Iowa News from across the
Country
- 1915 -
Fort Wayne Journal
Gazette
Fort Wayne, Indiana
January 12, 1915
Flashes of Achievements of Dr. Milford H. Lyon
Where any movement arouses such intense and general interest as
does the present union evangelistic campaign, it is always
interesting to the people at large to learn something of the life
and character of the man who is the mainspring of the movement.
The leader of this movement, Rev. Milford Hall Lyon, has had what
might be termed a remarkable history. He was born near Waukon,
Allamakee county, Iowa, on February 10, 1868, the youngest of
fourteen children. He came from a long line of hardy stock, the
blood of many nationalities being commingled: French, English,
Scotch, Welsh and Irish, make up this combination. His
grandfather Lyon was of Huegenot stock, a Methodist pastor in New
Jersey. His mother's father, Holder Sisson, fought with General
Scott at Lundy's Lane in the war of 1812, and was a captain of
the Chicago militia in the Black Hawk war. General Ethan Allen,
hero of Ticonderago, was his mother's great uncle.
Dr. Lyon's mother is still living, at the advanced age of ninety
years. Her home is at Waterloo, Iowa. She is doubtless the last
survivor of the occupants of Fort Dearborn in Chicago, being at
that time a girl of eight years of age. Dr. Lyon's father was one
of the early pioneers. He came out to Niles, Michigan, when a
youth of 18, and frequently came to Fort Wayne in the years
between 1836 and 1840. The father and mother of the evangelist
were married and settled in northwestern (sic, northeastern) Iowa
in 1842, when neighbors were scarce.
It was when the subject of this sketch was very young that the
parents left the home in northwestern (sic) Iowa and located on a
farm near La Porte city, just south of Waterloo. It was here that
Milford Lyon's boyhood days were spent working on the farm and
walking two miles to attend the village school. He completed the
high school course at the age of 13 and soon moved with his
parents to Humboldt, in the northwestern part of Iowa, where he
spent a year in a lawyer's office, preparing a set of county
abstract books. His father having engaged in the hardware
business, young Lyon spent more than four years clerking in the
store; working at the bench in the tin shop during the last two
years of this time, he had charge of the collection of the
accounts and the purchase of goods.
During these years while he was out of school, young Milford had
an ambition to return to his studies, but the way did not open
until the autumn of 1887, when, his father having sold the store,
he went to Iowa City, where he entered the academy. Doing two
years' work in one, he completed the academic course the
following June, and next fall entered the state university.
During the succeeding four years he earned his entire expenses by
teaching mathematics in the academy, and working as a traveling
salesman during the summer, selling goods for an Iowa City
factory.
Lyon had entered college with the intention of studying for the
law and going into politics, and having turned from this to
teaching he felt more and more impressed with the needs and
importance of the Gospel ministry. At the close of his second
year as college president, he resigned his position to accept a
call to the pastorate of the First Congregational church, Harvey,
Ill. After a year and a half here, he accepted the pastorate of
the Bethel church, Windsor Park, Chicago. During this pastorate
the church membership was nearly doubled and a new building was
erected.
Feeling the great need of evangelistic work all over the land,
Dr. Lyon decided to resign from his pastorate and enter what
seemed to him a broader field of christian usefulness. It would
naturally seem a very perilous venture to resign from a
successful pulpit and a good salary, to start out, not knowing
where, without any assurance of financial support for himself and
family. Yet this is what Dr. Lyon did and it cannot help but make
him smile when people say he entered evangelism for the money
there was in it.
Naturally he had to start in a small way, at first in single
church meetings. But from that beginning his work has constantly
grown. During the past fifteen years he has spoken more than
seven thousand times in twenty-four states and has never missed a
service on account of ill health. As a result of his work there
have been at least a hundred thousand conversions.
Having been a pastor, Dr. Lyon naturally looks at evangelism from
the standpoint of the men who are to remain on the field after
the evangelist has left. He frequently says that it was one of
the motives that impelled him to enter evangelistic work that he
might help to lighten the loads that rest on the shoulders of the
pastors all over the land. During the past year he has received
more than twenty invitations from Indiana cities to conduct union
campaigns.
Four years ago the degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred
upon Dr. Lyon by Wheaton college, "in honor," said the
resolution of the board of trustees, "for his achievements
in the kingdom of God." For fifteen years Dr. Lyon lived at
Wheaton, Ill., but has recently built a home,
"Faerholm," at Winona Lake, Ind.
