Iowa Old Press
Sutherland Courier
Sutherland, O'Brien co. Iowa
October 7, 1898
p 5 col 1
L. J. Price learned that his son Walter was at Sioux City and he
went down last Thursday and brought the boy back. Walter is now
working in A. Miller's store, and it is to be hoped that he has
had enough of running away.
p 5 col 4
Joined in Wedlock
Holsworth - Vradenburg
A the home of the bride's father, Tuesday afternoon at two
o'clock was solemnized the marriage of Charles Holsworth of
Homer, Neb., and Mrs. Maude Vradenburg of Sutherland. Only the
relatives of the bride who live in this vicinity and a few
intimate friends of her family were present. The couple left for
Sioux City on the evening train. Mr. Holsworth arrived from Homer
Monday.
He is a well-to-do young farmer and appears to be a well-posted,
thorough-going man. Mrs. Vradenburg is well known here and has
been for some time until lately engaged in one of the Government
Indian schools in Nebraska. A lot of friends scattered the
traditional rice over them as they were about to take the train.
Reavis - Richardson
At the home of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. H. A.
Richardson, in Liberty township, Wednesday evening at five
o'clock, Miss Hattie Richardson was married to F. P. Reavis of
Des Moines, Rev. J. S. Coffin officiating.
Miss Richardson is one of the most popular young ladies of this
vicinity and has as many friends as she has acquaintances. She
attended Drake University last year where she met Mr. Reavis who
was also a student there. Mr. Reavis has been preaching during
the summer vacation, he having chosen that as his profession. He
is a fine appearing young man and is highly commended by his
acquaintances.
The happy young couple left on the evening train for Des Moines
where they will both attend Drake University. Mr. Reavis expects
to complete his course of study in two years.
In common with her other friends we regret that the bride is to
leave this vicinity, but we wish her all possible happiness and
prosperity. Rev. Coffin is a schoolmate of the groom. As he has
friends here he remained to visit until today.
[transcribed by A.N., April 2012]
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Sutherland Courier
Sutherland, O'Brien co. Iowa
October 14, 1898
p 4
Hieke Hiemstra vs. Biense Hiemstra [may be Henstra] was a divorce
suit and went by default. Plaintiff was given care of the two
children.
Dora Richardson was granted a divorce from her husband Jas. A.
Richardson. The court permitted her to assume her maiden name of
Mayfield.
The case of Peterson Bank, First National Bank of Peterson, Mary
E. Colby and others against the celebrated Mrs. Streeter was set
for trial Tuesday, but the attorneys got together and
propositions of settlement were exchanged so that it looks as
though the case would not be tried. At any rate a continuance was
taken until the parties see if they can agree. The parties are
fighting over the proceeds of the sale of Mrs. Streeter's
property. It sold for some $1,800 and after court costs
aggregating some $600 there is $1,200 to divide. Mrs. Colby
claims a thousand dollars of it as rent and the others are
attaching creditors who are contesting the landlord's claim.
In State vs. Williams charged with incest, trial lasted for some
two days and was hotly contested. The prosecuting witness was a
niece of the defendant and she claimed that he uncle had raped
her at Sutherland a year ago. The charge alleged in the
indictment was incest however, and the jury, after being out all
night brought in a verdict of guilty. The defendant has filed a
motion for new trial and if that is overruled the case will no
doubt be appealed.
p 5 col 2
Theo Tillett returned home last week. He reports that Asa Baker
had gone to Milwaukee, Wis., to take in the sights of that city.
p 5 col 3
Dr. Kauffman returned Sunday from attending his brother Will's
wedding at Union, Iowa, and caring for his mother at Whitten,
Iowa, who was taken suddenly quite ill but was much improved when
he left for home.
p 5 col 4
Mr. and Mrs. Robt. Cheslear's little two-year-old son John died
Wednesday, October 12th, of dysentery and was buried at
Sutherland Thursday. The parents have the sympathy of many
friends.
