Friday, January 25, 2013

Daniel S. Larimers Celebrate Golden Anniversary

The Semi-Weekly Iowegian - 15 December 1908
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GOLDEN WEDDING
Of Mr. and Mrs. D. S. Larimer
Former Jerome Residents
  The following was taken from The Daily Independent Times of Streator, Ill.
  Mr. and Mrs. Larimer were residents of Jerome for more than 15 years and have many friends who extend congratulations and wish them many more years of married life. While most of their older friends have passed to the life beyond, there are many of the younger generation who remember Mrs. Larimar as a kind Christian woman. She was an enthusiastic worker and always took great interest in the children.
  Half a century ago back in Mercer county, Pa. Amanda C. McCormick and Daniel S. Larimer pledged love and constancy to the marriage vows and Monday afternoon Nov. 30 at the home on North Wasson street, in the presence of relatives and friends those vows were renewed during the celebration in honor of the 50th anniversary of their wedding.
  The home was filled all day with relatives and friends who called to extend congratulations to the aged couple and it was indeed a merry gathering.
  All of the children were at home with the exception of the eldest son, James, who is living in Oklahoma and could not get away at this time.
  Among the children present were three sons and a daughter, together with their families as follows:  Joseph M., wife and two children of Oskaloosa, Ia.; Mrs. Mollie Moore, husband and son, Jerome, Ia.; George and children, Galesburg, Ill.; John Larimer and wife of this city; Mrs. S. M. McCormick of Mercer Co., Pa.; mother of J. D. McCaughtry, who is a cousin of Mrs. Larimer; Mr. and Mrs. L. M. Larimer, Muncie, Ind.; Wm. Shonts and wife, South Bend, Ind.; John Shonts and family, Streator, and Mrs. Reese and Mrs. Snedeker of Grand Ridge, were the other out-of-town guests.
  At noon there was a joyous gathering of relatives around the festive board and again at supper time.
BORN IN PENNSYLVANIA
  Both Mr. and Mrs. Larimer are natives of Pennsylvania, the former having been born at Sheakleyville, Nov. 15, 1833, and is now 75 years of age. His wife was born Oct. 23, 1841, at New Vernon and is now 67 years old.
  On Nov. 30, 1858, they were married and continued to reside in Mercer county until the spring of 1870 when they moved with their family to Jerome, Iowa.
  On Oct. 21, 1885, Mr. and Mrs. Larimer moved to Streator and have since made this city their home. All four of their sons are employed on the railroad and are well known here, having identified with the Three-I road for many years. At present John of this city is the only one connected with this road, he being conductor on the passenger.
OVER ONE HUNDRED CALL
  Mr. and Mrs. Larimer received their friends during the afternoon and evening and over one hundred took advantage of the opportunity to call and pay their respects. During the afternoon the W.C.T.U. ladies called in a body to extend congratulations.  Mrs. Larimer has long been an earnest worker and her charitable activities are well known and appreciated.  The ladies presented her with a dress pattern and a rocker.
  A feature of the afternoon was the re-marriage of the couple, Rev. J. D. McCaughtry officiating.
  In the evening Mrs. Larimer entertained the boys of her Sunday school class from Park church, and two of the boys, Frank English and John Koff rendered a violin selection which was much enjoyed. The boys presented their teacher with a handsome gold watch chain.
  Mr. and Mrs. Larimer were the recipients of many beautiful gifts of gold aside from those already mentioned, and also a purse of money.
CALLED HOME
   The only unpleasant event which occurred to mar the day's pleasure, was a message which summoned the daughter Mrs. Mollie and her husband, to their home in Jerome, Ia., as their eldest son had met with an accident. The young man is a driver in a mine at that place and in some manner had broken his leg. Mr. and Mrs. Moore departed at midnight for their home.

Friday, January 18, 2013

New Book: Centerville: A Mid-American Saga

  A new history of Centerville and Appanoose County has been published: Enfys McMurry's Centerville: A Mid-American Saga [The History Press, 2013].

  From the moment that the surveyor set down his tools in 1846 to the instant that the Flying Farmers crossed the sky at the centennial celebration, the history of Centerville, Iowa, has gifted us with a unique insight into the mid-American experience. Though the population never exceeded 8,600, immigrants from more than forty different countries created a community that was both melting pot and crucible—just like the nation at large.
  The town forged an identity through the Underground Railroad, the Civil War, race relations, education debates and World Wars I and II. In a definitive history, Enfys McMurry captures both the particular feelings of Centerville’s citizens and how they reflected and participated in the larger American story. Read to learn how  Centerville experienced the dark history of Prohibition, crime, the Ku Klux Klan, the Mafia and the Depression.
  Read more about Enfys McMurry and Centerville: A Mid-American Saga on The History Press Blog, The Des Moines Register website, and the Daily Iowegian website,  You can purchase the book through Amazon or at the Appanoose County Historical and Coal Mining Museum in Centerville