He is the author of two books, the first of which, "The
Lordship of Jesus," has gone into the seventh edition. The
later book, "For the Life That Now Is." has reached the
third edition. His ministry has centered especially about the
supreme truth of the kingship of Christ. It was at his suggestion
that the publishers of the song book used in the meeting called
the new book by the name which is the heart of Dr. Lyon's
ministry. "Make Christ King."
Dr. Lyon often says that his experience as a traveling man has
been of untold value to him in the ministry and that if he had
the training of young men preparing for religious work, he would
send them out on the road to sell goods for at least one year of
the course.
It is evident that he did not waste much time in those years, for
he ranked first in his class of fifty for scholarship for the
entire course. He also spent much time in extra literary work,
engaging in the university oratorical association; and then in
the state oratorical contest he won first honors over the prize
contestants from fourteen other colleges. Later in the interstate
contest at Lincoln, Nebr., he received the highest marks ever
given, being graded first by three judges, and second by a fourth
judge. This was the same oratorical association in which Senator
La Follette, of Wisconsin, and ex-Senator Beveridge, of Indiana,
won highest honors a few years earlier.
It is evident that Lyon held the esteem and confidence of his
college mates, for during his senior year he was given the three
highest university honors, the presidency of the leading literary
society, the presidency of the Republican club and was also
elected president of the University Y.M.C.A.
Before his graduation he was selected president of Ellsworth
college, Iowa Falls, Iowa, and entered upon its duties
immediately upon finishing his university course. Here he
remained for two years directing the financial and executive
management of the school, besides teaching Latin and literature.
Mr. Lyon had entered the university as a unitarian, although
reared in a Christian home, he had drifted into what he termed,
liberal thought, and for the first two years in college, had been
entirely indifferent to Orthodox Christianity. It was during the
visit of Mr. S.M. Sayford, of Boston, who for ten years worked
among the students of American colleges, that Lyon came out into
a definite faith in Christ, and made a public confession of his
belief.
During the remainder of his college course he was active along
religious lines, being chosen by the state Y.M.C.A. as a member
of the state deputation and by the international Y.M.C.A. to
deliver the address at their national convention in Kansas City,
to the colleges of America.
[transcribed by S. F., November 2017]
-----
Fort Wayne Weekly
Sentinel
Fort Wayne, Indiana
January 13, 1915
[displayed above the headline- pg. 9]
Better a fence at the top of the precipice than a hospital at
the bottom -- M.H. Lyon
Lyon Ready For Big Week - After Day's Rest Evangelist Will Resume
Battle Tuesday Night. Something About the Man Who Has Stirred
City as Never Before
After a day of rest Dr. Milford H. Lyon is again ready to resume
his fight against sin in Fort Wayne. While the evangelist calls
Monday his rest day, he was exceedingly busy answering letters
and planning for the campaign to be waged here during the coming
weeks. Members of the Associated Christian Workers are planning
for a high time Tuesday night and will march to the tabernacle in
a body headed by a drum corps. There will be a parade through the
principal downtown streets. Badges for eight hundred have been
printed. Those who will participate in the parade will meet at
the Westminister church at 6:30 o'clock. The parade will start at
7 o'clock, the path to the tabernacle being lighted with red
lights. Dr. Lyon will speak Tuesday evening on "Rolling Away
the Stone." The service under the direction of Loren G.
Jones will begin at 7:30 o'clock.
Something About the Evangelist -
Much Interest Aroused. There is naturally much interest in the
man capable of arousing the religious interest that Dr. Lyon has
in Fort Wayne. He was born nar Waukon, Allamakee county, Iowa on
Feb. 10, 1868, the youngest of fourteen children. His boyhood
days were spent on a farm, walking two miles to attend the
village school.
Studied Law.
He completed the high school course at the age of 13 and soon
after moved with his parents to Humboldt, in the northwestern
part of Iowa, where he spent a year in a lawyer's office,
preparing a set of county abstract books. His father having
engaged in the hardware business, young Lyon spent more than four
years clerking in the store; working at the bench in the tin
shop, and during the last two years of this time had special
charge of the collection of the accounts and the purchase of
goods.
During these years, while he was out of school, young Milford had
an ambition to return to his studies, but the way did not open up
until the autumn of 1887, when his father having sold the store,
he started to Iowa City and entered the academy. Doing two years'
work in one, he completed the academic course the following June,
and the next fall entered the state university. [pg. 12] During
the succeeding four years he earned his entire expenses by
teaching mathematics in the academy and working as traveling
salesman during the summer season, selling goods for an Iowa city
factory.
Did Not Waste Time.
