| Li'l Bits You never know
what you will find on this page, but you can be sure it
|
If you have any li'l bits of information to share, please
contact Sharyl.
| EXTRA EXTRA !!
READ ALL ABOUT IT! Bits of Information from various newspapers 1800's & 1950's updated in February 2010! 1945-1949 updated in March 2010! Allamakee co.
Newspaper histories, photos &c
Search
the Allamakee co. section of Iowa Old Press
|
||
| ALLAMAKEE
COUNTY DASTARDLY DEEDS..... (updated 08/28/09) |
*Couldn't keep the secret ...
the deathbed confession of Michael Joyce, 1894 *Waukon Merchant Murdered in His Own Store, 1897 |
| ALLAMAKEE COUNTY TRAGEDIES..... | |
Tid-bits and some Bigger-bits of information: |
|
| New!
February 2010 Brothers Separated 39 Years Are Reunited At Postville A Rip Van Winkle scene was enacted at Postville last week when Frank Daubenberger arrived in that city after an absence of thirty-nine years, during which time members of the family had never heard from him and they had long since given him up for dead. Upon his arrival the surroundings were strange to him and he inquired if George Daubenberger lived there-abouts. Upon being directed to the residence of his brother, the two strangers looked at one another a moment and after a few words were exchanged, brother clasped brother's hand in their first greeting in more than a third of a centruy. Mr. Daubenberger is farming near Duluth, Minn. ~LaCrosse Tribune (Wisconsin), March 16, 1921 -contributed by S. Ferrall |
|||||||||||
| White Owl A white owl was shot by a man with the gun habit in Allamakee county. It measured five feet from "tip to tip," and was pronounced a rare speciment (sic). Such fowls were quite common in an early day. They ventured forth in daylight when it was snowing and shocks of fodder afforded them a home during the cold winter. They are covered in the winter season with a velvety down underneath the coarse white feathers. They are habitants of the open prairies. ~Alden Times, January 13, 1921-contributed by Laura Blair |
|||||||||||
| Allamakee co. Spelling Bee Champions
1927 - Washington, June 24 (by the Associated Press) - Product of a small rural school, 13-year-old Dean Lucas of Congress, Ohio, today has the title of national spelling champion and a prize of $1000. Lucas, who is in the eighth grade in his town of 150 population, last night "spelled down" 13 girls and three boys to win the championship which is annually conducted by 17 leading newspapers. The word "abrogate" gained him the victory which Ralph Keenan, of Waukon, Iowa, aged 13, failed to spell. Keenan took second place and a $500 prize. Minerva Ressler, 12 years old, of Lancaster, Pa., took third place. All the contestants had won regional contests before their participation in the national championship. Lucas was sent to the contest by the Akron Beacon-Journal; Keenan by the Des Moines Register, and the Ressler girl by the Lancaster New Era. ~Ogden Standard Examiner [Utah], June 24, 1927 -contributed by Sharyl Ferrall ------- 1936 - Best County Speller. Margaret Gelo [pictured at right] of Jefferson No. 8, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Gelo, won the 1936 Allamakee County spelling championship at the eleventh annual "bee" held March 28th. Margaret was runnerup in the written contest, and in the finals spelled down Jerry Cahalan, to be crowned the eleventh champion. Margaret and her teacher, Mrs. Marilla Amundson, will go to Des Moines to take part in the finals for the state championship April 18th. ~newspaper clipping -contributed by Janet Koozer |
 |
||||||||||
| News extracts mentioning Dr. T.H. Barnes
of Waukon and others These newspaper articles, 1879-1884, were collected by the contributor. Read them here! -contributed by Robert Bee |
