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PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY
323 (1888 cont.)
lurching of the ship and one of his hips broken, necessitating
his detention in a hospital for five weeks. He completed his visit
nevertheless.
August 9th, firm of Olson & Thompson, general merchants, Decorah,
dissolves after twenty-five years, Mr. Olson retiring.
September 7th, Knut Larson, a Military township pioneer, is killed
by thecars as he was driving into Ossian.
September 27th, announcement made that Prof. L. S. Reque of Luther
College had been nominated by the democrats of the fourth district
for Congress. He was defeated at the polls by J. H. Sweney of
Osage.
September 21st, three hundred neighbors help Mr. and Mrs. B. M.
Lien of Hesper celebrate silver wedding.
October 21st, fire damaged Decorah M. E. church to extent of $1,400.
November 2d, a hot political campaign closed with a monster county
republican rally participated in by hundreds. Its equal was never
held in this part of Iowa.
During the year 1888 the following deaths occurred among the old
residents of the county: March 3d, Elizabeth H. Strayer, Freeport,
1853. March 21st, Elijah Clark, Fremont, 1853. June 29th, Christopher
A. Estram, Frankville,
1850. July 6th, Mrs. Mary Thornton, Bloomfield, 1858. September
10th, S. B. Dunlap, Washington, 1855. September 30th, Frank P.
Jones, Hesper, 1855. October 10th, Roleun Chamberlain, Freeport,
1855.
1889
April 9th, friends and neighbors assisted Mr. and Mrs. T. N.
Wilson of Hesper celebrate the sixtieth anniversary of their wedding.
They were Hesper residents' since 1856.
April 24th, firm of Leonard & Son, Decorah, takes place of
firm of Jas. Alex. Leonard.
April 23d, lightning struck Elevator "B" at Decorah,
which destroyed same.
May. 19th, Luther College burned. Lou and Dell Coleman, sons of
Dr. W. F. Coleman, severely burned. The latter died from his injuries.
June 14th, German church two and one-half miles southeast of Ridgeway
dedicated.
September 9th, record of land sale at $40 per acre; this was considered
above the average in this county.
September 19th, fire destroyed building of Julius Meyer at Decorah.
Charred remains of Meyer found after the fire had been extinguished.
September 19th, new United Lutheran church at Decorah dedicated.
October, Tarvold Evenrud found dead on his farm at Glenwood. Supposed
suicide.
November 18th, Sheriff Langland severely wounded by a shot from
a tough he was arresting.
December 7th, N. H. Adams' seed warehouses wiped out by fire.
December 20th, farm home of Winfred Baker in Bluff ton township
burned. December 30th, Todd Peck killed by the cars in c., M.
& St. P. yards in Decorah. He was engaged in tagging cars,
slipped on the-end of a tie and went under the wheels.
PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY
324
Among the names of the pioneers who passed away during 1889 we
find the following: January 4th, Mrs. T. W. Burdick, Freeport,
1856. January 17th, Mrs. S. B. Ervin, north of Decorah, 1850.
January 27th, Wm. Birdsell, Frankville, 1851. Paris R. Baker,
Bluff ton; Sven J. Folkedahl; and Sever Gilbertson, Highlandville,
1859. February 5th, R. N.. Sawyer, Ossian, 1855. March, Rollin
Wilson, Decorah, 1855. March 25th, Albert Stonson Grindeland,
Highland, 1852. June 2d, Ira Bloomfield, Decorah, 1854. June 17th,
Isaac G. West, Freeport, 1855. June 29th, Robert Kirkland, Freeport,
1855. July 2d, B. F. Giles, Canoe, 1852. July 9th, Charles Brady,
Bluff ton, 1853. October 18th, Silas Dayton, Decorah, June, 1856.
November 25th, Wilson W. McHenry, Decorah, 1855.
1890
January 1st, Rev. P. Garrahan of Decorah Catholic church departs
for Ireland on a health recuperation trip. .
January 2d, John Kavorik, a farmer residing near Conover, found
dead in the road under circumstances indicating he had been kicked
by one of his horses.
January 4th, Mrs. W. H. Valleau of Decorah passes away.
January 16th, two eagles trapped near Bluffton.
April 4th, fire in Calmar swept away property valued at $11,000.
The losers being John Scott, Jos. Wallender, and Town hall.