History of Appanoose: Ghost Town of Bellair

Daily Iowegian - 15 April 2004
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By Bill Heusinkveld, Correspondent
  Bellair was a quaint little village created in 1854 by Alexander Jones. The village and the township of Bellair were named after the Ohio town of Bellaire, on the border near Wheeling, West Virginia. Bellair was surveyed and platted by John Potts. It was in Section 18 of Bellair Township between the waters of Shoal and Cooper Creeks.  There were just 20 lots. The principal streets were Main and North Streets running east and west and bisected by Washington and Jackson Streets going north.
  Gradually the town began to take shape.  J. Markin  built a store in 1855. There was a lime kiln and a saw mill. There were two blacksmith shops on the south side of Main St.  Two boot and leather workers also operated on the street.  Mrs. Tibbets ran a fancy millinery shop. Jim Cunningham was the first druggist. There was a general store, which also handled overland mail. No record of a saloon in Bellair has been discovered.
  The first Bellair school, in 1857, was a subscription school taught in a home, the seats being made of split logs. A post office was established in 1859. The Methodist Episcopal society was formed in 1857 with a stone building purchased in 1864 and converted into a church. The Christian Church was formed about 1858 with E. E. Harvey as one of its earl ministers. A house of worship 24 x 36 feet in size was erected at Bellair in 1871 at a cost of $1200. At one time here were about 300 members.
  The Bellair Masonic Lodge No. 133 was formed in 1857 and met in the upper story of the schoolhouse in Bellair. E. E. Harvey was a member. Later the lodge removed to Numa in 1871 and eventually to Cincinnati.
  The second school on the north end of Jackson St. was the most pretentious school house built in Appanoose County. It was a tall two-story frame building around which centered the intellectual life of the community. It became the first high school in Appanoose County and was conducted by Professor L. N. Judd, who was very capable and efficient. Wonderful entertainments were given at the school. The Bellair school had such a reputation that it drew young men and women from neighboring counties to seek knowledge they could not gain at home. Some of these students would have to board in various homes in Bellair.
  Later the school spirit seems to have moved to a more central location. The high school was abandoned and later became the barn on the well-known Jake Norris farm. A one-story building was built on the same site, later destroyed by fire. The third building was a frame one-story building with four rooms, but later it was sold.
  Finally a fine two story school was built for all twelve grades, he site being moved to the north side of Main St. I can remember it still being there when we first moved to Centerville. I asked John Broshar about it. He thinks the high school was discontinued sometime in the 1950s It may have stood vacant for a time, but Jerry and Betty Marshall have used it for some years as a combination archery school and for ceramics work.
  At the end end of Main St. stood the village inn, called the Brayman house. One son, Andrew, enlisted in the Civil War in Co. I, 36th Iowa Infantry and was killed at the battle of Marks Mills. Later the house became the Johnson Inn. Still later it was the Holshouser House (the home of the village capitalist). [1]
  One of the outstanding characters of the town was the beloved Dr. Ball who was a very present help in the time of trouble. He helped bring most of the youngsters into the world and smoothed the pillow for many a dying sufferer. Elijah E Harvey was also an influential citizen of Bellair. He and his brother Wallace M. Harvey had come to Appanoose County in 1855. Elijah was the well-known pastor of the Christian Church. He enlisted with the 6th Kansas Cavalry in August 12, 1862 and was Captain of Co. B. Later he helped lay out the town of Numa.
  In the early life of Bellair, the social life was quickened by music from the accordion.  Miss Nannie Fox was an artist on this instrument and was in great demand for her musical and vocal talents. Early fiddlers were also in demand. The singing ability of the Dukes family was noted, and the Hudsons were silver voiced singers.
  Bellair was a bustling town for seventeen years. Then in1871, the Chicago and Southwestern Railroad was built from Unionville to Centerville, then went, passing south of Bellair by almost one mile.  Coal mining activity and business began to develop and flourish along the railroad. The town of Numa was established.  Bellair had begun its long decline into oblivion. 
   In 1875 the people of Numa and Bellair met to have a picnic. Three hard cases, denizens of Wayne County named "Bud" Bland and William and Milton Richardson came to the picnic under the influence of liquor. hey picked a quarrel with C. M. Morrison, the manager of the celebration. He was assulted by the thugs and badly maltreated before the rowdies could be removed from his back.     A warrant was issued for their arrest, but they fled to Missouri for a few days so that it could not be served. The Richardson brothers, believing they were safe, returned to Seymour.  The Marshal there, John McCoy had instructions to arrest them, but was forced to resort to his revolver., In the melee that ensued, he shot and killed both of them. Then, as today, there were always people who would not accept the authority of the law, but the price was high. Just as the youth of today, who flee from the police, often meet with dire consequences.
  Today, tHere is almost nothing left of Bellair except that Main St. still exists as part of J-46, the entrance road into the north pamort of Numa  O. R. Parks and his crew have placed a monument in the fenced-inor playground park area in the south part of Numa to commemorate the former existence of the old ghost town of Bellair.
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Editor's Notes:  [1] Andrew Brayman's brother, Barney, later enlisted as a cavalryman in the Eighth Iowa Cavalry.  Orr Kelly and Mary Davies Kelly wrote Dream's End [Kodansha-America, Inc., 1998] which is a history of the Brayman family, mostly of Andrew's and Barney's experiences during the Civil War.  
  [2[ Bellair was platted and settled before Jerome.  In the early days of Bellair, it was the primary village in the vicinity of Lincoln Township before Jerome was founded.  The western edge of Bellair was on the Bellair-Lincoln border.  My great-grandparents' family, the David H. Hawkinses, lived in Bellair before and during the Civil War while David H. Hawkins served in Company B, 6th Kansas Cavalry.  When the Masonic Lodge was organized in Bellair, several Lincoln Township residents were key members of the Bellair Lodge (James Hagan, Peter Sidles, Gavin Morrison, John V. Criswell).  
[3]  There are two books which detail the history of Bellair and Numa: (a) Anna Langford (Mrs. Harold) Sayres. History of Numa, Iowa, Including Hibbsville and Bellair, 1850-1960[Centerville, IA: Iowegian Printing Co., May, 1960] and (b) Anna Langford (Mrs. Harold) Sayres. Homecoming, Bellair 1854 and Numa 1864 [S.N.: S.I., 1964].

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Earnest Eugene VanDorn, 1891-1950

The Seymour Herald - 7 September 1950, Page 1
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Earnest VanDorn Died Saturday
  Funeral services were conducted Tuesday afternoon for Earnest (Chuck) Van Dorn, who died at St. Joseph hospital in Centerville on Saturday following a short illness. He had been making his home with Mr. and Mrs. Dugie Moore when he entered the hospital.
  The Rev. Franklin Krouse read the funeral service at the Liggett Funeral home at 2 o'clock and burial was in the Jerome cemetery, where the family lot is. Mr. DeVore [VanDorn] was born near Jerome and lived all his life in Wayne and Appanoose counties, working in the mines.
  He was preceded in death by his wife, the former Minnie McKern, his father, mother and a brother, Abraham.
  An obituary appears in this weeks paper [Page 8].
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The Seymour Herald - 7 September 1950, Page 8
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E. E. VanDorn
  Earnest Eugene VanDorn, son of Stephen Douglas VanDorn and Jennie Stewert, was born at Jerome, Iowa, Sept. 15, 1891, and departed this life Sept. 2, 1950, at the St. Joseph hospital in Centerville. He was 58 years, 11 months and 17 days old.
  earnest was united in marriage to Minnie McKern of Princeton, Mo., in 1914 and she preceded him in death in 1942. He was also preceded in death by his father, mother and brother, Abraham, of Rollo, Mo.
  He leaves to mourn his passing three sisters and a brother, Mrs. Nevada Crooks of Sewal, Mrs. Ethel Smith, Mrs. Rachel Bone and Bryan VanDorn, all of Seymour. He also leaves eight nieces and 12 nephews and a host of relatives and friends.
  His entire life was spent in and around Wayne and Appanoose counties.
  He was a member of the United Mine Workers of America for many years.
  For the past several years he had made his home with his cousin and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Dugie Moore, and family and he will be greatly missed in this home by all the family.
  Chuck, as he was known, was a devoted brother, conscientious worker, a good and loyal friend. He was greatly loved and will be missed by all his many friends.
  Funeral services were Tuesday, Sept. 5, at 2 o'clock at the Liggett Funeral Home with the Rev. Franklin Knouse officiating. Burial was in the Jerome cemetery.
  Pallbearers were Raymond VanDorn, Alva VanDorn, Cleo Crooks, Francis Crooks, Burdette Smith and Ervin Smith. Flower bearers were Mrs. Vera Martin, Mrs. Curtis Murphy, Geneva Pridgett and Mrs. Lowell Shelley.
  Sonny Gold sang "Beyond the Sunset" and "Tomorrow", accompanied by Mrs. H. I. Merritt.

