Iowa Old Press
Emmetsburg Democrat; Emmetsburg, Iowa, Wednesday, November
4, 1885
Iowa geography is almost a puzzle to an outsider as English
spelling is to the foreigner, but very few of the cities and
counties having similar names are anywhere near each other. Des
Moines the capital of the state, is in Polk county -- nowhere
near Des Moines county, of which Burlington is the county seat.
Keokuk isn't in Keokuk county, but Sigourney is; Fort Madison is
in Lee county, not in Madison county, of which the county seat is
Winterset; Jefferson is not in Jefferson county, but in Greene
county; Wapello is a long way from Wapello county, of which the
principle city in the county is Ottumwa; Lyons is not in Lyons
county, but Clinton county; Monroe is in Jasper county, not in
Monroe, of which Albia is the county seat; Osceola is in the
extreme north of the state, and Osceola county is on the opposite
side; Iowa city is not in Iowa county but in Johnson; Marion is
in Linn county, Knoxville is the county seat of Marion county;
Webster isn't in Webster county, but in Hamilton county; Sioux
City is in Woodberry county, but not Sioux county. There are
however a few towns situated in counties of similar names as:
Washington, Muscatine, Clinton, Dubuque, Sac City, Pocahontas,
Carroll, Cherokee, etc.. Des Moines isn't at the mouth of the Des
Moines river, but nearly 40 miles above on the Mississippi, and
doesn't touch the Des Moines river at any place. -- Burlington
Gazette
The Gazette forgets about our own little town and would have
people think that Emmetsburg is in Emmet county instead of Palo
Alto.
A Day of Thanksgiving
To the people of the United States of America; a Proclamation:
the American people have always abundant cause to be thankful to
Almighty God, whose watchful care and guiding hand have been
manifested in every stage of their natural life guarding and
protecting them in a time of peril and safety; leading them in
the hours of darkness and danger. It is fitting and proper that a
nation thus favored should, on one day in every year for the
purpose especially appointed, publicly acknowledge the goodness
of God, return thanks to him for all his gracious gifts.
Therefore I Grover Cleveland, president of the United States of
America, do hereby design and set apart Thursday, the 26th of
November, instant, as a day of public thanksgiving and prayer,
and to invoke the observance of the same by all the people of the
land.
IOWA CONDENSED
-- George Lehr stabbed and killed John W. [?]larnes at Lancaster,
in self-defense, as it is claimed. Lehr is a prominent and highly
esteemed citizen of Keokuk county.
-- W. L. Smith, aged 60 years, living several miles west of Sac
City, was found dead in a well on his premises. It is not known
whether his death was accidental or intentional. For years he has
been afflicted with paralysis and he had become a burden.
-- Ransom Wood, working on the Milwaukee road near Sabula, met
his death by the explosion of a dynamite cartridge which he
carried in his pocket, a great hole being torn in his side. A
crowbar with which he was working slipped and struck his pocket
which caused the explosion.
-- A daughter of J. W. Slocum, living near Boone, is mysteriously
missing. Some months ago she visited a sister in Michigan. On the
28th of September she started for home. She crossed the lake in a
steamer to Milwaukee and since that time nothing has been heard
of her. It is feared that she met with foul play in that city.
She was an honest girl of good reputation, and cannot willingly
have gone astray. Her father is now looking for her.
-- Mrs. William Lynde, the wife of a railroad engineer, at
Marshalltown, tried to commit suicide by crawling under a train
at the depot at lying across the track under one of the coaches.
Mrs. Lynde has been insane for some time, and has made several
attempts to commit suicide by taking morphine and only a few days
ago proposed to her husband that they both cut their throats and
end their supposed troubles.
-- Isaiah Ewing, of Keosauqua, was found dead in his bed. He
retired the evening previous in apparently good health. He has
[been] affected with heart troubles.
-- Lawson Baldwin the abortionist, has been indicted for murder
by the Van Buren county grand jury.
