Items from The Chronicle, 1902 - 1904
THE CHRONICLE. VOL. 16. NO. 3. MAY 22, 1902.
Albert E. Cook is unloading a saw mill, engine and boiler in the railroad yard this week. The mill will be erected on the Cook farm and be used for working into lumber the cotton woods which have been felled.
The running team of the Odebolt fire department is now in training and the boys are practicing every evening at the track on Hanson boulevard, under the direction of Malcolm Currie, formerly a student at Coe College.
THE CHRONICLE. VOL. 16. NO. 4. MAY 29, 1902.
Herman Gromann and Duncan Currie, who are attending Coe college, won two firsts in the Inter Collegiate Track Union meet at Cedar Rapids last Saturday. Herman won the 220 yard dash in 22 3.5 seconds and was second in the 100 yard dash and the 440 yard dash. Duncan won the hammer throw, distance 121 feet, 3 inches.
THE CHRONICLE. VOL. 16. NO. 11. JULY 17, 1902.
Uncle Henry Wallace and wife, of Des Moines, were guests at Fairview farm from Thursday until Saturday.
THE CHRONICLE. VO. 16. NO. 12. JULY 24, 1902.
Wallace's' Farmer: We went over a good deal of five thousand acres of corn on the Adams farm at Odebolt last week and an actual count showed from fifty eight to sixty one stalks in twenty consecutive hills. This is the best stand of corn over a large tract that we have ever seen and was secured by extreme care in selecting seed, fire drying it, and then exchanging the plates of the corn planters to fit the size of the grains produced last year. We mention this to show what can be done to secure a full stand, one of the things precedent to a full crop.
Girl wanted.
Competent girl for general housework wanted August 1.
MRS. W. A. HELSELL.
THE CHRONICLE. VOL. 16. NO. 17. AUGUST 28, 1902.
E. S. Frey has sold his photographic studio to J. L. Umphrey, of Red Oak, who will take possession about September 1. Mr. Frey has conducted an art studio in Odebolt for the past ten years and his work has ranked with the best produced in the state. He served one term as president of the Iowa Photographers' association and has twice been awarded medals by the association on work exhibited. He still retains his residence property and the building in which the studio is located. Mr. Frey has valuable holdings in the Beaumont oil fields and expects to spend the winter looking after his oil interests.
Cloid H. Smith has sold his drug business in the Mattes block to J. A. Engstrom and O. E. Huglin, of Dayton, who will take possession about September 5. Mr. Engstrom will come to Odebolt at once and take charge of the business but Mr. Huglin does not expect to come here with his family to reside permanently until spring. Mr. C. J. Shea, who has had charge of the business since Mr. Smith took the management of the New State Telephone and Telegraph company, will continue in the employ of the new firm. Mr. Smith has been engaged in the drug business in Odebolt since 1891, when he and John H. Bieser established the business which has just been sold, under the firm name of Smith & Bieser. Mr. Bieser sold his interest to Mr. Smith in 1894. Mr. Smith will continue to reside in Odebolt and will devote his attention to looking after his telephone and oil interests.
Sac Sun: S. E. Kurtz in superintending the construction of two large elevators on his incline pattern for A. E. Cook, proprietor of the large Brookmont farm, north of Odebolt. The buildings will be 32 by 194 feet, with 24 foot posts. A large machine shed, an engine house and two cottages also are to be built on the farm. The foundations of all the buildings will be constructed of concrete, under the supervision of C. S. Larimer, of Sac City. The buildings are erected not far from the surveyed line of the Chicago Great Western railway.
THE CHRONICLE. VOL. 16. NO. 18. SEPTEMBER 4, 1902.
Mrs. J. W. McFarland entertained a company of her lady friends from 3 to 6 o'clock last Friday afternoon.
THE CHRONICLE. VOL. 16. NO. 19. SEPTEMBER 11, 1902.
Mrs. A. Gromann entertained a number of her lady friends last Friday afternoon.
The work on the Brookmont farm elevators is progressing nicely. Mr. Cook informs us that John W. McFarland, who has charge of the construction work, will likely complete the first elevator this week and work on the second building will begin as soon as the first is finished. C. S. Larimer commenced work on the concrete foundation for the second building last week and S. E. Kurtz has his machinery in readiness for his automatic dump and incline system, which he will put in place as soon as possible.
Mrs. Phil Schaller, of Sac City, has sold a 300 acre farm in Boyer Valley township to George Hix for $70 per acre.
Dr. William Woodburn, the Des Moines oculist and aurist, will be at Dr. A. Gromann's office on the forenoon of Monday, Sept. 22.
