Iowa Old Press

Schaller Herald
Schaller, Sac co. Iowa
September 1, 1898

Corporal G. G. Mason, of troop G. First regular cavalry, arrived at the home of his mother in Sac City, Tuesday of last week. He is one of the heroes of Santiago and his description of the battle before that place is most thrilling. Mr. Mason speaks of the heat during that battle as indescribable. He says if one had a distance of ten feet to go he would walk 100 feet in the shade rather than the ten in the sun, so intense was the sun's rays. Sac City is justly proud of their Santiago her, for he was in the thickest of the fight.

Judge and Mrs. Lot Thomas, of Storm Lake, celebrated their twenty-fifth anniversary on Friday, August 16, by inviting in about 200 of their friends.

Sac Democrat: Mr. and Mrs. Thos. Highland, of northeast Jackson township, were in the city Wednesday visiting with their son, J. M. Highland, and family. The combined ages of this aged couple is 168 years, Mr. Highland being 85 years old and Mrs. Highland 83, and they have been married a little over 63 years.

[transcribed by A.N., April 2013]

-----

Schaller Herald
Schaller, Sac co. Iowa
September 8, 1898

Mr. and Mrs. Monroe Baker will celebrate their twenty-fifth anniversary next Saturday, Sept. 10.

Wm. Abendroth, a farmer of Coon Valley township, was killed on Friday evening of last week while returning home from Lake View with a load of coal. In some unaccountable way he fell from the wagon and the wheels passing over his head killing him instantly.

Born, to Mr. and Mrs. Edward Anderson, Tuesday morning, Sept. 6, a girl.

Mr. and Mrs. Herman Sanderman attended the wedding of a niece at LeMars this week.

Mr. and Mrs. Phil. Baumann, of Maple Valley township, left Sunday evening on the G. A. R. excursion for Cincinnati, Ohio. They will visit at several different points, but principally at Trenton, Butler county, the place where they were married and have not visited for 34 years. They will no doubt have a pleasant time, although they will find many changes, especially amongst the people.

Home From Alaska
Lake View Resort: Last Saturday morning the people of Lake View were surprised to see John Westrom, who left here for Alaska five months ago, step from the train. About the only evidence of gold, though, which was noticeable was a luxuriant growth of golden whiskers which adorned his face. Mr. Westrom has returned thoroughly disgusted with the newspaper reports of the Alaskan [Klondike] gold fields but well satisfied with his experience. It is quite entertaining to listen to his description of the country and accounts of their experiences. He was on Copper River, 300 miles west of Dawson City, where it was reported that unusually rich findings had been made. He says there was not the least foundation to the reports; that not enough gold could be obtained in a hard day's labor to make even fair wages. He tells of six men who worked hard all day and the result of their labor was forty cents in dust. He ways he stayed long enough to be convinced that the whole thing was a humbug and then came home, and he is glad to be here. He thinks the transportation companies are responsible for the many reports of rich findings hat have been circulated.

Mrs. Sutherland, the lady at Sac City who was reported as healed by the "faith cure," and a few of her friends have interested themselves in the case of Joe Roby, an invalid of several years who is at the county farm.

[transcribed by A.N., April 2013]

-----

Schaller Herald
Schaller, Sac co. Iowa
September 15, 1898

A girl was born to Mr. and Mrs. Herman Meier, living just west of town, on Monday, Sept. 12.

A little boy came to the home of Mr. and Mrs. E. R. Forney last Friday night, to claim their love and protection.

The grand jury of Buena Vista county failed to bring in an indictment against John Lutter, who, it will be remembered, shot and killed his brother in self-defense last May.

A letter received by G. W. Johnson this week from his son Orville, states that he is still in the hospital at Honolulu, but is slowly getting better and expects before long to be able to join his regiment at Manila. He speaks in words of praise of the manner in which they are being cared for.

