Iowa Old Press

Daily Times
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
Friday, Sept 4, 1906

BUFFALO
    BUFFALO, Ia., Sept. 1- Lulu Mounts returned to her home in Muscatine Thursday after having spent a week with relatives.
     Miss Clyota Wylie of Muscatine is spending a brief time with her mother. Miss Wylie will teach school at Cranton, Ia., this fall.
     Mr. and Mrs. Blunk of Morlan, Ia., are visiting with the latter's niece, Mrs. J. Prignitz.
     The Misses Selma Voss and Clara Matthes returned to Davenport Thursday after a pleasant visit with the Misses Porstmann.
     Captain W.L. Clark and daughter, Mrs. Emma Harrison, attended the Old Settlers' reunion in Davenport Wednesday.
     Mrs. F. Bowser is visiting her daughter, Mrs H Moorhead of near Blue Grass.
     Miss E. Sunday of Detroit and Marie Frick of Rock Island are visiting relatives.
     The schools will open Tuesday, Sept. 4, with A.K. Claypool, as principal, Miss Emma Zucher as intermediate teacher and Miss Laura Appel as primary teacher. All beginners wishing to attend school must enter the first two weeks in September or the first two weeks in April.
     Fern Bell of Jamestown is visiting her grand parents, Mr.and Mrs. D. Ochsen.

DIXON
     DIXON, Ia., Aug 31- James Beamer of Bennett was in town Sunday and Monday shaking hands with his many friends. He also called upon his father, J.C. Beamer, east of town.
     R.S. Snyder, the rural mail carrier, went to Des Moines Monday night to attend the rural free delivery mail carriers' convention and also to visit the state fair.
     Miss Winnie Flenker of Rock Island, Ill, returned home after a pleasant visit with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Flenker.
     Mrs. Juel Bousselot of Buena Vista were to Martin to visit her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Diers, Saturday.
     Mrs. Jochim Wiese of Eldridge was in town Saturday on her way to Bennett, where she will visit with her daughter.
     Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Connor and family of Red Wing have departed for their home, after a pleasant visit with Mr. Connor's parents, Mr.and Mrs. S.E. Connor as well as with old neighbors.
     Mr. and Mrs. John Ehlers of Grand Mound, who spent Sunday with Mr. Ehler's brother, met with an accident on their return trip home, which fortunately did not result seriously. The team became frightened on the Davenport road, east of town, and ran into a wire fence in which one of the horses became tangled up. Mr. Ehlers jumped from the wagon with the baby and neither were injured. The horse had to be liberated from the fence by means of pliers. Fortunately all escaped uninjured and the horse remained unharmed.

Daily Times
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
Friday, Sept 7, 1906

BUFFALO
    BUFFALO, Ia., Sept 6- The Misses Effie Sunday and Marie Frick left for Rock Island Wednesday after having spent a brief time with relatives here.
     Mr. and Mrs. F. Gould of Davenport have moved here.
     Little Claude Neumeister is sick with the typhoid fever.
     Mr. and Mrs. Sidell and family of Davenport arrived Wednesday evening and will take charge of the City hotel.
     J. Murer who has been visiting relatives here for the past four weeks left Tuesday for his home in Griswoll, Ia.. Mr Murer is an old resident of the town and his many friend hope he will be able to visit them again in the near future.
     Mrs. P Egger of Cedar Rapids arrived Tuesday and will spend a week with relatives.
     Mr. and Mrs. C. Summers and family left Tuesday for Wyoming where they will make their future home.

