Jerome News Briefs -- March 1909 ----- from the Semi-Weekly Iowegian

  The bright Sun dogs Tuesday morning brought some extremely cold weather.

  Dr. Maxwell, of Seymour, was a professional caller at the Luse home, Friday.

  After a visit of two weeks with his uncle, Lincoln Moore, and family, Burr Moore, returned Friday to his home near Butler, Mo.

  Will Ferren of South Dakota, who has been visiting relatives near Plano, visited in Jerome the latter part of the week at the home of his sister-in-law, Mrs. G. W. Ross.

  Dr. Miller was called from Plano, Friday, to see Mrs. Clyde Dooley, who has been ill with "grip" and tonsillitis.  She is better at this writing.

  The mumps are still finding victims, Little Raymond Dooley being the last reported on the list.

  Wright Hudson and wife, of Streepyville, were over Sunday visitors at the Geo. Moore home.

  Mrs. Carrie Jones, who has been in Kansas City, for the past eight months returned Tuesday and will remain here during the summer.

  B. F. Sellars came up from Mystic Friday and made a brief visit with relatives.

  Peter Wilson returned Sunday from a trip through southern Kansas and Oklahoma.

  Miss Kathryn Hawkins was a business visitor in Seymour, Tuesday.

  Hedley Love of Plano visited with a friend in Jerome, Sunday.

  Mrs. Abner and Port Harris of Mystic spent Sunday in our city, with their cousin, Mrs. C. A. Stevenson.

  Rev. and Mrs. Bishop attended the Methodist quarterly meeting in Brazil, Saturday and Sunday. There was no preaching services at this place Sunday.

  John Burns, wife and children, returned last Wednesday from Des Moines, where they have been visiting friends.

  Miss Pearl Williamson of Lomonville, Mo., and Miss Flora Hoover of near Numa, visited at this place Sunday to Monday with Miss Williamson's brother, Ira.

  Miss Anna Gorman left Tuesday for Guymond Okla.  She expects to be absent about two weeks looking after the interests of her claim.  Miss Susie Sidles is attending to business at the post office during her absence.

  Mrs. M. I. Moore is in Mystic this week visiting with her daughter, Mrs. B. F. Sellars.

  Chas. Crouch left last Wednesday for Des Moines, to attend the U. M. W. of A convention.

  Mrs. Ella Blackmore of Atwood, Kan., who has been visiting her niece, Mrs. C. A. Stevenson, the past week, returned Sunday to Centerville, accompanied by her sister, Mrs. Mary Ross.

  Little Lelia Dooley is recoving from an attack of tonsilitis.

  The Big 4 mine is not working very steadily.

  Mr. and Mrs. Frank Gable of the Consumers Supply Co., left Tuesday for a visit in Cedar Rapids with relatives.

  The Epworth League held a business meeting Monday evening at the home of Mrs. M. Pendergast.

  Presiding Elder Kendrick came up from Brazil and called a meeting at the M. E. church, Monday afternoon, to see what could be done about building a parsonage.  A committee was appointed to report at a meeting next Wednesday.  There has been about $400 raised at this place for the building. 

Mine Was Burned -- Big Loss for Seymour and the Sunshine Mine by Fire

Semi-Weekly Iowegian - 20 August 1909

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  Seymour, Aug. 20 -- Scores of miners employed at the Sunshine mine owned by A. G. Widmer of Centerville had a narrow escape about 6:30 Tues-evening in a fire that put the mine out of commission.  When discovered, the tipple of the mine was on fire, but the blaze spread so rapidly that in less than an hour the framework had all fallen in.  The night shift had gone into the mine to work, but they escaped uninjured through the air shaft, although they had a narrow escape. Seymour will feel the loss heavily, as the mine payroll has been heavy.

  Besides the tipple, engine and boiler rooms, with all the machinery, a good part of which was comparatively new and in good order, there were some 500 or 600 tons of coal burned and three freight cars.  Part of the chute with several tons of coal fell right across the main track and all tracks of the Rock Island road and it took considerable time to clear them.

  The property destroyed was valued at something over $10,000.  Insurance was about half the amount.  There has been considerable speculation since the fire as to whether the work will be rebuilt or not.  The burning of the mine will be a sad loss to Seymour, as between 200 and 300 men depended on the Sunshine for their sole support.  