May 9th, Alice Glover received fatal injuries. The buggy in which
she was riding was struck by the cars at the Broadway crossing
in Decorah. She died two days later.
June 23d, heavy rains cause floods that do damage to great dams
and bridges along the Upper Iowa and its tributaries.
September 22d, Mrs. Daniel Borst of Frankville, aged seventy-nine
years, burned to death.
October 14th, new Luther College building dedicated.
Among the list of deaths we find the following pioneers: January
22d, E. M. Farnsworth, Orleans, 1855. February 9th, Mrs. T. M.
Hoyt, Freeport, 1855. February 10th, Narve Gilbertson, Madison.
February 3d, Gullick I. Berg, Decorah, 1850. March 13th, Thomas
Headington, Canoe, 1859. April 7th, Mrs. Anna Morse, Bluffton,
1852. April 11th, Ephraim Webster, Burr Oak, 1855. June 3d, Mrs.
Frank Snell, Bluffton, 1854. June 28th, Dr. John M. Green, Decorah,
1856, July 21st, Mrs. A. O. Lomen, Springfield, 1850. August 2d,
Mrs. Mary Painter, Hesper, 1856. August 5th, William Fifield,
Fremont, 1854. August 31St, James F. Moore, Washington, before
1851. September 1st, Iver Erickson, 1857. December 4th, William
Rowlee, Orleans, 1854. December 6th, Frank E. Fletcher, Bluff
ton, 1853. December 31st, James B. Smith (died at Sioux Falls),
Decorah, 1855.
1891
January 18th, Unity church at Decorah dedicated.
February 12th, an eagle was caught on Captain Gardner's farm that
measured six feet and six inches from tip to tip.
PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY
325
March 19th, new opera house proposition on foot at Decorah.
Subscription of $10,000 secured in two days. Resulted in building
of Grand Opera House.
April 20th, revival meetings begun by Rev. D. P. Brown which resulted
in the organization of a Baptist church in Decorah.
June 2d, George Bernatz's flour mill at Fort Atkinson burned to
the ground. Loss $15,000. Insurance $9,000.
August 2d, Ole Hopperstan killed by lightning while in a field
engaged in harvesting.
August 13th, B. H. Sherdahl robbed of $117 while in a saloon in
Decorah.
October 17th, Michael Maley found dead. Evidently while driving
home with a load of lumber the team got out of the road, sending
the wagon over a slight bank and throwing him under the load.
During the year the names of the following old settlers are found
among/the deaths: January 4th, James B. Smith (died at Sioux Falls),
Decorah, 1855. January 6th, Augustus P. Leach, Freeport, 1854.
January 17th, Thomas N. Wilson, Hesper, 1856. February 23d, Wesley
Bailey, Decorah, 1860. March 4th, Mrs. James Bucknell, Bluff ton,
1855. April 3d, Mrs. Benjamin Headington, 1858. April 4th, Mrs.
Lydia Lawrence, Decorah, 1858. April 9th, Rev. J, M. Wedgewood,
Ossian, 1858. April 12th, Mrs. Mary Kenyon Glimps, Hesper, 1853.
April 23d, Mrs. Mary E. Williams, Decorah, 1856. April 23d, Mrs.
Abigail Letchford, Frankville, 1854. May 17th, James Bucknell,
Bluff ton, 1855. May 29th, Mrs. Harriett Beard, Bluff ton, 1856.
June 9th, Mrs. Phoebe Aldrich, Hesper, 1858. August 14th, Robert
Kennedy, Burr Oak, 1858. August 21st, Ira Garfield, 1857. August
29th, Michel Omlie, Springfield, 1850. September 8th, Nicholas
Battey, Hesper, 1856. November, Erastus V. Andrus, 1858. November
29th, Mrs. Charlotte Winship, Decorah, 1855.
1892
January 6th, opening of the Grand Opera House at Decorah. Speeches
by prominent business men, also Hon. C. T, Granger, judge of Iowa
Supreme Court.
January 13th, Gottlieb Krumm, first pioneer in Washington township,
who arrived there with his family in 1848, passed away, Ernest
Pim drove over embankment on Dug road, Decorah, and died later
from injuries.
March 22d, Jacob Schwartz, while walking on the track near Nordness,
was killed by the cars.
May 15th, Henry Bakke was killed by lightning while engaged in
work as a cream gatherer.
