Iowa Old Press

Emmetsburg Democrat
Emmetsburg, Palo Alto co. Iowa
December 5, 1917

Local News
-Tony Goeders of Algona was a visitor in this city Tuesday.
-L.W. Gunn was a visitor at Spencer Tuesday between trains.
-Rev. S.C. Sande of Graettinger was a visitor in this city Saturday.
-H.M. Peck of West Bend was an Emmetsburg visitor Tuesday.
-Elmer Broaten of Mason City was a Thanksgiving guest of friends in this city.
-Muriss Walker arrived Monday from Mt. Vernon, Iowa, for a visit with relatives.
-Supervisor Deneen was on the sick list the last of the week but is able to be about again.
-Mrs. Edward Postel was a passenger to Independence, Iowa, Tuesday for a visit with relatives.
-Robert Gossman of Rock Rapids enjoyed Thanksgiving with his mother, Mrs. M. Gossman, in this city.
-Misses Marion and Josephine Walsh and Mayme Sullivan spent Thanksgiving with friends at Mason City.
-R.H. Gifford and daughter returned from Beloit, Wisconsin, after a visit with relatives at that place.
-Mrs. Andrew Gappa came from Whittemore Friday, and spent the day with her mother, Mrs. George Steil, in this city.
-Mrs. H.J. Pelton arrived from Fredericksburg Tuesday of last week for a visit with his [sic] son, S.H. Pelton, and family.
-Mrs. Arthur Whistler and daughter, Miss Violet, went to Rockwell City, Iowa, for a visit with relatives.
-Mrs. M.F. Gordon of Britt was in Emmetsburg the last of the week visiting her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Fitzpatrick.
-A marriage license was issued to Mr. Oscar A. Osmondson and Miss Regina M. Kittleson of Graettinger on Friday, November 30.
-J.M. Fletcher, who spent the past summer in this city, left for Rock Island, Illinois, where he will remain during the winter.
-Thomas Jennings came from Camp Dodge Sunday for a short visit with his family and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.P. Jennings, of this city.
-Mrs. Thomas O'Connor has been at Colman, S.D., since Wednesday. Her sons, Leo and Charles, and her daughter, Mrs. Hodgkin, reside at that place.
-The Burnette Motor company sold William Gorensen, John Burns, Sherlock Bros., John Spolum, W.O. Smith and L.C. Larson new ford cars during the past two weeks, and the Emmetsburg Auto company supplied Sloan & Weldinger of West Bend, M.J. Mann of Burt and the Folk Motor company of Titonka with Dodge touring autos.
-E.J. Ruddy of Mallard was in town yesterday. He thinks Mallard is the best town of its size on the Palo Alto map. He is manager of the Farmers' Elevator company at that place. Mr. Ruddy was recently called to eastern Nebraska to attend the funeral of his father, who died at the age of eighty-two. The old gentleman was one of the pioneers of that section of the state.
-John Carmody came from Camp Funston the last of the week to visit his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Carmody, of this city. He returned to camp Sunday evening. Mr. Carmody left Emmetsburg some time ago and went to Montana where he secured a homestead. Later he sold it and moved to Chicago where he enlisted last September. He is a large, fine looking young man and will doubtless make a hardy, heroic soldier.

Thanksgiving Day Tragedy
West Liberty - While preparing Thanksgiving dinner for her four children, Mrs. Albert Dunlap was shot and killed by her husband. Dunlap then committed suicide. Unknown to his family, Dunlap secreted himself in the cellar of the residence about 9:30 that morning. His wife went to the cellar to get some coal and as she reached the top of the stairs with the coal Dunlap shot. She fell backward down the stairs, where Dunlap again shot her twice. He then shot himelf in the head.

In a drunken frenzy, Dunlap drove his wife from home several weeks ago. He was sentenced to thirty days in the county jail on charges of assault and battery brought by his wife. While in jail, he wrote to his wife, asking that she send his revolver to him. This was the weapon used by him.