WILTON [Muscatine Co.]
     Mr. and Mrs. George Freeland drove to the rural home of the former's sister, Mrs. Chas Wilkerson near Lime City, where they will spend Sunday.
     Mrs. Geo Frenzel has returned from Columbus Junction after a visit at that place with her niece, Miss A.O. Bahns and family.
     The latter part of last week Fred Little moved his family to Davenport and Thomas Kelley immediately moved his family into the home left vacant by the removal of the former family.
     An infant son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Birdsie Norton on Thursday, Aug. 30.
     Miss Emma Whitmer and brother George are at the home of their uncle, Wm Ridenour near West Liberty.
     Miss Stella Sherberger has recently gone to Maquoketa for a visit with her sister, Mrs. Anthony Stall.
     Word has been received of the death of Mrs. Marie Friend, wife of the late Adam Friend. These worthy people came from Warren county, O., to Wilton Junction, Ia., in 1856. Mr. Friend engaged here at the trade of a carpenter. In 1886 Mr and Mrs Friend and daughter, Miss Kiss Friend, moved to Riverside, Ia., where Mr. Friend died a few years ago and at which place Mrs. Friend passed away, Aug. 15, 1906, at the age of 79 years.
     George Brown, a graduate of the Wilton German English college class of 1904, after spending the past two weeks at S U I at Iowa City, has secured a position as superintendent of public schools at Beaman, located in the southern part of Grundy county, Ia. Mr. Brown left Wilton on Thursday and entered his new work for which he is so well qualified on Monday, Sept. 3. His many friends wish him success.
     At the Republican county convention to be held in Muscatine next Saturday, Sept. 8, the delegates chosen to represent Wilton township are: W.D. Harris, Dr. W.A. Cooling, Dr. A.R. Leith, E.W. Clark, Thos. Boot, Nieholas Long, F. A. Martin, C.W. Derby, Henry Drum, M.D. Allen, C.,W. Norton, Fred Maurer, C VanZandt, L.N. Ayres and C.R. Wilson.
     Miss Ella Detchon, an experienced teacher and former graduate of Wilton public high school opened the fall term at Sharon, three miles northwest of town Monday, Sept. 3.

JAMESTOWN
     JAMESTOWN, Ia., Sept. 5- Miss Eulalie Andreas, the young musical composer of Davenport, came out to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Sam James for a musical recital last Wednesday afternoon. A number of young ladies including Miss Cassie and Helen Carlin, Miss Huldah Keller and Miss Alma Coats were present and all enjoyed the music very much. Miss Andreas composes both words and music and many of her compositions are beyond criticism. A yellow and white tea was served, yellow and white flowers being used in profusion for decorations. Miss Andreas will give a recital at the home of Mrs. S. Moorhead of Buffalo this week Thursday, when the Ladies' Aid society will meet the young composer.
     Mr and Mrs. William Dyer and two littler girls, Eva and Zoe, of Perry, Ia., are here visiting relatives for a week. Mr. and Mrs Dyer were both born and raised in this neighborhood, Mrs. Dyer being the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony McGarvey, old settlers of this place.
     Mr. and Mrs. Cooper received word last Thursday that their little grandson living at Lone Tree was not expected to live, being afflicted with spinal trouble. Mr. Cooper and his daughter took the train for that place Friday morning and sent a message back Saturday that he was a little better but not out of danger.
     The Birthday club met last Thursday with Mrs. Earnest Wilson of West Davenport. The ladies spent a social time over their sewing. A fine dinner was served at 1 o'clock. The company gave a vote of thanks to Mrs. Wilson for the pleasant time they had.
     Mr and Mrs Jacob Cawiszell and four youngest children of North Locust street, Davenport, came down for a visit at the home of the  latter's mother, Mrs. William Walker, returning Tuesday morning.
     John Hold was taken down with typhoid fever Thursday, but is improving. Dr. Teufel is in attendance.
     Mr. Swartout of Washington, a cousin of the James family and of Almer Glaspell of Davenport, was here for a visit last week. There was a family reunion at the home of Ed James in his honor.
     Mrs. John Blackwell is quite ill with quinsy.
     Ed Zinger took a load of apples to Davenport Tuesday.
     Mrs. John Bell and children visited last week at the home of Mr. Bell.
    Mrs. Robert McDonald of Council Bluffs is visiting at the home of her father-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. John McDonald, this week.

NEWS OF LECLAIRE
     LECLAIRE, Ia., Sept 5- Mr and Mrs. W. Rathmann accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Robt. Rathmann of Davenport started Sunday morning on an extended trip through the east. Their first objective point of interest being Niagra Falls, after which they will visit New York City, Philadelphia, and other eastern points.
     J.E. Park and wife left Saturday morning for Wilton, Ia., where they will visit relatives.
     Mrs. William Long and daughter returned home Saturday evening after a week's visit with relatives at Silvis, Ill.
     Mrs. Fannie Pope and daughter returned Saturday to their home at LaCrosse, Wis., after a pleasant visit with LeClaire relatives and friends.
     Miss Anna Ney returned Friday evening to Vinton, Ia., where she is a pupil in the school for the blind.
     Miss Alice Stoker began her fall term at the quarry school Monday.
     Mrs. J.F. Fedderson has arrived home after spending some time in Chicago with her husband.
     Mrs. C.W. Bartine of Chicago is visiting her parents, Mr and Mrs. Zach Suiter.
     Guy Stone of St. Anthony, Idaho, is in LeClaire for a visit with relatives and friends.

