherokee were in attendance at the funeral of Mrs. C. Gerlach
last Tuesday.
D. A. W. Perkins of Sheldon in company with his stenographer,
Will Bailey, was here Tuesday and Wednesday of this week
gathering some facts for his forthcoming history of O'Brien
county.
[transcribed by A.N., November 2015]
-----
Paullina Times
Paullina, O'Brien co. Iowa
March 18, 1897
Born, to Mr. and Mrs. Geo. S. Butler, March 14, a daughter.
A False Report
Mrs. Nancy N. Mewhirter has commenced a suit in the
district court in Cherokee county, asking a degree of divorce
from her husband, Harry Mewhirter. The original notice of the
suit was served on Mewhirter by Deputy Sheriff Pecout in this
city yesterday afternoon. The grounds on which Mrs. Mewhirter
will ask for a separation from her husband are not stated in the
original notice for it merely refers to a petition which is said
to be on file in Cherokee county. However, Mrs. Mewhirter states
in her original notice that she will ask alimony in the sum of
$10,000. Mewhirter is the young man who gained so much notoriety
by being shot by Rev. Mr. Benedict in Larrabee some months ago.
He was in the drug business at that place when the shooting
occurred, but has since left there. - Sioux City Journal.
Up to this writing, Wednesday p.m., no such petition has been
filed in this county and cannot be filed now in time for a
hearing at the March term - Cherokee Times
[note: one eventually was filed, see Paullina Times 13
May 1897, p. 3]
The Cherokee Democrat of yesterday says that Harry
Mewhirter is in that city and that it is reported that the grand
jury is taking another whirl at Rev. Benedict and a strong effort
is being made to indict him for the shooting of Mewhirter.
The little child of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Rich was buried here on
Monday of this week under the saddest of circumstances. Mr. and
Mrs. Rich formerly lived near town, moving to Sommerville,
Tennessee, about a year ago. Mrs. Rich was called to the bedside
of her sick mother some weeks since. Shortly after leaving home
the little one was attacked with sickness which grew worse until
about two weeks after arriving at the destination when the spark
of life went out only a day after the death of the lady's mother.
The remains of the child were laid to rest in Union cemetery
Monday, and the sorrowing mother returned the same day to attend
the funeral rites of her mother. Mr. Rich could not reach here in
time for the funeral on account of the great distance. Ralph Rich
accompanied his mother with the remains. Many of the lady's
sympathizing friends met her at the station and did what was
possible in the way of assistance and words of cheer.
In the Parker [sic, Harker] estate at Sanborn, Judge Gaynor has
filed an opinion holding the provision in the will for the
building of an opera house in Sanborn as void for indefiniteness.
Mr. Harker died some two years ago and among the provisions of
his will was one bequeathing the sum of $10,000 to certain
parties, in trust for the people of Sanborn, to be used by the
trustees in the building of an opera house. The trustees and
executors of the will made application to the court to sell
certain real estate in order to pay this bequest. The widow
objected to the sale and claims that she would be willing to
carry out the bequest if she was given time, but she objected to
a forced sale of the real estate at this time when prices are
low. The executors insisted on the sale and Mrs. Harker filed an
answer to the application alleging that the will was void for
uncertainty so far as the provision for the opera house is
concerned. The executors demurred to the answer and Judge Gaynor
now overrules that demurrer. It is the intention of the executors
representing the citizens of Sanborn to promptly appeal the case
to the supreme court. If the decision is sustained there the town
will have effectually lost its opera house.
[transcribed by A.N., August 2017]
-----
Sutherland Courier
Sutherland, O'Brien co. Iowa
March 19, 1897
p 5 col 2
Sam Allison who worked for Thos. Short two years ago was married
in Burlington last Wednesday to Miss Eunice Gallagher. His
friends here will wish him abundant happiness.
p 5 col 3
We failed to notice last week the account in the Larrabee
Review of the marriage of Miss Nellie Warren and A. C.
Chapman. The wedding occurred March 2d at the home of the bride's
parents. Mr. and Mrs. Chapman visited a few days at Cedar Falls
and are now settled down on Dave Shumway's farm south of town. A.