June 22d, Sumner and Jackson townships visited by small cyclone.
Over $10,000 damage done,
June 23d, Flood in Dry Run inundated one-third of the city of
Decorah, and much damage was done to property along the line of
Dry Run and Upper Iowa river. Over twenty-nine bridges in the
county washed away or badly damaged.
July 21st, Morrow Paper Manufacturing Company organized to operate
the Freeport mill.
August 11th, Florence Morrison and Burton Shroyer of Castalia
drowned in Turkey river at Clermont. A party of six attempted
to ford the stream and drove into a deep hole.
PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY
326
September 19th, Valleau elevator, Decorah, burned.
September 26th, Free delivery of mail in Decorah ordered to begin
December 1st. S. E. J. Halvorson and B. H. Adams were the first
carriers.
October 7th, Corner stone of Decorah Baptist church laid.
November 9th, Martin Blake makes his advent as a country wrestler.
He subsequently proved to be "Farmer" Burns, world champion.
November 23d, E. E. Meader, Hesper pioneer, wakened by burglars
who compel him to open his safe and give over its' contents, several
hundred dollars.
December 22d, Frankville township land sells for $50 per acre,
a record price.
Deaths of pioneers: May 2d, Mrs. Charlotte L. McHenry, Decorah,
1856. May 10th, Hon. H. B. Williams, Hesper, 1858. May 11th, D.
D. Webster, Washington Prairie, 1852. May 12th, John McKay, FrankvilIe,
1854. May 29th, Mrs. Mira D. Wheatman, Calmar, 1859. May 30th,
James McIntosh, Madison, 1855. June 8th, Mrs. Ira Bloomfield,
Decorah, 1852. July 20th, H. H. Hintermann, Spillville, 1854.
July 20th, Elizabeth H. Groves, Springfield, 1850. September 16th,
Jos. Zahasky, Sumner, 1857. October 2d, Mathias Kneeskern, Frankville,
1858. October 7th, J. S. Daskam, Fremont, 1854. October 11th,
Mrs. Bertha H. Evenson, Pleasant, 1851. November 16th, Mrs. Olson,
Conover, 1852. November 18th, Mrs. Betsey A. Walker, Burr Oak,
1855. November 20th, Thomas Truman, Fremont, 1855. November 22d,
Mrs. John Kessell, Fremont, 1853.
1893
January 1st, E. I. Weiser, pioneer druggist (1858), retires,
and his son, E. J. Weiser, succeeds him.
January 28th, Walter E. Akers, former well known attorney, killed
in railroad accident near Kent, Illinois. Twenty days of below
zero weather in January, the coldest being 26° below.
February 19th, John C. Pearson killed by accidental firing of
a gun at Rockvale, Colorado.
March 1st, Dr. E. B. Hutchinson, Decorah pioneer of 1858, and
county clerk for four years, died at Taopi, South Dakota.
March 9th, word received that Col. J. E. Simpson, Winneshiek pioneer,
is made commander of Nebraska Soldier's Home.
March 6th, C. N. Goddard, pioneer merchant, elected mayor of Decorah.
March 7th, Mr. and Mrs. Alva Tracy, Sumner township pioneers,
celebrate fiftieth wedding anniversary.
March 20th, Calmar Manufacturing Company is organized with $20,000
capital.
March 26th, Helmer Johnson, Calmar boy, killed by the cars.
June 10th, Prof. L. S. Reque of Luther College appointed consul
at Rotterdam, Holland, by President Cleveland.
June 10th, Dr. Anton Dvorak, world famous Bohemian composer, comes
to Winneshiek county to spend three months at Spillville. It was
while here that he wrote his celebrated New World symphony. He
also composed a quintette
which he called "Spillville"
June 19th, in the announcement of awards in the dairy butter contest
for
PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY
327
June at the world's fair in Chicago, Mrs. D. H. Leach of Freeport
is first in Iowa with a score of ninety-six points.
June 29th, Decorah Windmill Company receives orders for mills
to be shipped to Yucatan, Mexico, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
July 13th, Plans for new M. E. church at Burr Oak completed.
August 4th, Capt. M. A. Moore, who organized Company H, Ninth
Iowa Volunteers, while residing at Burr Oak, dies at Omaha.