Iowans Given Commissions
At the graduation exercises of the officers' training school at Fort Monroe, the following men from Iowa were given commissions:
Captains coast artillery - Levy S. Morrill, Fort Madison & Frank Richards, State Center

First lieutenants, coast artillery - William D. Gordon, Sioux City; Jesse W. Benson, Gladbrook & Sutherland C. Dowd, Cedar Rapids.

Second lieutenants, coast artillery - Harold E. Adams, Cedar Rapids; Harold S. Foster, Cedar Rapids; Harold E. Pride, Manchester; Frank A. Calmus, Marshalltown; Mont C. Noble, Nassau; Clarence L. Gleason, Ames; Grant W. Venell, Centerville; Glenn H. Clemme, Belmond; James W.H. Dean, Hamburg & Harry W. Lawrence, Sioux City.

Second lieutenant, infantry - David W. Schmidt, Cedar Falls

First lieutenants, ordnance - Frank A. Mack, Storm Lake; Frank B. Pearce, Hampton & Valentine V. Evy, Scotch Grove.

Second lieutenant, signal corps - Harry K. Davis, Manchester.

Slackers Indicted
Des Moines - United States federal court has launched its predicted "drive" upon slackers. In the first report of the federal grand jury two out of three indictments returned were against men who failed to register for the selective draft. The "slacker" suspects are John Jenkins of Valley Junction and John Muneo of Davenport.

Society Changes Name
Davenport - At a meeting of the Iowa Potato and Truck Growers' association recently the name was changed to Iowa Vegetable Growers' association. Officers elected: F.F. Schutter, Pleasant Valley, president; Warren E. Beebe, Weaver, vice president; C.L. Fitch, Ames, secretary & D. Culver, Clear Lake, treasurer.

Burlington Murder Confession
Burlington - Mystery surrounding the death of Albert McKinney, which occurred recently, from a knife wound in the back, apparently was cleared, the police say, when the mother, Mrs. Oney McKinney, said a younger son, Joe, who has been in jail as a suspect, killed his brother in an altercation. The police claim Joe later made a confession, stating he killed his brother in self-defense. The mother and son had testified at the inquest that death was accidental by falling while carrying a butcher knife from the barn.

Iowan Makes Record Flight
Dubuque - Maj. Maurice Connolly of Dubuque, former congressman from the third Iowa district, now adjutant of the aviation field at Chanute, Ill., has established a new flying record. In company with H.W. Blakeley he ascended two miles in eleven minutes. While this is no unusual reord for European planes, it is an event on the training firelds in this country, and with the type of airplane being used by Major Connolly.

Children Burn to Death
Bloomfield - While playing with matches in a barn loft here, two children ignited the hay, were cut off from escape, and burned alive. The charred bodies were recovered several hours later. The victims were Homer Christy, four-year-old son of Ephraim Christy, and Mary Hancock, five-year-old daughter of Arthur Hancock, who resides at Laddsdale. The fire occurred in the Christy barn.

Former State Treasurer Succumbs
Des Moines - Gilbert S. Gilbertson, one of the best known business men of Iowa, died at the Iowa Lutheran hospital following a stroke of paralysis recently. Mr. Gilbertson was 54 years old. He had severed m ost of his active business connections here and for some time past he and his wife have been living in California hoping to benefit his health. He was recently brought back to Des Moines for medical attention.

Mr. Gilbertson was for three terms state treasurer of Iowa, was one of the leading figures in banking circles and was prominently connected with the republican party. He had been president of the Iowa Trust and Savings bank, the Inter-State Business Men's Accidental association and the Northwestern Land and Colonization company.

His political career was begun as clerk of the District Court of Winnebago county in 1889, which position he held for eight years. In 1896 he was elected state senator from the forty-first district. He was well known all over the state. He served as city treasurer of Forest City for ten years and was chairman of the Winnebago county republican central committee for nine years.

He was married in 1899 to Miss Belle D. Whitney. He is survived by his wife and two daughters, Mrs. E. Chase West and Mrs. Earl H. Scripps, both of Des Moines.