Monday, January 14, 2013

More on Gladstone Mine

Daily Iowegian - 22 August 2006
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Letter to the Editor
To the editor:
  We always enjoy Bill Heusinkveld's grasp of regional history, and especially his series on the coal mines of Appanoose County. Perhaps we can add some interesting details to his column last week on the Gladstone Mine.
  As noted, this mine was on the John C. Felkner farm, later owned by James and Barney Felkner, now known as the Paul E. Felkner Farms. Many of these added details come from the stories Uncle Barney told. I also have an interview tape in which Barney tells of other interesting experiences in our county.
  The New Gladstone Coal Mine, as noted in Bill's article, had a 90-foot shaft. The ponies that pulled the coal to the top stayed in the mine all winter, during the mining season.  Paul and I were down in the mine twice, and I noted the old bathtub that held the water to water the ponies. When the mine closed for the summer, the ponies were brought up to spend the summer in the old Kingburhy barn. (This barn, now falling down, was put up by Paul's great-grandfather Kingsbury, using wooden pegs instead of nails. The Kingsbury farm has been a part of the Fedlkner farm since Barney and Jim's time.)
  One summer some visiting nieces wanted a pony to ride and Chesco Massa offered Ol' Bill for a week. Ol' Bill must have been the meanest mining pony in the world; after he bit the girls a few times, they were glad to return him to the barn.
  We do not feel quite sure where the original Marsdenville was, but Barney told how they got the mail. As a train went by, it was easy for the trainmen to throw off the sacks of incoming mail, outgoing mail was something else. Someone would stand by the tracks holding up the outgoing mail bag. The train slowed down going up the hill from Mystic to Jerome, so one of the trainmen used a long pole with a hook to capture the outgoing mail bag. We can't help but wonder what happened if he missed. I guess the mail would just have to go the next day.
  It was sometime during the depression, which were also some of the years of drought in the 30's. when food was scarce for the miners and their families. We have a newspaper article that tells how John C. Felkner made a deal with the storekeeper; he would give a beef for the miners to share if the storekeeper would donate flour for biscuits. So the miners' families ate well for a brief time, anyway.
  Another interesting fact about the New Gladstone Mine. For many years there was no automatic switch to turn on the air circulation system. The owners of the mine gave Jim Felkner free coal for his home, and in return Jim got up every morning at 3 a.m. to turn on the switch so the air would be safe in the mine when the miners came to work.  Jim and Barney got royalties from the coal mine until it closed in 1971 when the highway was reconstructed.
  More research needs to be done, but I believe that the village associated with the New Gladstone Mine might have been across the road from where our house is presently located. For years Jim Felkner complained about the sunflowers that had been planted around the village houses. All the houses were gone by then, but Pop spent many a Sunday chopping sunflowers out of the field where it had been.  It was a great year when the sunflowers were finally gone and they didn't have to watch for those large, destructive sunflowers that we so hard on the combine.
  Our daughters when children also spent a lot of time at that location looking for treasurers which they really found occasionally. Sometimes it was just broken pottery or dishes, but once they found a small glass dolland a couple of spoons.
  I'm sure someone, somewhere has many memories and stories about each of the mines and mining days. What a shame if these are all lost for our grandchildren!    We must record these while we can.
      Myrtle Felkner, Rural Centerville

Who's Writing

Ad-Express/Iowegian - 19 November 1987
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Friends' passing brings end of an era
 By Mildred Dooley Cathcart, Columnist
  It seems strange how just a minute can change one's complete life or bring an end of an era. When Raymond Dearing died suddenly last week, I thought of the years he had been a partner in the Walnut Creek Coal Company which had been the idea of my father.  My father was a strong union man, serving many years as president of the local miners union when the Big Four Coal Co. was operating in full swing.
  Dad went to Des Moine to meetings and in those daysit seemed as eventful a trip as it is to fly to the coast today, and it probably took about as long to make the trip. When the unions folded and the word "scab" became a derogatory term, Dad decided he would sink his own mine.  Several men who joined in the venture were Arch Hawkins, Charlie Burns, Carl Hamm and later Raymond who was much younger, and he was the last survivor.
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  Then just as suddenly on Thursday, my sister-in-law, Neal Bear, passed away. And that seemed like an end of a phase of our lives. Now only three of the Cathcart children are living Neal was the oldest urvivor and it seemed she had become a kind of head of the clan. Although arthritis had slowed her down somewhat physically, her mind stayed sharp.
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  It is strange what things stand out in one's memory. I think of her gardening skills.  We often noted that they raised more produce in their little postage stamp-sized plot behind their apartment than we harvested in our big garden. And I have never known anyone who could make such picture-perfect good tasting pie crust as Neal made. Shed would give her recipe and a step-by-step description, but much never could equal hers. I think she had a magic pie finger as well as a green thumb.
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  The weather was perfect for both Raymond's and Neal's funerals.  Not often in middle November can one be comfortable in just a suit without a top coat.
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  "We never truly understand death until it lays its hand on one we love."
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   I have never been lucky when it comes to winning but I was happy when our neighbor called excitedly the other evening to tell me she had won one of the bikes that Fareway had given away.
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  The concert at Ottumwa presenting the National Ballet of West Java was very different from any I had ever seen and was most enjoyable. The music, constumes and dances all portrayed the Indonesian culture and was most colorful and entertaining. I thought the Peacock Dance was especially lovely.
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  Ever so often, I develop a new pet peeve. This week my latest is spray perfume bottles that refuse to pray when there is a considerable amount of perfume left. I have tried turning the bottle upside down and it is so exaspcrating, I have felt perhaps a hammer should be the last resort.
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  It was a kind of preview of Christmas when Deloris and I accepted Becky Montegna's invitation to her home which was prettily decorated for the holiday season.  And we selected a few items for gifts from a table containing a variety of things just for Christmas giving.
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  I did feel I was rushing the season the other day.  I went through my gift drawers and as I found the gifts, I decided to wrap them before putting them back.  Soon after Thanksgiving, it will be time to get the box packed for Ohio, so part of the presents are ready to be boxed.
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  With the scare of AIDS, I wonder if we are getting carried away with sex education in the lower elementary grades, in some wayhs I agree with the youngster in the cartoon who said to his friend, "It is silly to teach us all this sex education now; we will forget it all by the time we grow up."
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  There is a kind of tragic, death-reminder, beauty in the bare trees. The shape of the branches are well defined and the nests of birds and squirrels, hidden by summer leaves are now plainly visible.  There is an old tree across the road that looks like candelabra with seven hugh branches extending from the trunk. The black limbs look especially pretty against the sky on a bright moonlit night. There is a graceful, ballet-like quality to the naked branches as they sway in the wind.  They remind us that death is only a temporary state; new leaves and life will come again with the spring rain and summer breezes.
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  Several have remarked about the scarcity of pet squirrels. I think when the snow covers the ground, they will be looking for a handout. So far the weather has been too mild.
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  All the modern machinery and devices have changed our way of life. The other morning, I went for a walk about nine o'clock and when I passed the cemetery I noticed they had never begun to dig the grave but it was all ready by funeral time.  I remember as a youngster, neighbors would take shovels and spades and if the ground were frozen or extremely wet, the men would have to start opening the grave the day before the funeral, boarding up the hole and hoping it would hold fast.
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  "It is better to choose what you will say that say what you choose."

