Allamakee co. IAGenWeb

Lansing Postoffice burglary, 1859
On the night of the 23d of February last, the Post Office in Lansing, Alamakee County, was entered burglariously and the mail bags stolen. Circumstances led to the suspicion that one Bill Faulkner and a negro named Peter Montgomery were parties to the crime, and they were accordingly arrested and taken before Justice Merrill, of Lansing, for examination. After his arrest the negro made a full confession, showing Faulkner had been the principal. The amount of booty obtained by the robbery was $2 mailed in Wisconsin for Mr. Coil, of Dorchester, and a package of postage stamps amounting to [?]. The stamps were found concealed after the arrests in a board pile near Faulkner's house. Faulkner was committed in default of bail, and the negro was detained as a witness. -Burlington Hawkeye and Telegraph, March 15, 1859
-Contributed by Cathy Joynt Labath

Wolves, Burlington Weekly Hawkeye, June 30, 1860
From the Waukon Journal we learn that a Mr. James Reed, living near that place, tracked some wolves from his farm to a cave, and then had some rare sport in burning them out. He collected a large lot of birch bark, and placing it in the mouth of the den, set fire to it, thus roasting several of them. Just as he was applying the torch, two young ones came home. One of them he caught while the other scrambled over his back into the cave.
-Contributed by Cindy Bray Lovell

A Brute in Lansing, Burlington Hawk Eye, July 16, 1864
Considerable excitement was lately stirred up in Lansing by the act of a man by the name of Hoberg who whipped an orphan girl, a resident in his family. It is a good long distance from this place to Lansing; but from this remote stand point we take the liberty to call Mr. Hoberg a brute.
-Contributed by S. Ferrall

Murder, Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, April 22, 1865
Gov. Stone has offered a reward of $300 for the apprehension of Garrit Riley, who murdered Thomas Cunningham near Rossville, in Alamakee county, on the 6th day of March, A.D. 1865. Riley is an Irishman, speaks with some brogue -- about forty years of age, five feet eleven inches high, weight, about one hundred and seventy, dark brown hair, small blue eyes, light yellow complexion, pock-marked in the face, walks straight, and full breast. He is a terrible villain.
-Contributed by S. Ferrall (transcriber's note: I believe that Thomas Cunningham is buried in the Cherry Mound cemetery, Linton twp.)

Fire in Village Creek, Chicago Tribune, May 22, 1875
A Tribune special from McGregor, Iowa, says the Village Creek woolen mills, near Lansing, Iowa, owned by Howard, Carroll & Ratcliff, were destroyed by fire last night. Loss $30,000. The fire is supposed to have been incendiary.
-Contributed by Sharyl Ferrall

State vs. Misner, Burlington Hawkeye, July 8, 1875
In the case of the State vs. Misner, the defendant being a teacher of Allamakee county who had with some severity whipped Ida Benner, the court gave the following instructions: " If you find from the evidence that defendant committed an assault and battery upon the prosecutrix : and you further find from the evidence that at the time of the assault the prosecutrix had attained the age of twenty-one years, you are instructed that defendant had not the lawful right to make the assault and battery as a punishment for disobedience of the orders of the teacher, or of the rules of the school." The jury found the defendant guilty, and now the case goes to the Supreme Court.
-Contributed by Cindy Bray Lovell

POSTVILLE'S CENTENNARIAN, Postville Review; July 12, 1884
One hundred years ago not far from the banks and braes of Bonny Doon, near the castles of Montgomery, Scotland, a child was born, fair, plump and pretty we are told and in due time was christened, getting the plain simple name of John LAIRD. The lapse of three fourths of a century brings him to Iowa, and now at the age of 100 years he resides among us able to walk, talk and sing his song. Mr. and Mrs. LAIRD are happy as little children, and still welcome all with much cordiality.
-Contributed by S. Ferrall

