Iowa News from across the Country
- 1890 -

Demming Headlight
Demming, Grant co., New Mexico
February 8, 1890

Allison and Larrabee
The farmers of Iowa are sending petition after petition to the Legislature of that State, demanding the election of Hon. William Larrabee to succeed Mr. Allison in the United States Senate. Govornor Larrabee's refusal to submit his policy to Wall street for revision and his spirited resentment of the attempt of Federal officials to interfere on behalf of corporations against Iowa, have made him stronger than any other Republican in the State; especially at this time when his sturdiness is in such sharp contrast with Mr. Allison's weakness and vacillation. The feeling that Mr. Allison does not represent the State has intensified since the legislative session began, and the majority of the people of the State undoubtedly approve the dead-lock which prevents the corporations from carrying out their plans for controlling the Senatorial election. The supporters of Allison have been detected in supressing petitions for his retirement from the Senate - a desperate measure they would not have adopted unless they had felt themselves in an extremity. Such petitions have been accumulating until, in their total, they show all opposition to Mr. Allison too great to leave room for the claim that he is the choice of the people of Iowa. The demand for Larrabee in his stead has been emphatic and persistent. Mr. Larrabee himself has thus far ignored it. He has not become a candidate and he may not become one, at all, but it is certain enough that if he is not the next United States Senator from Iowa, it will be because he is unequal to his opportunities. -- St. Louis Republic

-The supreme court of Iowa has decided in favor of the law against the "pluck-me" stores.

[transcribed by S.F., February 2005]

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Chillicothe Morning Constitution
Chillicothe, Missouri
February 19, 1890

Mr. and Mrs. C.M. Orr returned yesterday from Ottumwa, Iowa, where Mrs. Orr has been spending a week with friends.

C.A. McKibbin will depart for Bloomfield, Iowa, to-night, having resigned his position at Benge's drug store. He has made many friends here who will regret his leaving.

L.H. Young came down from Ottumwa yesterday on business.

[transcribed by S.F., February 2007]

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Demming Headlight
Demming, Grant co., New Mexico
March 1, 1890

Gov. Boies, of Iowa, was inaugurated on Thursday. An immense concourse of people was present, and great enthusiasm manifested.

[transcribers note: Horace Boies was from Black Hawk co. Iowa
transcribed by S.F., February 2005]

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Chicago Daily Tribune
Chicago, Cook, Illinois
March 12, 1890

Missing Engineer at Dubuque - Engineer Douglass, who ran an engine on the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul road, is missing. He was last seen at Savanna, to which place he ran his train last Thursday night. Since then nothing has been heard of him. He was Treasurer of the local organization of Locomotive Firemen. Death of Sister Mary Rose - Sister Mary Rose of the Mother House of the Sisters of Charity died at St. Joseph's Convent [Dubuque, IA] last evening. She was one of the original founders of the order in America. She came to this country in 1833 from Dublin, Ireland in company with four others, and located in Dubuque in 1813 [sic]. She was the last of the five sisters. Her family name was O'Toole.

Double Tragedy at Council Bluffs.- At Council Bluffs, Ia., Andrew Houk, a gambler and worthless character, shot and seriously wounded Mrs. Kittie Bowers and then killed himself. Houk was in love with Mrs. Bowers, but she did not reciprocate, hence the shooting.

[transcribed by C.J.L. January 2005]

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Chicago Daily Tribune
Chicago, Illinois
April 7, 1890

DEATHS
Riordan. Thomas D. Riordan, aged 28 years 7 months, at 1150 Hoyne-av., April 6. Remains to be taken to Elkader, Ia., Monday evening 8 p.m. Member of West Division Street Railway Association.

[transcribed by S.F., April 2007]

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New York Times
New York, New York
April 18, 1890

The Warning Not Heeded. Shot Dead in his Hotel by an Angry and Jealous Husband.
Dubuque, Iowa, April 17 - A tragedy occurred at North McGregor last night. About midnight George Cornell of this city, engineer of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad between Dubuque and McGregor, and son of Roadmaster Cornell of the same road, was shot by Jay G. Grinnell, official stenographer in Judge Granger's court.