August 17th, Patrick Roney died at home of G. Severson in Canoe
township under circumstances that caused Severson's subsequent
arrest, trial and conviction of manslaughter. Roney had lived
in the county since 1855.
August 22d, Hexom Brothers, in the Hutchinson building on Washington
street, Decorah, burned. Loss $9,500. Insurance $6,500.
October 21st, George Cooney, pioneer of Decorah (1850) and Fort
Atkinson (1853), passed away. Mr. Cooney was appointed agent to
take care of the fort property until it was sold by the Government.
October 28th, Public Library Association formed.
November 1st, Ezekiel Cutler, first auditor of Winneshiek county,
dies. December 14th, Prof. H. W. Shiel of Luther College, explores
Glenwood cave and reports length of 2,400 feet with a stream navigable
for 1,400 feet.
Deaths of pioneers during the year as follows: January 16th, Cyrus
Williams, Washington Prairie, 1855. January 28th, Benjamin Beard,
Washington Prairie, 1851. (In Fresno, Cal.) March 1st, Arvilla
Pagin, Frankville, 1852. March 30th, Mrs. W. M. Ranken, Frankville,
1856. (At Tonganoxie, Kas.) April 6th, Phineas Banning, Bloomfield,
1849. April 21St, Alva Tracy, Sumner, 1858. April 28th, Leonard
Standring, Decorah, 1855. April 28th, Patrick Courtney, Bluff
ton, 1855. June 25th, John Herrick Coleman, Decorah, 1857. August
18th, Mrs. F. D. Sawyer, Ossian, 1858. August 13th, Christopher
Todd, Fremont, 1855. August 15th, Hiram Wilson, Frankville, 1858.
August 23d, Mrs. Wilson Daubney, Pleasant, 1855. September 3d,
Lewis L. Cooke, Glenwood, 1853. September 15th, David Kinnison,
Frankville, 1849, Canoe, 1850. October 9th, Violet McMurtrie Burdick,
Decorah, 1858. October 14th, Mrs. Magne Langland, Pleasant, 1853.
November 6th, Mrs. Jacob Zuchmayer, Decorah, 1858. November 19th,
Amos Harris, Castalia, 1859. November 24th, Amos C. Earl, Springwater,
1858. November 29th, Willard Converse (at Cresco), Sumner, 1856.
1894
January 15th, Hon. Henry M. Rice, who ran a trading post on the
Peter E. Haugen farm southwest of Decorah in 1840,. dies at San
Antonio, Texas.
February 1st, Winneshiek county has eighteen creameries. There
were two each on Washington prairie and Kendallville. The Ossian
Creamery Co. operated one each at Castalia, Ossian, Festina and
Nordness. Wm. Beard & Son operate one at Decorah, one at Ridgeway,
and one at Frankville, and the others were located at Burr Oak,
Calmar, Glenwood, Hesper, Locust, Spillville, and Highlandville.
February 1st, the death of Gjermund Johnson, the leader of the
second party of Norwegian pioneers who came to the county in 1850,
passed away.
PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY
328
February 11th, Jared Ferguson of Decorah celebrates his one hundredth
birthday anniversary.
February 25th, Mrs. Sarah M. Thune of Washington Prairie dies
from fright caused by actions of a horse attached to buggy in
which she was riding.
March 6th, S. C. Treat, pioneer Decorah baker (1856), retires
from business. Russell Tabor, founder of Hesper village, passed
away. He was a pioneer of 1854.
March 12th, Snyder's store and Freeport postoffice burglarized
and building badly damaged by blowing open safe.
March 8th, James Malloy, prominent resident of Ossian, passed
away.
April 4th, Plymouth Rock mill, one of the early ones, bought by
George Sears.
March 30th, Hon. D. O. Aker, Burr Oak Springs pioneer of 1854
and former state representative, died at his home at Ridgeway.
April 12th, a damage suit for $5,000 brought by the wife of a
man named Reihle against the county, settled for $1,000. Reihle
was one of two brothers whose threshing outfit went through a
county bridge near Spillville and he was killed.
March 30th, town of Ridgeway votes to incorporate.
April 18th, Sheriff Christen searches homes of Frank Ferguson,
George Strauss and John Hickey at Calmar, securing large amount
of loot stolen from freight cars. Arrest and conviction followed.