|||||||||||
| Grand Meadow Country Club is 90! This article & photos were originally printed in the March 15, 2006 issue of the Postville Herald-Leader and is posted here with permission of the Herald-Leader editor. Grand Meadow twp. is in Clayton county, Iowa, directly south of the town of Postville and the Allamakee county line. Many of the original and current members live in or have close ties to Allamakee county. Read the Article -contributed by Errin Wilker |
|||||||||||
| Advertisements 1850's
& '60's Information Wanted Ads
1924 Advertising Calendar
ad 1928 New Albin 1939 Postville area Advertising Ink Blotters 1974 New Albin area |
|||||||||||
| Russian Famine Relief Committees, 1892 Allamakee county heard the cry for help and formed committees to solicit donations .... read on -contributed by S. Ferrall |
|||||||||||
| New Albin Collector's Item James C. Valesh of New Albin, Iowa, loves steam engines and he is shown here in the cab of an eight-ton locomotive which he had imported from Germany and is now located in his backyard. It was built in Kassel, Germany, in 1935 and is the only one of its kind in Iowa. It is in perfect condition and ready to steam up. Valesh also has a large 75-horsepower Minneapolis threshing machine that was built in 1914. ~La Crosse Tribune, La Crosse, Wisconsin; 1963 (note: James C. Valesh died in 1980) -Contributed by Errin Wilker |
 |
||||||||||
| FFA Proficiency Award Winners These members of the Postville FFA Chapter were presented with proficiency awards at the chapter banquet here Monday, April 4, 1977. The winners and their awards are, front row, left to right, Jeff Olson, placement in ag sales and service; Lavern Snitker, placement in ag prooduction; Tony Schlee, star agri-businessman; Drew Deering, swine production; Galen Heying, dairy production; and Marlyn Ohloff, public speaking and outstanding project. Second row, left to right, Randy Plaht, outstanding senior award and outstanding 5-star farmer; Kent Schultz, star chapter farmer; Jeff Huinker, home improvement; Ron Haltmeyer, beef production; and Loren Foels, star greenhand. Not present for the picture was Bruce Stockman who earned the ag mechanics award. ~April 1977 Postville Herald clipping -Contributed by Errin Wilker |
 |
||||||||||
| Graduate Student ORVILLE CARL SCHULTZ, 1915-16, residence: Postville, Iowa. Born at Postville. Iowa, Oct. 29, 1892; earned B.Sc. at Iowa State College in 1915. Research Assistant in Botany, Rutgers College. ~from the 'Catalogue of the Officers and Alumni of Rutgers College'; Rutgers College, Association of the Alumni, 1916, pg 313 -contributed by S. Ferrall |
|||||||||||
| Lansing
Button Company ..... The Lansing Company
was founded 75 years ago on tons of clams dug from the
Mississippi river bottom to make pearl buttons which were
worn the world over. Now, the same company, still in the
same family, is one of the largest button distributors in
the United States -- an almost completely computerized
operation, which makes no pearl buttons, in fact, makes
no buttons at all........... read the story, view the
pictures -Contributed by Errin Wilker |
|||||||||||
| Claim of
Edward Julson, 1912 The claim of Edward Julson asking for payment reimbursement from the U.S. Government for damages to his launch caused by collision with U.S. Towboats Ellen and Henry Boss. Click here to read. |
|||||||||||
| Spring Creek Lutheran
Cemetery,
