Iowa Old Press
Emmetsburg Democrat
Emmetsburg, Palo Alto, IA
Wednesday, April 1, 1885
LOCAL NEWS
--No intoxicants in Emmetsburg. Everything in the shape of saloon
has evaporated
-- Owen McNulty is erecting a dwelling 16 x 24 on his farm 5
miles west of town. Gossman and Masters are employed to do the
work.
-- Mrs. Dorris has purchased two resident lots in the south part
of town from the C. M. & St. P. Railway Co. and will proceed
to build a dwelling house thereon.
-- M. T. Washington of Ruthven, accompanied by his sister, Miss
Mary A. Washington, is circulating a petition for the appointment
of post-mistress of that town and is meeting with good success.
She is a young lady of refinement and culture and thoroughly
capable of filling that position. We understand that she will
receive the endorsement of the members of the State Central
committee, and this in addition to the numerous signers of her
petition, should secure her the office.
-- James E. Scott is building him a new house on his lot in the
north part of town.
-- Frank Warnke has moved into his new shop on W. Main St
formerly owned by Mr. Dawson.
-- Blossom Brothers of Algona take possession of the old Catholic
Church building today. They will remodel the same to some extent
and use the building for a creamery.
-- Father Smith will celebrate Mass in the new Catholic church on
Easter Sunday for the first time. No more services will be held
therein until the building is finished and consecrated.
-- T. W. Harrison who has been absent for some length of time in
Mexico, Texas and other sections in the south, returned home on
last Thursday night much improved in health. He speaks quite
favorable of various parts of the country in that section and of
its magnificent climate.
-- M. Gossman and a man by the name of Masters have formed a co-
partnership for the purpose of doing all kinds of work in the
carpenter line. They are now prepared to take contracts for the
erection of dwellings and other work in their line and invite the
public to call on them before building. Mr. Gossman is a fine
mechanic and capable of doing good work. As to Mr. Masters we
cannot state not being acquainted with the gentleman, but presume
he is a good workman, being connected with Mr. Gossman.
-- Mr. Nelson, "the red complected gentleman" and
father of A. Laurens, the once noted restaurant man of the city
of Emmetsburg, came up from Fort Dodge last week to give his
answer in a certain garnishment proceeding. After giving
satisfactory answers in favor of his son Alfred and himself he
was released. He will return again April 25, on the same errand,
as another notice of garnishment was served on him before
departing for the county seat of Webster county. Mr. Nelson is a
gentleman in every sense of the word, like many men, has the
misfortune of being the father of one of the biggest dead beats
that ever came to Emmetsburg.
-- The infant child of Mr. Vestrum died on last Wednesday. The
woman being too poor to defray the little one's funeral expenses,
the necessary amount was raised by various individuals in
Emmetsburg.
-- Norman J. Atkins, commissioner of the Scottish American Land
Co. of this place and who has been to England this past winter on
a visit to friends and relatives is expected to return to
Emmetsburg about the middle of April
-- John Begg is now the happy possessor of a full blood Irish
jaunting car, which for uniqueness of fashion, or a specimen of
novelty, was never equaled in these parts except it was by the
music of the Highland pipe when first heard in town. The boys
consider it quite a luxury to take a drive around town in the new
outfit and vie with each other for the next ride. As for Mr. Begg
and his car, we prophecy for them a name in the near future
equaled only by the famous Larry Doolin of Dublin city.
-- R. S. Gray of Fort Dodge, and shorthand reporter of the 14th
judicial district of this state, became insane on last Saturday
at his home in that city.
-- In our round about town this week we dropped into the
furniture store of E. Dimler and found it busy at work polishing
up furniture. We were completely surprised at the large amount of
stock carried in that establishment. The first floor and basement
is crowded to uncomfortableness with all sorts of new and useful
articles of furniture, everything imaginable in the furniture
line is stored away there in some nook or corner and if you do
not see what you want, don't hesitate to ask for it as Mr. Dimler
he is one of those men who is ever anxious to please customers.