C. and Horace will work this farm during the coming season.
[transcribed by A.N., January 2012]
-----
Paullina Times
Paullina, O'Brien co. Iowa
March 25, 1897
Rev. Benedict, the Larrabee fighting boy preacher, is still
thirsting for blood. He gave out the information from the pulpit
recently that "all the papers in the county are as rotten as
hell."
Marriage licenses have been issued to Simon Tjossem and Ella
Bryngleson; Michael Steuck and Minnie Hoermann.
A Horrible Tragedy
News of the shocking death of Luther Traver of Odebolt,
Sac county, on last Thursday reached here on Thursday evening by
wire, notifying Mr. Traver's sons, Frank and Will, his daughter,
Mrs. C. S. Clark of Highland, and a brother, Henry Traver, south
of town. The first report was meagre in details, merely
announcing his death by being shot. The children started for
Odebolt by way of Sioux City, but were unable to reach the place
on account of wash-outs. They returned and made the trip by way
of Rolfe.
Later it was learned that Mr. Traver was shot by an enraged man
named [David] Pennington, who at the same time shot and fatally
wounded another party, Mrs. Stolt, and seriously wounded Mrs.
Johnson, all neighbors. After committing the deed Pennington
turned the gun on his own head, pulled the trigger and blew off
the top of his head. Mrs. Johnson will recover.
The cause of all this rash proceeding seems to have been wholly
imaginary in its nature. The only reason assigned was given by
Pennington previous to the tragedy in a remark made by him to the
effect that people were talking about him. From reports it is
thought there was room for remarks concerning his character.
A special from Odebolt to the Sioux City Journal of the
20th contains the following concerning the shooting of Mr.
Traver: "Yesterday afternoon Pennington got possession of a
gun which had been left at the hardware store for repairs, by
saying that the owner had authorized him to get it and hunt
geese. He purchased a lot of BB shot and loaded his cartridges in
the store before leaving for the scene of his crime. He evinced
no excitement, and in response to a query said he was going after
geese. He first went to the house of A. F. Walter, which is
occupied by Walter, his daughter Hannah and two other children
and a family named Christensen. In the forenoon he had met Hannah
on the street and told her he would kill her and her father if
she did not marry him. Walter saw him coming, and hid in another
house and Hannah and Mrs. Christensen ran to the home of Hiram
Johnson, near by, without Pennington seeing them. The latter went
to the Walter house and tried the door and then came to Johnson's
where he demanded of Mrs. Johnson if Hannah Walter was in the
house. She said "No," whereupon he called her a liar
and went around to the front door, which was locked. Mean while
Mrs. Johnson ran out to summon help. When about fifty feet away
Pennington fired, the charge striking her in the shoulder and
back. She fell on the sidewalk and her assailant stepped over the
body and went east a block, where he saw Mr. Traver walking in
his back yard and said to him, "What would you think it if I
should shoot you?" to which Traver replied: "Oh, you
wouldn't shoot anybody." Pennington raised his gun and
fired. A few shot struck the old man in the side and he winced.
Then the murderer fired the second barrel and he fell a corpse,
the shot penetrating his brain. The assassin then walked up the
street a few feet and took aim at Mrs. Stolt, who had come out on
hearing the noise. She ran back into the house, closing the storm
door after her, but Pennington fired through the door, mortally
wounding her in the abdomen. He then walked slowly down the
street saying to Rev. Wm. Meyers, who met him: "I have
killed old man Traver," repeating the words in a singsong
tone several times. By this time the neighborhood was aroused and
the officers had been sent for. Pennington went back toward the
Walter residence, cutting across lots. Just before he reached the
house Constable Flathers headed him off, and called to him to
stay away from there. Pennington stopped and warned Flathers, who
was advancing on him, not to come nearer. Said he: "I don't
want to kill you, but there's one more I want to get. Go back and
I won't kill you." Flathers continued to advance, parleying
with Pennington until within a few feet of him. Then Pennington
dared him to shoot, still covering him with the gun. Suddenly he
placed the muzzle of the gun to his own forehead and blew the top
of his head off. In his pocket was found a razor and one shell,
and one shell remained in the gun. There is no doubt that he
intended from the start to suicide after he had completed his
bloody work. The other intended victim was doubtless Hannah
Walter. Pennington was about 38 years old. It is said that his
father and mother lived in Nebraska, but their address is not
obtainable at this hour. Coroner Hopkins arrived this morning,
but decided that an inquest was not necessary. Luther Traver will
be buried on Sunday. Pennington's remains are unclaimed and will
probably be buried at public expense. He left no property with
the exception of a few articles of furniture, some trinkets and
15 cents in money. Luther Traver, who was killed instantly by
Pennington, was a wealthy retired farmer who built a fine
residence here a year ago and was enjoying life with his family.