Normania Township, Yellow Medicine Co., Minnesota Jacobson, Magnus - b. 1867 d. 1895, son of Ole and Karen Dorthea (Doctey) born Allamakee Co. Iowa Jacobson, Olof C. - b. Jun 22,1856 d. Oct 20,1922, Son of Ole and Karen Dorthea (Doctey) born in Iowa Old Live Oak Cemetery, Division 14, Selma, Dallas co., Alabama Lot # - 861W; Williams, Arthur Bowen; b. Jun 3, 1862 d. Jul 28, 1939; notes: Born Kington, England Lot #- 861W; Williams, Annie Julia Werhan; b. Nov 22, 1866 d. Dec 16, 1961; notes: Beloved Wife of Arthur Bowen Williams; Born Allamakee County, Iowa Masonic Memorial Park, Tumwater, Thurston County, Washington Sires, Etta Celia - July 14,1882 b. New Albin, IA, married Frank June 26, 1902 Sires, Frank - November 4, 1879 - September 22, 1970 age 90, b. Allamakee Co., IA |
|||||||||||
| Sisters Recall Fun of Clamming in
Jefferson, Now a Ghost Town. Though Jefferson, a southeastern Minnesota community, almost disappeared 30 years ago, life there is still vivid in the minds of two New Albin sisters. Clara Darling, 84, and Ella Zarwell, 82, were daughters of Mr. and Mrs. John Myers ....... read the whole story, view the photos (there's lots of New Albin history in this story) -Contributed by Errin Wilker |
|||||||||||
| Santa Claus'
Workshop Started as a button factory, the Lansing Company now devotes half of its time to Christmas toys... read the story, view the pictures The Iowan Magazine, Shenandoah, Iowa, January 1955 -Contributed by Errin Wilker |
|||||||||||
| A Character Extraordinary According to information in the July 8, 1964 issue of the Allamakee Journal, John Sadd was regularly seen about town. We assume he was related to Ed Sadd who, in this photo, stands in front of his log cabin home that was located between Lansing and New Albin. On the back of the photo, Ed is referred to as "character extraordinary". Allamakee Journal, 1990's -Contributed by Errin Wilker |
 |
||||||||||
| The Four Mile House
...known as the "Old Bill Young Place" or the
"Old Stage Coach Stop" on Highway 9 was sold at
auction to Martin VanBrocklin. Even some of the Journal's
younger readers associate Harold VanBrocklin with the
place, as seen in this photo. It wasn't all that
long ago that Harold still walked the eight miles from
town every day, summer and winter, to feed the mules he
had housed on the property. Allamakee Journal, August 29, 1990 -Contributed by Errin Wilker |
 |
||||||||||
| New Albin Savings Bank presidents have
long careers. Read about Albert Fruechte & Earl Welsh's long service to the New Albin Savings Bank; and more ....... click here -Contributed by Errin Wilker |
|||||||||||
| McNally
Log Cabin Robert McNally, 86, who lives 1 1/2 miles east and 1/2 mile south of Rossville, is standing in front of the log house in which he was born. At that time it was located on the former Tommy Burns acreage on Highway 76 about 3 miles east of Rossville, and which is now owned by Gilbert Eadie. The house was moved around 1900 to the present Gilbert Eadie farm (the former Dan and Nettie Kelly farm), 2 1/2 miles east of Rossville, where it has been used since that time as a granary and is still in use. Many thousands of bushels of oats and wheat have been carried in sacks, some up the steps to be emptied into bins while the temperatures in the upper part of the house were 110 to 115 degrees. The hand-hewn logs still stand as a monument to the skill and craftmanship of our forefathers. Allamakee Journal, July 7, 1976 -Contributed by Errin Wilker |
 |
||||||||||
| Lansing
Home Coming ..... July 23, 24 25, 1928
..... the
program, committees, activities &c -Contributed by Errin Wilker |
|||||||||||
| Century Farms Search Turns up 3,065 Iowa