Grinnell has been for years a member of Dubuque's fashionable society, and, although known by many to be a man of evil habits, managed to conceal his character from the knowledge of the general public. Several years ago he was married to Miss Glenn of Clayton County. The resided in McGregor and have a boy about seven years of age.

Grinnell, after his marriage, apparently abandoned many of his former habits, and was not only greatly devoted to his wife, but insanely jealous of her. About two months ago he first became aware that his wife was receiving attention from Cornell. He called on Cornell's father several times and received from him positive assurances that the son should cease his attentions to Mrs. Grinnell, and at last, hoping to break up the relations between his wife and Cornell, he removed to this city and engaged rooms at a boarding house on Maine-street.

Cornell's run on the road kept him in McGregor over night, and by bringing his wife to this city Grinnell believed he could bring about a separation between his wife and her lover. He sent word to Cornell that unless he discontinued his attentions to Mrs. Grinnell he would shoot him on sight, but Cornell paid no attention to the threat.

About two weeks ago Grinnell was called by his official duties to McGregor. His wife accompanied him to the station, and as she kissed him good-bye Cornell, who was standing at a second-story window in the building, remarked to a companion as he pointed to Grinnell: "There is a man who swears he will shoot me on sight."

A few days later Mrs. Grinnell drove to the station to meet her husband on his return. Cornell was standing by the buggy conversing with her, when his father came along and warned him to go out of the way, as Grinnell was coming on the approaching train.

The next day Grinnell left for McGregor, taking his boy with him, and it was reported he and his wife had separated and that she was going to relatives in California, but she still remains at her boarding house in this city and was driving about the city this morning in company with a stranger, wholly unconscious of what had occurred last night in McGregor.

Cornell left Dubuque last night on his engine and arrived at McGregor shortly after 11 o'clock. He went to the hotel of his uncle, and while washing he looked into the mirror and saw Grinnell approaching him. He turned, and as he did Grinnell fired, the ball passing through Cornell's head. Cornell fell to the floor, and Grinnell was walking cooly away when he was seized by the spectatiors. He made no resistance, and was kept in the hotel until this morning, when he was handed over to the authorities.

Roadmaster Cornell left for McGregor on the early train this morning and brought his son's remains to Dubuque to-night. Cornell lived until to-day about noon, when he expired.

The dead man was twenty-nine years of age. He was married in Belleview about three years ago to the daughter of George G. Banghart. It was a runaway match, and a few months ago they separated. Mrs. Cornell retuning to her mother's home, in Cascade, where her two children reside. For the past two weeks she has been visiting her brothers in Chicago, where she is at present.

Grinnell's friends are already setting up the plea of insanity. They claim that his plan was to avoid publicity of the scandal by sending his wife to California, but that she declined to go, and that brooding over his troubles he resolved to take the life of the man who he believed to be the destroyer of his happiness. Grinnell, in his younger days, led a wild and reckless life.

[transcribed by S.F., October 2007]

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Lafayette Advertiser
Lafayette, Louisiana
May 17, 1890

Peter O. Matthews, a full-blooded Digger Indian, recently officiated as chaplain for the Iowa Legislature. He served in the Iowa infantry during the late war, and afterward as Indian scout in the regular army. Later he went through an Iowa college, became a minister and now teaches an Indian school.

[transcribed by S.F., February 2005]

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Union Advertiser
Rochester, Monroe co., N.Y.
June 21, 1890

WESTERN NEW YORK NEWS- Gathered By Union And Advertiser Special Correspondents
SODUS
Mrs. Dr. M. J. BELDEN of Canton, Iowa, has been visiting her sister, Mrs. TWADELL.

