Iowa Old Press
The Alton Democrat
Saturday, May 2, 1914
ROCK VALLEY:
George Hillmer went to Sioux City Tuesday night with a consignment of stock.
Mrs. Addie Dunham of Ames, Ia., is here this week, the guest of her brother,
N. L. Finch.
Hon. Gerrit Klay of Orange City was here Monday, presumably in the interest
of his candidacy for county attorney.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. John Baker Saturday a bouncing baby boy.
Congratulations, John, the smokes are now in order.
J. A. Gartland is treating the interior of his jewelry store to paint and
paper and when completed will make the place tidy and inviting.
Mrs. Millie Firmau and children arrived from Dundee, Ia., Friday of last
week and are guests at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Sam
Bellesfield.
Mrs. E. J. Doherty underwent an operation at the local hospital Thursday of
last week for some physical malady and is reported as getting along nicely.
Supervisor M. B. Smith shipped three car loads of lambs to Chicago Monday,
and Thomas Cullinan shipped two cars of cattle. They accompanied the
shipment.
Mrs. Maggie Nelson, who was called here a few weeks ago to attend the
funeral of her brother-in-law, H. M. Akin, returned to her home at
Cooperstown, N.D., Saturday.
Herman Toering and better-half of Orange City visited relatives here Sunday
and on Monday returned home, as business matters would not permit them to
tarry longer with friends.
Mrs. Minnie Curtis, who accompanied her mother, Mrs. Handy, home a few weeks
ago, was compelled to return to her home at Edgely, N.D., Friday of last
week, owing to the sickness of her husband, Mr. Curtis.
Mrs. George Starr, mother of townsman Bert Starr, arrived from Delmont,
S.D., Friday of last week, for an indefinite visit with her son and many
friends, who are glad to greet her again, after an absence of several years.
Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Bryant and Mr. and Mrs. Pearl Tierney of Hartley came
Saturday by auto and visited till Sunday afternoon at the home of Mr. and
Mrs. E. J. Minard when they returned home. The ladies are daughters of Mr.
and Mrs. Minard.
Women have an idea that when one of them refuses to marry a man, he
immediately goes out and gets drunk to drown his sorrow. Don’t you know that
nine cases out of ten he is only celebrating the event, and congratulates
himself on his narrow escape.
The Ladies Aid of the Methodist church gave a chicken-pie supper at Foppe’s
hall Thursday evening April 22nd, which was well patronized by our citizens
and they cleared the snug sum of $45.00, which was gratifying to the members
of the Ladies Aid and the church they represent.
The Rock Valley Commercial Club at a recent meeting decided to oil the
streets, and a committee solicited our business men and citizens for funds
to carry out the project, and succeeded in securing $500.00 which speaks
well for the liberality and progressive spirit of our citizens, always alert
to the best interests of our city. Let the good work continue.
The supper and dance held at Foppe’s hall Monday evening under the auspices
of the Daughters of Isabella was well attended considering the rainy
evening. The receipts of the evening above expenditures amounted to $120.00.
Mr. Dunn, who had been billed for an address could not be present as his
father died, which was a great disappointment to those in attendance. While
the members could not carry out the program as advertised, all things
considered it was a success, and the money will be utilized in the interest
of the new Catholic church.
Word was received here Sunday by telephone to the members of the Modern
Woodmen, that Gus Splitt, a former resident of Rock Valley, but who has been
residing for several years at Mitchell, had died at five o’clock that
morning. Mr. Splitt is well known here and for many years was in business as
a tailor. He was a jovial fellow, and had many friends. He carried life
insurance policy in the M.W. of A. for $2,000 and had been a member of that
order nearly as many years as the order is old. He leaves a fine and
interesting family to mourn his departure.
Lewis Barth, of Hull, a veteran of the Civil War, died at his home April 23d
and was buried Saturday. Funeral services were conducted at the Catholic
church by the pastor, Father Wren, of Alvord, assisted by Father O’Rielly of
Rock Valley. A number from Rock Valley attended the funeral. Mr. Barth was
one of Sioux County’s pioneers having located on a farm in Lincoln township
near Perkins in the early seventies, and endured the privations incident to
pioneer days. He was a good citizen, and a good neighbor. He leaves a widow
and children to mourn his demise. We extend sympathy to the sorrowing
relatives.
P. D. Grootes, one of our business men, contemplated visiting relatives in
Sheldon Sunday, and repaired to the Rock Valley garage to get his fine
Jackson car in readiness, and when the car was started, for want of proper
manipulation of the machinery it became obstreperous, and he lost control,
and like the naval combat between the formidable sea monster, the Merrimac
and the Monitor, the cheese-box of Hampton roads, the Jackson rammed its
proboscis into a nearby Ford car, and performed several other acrobatic
stunts before it could be brought under control. The car sustained some
slight damage and as a result of this episode, Mr. Grootes was compelled to
postpone his visit to Sheldon indefinitely.
Sunday a congenial company consisting of school ma’ams and a bunch of our
beautiful bachelors started for a joy ride for Storm Lake, over the
aurora-borealis air-line. Our modest bachelor editor road in a car that
would just accommodate two and no more, and on their arrival there, they
were enjoying themselves to such an extent that words are inadequate to
express, when to their surprise J. Pluvius appeared on the scene, and opened
the spigot of his great reservoir and dampened their ardor. As a result of
the audacious interference of J. Pluvius they were compelled to tarry in the
metropolis of Buena Vista county over night. Monday morning the compositor,
Miss Cora Riley, went to the Bee hive and found it locked, and learned the
drones had not returned. The State Bank temporarily suspended business on
account of the absence of Roosevelt Roozeboom. The manipulator of the
telegraph keys, Homer Jacobs, was conspicuously absent at the depot, and
Prof. J. C. Straley hustled around to find substitutes to fill the vacant
places on account of the detention of the teachers. General consternation
reigned supreme, until the grape-vine message was received that they had
abandoned their autos and would be here on passenger train No. 1, when our
fears dissipated like the dew before the morning sun. Our advice is not to
let it happen again till the next time.