Iowa Old Press

Palo Alto Reporter
Emmetsburg, Palo Alto, Iowa
Friday, Dec. 17, 1897

OBITUARY
COONAN.

    Died at the residence of her son, in Emmetsburg, Iowa, on the evening of Friday, Dec. 10, Catherine M. Coonan, aged 73 years, 3 months and 25 days.
    The deceased-whose maiden name was O'Connell-was born in Cork, Ireland. Came to the United States in 1845, and in 1847 was married in Boston to Martin Coonan. A few years late they came to Morris, Ill, where Mr. Coonan was engaged in railroad work. In 1859 they came to Palo Alto county and settled on what is now known as the Riverdale farm. Here they opened up a general farm and endured all the struggles and privations of a pioneer life. In a little while their farm became one of the landmarks of the valley of the West Des Moines. As the settlers began to come in, their homestead, with the adjacent river crossing, formed the nucleus by which the original town of Emmetsburg was built and the farm house for a time became the village tavern and was constantly filled to overflowing with restless, moving humanity of every type, and each guest whether prince or peasant received from Mrs. Coonan a cheerful welcome on arriving, the best that was going while he stayed, and a hearty god-speed on departure.
    The told town began to take on village form about 1870-71 and all of the first settlers for a longer or a shorter period made their homes at the Coonan hostelry, and as we have heard them talk over those crowding, pushing, bustling times, in the later years the good-heartedness of Mrs. Coonan has almost invariably been spoken of. When the town moved, Mr. and Mrs. Coonan sold the old home farm and moved to the "eighty" that now forms the B. & R. addition, east of Emmetsburg, where she lived till sometime after the death of her husband in June, 1886. Her later years have been spent with her son William, at whose home she died. To the last her hospitable disposition stayed with her, and she would never hear to a hungry man being sent from the door.
    During this period she has been a sufferer from rheumatism and to some extent had passed from the general view, but whenever you came in contact with her, the warm heart and the cheery, "How are you," was there; she loved to talk over the old times, and to enquire after the welfare of those of her old boarders who had moved away. She had a good word for each and all of them, and always saw the good points, rather than their failings. But her life's work is done, and we believe that her purpose was to do all the good she could.
    The estimation in which she was held, was somewhat shown by the large number of mourning friends who followed her mortal remains to the church, and to their last resting place in the cemetery.
    We knew her well- she was more than an ordinary woman in her sphere and we feel that many sad hearts will join us in bidding her this last good-by.

DICKINSON.
    Died, at his home, one-half mile north of Osgood, Ia., at 2 o'clock a.m., December 12, 1897, H.T. Dickinson, of sciatic rheumatism, aged 77 years, 11 months and 12 days.
    Henry Townsend Dickinson was born at Bath, Steuben county, N.Y., January 2nd, 1820. His mother died when he was four years old, and he being the second youngest of ten children, had to depend mainly on his own labor for his support, and his education was obtained by working for his board and walking three miles to a country school. In the spring of 1836 he went with a sister and her husband to Sahron, Washtena county, Mich., where he helped to clear off and subdue one of the finest farms in that section of country, and on October 2nd, 1844, he was married to Miss Elizabeth W. Wosburg [transcriber note: unsure of complete name..crease in paper here] of the same place, and they  settled on a small farm nearby. Owing to failing health they moved in the spring of 1854 to Decatur, Green county, Wis., where he again located on an unimproved farm. In March, 1868, they moved to Broadhead, in the same township, and he there engaged in the mercantile business until his health again failed. In 1882 they moved to Palo Alto county and settled on the farm which has since been their home, and where on October 2nd, 1894, they celebrated their golden wedding. He was converted in 1846 and united with the M.E. church and had ever since been a most faithful, zealous worker. He was a great reader and was thoroughly posted on all the current events of the country and also of the church of his choice. His faithful companion and their only child. Z.F. Dickinson, his wife and two sons, Harry and Albert, survive him. Father Dickinson was a man of great moral and religious strength of character. He had never uttered an oath, or, it is believed, willfully told a lie or intentionally wronged anyone; had never used tobacco or intoxicating liquors in any form, and had always contributed very largely, according to his means, for the support of the church, and died praying the Lord Jesus to come quickly and take him to Himself. Surely he could say with the Apostle Paul: " I have fought a good fight; I have finished my course; I have kept the faith." II Tim., 4-7.

