Iowa Old Press
Paullina Times
Paullina, O'Brien co. Iowa
June 7, 1900
A. J. Pratt secured decree annulling his marriage with his wife
on the grounds that she was already married.
A Tribute
In all our lives there are days that stand out clear-cut
and distinct against the background of the years - days that have
no duplicate in the calendar of a lifetime. On one such day our
acquaintance with Mr. Geo. Johnson began. Mr. Johnson, or
"Uncle" George and all the old settlers called him, was
one of a party of twenty-three men who left the town of Old
O'Brien on the morning of March 14, 1870, to search for Fred
Beach who had left that town for our house three days before in a
snow storm, but had not reached there.
The sky was leaden; the air, thick and gray with vapor. The snow
that had been falling for weeks covered everything with its white
mantle. The silence of death was over all; but it was the lull
before the storm which soon broke in all its fury, making it
impossible for the men to continue their search. One by one they
found their way to the cabin through the flying snow. Hot coffee
and a simple lunch awaited them. After all had come in save one,
they began preparations to return to town, many doubts being
expressed as to their ability to reach there. With nerves tense
from hours of waiting, watching and listening, (for to nervous
ears every wail of the wind seemed a cry from the lost boy) when
a new terror fell upon me, and I clutched my heart as I cried,
"You men must not leave me alone. I am sure my husband is
lost, too." The cry had hardly escaped me when Mr. Johnson
said, "We won't leave you. If Mr. Woods isn't here in a few
minutes we'll go and find him." Mr. Waterman who sat by him
said, "That we will," and so said they all, those noble
men. In a few moments the absent one came in. The instinct of old
"Belle" had brought him home in the very face of that
terrific storm, the eyes of the horse and rider both closed with
ice and snow. The party at once set out under the pilotage of Mr.
Waterman and Mrs. Parish on their perilous journey of seven
miles. The wind at their back made it possible for them to reach
their homes in safety. No storm since has even approached that
intensity and duration. Three days it held high carnival before
there was a moment's cessation. Could we ever forget?
A few weeks later Mr. Johnson had his family installed in a small
house on his homestead in Highland township. From that home for
years there radiated the most generous hospitality. No needy one
went from that home unhelped. Mrs. Johnson joined her husband in
all good works. What this family was to the early settlers can
never be put into words. Mrs. Johnson was a rare woman, a genial
companion, a noble wife and mother. Seventeen years ago her
health began to fail. The little, old home had been exchanged for
a new and larger one; the comforts and luxuries of life were once
more hers in abundance; everything that a devoted husband and
living children could do was done to keep her here. All was of no
avail. She passed away in February, 1884. The memory of her
unselfish, helpful, beautiful life has been a benediction to
husband, children and friends. How tenderly "Uncle"
George always spoke of "mother!" How devoted he was to
their children! Their names were as familiar to his friends as
household words. Some of his children we have never met, but we
have always been interested in them all, as "Uncle"
George has told us so often of Rachel, Mary, Hanna and
"Lib" and the boys, "Bill", "Bob",
Jim and George, (for that is what he called them); and the sons
and daughters by marriage, always the kind, appreciative word for
them; and such a glorious lot of grandchildren and
great-grandchildren. His great heart took them all in.
Three years ago they celebrated at his home in Sutherland his
80th birthday, bringing him valuable gifts. What a delight all
that was to him. But the end of it all has come.
"Uncle" George, too, has passed on, suddenly and
peacefully, as he had wished. The children who had been called a
few days before had, believing him to be better, returned to
their homes. And so it was that of all his family Rachel alone
was with him at the end. Rachel Long, whom all Sutherland loves
and respects and honors, and whose sympathy goes out to her in
this hour of bereavement. To this, our poor little tribute to the
memory of "Uncle" George, we add the fitting words of
Tennyson.
"Howe'er it be, it seems to me,
'Tis only noble to be good.
Kind hearts are more than coronets,
And simple faith than Norman blood."
"Uncle" George Johnson, faithful friend, kind neighbor,
honest man and true, farewell. - Roma W. Woods in Sutherland,
Iowa, Courier.
Born - to Mr. and Mrs. George Johnson of
Highland township, June 5, 1900, a daughter.