MAQUOKETA [Jackson Co.]
    MAQUOKETA, Ia., Sept. 5- Albert Isbell, wife and children of Van Horne, Ia., are here, the guests of the Isbell and Miller families and to attend the fair.
     Mr and Mrs. John Gilroy left yesterday morning for Janesville, Wis., where they will visit with her sister, Mrs. E.O. Fleek and family.
     The Pain lunch room windows have been neatly relettered. M. Stanley did the work.
     Miss Alma Weyerich arrived from Traer yesterday and resumed her position at the C.F. Goller store.
     Warden W.K. Burket of the county farm near Andrew was down here yesterday transacting business and calling on friends.
    

Daily Times
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
Friday, Sept 10, 1906

Some Famous Lynchings in the Early History of Iowa

     TAMA, Ia., Sept. 10- Much has already been written about the band of desperadoes, horse thieves, and robbers which infested Iowa during the first half of the last century. It is now an established fact that this band consisted of a thoroughly organized company of outlaws, whose place of operation was not confined to Iowa alone, but extended eastward through Indiana and Ohio. south through Missouri, and as far north as Wisconsin. It is also a well established fact that Nauvoo, Ill, was their headquarters and that they were at least given a passive protection by the Mormon society that was at that time located there. The hanging of the Hodge brothers, and the arrest of the Longs, Birch, Fox, and Granville Young are connected with the murder of Colonel Davenport established this fact beyond question.
     As an offshoot of this criminal organization as late as 1860 there resided in Hardin county two young men known as the Bunker boys. They has a cabin up on the brush where they resided, or rather lived with their mother as they were away a good portion of their time on midnight raids or else in hiding. They were known throughout the entire country as desperadoes of the worst type, fearless and bold in their operations, but for years they escaped arrest, or at least conviction.
     In the winter of 1860, one Lemuel Small, a respected and honorable citizen of Polk county, living near Des Moines had some valuable colts stolen. His case was not an exception, for the same thing was a frequent occurrence all over the state, and especially so in the southern portion.

Small Takes the Trail.

    Mr. Small felt incensed and was justifiably angry. He secured the service of a constable by the name of Seamans and started on the trail. It was midwinter and quite cold and as they journeyed the weather did not seem to cool off his anger. They kept on the trail with such accuracy that one night they found their colts in a livery barn at Independence and the two Bunker boys snugged away in bed. They arrested them and on the following day, with the Bunker boys securely tied on their horses, took the road for home.
     On their way back the route took them through the southern part of Tama county near where the town of Traer is now located. It occurred to Seamans that he had a cousin living near this point and on their way they stopped with their prisoners. Of course there was considerable talk about the matter and a neighbor by the name of Steve Klingerman, who lived where Traer now is, joined them. Other horses and other robberies had been committed and Kilingerman thought this a good time to do a little detective work. So when Small and Seamans resumed their homeward journey he accompanied them westward to some thick timber near the Hartshorn place. Klingerman thought in the solitude of "God's first temple" would be a good place to organize the sweat-box, and at his suggestion they stopped at a convenient tree with a low hanging limb, and taking the younger of the two Bunker boys from his horse put a rope around his neck and proceeded to elevate him in such a manner that sky was discernible between his feet and the snow capped ground.
     A full history of the facts afterward told to Sheriff Thomas Murray by a brother of Klingerman elicited the fact that they had no intention of hanging the young man, but simply to scare him and if possible obtain facts about other robberies.

Other Prisoner Escapes.

     While this little procedure was being enacted the elder Bunker boy managed to get his fastening loosened and proceeded to run away. The entire party made a race for him and after his capture on returning to the tree they found the younger boy dead. It was a dilemma entirely unexpected and, of course, presented a serious question as to what they should do. Having talked the matter over they came to the conclusion that dead men never tell tales and that they might as well die for a sheep as a lamb. They then quietly hung the other Bunker by the neck until he was dead.
     Regretting what they had done, and believing that silence was golden, Klingerman returned to his home and Small and Seamans continued their courses toward Des Moines.