Private Frank Mitchell, of the 52d Iowa, arrived in Schaller last Saturday evening for a short visit with his parents, Rev. and Mrs. Mitchell, having been granted a thirty days furlough. Mr. Mitchell has been in camp at Chickamauga, and says there reports from there have been greatly exaggerated. He thinks the officials might have found a better location for the camp, but is not disposed to find fault. He has not been on the sick list, but was detailed on different occasions to act as nurse in the hospital, and is free to say that matters were bad enough there. As to the feeling of the men in camp he says it is his opinion that the boys of the 52d Iowa are now ready to be mustered out, and thinks they will all be given their discharge at the end of their furloughs.

Two death from diphtheria occurred at Storm Lake last Sunday. The disease is prevalent in two families at present, both of which are quarantined, and the health authorities are in hopes to check the disease in its present quarters.

The marriage of Mr. James Larsen to Miss Genisene Peterson, both of this place, was solemnized at Ida Grove last Sunday, at the home of the bride's aunt, the pastor of the Presbyterian church officiating. This young couple are well and favorably known in Schaller, where both have lived for some time. Mr. Larsen is resident manager for the Northern Grain Co. The young couple will soon go to housekeeping in the rooms now occupied by Mr. McKinnon.

Born, Sunday, Sept. 11, to Mr. and Mrs. G. H. Craig, a boy. All concerned doing nicely.

Jay Crowley, who has long been expected home from war arrived here Saturday morning. No doubt he was glad to get home and was right heartily welcomed by his many friends.

[transcribed by A.N., April 2013]

-----

Schaller Herald
Schaller, Sac co. Iowa
September 22, 1898

Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Patterson Entertain the G. A. R.
Thirty-four years ago last Monday - Sept. 19, 1864 - Mr. Patterson was wounded in the battle at Winchester, Virginia, and to commemorate the day and event, he and his estimable wife issued "at home" invitations to the embers of the G. A. R. and their wives of this vicinity, for last Monday afternoon from 2 to 8 o'clock, and a large gathering of friends assembled at their home to do honor to the occasion and enjoy the good things prepared for them. The afternoon was most pleasantly spent in social visiting and in relating army reminiscences, and taken altogether it was a most enjoyable affair. Those present from out of town were Mr. and Mrs. Phil. Schaller, of Sac City, and Mr. and Mrs. S. K. Fuller, of Early.

The visitors surprised Mr. Patterson by presenting him with a handsome gold watch charm, which he will prize very highly on account of the associations attending its presentation. Below we give a brief history of the 28th Iowa Inft. - Mr. Patterson's regiment, which we are sure will be of interest, and which was furnished us by Phil. Schaller, who is, no doubt, the best posted G. A. R. man in the state:

The 28th Iowa Infantry Volunteers were mustered into the service at Iowa City, in 1862, and mustered out of the service at Savannah, Georgia, in the fall of 1865. During November and December 1862, the regiment suffered materially with malarial and intermittent fever, measles, mumps and smallpox, while in camp at Helena, Ark.

In January 1863 the regiment, under Gen. Gorman, went up White river to aid McClern - and against Arkansas Post. At St. Charles they unloaded from the boats in a severe rainstorm, taking about four hours to get unloaded. After holding the town two hours, orders were given to reload which took till daylight. About 2 o'clock the rain turned into snow with a cutting wind, the men working in freezing mud and water over shoe tops, their clothing wet through and frozen. They were all the next day and night on an open and icy steamboat deck. At Clarinda they were permitted to land and dry their clothing. Many died from the effects of this expedition, and others contracted disease which they bore thro' life.

In February, they assisted in the arduous labors of clearing the obstructions from the Yazoo Pass. In the spring they participated in the battles of Port Gibson and Champion Hills. In the latter engagement the regiment lost 100 men in killed and wounded. They then participated in the siege of Vicksburg until the surrender on the 4th of July, 1863

Upon the surrender of Vicksburg the regiment joined the forces of Gen. Sherman in the pursuit of Gen. Johnson, in the siege and capture of the capital of Mississippi. The regiment at this time was reduced to 250 men fit for duty.

