Iowa News from across the
Country
- 1888 -
The Standard
Ogden, Utah
January 15, 1888
HORRIBLE SUFFERING - Death Dealt Out By the Bitter Cold
Reports from all Parts of the Union
Minneapolis, Jan. 15 -- The storm's back is broken and the
railroads have gone to work to burrow their way through the
hard-packed drifts. The snow is as hard and heavy as sand, and
baffled snow plows. The Northern Pacific has had an excellent
oportunity to test the rotary snow plow, with entire success. The
Duluth road is open, but the Omaha line to Sioux City is badly
plugged up. Over 200 miles of track in Dakota, with the snow
averaging fifteen feet deep, has been cleared by one plow in
sixteen hours. This is an unparalleled achievement.
St. Paul, Minn, Jan. 14 -- The loss of life by the blizzard of
Thrusday is shown to have been very great. By far the largest
number of casualties are reported from Dakota points. The
following summary shows the names of those who perished, but
later dispatches will show others:
In Iowa: Sioux City, an unknown man; in Inwood, Mrs. Fitzgeralds
and two children.
In Dakota: Wm. Hitchcock, Emil Gilbertson - Mitchell; Geo. Allen,
Jos. Anderson - Minot; Jas. Smith and two sons - Raymond; Wm.
Aainers and two sons, Chas. Heath - Huron; T.E. Gilkenson,
Rowland Chambers, Emil Gilman, Thos & Wm. Nelson and an
unknown man - Aberdeen; Wm. Love, Judson Westgate - Bowdle; M.
Paine - Roscoe; Peter Seerhame - Virgil; Frank Nirison, Wm.
Mirison, Jos. Wilson - Iroquois; Adam Goerner, J.W. Goslee -
Barkston; W.B. Neadley - Delaware; Miss Cora Curtis - Brooklings;
unknown young man - Clarendon; Miss Steenberner - Amherst; 3
others are missing from Lesterville; 2 men and 2 children, names
not known.
In Minnesota: Adrian, John Airing; Luverne - John Loy.
[transcribed by S.F., Oct. 2004]
-----
The Brooklyn Eagle
Brooklyn, New York
January 18, 1888
FATAL FROST - Its Victims Numbered Now Among the Hundreds - A
Remarkably Large Proportion of School Teachers and Children Among
Those Who Have Perished
Dubuque, Ia., January 18:
-The fatalities of the late blizzard on the prairie districts of
Iowa are being gradually made public. Byron Cleveland, of
Manchester, Delaware County, has received information that his
two sons, aged 15 and 17 years, were frozen to death during the
storm, together with ninety head of cattle. The boys were driving
the cattle to water, about a mile from the house, when the
blizzard struck them, and their dead bodies have just been found.
The cattle were frozen stiff.
-John Olney was found in a snow drift near Marathon [Buena Vista
co.], frozen dead. Miss Mab Henning and a boy named Julius, 12
years of age, started in a sleigh to attend a party, in company
with two young men. When the storm struck them they lost their
way and the young men deserted the lady and the boy and reached a
farmhouse in safety. The deserted pair remained out in the storm
all night and in the morning they were found partially covered
with snow. The young lady will lose both legs and the boy's hands
and feet were badly frozen. He was saved from death by the brave
girl, who wrapped him in the only blanket left them.
Omaha, Neb., January 18:
- Charles Gray, living near Tekomah, deied yesterday from
exposure in Thursday's storm. He walked all night between his
horses to keep from freezing and was found half a mile fro home
by neighbors, badly frozen.
-Miss Louise Royce, a school teacher, eight miles from Plainview,
had but three pupils on the day of the storm. She started at 2
o'clock with the children for a house about twenty rods distant,
but lost her way. All lay down in the snow and Miss Royce wrapped
up the little ones as best she could. Early in the night one
child died and later a second one, and just as morning broke the
third succumbed to the cold. Miss Royce then managed to reach the
house, less than twenty rods away. Both her feet are badly frozen
and they will probably have to be amputated.
-A school teacher and eight children, names unknown, are reported
from Noligh to have perished. Five men named Stickle, brothers,
are reported from the same place to have been frozen to death.
Aso an old man named Glose and a boy named Miller. Mrs. Miller,
the boy's mother, was also badly frozen and will lose both legs.