May 12th, first mulct consent petition taken under new law is
filed with board of supervisors. It contained the names of 78.2
per cent of the voters at the last general election. Decorah city
council voted to make the tax $800, adding $200 to the amount
stipulated by law.
May 20th. Capt. George Q. Gardner died.
June 7th, Mrs. Gabriel I. Osmondson of Pleasant township killed
in a runaway.
June 13th, James Shea of Burr Oak, died while under the influence
of chloroform administered to perform operation.
June 26th, Kate Jennish of Decorah killed by lightning. In a hard
storm she started to run from the home of her sister to her father's
home and it is supposed she was killed by a bolt that struck a
tree near by.
July 20th, Judge L. O. Hatch, of this district court, dies at
his home at McGregor.
August 16th, extreme dry weather makes the fire hazard great.
At Ossian on August 2d, a spark from the passing engine sets fire
to dry grass and the town is menaced. In Sumner township on the"
6th a threshing engine sets fire to a field on E. C. Wingard's
farm and it was necessary to plow around it to put out the blaze.
On the morning of the 7th the Gilchrist elevator in Decorah burned.
During the week of August 9-12 heat expanded the rails on a newly
laid track at Calmar so they curved four feet out of alignment.
On the 7th a little son of Jas. Iverson, Hesper, was prostrated
with heat while driving to Mabel, and died.
September 2d, bodies of George Wemett and Mrs. John Cater of Burr
Oak discovered. Circumstances point to murder, and John Cater
is subsequently convicted of the crime and sent to the penitentiary
for life.
PAST AND PRESENT OF WINN:8SHIEK COUNTY
329
October 15th, new .M. E. church at Burr Oak is dedicated.
Deaths: January 21st, Samuel Hunter, Bloomfield, 1855. January
23d,
Ellen Fleming, Decorah, 1856. January 26, Dr. Austin Pegg, prominent
physician and resident of Ossian. February 6th, John Stead, Burr
Oak, 1853. February 2d, Andrew McIntosh, Madison, 1855. March
23d, B. O. Dahly, Freeport, 1854. March 16th, Joseph Huber, early
Sumner pioneer. March 30th Albert Weiser (at Preston), Decorah,
1856. May 18th, Silas Gripman, Canoe, 1855. May 21st, John Twamley,
Fort Atkinson, 1857. July 26th, John Kennedy, Decorah, 1858. September
11th, Mrs. Crescentia Rastetter, Spillville, ]851. October 6th,
Mrs. B. Harmon, Franklin Prairie, 1850. December 22d, Mrs. Mary
Carter, Bloomfield, 1856.
1895
January 11th, ten-year-old son of Torston Johnson of Glenwood
frozen to death. It is supposed that while skating he broke through
the ice and was so exhausted when he got out he could not go home.
January 31st, agitation for a new courthouse began.
February 3d, J. J. Marsh's machinery houses burned. Loss $10,000.
Insurance $1,100.
February 5th, stores of Levi Fossum and J. C. Tarvestad and photo
galleryof J. E. Borlaug, Decorah, ruined by fire.
March 4th, Doctor Daubney elected mayor of Decorah, beginning
a service of eighteen years in the office.
.March 15th, Alonzo Houck, proprietor of Burr Oak stage line,
died suddenly from heart disease.
February 22d, word comes of the death of Ernest Willett, blind
son of Judge G. R. Willett, in Germany, where he was studying
music.
March 27th, M. W. Carey, superintendent of county poor farm, died.
April 16th, Decorah Congregationalists vote to build new church.
April 26th, Winneshiek Lodge, No. 58, I. O. O. F., celebrates
seventy-sixth anniversary of Odd Fellowship in America. Dr. F.
Andros, pioneer physician, died in Minneapolis. He was physician
to the Winnebago Indians at Fort Atkinson in 1846.
May 9th, Doctor Cartwright secures for Grace Episcopal church,
Decorah, the bell in the old Episcopal church at Waukon. The bell
was a present to the Waukon church from Jay Cooke, noted Philadelphia
banker.
June 20th, the census of Winneshiek county is 23,041, a gain of
513 in five years.
July 1st, George Q. Gardner Camp, Sons of Veterans, installed
in Decorah. A camp at Hesper had been installed previously.
July 3d, Wm. Updegraff lays out Updegraff's addition to Decorah.
A portion of the tract is now included in the city park.