It is evident that he did not waste much time in those years, for
he landed first in scholarship in his class of fifty for the
entire course. And he also spent much time in extra literary
work, engaging in the university oratorical contest, where he won
first place, and then in the state oratorical contest he won
first honors over the prize contestants from fourteen other
colleges. And then, in the interstate contest at Lincoln, Neb.,
he received the highest marks ever given, being graded first by
three judges, and second by a fourth judge. This was the same
oratorical association in which Senator LaFoilette, of Wisconsin,
and ex-Senator Beveridge, of Indiana, won highest honors a few
years earlier.
Held in High Esteem.
It is evident that Dr. Lyon held the esteem and confidence of his
college mates for during his senior year he was given the three
highest university honors, the presidency of the leading literary
society, the presidency of the Republican club and was also
elected president of the university Y.M.C.A. Before his
graduation he was elected as president of Ellsworth college, of
Iowa Falls, Iowa, and entered upon his duties immediately upon
finishing his university course. Here he remained for two years,
directing the financial and executive management of the school,
besides teaching Latin and literature.
Starts as Unitarian.
Mr. Lyon had entered the university as a Unitarian, although
reared in a Christian home, he had drifted into what he termed
liberal thought, and for the first two years in college had been
entirely indifferent to orthodox Christianity. It was during the
visit of Mr. S.M. Sayford, of Boston, who for ten years worked
among the students of American colleges, that Lyon came out into
a definite faith in Christ and made a public confession of his
belief. During the remainder of his college course he was active
along religious lines, being chosen by the state Y.M.C.A. as a
member of the state deputation, and by the international Y.M.C.A.
to deliver the address at their national convention in Kansas
City for the colleges of America. Mr. Lyon had entered college
with the intention of studying for the law and going into
politics, and having turned from this to teaching he felt more
and more impressed with the needs and importance of the gospel
ministry. At the close of his second year as college president he
resigned his position ato accept a call to the pastorate of the
First congregational church of Harvey, Ill. After a year and a
half here he accepted the pastorate of the Bethel church at
Windsor Park, Chicago. During this pastorate the church
membership was nearly doubled and a new building was erected.
Feeling the great need of evangelistic work all over the land,
Dr. Lyon decided to resign from his pastorate and enter what
seemed to him a broader field of Christian endeavor. It would
naturally seem a very perilous venture to resign from a
successful pulpit and a good salary to start out, not knowing
where, without any assurance of financial support for himself and
family. Yet this is what Mr. Lyon did and it cannot help but make
hiim smile when people say he entered evangelism for the money
there was in it. Naturally he had to start in a small way, at
first in single church meetings. but from that beginning his work
has constantly grown. During the past fifteen years he has spoken
more than seven thousand times in twenty-four states and has
never missed a service on account of ill health. As a result of
his work there have been at least a hundred thousand conversions.
Having been a pastor Dr. Lyon naturally looks at evangelism from
the standpoint of the men who are to remain on the field after
the evangelist has left.
Many Invitations Received.
During the past year he has recieved more than twenty invitations
from Indiana cities to conduct union campaigns. Four years ago
the degree of doctor of divinity was conferred upon Dr. Lyon by
Wheaton college "in honor," said the resolution of the
board of trustees, "for his achievements in the Kingdom of
God." He is the author of two books, the first of which, The
Lordship of Jesus, has gone into the seventh edition. The later
book, For the Life That Now Is, has reached the third edition.
His ministry has centered especially about the supreme truth of
the Kingship of Christ. It was at his suggestion that the
publishers of the song book used in the meetings called the new
book by the name which is the heart of Dr. Lyon's ministry,
"Make Christ King." For fifteen years Dr. Lyon lived at
Wheaton, Ill., but has recently built a home,
"Faerholm," at Winona Lake, Ind. In the autumn, after
his graduation from the university, he married a college friend,
Miss Effie Forest, of Miles, Iowa. They have five children, Merle
Paul; the oldest, is a senior at Oberlin college. Helen is a
member of the sophomore class at Oberlin. Arthur Eugene is a
junior at Winona academy. The two younger children, Margaret,
thirteen years old, and Ruth, seven years, are in the Winona
public schools.
[note: the article goes on
about the conference & was not transcribed]
[transcribed by S. F., June 2004]
-----
Oakland Tribune
Oakland California
January 24, 1915
Waucoma Claims Iowa's Oldest Mail Carrier
West Union, Iowa, Jan. 23 -- Waucoma claims the distinction of
having the oldest mail carrier in the United States, and refers
with pride to the history of Lycurgus M. Cannon, who has spent
forty-four years continuously in the mail service. Mr. Cannon,
who is generally known as "Curt" was sworn into the
work of mail carrier
when 18 years of age, and, with the exception of three summers,
has done duty continuously ever since in stormy and pleasant
weather. Mr. Cannon's star routes were as follows:
McGregor to Elkader and Elkader to Strawberry Point, two years.