She was returning from the funeral of another son when caught in
the the storm.
[transcribed by S.F., Oct. 2004]
-----
Blaine Journal
Blaine, Whatcom County, Washington
January 19, 1888
The mail was nearly a day behind time, and did not arrive until
yesterday noon, owing to the breaking down of Mr. BUCHANAN's
wagon between Whatcom and Ferndale. The hind axletree broke and
he was obliged to raise it upon a pole in order to reach
Ferndale. No cause for the break is known, except that Mr. G. E.
DORR, and wife, of Iowa, were sitting over that axle. Mr. DORR is
a brother of the editor of the Journal, and has just
arrived from Clinton county, Iowa. He is going to Wiser Lake.
Mr. Edward STILWELL, of Grinnell, Iowa, brother of Chas.
STILWELL, of this place, has just arrived. He is a first class
wagon blacksmith and wheelwright, and we believe, contemplates
opening a shop in Blaine in a short time.
[transcribed by S.D., August 2005]
-----
Blaine Journal
Blaine, Whatcom County, Washington
March 1, 1888
Mr. BOBBLETT has received a letter from a sister in Panora, Iowa,
which states that a large number of people are coming out here
from that place in the spring, among them being a daughter of Mr.
M. ROSBROUGH.
[transcribed by S.D., August 2005]
-----
Los Angeles Herald
Los Angeles, California
March 25, 1888
Died. Mrs. Susette Brodtbeck, aged 68 years, wife of Col. S.D.
Brodtbeck and mother of Otto Brodtbeck. Funeral this afternoon at
2 o'clock p.m. from her late residence, No. 5, Ingraham street.
(Dubuque, Iowa and St. Louis papers please copy).
[transcribed by S.F., July 2014]
-----
Blaine Journal
Blaine, Whatcom County, Washington
April 12, 1888
Mr. Ed. BOBBLETT has been looking for his sister, Mrs. A. M.
BLUE, and he was much pleased at her arrival by the Evangel
Tuesday. She made a quick trip, coming from Panora, Iowa, in just
one week.
[transcribed by S.D., August 2005]
-----
Minneapolis Daily
Tribune
Minneapolis, Minnesota
May 23, 1888
Pensions
Washington, D.C., May 22 - The following pensions were issued
today:
Iowa -
Original invalid: John Hollin, Puiaski; George Long, Keosauqua;
Dilman Rosenberger, Haven; Josiah B. Ferguson, Creston; Joseph W.
Eddy, Clear Lake; Benjamin F. Bradley, Numa.
Increase: George H. Randall, Ireton; Mathias Enkel, Council
Bluffs; George W. Mauro, Ottumwa; Edward Ryan, Waukon; Wm. P.
Harbison, Indianola; John S. Peregine, Brooks; Wm. W. Hawk,
Mingo.
Original widows, etc.: Betsy, mother of Amos Tuttles, West Point.
Mexican survivors: Jesse A. Sheppard, Winterset.
Mexican widows: Hannah F., widow of Morrison Wheeler, Millville.
[transcribed by S.F., April 2016]
-----
Blaine Journal
Blaine, Whatcom County, Washington
June 7, 1888
Tuesday morning about 7 o'clock Mr. Frederick RUNGE of this place
died of a combination of liver troubles and eresipelas. His
funeral occurred yesterday, and was largely attended by our
people. Mr. RUNGE was born in Lutenburg, Holstein, in 1841, and
was therefore about forty-seven years old when he died. He came
to America some time during the sixties, and lived in several
eastern cities. Sixteen years ago he was married in Davenport,
Iowa, to Margaret C. PETERS, of that place. About five years ago
he came to Washington territory for his health., and has lived in
Blaine since. He leaves a widow and five children here, a sister
in New York and a brother and sister in Lutenberg. Mr. RUNGE was
a first class musician. He played with THOMAS at the great Boston
peace jubilee and about twenty years ago, and in Davenport he
belonged to at least two musical organizations, to be a member of
which he must be an artist of the first ability. At that time
STRASSER's band and STRASSER's orchestra were considered among
the best of their class in America, and we believe Mr. RUNGE was
leader of both at one time. He claimed to have been converted to
the Christian hope about two months ago, and those nearest him
will never forget the beautiful experience he related to them
after they thought he was dead Tuesday morning, and told by Mr.