July 9th, farm home of Michael F. McCabe, near Plymouth Rock,
with its contents, destroyed by fire.
July 22d, Sumner W. Matteson, pioneer of 1857 and clerk of courts
1860-1864, died in St. Paul.
PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY
330
August 14th, Peter Peterson of Calmar has leg crushed by cars
in Calmar yards.
August 22d and 23d, old settlers reunion held in Decorah.
August 30th, Jacob Cipera of Spillville arrested for shooting
Frank Novotney. He was convicted of assault.
September 14th, Baker's store at Ridgeway burglarized of $300
worth of goods. It was entered again October 2d and a large amount
of stock taken.
September 16th, Rev. and Mrs. Ephraim Adams, pioneer pastor and
wife, celebrate fiftieth wedding anniversary.
September 26th, Decorah becomes central station for Winneshiek
county telephone lines.
October 2d, Jared Ferguson of Decorah dies at the age of 101 years,
7 months and 21 days. Pioneer Norwegians hold first reunion.
October 22d, Mrs. D. F. Knowlton celebrated ninetieth birthday.
October 8Jh, D. C. Tabor and wife of Hesper celebrate golden wedding
anniversary.
December 26th, T. J. Crawford of Frankville has a $1,300 pig.
He bought it at the state fair and subsequently it was found it
had cholera. The disease was transmitted to Mr. Crawford's herd
and his losses represented the above sum.
December 24th, John Kern's home at Locust burned. It was a landmark,
having been built by Wm. Vail, one of the first settlers.
Among the deaths of pioneers during the year we find the names
of the following: January 18th, Mrs. Lucinda Garfield, 1857. January
23d, Sarah Jane Taylor, Canoe, 1853. January 24th, Wm. Vreeland
(at Spirit Lake), Decorah, 1855. Jan. 27th, Sarah Smith Sharp,
Canoe, 1851. January 28th, Mons K. Foss, Pleasant, 1853. February
1st, Judge E. E. Cooley, Decorah,
[854. February 5th, James Cameron, Military, 1854. February 7th,
Jeremiah T. Atkins, Decorah, 1851. February 13th, Gilbert K. Opdahl,
Decorah, 1850. February 14th, Martha M. McMullen, Canoe, 1854.
March 25th, Mrs. Amelia Packard, Frankville, 1856. April 19th,
Mrs. Maria Hogan, Decorah, 1858. June 18th, Michel Dibb, Madison,
1856. July 12th, Lorenz Stortz, Canoe, 1859. August 9th, Mrs.
Judson E. Dean, Military, 1851. August 13th, John I Ringstad,
Madison, 1852. September 6th, Mrs. James Headington, Canoe, 1859.
September 5th, Mrs. Isabelle Blanchard, Canoe, 1849. September
12th, Jos. McMahon, Decorah, 1855. October IIth, Richard Gripman,
Canoe, 1855. November 12th, Mrs. John McKay, Frankville, 1852.
November 18th, Ralph C. Pike, Decorah, 1856. December 12th, John
Henry, Canoe, 1854. December 13th, B. L. Bisby, Hesper, 1851.
1896
January 1st, news comes of the death at Denver of Rev. \V. A.
Keith, who was the organizer and the first minister of the Congregational
church at Decorah. He came to Decorah in June, 1854.
January 28th, burglars entered the store of J. A. Giesing at Calmar
and one was killed by a shot fired at random from a son of Mr.
Giesing, who was in a room upstairs.
PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY
331
February 6th, the city council considers a proposition to light
the city by electricity. It was submitted to the voters and on
March 3d won a substantial majority. Franchise was given to a
Mr. Rolf, but this was forfeited, and on August 19th the council
gave the franchise to Burtis & Howard of Minneapolis.
February 12th, residence of Mrs. Esther Pegg at Ossian consumed
by fire. February 16th, new Congregational church at Decorah dedicated.
April 5th, fire destroyed barn of John Wingate at Burr Oak. Seven
horses and several head of cattle burned.
May 24th, Mr. and Mrs. Cyrus McKay celebrate their golden wedding.
Lived in Decorah for thirty-six years.
June 25th, hard storm. Rain fall was 2.02 in. in one hour.
June 24th, reorganization of Cemetery Association. Six acres purchased
to enlarge Phelps cemetery. Archway to be erected by Mr. Phelps.