He was about 65 years old and was a man of considerable native
ability and highly respected by the whole community.
The little child of Wm. Gehrls, manager of the Germantown
creamery, died last Saturday at the age of eighteen months. The
funeral was held Monday.
The marriage of Simon Tjossem to Miss Ella Bryngleson, both
prominent young people of Dale township, was solemnized at the
home of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. M. Bryngleson,
yesterday at noon. Mr. Tjossem has leased the northwest quarter
of section 23, in that township and will reside there. Both of
the contracting parties are well known as highly respected for
their good qualities, and their many friends are profuse in their
good wishes.
County Bridge Builder John Towberman has his hands full these
days and he is planning a campaign to repair and renew the bridge
of the county. All the bridges over the Waterman creek excepting
the one near the James Armstrong farm in Grant are reported
washed out. The old iron bridge over the Little Sioux went last
Friday. It has long been considered unstable and it was expected
that a new bridge would soon have to be put in. A county line
bridge is out south of Sheldon and reports from all parts of the
county indicate that the expenses for bridges will be great this
season.
Not since the flood of the spring of 1892 has there been half the
mud and water as makes all kinds of traffic miserable this
spring. The county bridge between sections three and four,
northeast of town, is several rods down mill creek as a result of
the floods of last week. Railway traffic was almost totally
abandoned the latter days of last week. The first page of The
Times gives an account of the damage to life and property at
other places in the northwest. From all reliable reports it is
gleaned that, while not as bad as the breaking up in 1892, the
results of this spring's flood border closely upon it.
Later: We learn since writing the above that two Mill creek
bridges south of town have been swept from place and one of them
carried down the stream for several rods.
[transcribed by A.N., August 2017]
-----
Sutherland Courier
Sutherland, O'Brien co. Iowa
March 26, 1897
p 4
Marriage licenses have been issued to Simon Tjossem and Ella
Bryngelson; Michael Steuck and Minnie Moermann [may be Hoermann]
p 5 col 2
It seems that the report that the children of John F. McCormack,
at Old O'Brien, have the scarlet fever is erroneous. One of the
children had a slight rash probably caused by wearing flannels.
Mr. Colcord received a letter recently from his father-in-law, I.
Windus, stating that he has a cancer on his tongue and that
physicians tell him it is a bad case and incurable. Mr. Windus
made many friends in his visits here who will be pained to hear
this sad news.
p 5 col 3
Mrs. Lily McCormack, nee Maher, whose death is mentioned by our
correspondents, was well known here as she and her husband were
in the Reager House for some time. Her jolly, happy manner gained
many friends for her and she will be sadly missed by many.
p 5 col 4
Alex Farquhar has a sale Monday.
Mr. Travers was in town Friday to see if he could go to Odebolt
where he was called by the sad news of his brother's death, but
could not make connections on account of bridges being out on
this line. His brother had been shot by an insane man. [Note -
last name is Traver]
Administrator's Notice
Public Notice is hereby given that the undersigned has this day
been appointed and commissioned by the District Court of O'Brien
county, in the State of Iowa, Administrator to the estate of
George Siefkin deceased; and all persons having claims against
said estate are hereby notified to file them with the Clerk of
Said Court.
Dated at Cherokee, Iowa, this 22nd day of March 1897
D. R. Siefkin, Administrator
p 5 col 5
Mrs. John McCormack of Old O'Brien died Monday morning with
scarlet fever. She leaves a husband and three small children, one
a babe only a few weeks old.
Mrs. John F. McCormack, living near Old O'Brien, died Sunday
morning. She leaves three small children which are sick with
scarlet fever. The father and husband have the sympathy of this
community.
[transcribed by A.N., January 2012]