Crooks-Vandorn Wedding - An Interesting Event Near Jerome Sunday Evening

Semi-Weekly Iowegian - 19 February 1909

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  Jerome, Feb. 19 -- Sunday evening Feb. 14, 1909, at the home of the bride's father, Douglas Vandorn, two miles southwest of Jerome, Frank Crooks and Miss Nada Vandorn were united in marriage at six o'clock by Justice Condra, in the presence of more than thirty relatives and friends, the couple being attended by Ben Sedgwick Jr., and Miss Grace Seathe.  The bride was attired in a beautiful white silk lace trimmed gown.

  Immediately following the ceremony and congratulations the guests repaired to the dining room where a most delicious wedding dinner was served, having been prepared by the bride and relatives.  The evening was spent in a social way and notwithstanding the storm outside joy and good cheer reigned supreme within.

  Mr. Crooks is a miner and has boarded with his brother Ben at his place for the past several months.  Mrs. Crooks is the eldest daughter of Douglas Vandorn and has grown to womanhood in this community.  She has kept house for her father the past several years, her mother having died when she was quite a small girl.  Mr. and Mrs. Crooks are undecided as to where they will locate, but will probably reside in Shawville.

  Those present and the presents were as follows:  Geo. Vandorn and family, berry set; Abe Vandorn and wife, table cloth; Alva Murphy and wife, table cloth and towels; Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Moore and children, water pitcher and bread plate; Mrs. M. I. Moore, cake plate; Mr. and Mrs. Ben Crooks, table cloth; Miss Ocie Moore, salad bowl; Ira Huston, fruit dish; Bert Murphy, pickle dish; Gail Murphy, spoon tray; Fred Murphy, pillow cases; Dal Herrald and family, salad bowl; Mrs. Edna Kinney, desert dishes; Mrs. Ida Jagger, of Gothenburg, Neb., silver knives and forks; Mrs. Ida Murphy also presented them with a child's silver knife and fork.  We extend congratulations and best wishes for future success and happiness.

Obituary: James Purdy

Semi-Weekly Iowegian - May 1909

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  James Purdy was born at Beckworth, Northumberland County, England, March 10, 1877, and died at camp 1, near Boulder Col. May 25, 1909.  Aged 32 yrs. 2 mo. and 6 days.

  James had been a resident of this county since eleven years of age, until about seven weeks prior to his death, when he went to Colorado and was employed by the Eastern Col. Power Co.  While driving team up the mountain he scratched his limb on a rock which resulted in blood poisoning. Two operations were performed and finally the limb was amputated.  His death being partly due to the shock of losing his limb.  The body arrived at Jerome Sunday, May 30.  Funeral services were held at 1 o'clock Monday afternoon, from the Believers hall, where he has been a faithful member for the past three years, and was conducted by Rev Moffett of Centerville, assisted by W W White of this place.  The remains were laid to rest in the Jerome cemetery.

  He leaves a father, mother, one brother and six sisters to mourn his departure, all of whom were present at the funeral, except two sisters and mother.  He also had a great many friends who will miss him.  Quite a large number of people from Rathbun and other points were present at the funeral.  The bereaved family have our sincerest sympathy.

  God in his wisdom has recalled,

    The boon His love has given;

  And tho the body, slumbers here,

    The soul is safe in heaven.

Good Work Done On The Waubonsie Trail

Belleville News-Democrat - 15 January 1912

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Public Spirited Citizens Along Its Route 

Accomplishing Wonders

  The Waubonsie trail is an earth road extending across the southern tier of counties in Iowa.  Its improvement has been undertaken by an organization known as the Waubonsie Trail association, which styles itself as the "promoters of the short way back to the farm."  The association has a membership of over 1,200 and has accomplished much in the work it has undertaken.

  The ten counties traversed by the Waubonsie trail are the southern counties of Iowa and adjoin Missouri.  It is the hope of its promoters that the road will at some time form the Iowa link in a transcontinental highway.

  No attempt has been made to construct stone roadways over any portion of the route.  The efforts of the association are confined to grading, dragging, constructing proper bridges and culverts and doing such other work as is necessry to put into good condition and maintain an earth road.

  In Iowa there is a state law which provides that township trustees shall see that the roads are properly dragged at stated times after rains.  One of the things the association is doing is securing pledges from citizens to oppose any candidate for office who will not do his best to have this law enforced or who in any way works against the campaign for good roads.  In addition to the influence brought to bear by the association on the road officials in the several counties and towns traversed by the road to work for its improvement, the farmer members have pledged themselves to drag the road after rains.  At one time last June when an official inspection of the raod was being made 75 per cent of its entire length was dragged within twenty-four hours.

