Iowa Old Press

Birmingham Enterprise
Birmingham, Van Buren, Iowa
Saturday, June 11, 1870

    Rev. Mr. King of Birmingham, this State, preached at the O.S. Presbyterian Church on last Sabbath. This is not our Church (our Presbyterian Editor is off duty) but we may say we were well pleased with the morning sermon, and are in hopes our Presbyterian friends will succeed in making arrangements with Mr. King, to do the preaching in their Church.--Garden Grove Enterprise.

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    The Fourth of July

    An adjourned meeting was held in the Park on Tuesday evening last, to make further arrangements for the celebration of the coming Fourth of July.
    The committees all reported progress and were continued.
    A committee of four, consisting of Cassius Musser, Flavius Spees, and W. Pitt Norris, was appointed to get up a fantastic company.
    W.H. Hope was appointed a committee to get up a company of little girls to carry flags to represent the different States.
    On motion, Dr. J.N. Noris, F.D. Travis, Rev. J.S. Ross, Mrs. Hoagland and Miss Carrie Newby were appointed a Committee on toasts.
    On motion, Dr. J.N. Norris was elected President of the day.
    On motion, a vote of thanks was given to D.C. Pettit for his industry and efficiency as a member of the finance committee.
    On motion, adjourned to meet on Tuesday evening next.

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    Charles O. Phelps & Co., corner of 6th and Main streets, Keokuk, have just received a fine article of White Matting, 4-4 5-4 and 6-4 wide. Those in want please call and examine.

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Farm for Sale
    I wish to sell my farm, situated one-fourth of a mile east of Birmingham. Said farm contains one hundred and sixty acres of land in a high state of cultivation, 80 acres of timber one mile from the house, first rate house and barn, and a large orchard of bearing trees. I will sell the whole or a part of it on good terms. In my absence, Simon Elliott is authorized and empowered to act as my agent.              JOHN ELLIOTT

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    Mr. Zane S. Robinson, representing the extensively known and very popular dry goods, notion and millinery house of Greenbaum, Schroder & Co., Burlington, ("Israelites indeed, in whom there is no guile,") dropped in upon us a few days ago. Mr. Robinson is selling piles of goods. He will visit Birmingham once in thirty days. Give him your orders. You can't do better.

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MARRIED. In Fairfield, at the residence of the bride's parents, on the 9th inst., by Rev. C.G. Milnes, Rev. John Quillen and Miss Mattie Frush.
    We have not the honor of an acquaintance with the fortunate young minister named in the above notice, but know by the selection he has made of a wife, that he is a man of taste and judgment. He is, we learn, of the Methodist persuasion- of that class that "go about doing good." Our best wishes go with the happy couple, both for their temporal and spiritual welfare.

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Transfers of Real Estate.
    The following are the transfers of real estate, filed for record in the office of the Recorder of Van Buren County, for the week ending June 4, 1870:
    -May 31, H.F. Greef to Wm. A. Trigg, 1/2 lot in the town of Oakland.
    -June 1, Andrew H. Bradford to Elmer F. Buck, 14 1/2 acres in Cedar township.
    - June 3d, Isaac S. Tussey to Patrick Kahoe, part of an out lot in the town of Farmington.
    - June 3d, State of Iowa to Levi Tompkins and Peter Straw, 80 acres in Farmington township.
    - June 3, Treasurer of Van Buren County to Wm. Gooden, 1/2 lot in the town of Farmington.