KILLED WITH A SHOVEL
Another Murder in Woodbury County
On Sunday morning, October 25, A. J. Alt, a young farmer about 29
years of age, living in Concorde township, Woodbury county, about
10 miles to the northwest of Sioux City, was killed by William
Miner, also a farmer, who resides in the same neighborhood. The
particulars as nearly as can be learned at this time are as
follows: several months ago the parties to this terrible tragedy
had trouble about the cutting of some grain, but after indulging
in considerable talk over the affair it was thought to have been
finally settled. However, Alt being of a quarrelsome disposition,
sought to make further trouble about the matter and on the
morning named mounted his horse and rode over to Miner’s
residence.
Seeing Miner, he at once alighted, and according to the
former’s statement made an unprovoked attack on Miner with a
knife in his hand. To defend himself, Miner seized a shovel lying
near and struck Alt twice on the head making two terrible gashes.
The injured man then walked to his home where he died from the
effects of his wounds about 10 o'clock. Immediately after Miner
struck Alt he went to town and told the sheriff what he had done
andwas advised to go home again until charges were brought
against him. In obedience to this he returned home, only to find
that Alt was dead. After arranging some personal matters at home
he went back to town Sunday evening and surrendered himself to
the sheriff and is now in jail. The sympathy of the neighborhood
is with Miner, who is said to be a quiet, inoffensive man. To a
Tribune reporter the prisoners said that he had not thought of
killing Alt.
CRIME IN IRELAND
A Remarkable Case In Court at Cork
London dispatch: a most remarkable case is on the docket of the
Cork assizes, the winter term of which has just opened. Seven
years ago, the people of Castletown Roche were startled by the
sudden disappearance of the wife of Thomas Sheehan, a well-to-do
popular resident, and his son and daughter. The father, who had
been in England several days prior to the disappearance,
immediately returned home, and every effort was made to obtain
some information regarding the whereabouts of the missing people.
Large sums of money were spent in the quest, but it was without
result; the trio having disappeared as quickly as though the
earth opened and swallowed them up. There were rumors of
elopement and foul play, but every clue failed of confirmation.
Years went by, but the matter was not forgotten and has furnished
many a subject for speculation and chat to the village gossips
around the winter fireside in huts and cabins. But a few months
ago the neighborhood was astonished by the report that the
mystery had been solved; that the three had been brutally
murdered by their son and brother and the bodies hidden in an
abandoned well. The rumors were confirmed by the arrest of
William Sheehan and David Browne, and by the finding of the
bodies, or rather of the remains, little more than the bones and
skulls being left.
The solicitor general allowed a reporter to make a copy of the
principal evidence for the crown. It is a confession made by John
Duane, father of a young man who admitted that he assisted in
hiding the bodies. The confession is as follows:
"On the day of the murder William Sheehan said to me,'
Johnny, you won't tell what I'm going to do to-day.' He did not
say what it was nor did I know what he meant. This was about an
hour before anything took place. I was standing in the yard just
outside the stable door. Thomas Sheehan first went into the
stable and William followed him in. David Browne was also inside.
Suddenly William picked up a club and struck his brother twice
upon the head. He dropped, and I could see that he was killed --
dead. Then Will and Browne crossed over and went into the house,
I following at a little distance. Will's mother and his little
sister Hannah were in the little room below the kitchen. Will
went behind his mother, struck her on the head with a club, and
then he caught her by the throat and choked her until she was
dead. At the same time Browne struck Hannah on the head with the
same club, knocked her down and choked her until she was black in
the face and ceased to breathe. I had been standing at the door
all this time and Will asked me if I would help him take the
bodies over to the stable. I was afraid they would kill me and
consented.
Next morning before daylight we put the bodies into the buggy and
drove to the well. William throwed them in, the old woman first,
then Hannah, and then Tom. After this we threw in a lot of stones
and covered them over with white thorn bushes. Then we went back
to the house, got some girls to come in, and played the
concertina and danced all day.