Mrs. B. A. Coy and Mrs. John F. Coy entertained a number of their lady friends at the B. A. Coy home, Fourth and Maple streets, Tuesday afternoon.
THE CHRONICLE. VOL. 16. NO. 20. SEPTEMBER 18, 1902.
Wm. Graham and the Odebolt Harness company have put down cement walks in front of their buildings on Main street.
William Impson, who came to Sac county in 1856, locating near where the town of Grant City now stands, died at that place last Wednesday. He had operated a blacksmith shop in Grant City for many years.
THE CHRONICLE. VOL. 16. NO. 21. SEPTEMBER 25, 1902.
On the afternoon of Thursday, Oct. 2, a twelve section sleeper will leave Sac City over the Milwaukee for Washington, where the annual G. A. R. encampment is to be held.
THE CHRONICLE. VOL. 16. NO. 22. OCTOBER 2, 1902.
Every stockman is represented in THE CHRONICLE'S Breeders' Directory is thoroughly reliable. You don't need to send elsewhere for pure blood stock.
A cement walk is being put down on the north side of Second street, between Maple street and Starner's furniture store. This will be a great improvement.
Bishop Garrigan, of Sioux City, will arrive here next Monday evening. Confirmation services will be held at 9:45 Tuesday morning, followed by a sermon by the Bishop. All are cordially invited to attend.
The young women got up a "povertie bawl" which came off last night at the opera house. It didn't cost the boys anything, and good eatins were served by the Bon Ton. The dancers appeared in rags and tags, and Weary Willies and Calamity Janes were numerous.
A. E. Matthews has completed a course of study of several years' duration under the direction of the Golden Cross Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat College and Clinic, and on examination received a grade of 100. He has been awarded a diploma and degree, and will hereafter devote special attention to fitting glasses, correcting errors of refraction, etc.
CHRONICLE. VOL. 16. NO. 23. OCTOBER 9, 1902.
A sewer is badly needed in the business part of town, and yet there is no place for an outlet. The only way would be to run the sewage into a big reservoir and distribute it thence into the soil, as is done by the school house system; but the cost would probably be too great if the entire business part of town were drained. As it is, there are few conveniences, and closets are so scarce that the health of merchants and their clerks is impaired. To speak plainly, there are practically no accommodations for female clerks and saleswomen. Every owner of a building which is used for mercantile or office purposes should be compelled by law to furnish closet accommodations within or near the building.
Dr. Gromann and Rev. Alexander Gilmore went up to Lake Okoboji last week and made a nice catch of pickerel and pike. One of the pickerel weighed 13 pound and another seven pounds.
At the annual meeting of the Boyer Valley Banking company on Monday the following officers were elected: President, Henry Hanson; vice president, August Lundell; secretary, W. F. Bay; cashier, W. J. Sandberg; directors, Henry Hanson, Joseph Mattes, August Lundell, W. W. Field, John R. Mattes, W. F. Bay, John Dinges.
THE CHRONICLE. VOL. 16. NO. 24. OCTOBER 16, 1902.
Despite the heavy rainfall this year it is doubtful if the upper veins have more water in them than the normal quantity. The precipitation during the past 10 years has been less than normal and remarkable hot and dry Julys, like those of 1894 and 1901, drew moisture from the ground like suction pumps. We remember that in 1883, when we came to Sac county, water was running in many places that are now dry, although they have never been tiled or ditched. Every brook bed was full of water and it seeped out of high ground in many places. In the fall of 1884 when the well for the water works was put down back of McKeever's shop the water came to the surface and overflowed. Nature has been supplying a deficiency this year and storing the water in the soil for the future. While too much of it came at the wrong time for the good of corn, wheat and oats, the benefits will be apparent hereafter.
THE CHRONICLE. VOL. 16. NO. 27. NOVEMBER 6, 1902.
On Monday of last week Albert, the 12 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Fisher of this city, was taken ill while in school. On Wednesday Dr. Johnson was called in and he pronounced the complaint appendicitis. Dr. Warren was summoned from Sioux City, and on Thursday morning he and Dr. Johnson performed the usual operation. The little fellow is getting along nicely at this writing.
James Traver and wife and Mr. and Mrs. Ray Wilson and their two children returned on Tuesday from their overland trip. They left Odebolt August 21 in a covered wagon and went as far west as Custer, South Dakota, within 25 miles of the Wyoming line. On their return they made a continuous journey from Rapid City, leaving that place about a month ago. The entire party enjoyed good health during the trip and thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
THE CHRONICLE VOL. 17. NO. 36. JANUARY 7, 1904.
Twenty-One Years Ago.