Bodies are Discovered.

     A few days later a Scotchman who owned the timber where this impromptu execution took place, while out for a load of hay, was somewhat surprised to find two men hanging to a tree in his timber. The bodies were cut down and brought out to the settlement.
     It happened on the day bodies were found that T. Walter Jackson, who was county coroner, was up at Buckingham (then a little hamlet in north Tama) and with him was Thomas Murray, then sheriff of the county. Mr. Jackson at once held an inquest over the dead bodies of the two men, who were identified as the Bunker boys, and Small, Seamans and Klingerman were at once suspected as the parties who caused their death. The coroner issued a warrant for the arrest of the suspected parties and Sheriff Murray at once started for Des Moines. In the meantime Kilingerman was arrested at his house and after a preliminary examination was held to answer to the grand jury, but admitted to bail. He lingered in jail several days, but finally secured a bail bond and was released.

Jumped His Bond.

     He immediately bade Iowa adieu and started for Texas. It was established on good authority, that later on he was killed in a steamboat explosion on the Mississippi river, and he dropped out of the case.
     In the meantime Mr. Murray had arrived in Des Moines, arrested his prisoners, and was soon back on his way to Tama county. He had gotten about 12 miles out of Des Moines when he was overtaken by the sheriff of Polk county with a writ of habeas corpus issued by the supreme court, which was then in session. Murray returned with his prisoners, and having been without sleep for two nights and three days, by order of the court he was allowed to turn his men over to the sheriff of Polk county pending the hearing of the writ. The latter officer, having full faith in Small and Seamans and believing that they would be released by the court, turned his men loose with instructions to appear in the morning before the court. But they thought it the better way not to appear, and in the morning they were not found. It is claimed that they went to the Rocky mountains on a hurried visit.

Politics Takes a Hand.

     Mr Murray returned to Tama county without the prisoners and the matter was dropped except that at the next term of court Small, Seamans and Klingerman were duly indicted for the murder of James and William Bunker. There would probably have been no further action in the matter had it not been for local politics. Long after all these events in 1877 Mr Murray was again nominated by his friends in Tama county to the office of sheriff. The county was close and his opponent availed himself of all the rights to succeed and the story was started that Mr. Murray was negligent in his arrest made back in 1860 and that Small was now living in Polk county, Seamans in the meantime having died. Of course this stirred the old matter up and a deputy sheriff went over to Des Moines with a bench warrant to make another arrest.
     Small, getting next to the matter, eluded him, but afterwards, having previously made arrangements, that he might be admitted to bail, voluntarily surrendered himself and at the September term of court appeared for trial.

Substituted his Brother.

     It was at this trial that he made a serious mistake. Instead of taking his seat by the side of his attorney as the defendant he substituted his brother and occupied a seat in the rear of the room together with the other onlookers. Things were going along smoothly while the court was trying the wrong man, when Mr Murray in looking over the supposed defendant recalled the fact that in 1860 when he arrested small that Mr. Sam was minus one finger. Mr Murray wondered to himself whether that finger had grown out again, as the man claimed to be the defendant had a complete complement of fingers. He looked around and soon identified Small, quite an attentive listener, sitting in the back part of the room. This fact soon came to the knowledge of Judge John Shane, who was presiding on the bench, and he immediately called a halt and the two Smalls changed places. From this time on the prosecution became more vigorous and the court more rigid in his rulings.

