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Iowa News from across the
Country
- 1855 -
FREDERICK DOUGLASS' PAPER
Rochester, New York
January 12, 1855
THREE CHILDREN DROWNED BY THE BREAKING OF ICE. Late on Saturday
afternoon, three children, two girls and a boy, were seen to fall
through an air hole in the ice, opposite Ogden & Copp's
commission house of this city, and were drowned. The unfortunate
children were these of Mr. Owen McCallen. The girls
were aged respectively twelve and seven, and the little boy about
five years. The eldest is supposed to have lost her life in her
affectionate but vain attempt to save the little sister and
brother.
Burlington (Iowa) Telegraph, Jan. 1.
[transcribed by C.J.L., December 2006]
-----
New York Daily
Times
New York, New York
February 27, 1855
Married.
In this City, on Monday evening, Feb. 19, at the residence of the
bride's father, by Rev. J.E. Searles, Abraham S. Bunting, of
Dubuque, Iowa, to Miss Sarah Jayn, youngest daughter of Tring S.
Wheeler, Esq., of this City.
[transcribed by S.F., March 2007]
-----
New York Daily
Times
New York, New York
April 19, 1855
Died.
At Davenport, Iowa, on Friday, April 13, Capt. Henry Dearborn
Graften, of the First Artillery, U.S. Army, in the 37th year of
his age. Capt. Graften was the son of Col. Joseph Graften, of
Boston, and graduated at West Point with honor, in 1839, and was
an accomplished officer. He served gallantly under Gen. Twiggs'
division in Mexico. His early loss will be deeply felt by a large
circle of friends and relatives.
[transcribed by S.F., April 2007]
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FREDERICK DOUGLASS'
PAPER
Rochester, New York
May 4, 1855
ANOTHER CHLOROFORM ROBBERY A WHOLE FAMILY DRUGGED.
A letter in the Iowa Gazette of April 14, gives the
following account of a robbery at the house of Jacob Fees, of
Davis County, Iowa: "Last night father was robbed of eight
hundred dollars in gold, (twenty dollar pieces.) He had moved on
his farm on the 2nd inst., and on the night of the 3rd the house
was entered through the window by persons of course to us known.
The manner of effecting the theft was ingenious. The window was
raised, and small rolls of paper saturated with chloroform or
opium thrown in the room, by which the house was filled with
smoke, and a deep sleep came over all the inmates. The money was
between the straw and feather beds in which father and mother
were sleeping. Linen cloths, wet with chloroform, were placed
over the faces of the old lady and gentleman, and thus they were
kept unconscious while the money was taken from under them. There
were five persons in the house, and all slept to an unusually
late hour this morning."
[transcribed by C.J.L., December 2006]
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FREDERICK DOUGLASS'
PAPER
Rochester, New York
July 6, 1855
A FUGITIVE SLAVE IN IOWA.
BURLINGTON, Iowa, June 23, 1855. There was quite an excitement
here this morning owing to the seizure of an alleged fugitive
from Slavery. I went down immediately on hearing of the affair
and saw a crowd rapidly collecting around a two horse wagon in
the middle of the street containing two men, the pretended
fugitive and Dr. James, a worthy man, living about five miles
from Burlington, who was said to have been caught assisting the
Negro on toward freedom. Over he wagon and its occupants kept
watch and ward two dark-skinned Missourians armed to the teeth,
and uttering every and anon sundry bloody oaths and desperate
threats toward all who might be supposed to differ from them as
to the justice of their measures. No writ had been issued, and
these law-abiding persons had taken justice into their own hands
after the most approved Southern fashion. It seems that the Negro
came to the house of Dr. James early this morning and asked to be
helped on his way. The Doctor in the kindness of his heart,
guided rather by the spirit of 1776 than of 1850, took him in his
wagon to the shore of Illinois, and having reached it was just
turning form the highway into a more obscure path, when the
aforesaid dark-skinned individuals, having in the meanwhile
crossed in the other boat, presented themselves before him and
ordered him to stop. He at first refused, but showing their
weapons like true-bred highwaymen they proceeded to enforce their
command. He at length assented, and turning round, drove on to
the boat again. At his juncture a Burlington man seeing how
affairs were going, asked the claimants to show their papers. As
they had no such documents in their possession he told R. James
to drive on, but the hirelings of the boat, having been promised
a bribe, unloosened here and brought the whole party back to the
Iowa shore. The heroes of the party back to the Iowa shore. The
heroes of the bowie-knife and revolver, then marshaled their
captives up town as far as the Post-Office, where I first saw
them. They remained here guarding them in this way for nearly
three hours while the writs were being drawn, the crowd and
excitement continually increasing. No
effort, however, was made, at a rescue. About 12 o'clock the writ
was brought, and the Negro was taken to Justice' office in the
second story of a little wooden building, to which access was
gained by a narrow flight of stairs. No persons were admitted but
the fugitive, his pursuers, (they did not claim to be owners,)
their counsel, and tow or three others. A regular tool of Slavery
guarded the door. He is said to be the City Marshal. This great
pacificator assured the crowd below that he "did not want a
fight," that he desired "peace." "Will you
respect Burlington?" said he. The pursuers made affidavit
that the Negro belonged to Thomas Ruthford of Clark County, Mo.,
and escaped on the 21st of this month. Not having all the proof
that they wanted, the case was put off until next Wednesday, and
the black man lodged in jail. He is called Dick. The hounds
baying on the track of Dick are called Young and Rose, and are
said to be of noble breed. Only a few beside damask-faced bloats
favored the claimants. These crimson gentry ranted and canted
greatly about our duty to obey the law probably forgetting the
Maine Law. This affair is a novelty here, and a great deal of
excitement is expected next Wednesday. If I am in this region
then I will write more.
Cor. of the N.Y. Tribune.
[transcribed by C.J.L., December 2006]
-----
New York Daily
Times
New York, New York
October 6, 1855
Married.
At Orange, N.J., on Thursday, Oct. 4, at St. Mark's Church, by
Rev Wm S. Child, of Springfield, Mass., Wm. Walton Woolsey, M.D.,
of Dubuque, Iowa, and Fanny, daughter of Israel Sheldon, Esq., of
Gaston, Ala.
[transcribed by S.F., March 2007]