The motive of the crime was the desire on William Sheehan's part
to obtain control of the property after his father's death and it
is believed that at one time he contemplated making away with his
sire. Both Brown and Duane knew that if they "gave
away" the details of the terrible crime they would stand a
chance of being hanged and hence the remarkable way in which the
secret has been kept for so many years. There is no doubt but
that Sheehan and Brown will go to the scaffold, while Duane is
likely to seek a long term for his share in the bloody deed.
HOME NEWS
-- W. S. Frost and James Foy have matched their horses for
another race at the fairgrounds, for a purse of $101 week from
next Saturday, November 14. An addition fee of ten cents will be
charged, the proceeds of which will go towards putting the track
in better condition.
-- Miss Mary Patton is being visited by her cousin, Mrs. Berry,
of Estherville.
-- Marshal Larkins is fast falling into the notoriety as being an
able and active member of the secret service. His last haul, and
his first one since the honors of marshal was conferred on him,
is the capture of a female last Friday morning. He has concluded
to keep her until she is eighteen, as he says it's a little
beauty and looks like its pa. Mother and baby are doing well.
E.J. will probably recover.
-- Mr. John Hand, of Great Oak, left for old Ireland on last
Thursday, where he will remain during the winter.
BORN
to Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Larkins, Friday, October 30, 1885, a
daughter.
MARRIED
Thursday, October 29, 1885, at the home of the bride's parents,
in Independence township ( this county) by Rev. O.P. Champlin,
Miss Belle F. Todd and Mr. John Blair.
At the same time and same place, Miss Aggie Todd and Mr. Nisbet
Hardie.
At the same time and place Miss Helen Todd and Mr. Robert
Pottage.
Emmetsburg Democrat; Emmetsburg, Iowa, Wednesday, November
11, 1885
We believe there is no town in the state is making better strides
toward city airs than our own little Emmetsburg. News may be a
little slack just now after election but wait for about ten years
and just listen to how it will sound to have our reporters trot
out and pick up items like the following:
An alarm was turned in last evening from box 62. It proved to be
a small blaze in one of the Milwaukee Railroad shops, and was
extinguished without doing much damage.
Superintendent Smith of the streetcar line telephone Chicago last
night in regard to the six new cars that have been ordered, and
he received reply that they were shipped yesterday.
The twelve cars now in use are not near sufficient to do the
business, although a few years ago, when the line was first
established, it was thought that the two bob-tails been in use
would not have business enough to pay expenses.
The waterworks company broke ground yesterday for an additional
building 40X80 feet, which will be necessary to accommodate the
additional machinery they are putting in. A new set of 10 pumps
will be among the additions
A trial of speed yesterday between the host companies resulted in
a victory for the Pioneer.
The telephone service is being extended up Broadway from the
First National bank to the fairgrounds.
The trenches for the underground cables are opened and eighty-six
new subscribers will be yelling "hello" before another
week.
The daily DEMOCRAT will be put in, the old one being found
insufficient to run the large power press and the six jobbers.
The water service is to be extended up Main Street into
Harrison's addition this month. Three car loads of mains and
service pipe arrived yesterday.
The new reaper factory is turning out 100 completed machines per
day and is still about 1200 behind in its orders.
The electric light company yesterday auctioned off a lot of the
old gas works machinery. It mostly went for old iron.
IOWA CONDENSED
-- Horace S. Humison, a blind soldier of Maquoketa, has received
$5,000 back pension and will receive an allowance of $62 per
month hereafter.
-- Dr. G. P. Bartow, of Richland, who was shot by David Duke, a
few days ago in a quarrel in regard to the post office in that
place, died from the effects of his wounds.