WARREN, who preached the funeral sermon yesterday.
[transcribed by S.D., August 2005]
-----
Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles, California
June 15, 1888
Marriage Licenses. Cupid is getting his work in great shape just
now, the demand for the little slips of paper by virtue of which
the magical act of making two one, being in daily increasing
demand. Yesterday the following were issued from the office of
the County Clerk: L. Thornton, 22, and Alice L. Lewis, 21, both
of Iowa, residing in Los Angeles
[transcribed by S.F., June 2007]
-----
Minneapolis Daily
Tribune
Minneapolis, Minnesota
July 3, 1888
Pensions
Washington, D.C. - The following pensions were issued today:
Iowa -
Original invalid: Edward P. Van Valkenburgh, Lake Mills; Jacob
West, Blakesburg; Samuel Moyer, Anamosa; John J. Elliott,
Corning; Absolom Hill, Toledo; Thomas B. Daniel, Garden Grove;
Ezra H. Harrington, Bradford; Franklin L. Smith, Angus; Martin L.
Orris, Ainsworth; James Shivvers, Washington; Nelson Beall [or
Benil], Moorehead; James Mohan, Lemars; Beverly A. Joiner,
Centerville; Wm. T. Reshaw, Avoca; Theodore Ostrander, Bancroft;
Wm. H. Harris, Atlantic; Amos M. Clark, New London; Benjamin
Howard, Waukon.
Restoration and reissue: Joseph Croomer, Council Bluffs
Increase: Henry Panstian [or Paustian], Davenport; James L. Keys,
Panora; Isaac Hanor, Coon Rapids; Benj. H. White, Harper; Amos W.
Biggs, Spring Hill; John Myers, Reasoner; Sullivan Daniels,
Vinton; Albert H. Shaw, Washington; Thomas S. Coppick, Coppick;
Thomas A. Bell, Cottonwood; Francis J. Mitchell, Des Moines.
Reissue: Wm. Coundry, Burlington; Frank Beckmann, Littleport.
Original widows, etc.: Minor, William A. Irelan, Cincinnati;
Cyrus, Father of Wm. Sutton, Ottumwa; Rosa, widow of Thomas Conn,
Keokuk; Harriet, widow of Eugene Hunt, Nento; Hannah, mother of
James M. Steeper [or Sleeper], Dow City; Victoria A., widow of
Cornelius L. Morgan, Beaver; Hannah, widow of William G. Rice,
Murray; Mollie A., widow of Thomas A. Harding, Red Oak.
[transcribed by S.F., April 2016]
-----
New York Times
New York, New York
July 24, 1888
Mason City, Iowa, July 23 - At Clear Lake last night Jessie
McKinney, a married woman, shot and fatally injured J.F.
Sullivan, a resident of Forest City. Sullivan, with two other
men, was prowling around her cottage, and, upon refusing to go
away, Sullivan received a pistol wound, from the effects of which
he will die. Mrs. McKinney is in custody.
[transcribed by S.F., December 2007]
-----
Minneapolis Daily
Tribune
Minneapolis, Minnesota
August 2, 1888
Pensions
Washington, D.C., August 1 - The following pensions were issued
today:
Iowa -
Original invalid: Daniel T. Costs, Knoxville.
Increase: Charles H. Beardsley, Marshalltown; Thomas Little,
Washington; Alex Boyd, Plum Hollow; William H. Green, Olin;
Horace D. Mourse, Mapleton; John A. McClurg, New Hampton;
Nathaniel Totman, Eddyville; John W. Fulter, Centreville; Christy
Hecmart, Ormanville; Benj. F. Rossert, Tipton; John P. Wright,
Redford; Wm. N. Parker, Keokuk; Thomas Pilliam, Centreville;
Moses Hull, Crawfordsville; Wm. Shrody, Waukon; Amos N. Runkel,
Carroll; Chas. Stregel, Le Mars; Robinson M. Reid, Morning Sun;
Samuel Hill, Goshen; Benj. Rice, Creston.