  An important branch of the work being done is the replacement of improper bridges by structures suited to the conditions.  It is stated that there are on the road nearly a hundred small bridges of spans up to twenty feet for which tile of three feet diameter or less can be substituted advantageously. In many cases these bridges cross streams draining less than a quarter section of land, much of which is comparatively level.

  What is being accomplished along the 286 mile road is best shown by the accompanying illustrations.

Bad Clash Is Feared - Mine Owners Want Militia

The Minneapolis Journal - 9 April 1895

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For the Miners Intend to Prevent 

Outside Workmen from Going In

  Albia, Iowa, April 9 -- A clash between mine operators and striking miners at the Cincinnati mines, in the southern part of Appanoose county, seems inevitable unless the militia is ordered out to quell the strikers.  It is reported here that another delegation, 100 strong, is on the way from Mendota, Mo., just over the state line, to join forces with the strikers from Cincinnait, Rathbun, Mystic, Jerome and Seymour, to prevent the men whom the operators have imported from entering the mines.

  Notice has been served on the leaders of the strikers that if they do not permit the operators to open their mines an appeal would be made to Gov. Jackson to order out the militia. 

Rebels in Iowa

Wisconsin Patriot - 27 July 1861

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  Burlington, Iowa, July 18 -- The Hawkeye says a messenger arrived at Eddyville yesterday, bring news that 300 Rebel cavalry had invaded Appanoose county, Iowa.

  They are reported to have burned the towns of Milan, Mo., and Unionville, Iowa.  It was feared they would also burn Centerville, county seat of Appanoose county.

  The people are gathering up everything in the shape of arms.

Chautauqua Home Coming

The Idaho Daily Statesman - 29 August 1908

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  Centerville, Ia., Aug. 28 -- Five hundred former Appanoose county residents, from half the states of the Union, joined with 10,000 home people at the Chautauqua "home coming" today.  T. P. Shonts delivered the principal address, his subject being "Transportation."

An Epidemic Of Spinal Meningitis Making Trouble in Iowa

The Grand Forks Daily Herald - 21 April 1907

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  Centerville, Ia., April 20 -- Much anxiety is being felt by the epidemic of spinal meningitis which is raging in the northwestern part of Appanoose county.  There are a score or more cases in the village of Mystic and surrounding mining camps and several deaths already have resulted.  The latest death reported was a child of Mrs. Dora Graham and another child in the same family is ill with the disease and its death is hourly expected.

Miners Strike -- One Thousand Employees of Thirty Mines Resist a Reduction

Morning World-Herald of Omaha NE - 3 October 1896

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  Ottawa, IA, Oct. 2 -- A thousand miners in the Appanoose district are out on a strike against a reduction of 5 cents for mining coal, and a general restlessness among the miners at most Iowa mines causes a fear among operators that the strike may become general.  Strikes have reduced the miners at Mystic, Cincinnati and other points near Centerville to a pitiable condition and troops were stationed for several weeks last year at Cincinnati to guard against an outbreak against imported men.

  The present outlook is for just such a siege this time.  There is no appearance of trouble yet.  The miners are very quiet.  They congregated at Centerville yesterday about the shafts and offices of the coal company, but were orderly and made no demonstration.  About thirty miners are affected by the strike. 

In a New Gown

Daily State Register - 29 May 1868

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  The Loyal Citizen -- published at Centerville, Appanoose county, by Maj. M. M. Walden -- has been enlarged into a thirty-two column sheet, and dressed in new type, and printed on a new press. The Citizen is one of our favorite Iowa papers; and it is our favorite because it is able, faithful, and fearless.  We like the paper, and we like its editor, and are glad to see such substantial evidences of its prosperity.  It deserves success, and is getting its deserts.  Long live the Loyal Citizen!

Union Men Loan Aid in Meeting Money Famine

Des Moines Daily News - 4 March 1909

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Will Co-operate With Banks 

City Directory Fight Dropped

  No reduction in wages, but co-operation with the banks and other business institutions to make the financial stringency as easy as possible was the result of an all Sunday conference of the executive committee of the Iowa State Federation of Labor at Trades and Labor Assembly hall.

  Nearly all union men are working under a contract with their employers so that a reduction of wages is not expected.

  A fund is to be raised to aid the printers in fighting the Los Angeles Times, but no definite sum was agreed upon although the printers suggested one cent a man.

  W. W. White of Jerome was made delegate from Iowa to the American Federation of Labor.  He is vice president of District No. 13, United Mine Workers.

  The fight against the city directory was dropped.  It was decided that the publication of the names of the 5,000 union men in the city would do more good.