Elkader to West Union, eight years.
Elkader to Postville, four years.
Elkader to Colesburg, four years.
West Union to Wadena, four years.
West Union to Waucoma, four years.
Waucoma to Alpha, four years.
Fourteen years ago in February he was appointed carrier on route
No. 3 at Waucoma. Possessed of a kindly, genial dispositon, Mr.
Cannon is a favorite with the postoffice force. An act
characteristic of the man is his unwillingness to pass a
pedestrian - a fact never forgotten by rural school ma'ams. Mr.
Cannon has recently returned from a fifteen days' annual vacation
spent with his daughters at Manchester and Greeley.
[transcribed by S.F., April 2006]
-----
LaCrosse Tribune
LaCrosse, Wisconsin
January 25, 1915
Waukon, Iowa column
Waukon, Iowa, Jan 25-
At a recent session of the board of county supervisors, Harry Orr
was appointed county engineer at a salary of $1,500. He took the
place of Willis Miner.
The following marriage licenses were issued last week:
Albert A. Gulsvig and Alma S. Schroeder
George Roeder and Hazel Dyhrkopp
Henry Lehn and Sarah Clauson
Invitations have been issued by Mr. and Mrs. Gustave Troendle of
Lycurgus for the marriage of their daughter, Miss Stella, to
Joseph Notan, which will take place January 27 at St. Mary's
church at Lycurgus.
The stockholders of the First Farmer's Bank of Waterville, Iowa,
held a meeting recently and elected the following officers:
President, H.G. Hagen; Vice-president, Oliver Dahl; cashier, T.S.
Buringrud; directors, H.G. Hagen, Oliver Dahl, S.K. Kolsrud, Wm.
Rood and Fred Hinkle. The directors are instructed to secure a
lot and to erect a two story building and have it bult in the
spring. The bank is only a few months old and already had thirty
thousand dollars worth of loans.
Rev. E. Ludlow Vornholt, pastor of the German Reformed church of
LaCrosse, and Rev. Zissler performed the funeral service for Fred
Snitker at 2 o'clock Thursday afternoon here. Born in Germany 62
years ago, Mr. Snitker came to America with his parents at the
age of three years settling in Sheboygan, Wis. After eleven years
he came to Allamakee county, Iowa, seven miles from Waukon. The
family moved to Waukon five years ago. In 1874 he was united in
marriage to Miss Caroline Pierer. Ten children were born. They
are Mrs. George Ludeking, Mrs. Arthur Brandt, Ruben, Arthur,
Albert, Elmer, Emma and Charlotte Snitker, all of Waukon. Seven
survive.
A.G. Winters is now a patient at a sanitarium at Des Moines and
his many friends hope for a speedy recovery.
[transcribed by S.F., January 2010]
-----
New York Times
New York, New York
February 26, 1915
Miss Margaret Van der Veer Paine, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George
Hebard Paine of 39 East Twenty-seventh Street, was married last
night to William Fletcher Blades, son of William Blades of
Dubuque, Iowa, in the chapel of St. Bartholomew's Church at
Forty-fourth Street and Madison Avenue. The ushers were Edward
Harris Paine and Solomon Troper Hebard, and Miss Margaret Whiting
Miller Paine, a cousin of the bride, was the flower girl.
[transcribed by S.F., February 2007]
-----
Colorado Springs
Gazette
Colorado Springs, Colorado
March 13, 1915
Word was received here yesterday by Mrs. James E. Johnston of 809
Washington avenue, Colorado City, of the death of her father,
Patrick Cahalan of Waukon, Ia.
[transcribed by S.F., November 2008]
-----
New Smyrna Daily
News
New Smyrna, Florida
April 23, 1915
-J.F. Carleton, who had been here for between three and four
months with his mother and sister, Mrs. Julia R. Boles and Mrs.
L.C. Keech, at their home on First avenue, left thursday of last
week on his return to Charles City, Iowa. Until his visit here
this winter it had been more than 20 years since Mr. Carleton had
seen his mother and sister.
-Dr and Mrs. M.R. Waggoner left Tuesday for their home in Dewitt,
Iowa.