Reissue and increase: Charles P. Reynolds, Sibley
[transcribed by S.F., April 2016]
-----
New York Times
New York, New York
August 5, 1888
LeGrande, Iowa, Aug. 4 - Mrs. Helena Helverson died here today
from leprosy. The case has attracted considerable attention. the
victim was born in Norway 29 years ago. There was no history of
the disease in the family for several generations and no exposure
or contagion, and the physicians attribute the case to one of
leprosy's freaks - that of skipping several generations. The
woman came to Iowa in 1886, was married, but had no children. She
first complained of illness in Norway, September, 1885, the pains
complained of being erratic in chest, shoulders, and arms. The
disease was obscure until last June, when it began to develop
rapidly, death following yesterday. It is the second death from
leprosy in Iowa, both the victims being from Norway.
[transcribed by S.F., December 2007]
-----
Mitchell Daily
Republican
Mitchell, South Dakota
August 23, 1888
Iowa Items.
-- One of the prizes at the Buchanan county fair is for the
largest family.
-- Frank Oliver brought to the Onawa Gazette office last Saturday
a curiosity in the shape of a formation on a rose bush which
greatly resembled a large rose, but it was almost as hard as
wood. The phenomenon cannot be accounted for, and it is a rare
curiosity.
Present Officials Will as a
Rule Receive Renomination.
Des Moines, Iowa, Aug. 23. -- The Republican state convention met
here at 11 o'clock a.m. Every county was represented. Gen. J.M.
Tuttle was elected temporary chairman. Secretary of State Jackson
and Auditor Lyons will probably be renominated. The contest
between the present incumbent, Twombly, and Gen. Beeson, of
Marshalltown, for treasurer, will be close. Both Republican
railroad commissioners will be renominated for a second term and
the third place will probably go to John Mahone, of Muscatine.
Judge
Granger, of Allamakee, will probably be nominated for supreme
judge. The attorney general-ship is in doubt, chances favoring a
renomination of Mr. Baker. The platform will endorse Governor
Larrabee's administration and demand liberal pensions and
protective tariff.
[transcribed by S.F., Nov. 2003 & March 2004]
-----
McConnelsville Herald
McConnelsville, Morgan co. Ohio
Friday, September 21, 1888
Our Visitors.
The cheap rates from all parts of the country to the G. A. R.
Encampment at Columbus has been the means of bringing to Morgan
count a flood of old inhabitants who have come back to visit
their old home once more. Almost all the "strangers" we
meet on the street are from the west, whither so many have gone
from this county. Some of them come from growing Kansas,
others from Iowa and Nebraska, while others come on their
pilgrimage from far off California. Some of them went away
but recently, while others have not seen their native soil for a
quarter of a century. Great changes have taken place since
then. The towns were smaller then. We had no
railway. The boys they used to play with are now stern
men. Everything is more or less changed for better or for
worse. It is remarked that all these western people look as
young, if now younger, than they did while here. Perhaps
this is true. The Morgan county people have everywhere won
success, and this, with the climate of the west, may have added
years to their life. Be this as it may, we wish long life
to all the sons and daughters of old Morgan. The following
are among our visitors:
[transcription note: extracted are the Iowa visitors]
-William Wilson, Guthrie Center, Iowa, is visiting his
father-in-law, Capt. Henderson.
-Dr. James Roberts and wife, Osceola, Iowa, are visiting Nelson
Roberts of this place.
-Ed Fouts, Iowa, is spending his summer vacation with his sister,
Mrs. Capt. Henderson.
-Auditor of State, J. A. Lyons, of Guthrie county, Iowa, is the
guest of Col. George S. Comer.
-Mrs. John Bowen, of Guthrie county, Iowa, formerly Miss
Parmiter; is visiting her relatives near this place.
-S. L. Vest, Ottumwa, Iowa, is again among us. Sam thinks a
great deal of the west, but nevertheless has room for old Morgan.
-Mr. W. A. Brown, eldest son of John Brown, Esq., is home for a
four weeks visit. Mr. Brown has been residing in Iowa for
the past ten years.
-Mr. Wm. Burr Harris and family have returned for a few weeks
visit. Mr. Harris is a resident of Iowa, but formerly lived
on the Harper farm about three miles southwest of Malta.
-Mrs. Jessie Palmer, a resident of this county thirty years ago,
but now a prosperous farmer of Monroe county, Iowa, is looking
over the scenes and enjoying the hospitality of the friends of
his boyhood days.
