Iowa Old Press

The Enterprise
Birmingham , Van Buren , Iowa
Saturday, January 28, 1871  

MARRIED, At the house of the bride’s father, John Anderson, three miles south east of Birmingham , by Rev. R.F. Doughty, on Thursday, 26^th inst. Mr. Geo. D. Deal and Miss Lizzie Anderson, all of Van Buren county.  

L.A. Sheward, practical Boot and Shoemaker, has opened out a shop in the room two doors west of Cole’s Hotel where he asks all wanting work done in first class style to call and see him. He warrants his work, and manufactures at the lowest Fairfield price. Repairing neatly and cheaply done. He uses nothing but the best of stock. He guarantees satisfaction.  

A man stepped into the gun shop of A.R. Byrkit a few days ago and made the following report: “With the gun you made me, I shot nine times at a lighted candle, distant 60 yards, cutting the wick off each time above the tallow and extinguishing the blaze.—Fairfield Ledger.
     We knew that our friend Byrkit could make a gun that would shoot the eye out of a black cat, distant two hundred yards, on a pitch dark night and extinguish its nine lives at the same time but we didn’t know that he could manufacture a piece that would ‘extinguish the blaze of a candle nine times’ We presume it did not flicker out until the ninth extinguishment.  

Death of Isaac Parker

     On the 13^th inst. Mr. Isaac Parker, one of the old settlers of this county, died at the residence of his son-in-law, Mr. Ritchie, near Winchester . He was born in Pendleton county, Va. , in 1786 and was, therefore, 85 years of age at the time of his death. In 1836 he settled in Adams county, Illinois , and in 1838 removed to Van Buren county, near Birmingham , where he resided until removed from earth.

     By temperate habits, industry and economy, he acquired considerable property. He raised a large family of children- twelve in number- some of whom preceded him to the spirit land, while others are good and respected citizens of this community. He was a kind husband, an affectionate father, a practical and generous citizen. During his long career, he gave his attention and labor to the subject of agriculture.  

W.E. Huff, Harness Maker, wishes all persons indebted to him to call and pay up.  

The Ashland House, at Bentonsport, kept by Jas. Montgomery, is a good hotel. We stopped there a few days ago and paid our bill, as becomes all honest folks, and give the house this notice gratis.  

Hon. John Van Valkenburg, we regret to learn, is lying very low at his residence in Ft. Madison , from an attack of rheumatism.  

     Fry, at Winchester , has some very choice dried blackberries, for the very low price of 12 ½ cents per pound. We know they are very good, for we have tried them. If, therefore, you want material for blackberry pie, go to Fry and buy.  

Judge Negus, of Fairfield , has appeared prominently on the stage as a public lecturer. He is on the bills to lecture at Muscatine , Iowa City and other points in that section of the State. The Judge has a good lecture and it will pay to hear it.  

MARRIED.- On the 22d inst., our old fellow citizen Joseph P. James, Esq., was married to Mrs. Mahala Buchanan, of Fairfield . According to the Ledger’s report of the affair her name is now James Buchanan- a rather “bad name to go to bed to.” However, there is nothing in names, friend James.  

C. Wood, at Bentonsport, is agent for the sale of Perkins & House’s Patent Non-Explosive Kerosene Lamp, which gives perfect safety and twice as much light as other lamps, uses 38 per cent less oil, emits no offensive odor, never breaks, never wears out, and never gets out of repair. It combines the three prime points desirable- perfect safety, more light, and economy. It cannot be exploded by the use of the most inflammable oils, by anything short of nitro-glycerine or gunpowder. Try it.  

We copy the following in regard to the robbery of Schultz from the Salem Register:

     Some two weeks ago, a man named Samuel Schultz, reported that he had been robbed of thirty-two hundred dollars, on the Mount Pleasant road, near Oakland Mills. As soon as the matter was made known, some half dozen of our best citizens went immediately to work to find out who committed the robbery, and have labored night and day for a fortnight, leaving nothing unturned that would lead to any discovery of Schultz’s lost money. Money was raised to fray a small portion of the large expenses of our citizen- men left their businesses and went out in the cold and storm, laying out days and nights without food or sufficient clothing to keep them comfortable, and after all this trouble and excitement, find that Samuel Schultz robbed himself or he never lost a dollar! The matter is not yet ended by any means, but Schultz will be made to suffer the penalty, and without favor or any leniency whatever. The citizens of this community, Mr. Schultz will find, are not the kind of men to be tampered with in that kind of a manner-respect for old age in this case ceases to be a virtue. It is our wish and hope, that Mr. Schultz will, at once, justify the premeditated wrong done the citizens of this township without trouble, for if it comes to trouble, it will be serious on his part. God forbid and may that self-deluded old man view this matter in the light that he should, knowing himself to be the aggressor, and satisfy these men instantly.  

FRANK H. NEWTON, Dentist. Rooms over Wells, Stever & Averill’s store, Fairfield , Iowa . Teeth extracted without pain. A beautiful set of Teeth (upper and lower) mounted on white metal for $15.00.  

Iowa Old Press
Van Buren County