Ralph Roberts was taken suddenly ill Sunday evening with an
intestinal difficulty and has been in a critical condition since.
The physicians have diagnosed the case as one in which a portion
of the intestine has doubled or folded into that portion
immediately below it, and sloughing has begun. The medical term
for this abnormal position of the intestines is intussusception.
At this writing a Sioux City specialist is momentarily expected,
with the idea that an operation will be performed. Everybody will
hope for Ralph's recovery.
p 5 col 5
Calvin Kennedy Killed
Peterson Patriot: Last Monday occurred the saddest
incident that we have ever been called upon to chronicle. It was
the awful accident that called from this world the young soul of
Calvin Kennedy.
It seems that Calvin was working with the Findley brothers
digging a well on David Jones' place. At the depth of about
thirty feet a stone was struck which stopped the machine. The
auger was taken out of the well and Calvin was sent down to
remove it. Before starting down, a crowbar was dropped into the
well to be used in prying the stone loose. The bar fell so that
it stuck deep in the lay and stood straight up.
Instead of being lowered into the well with a rope he got onto
the auger rod and was being let down on it when the clamps on the
rod slipped and he was precipitated squarely onto the top of the
crowbar, which went nearly through him lengthwise. Not being
stunned by the pain he climbed up the rod and with his own hands
pulled the crowbar from his body. It entered his body just
between the legs and extended upwards nearly to his lungs. He
then called for a rope and when it was let down he fastened it
around his body himself and was hauled to the top, when he was
immediately taken to the house and medical aid sent for. There
was no chance for recovery and he died that same evening at a few
minutes past nine o'clock. His funeral was held from the
Methodist church at this place at 2 o'clock Tuesday afternoon,
Rev. Kidder conducting the services.
[transcribed by A.N., April 2012]
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Sutherland Courier
Sutherland, O'Brien co. Iowa
October 21,1898
p 5 col 1
Jas. Armstrong informs us that his son Warren has again been
promoted and is now a sergeant in his troop (F) of the 1st U. S.
Cavalry. The troop is now stationed in Montana. Warren's many
friends in this vicinity will be pleased to hear of his
promotion.
Frank Shea of Cherokee was badly burned Friday night by oil
spilling over him and getting on fire while he was trying to
light a lamp. The Cherokee Democrat says that he will be badly
scarred about the neck and may be permanently crippled.
p 5 col 2
We printed last week the invitations for the wedding of Walter
Scott and Miss Sylvia Steele. The happy event will occur on
Wednesday, Nov. 2d, at the home of the bride's parents, Mr. and
Mrs. Silas Steele.
Card of Thanks
To the many friends who so willingly assisted in the sudden
sickness and death of our son and brother, we wish to express our
heartfelt thanks. We realize that loving hands did all that could
be done to comfort in these, the saddest hours of our lives. May
God bless and be merciful to you all.
Mr. and Mrs. Roberts and Family
The Cherokee Democrat tells the details of the death of
Joseph Unkrer, a young farmer of Rock township in that county.
Last Saturday he started out of Cherokee with some big stones on
top of part of a load of lumber. About three miles from town he
went to fix one of the stones that had fallen or was about to
fall, when he fell between the wheels of the wagon and the rear
wheel went over his chest. He got to a house nearby but lived
only about three quarters of an hour.
p 5 col 3
A. H. Wilfong of Botna, Iowa, Mrs. Roberts's brother, was here
Saturday to attend the funeral of Ralph Roberts.
p 5 col 4
Ralph Roberts Dead
Last Friday morning Ralph Roberts passed out of this life into
the great unknown that lies beyond. He seemed young to go from
earth when, to all his friends at least, his future prospects
seemed bright. Those who knew him could not see anything but
success for him in life, for mankind is prone to be sure success
will come to those who deserve it. And as to his deserving there
was but one opinion.
Seldom is it that the death of a youth not yet twenty years old
causes such nearly unanimous sorrow in a community. There is
often sympathy for the parents and other relatives of a boy who
dies, but in this case it was a feeling of personal loss that
spread like a cloud over the town. There was sympathy for the
family, too. But each one felt that the community had met wit a
great loss and that the loss was personal to himself.