-Neri Jack is hunting up old friends and acquaintances. His
father moved to McConnelsville in 1825, and both his parents died
when he was only a boy. He now resides in Des Moines, Iowa.
-Dr. and Mrs. Wood, Des Moines, Iowa, are again on our streets
looking as hale and hearty as could be, and even younger than
when they went away. When the Doctor left here he was not
expected to live, but the climate of his western home has revived
him so that he is now about as well as any man at his stage of
life.
-The Crisman brothers, John of Iowa, who left here in 1856; Obed,
of Denver, Colorado, left in 1855. Cyrus, of Minneapolis,
Minnesota, and Alexander and Thomas, of near Columbus, are with
us again on a short
visit. John and Obed formerly owned the Unionville Mill,
and built the Tunnel mill on Dye's Fork. Western life and
climate seems to agree with them, as they are enjoying the best
of health.
Ringgold.
- Among the Western people visiting in this vicinity, we notice
the following: Chester Fuller and Mrs. Bullock, of Adams county,
Iowa; Lewis Wood, Nodaway county, Missouri; John T. Davis and
family, Schuyler county,
Missouri; the two Mrs. Ames, Wisconsin; Mr. and Mrs. Dougan,
Kansas; Mr. Harris, Kansas, and dozens of others that we do not
know. It seems as if nearly all of the Western people were back
in Ohio.
- Geo Fuller will return to Iowa with his uncle Chester for a six
week's visit.
[transcribed by C.A., April 2005]
-----
Blaine Journal
Blaine, Whatcom County, Washington
November 15, 1888
Mr. M. ROSBRUGH was pleasantly surprised Tuesday at the arrival
of his daughter, Mrs. Mary MOTT, accompanied by her son, from Des
Moines, Iowa. Mr. MOTT is expected in about four weeks.
[transcribed by S.D., August 2005]
-----
New York Times
New York, New York
November 26, 1888
Driven From Their Homes
No Need to Look to Ireland for Evictions
Iowa Farmers Turned Out of Doors to Satisfy Claims that Should
Never Have Been Granted
Fort Dodge, Iowa, Nov. 25- That good old proverb about the proper
place for charity to begin confronts the people of Iowa with a
vivid reality to-day. It is not necessary for them to go to
Ireland to witness the barbarism of evictions. They can read in
their local papers stories of evictions almost within the shadow
of their houses that have all the said features of the Irish
assaults. The evictions of the Des Moines River land settlers are
now being actively pushed. United States Marshal Holbrook and his
posse brought a two days' expedition to a conclusion to-night
reaching Fort Dodge at at late hour. The scene of the last
eviction was 30 miles southwest of here, on the edge of Hamilton
County. There are a half dozen posses at work and this particular
posse consisted of six strapping fellows, built to carry out hot
cook stoves or to stand off indignant settlers. The equipment
included a Winchester with 16 cartridges in the magazine. Besides
the repeating rifle, there was a revolver to each man. The men
looked even bigger than they were, for they all wore enormous fur
coats. The air was flipping. There was no snow, but ice had
formed in the creek hard enough to bear up the buggies. If there
had been snow on the ground no evictions would have been made,
the officers said, but a nightly white frost was not allowed to
stand in the way of the law's operation. Marshal Holbrook carried
with him on this trip a pocketful of writs directed against
occupants of the lands to which Mr. Richard Snell, the son of an
old Illinois capitalist, holds the title. The elder Snell bought
the lands from Reswell S. Barrows of New York. Mr. Barrows was
one of the New Yorkers who formed the Des Moines River Navigation
Company and undertook the impossible task of making the river
navigable. For this undertaking the company received a grant of
alternate sections of land five miles on either side of the
river. There is a tradition that a small steamboat, drawing
perhaps six inches, once made its appearance at Fort Dodge during
the high water of Springtime, but it cleared for below without
any unnecessary delay and never came back. This was the extent of
the navigation accomplished, but for over 40 years there has been
a contest over the possession of the lands within the limits of
the grant. The tangle is complicated by Supreme Court decisions,
acts of Congress, and acts of the Iowa legislature. The
navigation company finally dissolved, and the stockholders, who
were mostly Eastern men of means, divided the land. What Burrows
got as his share was bought from his estate by Mr. Snell's
father. Burrows lived at Albion, N.Y. and the sudden departure of
his Executor, a Mr. Warren, two or three years ago created a
great scandal. Mr. Snell is now seeking possession of what he
bought. He finds his lands occupied by small farmers, who have
been there from 5 to 30 years. Some are squatters, some got a
color of title by taking out pre-emption papers when those lands
were treated by the United States land officers as subject to
entry, others got a footing at a time when the State held some of
the sections under the school land law. About all that can be
made out of it is that the United States Supreme Court has upheld
the title of the River Land Company and in view of the
blindfolded goddess those occupants of the land are trespassers.