Massa knows "facts and figures" of coal mining

Ad-Express/Iowegian- 26 February 1999
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By Ethel Lira, Contributing Writer
  Frank Massa is one of the last living coal mine owner/operators to be found in Appanoose County. Born in Turin, Italy, on June 19, 1913, his father, Domnick Massa, migrated to this area later that same year with Frank and his mother following in April 1915. The family settled in the small mining town of Jerome and until Frank and his late wife, Jessie, moved to Centerville in 1957 to a site on which he still resides, the Massas resided in the Jerome community.
  Domnick Massa was a miner by profession and in 1939 he joined with John (Red) Padavon, Gale Wilson and John Presbyherio, all of Numa, to open what was known locally as the New Gladstone Mine. (The Old Gladstone mine was closed in1913.)  Working in the underground bituminous coal mines in Appanoose County from 1913 through the closure of the last pony mine in the area is the Massa legacy.
  Frank Massa attended and graduated from the 8th grade in the Jerome School system. Summers and other vacation periods found him performing a variety of casual jobs that were available in that rural area.
  Massa recalls each of his teachers with fondness. During his eight years of formal training they included, Willis Warnick, Janet Cathcart, Gladys Wailes, Mary Morrison, Ruth Wordell, Mrs. Moody and his final year in 8th grade was Harold Main.  He credits these individuals for giving him a very strong base in his educational years. While reading was not his best subject, but did excel in arithmetic. His teachers would often tell him, "I know you can read or you couldn't get your arithmetic problems." In Massa's words, "But I slaughtered the English language."
  Until about two weeks prior to his entering his first year of schooling, Massa did not speak the American language. He learned it from a playmate, living in his neighborhood who started school at the same time. Italian was spoken in his home. Since schools did not employ teachers for the instructing of bilingual languages during those early days, it was up to the students themselves to "learn" the meaning and pronunciation of the words they were hearing and using in the classroom.  Quite often they learned the "unacceptable" words first, having no idea as to the meaning, and it would frequently bring them a sharp rap across the knuckles from their elders.
  During this "high" time, Jerome boasted a drug store, railroad depot, bank, KP hall and three to four grocery stores.  Some of the owners were Frank Thomas, W. Warnick, James Haught and Bill Hawkins.  Many were the same names and individuals who ranked high in the mining hierarchy.
  Massa summed up his education, as still "learning. "We were taught the basics and no nonsense was allowed in or out of the classroom itself. We had to pay attention and we sure learned to have more sense than to take dope," he said.  His career and livelihood mandated that he read and figure. The use of politically correct English was not something that one really worried much about. "if you said the wrong words, or called some the wrong name, you soon learned that it was not worth it," Massa replied. Many disagreements were settled in the middle of the street and he chuckled, "that lesson was not one that you easily forgot in those days."
  Lots of kids, boys especially, did not go on to high school in this period because they were needed to work and help support the family. Work was scarce in the early 1900's through the 30's and ever;y penny was needed. "But we had good times too, neighborhood sports, ball games, gatherings, celebrations wee our social outings and everyone got involved in some way or another as a family .... we had lots of good times," Frank recalled.
  As a young man, Massa played a lot of both softball and baseball and was a member of the teams a well as being "drafted" to fill in for other teams throughout the surrounding areas. His principal positions were as catcher, short stop and third baseman, but he did have a game or so as pitcher and, much  to his amazement, he had a very good strike-out record. "But I wasn't real good at that," Frank remembered.
  "One of my fellow players from the Mystic area was Mike Kruzich who once struck out 17 players straight while in the Mystic Junior League., I sure wasn't that good." Other pitchers he remembers were Mike Kopatich, a fast ball thrower, and Philip Micetich, a curve ball pitcher who "could wrap a ball around the batter's neck."  Ledio Susin was one of the younger players he recalls and "Boy, was he good."
   Another strong memory for Massa is one summer when he was 19 years of age. An early edition of today's state lottery was being held in one of the grocery stores. People were asked to take a chance on a name and punch from a board. After the punches had all been sold, the main stamp was removed to ascertain the winner. Massa paid 29 cents for a chance and picked the name of Isabelle, after Isabelle Presbyterio. No one pa more than 29 cents but some did pay less. Twenty-nine cents was a goodly amount in those times (circa 1932). He hit the jackpot because when the winning tab was removed the name of Isabelle was the winner. The prize was a shotgun that he still has in his possession .. a big prize for the times.
  At the age of 16, Massa took a full time job in the Walnut Creek Coal Mine, then owned by gentlemen Dooley, Gillaspie, (2) Hawkins and Purdy, followed by a series of work in small mines in which he "earned his daily bread." Some of these mines carried the names of Laneville (a McConville operation), Garfield and a return stint at Walnut Creek.
  In 1956 he bought out his father's interest in the New Gladstone Coal Mine and remained there until it permanently closed in 1971. Throughout his working career, he had a variety of positions in and around the mines. He dug coal by hand, drove ponies pulling loaded and empty coal cars to entry ways, laid track, set props, checked and weighed tonnage the miners dug, loaded, etc.  Until his marriage (as was common during this period of our country's development, his earnings all went into the family cache for its communal use.
  Massa relates that when he was married in 1937, he had a total of $40 in his pocket and he was considered to have a "good start."
  While the mines furnished the major portion of their living expenses, during the slack summer months when coal was not required for heat and energy in a great demand, Massa often found himself working for local farmers; as a carpenter's helper; and later worked with a plumber and learned the overall basis of that much needed trade as the homesteads, both town and country, were becoming more modernized. One summer season found him employed as a groundskeeper/maintenance person at the local country club.
  Since coal mining was the mainstay of the community "tabs" were run from the close of the mines in the spring/summer months until they could get back to work in the fall, when the demand for coal increased. The mines and railroad wee the life blood of the community and, until the 1937 era when unemployment compensation became available to unemployed workers, money was very scarce.
  Since his retirement after 32 years of actual coal mining work, he has "dabbled" in many things. Today, he can often be found at the 18-80 Club on the Centerville square visiting with old friends and new ones. He still enjoys dancing (but not as much as he used to), travel and just visiting. He was one of the miners that gathered in 1991 to remember and record days when coal mining was in its hey-day in Appanoose County and a video of that meeting, together with a video of "The Last Pony Mine" filmed on actual location at the New Gladstone Mine, can be found at the Appanoose County Historical building. Massa, together with Dohyle, Wayne Arbogast and John Cathcart were owners of this mining operation when the video was shot.
  He enjoys reminiscing and has so much factual knowledge of the mining industry from the early to mid 1900's.  Coal mining as it was then known has passed into history, although there are members of mining families that still reside locally. So many do not have the "facts and figures" on this industry that he does.  Others are primarily widows of the miners/operators and owners and their experiences are along a different line.  Many of their memories would overlap, bt it is the story told by those who actually worked in the underground "places" assigned to them and who witnessed many of the tragedies, that can still relate to those of us who have followed "the real feel."
  Since retiring, Massa has made five trips back to Italy to visit with cousins still living there and he talks to them via the telephone weekly or monthly just to "keep in touch."
  Massa is one of the county's most ardent supporters of a good basic understanding through through education and the everyday use of common sense. Even the the 20's and 30's, this was offered to those who would pay attention. Although not learned in the formal classrooms that we find today in every school district, the underground miners of yesterday in our region had to know a lot of engineering skills, as well as environmental know-how, to prevent and escape the disasters that were found too often underground. 
  The lay of the coal, the air in the mines, the knowledge of how coal would/could break when being dug by hand or cut with the mining machines, these were all necessary facts and knowledge that was ingrained into each and every miner's being ... if they were to survive.
  With the passing of time, all things change. Today, books, charts and computers provide much of the above knowledge for all types of industry. But the basic need for reading, writing and arithmetic still prevail. Appanoose County once excelled in this segment of "common sense" as is attested by the fact that we had/have so many locals who have truly succeeded in making "a difference."