[transcribed by S.F., June 2010]

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Emmetsburg Democrat
Emmetsburg, Palo Alto, Iowa
Wednesday, December 19, 1917

RAY J. NALLY MARRIED
The Bride Is Miss Anna Sheehan, of South Kearsaige, Michigan
Mr. and Mrs. Ray J. Nally who were married a week ago at the Sacred Heart church, have returned from a honeymoon trip to Duluth and will take up their residence at 146 Osceola street, Larium. Mrs. Nally formerly was Miss Anna Sheehan, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John
Sheehan of South Kearsage. The groom's name home is at Emmetsburg, Iowa. The wedding ceremony at Sacred Heart was a very pretty one. The bride, becomingly attired in a gown of old rose silk with a picture hat to match, was attended by Miss Margaret Sheehan who wore a gown of old gold, also with a picture hat to match. The groomsman was Sherman Deenen of Emmetsburg, an old schoolmate. Mr. Nally represents the Crotty company of Minneapolis in this district and expects to continue his headquarters in the copper country, Larium, Michigan, Gazette. The groom is the oldest son of Mr. and Mrs. P.J. Nally of this city. He is a genial, courteous, deserving, young man. The news of his marriage will be learned with surprise by his numerous local friends. The Democrat wishes the happy couple health and happiness.

[transcribed by KJL, August 2004]

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Ruthven Free Press
Ruthven, Palo Alto, Iowa
Dec 19, 1917

PUBLIC SALE DATES
Friday, Dec. 21, Mrs. Engar Larson will hold a general farm sale 5 miles east and 1 north of Ruthven and 4 miles south of Lost Island Creamery.
Friday, Jan. 18 - The Wm. Reardon estate will hold a closing out sale on their farm 3 miles west and six miles south of Ruthven.

Is at Ft. Logan.
Mrs. C.H. Slagle received a letter from her brother, Charles Joynt, the first of the week in which he tells of his first days of life at Ft. Logan. He says that when he arrived at the fort, there were between two and three thousand volunteers lined up waiting to be examined. There was so many that they could not furnish sleeping quarters for them all and about one thousand of them including himself had to sleep in the basement of the Union Depot, on a cement floor, with straw as a bed. He says the weather is still quite warm there and one does not need an overcoat.
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J.E. Powers, who recently wrote bogus checks in Estherville to the amount of $500 was arrested last week at Lead, S.D. He was afterwards found to be a deserter from the U.S. Navy.

A young man named George Williams took in some of the West Bend merchants one day last week by the forged check method. He got away with $20 and is still going.

[transcribed by KJL, August 2004]

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Ruthven Free Press
Ruthven, Palo Alto, Iowa
Dec 26, 1917

OUR ROLL OF HONOR
Below we give the addresses of the boys from this vicinity who have given their services to Uncle Sam. They are sacrificing their careers and risking their lives to make this a better world for us to live in. Let us show our appreciation of this noble sacrifice. Here you have their addresses. Write to them, send them books and magazines, and help them bear their burdens that they have so willingly shouldered. The Free Press will be sent free of charge to every American soldier from this district, volunteer or drafted, for the duration of the war. This list will be a permanent fixture upon our front page and will serve to remind you from week to week of the ones to whom you owe an everlasting debt. If you learn of a change of address or any of the boys or know of any name missing from this list, please notify us.