[tanscribed by G.S. August 2003]

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Olean Democrat
Olean, New York
June 26, 1890

A WESTERN MAN'S RECORD
The Active Career of Sergeant-at-Arms Valentine.
Hon. Edward K. Valentine, of West Point, Neb., who has been elected by the Republican senatorial caucus sergeant-at-arms of the United States senate, to succeed Mr. William P. Canaday, whose resignation will take effect at the close of the fiscal year, is a pleasant, genial man. He was born at Keosauqua, Van Buren county, Ia., forty-seven years ago. He is a printer by trade, and worked on The Burlington Hawkeye before Frank Hatton took hold of it. While sticking type he employed his spare moments in studying law, and when he left the case to go to the war he took his composing rule with him. He still carries this implement of his trade, and proposes never to part with it, saying jocularly that he will always be able to fall back upon it to earn a living in case of necessity. At the breaking out of the war he enlisted in the Sixty-seventh Illinois
infantry and was promoted to be a second lieutenant. Being honorably discharged he re-enlisted in 1863 as a private in the Seventh Iowa cavalry, and was promoted to be the adjutant of the regiment. He served until June, 1886, having been twice breveted for "efficient and meritorious services." He went to Nebraska in 1866 and was appointed three years later register of the United States land office at Omaha. While in this position, he finished the study of law and was admitted to the bar and engaged actively in practice until the fall of 1875, when he was elected judge of the sixth judicial district. Three years later he came to congress and served through the Forty-sixth and Forty-seventh congresses.

[transcribed by C.J.L.; Sept. 2003]

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Demming Headlight
Demming, Grant co., New Mexico
June 28, 1890

Hon. Geo. W. McCrary, ex-Congressman from Iowa, ex-Secretary of War, and ex-U.S. Circuit Judge, died at St. Joseph, Wis., last Monday, aged 55 years. Mr. McCrary several years ago resigned the Circuit Judgeship to take the solicitor generalship of the Santa Fe road, which he held for some years.

[transcribers note: George W. McCrary of Keokuk, Lee co. Iowa, served Iowa in the Forty-First through Forty-Fourth Congresses (1869-1877); transcribed by S.F., February 2005]

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Demming Headlight
Demming, Grant co., New Mexico
August 29, 1890

Mr. A.F. Coates, an attorney from Creston, Iowa, was in town several days this week, and on Thursday left for Phoenix, Arizona. Mr. Coates is in search of a milder climate, and may locate with us after looking around awhile.

[transcribed by S.F., February 2005]

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Chicago Daily Tribune
Chicago, Illinois
September 4, 1890

Marriage Licenses. The County Clerk issued permits to wed to the following couples yesterday:
J.H. Johnson, Waukon, Ia., age 25 & A.C. Volden, age 26, Chicago

[transcribed by S.F., November 2006]

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New York Times
New York, New York
September 5, 1890

Dubuque, Iowa, Sept 4 - Arthur L. Flint of Ryan, Delaware County, shot himself through the heart and was found dead Tuesday. Though only twenty-four years old, he was Postmaster and a leading business man in Ryan, and conducted a bank, a general store, a livery, a wagon shop, and bought grain and stock. He left a note saying that he was tired of business cares, but it is thought he was disappointed in love.

[transcribed by S.F., December 2007]

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Lafayette Advertiser
Lafayette, Louisiana
September 6, 1890

Too Nebulous
The Times-Democrat has the following: The editor of the Hammond Leader has just returned from a visit to Iowa. He says that at Independence, in that State, there has just been built one of the largest race tracks in the United States; where thousands of dollars will be squandered in betting on favorite horses, and yet the high moralists have not risen up to put it down by law, nor does the sport pay any considerable revenue into the public treasury. The Leader wants to know what is the moral difference between betting on horse races and buying tickets in a lottery, and pauses for a reply. The answer will probably never be given. And why not? it is very simple. There is no moral difference. But the practical difference is vast. Betting on horse races does not create a centralization of money power, it generally equalizes itself. One wins and another loses, and vice versa, and the money is kept in circulation there. The State of Iowa does not charter a few men to take exclusive control of the Independence race track, and all the other race tracks in the State, furnish all the horses and jockeys, let you do the betting (and put their name in the pot on the quiet), they hold all the stakes, take the time and announce the result, and then give the winners (?) 40 per cent of the stakes, keeping 60 per cent for themselves, until they become rich and powerful enough to control and use the State of Iowa for the perpetuity of their nefarous traffic. And yet, this is equivalent to what the Lottery Company is doing in Louisiana. To compare a little country race track in Iowa to the La. State Lottery is like comparing the squeaking of a wheelbarrow to the overwhelming roar of Niagara Falls.