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Massa Recalls Coal Mine Days

Ad-Express/Daily Iowegian - 24 September 1993
----------------------------------------
Industry employed more than 10,000 men 
in county in 1917
By Debbie Hickman, Associate Editor
  Recognizing Centerville's mining heritage, the theme of tomorrow's Pancake Day is "Coalminer's Hometown."
  Newcomers to the area may not realize that at one time there were many small coal mines in operation around the Centerville area, which employed many men.
  Frank "Chesco" Massa of Centerville is one of those former coalminers.
  He was born in Italy in 1913, and a couple years later his family moved to Jerome. He said they had a relative and other people from their Italian town who were here.
  His father worked in the mines, and when Massa was about 16 years old he joined his father in the mines. Massa said his three brothers also did some mining.
  Then in 1940, the New Gladstone Mine west of Centerville began operating, and Massa was one of the miners in the new mine.
  He worked at the New Gladstone Mine for about 30 years before it closed in 1971. At the time of the closing, Wayne and Doyle Arbogast and Massa owned the mine. 
  The mine was the last pony mine to close in the nation. Because the seam of coal was only two or three feet thick, the tunnels were also very short, and small ponies and mules were used to pull the cars in the mine.
  The New Gladstone Mine may have also been the last mine in the nation in which the advancing longwall method was used, according to the May 1970 issue of "Coal Mining and Processing."  This method involved cutting under the main part of the seam and having the pressure from the roof make the coal break off and fall to the floor.
  Massa said when he started mining, the experienced miners would take the young ones under their wing and teach them how to mine and how to stay safe.
  "Our fathers taught us or we wouldn't make it, Massa said.  
 Although mining was dangerous job, the New Gladstone Mine was relatively safe.  Massa said they never had to use the stretcher that was kept above ground.
  He did have a couple near misses, though.  Once a rock fell and would have landed across both legs but he was in a low spot, and the rock didn't even touch him, Massa said.
  When he started mining, Massa said, there weren't many jobs around here then, and there weren't any factories.
  "You had to work in coal mines or go to the city," Massa said.
  He added his three daughters all went to Chicago and worked for the Burlington Railroad for a while.
  In 1917, more than 10,000 men were mining in the county. There were also 93 mines open.
  Massa said that at one time a person could just about go from Mystic to Centerville underground.
  Although mining was not an easy job, Massa said the miners liked it.
  "After you started working there, you were always ready to go back in the fall," Massa said. They usually mined during the fall and winter.
  He said the temperature in the mines was the same year round. Massa said a person would need a coat if they were just sitting down there, but if they were working the temperature as comfortable.
  But, coal mining in Iowa is nearly non-existent now. The thing that really hurt the coal mining industry was the use of the diesel motor, which took away a lot of the need for coal, Massa said.
  The New Gladstone Mine closed because part of Highway2 was being moved and it was going to be very close to the mine opening, he said.





Saturday, January 12, 2013

Big Doings in Coal Circles in the Jerome Territory

Semi=Weekly Iowegian - 28 February 1913
--------------------------------
Big Joe People Get Big Four and New Mine
Will Have 200 Men Employed
Expect to Have Hundred Men in Big Four by April and 
New Mine Going by September with 200 Men in Both
-------------------------------
  Big things are doing in the coal territory about Jerome. This was indicated in the Iowegian recently when the lease of 300 acres of coal land northeast of Jerome was announced. The  Big Joe people who have operated the mine at Gladstone, have now acquired possession of the Big Four mine at Jerome, and in addition will open up a new mine about a mine and a quarter from Jerome on the Milwaukee.  These will be principally for production of railroad coal andit is expectede that by fall 200 men will be employed. In anticipation of the coming increase in the coal industryand the addition of several hundred to to the population of Jerome, there is great business activity in that section and Jerome is looking forward to a big boom.
  The intention of the company is to have the water pumped out and the workings cleaned up in the Big Four which has been idle for the past two years. It has been kept in pretty fair condition during this time, but quite a bit of work will be done on it to pt it in good working order.  By April 1st or shortly after it is expected that 100 men will be at work in it getting out coal. The Big Four has about 500 acres of coal under lease, not much of which has been taken out. The top works will be put in good order, screens and new track scales made up to date, and everything made first class. New hopper scales will be put in also. The new mine is to be opened on the Burns farm and will be equipped with a steel tripple, self dumper, shaker screens and box car loader.  The shaft will be something out of the ordinary, being round and with a cement wall. The switch will be started about April 1 and as soon as in work will begin on the shaft.
  Robert Hunter, who has been the efficient sujperintendent of the Big Joe mine, will be superintendent of the Big Four and the new mine for the Big Joe coal comany, as well as continue the oversight of the mine at Gladstone. He will have offices in Jerome, in the John Woods building at the northeast corner of the square which was bought by Mr. Hunter and will be occupied by April 1. The company owns nine houses bought of the Big Four peoplo, and may move some houses from Glatstone later, but will not build any more houses it self.
  The companydoes not care to engage in the supply store business either and will transfer its Gladstone store to the Big Four supply store at Jerome March 1.  This Big Four store will continue under its former management.  Frank Gable is in charge. This store has been independent of mine management and will continue to be so.

Harry Wray and Nina Mildred Stevens Wray

Ad-Express/Iowegian  - 26 January 2001
----------------------------
  Harry Watson Wray, 90, of Numa died Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2001, at the Centerville Nursing & Rehab Center.
  He was born May 9 1910, in Corydon, the son of Charles and Sarah (Cunningham) Wray.
  He married N. Mildred Stevens June 3, 1936. She preceded him in death Jan. 23.
  Survivors include a son, Ivan Wray and his wife, GailMae, of Numa;p a daughter, Mabeth Natzke and her husband, Gale, of Davenport; three sisters, Katherine Politovich of Oroville, Calif., Nina Stierwalt of Stillwater, Okla., and Juanita Hutson of Vidalia, La.; 10 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
  Also preceding him in death were his parents; an infant daughter, Donna Wray; four brothers, Clyde, Tyler, Lee and Eugene Wray; a sister, Bernadine Dykes; and a great-grandson.
    He received his education in a rural Wayne County School. He farmed several farms in Appanoose County and received the Soil Conservation Award in 1950 and 1962. He was a member of the New Providence Baptist Church in Confidence.
  Joint funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the First Baptist Church in Centerville with the Revs. Bob James, Dale Shadoniz and Robert Pick officiating. Burial will follow in the Livingston Cemetery south of Numa.  Joint visitation will be held from 1 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Centerville with family receiving friends from 6 to 8 p.m.
  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the New Providence Baptist Church or Livingston Cemetery and contributions may be left at the funeral home.
--------------------------------
  Nina "Mildred" Wray, 88, of Numa died Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2001, at Mercy Medical Center in Centerville.
  She was born July14, 1912, in Centerville, the daughter of Levi and Minerva (Jennings) Stevens.
  She married Harry Wray June 3, 1946, in Centerville. He survived her at the time of her death.
  Other survivors include a son, Ivan Wray and his wife, GailMae, of Numa; a daughter, Mabeth Natzke and her husband, Gale, of Davenport; two sisters, Leona Keller of Des Moines and Dorothy Reames of Newton; 10 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
   She graduated from Centerville Community Schools and taught school for four years. She was a homemaker. She was a member of the New Providence Baptist Church in Confidence and the Women's Missionary Circle.
  Joint funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the First Baptist Church in Centerville with the Revs. Bob James, Dale Shadonix and Robert Pick officiating. Burial will follow in the Livingston Cemetery south of Numa. Joint visitation will be held from 1 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Centerville with family receiving friends from 6 to 8 p.m.
  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the New Providence Baptist Church or Livingston Cemetery and contributions may be left at the funeral home.