Twenty-one years ago to-day the editor of THE CHRONICLE came to Odebolt. The streets were crowded with people and the town, then about half its present size, looked like a hustling place. But there were about two chattel mortgage sales per day at the "city scales," and two justices of the peace made $1,000 per year each, mostly in default cases on machine notes. Ben Parker had just left, but his memory was yet pungent, and Charley George was preying on the wary and unwary. So was John Wright, although they didn't know it until 10 months later. The town had two hotels--The Revere and the Delmonico--and both were crowded with home boarders and lodgers. Few of the boys were married then, and above nearly every store building was a nest of bachelors. Frank Motie had just been tied up, but John and Billy Mattes, Doc Oursler, Sam Bowman, Marshall Hyder, Billy Finkbine, Frank Hoyt, Ed. Ward and Walter Matthews, Nels Nelson and a host of other good fellows were still outside of the breastworks. John Ketterer, then a widower, was "one of the boys," and we well remember when we heard his hearty laugh for the first time. Ward Van Deusen was post master and O. B. Francisco his deputy. Rev. Jesse Helsell had been carried in to the mayoralty the preceding spring on a reform wave whose crest was decorated with red trimmings, and Joseph Hilton was marshal. Clarence Messer was principal of the schools. F. R. Bennett published the Reporter and Benedict and Nowells the Observer.
Improved farms were selling at from $10 to $25 per acre and you could drive many miles without finding one that was fenced. The banks loaned money on short time at from two to three per cent, per month, according to the security and the needs of the borrower. Farmers who are independently rich to day were then struggling to keep up the payments on their land.
What a change there has been in 21 years!
THE CHRONICLE. VOL. 17. NO. 38. JANUARY 21, 1904.
Miss Jennie, daughter of James S. Bruce, and Dr. W. L. Potter were married December 24 at the home of the bride's parents near Garber, Oklahoma, Rev. R. J. Brewer officiating. The bride was formerly a resident of Wheeler township and has many warm friends in this vicinity. Dr. Potter is a dentist residing in Garber and is highly spoken of by the local paper, from which we glean the news of the marriage. THE CHRONICLE sends hearty congratulations.
THE CHRONICLE. VOL. 17. NO. 49. APRIL 7, 1904.
George Waggoner, son of Mr. and Mrs. John H. Waggoner, was accidentally shot while hunting at Lake View last Thursday. In company with Cloid H. Smith he had been shooting ducks on the lake all day. They had landed and were about to pull the boat ashore. George took hold of the muzzle of his gun to lay it in the boat when the hammer caught on one of the seats, discharging the firearm. The load struck him in the left arm just below the shoulder, shattering the bone and severing the main arteries. He was taken to Dr. E. E. Speaker's office, where his wounds were dressed and on the evening train taken to Wright's hospital, Carroll. Dr. Wright amputated the injured member just below the shoulder. George is getting along nicely and is thankful that he escaped with his life.
THE CHRONICLE. VOL. 17. NO. 51. APRIL 21, 1904.
Dr. A. Gromann sold his Shetland pony, cart, cutter, etc., to S. H. Nunemaker the first of the week. On Tuesday Simon loaded the pony in a car at the Odebolt station for shipment to his home at Mapleton, but he failed to reach his destination. About three miles west of Odebolt--opposite J. W. Younie's--the animal broke loose and jumped from the car, the door of which had in some manner become opened. Mr. Younie was working near the right-of-way and soon noticed the pony which he at once recognized as Dr. Gromann's. He escaped without a scratch and when brought to town yesterday was as frisky as ever.
THE CHRONICLE. VOL. 18. NO. 4. MAY 26, 1904.
Mr. F. R. Bennett, formerly editor of the Odebolt Reporter, has shipped to us from San Diego, California, the Reporter files covering a period from June 1, 1882 to April 1, 1887. When they arrive we shall resume the publication in these columns of the early history of Odebolt, which our readers found so interesting. We are greatly indebted to Brother Bennett for his courtesy. THE CHRONICLE was started May 10, 1887, so we can continue the narrative from its files when the Reporter material is exhausted.
THE CHRONICLE. VOL. 18. NO. 30. NOVEMBER 24, 1904.
Kiron Sentinel: The fact that on the mail routes here the names of most of the patrons are Johnson, Anderson or Larson makes it annoying to the carriers. The common expressions used here to distinguish one man from another, such as "Johnson in the cornfield," "Charley on the corner," "Carlson on the bottom," "Molasses Kalle," "Larson on the hill," "Big John," etc., could not be used by Uncle Sam, but the boxes might be numbered as they are in other places.