-- A sad accident occurred at Fort Dodge October 28. The
particulars are as follows: John Kell Jr., one of the proprietors
of the brewery, together with employes had taken down a very
heavy door, and stood it up against the building. Allie, the son
of John Kell Jr., age 3 years, attempted to climb the door while
in this position, when it fell upon him. Spectators of the
accident hurried immediately to the little one’s assistance
and removed the heavy door. The child was picked up in an
unconscious condition. The blood was streaming from his nose,
mouth and ears. The poor child was indeed a heart rending
spectacle. A physician was immediately called and all earthly
efforts to save a child's life proved of no avail. The child died
soon after.
-- Captain E. R. Miller, an old and respected citizen of Mason
City, died October 28. He had been a resident of that county
since 1836, and for many years a partner of Hon. John Cliggitt.
He was grand master of the A.O.C W. order. He was a competent
democrat in 1876; he was a delegate to the national democratic
convention.
-- A Fort Dodge correspondent of the Dubuque Times states that L.
R. Chase, formerly one of the proprietors of the Duncombe House,
at that place, is one of 800 heirs to an English estate of
$80,000,000 and 400,000 acres of the choicest land; that the
estate has been in chancery for 26 years, and that parliament has
just ordered that the legal heirs be paid. Mr. Chase, when he
comes into possession of his share, will give a grand banquet to
all the traveling men who have been in the habit of stopping at
the Duncombe.
HOME NEWS
-- A few weeks ago, F. Crouch was brought before Mayor Davies
charged with violating town ordinance No. 5, for selling oysters
and peanuts on the Sabbath. Crouch's defense to the charge was
that he was keeping a boarding house and restaurant combined and
therefore had the right to keep open on Sunday and sell oysters.
The mayor imposed a fine upon him and he at once appealed to the
District Court. On last Thursday that case came up for trial, J.
W. Cory the district attorney, appearing for the town and C. E.
Cohoon and P. O. Cassidy for Crouch. The case was tried to the
jury and after hearing all the evidence it only took them two
minutes to make up their minds that the town's case was too
trifling to waste any time over, and they consequently returned a
verdict of not guilty. The costs of the matter are considerable,
but the taxpayer can stand it.
-- The grand jury found an indictment against John F. Eaton, of
Lost Island township yesterday, charging him with having
committed the crime of larceny. It appears that some time ago, J.
B. Fellows, of the same township, stopped overnight at Eaton's
residence having quite a sum of money on his person. In the
morning when he awoke he discovered that his money was entirely
gone and he at once accused Eaton of taking the same. The
evidence against Eaton is merely circumstantial and it is a
question of whether it is of sufficient strength to convict him.
The case will be tried at the next term of the District Court.
-- One of the saddest affairs which ever happened in this county,
and which caused the deepest of sorrow for another family,
occurred in Walnut township between four and five o'clock on
Friday afternoon. Little Jimmy Jackman, aged ten years, son of
Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Jackman, took his pony and started for an
adjoining field for the purpose of driving a number of calves
home. Not returning, Mr. Jackman started in pursuit of the little
fellow and had not gone more than 100 rods in the direction of
the calves, when to his horror, he discovered his son and the
pony which he had been riding, lying dead, both having been
struck by lightning. In all probability, death was instantaneous
as the boy and the horse were lying side-by-side. The funeral
service took place at the Catholic church in Emmetsburg on
Sunday. Mr. Jackman and family have the sympathy of the entire
community in this their sad hour of bereavement.
DIED
Friday, November 6, at Spirit Lake, Iowa, of cancer of the
stomach, O. Buckwheat, aged about 50 years. His remains were
interred in the Catholic cemetery at this place last Monday.
In Walnut township, on Friday, November 6, 1885, James, son of
Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Jackman, aged 10 years.