Excerpts from the Waukon Standard; 1885, misc dates
Thurs, July 2, 1885:
Mrs. Knudt TOBIASON, of Hanover, was brought to Waukon Tuesday to be examined by the insane commission, being considered in a deranged condition. Since writing the above examination has been made, and while her mind seems somewhat affected, whe has given an apparently clear and correct history of her past life. Last fall she had the misfortune to break both bones of a leg in a very bad manner. TOBIASON never called a physician or took any decent care of her and we are told has abandoned her, roaming about the country according to his own selfish desires. There was a mortgage on the place on which she lived, which he permitted to be foreclosed and she turned out of house and home, he making no attempt to provide for her. No wonder her mind is a little demoralized under the inhuman treatment she has suffered at TOBIASON's hands.
--
Thurs August 20, 1885:
-The household of Dr. BOWEN rejoices in the presence of an infant daughter since Friday last.
-Miss Agnes RYAN returned to White Lake, Dakota, last Friday.
--
Thursday, July 2, 1885:
Local and Miscellaneous Waukon Junction, Friday, June 26, 1885.
About 1 o'clock p. m. to-day the house of Esq. HULSE was discovered to be on fire, and was burned to the ground in about thirty minutes. Most all the furniture and goods downstairs saved; about everything upstairs lost. Total loss estimated at about $700 insured for $450 with U. M. BACON's companies, of Lansing. Mr. HULSE is a poor man, has a large family to support, and has the sympathy of the community.
(transcriber's note: I don't know which HULSE this is talking about, but would probably have to be Silas HULSE or Squire HULSE.)
--
Thursday, August 27, 1885
From Frankville: Katy RYAN is living in a very critical condition. Very little hope is given for her recovery.
-All contributed by Patricia Hamarstrom

Oldest Man in Iowa, Morning World Herald, Omaha, Nebraska, February 20, 1893
Mason City, Ia., Feb. 19. -- The oldest man in Iowa and probably in the west, is Mr. Charles L. Pool of Allamakee county, who will celebrate his 107th birthday on the 15th of the coming month. He was born in Congrasbury, Somersetshire, England, in 1786. He was thrice married, his first wife living but nine years. In England his business was farming and speculating in teasles, and after coming to this country he was engaged in farming as he was able to work at all. In 185? he came to this country with his wife and ten children, leaving his oldest son in England. He settled first in Kane county, Illinois, where in 1850 his wife died. In 1851 he removed to Allamakee county, which has since been his home, although he has spent one year in Dakota. Although so advance in years, Mr. Pool can walk about, and with the aid of his glasses can read the tinest print. Two years ago he was hurt by a fall, since which time he uses a cane to assist him in walking. Mr. Pool has seventy living descendants, seven children and sixty-three grandchildren.
-Contributed by S. Ferrall (transcriber's note: Charles L. Pool, 99 years, Iowa township, Allamakee county - from the 1885 Iowa census)

Lucky John Witmer, 1895
Des Moines, July 18 - John E. Witmer, a deputy sheriff, has secured 160 acres of land in Allamakee county under an original homestead entry made at the land office, and all the place cost him was $18, the usual fee for filing on the land. The land is under cultivation and has been for twenty years. It is on the Mississippi river bottoms, not more than four miles distant from the river and about the same distance from two railroad towns, and is worth at least $8,000. A man who has been interested in the contest for a piece of land in the west part of the city in looking over the records found that two certificates had been issued for the same tract to the same man, and told Witmer of it. He investigated and found that in 1847 the land was entered by an original settler under the old homestead laws, but that the entry was an error on the part of the clerks in the office, as he had taken and was living on another piece of land. In 1861 the settler discovered the mistake and was permitted to correct his entry. This left the title to the piece originally entered with the government, and no one seems to have discovered it until recently. The land has been occupied all the time and it is presumed that some one bought it at a tax sale and thought they had a good title. On April 10, Witmer called at the land office and made a demand to be permitted to enter the land and tendered the fees of $18. The register and receiver doubted his right to enter it and refused to permit the entry to be made until they could look up the records. An inspection of the records seemed to satisfy them that the land was subject to entry, but they preferred to have the department officials at Washington look into the matter and forwarded the papers to them. They have just been returned with a decision to the effect that the land was subject to entry and Witmer made his original homestead entry. -Northwood Anchor, July 25, 1895
-Contributed by S. Ferrall, (transcriber's note: I can't find Mr. Witmer on any census in Allamakee co., he must have lived elsewhere)

Iowa's Earthquake, Brooklyn Eagle, June 7, 1897
Lansing, IA., June 7 -- An earthquake startled many citizens of Lansing between 4 and 5 o'clock yesterday morning. The shock, which lasted several seconds, was accompanied by a rumbling noise heard at Waukon, eighteen miles away.
-Contributed by S. Ferrall

