Iowa Old Press
Palo Alto Reporter
Emmetsburg, Palo Alto, Iowa
Friday, Dec. 4, 1896

Accidentally Shot.
    Last Saturday a sad accident took place a few miles from Rodman by which C. McCain lost his life. He was engaged by M.L. Fritz to help press some hay and was on his way to the press when the accident occurred. McCain started ???? in advance of the others and thinking he might run across some game while going out, he took his gun along. The balance of the crowd coming to where they were to work found McCain missing, and suspecting something wrong, Mr. David Sloan went in search of him. He soon came to where McCain had crawled through the wire fence and just beyond he came upon a pool of blood on the ground and close by lay the dead body of McCain. It is supposed that while crawling through the fence the fun was accidentally discharged, the contents entering his body close to the heart. Death must have come in a very few minutes, and it is doubtless from the nature of the wound who whether he hardly realized what had hurt him. The funeral took place Monday. Mr. McCain was a son-in-law of David Sloan and leaves a wife and two children to mourn his untimely end.

- Speaking of the monument lately erected by Messrs. Mugan & Fay, of this city, at the grave of Mr. P. Joyce, the Chicago Reporter, a journal devoted to the marble trade says: "The monument is a sarcophogus design and the die is the largest block of marble in Palo Alto Co., or within a radius of 200 miles of the place. Mr. Joyce was one of the land-marks of northern Iowa and has been connected with the business and social affairs of Emmetsburg since 1874. He has served as mayor, member of the city council and several offices of trust. The large three story brick building cor. Main and Broadway is a sample of the enterprise with which he was filled."

Obituary
    Miss Mazie E. Roberts, the notice of whose death appeared in last weeks issue of the REPORTER, was born in Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, May 1st, 1874, consequently she had passed her 22nd year a few months when she was called upon to enter into her eternal rest. She was the youngest child of Mr. and Mrs. D.P. Roberts, and as such has been the sunshine and comfort of their declining years. She was of a bright, buoyant nature and always had a smile and a word of cheer for all. This was especially true of her home life and it mattered not what the state of her own feelings were she always greeted her parents with a bright smile and words of love. She came to Emmetsburg with her parents in 1886 and almost her entire life has been spent among the young people of this city; with them she was a favorite and her taking away so suddenly from among them was deeply felt. Mazie was a consistent member of the Episcopal church of this city and took an active part in the young people society of the church. She was president of the order of the Daughters of the King and a member of the young people's Guild. The funeral services took place at the Episcopal church Saturday morning, Nov. 28, at 10:30 o'clock being conducted by Rev. Dr. Jackson, rector of the church. The floral offerings were very fine and came as the last tribute of love from her many friends. After the church services were over the funeral procession slowly wended its way to Evergreen cemetery where the interment took place.

The Death of Thomas Smith.
    Thomas Smith died at his residence in this city Saturday morning, Nov. 28th at 4:20 o'clock. It will be remembered that three weeks previous to his demise he was working at his trade on a barn a few miles north of town and fell from the scaffolding to the ground and fractured one of the vertebrae of his back. His entire body below the seat of injury was completely paralyzed and although medical skill did all that could be done, it was realized that his case was hopeless from the beginning.
    Mr. Smith was born in Iroquois County, Ill., June 5th, 1861, and passed his boyhood days in this vicinity. On the 31st day of December, 1881, he was united in marriage to Miss Jerusha A. Morris at Earl Park, Indiana, and for some time afterward lived at or near Sheldon, Ill. Here he was converted and united with the M.E. church of that place in Feb. 1887. In March, 1887, he left Sheldon and came to Emmetsburg, where he continued to reside until death called him hence. During nearly ten years residence in this city Mr. Smith always conducted himself so as to win  the respect of his fellow citizens. He was honest, industrious and always endeavored to make the best of life. He was patient and persevering and always took a hopeful view of everything. This was exemplified perhaps more than at any other time during the three weeks that elapsed from the time he was hurt until his death. He was hopeful to the last and bore his pain patiently. He seemed to be worried more over his family than himself. One day his children came home crying, having heard on the street, that their father was dying. He learned the cause of their grief and had the writer called and asked that he would tell the public that he was going to get well. Although desiring to live he was not afraid to go, and expressed himself as willing to trust in his Master at all times.
    The funeral services took place in the Methodist church Sunday at 1:30 o'clock. The services being conducted by Rev. Bagnell. The funeral was largely attended, the I.O.O.F. Lodge of which he was a member, turned out in a body and paid their last tribute of respect to their deceased brother. They also marched in a body to the grave yard where the last rites of the living were paid to the dead.
    Mr. Smith's death is particularly sad in that he leaves a wife and five small children, ranging in age from eleven to four years of age to mourn the loss of a kind husband and father. He also leaves a father and mother and several brothers and sisters.
    Mr. Smith had his life insured in the I.O.O.F. Annuity of Des Moines, and the term of his insurance are such that his wife will draw fifty dollars per month for forty-four months or 2,200 dollars in all. This will be a big help to his family.

