Iowa Old Press

The Enterprise
Birmingham , Van Buren , Iowa
Saturday, February 4, 1871

A SMALL FAMILY OF 17 - Mr. Samuel Trout, living three miles north-west of this place, in Jefferson county, is the father of fifteen children, the eldest a daughter, being nineteen years old. The youngest, a son, is one year old. All are alive and enjoying good health. Mr. Trout, the father, is 47 years old, and a native of Pennsylvania; Mrs. Trout, the mother, is 40 years old, and a native of Canada West. The couple have been married twenty years, and that their married life has been one of uninterrupted peace and harmony, the above record, we think, abundantly proves.

 

The Enterprise
Birmingham ,Van Buren ,Iowa
Saturday, February 25, 1871

Summit, Douds, Independent, &c.

     MR. EDITOR:- Having made a trip through the upper part of this county, I will let those folks know that " a chiel" was among them takin' notes, an' faith he'll press it."
    First, the Summit, with all its drawbacks, is one of the liveliest little towns on the D.V. road. Tolman and Dunson are doing a square business in the grocery line and are just the men to build up a good business. In a short time they take possession of the Trotter House and in their hands the reputation made by Charlie Trotter will be fully sustained. S.M. Mills is doing a rushing grain business, and we think farmers are fooling away their time taking their grain to other counties when they can always get the outside prices at the Summit, and have as gentlemanly a man as Mill to deal with. L.W. Thornburg is in the lumber trade and is doing a good business. As the train gave us warning to jump on board or be left, we had no time to look any further.
    Douds is one of the most thriving towns in the county, and its business men are enterprising and liberal minded. Dr. Whitten, that perpendicular Republican and prince of good fellows, took us in charge and explained the beauty of having a hoop pole metropolis. There has been some five thousand dollars paid out there this winter for that kind of lumber, which, in these days of cheap pork is a big item, and has made the trade at Douds much livelier than it otherwise would have been. We found Capt. Elerick up to his eyes in business, buying all the grain he could handle and dispatching wagon after wagon to the country loaded with lumber-thereby showing that our farmers are thrifty, and propose making improvements in the spring. With all his business, we don't see how the Captain can find time to go to Kilbourne so often. The dry good business at this place is ably represented by Duffield and Manning. Mr. Duffield was formerly of our place, and his host of warm friends in Birmingham will be glad to hear that he is doing a splendid business and proving what they always knew he would - a success. Mr. Manning's store is managed by these popular clerks, Toole and Thatcher. Meeks & Gillespie are starting a new grocery house and bid fair to do well. Douds is not disgraced by a single saloon.
     At Independent we found the firm of Adams & Co. doing a land office business and railroad ties and hoop poles piled up everywhere. From the appearance of things, we concluded that this place could beat the world on hoop poles, and that the firm of Adams & Co. couldn't be beat in selling goods. We found D.C. Beaman actively engaged in law business and just the same good fellow he always was. This village has three general stores, a drug store, two saloons, one of the finest flouring mills in the country, and a number one saw mill, besides other business houses.
     But this article is long enough, and I will conclude by saying that I returned home firm in the conviction that Iowa is a grand State, and Van Buren county just about the best part of it.
        J.A.T.H.

 

Death of Major Perkins.

    Major J.L. Perkins, senior member of the firm of J.L. & A.A. Perkins, after a long illness, occasioned by an affection of the throat and lungs, died at the residence of his father-in-law, Mr. Renshaw, on the afternoon of Wednesday. he was able to be about in the house in the morning but took suddenly worse and soon ceased to breathe.
    Major Perkins went into the service as a Captain in the 25th Iowa infantry and served during the war, was with Sherman on his march to the sea, having been appointed Major of the 25th. He was a brave and faithful soldier, esteemed and beloved by his comrades. He carried the same qualities into private life, and has a huge position among the business men of the city. He held for some time the office of deputy U.S. Collector, which he resigned a year and a half ago.
    In this brief notice we cannot do justice to the memory of the deceased. he was still in the prime of early manhood, only thirty-three years of age, and has left a wife and two children, his parents, brother and a large circle of friends to mourn his early death. To all that knew him the feeling will come home that a good and true man has fallen. Another of the country's brave defenders has passed away. His memory will be treasured by his comrades and long held in grateful remembrance by many who knew and loved him well.--Hawk-Eye, Feb. 23.

A Little Scrap of History.

    Company "K" 36th Iowa Infantry Vol., which was raised in Monroe county and served three years in the war of the Rebellion, went out originally with 87 men, rank and file. By glancing over the Adjutant General's Report, we glean the following facts in regard to the company:
    Thirty-five of the company never returned alive. Eight were killed in battle or died immediately after from their wounds. Twenty-seven died from disease and exposure. Seven were sounded in action and thirty-six were taken prisoners.
    The names of the killed outright and mortally wounded were Wesley Banister, George W. Brott, Henry W. Cline, N. Hummel, Jordan Pike, Byron Richman, Smith V. Walker, and Abraham P. Waugh. Those who died of disease and exposure were Ira Hawkins, Johnathan P. Pots, James W. Taylor, Luther Baily, Alpheus L. Anderson, Creed H. Amos, Calvin G. Baily, Johnathan Christy, John Day, James G. Bigson, Wm. P. Hannon, Thomas J. Keeling, Calvin Lemons, Lewis Montgomery, W.H. Morris, James A. Murphy, Ferdinand Manda, Christopher Nickles, Ole Olson, David W. Potts, Eli Robins, Joseph S. Robertson, David A. Smith, Wm. H. Taylor, Robert L. Turner, and George Wiggins. The casualties o this company, is a fair sample of all the others which served three years. Such is the horrid history of all wars.--Albia Union.

- The Burlington postmaster is in a puzzle. he has a letter directed to the "honest wheat buyer in Burlington," and he thinks he will have to send it to the Dead Letter Office.

BE A MAN- Foolish spending is the father of poverty. Do not be ashamed of work. Work for the best salary or wages you can get, but work for half price rather than be idle. Be your own master, and do not let society or fashion swallow up your individuality- hat, coat and boots. Do not eat up or wear out all that you can earn. Compel selfish body to spare something for profit saved. Be stingy to your appetite but merciful to other's necessities. Help others and ask not help for yourself. See that you are proud. But let your pride be of the right kind; be too proud to be lazy; too proud to give up without conquering every difficulty; too proud to be in company you cannot keep up with in expense; too proud to lie or steal or cheat; too proud to be stingy.

 

 


Iowa Old Press
Van Buren County