If you want anything in his line of goods you certainly should
call on him instead of sending out of town to other dealers for
goods that can be duplicated in quality and price by him. Give
him a call when in need of any furniture, carpets, etc.
DIED
Wednesday, March 25, 1885, Mrs. Ed Smith aged 74 years.
Infant child of Andrew Vestrum, on Wednesday, March 25th.
[transcribed by C.J.L., April 2007]
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Emmetsburg Democrat
Emmetsburg, Palo Alto, IA
Wednesday, April 8, 1885
LOCAL NEWS
-- E. Shoemaker and wife of Clinton this state, were in the city
a few days last week. Mr. Shoemaker was looking over our city and
county with a view of purchasing lands and locating here
-- William Ratzburg is building an addition 14 x 26, to his
dwelling in the south part of town and a will veneer the same
with brick. Mr. Ratzburg being a first class mechanic, will do
his own veneering.
-- J. O. Stewart, of Spirit Lake, who was appointed historian of
the 20th Iowa infantry at their last reunion, wants to hear from
all the surviving members as to facts concerning deaths since
muster, or other matters of interest pertaining to the old
organization.
-- The Supreme Court has declared the law requiring physicians to
make an accurate return of births, deaths, etc., constitutional,
and the State Board of Health has notified the county clerks that
it is their duty to see that returns are made, or to bring suit
for the enforcement of the penalty -- $10 in each case -- which
the law imposes upon physicians who fail to report.
-- Thomas F. Joyce is finishing up the front part of his harness
shop in fine style and will soon keep for sale, cigars, tobaccos,
candies, nuts and temperance drinks of all kinds.
[transcribed by C.J.L., April 2007]
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Emmetsburg Democrat
Emmetsburg, Palo Alto, IA
Wednesday, April 15, 1885
LOCAL NEWS
-- Peter Metz is having rooms fitted up for his barbershop over
the drugstore of Cady & Shea, and will remove thereto next
week. Mr. Metz is a first-class workman, courteous to his
customers and a good fellow generally. We wish him success in his
new location.
-- W. J. Moses is building a boot and shoe store on Main Street
West of Ormsby Bros. & Co’s bank.
-- L. H. Sporin is the man who has the honor of being the first
mayor of Ruthven. He was elected at their first municipal
election last week.
-- J. R. Blossom has moved his family here from Algona to make
this their permanent home. The Blossom Brothers have large
interests here, and it is necessary that one of the firm should
reside here. We gladly welcome Mr. Blossom to our town and hope
he may find it a pleasant home
-- Reverend Gordon informs us that from his canvass of this town,
he finds the number of families to be 250 which he estimates will
average six persons to each family making a total of about 1800
persons in town. As Mr. Gordon counts only heads of families it
is evident the population of town is much larger than the
estimate given by him and we think the new census when complete,
will give Emmetsburg a population of at least 2000 if not more.
-- Miss Annie Cline departed on Monday for Mt Vernon where she
expects to finish her education in voice culture, instrumental
music and painting at Cornell University. Miss C. was a student
two years at the Illinois female college of music and fine art.
-- The First National bank of Emmetsburg was organized the 6th,
inst., with a paid up capital of $50,000. The officers are Col.
E. S. Ormsby president, A.N. Eddy of Chicago vice president and
O.L. Ormsby is cashier. The directors are P. Joyce, E. B. Soper
and Charles McCormick. This new enterprise will be a great
benefit to our town and is one that our citizens may all well
feel proud of. Officers are now busy making preparations to get
things into readiness for work and will be ready for business in
a few short weeks.
DIED
April 10, 1885 Mrs. W. H. Kirby aged 31 years.
[transcribed by C.J.L., April 2007]
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Emmetsburg Democrat
Emmetsburg, Palo Alto, IA
Wednesday, April 22, 1885
LOCAL NEWS
-- Al Ewing who has been in the employ of W. W. Johnson & Son
for some years past has resigned his position and will remove to
Minneapolis where he will again engage in business.
-- J. M. Hefley was elected Marshall at the special meeting of
the town council Thursday evening. John McNally had been marshal
heretofore for several years and made an excellent officer.