Kenneth E. Owen, 1918-2001

Ad-Express/Iowegian - 26 January 2001
--------------------------
  Kenneth E. Owen, 82, of Jerome died Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2001, at his home.
  He was born Sept. 1, 1918 in Jerome the son of Samual and Vera (Sedgwick) Owen.
  He married Frances Hamm Oct. 7, 1937, in Cincinnati. She preceded him in death.
  Survivors include a daughter, Diana Glenn and her husband, John, of Jerome; a son Keith Owen and his wife, Sharon, of Centerville; a sister, Dorothy Owen of Centerville; and four grandchildren.
  He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Tommy, Hobard, Richard and Donald.
  He attended Jerome Elementary School, Centerville High School and Centerville Junior College He and his wife farmed for many years in Jerome. e was an Iowa  state representative for three terms, was Iowa Secretary of Agriculture and a field man for ASCS. He was instrumental in creating the Rathbun Regional Water Association of Centerville where he served as executive director for 20 years. He was selected Iowa Rural Water Manager of the Year, elected into the Iowa Rural Water Hall of Fame and served on the Iowa Rural Water Board of Directors. He was also Iowa Master Pork Producer, Iowa Master Corn Grower and named the Daily Iowegian's Citizen of the Year
  Funeral services were private, for family only, on Friday with the Rev. Terry Chapman officiating. A reception will follow from 3 to 6 p.m. at his home west of Jerome. Arrangements are being handled by the Johnson-Lange Funeral Home.
  A memorial has been established to the Jerome Cemetery Association.

Friday, January 11, 2013

Coming Home to Jerome - First Reunion

Ad-Express-Iowegian - 6 October 1988
--------------------------------
  A brightly decorated Jerome sign made by a former Jerome student welcomed over 200 Jerome graduates, teachers and friends back to their old home town. This was the first reunion ever held, and the committee was pleasantly surprised to have so many register from as far away as Nevada, Virginia, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois and many cities in Iowa.
  The Methodist Church was filled to capacity for the opening of the festivities which began with a non-denominational church service. At that time Mildred Cathcart took the guests back to the early days when Jerome boasted a population of over 600 residents with her "History of Jerome." Catherine Mallett gave an interesting history of the Jerome Methodist Church, a church which has served the community for many years. Pastor Jim Schweizer delivered the morning message.  After the church service a bountiful noon luncheon was served. The committee and the church ladies had provided sandwiches, many salads, baked beans, and a great variety of cookies and hot and cold drinks.  Verle Brummitt furnished ice cream and Cokes. Guests arriving also brought so much food that extra tables had to be set up. The tent rented by some of the committee members proved to be a great place for eating and visiting.
  Merle Condra and Milford Inman drove up in old model cars and found a ready audience.  James Fox brought his train from Queen City, and it was popular with the older people as well as with the children.  Former residents enjoyed the ride around town pointing out where they had lived or where various business places had been. Another big attraction by Mr. and Mrs. LaVerne Disney listing the names of more than 600 Jerome students. Many of the names that were not available were written in by the viewers.
  In the afternoon, the guests were summoned back into the church where Catherine Mallett played her accordion, and old-time favorites were sung. At that time Verle Brummitt revealed his surprise of the day when he announced that the committee wished to dedicate the day to their former teacher and friend, Mildred Dooley Cathcart.
  One of the closing songs was "God Be With You Till We Meet Again" and friends seemed reluctant to say good-by to each other, so after many requests the committee agreed to plan one more reunion to be held on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend in 1989.
  Committee members who met regularly to plan the reunion were Chairman Verle Brummitt, Margaret Jones, Frances Owen, Phyllis Disney, Catherine Mallett, Mildred Cathcart, Paul McElvain and Merle Condra. Others attending some of the meetings were James Fox, Donald Purdy, Harry Sidles, Barney Mallett, Chesco Massa and Helen McElvain.
  The people attending the reunion were generous with their donations and their thanks for a day they will remember for a long time.

Rudolph Buyan, Jr., 1910-1991

Ad-Express-Iowegian - 9 September 1991
---------------------------------
  Rudolph Buyan Jr., 81, of Jerome died early Thursday morning, Sept. 5, 1991, at Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown.
  He was born in Jerome on July 6, 1910, the son of Rudolph Sr. and Katherine (Stemal) Buyan.
  He worked in the coal mine and served his country during World War II, stationed in North Africa and was a POW for 27 months at Stalag 3 in Germany. He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church.
  Survivors include his brother, Joe of Jerome; a sister, Olga Matkovich of Melcher; and nieces and nephews.
  He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Slofco; and a sister.
  Funeral services were held Saturday morning at 10:30 at St. Mary's Catholic Church with Father Vincent Hoying officiating.  Burial was in the Oakland Cemetery. Rosary services were held Friday evening at 7 at the Lange Funeral Home.  A memorial was established to St. Mary's Catholic Church and may be left at the Lange Funeral Home.

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Selected Local News - 3 May 1894