ERNEST BALE
Co. B. 2nd Engineers, American Expeditionary Force, Paris, France.
HARLAN WAGNER
Truck Co, 50, Camp Johnston Fla.
PETER MILES
Co. L. 2nd Inft., Camp Dodge.
HAROLD HOLMGREN
Musician, USS Boxer, Newport, R.I.
ARNETT BRADY
Co. D. 29th Inft., Ft. Douglas Sta., Utah
FRANCIS CARRIGAN
Co. ?, Artillery Regiment, U.S.M.C., Quantico, Va.
Crp. CHARLES WALTERS
149? Aerial Sqd, W. Wright Field, Fairfield
S.T. SAMPSON
?9? Aerial Sqd, Carp Div, Morrison, Va.
Crp. S.E. NELSON
??? Co, 164 Dpt Brg. co Fonston, Kan.
HAROLD GAARD
M.O.T.C. Camp Greenleaf; Everult cp, Ft. Oglethrpe, Ga.
ORTON E. CHURCH
Co 58 Marine Blgs, Paris Island, S. Carolina
IRVIN GAARD
Co. A, 2nd Engineers, American Expeditionary Forces, Paris, France
A?Y KING
109 Am. Train Truck Co, Cr??ty, N.M.
ALFRED GATES
USS Camden, Care PM, New York, NY
BILL BURTON
H.Q. 147, F. Art, 47 Div, Camp Merr??, Tenaply, N.J.
Sgt RAYMOND DODGE
Bat D 17, Field Artillery, Camp Bob???, Sparta, Wis.
Sgt REX HUBBARD
Camp Cody, Deming, N.M., camp Q.M.
1st Lieut. A.B. WIGDAHL
Med. Detch 352 Inf. Reg, Camp Dodge
Will ROSACKER
Cp Dodge, ???, 58th Div, Mid M Police
HARVEY PAULSON
Ft. Riley, Kan, Pro Co A, No 1, MOTC
JOHN M MILLER
Co 2 MP, 54 In, Camp Dodge, Iowa

Address at - Camp Dodge, 350th Inft, Co F - crp Will Davis, Crp J.L. Minor
Camp Pike, Ark, Crp Paul Grozkruger, Co E, 347 Inft. Paul Barringer, Co F, 347 Inft. Carl Iverson, Co F, 347 Inft. Henry Kassel, Co C, 312 Engineers. Martin A. Johnson 347 Inft, Co G.
Fred Dodge, Deceased.

MRS. ALISON BAXTER
Mrs. Alison Baxter was quite suddenly called from our midst last week. She was on a case at the home of Mr. North, near Cylinder, and Friday evening became quite ill. Her children, J.T. Baxter and Mrs. Gust Linden of this vicinity were called and were at her bedside when she passed away on Monday morning, Dec. 17 at 8:36. Heart failure is given as the cause of her death. The remains were brought to the home of the deceased in this city on Monday evening. Funeral services were held from the Methodist church on Wednesday. Rev. Wilkerson conducted the funeral services.
    Miss Alison McDonald was born in Glasgow, Scotland, on December 26, 1869. She grew to young womanhood in this country and received her education there. When a child she became affiliated with the Free church of Scotland and was a faithful christian and tireless church worker. On Feb. 27, 1885, she was united in marriage to Thomas Baxter in Galabreis, Scotland. Soon after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Baxter immigrated to America and came directly to Palo Alto county and settled on a farm a short distance from Ruthven. They farmed for several years, later moving to Ruthven where about twelve years ago Mr. Baxter died. In late years Mrs. Baxter has taken up nursing and her patience, friendliness and solicitude for others made her an expert in this line. She was known through her work all over this section, and her friends were numerous in every locality in which she worked. She was gentle, kind and loving, always forwarding others interests in preference to her own, and ever providing for and working for the betterment of others. By her own family will she be most missed- fortunate people have a mother such as she was and her death will long be felt by her children. Soon after coming to this country she affiliated herself with the M.E. Church and every moment of her existence was blessed with Christian thought and intent. She leaves to mourn her loss, besides her two children, one sister and three brothers. The Free Press extends sincere sympathy to the bereaved relatives.

