Iowa Old Press
Emmetsburg Democrat
Emmetsburg, Palo Alto, Iowa
Wednesday, April 25, 1917
Is Hale and Hearty at 92
John McCormick, Palo Alto's First School Superintendent, Guest of
Honor at
Teachers' Reunion.
The reunion of the pioneers teachers and pupils of Palo Alto
county, which
was held at the K.C. hall Thursday evening, was not very largely
attended on
account of the inclemency of the weather. There was a downpour of
rain and
only a small number were able to come out. Among those present
from a
distance were John McCormick of Rodman, who was the honored guest
of the
evening, and J.J. and M.E. Mahan of Graettinger who attended the
first
school taught in Palo Alto county in Walnut township in 1861.
James P. White
was the teacher.
Mr. McCormick was 92 on Thursday and he was, it is needless to
say, glad to
meet his old friends in this city and from other places. His
eyesight is
rather poor and his hearing is not very good. Otherwise his
health is fair.
However, his mind is clear and when he speaks he is earnest and
interesting.
He related many of his pioneer experiences in Palo Alto and he
recited
several poems showing the valor of the Irish, the people of his
race, when
Brian Boru, Hugh O'Neill, "the Lion of the North," Art
McMurrogh, and other
Irish chieftains led their patriotic followers to victory. Mr.
McCormick
referred at some length to the career of one of his uncles who
fought
against Napoleon near Copenhagen. He was rewarded for his heroism
by the
British government. Mr. McCormick stated that after the fall of
Napoleon the
taxes imposed by the British were so heavy that the people of the
county of
Tyrone, Ireland ,where he lived, could hardly bear them. Mr.
McCormick can
hold his own with the average clergyman in quoting Scripture. He
has had a
long and an interesting career and has always enjoyed excellent
health. He
hopes to live to celebrate other birthdays but he says that when
God calls
him he will be willing to go.
Mr. McCormick came to the United States from Ireland in 1848. He
lived in
New Jersey for ten years. He started for Iowa in 1838. He reached
Iowa City
by rail and from that place came by team to Fort Dodge. From Fort
Dodge he
started on foot for West Bend, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John
McCormick, his
sister, and one or two of his brothers having located several
miles west of
the Carter home in 1856. Mr. McCormick said he found considerable
difficulty
in fording the Badger Creek this side of Fort Dodge because of
the swiftness
of the current. He claims that in early days a bull would swim
across the
stream and carry people on his back. The place was called Bull's
Ferry. The
parents of Mr. McCormick were living in a sod house. Long poles
were used
for joist and smaller poles were placed across them to hold up
the sods for
a roof. There was no lumber in the country at that time. The
grass was so
high that it was dangerous to turn out cows. They might wander
away and get
lost. Hence they were staked out. Mr. McCormick tells us that he
and his
brother batched it out for eight years. They had no floor in
their house.
They baked their own bread and ate their meals off a shingle
block. They
never had to call a doctor. Mr. McCormick claims that they had
plenty of
cream, an abundance of eggs and did not have to pay $4.00 per
bushel for
their potatoes. They did their baking in a Dutch oven. They
bought the first
mower owned in the county and they cut hay from 1861 to 1863 for
farmers in
West Bend and Walnut townships. They also owned the first hay
rake in the
county.
Mr. McCormick was chosen superintendent of schools in 1861. He
served two
years. He says his salary was $50 per year. There were two
districts in the
county. One was in Walnut township and one was a few miles from
the present
town of West Bend. Hence his duties were not very laborious. John
Mulroney,
who died at Fort Dodge a few months ago, was treasurer and
recorder and he
received $50 per year for his services. Mr. McCormick was also
coroner in
1861 and he was elected sheriff in 1867. He was treasurer of Fern
Valley
township for eighteen years. His brother Thomas was clerk of
court in 1859
and county judge in 1861.
During the evening remarks were made by C.S. Duncan, who taught
his first
term of school in our county near the Burns bridge in 1871, by
J.J. and M.E.
Mahan who attended the first school in the county in 1867 and by
J.C.
Bennett, who, in 1874, taught in a school house perhaps half a
mile north of
the east end of the Burns grade. Mrs. T.B. Walsh was one of his
pupils. In
1875 Mr. Bennett was chosen county superintendent. As he
remembers, his
salary was about $200 per year. L.H. Mayne and others spoke
briefly
concerning their school experiences.
It is needless to say that all who were present felt very
grateful to Mr.
Donlon for his thoughtfulness in arranging for the evening's
exercises. Had
the weather been pleasant there would have been a large
attendance.
ORGANIZE FOR NEW HOTEL
Officers Chosen nad Geo. B. McCARTY Lots To Be Taken Over Today
Last evening a meeting of those who have subscribed stock for
Emmetsburg' s
new $50,000 hotel, was held in the office of McCARTY &
McCARTY for the
purpose of organizing and preparing for business. There was a
large
attendance, fifty of our leading business and professional
citizens having
signed up to contribute towards the undertaking. The amount of
the
authorized capital stock is placed at $75,000, but of course this
amount
will not be needed. The following named parties were chosen
directors: Wm
E.G. SAUNDERS, M.F. KERWICK, S.C. IRVINE, E.J. HIGGINS, Martin
AUSLAND, W.I.
BRANAGAN and J.H. GODDEN. A meeting will be held today to elect a
president,
vice-president, secretary and treasurer. It is the intention of
the board to
take up the option for hte purchase of the three Geo. B. McCARTY
business
lots for $40,000. Plans will be secured within a short time and
the work of
construction will be commenced at as early a date as possible. It
is the
intention of the stockholders to put up a three-story building to
cover the
three lots and to make it strictly modern. If any who have not
been seen
desire to take stock in the enterprise, they will be given an
opportunity of
doing so.
Mrs. Nicholas MARTINI, Sr., Died Last Night.
Mrs. Nicholas MARTINI, Sr., died last night at the home of her
son, Nicholas
MARTINI, of Freedom township. About two weeks ago she arose
during the night
and fell on the floor. When picked up she was unconscious and one
of her
arms was broken. It is likely that she never recovered from the
effect of
the fall. The funeral will be held Friday morning. Services will
be
conducted at St. Thomas church. Further particulars will be given
next week.
Fine New Seed House for Emmetsburg
E.H. and E.B. SOPER, H.W. BEEBE, Robert McLAUGHLIN, H.M. HELGEN,
A.T. HORTON
and others are organizing a $25,000 stock company to build a two
story,
double front seed house in Emmetsburg. It will go up this summer.
We commend
them for their enterprise. Emmetsburg needs such an institution.
Enough
stock has been subscribed to insure the success of the
enterprise.
Dr. CRETZMEYER Denies Rumor.
During the past couple of months there have been rumors afloat to
the effect
that Dr. CRETZMEYER intended leaving Emmetsburg. The Doctor
informs us that
such reports are groundless. He enjoys a large practice and he
appreciates
it. He says he would not think of leaving our community. We are
glad to
learn that the reports are not true. Dr. CRETZMEYER is a capable,
experienced physician and surgeon and he stands high among our
citizens. The
Democrat wishes him continued success in his profession.
Milford Business Man Died Sunday
Edward MILLER, a harness dealer at Milford, died Sunday morning
of neuralgia
of the heart. He was ill, but a short time. The funeral was held
yesterday
and was very largely attended.
[transcribed by KJL, Augusut 2004]