[transcribed by S.F., April 2007]
-----
Trenton Evening
Times
Trenton, New Jersey
June 22, 1915
Personals - Mrs. Kathryn McCroden of 16 Fairview Avenue left last
Sunday for the West, where she will spend three months on the
ranch of her daughter, Mrs. Peter Sweeney of Waukon, Iowa. While
in the West, Mrs. McCroden will visit her son, Leonard in
Lafayette, Ind., and another son, Michael, in Fort Sheridan, Ill.
[transcribed by S.F., August 2009]
-----
New York Times
New York, New York
August 20, 1915
Williamstown, Mass., Aug. 19 -- The marriage of Miss Louise
Hopkins, daughter of Mrs. Henry Hopkins and the late Dr. Hervey
Hopkins, and Archer Coit Sinclair of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, took
place here today at the home of the bride's mother. The Rev. John
H. Denison, an uncle of the bride, officated. Miss Alice Hopkins
was her sister's only attendant, and Dr. Donald B. Sinclair of
New York was his brother's best man. The bride's father was one
time President of Wiliams College.
[transcribed by S.F., March 2010]
-----
New York Times
New York, New York
October 15, 1915
Chapman-Hurlburt. Announcement has been made of the engagement of
Miss Amy Budd Chapman, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Isaac E. Chapman
of Flatbush, L.I., to Russell Blair Hurlburt, son of the Rev.
Rollo F. Hurlburt and Mrs. Hurlburt of Marshalltown, Iowa. Mr.
Hurlburt is a graduate of Cornell, class of '10. No date has been
set for the wedding.
[transcribed by S.F., March 2010]
-----
Waukesha Freeman
Waukesha, Wisconsin
November 25, 1915
ELM GROVE.
- John Reinders and wife and J. Seaman and wife and daughter,
Clara, left last week for Emmetsburg, Iowa, to attend the silver
wedding of W. Reinders, which was observed at that place Nov. 16.
[transcribed by C.J.L., Jan. 2004]
-----
Daily Journal
Telluride, San Miguel co. Colorado
November 28, 1915
From the Montrose Enterprise -- Mrs. Bertha Geyer of
Waterloo, Iowa, is in the city visiting her son, Harry and
daughter, Erma Tarkoff. Before returning east she will also visit
her daughters Mrs. E. McGregor at Telluride and Mrs. John Bennett
of Vanadium.
[transcribed by S.F., July 2005]
-----
Petersburg Weekly
Report
Petersburg, Alaska Territory
Saturday, December 15, 1915
Edward Shanda Killed in Treadwell Mine
The many Petersburg friends of Edward Shanda were shocked to
learn of his death last Saturday at the Mexican mine in
Treadwell. Shanda was employed as an oiler at the hoist. It seems
that he was engaged in adjusting some gear of the hoist, and had
called to the engineer that all was clear. The cage was then
started up, and it is thought Shanda was caught and crushed by
the heavy balance weight which was released when the engine was
reversed. He climbed out of the pit, walked about thirty feet,
and then collapsed. He died a few minutes later while being taken
to the hospital. Deceased was 28 years of age, and was born in
Elborough, Iowa (sic - Elberon, Iowa). He is survived by a widow
and infant daughter, who reside in Douglas, and a brother in
Oregon and one in Iowa. The funeral took place in Douglas last
Monday. Mr. Shanda was a resident of Petersburg up to about a
year and a half since, and his marriage to Mable Israelson took
place in this city about two years ago. From here he went to
Ketchikan, where he worked at his trade as a barber, and last
spring moved to Treadwell, after stopping here with his wife for
a short visit.
[transcriber's notes: 1900 U.S. Census, Salt Creek, Tama co. Iowa; age 13; parents Frank & Anna and 6 siblings. His death certificate (on-line, Ancestry) gives birthplace as Elberon, Iowa, age 28; DOD 12/18/1915, of a dislocation of neck; wife Mable; insured by the Alaska Mexican Gold Mining Co.; burial Douglas cemetery, Douglas, AK (there is a photo of his gravestone on FindAGrave) - transcribed by S.F., August 2017]
-----
Rochester Democrat
and Chronicle
Rochester, New York
December 16, 1915
Rodam, Dec. 15 - News has been received here by relatives of the
death in Detroit, Mich., of Ward Cook, a native of [illegible -
Sodna ?], aged 80 years. Mr. Cook in his early life was a
surveyor in this town. He married Miss Isabelle DuVok, of this
village, who died a few years ago. He leaves one son, Charles
Cook, of Waukon, Allamakee county, Iowa and two daughters, Mrs.
Charles H. Shields of Toledo, Ohio and Fannie Cook [Reser ?] of
Detroit.
[transcribed by S.F., August 2007]