Palo Alto Reporter
Emmetsburg, Palo Alto, Iowa
Friday, Dec. 25, 1896

- William L. Collins was taken before the insane commissioners, Monday, and declared to be of unsound mind. The same evening Sheriff Hanson and Will Hester started with him for Independence to place him in the asylum, when at Waterloo he broke away from them and ran as fast as he could with both men after him. The direction he ran was toward the river and as it was dark the first thing that they know they were on the bank of the river. They were running so fast that they could not stop and all three took a leap of ten foot to the ice below. Collins landed safe and sound and immediately picked himself up and started across the ice with Sheriff Hanson who had also escaped without serious injury close after him. Hester was no so fortunate as he struck on a fence that had been placed at the edge of the water and toppling over struck with his face on the ice below. He was very badly bruised and it will be some time before he gets over the shaking up he got. Hanson captured Collins after he had run eight or ten rods and he was just on time for a short distance ahead the river was open and Collins was headed straight for it. Collins was taken the balance of the journey without any trouble.

-Miss Edith Adron, of Cherokee, will sing in the M.E. church next Sunday morning and evening. Miss Adron is a talented musician and fine singer and for several years has sang in the leading church of Sioux City.

- The Rock Island Railroad Company has virtually told its employes that no drinking will be allowed while in its service. In its new book of instructions to the men it says: "Employes found intoxicated or known to be habitual users of liquor, will be discharged from the service." They are also prohibited from frequenting gambling houses or using opium or other narcotics under penalty of losing their positions. These instructions apply to section hands as well as train dispatchers.

-Born to Mr. and Mrs. E. Apland, of Vernon township, on December 18th, a son. The REPORTER extends its congratulations.
-Mr. and Mrs. E.B. Westfalls of Independence township, are rejoicing over a little boy that came to live with them December 18, 1896.
-Mr. Emil Brullman and Miss Lena Habegger, both of West Bend, were united in marriage last Thursday by Justice Crose of this city.
-The forty dollar fur coat, raffled off at Kaufman Brothers, last Friday night, was won by H.C. Shadbolt. Seventeen was the lucky number that won it.
-Cards are out announcing the approaching nuptials of Mr. O.W. Hodgkinson and Miss Mabel Bateman, both of this city. This happy event will take place in the M.E. church, Wednesday evening, December 30th, 1896.
-Murphy, the thug who knocked down Joel Campbell at Ayrshire a couple of weeks ago, without provocation, is still at large, although a reward has been offered for his arrest. Mr. Campbell is regaining his strength and will soon be able to be out again.
-The Foresters of St. Charles Court at their annual meeting held last week selected the following officers for the ensuing year. Chief Ranger, C.J. Berger; Vice-Chief Ranger, John J. Steil; Cor. Sec., John Moncrief; Financial Sec., Thomas O'Conner; Treas., A.J. Fay; Senior Conductor, J.J. Deneen; Junior Conductor, W.P. Kane; Sentinel, John McDonald and Trustees, W.J. O'Brien, N.M. Flannagan and John McCarty.
-The officers of the Masonic Lodge R.A.M. were installed at their meeting Thursday night, December 17th, 1896, for the ensuing year. They are as follows: M.E.H., J.C. Davies; M.E.R., Matthew Grier; M.E.S., F.S. Appleman; C.C.H., P.O. Refsell; P.S., H.C. Shadbolt; R.A.C., T.E. Burt; G.M. 3rd vail, E. Burt; G.M. 2d vail, J.L. Walker; G.M. 1st vail; H.K. Flom; treasurer, J.H. Carmichael and secretary, W.T. Jackson.

-The marriage of J.T. Lancaster of Sioux City and Miss Hilma S. Eckland, of Curlew, took place in the Baptist parsonage at Rutland, Ia., Wednesday evening, December 16th, at 7:30 o'clock. The ceremony was performed by Rev. F.E. Day in the presence of forty invited guests. After the ceremony an elegant wedding supper was served by Rev. and Mrs. Day who entertained the bridal party and the guests invited in honor of the occasion, in a royal manner. The happy couple were the recipients of many useful and beautiful presents. Mr. and Mrs. Lancaster will make their home in Sioux City. The REPORTER joins their many Palo Alto friends in wishing the young couple a happy and prosperous married life.

Personal.
    Miss Maude Bliven arrived home from Cornell College Saturday afternoon to spend the holidays.
    C.R.H. Duncan came in from Inwood, Saturday night, to spend his two weeks' vacation at home.
    Little Joe Peddie has been very sick with with the pneumonia but at this writing he is reported to be getting better.
    Miss Vesta Hinkley has arrived home from Rockford where she has been attending school.
    Harry Beach came down from Sioux Falls Tuesday to attend the nuptials of his sister Edith and to spend Christmas.
    A.H. Kellar and wife and Lowell went to Chicago, Wednesday evening, to spend Christmas with relative in that city.
    P. Sullivan of Fargo, South Dakota, visited Tuesday with John Dooley. He is prominent in railroad circles of the northwest.
    S.R. Speer of West Vernon, was in Emmetsburg Wednesday for the first time in nearly two months. He has just recovered from a long siege of the typhoid fever.
    Mrs. Stoneman of St. Paul is spending the holidays with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. McCune at their home in Ruthven.

A Peculiar Accident.
    A peculiar accident took place at the residence of Dr. Jackson, Wednesday evening. The drum of the cooking stove which was in one of the rooms upstairs burst with a report like a small cannon and tearing the drum and stove pipe into pieces and also knocking off some of the plastering of the room. Mrs. Jackson was getting supper at the stove by the force of the explosion and her hair on one side of her head slightly singed by the blaze which shot from the stove. Of course the explosion was caused by accumulated gas but just why gas should accumulate in the drum is hard to determine.

  [C.J.L. Feb.& Oct 2004]