Klondike Gold Hunter, Waukon Standard Wednesday, March 9, 1898
Mrs. Belle WILLIAMS of St. Louis Park, Minn., is visiting the family of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. R. PRESCOTT. Mr. WILLIAMS becomes a Klondike gold hunter.
-Contributed by Patricia Hamarstrom

Tid-bits from the Waukon Standard Wednesday, March 16, 1898
New Albin Courier -Miss Anna HAMARSTROM of Lansing is vising the C. G. Bock family this week.
Lansing -Prof R. E. RICE of Dixon, Ill., arrived Saturday to attend the funeral of his father who died suddenly Friday morning, aged 79 years.
-Contributed by Patricia Hamarstrom

Grace Waukon, Cedar Rapids Gazette, March 21, 1898
Grace Waukon, a granddaughter of the Indian chief after whom the town of Waukon was named, is a teacher in the Indian school at Tomah, Wis.
-Contributed by Diana Henry Diedrich

Veteran Becomes Exhausted Walking Across County, Correctionville News, June 5, 1913
Mason City, Ia., June 3—Too exhausted to go farther, an old soldier who gave his name as W. H. Barber. And who said he was- reroute to the soldiers home at Marshalltown, was picked up near Charles City on Memorial day. He had fallen on his face and in that position he was found. When revived he said he left Specht's Ferry about two weeks ago to McGregor where he remained a short time. He decided to visit his daughter at Postville but on arrival there found she had gone on a visit, so then determined to seek the home at Marshalltown . He said he had came to Iowa first in 1851 settling near Waterloo. When the war broke out he was in Toledo, Ohio and there enlisted in the 57th Ohio volunteers and served through the war. For years he has been employed as a wood cutter along the river between McGregor and Waukon Junction.
-Contributed by Cindy Bray Lovell

Aged Citizen finds Relatives, Correctionville News, November 12, 1914
Emerson Merril, an aged citizen of Waukon who has been on the retired list for several years and who has sought in vain to find relatives, has finally located them after a search of 18 years, and left the first of the week for New York.
-Contributed by Cindy Bray Lovell

Weidner Released, Correctionville News, January 15, 1915
Jury Finds Alleged Slayer of Martel Not Guilty of Crime.
GREAT INTEREST IN TRIAL
Murdered Man Was Trapper and Fisherman Residing On An Island Near Harper's Ferry and Had Many Bitter Enemies.
Waukon.—After being out an hour and fifteen minutes, the jury in the trial of Ernest Weidner in the district court returned a verdict of not guilty. Wiedner was charged with the death of Cyprian Martel. The body of Martel, aged 31 years. a Frenchman. Following the occupation of a trapper and fisherman, residing on an island in the Mississippi river near Harper's Ferry, was found drifting in his boat in a slough near his island home on the morning of April 10, 1914 with two gun shot wounds in his body. He had left home on the morning of April 9, and as he had not returned home that night his wife became alarmed and notified neighbors. A searching party was organized with the result that the body was found. -Martel claimed title to land along the Mississippi river and had made his home on part of an island. He had considerable trouble with trappers, hunters and fishermen who he claimed, had been using his land against his wishes. He had forbidden fishermen, hunters and trappers from utilizing his property and had thereby gained the enmity of certain of them. Rumors were current that several men had threatened his life. Ernest Wiedner, former Dubuquer, of Harper's Ferry, a fisherman carrying on an extensive fishing business for years, was one of the men alleged to have made threats. It happened that on the day that Martel was killed Wiedner was the only man alleged to have threatened Martel's life, who was in Harper's Ferry or in that vicinity. Suspicion rested upon him, and for that reason Sheriff Larson placed Wiedner under arrest, charged with the murder.
-Contributed by Cindy Bray Lovell (transcriber's note: two different spellings of Weidner's name, not sure which is right.)