The Marshal and his posse are good-natured men, and they curse
the law that forces them to oust these people. The first eviction
was on Friday morning at the home of Matthias Haganson, a
Norwegian farmer,. who has occupied the land 19 years. He had run
the stock off and had offered no opposition. The family went to
the house of a neighbor, and "Pony" for that was the
sobriquet of Haganson, watched the work tearfully. When the house
was entered the rooms appeared to have been stripped bare. One of
the officers climbed into the loft and it was at once evident
that old "Pony's" moving had not been as thorough as it
looked. Down came a cultivator, then a corn planter, and then a
pair of boots, and next a bedstead. "Don't break my
bedstead," the old man exclaimed, as that piece of furniture
got a hard rap. Pumpkins, cabbages, pickles, and scores of other
things came out of their hiding place, and were carted to the
road and unloaded. While the posse was engaged in evicting
Haganson the officers were in sight of Spainhower's place, from
which he was evicted the day before. Spainhower's furniture,
farming machinery, his flock of turkeys, and other belongings
were still scattered about the road, but he was engaged with the
help of neighbors in loading his things into a wagon and hauling
them away to a house, the use of which he had obtained for the
time being. Spainhower had fine improvements, his house was good,
the barns and sheds were of good size and conveniently arranged,
and he was in fine shape for the Winter when the eviction took
place. Haganson's improvements were more primitive than
Spainhower's. He had pole sheds, covered with hay, making,
however, very comfortable Winter quarters for his stock, but
Spainhower's buildings were well made of good lumber and could
not have cost him less than $1800. The worst feature in the case
was that Mr. Snell made the eviction absolutely refusing to let
him buy the land at any price. The reason for this was that
Spanhower had not only refused Snell, but had on one occasion
when Snell was driving upon the property seized his team and
threatened violence. This was remembered against him, and he had
to go, and lose all his improvements without compensation. After
this eviction "Pony" was told that his tock must now be
seized for the cost of eviction. He pleaded that he had no stock.
"But, Pony, you told us a while ago that you had eight cows,
" said one of the posse. The posse gathered about him.
"Pony," said another of the party, "I believe
these are your cows," pointing to a herd out on the prairie.
The old fellow glanced that way and shook his head vigorously,
but looked as if he were cornered. "Well, Pony," said a
third, "if you won't tell where the cattle are I guess we
will have to take you. One, two, three!" "You all talk
too many, " shouted the old man. He dropped down on his
knees. The officers thought he was going to pray, but he did not.
He pulled out of his pocket, with many exclamations of misery, an
old tobacco bag. Out of that he drew a rag, unrolled it, and
showed several gold pieces. "How much, " he asked with
a groan. "I can't take any money" said the Marshal.
"Will you promise faithfully to come to Fort Dodge on Monday
and pay the costs if I won't take your stock?" "Yes,
yes, yes," he fairly shouted, still on his knees, "I
come, I come." Then, as if a second thought occurred to him
he said, but may be I sick." The Norwegian finally promised
to be on hand unless he was taken sick, which seemed more than a
possible contingency in view of his great excitement. From the
Norwegians the posse drove rapidly southward and west for a
couple of miles, turned in at a pair of bars, skirted a cornfield
and came suddenly upon a comfortable two-story frame house in a
natural grove. This was Chance Pigman's home. Off to one side of
the house was a large log stable, a one-story house, which had
evidently been a dwelling at some former time, had been turned
into a granary, and was full of corn. Near it was a roll crib
filled high with white and yellow ears. Two haystacks were beside
the pasture fence. Swine of various sizes filled tow pens. A cow
with a bell was skirmishing around the corn crib. The officers
were out of their vehicles and all over the place in less than a
minute after their arrival. Then they gathered in front of the
house to wait for the man of the place, who was driving in from
the cornfield to see what was the matter. "Any stock!"