Birmingham Enterprise
Birmingham, Van Buren, Iowa
Saturday, June 18, 1870

Frightful Accident.
    On Sunday last, at about eleven o'clock, the family of Mr. Greenup Smith, residing some four miles north-west of this place, started in a wagon to go to church. The family consisted of Mr. Greenup Smith, Mrs. Greenup Smith, Mrs. Martha Johnson (Mrs. Smith's mother), Miss Sarah Lorena Smith (daughter), and Newton Smith, nephew of Greenup. Newton was driving. When they had gone about two miles from home, the horses became frightened at a roller that lay by the side of the road, and started to run. Newton pulled on the lines and broke the bridle bit of one of the horses. Jumping out of the wagon to catch the horses, his feet became entangled in the lines and he fell, barely escaping being run over by the wagon. Newton's fall caused additional fright to the horses and they started at full speed. Miss Smith by this time had hold of the lines, and turned the horses heads toward the fence. At the fence, the horses made a sudden turn toward the road, striking the wagon against the fence and running at full speed to the county line road, a distance of about two hundred yards. Here they made a square turn, throwing the wagon bed and its occupants a distance of about twenty-five feet.
    Mr. Smith was very seriously hurt, but it is believed not fatally. He is yet confined to his bed, and it is thought will be for some time. He had a leg broken years ago, which had not got well, and was badly hurt in this accident, which is perhaps the most serious part of Mr. Smith's injuries. If the inflammation in this limb can be allayed and kept down, he will get along.
    Mrs. Smith was thrown against a stake, and it is supposed that the wagon bed struck her on the small of the back, as her back was broken. One of her hips was mashed, and she was seriously injured internally. She died at about half-past 12 o'clock, an hour after the accident.
    Mrs. Johnson's skull was fractured, and she was otherwise injured. She became insensible about half an hour after she was hurt, and remained in an insensible state until Wednesday morning at 1 o'clock when she died.
    Miss Sarah Lorena was severely cut in the temple and had her limbs badly bruised. She is getting along well and will be well in a few days.
    Newton was of course unhurt, as he was not in the wagon at the time of the upset.
    Drs Norris and Talbott were both called and every attention medical and otherwise was paid to the unfortunate sufferers.
    Mr. and Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Johnson have for many years been worthy and acceptable members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Smith talked to her friends till about 15 minutes before she died telling them she would soon be in Heaven.
    Mr. Smith is one of the first settlers of Jefferson county, having been a resident of the neighborhood where he now lives for twenty nine years. He is 63 years of age. Mrs. Smith was about 60; Mrs. Johnson was 85.
    The funeral of Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. Smith will be preached at the Church two miles west of this place, one week from to-morrow by Rev. Mr. Cleaver, of Salem, if Mr. Smith is able to attend.

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The Fourth of July
    An adjourned meeting of the citizens met in the store room of Calhoun & Hope on Tuesday evening, 14th inst., and was called to order by the chairman.
    The Secretary being absent, on motion F.G. Torrance was elected Secretary.
    The Committee on finance reported progress.
    On motion, the Committee on finance was instructed to collect immediately.
    The Committee on "Earthquakes" reported forty names.
    The Committee on Printing reported 100 posters ordered.
    The Committee on little girls to represent the States, reported that the company had been raised.
    A motion was made to discharge the old Committee on Artillery and appoint a new one. Carried.
    The following gentlemen compose the new Committee: F.J. Spees, Cassius Musser, James E. McAlister and F.C. Still.
    On motion, the editor of the ENTERPRISE was requested to publish the Programme in each number of his paper from now till the Fourth.
    On motion the meeting adjourned till Tuesday evening, 21st inst.
            W.H. HOPE, Ch'n.
            F.G. Torrance, Sec'y.

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    Our friend H. Clay Clinton, Esq., a day or two ago, presented us with a very handsome poster, printed at the Keosauqua Republican office, for the Van Buren County Agricultural Society. It is a decided credit to the establishment that printed it.

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The rush to Randall's this week for dry goods and groceries indicates that Jim is selling goods, if he does not make money.

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    ACCIDENT ON THE D.V.R.R. - A passenger car attached to the freight train on the D.V.R.R. while ascending the steep grade near the Summit, some four miles west of Bentonsport, was thrown from the track and upset. Some half a dozen persons were injured. Among the number most seriously was Mrs. Pauson of this city, who had her leg broken in two places and was otherwise seriously bruised. Her breast gone was also broken, and her chest severely contused. Her little son, some five or six years old, had his under jaw dislocated and his scalp severely cut and bruised, but no bones were broken. Her babe, but a few months old, had one of its feet severely injured. The injuries to the other parties was not serious.
    Dr. Hughes was called and in company with Mr. Given, the superintendent of the road, took the 1:45 train. Mrs. Pauson and family were brought by the evening train to the city, where they will receive every attention the nature of their injuries require.--Keokuk Constitution.
    In the above accident, which occurred on Saturday last, Mr. Thomas Williamson of this place, sustained some very severe but not serious injuries. His left arm received an ugly cut near the elbow and he was considerably jammed in the breast, cut in the head and otherwise more or less hurt. He also bit a small piece off the end of his tongue...[rest of article not copied.]


Iowa Old Press
Van Buren County