[transcribed by S.F., February 2005]

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New York Times
New York, New York
October 18, 1890

The funeral of the Hon. John Van Valkenburg, Past Supreme Chancellor of Knights of Pythias of the world, will take place at Fort Madison, Iowa, tomorrow afternoon under the auspices of the Order of the Knights of Pythias, assisted by the fraternity of Odd Fellows.

[transcribed by S.Y., September 2009]

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Mitchell Daily Republican
Mitchell, South Dakota
October 27, 1890

Miss Hattie Black of Emmettsburg, Iowa, is visiting her sister, Mrs. D.E. Collins.

[transcribed by C.J.L.; May 2004]

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Steven's Point Journal
Stevens Point, Wisconsin
November 1, 1890

AN IOWA BRIDGE FALLS.
DUBUQUE, Ia., Oct. 25- A serious accident occurred Friday evening on the Illinois Central at Cascade crossing, six miles from this city, where a new iron bridge is being constructed. A freight-train started to cross the bridge, but after most of the train had passed safely the bridge went down. There were twenty-five men working on the bridge, and as it went down they jumped for their lives. The distance was sixteen feet. Most of them escaped, but several were badly hurt. The water-boy for the gang, Robert Keatty, of Center Grove, was caught by a falling oar and killed. Dan Doherty, of Chicago, was thrown to the bottom and pinned down with his head above water. He was badly hurt. Four others were seriously injured, how badly is not known.

[transcribed by C.J.L.; Sept. 2003]

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Watertown Herald
Watertown, Jefferson Co. N.Y.
Saturday, November 15, 1890

Edwin Hurd Conger, who has been appointed to succeed Mr. Adams, of Pennsylvania, as United States Minister to the new Republic of Brazil, was born in Knox County, Ill., March 7, 1843. He received his education at Lombard University, graduating in the class of '62. He immediately thereafter enlisted as a private in Co. I, 102d Illinois infantry, in which he served until the close of the war, attaining the rank of captain. He studied law, in 1866, and was admitted to the bar, and practiced at Galesburgh, Ill., until 1868; in that year he moved to Dexter, Dallas county, Iowa, and ever since has been engaged in farming, stock raising and banking. In 1877 he was elected Treasurer of Dallas County and re-elected in 1879. In 1880 he was elected State Treasurer and re-elected in 1882. Entering the race for Congressional honors he was elected from the Seventh District, Iowa, to the forty-ninth Congress, and re-elected to the Fiftieth and Fifty-first Congresses, as a Republican. Mr. Conger will sail for his post of duty on or about the 20th inst.

[transcribed by S.F., March 2008]

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The Weekly Gazette
Colorado Springs, Colorado
November 29, 1890

District Court - Prisoners Convicted During the Term Given Their Sentences
Clarles McKee, who plead guilty to grand larceny and is the young man who was a porter at the Alamo Hotel and robbed the guests' rooms. He is 22 years of age and was born in Albany, Iowa. He had no excuse to offer, but Mr. Cochran stated that at the request of the young man's mother he would state that this was, he believed, the first offense. His sentence was fixed at two years and six months.

[transcribed by S.F., March 2015]

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Lafayette Advertiser
Lafayette, Louisiana
December 6, 1890

The largest Pythian in the world is Knight John Hanson Craig, a member of Adherent Lodge No. 124, in Philadelphia, Penn. He was born in Iowa City, Iowa, in 1827.* At his birth he weighed 11 pounds, at eleven months 77 pounds, at 13 years 40 1/2 pounds, at 25 years, 762 pounds; present weight 907 pounds. Is six feet five inches high, and takes 41 yards for a suit of clothes. His father weighed 115 pounds, his mother 122 pounds.

[*transcribers note: this predates the establishment of Iowa City by 12 years; transcribed by S.F., February 2005]

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San Francisco Examiner
San Francisco, California
December 7, 1890
p.7

Married.
FLAKER/DEVINE -- In this city, November 26, by the Rev. Father Smith, J. H. FLAKER of San Francisco and K. E. DEVINE of Des Moines, Iowa.

[transcribed by R.F., August 2005]



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