June 28th, Baptist church at Decorah dedicated.
July 1st, contract let for new school house at Decorah.
July 4th, Jacob Segmiller, Jr., thrown from the back of a horse
on to cement side walk and killed.
July 27th, Congregational church at Decorah calls Rev. Mahlon
Willett, their present pastor.
August 18th, little Schellhammer boy of Castalia fell from a sixty
loot windmill tower, died two hours later.
September 2d, Luren Singing Society won honors at the annual Saengerfest
held at Omaha.
. October 22d, word is received of the death of Wm. Fannon, at
Neleigh, Nebraska. He was a pioneer in this county, and served
four years as county treasurer.
November 12th, after thirty-four years of existence the National
Bank of Decorah succumbs to adversity. Closed by bank examiner.
November 27th, Y. M. C. A. rooms opened in Decorah.
December 14th, J. H. Mackenstadt's tailor shop at Decorah, looted
and goods to the amount of $1,200 stolen.
Among the deaths during the year we find the following names of
pioneers: January 18th, Mrs. Jane Grout Coleman, Decorah, 1857.
January 22d, Dr. William Parliman, Decorah, 1857. February 12th,
A. W. Brownell (at Salem, Ore.). February 13th, Ezekiel E. Meader,
Hesper, April 12, 1861. Mrs. Richmal Pollett, Burr Oak, 1855.
February 17th, N. S. Marsh, Decorah, 1856. March 7th, Deighton
B. Ellsworth, Decorah, 1855. Mrs. Sophia Hoffstrom, Decorah, 1856.
N. H. Williams (at Mitchell, S. D.), Decorah, 1860. March 10th,
Vincent Kapler, Sp ill v ill e, 1855. March 23d, Thomas Mitchell,
Hesper, 1856. May 2d, James McEnerny, Decorah, during the '50S.
May 15th, Mrs. Cynthia Bachelder, Bloomfield. May 24th, Mrs. lngred
Haugen, Madison, 1850. June 1st, Mary Ann
Gorman Birdsell, Frankville, 1854. June 29th, H. J. Harden, Burr
Oak, 1857. July 1st, Mrs. N. C. Earl, Decorah, 1860. August 5th,
Henry Heivly, Decorah, 1856. August 14th, Charles H. Jennish,
Decorah. September 1st, George Daubney, Pleasant, 1854. October
13th, Amos Smith (at Beloit, Wis.), Decorah.
PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY
332
1897
January 7th, war is declared between the Iowa and Standard telephone
companies, resulting in the latter being built to all parts of
the county. The Decorah Electric Light Company organized. This
was the forerunner to the Upper Iowa Power Company division of
the Inter State Power Company.
January 13th, Sarah Campbell, first settler in Winneshiek county,
died at her home near Castalia.
January 20th, Cater murder case sent back for retrial because
of error in Judge Cooley's instructions to the jury. Change of
venue taken to Fayette county and Cater was again convicted and
sent to penitentiary for life.
January 25th, new Decorah High School building occupied. The building
cost $33,752.
January 27th, Samuel Murdock, judge of tenth district in 1855,
died at his home in Clayton county.
January 29th, W. H. Oxley, well known Bloomfield pioneer, killed
in runaway accident.
January 30th, Hon. John McHugh, prominent banker, stockman and
politician, died at Cresco.
February 7th, Decorah Electric Light Company begins operation
of plant.
February 18th, announcement made that Rev. Thomas Linehan is appointed
bishop of Cheyenne. He was a priest of the Decorah- Bluff ton
charge in 1869-70, his first charge.
March 11th, Mrs. Joel Perry, daughter of Mrs. Sarah Campbell who
died January 13th, found dead in bed. She came to the county with
her parents in June, 1848.
March 20th, Citizens Savings Bank buys Finn building, corner of
Water and Winnebago streets, Decorah, and announces it will be
remodeled for new bank home. At a citizens' mass meeting at Calmar
it was unanimously voted to build a new eight room schoolhouse
with basement under the whole building.
March 22d, Judge Hobson declares Mulct petition is short of required
65 per cent.
June 6th, what was thought to be an earthquake shock was felt
throughout this region.
July 5th, Decorah celebrated day of national independence with
Sen. J. J. Ingalls of Kansas as orator. It was the greatest celebration
ever held in this part of Iowa.