The Seymour Press - 3 May 1894
--------------------------------
  Early potatoes, Beauty of Hebron and Lee's Favorite for sale by Dr. Dyball.
  Richard Yarnell and wife went down to Numa, Tuesday, for a short visit.
  Jasper Stevens was awarded the contract for the erection of the Jerome school house.
  Mrs. Dr. Dyball is on a visit for a few days to Mrs. M. M. Wilson, of Numa, the doctor's sister.
   A large number of cases of measles in Seymour are keeping the doctors very busy. All cases so far developed are very mild.
  Dan Bennett purchased to lots in the Bradley addition last week and as soon as the necessary arrangements can be made he will put up a house. Dan sold his property to Hiram Cates a week ago with the intention of leaving Seymour and going to Jerome but being unable to find a suitable location at that place, returned to Seymour and dropped anchor.
  The Oddfellows of this place celebrated the seventieth anniversary of their order last Thursday by giving a fruit supper to their families and themselves. Addresses were made by D. H. Kerby, M. W. Thomas, David Tharp, J. M. Odell and I. N. Tennant.  It was a most enjoyable gathering and the events of the evening made stronger the faith in those present in the fraternal benevolence and charitableness of the disciples of Oddfellowship.
  It is high time that some means were being taken by the proper authorities towards the restriction of the numerous vags who are pouring into our town every day.  The presence of this class of people has long since become a nuisance and the conduct of certain of them has, just recently, bordered very closely onto criminality. Nearly every morning for the past week we have heard of somebody's residence bing pillaged during the past night. A very common tale we hear is of some boy or young man being held up by a gang of from five to eight tramps who demand cigars, cigarettes, tobacco, etc., and who threaten violence if their demands are not satiated. Of these tramps are allowed to roam at will around our town at night, acting the part of highwaymen and making insulting demands of those whom they meet we need not be alarmed on hearing of some brutal outrage soon, such as many other towns in the state have experienced lately.  Under the present state of affairs it is absolutely unsafe for any lady to be out after the shade of night have fallen unless accompanied by a male escort and equally unsafe for a man to go unarmed after night. The time is ripe when some action should be taken in this matter as a means of personal safety to our citizens.
-----------------------------------
  On account of Ringling Bros. circus at Ottumwa, May 7th, the C. M. & St. P. R. will sell round trip excursion tickets at $2.00. Return coupon good until May 8th. J. W. Calvert agent.

Selected Local News - 31 August 1893

The Seymour Press - 31 August 1893
---------------------------------
  Hot baths reduced to 15 cents at Carson's barber shop.
  Oysters and prairie chickens are in order Friday, Sept. 1.
  Mrs.Nancy Wade, living near Plano, died Monday morning.
  Mrs. Minnie Butler and babe returned Friday to their home in Girard, Kansas.
  John Caldwell moved his household goods to Jerome, Monday, into his new dwelling just completed.
  A gang of dogs got into M. G. Cain's hog lot Monday night and chewed a 300 pound hot into frightful condition from which it will surely die.
  $7.25 to Chicago and $11.61 to Chicago and return via., Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway.  Return tickets good for 30 days.
   John, the one year and fourteen days old son of R. H. and Alice Miller, died last Thursday and was buried in the Jerome cemetery on Friday.
  Mr. and Mrs. Chas. H. Nicodemus wish us thank the many friends of theirs who showed so much kindness, for the valuable aid rended during their late bereavement.

Jerome Cursed with a "Blind Tiger" and Desperadoes

The Seymour Press - 6 February 1896
-----------------------------------
  --Our neighboring little town of Jerome, while possessing the normal amount of morality, is cursed with a "blind tiger," the worst form of all the illicit dispensaries of whiskey, beer and such like.  A mean little dingy, dirty shanty near the railroad, unpicturesque, uninviting and unsuspicious looking enough to the casual observer, is where this nefarious and illegitimate sale of intoxicants is carried on, defying the officers who have time and again endeavored to break up the den by raiding it. But the man who pours out the stuff does it behind a solid partition makes the sale through a small, sliding box near the floor and of course is seen by no one. This makes it practically impossible for the officers to act intelligently in making arrests, although the booze has been arrested a number of times. A week or two ago the old joint up town, which had been unoccupied for several months, was town down or moved away and under where it had stood was discovered a rude cave with a subterranean passage leading several yardsaway where it came to an end with an exit aperture opening behind another shanty.
  --The presence of a gang of desperadoes, escaped convicts and all-around crooks whoe haunt is a miserable little shanty not a great way east of Jerome in an obscure and remote part of the heavily timbered locality is giving cause for monumental alarm, fear and uneasiness among the civilized denizens of these environs. Their haunt is known as the Drummond Monkey and there is at least a half dozen habitues of the den. The leader of the gang is a recently escaped convict and professional safe cracker. He conceals his identity by wearing a mask of long white hair and beard and is said by those who have seen him to resemble the old hermit so graphically depicted between the paper covers of the novel. A short time ago they came in a body to Jerome and at the blind tiger became gloriously jagged on the booze which is so easily gotten at that place. Their hilarity and boisterousness attracted a crowd of the sporty young fellows to the scene of their drunken orgies and unconsciously the thugs divulged many secrets of their past lives and future intentions declarations which they evidently otherwise could not have been forced to make.   Aooarently one member of the gang had a grievance against his pals or else the burden of his past sins was already more than he could bear without adding more to it, for he made his escape from the maudlin crowd, went to a prominent business man in Jerome and confessed to himj, after laying bare the past record and other details of the desperadoes, that they had come to Jerome for the purpose of looting his store, but that through his persuasion they had decided to wait until on or after  pay day, and implored the frightened store keeper to put on a force of well armed night guards. The proprietor of the store had implicit confidence in what the narrator divulged and lost no time in procuring five of the bravest men in the burg, gave each a Winchester and told them what would be expected in case an attack was made.  These vigils have been kept for over two weeks and no attack has been made but it is nightly anticipated.  While reveling in their drunken debauchery the bandits made startling displays of their money which the;y had in large sums concealed about their clothes.  Only a week of two ago a man was struck down and robbed while walking along the railroad track near the haunt of these land pirates and numerous local burglaries have been laid to them.

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Soldier's Reunion = Co. B, 6th Kansas Cavalry