We learn that the marriage of Chas. Hinz of Gaza to Miss Jessie
Sherman of Rutland occurred at the home of the latter on
yesterday evening at 8:00 o'clock. The groom is one of O'Brien
county's rising young business men.
Uncle T. G. Steward, father of Mrs. J. N. Veeder, is passing a
few days with the latter.
Thos. Mulligan of Highland township received the startling news
Monday of the sudden death of a sister at Tama, and in company
with his wife left immediately for that place. The young lady
would have graduated in a few days at the Tama high school.
[transcribed by A.N., June 2015]
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Paullina Times
Paullina, O'Brien co. Iowa
June 21, 1900
Justice Webber of Sheldon was here Tuesday accompanied by Geo. M.
Walker. The latter secured a license to wed Cora V. Frank.
Robert Miller, living north of town, has been ill for several
weeks and passed away last Monday afternoon. The funeral services
were conducted by Rev. Parsons Wednesday. Mr. Miller was a
substantial farmer, and leaves several children. He was 68 years
old.
Mrs. S. A. Martin is seriously ill. Doctors Cram and Bushby
performed an operation Saturday and Dr. Cram was down again
Monday. Tuesday she was reported as no better.
Office of County Clerk
We recently had our attention called to the importance
of the county clerk's office by the report of the expert employed
by the county board of supervisors, and the words of the expert
as presented to the board by that individual should be generally
heeded by the voters in selecting an officer for this truly
important office. For the benefit of our readers we present that
portion of the expert's report relating to the office of county
clerk in the following words:
"I have made a very careful and thorough examination of the
Books, Accounts, Documents, etc., of your Clerk of the District
Court, S. A. Martin, covering a period of three years and three
and one half months, from January 5, 1897, to April 14, 1900,
both dates inclusive, and have the honor to submit my report
herewith. The results of this arduous task are substantially
correct, as special methods have been employed for the purpose of
verifying the greater portion of my findings.
Upon examining and familiarizing myself with the accounting
methods employed by Clerk Martin, which appear to have been in
vogue in this office for many years, I deemed a most thorough and
detailed audit and examination of his books, account, records,
documents, etc., of the greatest necessity and importance to all
concerned.
In my opinion this is the most important county office and should
therefore be administered in the most businesslike and careful
manner, but my examination has disclosed unpardonably loose
practice in conducting the affairs of this office. The accounting
methods and systems heretofore employed in this department are
seriously defective throughout. They invite negligence and
dishonesty and afford excellent opportunities for concealing
same, should it at any time be practiced.
No system of accounts can properly fulfill the requirements of a
county or municipality, unless it provides for proper application
of the essential principle of double entry. The proper recording
of very transaction involving money, or money's worth, is of
paramount importance to the taxpayers.
Under the present system no errors can be detected, nor can the
exact amount due to the county or individuals from the Clerk of
the District Court be ascertained until an exhaustive expert
examination of his books, accounts and documents has been made,
thus imposing an unnecessary burden, as the outlay of money for
this purpose, and the consumption of time, must necessarily be
much greater than would be the case were this department equipped
with accounting methods susceptible of a most rapid and
conclusive audit.
The necessity of equipping this office with adequate accounting
methods cannot be too strongly emphasized. In some instances,
have Estates, etc., been allowed to be settled without imposing
and collecting fees. Entries in Judgment Dockets, Sales Books,
etc., I find in many cases to be incomplete and costs incorrectly
taxed.
What is of greater importance to the public than Court matters?
They should, for this reason, be absolutely reliable. Cases have
been dismissed at plaintiff's or defendant's costs, but not
collected. Fee Bills should invariably be issued at the proper
time and collection should be enforced. In my judgment, it is the
Clerk of the District Court, to advise the Court as the amount of
fees and costs due before any case is dismissed or allowed to be
settled among the parties. This also applies to probate cases,
before accepting final reports and exonerating bonds.
I wish to invite your attention to Section 299 of the code of
1897, which recites as follows: The Clerk of the District Court
shall report to the Board of Supervisors of his county, at each
regular session, a full and complete statement of the amount of
feeds received by him, which shall be verified by his affidavit,
and pay such fees into the county treasury as herein before
provided.