-- A. W. Helse has resigned his position as operator for the
Milwaukee company at this place, and has accepted a similar
position for the company at Canlon Dak. Mr. James Flaherty takes
the place of Mr. Helse.
-- Born -- to Mr. and Mrs. D. T. Sterner, April 19, 1885, a son.
[transcribed by C.J.L., April 2007]
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Emmetsburg Democrat
Emmetsburg, Palo Alto, IA
Wednesday, April 29, 1885
LOCAL NEWS
-- Misses Maggie and Hannah Dunn of Dubuque county and sisters of
Mrs. Patrick Joint, are here with the purpose of making this
their permanent home.
-- Squire Moncrief performed a very successful matrimonial
operation last Wednesday in uniting Mr. Jens Christian
Christianson and Miss Elsie Marie Sorensen in the holy bonds, at
the residence of H. C. Shadbolt.
-- Norman J. Atkins returned last Thursday from the old country
where he has been the past winter. Mr. Atkins informs us, that
the vessel upon which he started, ( Germanic) though supposed to
be one of the strongest and best that crosses the Atlantic, met
with the high sea when three days out, that came very near ending
in a terrible catastrophe; as it was, there were two lives lost
and 18 severely injured. Mr. Atkins was quite fortunate in his
escape.
-- W. G. Henry returned from Carthage, Illinois, on Wednesday
night where he had been for some two weeks past visiting his
father who was dangerously ill.
-- Mrs. James P. White and family will soon occupy the upper
rooms in the building used by William Moses as a boot and shoe
store.
-- On our way to supper Saturday evening we were hailed and asked
if we had gotten out an extra edition of the illustrated DEMOCRAT
or what was the cause of the large crowd in front of the
post-office screaming and dancing around like the crowd did
Tuesday night when the DEMOCRAT was taken to the post office. We
made no reply but elbowed on through the crowd, and found the
cause of the commotion the result of William Moore -- a quiet,
unoffensive man -- having Mr. Fay on his knee and spanking him
justily, yea viciously on the lower part of Mr. Fay's anatomy who
felt the effect thereof muchly. Since quitting the Sherman House,
Fay, with a few fair lady companions have lived next door to Mr.
Bennett in the west side of town. Fred Bennett had frequently
hinted to the young men who made their nocturnal visits there,
that it was dangerous to prowl around there after dark, as his
bees might bite some of them. The boys made sport of Bennett, so
Saturday he rushed over to town hat in hand, sweating like a bay
steer, and had the house "pulled" whatever that is, and
to be brief, it was declared a nuisance and ordered closed, and
the girl the marshal put in jail was given 12 hours to leave
town. We prefer not to give the details concerning the lawsuit
and many other things we have heard concerning this man Fay. The
spanking he got from Mr. Moore was for an insult offered that
gentlemen and we only wish Fay and his kind was dealt with in
this style more often.
-- James Grier expects to have his new restaurant all fixed up
this week. A connection with his restaurant he will run a bakery,
an enterprise much needed.
-- Cole VanGorden has gone to Dakota; not for health or to grow
up with the country, but just for novelty and to satisfy the
desire that all young America yearns for -- to travel and see
their country.
MARRIED
Charles Furguhauson of O'Brien county, Iowa, to Miss Elizabeth
Bowden at the residence of the bride's mother in Emmetsburg, by
Rev. C. E. Cline, April 22, 1885.
At the residence of H. C. Shadbolt in Emmetsburg Iowa, on
Wednesday, April 22, 1885, by Thomas Moncrief, J. P., Mr. Jens
Christian Christianson and Miss Elsie Marie Sorensen.
At the home of the bride, on Thursday the 23rd by Rev. C. E.
Cline, Mr. P. O. Refsell of Emmetsburg, and Miss Hattie
Blanchard, of Silver Lake.
DIED
In Walnut Township on Tuesday, April 21, 1885, infant daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen J. Guerdet, aged 11 months. The remains were
interred in the Catholic cemetery on Wednesday.
[transcribed by C.J.L., April 2007]