Kahoka Review, Sept 6, 1899

A Ghost Story

Wyaconda News: In addition to the many other enterprises in Wyaconda she has a real, sure enough ghost. Like all up-to-date ghosts, this one is freaky. It appears only on Friday nights and it's haunts are in the vicinity of the Mrs. Miller property in the Panitown addition.

This ghost appears in female attire and vanishes when pursuit is made. Strange noises have been heard, such as groans, clocks striking, windows rattling, etc. A posse of about 40 young people was organized last Friday evening to capture this spook but while it entertained the party in the usual way, it evaded the "ghost committee" and is yet at large.

Another posse will again make the attempt to capture the "haunt" in the near future, and if successful, Wyaconda will have a curiosity that will rival the seven wonders of the world.

 

 

"HOOVER'S BODY FOUND" "Alexandria, MO, May 1 --

From Clark County Courier, Kahoka, MO, 5 May 1916:

The body of Frank W. Hoover, who disappeared from this place five weeks ago today, was found yesterday on Buzzard's Island near Gregory. The body was taken to Canton, as Buzzard's Island is inside the Lewis county line, where an inquest was held. Burial was in a Canton cemetery.

The identification of the body was made through the clothing, boots, and sixty-five cents in the pocket of the drowned man's trousers. The body itself was in such a state of decomposition it would have been almost impossible to have told the features. Hoover, when he disappeared was known to have had sixty-five cents in his pockets, and a description was kept of his clothing and high boots. The body that was found was clothed in these same garments and boots and the money was found in a pocket in the trousers. Albert Reed found the body.

Dr. Rebo, the coroner, at alexandria, was notified and with H. Kirchner went to the island below Gregory. It was found that the point where the body was lying was a quarter of a mile inside the Lewis county line, so Mr. McCutchan of Canton held the inquest in that town. The body was immediately interred in the Canton cemetery.

There were marks on Hoover's clothing showing that he had been thrown out of his boat when it turned over. All of these matters served as indentification. It was evident that he had stepped to the front of his boat and that it had turned over, throwing him into the river. He was on a fishing expedition at the time.

Mr Hoover has a wife and son living at Alexandria. He was missing for five weeks."

From "Daily Gate City", Keokuk, IA; Tues morning 12 Oct 1875; p4 col5:

Kahoka News Items -

We have to regard the death of HENRY SHERRICK and his wife on the 5th instant, old settlers of this county, who have resided in the vicinity of Peaksville for many years. He was seventy-one years of age, and his wife sixty-seven. They had been married over forty years, were taken sick at the same hour, some ten days before their demise, and died within four hours of the same time, and were buried in the same grave at Prairie Church. There seemed to be a strong sympathy between them, their sickness was of the same character, both getting better and worse at the same time. They had a presentiment of their death and had made all the necessary arrangements."

Clark County Courier, Kahoka, MO, 20 Oct 1916:

"From the Gate City, Mrs. Mary Ellen Frederick Fenton of Riverside, Oregon, is seeking information concerning her mother who was last heard from in 1886 in Quincy, IL. She has written to the local police department and has asked Chief Hennemann to assist in the search for her missing parent. She encloses a circular offering a reward for this information, and asks that it be copied by papers in this vicinity. Following is the data given in the circular:

Mrs. Sarah Howell arrived in Keokuk, IA, from England in the month of May, 1853, with her two daughters, the eldest, Rebecca Elizabeth, aged 18 years; the youngest, Agnes Marie Howell, aged 7 years.

On December 3, 1853, Mrs. L. Howell of England, was married to Mr. Thomas Howell of Wales. He was a widower with one son, then 19 years old. They still lived at Keokuk, Iowa. Sarah Howell died June 28th, 1855.

On April 13th, 1859, the youngest dauther, Agnes Marie Howell, was married to Mr. Jacob Frederick, at the home of her step-father, Thomas Howell, and in the summer of 1862, a little daughter was born and named Mary Rebecca Frederick.

When the war broke out between the north and south, Jacob Frederick enlisted in Co A, 19th IA. He was sworn in August 12, 1862, remaining there until sent to the hospital in St. Louis, sick, June ___, 1863. He was transferred to the invalid corps, August ___, 1863, at New Orleans.

Previous to enlisting in the army, Mr. Jacob Frederick and his wife, Agnes Marie, lived in St. Francisville, MO. after leaving the army at the close of the war, Jacob Frederick returned to his wife, Agnes Marie, and their little girl, then 3 years old. He gave his wife money to go to Keokuk to purchase furniture with which to go to housekeeping, saying he would get a house while she was absent to buy the furniture. This took place at Alexandria, MO.

As soon as his wife had departed for Keokuk, Jacob, with the assistance fo one other person, took the child and left the place. When his wife returned they were gone--no one knew where. At that time she tried to find them, but in vain; she never saw her child again.

June 1872, he died at Earl Junction, MO. At this time the child was called by her mother Mary Rebecca; later she was called Mary Ellen. Evidently her name was changed to carry out his plan.

Mary Rebecca or Mary Ellen Frederick is now Mrs. William Fenton, and lives at Dix, IL. In her inquiries and search for her mother she has learned the above stated facts.

The question is, where is my mother who was so cruelly deserted and robbed of her only child? Cannot someone help me learn the truth concerning my mother? Or is she dead? If alive, she would be 63 years old.

In my search for my mother I found her only sister living in Knab, Utah, having been separated in war times. My mother was called by her second name, Marie.

Mrs. Mary Ellen Frederick Fenton, Riverside, Oregon. All papers please copy."