This section of the code appears to have been wholly ignored. All
feeds collected should be paid into the county treasury, his
salary should be paid monthly by warrant, the same as the
salaries of the Auditor and Treasurer; any special or extra
compensation for probate work should be adjusted at the close of
the financial year.
Section 300 of the Code of 1897 recites as follows: He shall, on
the first Monday in January and July of each year, pay into the
county treasury all other fees not belonging to his office, in
his hands at the date preceding payment still unclaimed, and at
the time of so doing, he shall take from the treasurer, duplicate
receipts therefore, giving title of the cause and style of the
court in which the same was pending, etc. This section should
also be strictly adhered to.
It is also quite apparent that your clerk has entirely lost sight
of Section 371 of the Code of 1897, which recites as follows: The
Clerk of the District Court, with whom any deposit of funds,
moneys, securities shall be made as provided in the preceding
section, shall enter in a book to be kept and provided for that
purpose, the amount of such Deposit, the character thereof, the
date of its deposit, from whom received, from what source
derived, to whom due, or to become due, if known. He shall be
liable upon his bond for all funds, moneys, or security which may
be deposited with him under the provision of this chapter, etc.
Filing and probate fees should in my opinion, be collected in
advance from private individuals; member of the legal profession
should be required to make monthly settlements with the clerk,
where it is not convenient for them to remit when forwarding
papers to be filed.
The Clerk of the District Court should also require
Administrators, Executors, Guardians and similar officials to
file reports promptly and regularly, which I not throughout my
audit has in the past not been the case. Many Probate and
District Court files I find missing and I am informed that they
are in the hands of different attorneys throughout the county.
The clerk should not allow any file to leave his office or vault,
without first obtaining a receipt in proper form from parties
requiring them.
--
-The death of Mrs. Fred Runge of Liberty township occurred at the
home on Wednesday of this week. The funeral will be held at
Calumet tomorrow.
-The marriage of Miss Mary Ann Kiehl to Mr. Wm. Schroeder, both
of this township, occurred at the home of the groom last Friday
afternoon and was attended by a large number of invited guests.
Rev. Horn officiated. The bride is a daughter of our townsman,
John Kiehl, and is a lady well thought of by all. The groom is
one of the township's prosperous German farmers, and is a young
man of energy and worth. They have commenced housekeeping on the
farm west of town.
-Dutch and Elmer Worden went to Traer, Iowa, last week in
response to a telegram announcing the fatal illness of their
father, William Worden, who passed away Saturday night.
-Chas. J. Mattson, who has been at the United States naval
training station at Newport for several months, returned home
Tuesday of this week, and will remain here. He does not like the
life in the navy, and dislikes the roughness of the crews upon
the boats. He says that an enlisted man never has a chance to
reach more than some minor distinction at a small salary, and
withal there is but little inducement for anyone to stay in the
navy.
Gone Home
William Worden was born in Delaware county, New York
state, in 1832; moved to Illinois with his parents in 1840 and
remained there until 1865 and then moved to Iowa and from there
he moved to Minnesota in 1891; in 1897 he moved to Paullina,
O'Brien county, Iowa, and remained 2 years and then on the 1st
day of last March moved to his old home in Tama county where he
died on the 16th day of June, 1900. Father Worden united with the
Congregational church at the age of 30 and has had a continuous
membership ever since. He was one of those blessed old men, a
real father in Israel. We do not know what better to say than
that in life deceased was a model father, in death an angel. He
possessed a calm, cheerful disposition, always looking on the
bright side of life. His face always carried a pleasant
expression, a sweet memory for the bereaved ones to carry and
that the separation is only for a time and not for eternity. The
services were held at the Congregational church on June 18, 1900,
conducted by the pastor and the remains were laid to rest in West
Union Cemetery. A large concourse of friends gathered to show
their respect for the departed. He leaves a wife, six sons, two
daughters and brothers and sisters to mourn his loss. Those from
abroad were his brothers Milt and wife from Hardin county, Mahue
[probably Mayhew] from Illinois, and his sister and her husband,
Mr. and Mrs. Tomkine, and children from Grundy Center. - The
Children
[transcribed by A.N., April 2015]