Qualifiers Allamakee county: Orville Bakkum, 1853; John Baxter, 1875; John Beneke 1868; Daniel Brennan, 1852; Dennis Bresnahan, 1854; Joseph Buber, 1861; Delbert Bulman, 1855; Raymond Burke, 1866; Judson Campbell, 1858; PJ. Cawley, 1854; Donald Corrigan, 1861; Charles Cota, 1852; Mabel Deeny, 1858; Philip Dehli, 1851; Harold Deters, 1852. Irvin Flage, 1876; Edward J. Grady, 1855; Robert F. Gronna, 1861; Harris Gruber, 1861; Elmer Hager, 1873; Nathan Hager, 1855; Reuben Hansmeier, 1870; Robert L. Hanson, 1873; Rudolph Hesta, 1850; James Jeglum, 1853; John Kelly, 1866; Donald Kerndt, 1854; Mary Grimm Kewley; 1874; Joseph Kirnan, 1865, Neil M. Krumme, 1873; Lloyd Labor, 1857; Clarence Leppert, 1853; Urban C. Manger, 1851; Wally Mahr, 1854; Harold Marti, 1869; J. E. McCabe, 1871. John Meyer, 1867; Willard Meyer, 1870; James Moe, 1860; Sigurd Ness, 1850; C. A. Nicholson, 1864, J. Curtes, *Peggart, 1874; James Prestemon, 1874; Paul W. Pufahl, 1863; Mrs. Robert Rea, 1866; William Rea, 1869; Wayne Schmieden, 1858; Lorna Shafter, 1875; Ronald Snitker, 1875; Frederick W. Steiber, 1863; Robert Stock, 1854; Lester Thomson, 1869; Ruth Toney, 1869; Lester Turnmeyer, 1870. -Cedar Rapids Gazette; August 10, 1975 Note: A total of 3,056 century farms were listed is for the entire state of Iowa, the above list is only for Allamakee county -Contributed by Diana Henry Diedrich |
|||||||||||
| Eldo
E. Kluss, Ford Model "A" School exam, 1928 Letter from the Ford Motor co. to F.C. Ruckdaschel telling of the exam results & a copy of the test questions & answers Click here for the exam, letter & some background info. about E.E. Kluss -Contributed by S. Ferrall |
|||||||||||
| The
Boy Scouts of America presents the
Prairie Farmer WLS Home Talent Show in
the Waukon Opera House - Waukon, Iowa; November 1938 Read all about it! Click here for the cast, advertisers & the program -Contributed by Errin Wilker |
|||||||||||
| Harper's Ferry Happenings What do Thomas & Bridget Sullivan and Michael & Margaret (Riley) Degnan have in common? To find out, continue reading here -Contributed by Betty Palmer |
|||||||||||
| Early amusements Amusements in earlier times were skating on moonlight evenings on sloughs-(the river being too swift to freeze over) -sleigh rides to and from spelling school and to melon parties in season, and to taffy pulls after the sorghum was harvested and "cooked". Temperance debating and Literary Societies flourished and J. Gilchrist conducted a singing class-all at Clear Creek schoolhouse. Oyster suppers and socials for the benefit of the church held at different homes were the vogue - from a ca1920's newspaper article (likely from the Lansing Mirror) written by Mary Agnes Ratcliffe Bellows -Contributed by Neva Auenson |
|||||||||||
| 1909
"Iowa Day" Celebration -
Carson, Cheyenne Co., Colorado; Saturday, August 28, 1909 Dwyer, Mrs. T. R., Allamakee Gerke, Anna, Allamakee Nelson, H. C., Allamakee
|
|||||||||||
| Former Iowans Now Living in California ca 1920 - Allamakee co. names & addresses | |||||||||||
| Some
Clues As to Who Carved the Words On the Famous Paint
Rock. Some months ago Mrs. Sam Hoesly of this city received a letter from her former pastor, Rev. A.D. Gregg, who was pastor of the Presbyterian church at Frankville some years ago, but is now located at Sarcoxie, Mo. As this letter contains a clue that may clear up some early Allamakee Co. history as to who carved the letters on the famous Paint Rock ....... continue -Contributed by Sharyl Ferrall |
|||||||||||
| Frank
Baker, Harpers Ferry,
original images -1900 veterinary certificate -1902 letters of recommendation signed by citizens of Harper's Ferry, Rossville & Waterville -1901 weight receipt for load of hogs -1902 purchase of a registered foal -1901 tax record -Contributed by Stella Lee |
|||||||||||
| Cooperative Extension Service in Allamakee co. - a brief history | |||||||||||
| Major
Leaguer Nathaniel Monroe "Nat" Kellogg; b. 28 Sep. 28, 1858 at Dorchester d. 1915. Played shortstop in 5 games for the 1885 Detroit Wolverines of the National League. -Iowa Natives who Played Major League Baseball; compiled by Dennis L. Lorensen; Fall 1999 Hawkeye Heritage -Contributed by S. Ferrall |
