discounted the present one by several degrees,

all the mercurial thermometers bursting with

the extreme cold, and nothing remaining

but spirit thermometers which gave an idea of

the state of the weather, and they indicated

from 45 to 50 below. . . .

--Algona Upper Des Moines, 7 January 1885, page 4

DEATH FROM FREEZING

The sad case of Mr. Batterson…and of the Results of the Late Severe Weather…

Perishing within a Mile of Home

[Older brother of Abigail Batterson Devine] A. Batterson the mail carrier on the route between Algona and

Seneca post office, in this county, was frozen to death on Wednesday night last, within a short distance of

his home. The news of the sad affair reached this place last Friday. The particulars, as near as we have

learned them, are these:

Mr. Batterson started last Wednesday morning from Algona on his regular trip with the mail for Seneca. As

most people will remember, the day was very cold and stormy, the air at times being so filled with drifting

snow as to make it unsafe for one to venture out upon the prairie for any considerable distance. Yet it seems

that he concluded he could make the trip. The Seneca post office is kept by W. W. Alcorn, and this point,

some twenty miles distance from Algona, was reached in safety and the mail delivered. Here Mr. Batterson

stopped for a time, got thoroughly warmed, and, as there appeared sufficient abatement of the storm, started

on his way home, not far distant. Not reaching his home at the accustomed time, fears were entertained as

to his safety, and a search instituted, which resulted in the finding of his body on Friday morning in the

corn field of Mr. Klein, only about a mile from his own home. Here it appears he became lost, and

unhitching his team tied them to the sleigh. He then seems to have wrapped himself up as best he could and

laid down, probably in the hope that he would survive until morning and be able to then make his way

home. When found he was lying by the side of the sleigh, with his overcoat partially unbuttoned, which

looks as though he had become so prostrated by the severe cold as to be unable to keep his wraps about

him, and finally succumbed to the inevitable.

The deceased was a man well along in years, probably between 60 and 65, not very robust, but generally

considered in fair health. He was counted one of the early settlers, having been a resident of Greenwood

township for several years. The case is a very sad one, made doubly so by the fact that he was almost

within hailing distance of his home when overtaken by the grim messenger. How much of a family he

leaves we have not learned.

--Algona Upper Des Moines, 7 January 1885, page 4

ABIJAH BATTERSON DEATH/FREEZING

Algona Upper Des Moines, 7 January 1885, page 4

A stage driver, A. Batterson by name, aged 63 years, was found dead in the snow, near Seneca, Kossuth

county. He was first thought to have been frozen, but palpitation of the heart was found to be the true cause

of his death.

--Morning Sun Herald, Morning Sun, Iowa, 22 January 1885, page 6

THE COUNTY BOARD

Proceedings of the Regular June,

1885, Meeting

Algona, IA., June 1, 1885

. . . The petition of Barnet Devine, A. Fisher and others to have twp 94, 29 and that part of twp 95, 29, in

sec's 34, 35 and 36, south of the Des Moines river set off as a civil twp to be called Riverdale was granted.

--Algona Upper Des Moines, 10 June 1885, page 1

!17

Rachel (Scherf) Levine

Page !

of !

17

86