Emmetsburg Democrat; Emmetsburg, Iowa, Wednesday, November
18, 1885
Iowa Centenarians
We occasionally read of persons in some other states who are 100
years old and of rare cases where a still greater age has been
reached. Iowa has hitherto laid no particular stress upon the age
of her citizens, which she now comes to the front with her list
of no less than twenty-five persons who have passed the 100 mile
point in the journey of life. Their names and ages have been
gathered from the census returns, and are as follows:
Elilah Woodfork, of Jordan township, Monona County, 100 years.
Homer Welch, Buffalo township, Buchanan county, 100 years.
Richard Tamas, Marion township, Linn county, 100 years.
Henry Davitt, Linn township, Warren county, 100 years.
Julia Kitty, Washing township, Jackson township, 100 years.
Anna Koor, Davenport, 100 years.
Thos. McCantry, Marengo township, Iowa county, 100 years.
Anubt Maharron, Point Creek township, Alamakee county, 100 years.
John O’Malley, Beaver township, Dalas county, 100 years.
Catherine Parson, Osage City, Mitchell Co, 100 years.
Margaret Bowman, Benton township, Des Moines county, 100 years.
Thos. Rine, Burilington, 101 years
John Grinswold, Riverside, Washington county, 101.
Dennis Porter, Keokuk, 102 years.
Ella Gorman, Grinnell, 102 years.
John Holland, Washington township, Van Buren county, 103 years.
Wm McMahon, Muscatine county, 102 years.
Christian Conrad, Coffin’s Grove township, Delaware county,
104 years.
Sacran Henry, State Center, Marshall Co., 105 years.
Jane Burrell, Elen township, Decatur Co., 106 years.
Mary Jordan, Grant township, Cass county, 108 years.
Jacob Rogers, Tippecanoe twp, Henry county, 107 years.
Mary Brennan, Ames, Story county, 112 years.
Jacob Helke, Holland, Grundy county, 121 years.
There are in this state thirty-five others whose ages range from
95 to 99 years.
IOWA CONDENSED
-- M. H. Davis, of Winterset, is said to be the tallest resident
of Iowa. His height is 6 feet and 10 inches.
-- At Boone, a few nights ago, in a coal shaft, a descending cage
fell on William Hull, and he was instantly killed.
-- In Peru Township, 9 miles from Dubuque, Lambert Henkles, a
saloon keeper of that city, blew his head off with a shotgun. He
was insane and imagined the sheriff was pursuing him, and shot
himself to escape supposed arrest.
-- Joseph Chrisback, a traveling salesman for Peter Weir, Council
Bluffs, was found hanging to a snow fence near Scranton. Deceased
owns a farm in Nebraska, was well-dressed, had $109 and a note in
his pocket, and whiskey was the cause, etc.
-- Charles Hassel, a young man of twenty-eight years, died in the
city jail at Iowa city, he having been locked up while helplessly
drunk. He is said to be from Chicago, where he has a wife, from
whom he separated some time ago. It is doubted that an overdose
of whiskey alone killed him.
-- Conrad Dreher, of Burlington went to the cemetery and shot
himself in the head inflicting wounds that proved fatal in a few
hours. No reason can be assigned for the act, as his family
relations were pleasant and his financial condition was
satisfactory. Mr. Dreher has been a resident of Burlington for
twenty years.
-- Oliver Waxen, living 6 miles east of Unionville, in Davis
County, was thrown from his horse recently, striking on his head.
He never regained consciousness and died. He was 19 years old.
His horse got frightened at the cars and threw him against the
fence. It happened about 4:00 p.m. and he lay until the night
before he was found.
-- Mrs. M. E. Bruner, wife of the proprietor of Mooreville mills,
while coming to Dysart with a heavy load of flour, fell from the
wagon and the wheels passing over her head, she was instantly
killed.
-- A 15-year-old son of James Swensen, a farmer living near
Dayton, Webster county, was instantly killed, while gathering hay
with a horse hay rake. The rake broke, throwing the boy
underneath thus inflicting fatal injuries.