Deadly Storm, Correctionville News, June 24, 1915
John Lephert and Miss Lephert were killed in a storm near Waukon. The storm caused $10,000 loss on the house and barn on Bert Gast's farm near Haytman. The depot was blown into the river, heavy damage to crops and property was reported.
-Contributed by Cindy Bray Lovell

Waukon Accidents, Correctionville News, December 16, 1915
-W. C. Bender and Frank Russell had a narrow escape from death when their auto turned turtle near Rossville. An axle broke as they were going up hill and the car upset pinning them underneath. Russell got a bad gash in his leg and Bender sustained a painful injury to his hip.
-Andrew Helgeson, an 11 year old boy was painfully injured when he was struck by an auto in Waukon. It was at first thought Helgeson was fatally injured but he is recovering nicely.
-Contributed by Cindy Bray Lovell

111 years old and still smiling, Nashua Reporter, June 20, 1918
Patrick Gallagher of Hanover township, Allamakee county, is the oldest man in Iowa and he's proud of it. He can talk or joke as brightly as any colleen back in Mohill, Ireland, where he lived before coming to America eighty-four years ago.
-Contributed by Sharyl Ferrall

Waukon Woman's Literary Club, The Dubuque Sunday Times-Journal, February 16, 1919
The Woman's Literary club, which is the second oldest woman's club in the state, celebrated its 35th anniversary at the home of Mr. and Mrs. R. J. Alexander. The present members are Mesdames Carrie Alexander, Elvida Allison, Hattie Bowen, Margaret Bryant, May Burnham, Mary Dayton, Ellen Earle, Emily Eddy, Charlotte Hancock, Augusta M. May, Althea Robbins, Ellen Reed, Helen Sawyer, Phoebe Walker and Miss Emma Townsend. The roll call of honor of the deceased members is: Mesdames May Stewart, Mirian Barnes, Sarah Boomer, Susan Huffman, Adele Barnard, Callie Pratt, Ann C. Greer, Henrietta Hale, Hannah Adams, Mary Stone, Anna Stillman, Anne Hersey, Margaret Hall, Emily Hayes, Laura Lowe, Maria Dayton, Celia Spaulding, Judith Stoddard, Jennie Hubbell, Laura Dapton and Mato Smith.
-Contributed by Mary Durr

Albert Kielsmeier Funeral, Sheboygan Press, March 9, 1927
Albert Kielsmeier, St. Paul, Minnesota; Mrs. Julius Johnson, of Columbus, Ohio; Albert Bahr, Waukon; and Mr. and Mrs. Gus Bahr, Mrs. Edgar Karstedt, and Mr. and Mrs. Walter Toepfer and Miss Linda Bahr, all of Milwaukee, attended the funeral of the late Fred Kielsmeier at Centerville Saturday afternoon. They are all relatives of the deceased.
-Contributed by Cindy Bray Lovell

Dr. John R. Mott Retires, Iowa Recorder, November 7, 1928
The people of Iowa have an unusual interest in the announcement that Dr. John R. Mott, for forty years a world character in Y. M. C. A. activities, has retired from active service. For more than a decade he has been general secretary of the National Council of that organization. The man who bad come to be regarded by many as the foremost lay religious leader of the world had announced his intention to retire, and the council had extended an invitation to Fred W. Ramsey of Cleveland, former president of the council, to succeed him. John R. Mott and Ringling Brothers, the great showmen, were all born in northeastern Iowa, near Postville, Allamakee County. Mr. Mott is known in every section of the globe.
-Contribted by Cindy Bray Lovell

This Man Had a Record As a Wood Sawer, Iowa Recorder, July 9, 1930
Joseph Hammel for 75 years a resident of Allamakee County, is dead at the age of 8O. After retiring from farming several years ago he made the sawing of wood by hand his business. He competed successfully with wood sawing machinery. During the season just passed he sawed 39O cords of wood with his hand equipment.
-Contributed by Cindy Bray Lovell

Youth Shot in Arm by Rifle, Waukon Republican - Standard, Oct. 19, 1932
Leroy Hermanson Injured In Hunting Accident Monday Afternoon
Leroy HERMANSON, 19, of Waukon, came near losing his life in a hunting accident Monday afternoon when a .22 rifle fired while he was trying to fix it. Hermanson went to the Henry BRANDSMEIER farm, east of town, to assist with some repair work. The men were choring, so he passed away the time by hunting squirrels in the yard. After firing two or three times, he thought the gun was empty and he started working on the shell ejector, which had not been operating right. With the gun barrell under his arm, a lone shell that had remained in the barrell, exploded and the bullet went nearly through his arm about half way between elbow and wrist, lodging just under the skin. The bone was splintered some. Hermanson was brought immediately to the Waukon hospital, where his wound was dressed.
-Contributed by Jeannie Hegeman

