Iowa Old Press
Sheldon Mail
Sheldon, O'Brien co. Iowa
May 22, 1902
Miss Melissa Wilson was the successful winner of the prize
offered by Hon. Geo. W. Schee for having the highest standing in
the graduation class. The prize is a trip to Yellowstone Park.
[transcribed by S.F., July 2006]
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Sutherland Courier
Sutherland, O'Brien co., Iowa
May 23, 1902
p 4
A good many from Waterman township attended the funeral of Joel
Shuck at Peterson last Monday. Mr. Shuck formerly lived in this
township where he had many friend who sympathize with the family
in their sad bereavement.
Notice of Appointment of Administrator
State of Iowa, O'Brien County - Notice is hereby given that the
undersigned has been duly appointed and qualified as
Administrator of the Estate of C. L. Taylor, late of O'Brien
County, deceased. All persons indebted to said Estate are
requested to make immediate payment, and those having claims
against the same, will present them, duly authenticated, to the
undersigned for allowance.
L. J. Price
E. M. Sayles, Attorney for the estate.
p 5 col 2
Mrs. Fred Cooley's grandmother died at Dedham in Carroll county
Monday. Mrs. Cooley and the children left Tuesday to attend the
funeral.
Mrs. Jennie Prowse of Galena, Ill, arrived Wednesday for a visit
with her brother, T. E. Mann. After a few days she will go to
South Dakota to look for land.
p 5 col 3
Mrs. A. Rausch returned Wednesday from Nichols, Iowa, near
Davenport, where she went to attend the funeral of her mother.
Bob Thompson got back Wednesday evening from a four days'
vacation, and to the surprise of his friends brought a bride with
him. They will keep house in a part of the Triplett building. We
offer congratulations.
Notice of Probate of Will
State of Iowa, O'Brien County - In the District Court, To Whom It
May Concern
NOTICE: That there was filed in the office of the Clerk of the
District Court of O'Brien County, on the 13th day of May, A. D.
1902, an instrument in writing bearing date the 30th day of
April, A. D. 1902, and purporting to be the last Will and
Testament of August F. T. Beaumeister, late of said County,
deceased, was produced and publicly read, and that the 29th day
of the next Term of said Court to be holden on the 5th day of May
A. D. 1902, and the Court House in Primghar, Iowa, aforesaid, has
been fixed for proving said Will.
R. R. Wood,
Clerk of the District Court.
p 5 col 3
Another Sudden Death
Early Saturday afternoon a telephone message came from Peterson,
telling that Joel Shuck had dropped dead just after eating
dinner. The news proved true. Mr. Shuck had lived so long in this
vicinity that the news was a decided shock to Sutherland people.
No one had supposed that his health was poor in any way. We have
been furnished with a brief obituary which we give below:
Joel Shuck was born in Schuykill county, Penn., Oct. 28, 1843;
died in Clay county, Iowa, May 17, 1902. In 1853 he moved to
Mechanicsville, Iowa, where he married Caroline C. Steffey July
4, 1866. Their seven children are C. E. Shuck of Cedar Falls,
Frank O. of O'Brien county, W. I. and Earl E. of Clay county, Ida
B. Kramer of O'Brien county and Delbert who is at home.
His wife died in 1884 and in 1886 he married M. E. Kelsey. They
came to O'Brien county in 1887 where he lived until last spring
when he moved to a placeabout a mile west of Peterson. A daughter
was born in 1888 and a son in 1893, the latter dying the next
year.
Mr. Shuck was a man of sterling honesty and uprightness, who
faithfully followed the command: "Do unto others as ye would
that they should do unto you." His friends were as many as
his acquaintances. We are requested by his family to thank the
many who aided them and gave kind sympathy in their time of
trouble.
p 5 col 4, 5
A Cemetery Proposition
Last year two or three meetings were held for the purpose of
trying to make some arrangement in regard to caring for the
cemetery. Nothing was accomplished by these meetings except to
get the subject agitated. But at the last meeting a committee was
appointed to see the owners of the cemetery and find out
definitely what could be done in regard to getting the cemetery.