The Seymour Leader - 16 August 1906
------------------------------------
  All soldiers of whatever name or order as well as the general public are invited to come and enjoy the day with us.
  10:00 a.m. Song, Boys' Glee Club.
  Invocation, Rev. W. O. Smith.
  Address of Welcome, C. A. Conger.
  Response, J. J. Stone.
  Social Hour.
  Business Meeting and Election of Officers.
  Adjournment: Basket Dinner.
  Bring a well filled basket. Coffee and beans free to everyone.
  1:30 p.m. Song, Ladies Quartet
  Oration, Pearly Rinker.
  Song, Boys' Glee Club.
  Recitation, Nina Merritt.
  Five Minute Speeches by Old Soldiers and others.
  Recitation, Dottie Silvers.
  Song, Ladies Quartet.
  Flag Drill, Sixteen Little Girls.
  Adjournment.\
------------------------------------
The Seymour Leader - 23 August 1906
------------------------------------
  The reunion of Co. B, Sixth Kansas Cavalry and, incidentlally, others of the old comrades was held last Saturdy at his place according to program and the meeting was long to be remembered.  The program, as previously published in the Leader was carriede out and in this connection we have not time to mention all in detail. A basket dinner was served and enjoyed by all, at the dinner hour.
  The chief event of the day (aside from the dinner) was the splendid address by Purley Rinker in the afternoon on "The Problems of the Republic."  We present briefly a few points upon which the speaker touched and wish we might have room for the entire oration, which was certainly appreciated by all who heard it.
  After a brief introduction Mr. Rinker discussed the early problems of the republic; the problems which confronted the fathers. He dealt with the work of Hamilton, Jay, Marshall and Jefferson and showed that it was required of them to mould warring elements of the people into one harmonious whole and give our country a commanding position among the nations of the world.  Immediately following came the question of slavery. For over half a century it was discussed before the people, in the press and pulpit and for over half a century it occupied the foremost place in American statesmanship, when such men as Clay, Calhoun and Webster adorned the senate of the United States.
  The slave power, virile and aggressive, placed John C. Calhoun in the vice president's chair and made him the heir apparent of the presidential throne; when as a successor to the senatorial toga of Calhoun, Robert Y. Hayne of South Carolina appeared upon the senate floor and with his masterly and subtle logic ade a full and clear exposition of the and principles which for years had enthralled the minds of mighty statesmen. Then it was that Daniel Webster appeared upon the scene to battle in the senate for a cause, a constitution and a people that he loved; he dealt state rights a stinging blow; uttered the slogan of liberty and union; and in doing so, touched a responsive chord in the heart of the American people. The south, unable to gain a point by logic, was compelled to resort to arms.
  Right here the speaker paid a tribute to the men of Company B and their companions.  He spoke of the leaders who guided them to ultimate victory. When the was closed the dream of the fathers was realized, and in addition we were given universal freedom and an indissoluble Union.
  The speaker then showed that we, of the present day, had problems entirely different in their nature from the problems of the fathers; that our probldems are commercial; that the problem as shown by legislation and recent literature is the control of corporate wealth.  He asserted also that at the present time we were developing bold aggressive statesmen and he inclined to the belief that these qualities in our leaders would serve as an antidote for the conditions, and that we should look to these strong, aggressive characters to lead us onward and upward in the development of national purity and the perpetuity of our national greatness.
  The meeting was held in the leafy grove of the Christian church yard, which was pleasant and agreeable to all. Toward the close of the program a shower came up suddenly which drove the participants to cover.
  The members of the Sixth who were present at the reunion were John Goldsberry, Albert Root and Robert Wright, of Centerville, J. J. Stone, N. M. Scott, Mystic, J.Crouder, R. F. Rinker, Geo. Ross, John Farnsworth, Dan Coster, John Tibbets and W. J. Manning.  Besides these there were present a number of other soldiers of various regiments.  B. F. Bradley, W. W. Elliot, Geo. Sens, Joe Pratt, W. A. Park, W. W. Copley, W. I. Speers, Marion Gunter, Reuben Davis, James Lindsay, Jesse Kinney, N.C. Michael, J. C. Phillips, Isaac Gump, most all of this city or vicinity; John Adamson of Nebraska, Captain Wyckoff of Cincinnati, and a number of others whose names we cannot recall at this time. No record of those present was kept as far as we can ascertain. But 'twas a glorious event.

Monday, January 7, 2013

Select Local News Items - 27 July 1893ra

The Seymour Press - 27 July 1893
-----------------------------
Select Items from Local News
  --L. H. Clark was in Jerome Monday.
  --Jake Dewey was down from Jerome, Saturday.
  --The hum of the thresher is heard in the land.
  --Geo. Albey, of Numa, spent Sunday in our town.
  --Yesterday was pay day at the Chicago Coal Co. mine.
  --Chas. Nicodemus returned on Saturday from Chicago.
  --Mrs. Z. Double and daughter Lizzie spent Sunday in Hibbsville with relatives.
  --O. A. McGavran and wife, of Jackson, Mich., are visiting relatives at this place.
  --Miss Marcia Earnest left Saturday afternoon for a two weeks' visit with friends in Mt. Pleasant.
  --Dr. M. A. H. Jones has made arrangements to go to Mystic on Friday of each week to do dental work.
  --The Rock Island employess at this place were made happy yesterday by the arrival of the pay car.
  --Tobacco is injurious!  Stop it by taking Hill's Chloride of gold Tablets.  All first-class druggist sell them.
  --Mrs. J. W. Workman and children returned Sunday morning from a five weeks' visit in Washington county.
  --Barns, fences and bare walls are covered with flaming posters announcing the Forepaugh show at Centerville, August 7.
  --We want correspondents from Genoa and Kniffin; one who can furnish good, spicy letters giving all the events of interest.
  --We have obtained a correspondent at Promise City who will keep The Press readers posted on the happenings of that burg.
  --The Chicago Store advertises a grand clearance sale on the front page of this paper. An excellent opportunity for the ladies. Read it.
  --The ladies of the Eastern Star gave refreshments consisting of ice cream, cake, etc., in the methodist churchyard last Thursday and realized sixteen dollars for their efforts.
  --J. H. Thompson brought into our office this morning a stalk of timothy that measures 5 feet 11 inches from the to of the ground.  We would like to know if anyone can beat that.
  --A claim pushed against the Milwaukee railroad company by D. H. Kerby for $300 in settlement for four horses killed by the cars last April has just been paid to W. A. Hagan, of Jerome.
  --The ten-months old child of Mr. E. W. and Mary Adamson, near Numa, died Monday morning and was interred in the Numa Cemetery in the evening. The funeral services were conducted by Elder Ammons of this place.
  --For the past two weeks our ready prints have been a day late in reaching us from Chicago thereby throwing us several hours behind time with our papers. We hope our readers will look over this matter which we can't avoid.
  --Grand salvation army meeting in Hoschar's hall, Tuesday evening August 8. Adjutant and Mrs. Harris will be with us, with their songs and music.  Everybody come to hear and see for yourselves.  Meeting inside at half past seven.

Select Local News Items - 17 January 1895

The Seymour Press - 17 January 1895
--------------------------------------
Select Items from Local News
  --H. C. Rinker had his address changed from Centerville to Iowa City. He is attending the law department of the state university.
  --The cold snap that came down on us last week froze ice sufficiently thick for packing and every available team, man and large boy in town was employed by the packers. The ice is of a good quality, but in some cases had to be hauled a considerable distance.
  --On Wednesday night of last week the Eastern Stars initiated into their order Misses Sidles and Hagen, of Jerome. There was quite a large attendance at the meeting and after the mysteries of the order had been thoroughly unraveled to the candidates, dainty and palatable refreshments were served to all for which Mr. and Mrs. W. M. Browne and Miss Sade Bradley will ever be held in fond remembrance.
  --Sam Rickords had a narrow escape one night last week in which he came near losing his last shirt. He had three, lucky man, two of them were hanging out on the clothes line and the third he had on. The two on the line were stolen. 'Twas a pow'ful norry 'scape for Sam.
  --J. H. Matkins handles the best coffee in the market. It is called Easly Breakfast and he says he never handled a coffee. in all his experience that gave more universal satisfaction. And that isn't all, it costs no more than inferior grades. Examine it, taste it, smell it, and you will buy it.
--C.S. Byrkit assistant secretary of the state of Iowa says:  "I have used Dr Eells' Pain Pad several years and consider it the best remedy for the relief of pain in existence; it cures acute pain of any kind in from fifteen to twenty minutes"  Dr. Eells' Pain Pad taken internally relieves the most severe pain instantly.
  --J. B. Rankin, D.D.G.M. and S. C. Beck, Grand Marshall, of Allerton, installed officers of the Lone Tree Lodge No. 352, I.O.O.F. last Saturday evening, as follows: F. V. Inskeep, N.G., Earnest Schnobley, V.G.; Dr. O. A. Cover, Rec. Secy.; W. O. Bateman, Per. Secy,; Ira T. Blakely, Treas. After the installation the members adjourned to the west side oyster parlor and C. E. Earnest catered to their wants.