-- Miss "Wavy" Anderson, aged 19, committed suicide by
drowning herself in the Iowa river at Iowa Falls.
HOME NEWS
-- J. P. Downs, who has resided in Nevada township for some
length of time, left one night last week for Lansing, Iowa, where
he intends teaching school during the winter. Mr. Downs as a
young man of ability and his services as teacher will be highly
appreciated.
-- Richard Buggy and family of Curlew, left for Waukon, Iowa, one
day this week. Mr. Buggy, who is a blacksmith by trade, and a
very good one too, will engage in business at Waukon.
-- The horse race between Frost’s mare and the Foy pony,
came off at the fairgrounds on Saturday, which resulted in the
Foy pony coming out winner. It is claimed that considerable money
passed hands.
-- Daniel E. Collins, of this county is now a full-fledged
veterinary surgeon in the true sense of the word. He has just
completed a thorough course in that department at the Ames
Agricultural College and received his "sheepskin.” As
Mr. Collins contends locating in Emmetsburg for the practice of
his profession, we can safely recommend him to the entire
community as a man fully competent to treat the most skillful
cases known to veterinary surgery. We call your attention to his
new advertisement in this issue of the DEMOCRAT.
DIED
In Emmetsburg, Iowa, on Tuesday, November 10, 1885, Mrs. Thomas
Laughlin, aged 70 years.
Mrs. Joanna Laughlin, wife of Thomas Laughlin, who died at her
home in Emmetsburg, Iowa, on last Thursday, November 10, was born
in county Tipperary, Ireland, about the year 1820, coming to this
country during the summer of 1850. She was married in the year
1857 at Elgin, Illinois, and came to Palo Alto county that same
year where she resided until her death; thus being a resident of
the county some twenty-eight years. She was known by most every
one in this vicinity, and was the possessor of a large number of
friends. She was catholic by faith, and as she led the life of a
christian, she was ready and willing to leave this world to meet
her Creator.
[Illinois Statewide Marriage Index lists a marriage between
Johanna Kelly and a Thomas Laughlin on 4/25.1857 in Kane Co, IL.
Elgin is in Kane Co.]
Emmetsburg Democrat; Emmetsburg, Iowa, Wednesday, November
25, 1885
IOWA CONDENSED
-- Clifford Walker, of Cantril, aged 17 years, was kicked in the
head by a horse, sustaining injuries for which he died.
-- Mollie McKee, aged 17, working for Mrs. DeLong at Eddyville,
was in the room with a friend and was fooling with a pistol. She
was warned not to do so, but persisted. She then pointed it at
her friend, saying laughingly, "Your money or your
life," and pulled the trigger. The pistol did not go off and
she playfully turned it to her own forehead and pulled again. The
pistol went off and the bullet was buried in her brain. She
uttered a loud despairing cry and fell bleeding to the floor. Her
parents reside at Coalfield, Iowa.
HOME NEWS
-- D. P. Roberts enjoyed a visit from his brother who resides in
Sioux Rapids, a few days last week.
-- John McNally and wife returned from Fort Dodge last Wednesday
evening, whither they had been for several days to procure
medical treatment for their little boy who has been quite ill for
some time.
-- when they have a funeral in Leadville, they end it with a
dance, says the Humboldt Independent, to which might be added
when they have a dance in Leadville they usually kill two or
three men.
-- Mrs. Ayers has been engaged to teach the West Bend school at
$40 per month.
-- Mr. and Mrs. Seth Thurber of Blairgowrie lost their oldest
daughter by inflammation of the brain very early Monday morning.
Funeral at the house this (Wednesday) afternoon at 2:00 o'clock.
BORN
To Mr. and Mrs. George D. McCarty on Saturday, November 14, 1885,
a son.
MARRIED
November 18 in Nevada township by the Rev. George E. Fuller, Mr.
John Pyper to Miss Vestaline Finn, both of Nevada township.
[transcribed by C.J.L., Nov, 2007]