August 5th, American Pulp, Linen & Fibre Company buy Freeport
Paper Mill and prepare to convert it into a flax fibre plant.
August 25th, F. W. Daubney nominated by republicans for Senator
for Winneshiek and Howard district. At the time a suit was pending
against him in which Charlotte Daubney, his aunt, demanded the
return of $7,000 of securities from the estate of her husband.
He was defeated for the senatorship by D. A. Lyons of Cresco and
the court ordered him to turn over the securities he claimed as
a gift from his uncle.
October 16th, fire on Peter Roney's farm at Trout Run burns barn,
seven horses, 500 bushels of oats and other property.
Deaths of pioneers during the year were as follows: January 7th,
Stephen
PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY
333
Allen, Bloomfield, 1855. January 23d, Mrs. Salmon Shroyer, Bloomfield,
1856. January 24th, Mrs. J. E. Burhans, Bloomfield, 1855. January
27th, Wm. B. Goocher, Orleans, 1855. January 31st, Peter McMartin,
Bloomfield, 1855. February 6th, Lyman Seeley, Decorah, early '50S.
February 26th, Lucretia C. Talbert, Hesper, early '50's. February
28th, Sarah A. Husted, Moneek, 1851. March 22d, Mrs. Mary Holcomb,
Bloomfield, 1854. March 29th, Dr. Wm. C. Battey, Hesper, 1855.
April 7th, Geo. Heckle, Burr Oak, 1855. April 12th, Joseph M.
Langhlen, Burr Oak, 1857. April 20th, Mrs. H. Holverson, Springfield,
1854. May 2d, Jacob Rotner, Canoe, 1854. June 14th, Thomas Russell,
Canoe, 1854. June 21st, Mrs. Elizabeth Botsford, Decorah, 1857.
July 1st, Ella F. Gripman, Canoe, 1854. July 25th, Walter Rathbun,
Frankville, 1850. August 18th, Mrs. J. H. Porter, Burr Oak, 1857.
September 1St, Wm. Russell, Canoe, 1855. September 7th, Dr. H.
C. Bullis, Decorah, 1854; James Tyler, Decorah, 1853. September
14th, James Van Pelt, Decorah, 1853. October 7th, Wm. L. Iverson,
Canoe, 1851. October 11th, J. N. Kelley, Bluffton, 1856. November
1st, Mrs. John DeCou, Moneek, 1850. November 6th, C. Van Wey,
Frankville, 1856. December 6th, Jens Christopher, Springfield,
1854. December 20th, Mrs. Alva Tracy, Sumner, 1858. December,
W. W. Wheelock, Decorah, 1855.
1898
February 10th, John Scott, first mayor of Calmar and well known
merchant, passed away.
February 12th, jury in the case of F. W. Daubney, asking $10,000
for libel from A. K. Bailey, returns verdict for defendant. Another
case of $10,000 against the Decorah Republican never got beyond
the notice of suit being served.
February 18th, worst snow storm in years.
May 19th, city of Decorah orders eight blocks on Water street
paved.
June, among the Winneshiek county boys who served their country
in the Spanish-American war we find the names of Charles T. Bailey,
Fred Gellerman, Lester Rice, Charles Larson, Ole Evenson, Lou
Haft, Herbert Haskel, Julius Schwarz, Hans Endustad, Will Asseln,
Weld T. Burdick, Charles Drake, Charles Dwyer, Robt. Reynolds,
M. Olson, E. Elzea, Wm. Coan.
June 29th, G. C. Krumm and wife at Fort Atkinson celebrate the
fiftieth anniversary of their location in Washington township,
Winneshiek county.
July 18th, The Grand Opera House at Decorah gutted by fire. Loss
$15,000, fairly well covered by insurance. In August a contract
was let for rebuilding. Finished in December.
July 26th, Mrs. Bertha Nelson of Madison township burned to death.
A spark from her pipe set fire to her clothing.
. October 4th, Nathan Peckham of Castalia killed in a runaway.
October 7th, Julius Huber of Fort Atkinson buried alive in a pit
while engaged in road work. Smothered to death before he could
be dug out.
December 10th, seven indictments returned by Winneshiek grand
jury against J. H. Easton charging fraudulent banking. Five other
indictments were previously secured. Trial of the cases was postponed
until the statute of limitations expired.
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