Ralph was a thoroughly good boy. He was not, however, a boy who
paraded his goodness. He was quiet, gentlemanly, industrious and
modest. But he had a firmness of character that many boys do not
possess. He was not inclined to force his ideas upon others, but
he would not let the opinions of others move him from what he was
convinced was right. Altogether it may be said that he had a
well-balanced mind.
He was one of the three graduates of the Sutherland high school
last June and he was a credit to the school. He was intending to
continue his school work elsewhere and had been working for
different farmers since school closed to get money to help pay
his way. We understand that he hoped in time to enter the medical
profession. His intelligence and clear, cool judgment would have
fitted him well for such work.
Ralph was born Dec. 6, 1878, in Tama county, Iowa, and came to
Sutherland with his parents, brother and sister thirteen years
ago. Soon after coming here he became a member of the Methodist
church and continued to live consistently in that faith through
life.
For some years he had been subject at times to attacks of disease
like that which ended his life, and the malformation of the
intestine which finally produced the fatal stricture was of
several years growth and may possibly have existed to some extent
from birth. It was in the nature of a diverticulum, growing out
from the small intestine about a foot above the junction with the
large intestine. This growth was about seven inches in length and
had turned upward in such a manner that the ligamentous fibers
connected with it had drawn down upon the intestine so that its
contents could not pass through. When the operation was performed
the intestine for a long way was dead. The operation was the
means of prolonging his life several hours, but he was past all
hope of recovery. Dr. Hanchett of Sioux City performed the
operation, assisted by Dr. Kauffman of Sutherland and Barnhizer
of Paullina.
The funeral was held Saturday from the Methodist church. Rev.
Green who has been Ralph's pastor for five years came up from
Aurelia to assist in the services. He said that he had not been
able to concentrate his thoughts enough to prepare a sermon; that
he had simply come to weep with those who wept. He said he
believed that Ralph had done more for religion and humanity by
his example in the course of his short life than many an older
person had been able to accomplish.
There was a large attendance at the funeral and most of the
business houses were closed out of respect to the high character
of the boy.
"Only A Boy"
Only a boy, and his visions of hope
Were sometimes but vague and too crude;
But through them there ran, like a strand in a rope,
An element always of good.
Only a boy, but his future seemed bright,
He had intellect, courage and will,
And manly impulses to guide him aright
Through the wearisome grind of life's mill.
And his acts, although tinged with the lightness of youth
And a natural lightness of heart,
Were thoughtful and built on a basis of truth,
For the truth of his life was a part.
Only a boy, but his life was so true
To the best and the highest ideal
That his memory ever confutes the dark view
That there's nothing of honor that's real.
All through life can be seen such black-hearted deceit
And such foes of true living and joy,
We instinctively offer the tribute that's meet
To the true man - though "only a boy."
[transcribed by A.N., April 2012]
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Sutherland Courier
Sutherland, O'Brien co. Iowa
October 28, 1898
p 4
Mrs. Castledine, step-mother of W. S. Castledine, died at Sioux
City Monday and was buried here Wednesday.
Joseph H. Ober has made application to the District Court for a
divorce from his wife, Mary E. Ober, on the grounds of desertion.
He alleges that she deserted him October 6, 1896 and she has not
lived with him since.
p 5 col 2
Benj. Bidwell is dangerously ill with senile gangrene. It is
doubtful if he can recover. The toes on his right foot are
affected.
John Pumphrey, one of the earliest settlers of O'Brien county,
and the man who started the first paper ever published in the
county, the O'Brien Pioneer, was in town from Monday evening to
Thursday. He now lives at Mason City.
Asa Baker came back Friday morning from his rambling tour of the
last few weeks. He ought now to be satisfied to settle down and
attend to business. He has likely found out that there are worse
things than staying at a good home.
[transcribed by A.N., April 2012]