Galena Maintains Popularity as Place to Get Married
Galena, Ill., Nov. 2 [1932] – Special- Galena’s popularity as a place for couples from all over the country to be married was maintained during the month of October according to the records of the county clerk, Mrs. Minnie D. Fitch. Eighty-four couples received licenses at the clerk’s window during the last month. Of these the largest number by far were from Iowa with Wisconsin second and other states scattered from Alabama to Minnesota and New York furnishing an occasional couple.
On Monday the last day of October licenses were issued to George William De Buhr and Dorothy Mae Williams both of Shell Rock, Ia.; John H. Haehn and Martha Cummings both of Osage, Ia.; Herbert J. Shafer of Green, Ia. and Cloey F. Cook of Patch Grove, Wis., and Edith F. Huston of Montfort, Wis.; Kenneth L. Brooks of Postville, Ia. and Coline Wendel of Lansing, Ia. The first license in November was granted on Tuesday to Albert L. Becker of Waverly, Ia., and Elsie M. Pleggenkuhle of Fayette, Ia. Tuesday evening Justice of the Peace George L. Maxeiner united Gladys Talfrey of Shullsburg, Wis., and Elmer Harwick of Guilford in marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Harwick will make their home in Shullsburg.
-Contributed by Janet Koozer & transcribed by Diana Henry Diedrich

Misc. Area News from the Allamakee Journal, November 6, 1935
-Congressman Biermann was honored at a huge homecoming banquet in Decorah.
-Chevrolet announces auto prices for 1936 models: $495 for a coupe and $600 for a sports sedan.
-Mrs. Frank Riser hosted a prenatal shower for Mrs. Herb Stirn and Mrs. Odean Sandry.
-Vince Spinner and Frank Asay are home from several months work with a government surveying crew at Hanover, Ill.
-Mrs. C. V. Schofield will give piano lessons.
-Funeral services were held for Mrs. James Sires at M.E. Church.
-Mrs. Carver Gantenbein entertained at a farewell for Mrs. Gale Gantenbein.
-Delores Wagner and Norbert Mack were married in Caledonia.
-Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Snitker became parents of a son.
-The Lansing Button Co. is making buttons from walnut and butternut shells.
-Contributed by Errin Wilker

Misc. Area News from the Allamakee Journal, March 24, 1937
-Gov. Kraschel signed into law a 2 percent sales tax.
-Four hundred fifty pupils and teachers were killed in a school explosion in New London, Texas.
-A boulder estimated to weigh nearly 10 tons fell from Little Hill in Lansing and landed in an alley.
-A son was born to Mr. and Mrs. John Hill.
-Joe Mullen is having a farm auction.
-A reunion was held at the Fred Spinner home, with all children present.
-June Friedman was awarded a "superior" rating on her piano solo at a music contest in Postville.
-Mr. and Mrs. Ed Benz became parents of a girl.
-Elmer, Walt, Frank and Ed Middendorf visited their sister, Mrs. Martin Roeber, in Tulare, So. Dakota.
-Mr. and Mrs. Emmett Sullivan moved into their new home.
-Dudley and Nathan Hale entertained store clerks at a dinner and social evening.
-Anna Holohan is home from California, where she spent the winter.
-A girl was born to Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Ashbacher.
-A Coast to Coast Store opened in the Intlekofer building in Lansing.
-Contributed by Errin Wilker

Local Girls Attend Music Contest, Postville Herald, May 4, 1938
Jean Douglass, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Douglass, won a superior rating, and Marian Casten, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Casten, was rated excellent at the state contest of Iowa Federation of Music Clubs held at Davenport last week. Both are pupils of Mrs. Nora Jorgenson and members of the Junior MacDowell Club of Postville. Jean was entered in Class A, nine years and under, and Marian was in Class C for those of 12 and 13 years of age. Marian was rated superior by two of the judges, but the Federated contests differ from school contest in that contestants are graded on percentage points and in so doing Marian's grade points totaled two-thirds of one per cent less than required for the superior division. Both local girls were awarded state certificates in a ceremony following the contest participated in by over 150 pupils and are deserving of much praise for the fine showing they made. The girls were accompanied to Davenport by Mrs. Casten.
-Contributed by S. Ferrall