At the conclusion of the siege of Jackson the regiment returned to Vicksburg, and from there went into Louisiana on their first expedition under Gen. Banks to Bayou Teche, Vermilionville and other points. In Feb'y 1864, they joined Banks' next expedition at New Orleans for the Red River campaign through Louisiana, for Shreveport, Texas. The most prominent engagement in this campaign was at Mansfield, La., where 1,200 union men engaged 7,000 of the enemy's troops. The loss to the regiment in this battle was over 100 in killed, wounded and missing.

In July 1864, the regiment, under sealed orders, embarked on ocean steamers, and when out of the Gulf of Mexico and on the Atlantic ocean, the orders were opened, showing their destination to be Washington and the Shenandoah Valley.

Arriving in Washington soon after Gen. Early, with 20,000 confederates, made an assault upon Washington, our nation's capital, and fought our troops within three miles of the fortifications about the city. As the 28th Iowa (with the 22nd and 24th Iowa) passed on through the streets of Washington, they created a sensation, as the fame of these fighting regiments had preceded them. They went at once to the mouth of the Shenandoah Valley, under the cavalry leader, Phil. Sheridan. The 28th again distinguished itself at Winchester, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek. The regiment fought in the east and west armies, and under the three great generals - Grant, Sherman and Sheridan. 82 of its members were killed outright in battle, 185 died from wounds and disease, 262 were wounded and 186 were discharged for disabilities, making a total of killed, died, wounded and discharged of 725 men, fully one half that noble regiment, with in three years, were numbered among the slain and wounded.

-Born, to Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Tucker Monday Sept. 12, a boy.
-A little Miss arrived at the home of Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Mill, in Eden township, Tuesday morning.

S. M. Stouffer, of the Sac Sun, was married Thursday, September 8, to Miss Irene Holmes, a talented young lady of Charter Oak. Bro. Stouffer has secured the "one thing he lacked" and is now fully equipped for first class newspaper work. Our very best congratulations are extended.

Bro. Gray, of The Wall Lake Blade, was son-struck recently. It happened on Saturday, the 3d. We hope the little fellow may live to be a useful citizen and a credit to himself and parents. By the way, Gray, if you desire peace in the household, you had better send 50 cents to Pa Mitchell, of the Galva Tribune, for his receipt to keep the baby quiet when left in your keeping while the mother is attending to other duties. Pa is kind hearted and only wants 50 cents for his receipt.

Owing to an oversight we neglected to speak of the "silver wedding" of Mr. and Mrs. Monroe Baker, which occurred on Saturday evening, Sept. 10. A number of invitations had been issued for this occasion and a pleasant company of friends and neighbors gathered at their home on Dundas street that evening in honor of the happy event. Those present spent the evening in a most enjoyable manner, and were permitted to partake of a rich and palatable supper. Mr. and Mrs. Baker were the recipients of many useful and handsome pieces of silverware as souvenirs of the occasion which will ever remind them of their twenty-fifth anniversary.

[transcribed by A.N., April 2013]

-----

Schaller Herald
Schaller, Sac co. Iowa
September 29, 1898

-Born, to Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Somermeyer a girl, Sept. 27th.
-Born, to Mr. and Mrs. Jo Collins, Sept. 22nd, a daughter.
-Born, to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Marquardt, a girl, Sept. 16th.

Rev. Chittenden and wife, of Sac City, celebrated their twentieth anniversary, Wednesday evening of last week.

Odebolt Chronicle: Mrs. A. P. Helps of this city, who has been a confirmed invalid for years, in convinced that she has been permanently cured by the faith treatment. She had been confined to her bed for the past two years, but is now up and around and seems to be well. Her friends hope that her recovery is permanent.

[transcribed by A.N., April 2013]