The Verdict is Guilty

     The jury even seemed to take the matter up as to the surprise of the court and prosecution and to the consternation of the audience they brought in a verdict after being out only a short time of guilty of murder in the first degree. This was too much for big hearted Judge John Shane. A few days later he sustained a motion for a new trial. Later on he confidentially told the writer that he would have resigned his seat on the bench before he would have sentenced Small to the penitentiary for life.
     From the moment of the rendition of the verdict sentiment in Tama county turned toward Mr Small. A petition was at once started praying the court to discuss the case. The old pioneers of Tama county vied with each other to sign the petition. Sheriff Murray was one of the first to give his sanction. It was signed by everybody who had an opportunity to do so. So strong was this petition that at the following term of court the district attorney felt compelled to file a motion for a nolle prosequl, which was blandly sustained by Judge Shane. Thus the whole matter was dropped and Mr. Small went forth a free man,and probably more than that for it is probably true that never before in the annals of the criminal courts of Iowa had there been a judicial sanction of a genuine lynching bee.
     Mr Murray who was one of the original builders of Tama and still lives there, recalls the fact that when he first arrested Small and Seamans in 1860, the people of Des Moines became indignant and threatened to mob him and rescue the men, and that he would have had trouble had it not been for Hon. J.B. Grinnell, who was in the city at the time and came to his relief.

Daily Times
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
Sept 19, 1906

JAMESTOWN
    JAMESTOWN, Ia., Sept. 19- Mr  and Mrs Isaac Secoy were summoned to Buffalo Wednesday by the serious illness of their little grandson, Howard Secoy, who is sick with whooping cough and bronchitis, but is improving slowly under the care of Dr. Bowser.
    Mrs. Wilson of Davenport visited with her mother, Mrs. Walker, Thursday.
    Ed Taylor is marketing his muskmelons in Davenport.
    Joe Willy took a load of farm produce to Davenport Monday.
    Miss Clara McDonald was summoned to Rock Island to help take care of her sister, Mrs. Garriga, who is ill.
    Mr and Mrs. Linehogan took a load of farm produce to Davenport Saturday.
    Mr. Langwith is having his onions stripped for the Davenport market.
    Mrs. Gardner and son Lloyd took a load of peaches to Davenport Monday.
    Mrs. Will Fridley and her mother, Mrs. Anderson were Davenport shoppers Saturday.

CONTRACT IS AWARDED.
Hanssen & Harfst Complete Plans for Stebens Cottage.
    The contract for a frame cottage for Frank Stebens was awarded yesterday in the offices of Architects G.A. Hanssen and D.J. Harfst to Max Ohm. The cottage will be located at Myrtle and Locust streets. Plans for the cottage were recently completed by the architects.

Daily Times
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
Sept 28, 1906

BUFFALO
    BUFFALO, Ia., Sept. 26- Wm. Collins of Rock Island spent Sunday with his parents.
    Mrs. Tillie Metzger is moving her household furniture to Davenport and will make her future home there.
    Rev. Fathers Hanon and McGuire of St. Ambrose college, Davenport, celebrated high mass at St. Peter's church, Sunday morning.
    Mrs. Nellie Hoffbauer of Muscatine spent Sunday with her sister-in-law, Mrs. L Reinbrecht.
    Mr and Mrs. F. Ganson of Davenport spent Sunday with the latter's mother, Mrs. E. Bald.
    Hugo Herbert of Des Moines visited relatives and friends here Sunday.
    Miss Dora Rostenbaugh who is attending the Davenport high school spent Saturday and Sunday at home.

MAQUOKETA [ Jackson Co.]
    MAQUOKETA, Ia., Sept. 26- Mrs. Wm. Gibson has reached home after an extended visit with her people at Burwell, Neb. Mrs. F.C. Gregory, who accompanied her, stopped off en route home at Ord, Neb. for a visit with friends.
    Miss Ella Mahoney left last evening for Anamosa where she has a position as trimmer.
    Miss Elizabeth Kilma of Minneapolis is here visiting her parents, Mr and Mrs. John Kilma.
    Roy Goodenow is painting the Methodist church.
    Louise Peters has gone to Hartley, Ia., for an extended visit with his son Harry.
    Relatives and friends have received invitations to the wedding of Miss Emma Fisher of this city and Mr. LeRoy Lambertson of Clinton, which will occur in the Reform church Monday noon, Oct. 1.
    Deo Hayes is carrying his arm in a sling the result of a fall out of a tree while gathering walnuts near town Saturday afternoon. He fractured his right arm at the wrist.
    The Democratic county convention was held in this city yesterday. The following ticket was named: Representative H. Reid; clerk A.W. Kegler;  treasurer F.M. Alden;  auditor J.W. Melloy; recorder  H.W. Kruse; county attorney W.H. Palmer; coroner. J.F. Ritter; county school superintendent, E.R. Stoddard.

   
 
    
    

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