LOCAL AND PERSONAL

    - Mrs. Arthur Olson left Saturday for her home at Platte, S. Dak. She had been visiting at Nefzgers.
    - Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Church left Friday for their new home at Cumberland, Wis.
    -Miss Bernice Modisett left Saturday for Sibley to spend Christmas at the home of her sister.
    - Arnold Stanton came in from Lake Park Saturday to spend Christmas at home.
    - Mrs. W.H. Manthe of Minneapolis is here visiting at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. McNary.
    - D.E. Gates and son Delbert spent Christmas day at the home of his daughter, Mrs. B.F. Combes in Cylinder.
    - Martina McNary came in from Huntley, Minn, where she is teaching school, Saturday to spend the Christmas vacation with her parents.
    - Miss Alice O'Brien was on her way home to Ayrshire Monday. She has been teaching at Waukon.
    -Mrs. Nora Crowley and daughter, Miss Jennie, arrived from Madison, Wis., the last of the week to spend Christmas at the T.J.Brennan home.
    - Arthur Berg came up from Ames Thursday to spend the Holiday vacation at the home of his parents in this city.
    - Mrs. T.L. Jackson and two sons went to Mason City Friday to visit at the home of her sister and also at the Fred Miller home.
    - James Washington came up from Omaha last week to spend the Holiday season at the home of his parents.
    - Carl and Selmer Wigdahl returned Sunday from Forest City where Carl is attending school, to spend the Christmas vacation at home.
    - Mrs. Beatrice Anderson came from Sanborn Sunday to spend Christmas with her mother, Mrs. A.C. Christiansen.
    - Miss Mable Hughes came in Saturday from McCalisburg where she is teaching, to spend the Christmas vacation.
    - Mrs. Bennett MacLean, a former school mate of the late Mrs. Alice Baxter's in Scotland, was in attendance at the latter's funeral here last Wednesday. Mrs. MacLean now lives in Estherville.
    - Mrs. F.E. Johnson and daughter, Francis, of Ruby, Alaska, who had been visiting for a week at the J.H. Anderson home in this city, left Monday morning for Ft. Dodge for a further visit with relatives.
    - Mr. and Mrs. O.L. Root left the first of the week to spend the Holidays with their daughter, Mrs. S.T. Bruyn, in Minneapolis. From there they will go to Vinton for a visit with their daughter, Mrs. J.F. Sanders. They also expect to visit their son, O.S. Root in Des Moines before returning.
    - Orton E. Church went to Chicago a few weeks ago and where enlisted in the Marine Corps, "the Bloody 58th" which is said to be the best of the one hundred companies stationed at Paris Island, S. Carolina. Orton passed a perfect examination.
    - Mrs. Eggleston and grandson Edward Petree came in from Iowa city Friday to spend Christmas at home.
    - Miss Luelle Berg came in from Madison, Wis., Friday to spend the Holiday season at the home of her parents.
    - Wayne and Harold Toland left last Saturday for Cedar Falls where they will spend Christmas with relatives and friends.
    - Sgt. Rex Hubbard of Camp Cody, N.M. who has received a ten day furlough and is expected home this evening for a visit at the home of mother, Mr. E.G. Cope.

Mrs. Asloug Thoreson
    Mrs. Asloug Thoreson passed away Friday, Dec. 14, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. L.H. Sporan of this city. Mrs. Thoreson was nearly eighty years of age. She has been ailing for many years and has been confined to her bed for the past three and a half years. The funeral services were held from the Lutheran church and the remains interred in the Lost Island cemetery on Monday, Dec. 17. Rev. L.O. Wigdahl conducted the funeral services.
    Miss Asloug Olson was born in Nummerdaring, Norway, on March 1, 1829. She resided there with her parents until 1848, when they immigrated to America and settled in Dane county, Wisconsin, where she resided until 1850, when she was united in marriage to Knut Thoreson. They came to Palo Alto county in 1871 and she has made her home here ever since. Ten children were born to this union, eight of whom are still living. All of the children except one, Andrew of Audibon, were present at the funeral. She has been cared for during her declining years in the house of her daughter, Mrs. J.H. Sporan, who was assisted in materiality in caring for her by the rest of the children.
    The deceased has lived a long and useful life. She spent the prime of her life battling the disadvantages and obstacles that had to be faced by the pioneer settlers. She belongs to the class that is entitled to ninety per cent of the credit of making this great middle west a fit and safe place to live in. She had resided in Palo Alto county nearly half a century and seven years before the town of Ruthven was founded. She was a loving and devoted mother and a true friend and neighbor. She leaves to mourn her loss eight children: Mrs. L.H. Sporan, Mrs. Gertrude Christianson, Mrs. Lars Olson, Mrs. Hans Vestigaard, Thore Knutson, O.K. Thoreson and K. K. Thoreson.
    To these bereaved relatives the Free Press Extends sincere sympathy.

[transcribed by KJL, August 2004]


Iowa Old Press
Palo Alto County