A. C. Bailey and R. C. Jordan of this committee talked with A. J.
Sieh and then went to Reinbeck and had a talk with Jas. Porter,
who with Mr. Sieh owns the cemetery. Both interviews were
satisfactory, and after the owners had time to consult together
by mail the following letter was received from Mr. Porter:
Reinbeck, Iowa, May 16, 1902
Messrs. Bailey and Jordan, Sutherland Iowa
Dear Sirs:
Since the time you made known the object of your visit to my home I have been trying to determine what answer to make you relative to the final disposition of my interest in the Sutherland cemetery. Owing to my being very busy since my return home, I have had very little time to think the matter over and am yet almost undecided what proposition to offer the good people of Sutherland. As stated when you were here I have a very warm feeling for the old spot where I started out my business career but more especially for my old customers and friends, many of whom are laid away in this same cemetery, there to rest from their labors till the archangel shall awake them, we would hope to better things. That I may have some hand in making their resting place appear more restful, I feel willing to do my full share, and more, if others who should have more interest in this same spot, made so to them by their dead, will do their part.
My proposition would be this, that the people of Sutherland form themselves into a Cemetery Association and agree to pay me for my one half interest $300.00. I will in return agree to leave this full amount in one of the Sutherland banks up to Jan. 1, 1903, at which time if this same association will contribute a like amount I will agree to donate to said association the $300.00, which with the Association's $300.00 is to be left indefinitely in the hands of three trustees, the interest of which each year is to be used for the betterment of the cemetery grounds. The writer to reserve for himself the right during his life time to appoint one of the three trustees. With the further understanding that if said $300.00 is not raised by the people by Jan. 1st then and in [...] I will have the right to call for my money which I will no doubt do, but will in that case agree to donate $50.00 out of the $300.00 as my contribution to the cemetery's welfare, the property then to become the property of an Association organized for the purpose of taking care of said cemetery, but such organization must be so well organized that we would have reason to feel it would be well looked after.
We feel we have made you a very liberal offer, in fact giving it over without money and without price, but inasmuch as anything is generally considered to be worth what it has cost us either in money or effort we would feel it would not be treating either ourselves, you the living, neither the dead, right if we were t hand it over without an effort being put forth, therefore, we have determined as above. We also feel that Sutherland and all contributary thereto are above asking me to give them, without any consideration on their part, anything. While we gladly admit we have been very kindly dealt with by Dame Fortune we also feel that we are not alone in this, knowing as well as we think we do the good friends of years gone by, they too, are willing to do at least as well as the writer, since in this same graveyard we have no dead and from my standpoint, looking backward, it would seem as though the death angel had visited nearly every home since we left there, therefore we feel you will all feel I have offered well and required nothing that I should not ask. You can write your decision.
Yours truly,
James Porter
The committee after receiving this letter went to Mr. Sieh who
signed the following agreement:
I will donate my one-half interest in the Sutherland Cemetery on
the following conditions: $300 to be paid by Jan. 1, 1903, to be
placed with Mr. Porter's $300 as a permanent fund, the interest
to be used for improvements, and the Association to raise $600
for improvement by Jan. 1, 1903.
A. J. Sieh
It will seem that the acceptance of these propositions requires
the raising of $1,200. Of this sum $300 goes to Mr. Porter and
$300 to Mr. Sieh. But they both turn in this money for the
improving and keeping up of the cemetery, provided an association
is formed to care for the cemetery. Mr. Sieh, as a member of the
proposed association, will turn in the $300 he receives to make
the $600 of permanent fund provided for in Mr. Porter's
proposition. Mr. Sieh requires in addition that the association
shall raise $600 more to be used for improvement.
The $600 can be used for improvements as soon as it is raised.
The time limit on the whole amount is Jan. 1, 1903. But it would
be better to raise the $600 at once and expend some part of it
this season. There is some work that can be done at once to
better the condition of the cemetery. Of course this is on the
supposition that such an association is formed, but unless we are
much mistaken this will be done. There are plenty of people in
Sutherland and vicinity that wish to see the cemetery improved,
and they will be ready to do the work necessary at once. And
included with these are the people of Calumet. A number who have
died there are buried in this cemetery, and their relatives will
be glad to belong to an association that has for its object the
caring for and beautifying this "city of the dead."
It has been decided by the committee that have the matter in
charge to hold a meeting next Saturday afternoon at three o'clock
at the Good Templars' hall in Sutherland, at which time it is
hoped that all who are interested in the matter in any way will
be present. The way is now open and an association should be
formed at once. Let there be a large turnout and have business
done.
[transcribed by A.N., November 2011]