asked Marshal Holbrook of the officer who had gone through the
stable. "Two good coits," was the answer. When Pigman
arrived and the Marshal told him his errand, he said, "But
I've had no notice. I'll go to town and settle some day if you'll
give me a little time." The Marshal replied that was
impossible. In the conversation it came out that Pigman had moved
on the place about six years before, paying the previous holder
of the claims $300 and taking the chances of the contest over the
title. Pigman had bought from George De Witt, the latter had
bought from John Ellis, giving him $1,800 for the farm, and Ellis
had claimed to have a patent for the land from the Government.
"Can't you move some one else and give us a day to get
ready?" he pleaded. "I have got a little boy I've got
to set up with two nights. He's croupy. I'm afraid it will kill
him to carry him out in the cold." Pigman went on to say
that he had four children and one of them was a 6-weeks-old baby.
The Marshal had already been in the house and looked into the
condition of the family, with a view to the removal. He shook his
head in reply to the farmer's urging. "We can't help
it," he said; "we've got to move you off the
place." "Well," said Pigman, who was a
manly-looking young fellow, with serious blue eyes, "there
ain't no use of kicking, I reckon." He began to climb down
from his wagon, when his wife, a sprightly woman, but still pale
from her recent illness, came out to where her husband and the
officers were talking. "It don't seem like the law would
uphold moving off people where they are so poorly, " she
said, alluding to the condition of her little ones. "It
seems like they ought to let a person know it." But getting
no encouragement to talk further she went back to the house and
commenced packing her dishes. Pigman was seen working as hard as
anybody at his own eviction. Once in a while he stopped to
comment on his hard luck. "I wouldn't care so much, he said
at one time, "but I've got behind here, although I've worked
like a blasted nigger. I'm in debt and I hate to be in debt. If
I'd got a notice I'd have got up and made some kind of
settlement. Finally the house was clear. Pigman and his wife held
a consultation about where they could find shelter for the night.
"Oh, Lord," said the poor woman, "I wish I was
ready to go home to heaven." "I don't know where to
go," was Pigman's reply, but they finally stopped, thought
of somebody who didn't live on river land, and who might take
them in at least for the night. The woman and the babies were
loaded into the spring wagon and away they went two miles and a
half through the frosty evening air to find shelter. Pigman's
care-taking disposition manifested itself to the last. After
everything he could rightfully claim had been moved off and the
windows and doors were being nailed he said suddenly and
seriously to two of the posse who were lighting cigars:
"Boys be careful or you'll set the leaves afire and burn up
everything." The last thing to go was the little boy's pet
squirrel. The cage had been overlooked in the rush. The sun had
been down some time and Pigman's figure looked dim as he stalked
away through the brush to watch over his household goods
scattered along the roadside. As he was disappearing in the
twilight he turned and in a choking voice said, "I don't
blame you boys, but it looks bad for a good man to be set out
this way in a big free country like this."
[transcribed by C.J.L., December 2003]
-----
Blaine Journal
Blaine, Whatcom County, WA
November 29, 1888
Mr. F. E. BROWN and wife from Spirit Lake, Iowa, arrived in
Blaine Tuesday by the steamer Brick. Mr. BROWN is a blacksmith
and engineer, and we hope will feel inclined to make this his
future home. They intend to at least spend the winter in Blaine,
we believe.
[transcribed by S.D., August 2005]
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Rolla New Era
Rolla, Missouri
December 22, 1888
Miscellaneous Flashes.
-John Peterson, a Swede laborer, was instantly killed by the
premature discharge of a blast at Keokuk, Ia. He returned to the
rocky excavation to examine a fuse, which was slow in igniting
the powder, when the explosion occurred.
-Harvey Leonard, a pioneer of Eastern Iowa, died Tuesday, aged
seventy-six years. He located in Iowa in 1834 and built the first
brick house ever erected in the State. He constructed Scott
County's first court-house and jail and many other early
buildings since destroyed.
[transcribed by S.F., December 2005]