Palo Alto Reporter
Emmetsburg, Palo Alto, Iowa
Friday, Dec. 24, 1897

-Mrs. W.J. Brown has been enjoying the fine sleighing of the past few days in the fine new cutter.
-Born to Mr. and Mrs. J.R. Reed, Monday, Dec. 20, 1897, an eleven and one half pound boy. All concerned are getting along nicely.
-The E.D.W. Club met with Mr .and Mrs. Consigny last Monday evening. A nice social evening was enjoyed by all. The next meeting will be with Mr .and Mrs. C.W. Hodgkinson.
-Kaufman brothers have put in a clothing house at Austin, Minn, which for the time being has been placed under charge of H.K. Flom of this city, who left on last Saturday to take charge of it.
-In an oratorical contest at Iowa college last Saturday, Dwight McCarty took third honors. This entitles him to the chairmanship of the state committee. Dwight's many Emmetsburg friends are rejoiced over his success.
-Monday afternoon Ned Hartshorn had a runaway. He was out driving and in turning a corner the cutter upset and spilled him out. The horse became scared and ran away, doing some damage to the cutter. Otherwise nothing was hurt.
-Miss Nellie Shadbolt entertained about twenty of her young companions at her home Friday evening of last week. The young people were entertained in a royal manner, and went home feeling that Miss Nellie made a charming hostess.
-Mrs. and Mrs. A.A. Wells of Osgood are enjoying a visit from their daughters, Mrs. Jennie Cady of Iowa Falls, and Mrs C.N. Cook of Burt. The Guests will remain a week.
-The free cooking exhibit at Dealy & Cos. store, during the first three days of the week was quite a success and Mrs. Clark is certainly an adept in the culinary art, and her pies, puddings and cake are very toothsome. They are made from a mince meat which is prepared for that purpose. The mince meat retails at ten cents a package, and will make two large pies.
-J.F. Neary has disposed of his stock of goods to a gentleman from Marothon this state. He puts in his goods at cost, and takes it in exchange a farm in Vernon township at a certain price per acre. Whatever the difference in the invoiced price of the goods and the farm, Mr. Neary will continue to sell the goods for some little time, and will then remove them to some other place.
-W.E. Wilson returned from Des Moines Wednesday evening. He will move with his family to Oregon in the spring.-- Free Press.
-A. Younie will start for Loveland, Colorado, on Monday, where he will visit his two daughters and their families. He will be gone about two weeks, and when he returns will bring Mrs. Y. with him.-- West Bend Journal.
-J.W. Hanson has let the contract for delivering ten cords of rock on his block in the southeast part of the city and will, we understand, erect a fine residence as soon as work can be commenced in the spring. It is an old saying that there is no great loss without some small gain, and while Palo Alto Co has lost a most efficient sheriff, Ruthven will gain a most welcome citizen.-- Free Press.

-Simon Easthouse of Vernon township, loaded a car with his farm machinery and household goods, Monday. He has rented his farm in Vernon and removed to Cambridge, Story county. Mr. Easthouse and family will be missed by their friends in Vernon.
-Next Sunday the first quarterly meeting of the conference year of the M.E. church will be held. Baptismal rites and the holy communion will be observed in the morning, and in the evening the presiding elder, Rev. D. M. Yetter, will be present and deliver the discourse.
-The Algona school board has two very sensible rules. One is that no treating scholars to candy, cakes, etc. on Thanksgiving and Christmas will be allowed. The second prohibits the taking of collections for any purpose, unless first sanctioned by the president of the school board. Every school should adopt similar rules.
-Mr.and Mrs. W.D. Ferguson are rejoicing over a fine 14 pound boy, that came to their house, Sunday morning, December 19, 1897. Since then they have been the recipients of the congratulations of their many friends. This is their first child, hence Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson are very proud of it.
-Monday John Keating, a young man of about 18 years of age, who resides in Great Oak township, had an operation performed for necrosis. Dr. Powers performed it, and Keating refused to be placed under the influence of cloroform, and sat and watched the doctor while he cut open the flesh and scraped the bone. It took some little time to perform the operation and Keating certainly displayed much grit for the operation must have been very painful.
-At the regular meeting of Henry Dillon, G.A.R. post, held Monday evening, the following officers were elected: Commander, E.B. Soper; sen. vice-commander, J.S. Atkinson; jun. vice-commander, A.L. Ormsby; adjutant LeRoy Grout; quartermaster, D. O'Halloran; surgeon, N.E. Maxon; chaplain, C.S. Duncan; officer of day, J.T. Brunemer; and officer of guard, J.F. Keeler. C. S. Duncan was elected delegate to attend the next state G.A.R. encampment, and J.T. Brunemer, alternate. The post was also inspected by J.R. Phoenix, county G.A.R. inspector from Ruthven.
-The revival meetings at the Root school house, closed Friday evening of last week. The meetings resulted in much good, as twelve publicly confessed Christ, and started in the Christian life, and others who were lukewarm in the cause, buckled on the armor anew, and are determined henceforth to be found working in their Master's vineyard. Rev. Kennedy certainly deserves praise for his untiring zeal and faith, for it was this that bought about the success of the meetings. The addition of the new members will add greatly to the strength of the church in the community and its influences for good will be largely augmented.
- George Herley has grown tired of talking, and so has put a talking machine in his drug store. It is called a "gramaphone" and is a new invention. The impressions of the voice has been taken by some process on a hard rubber disk, and the sound is reproduced by a soft steel needle, placed loosely on this revolving disk. One of the disks will last a long while, and by renewing the needles the machine will be good to talk for several years. He intends to raffle it off as soon as he has disposed of the chances on it. The person who is lucky enough to get it will have a pleasing and amusing instrument, with which to entertain his friends.

Wanted, For Sale, Etc.
-----------------------
Cash paid for hides and furs at
M.F. Kerwick's.

When in need of dry, hard wood,
sawed in stove length, call at Darrah's.

Dr. Preston, eye, ear, nose and
throat specialist, in consultation at
Emmetsburg, Wednesday, Dec. 29.

The Farmers' Savings Bank are now
prepared to make 6 per cent farm loans.

Notwithstanding the large sale I
Made on "Majestic Steel Ranges"
during my exhibit, (and return thanks
to those who attended the same,) I
have ordered another half car load of
ranges, and will supply the wants of
those who have not already bought of
me.     M.F. Kerwick.

Wanted.
A good competent girl for general
housework; good pay and steady place.
Mrs. E.S. ORMSBY.

For Sale.
Choice Poland China hogs, also
Plymouth Rock chickens.
     F.C. WOOD, Rodman, Ia.

E.O. Hanson,
Physician and Surgeon,
Depew, Ia.
Night Calls Promptly Attended to.

[Submitted by C.J.L. Apr 2004]