|||||||||||
| Waukon
Building Improvements -1890 ......partial list -Contributed by Mary Durr |
|||||||||||
| Waukon
Pastor Has Tied 741 Knots In 42 years Waukon - When the Rev. R. L. Van Nice celebrated his eighty-first birthday here Thursday, he recalled the 741 marriage services he has read and the 761 funeral sermons he has preached, since coming to this community 42 years ago. In 1889 he became pastor of the Presbyterian church here, serving for 35 years. Then he took a similar charge at Rossville, nine miles away. He still drives his car to the church there every Sunday. He has become known throughout this section of the state as the marrying parson. He was born in Crawfordsville, Indiana, in 1850. In 1879 he married Dora L. Fain, who died four years later. In 1885 he was married to Ida Turrentine. -Contributed by Dorothy Gosse from an unknown source |
|||||||||||
| 100-year
farms Present owners of Iowa's century-old farms [Allamakee county] Nathan Hager, Waukon Curtiss Piggott, Waukon Herman Kerndt, Lansing Hall Swenson, Postville William Klett, Harpers Ferry -source: Newspaper clipping hand-dated 1959 -Contributed by Sharyl Ferrall |
|||||||||||
| Iowa
Century Businesses 'Hall Roberts’ was established in Postville in 1864 by Hall Roberts. The store sold general merchandise and grain. Hall Roberts passed away in 1916, and his son took over the business, naming it Hall Roberts’ Son. View all Iowa companies founded in or before 1902 and continuing in operation since that time. -Contributed by Sharyl Ferrall |
|||||||||||
| Bryan
at West Union, 1912 A list of Postville area people who went to hear William Jennings Bryan speak ...... click here. -Contributed by Sharyl Ferrall |
|||||||||||
| Chautauqua
in Allamakee co. Article & links to flyers. -Contributed by Sharyl Ferrall |
|||||||||||
| North Iowa
Medical Society & Medical Register - 1883/84 Read the Allamakee names -Contributed by Roseanna Zehner |
|||||||||||
| Big-Four
Institute Premium Awards - 1930 List of the premium awards made at the Big-Four Institute held in Postville, Allamakee Co. Iowa; Sept. 1930. Page 1: Livestock, hogs, poultry, girls clubs and misc. Page 2: Corn, grains& seeds, vegetables and canned goods Page 3: Baked goods and fancy work -Contributed by Sharyl Ferrall |
|||||||||||
| Reuben Smith
Bridge ...minutes of the Allamakee co. Board of Supervisors October meeting reported Mr. Stilwell of the Bridge Building Committee had told the Board, "We have covered the bridge at Reuben Smith's with new plank and put in all new floor joints; the bridge is one hundred and sixty feet in length, costing $250." In Post Township, this bridge spanned the Yellow River on the Reuben Smith's farm. - Waukon Standard November 10, 1870 ----- The Reuben Smith Bridge was still standing 100 years later and was listed in the Iowa Census of Covered Bridges. Palimpsest; Covered Bridges in Iowa; Historical Society of Iowa; November 1970; pg 466 -Contributed by Mary Durr |
|||||||||||
| The
Whole Town Helped Make Flower Boxes What an Idea and a Little Energy Did at Waukon, Iowa -Contributed by Roseanna Zehner |
|||||||||||
| Association
of Teachers In 1888, the principals and superintendents of the Fourth Congressional District formed an association. Some well known names appeared in that group, such as John B. Knoepfler, of Allamakee County, who succeeded Mr. Sabin at the end of the latter's first term as State superintendent of public instruction, and Edwin G. Cooley, later Chicago's superintendent of schools. Northwestern Iowa, Its History and Traditions 1804-1926, Vol. 1, by Arthur F. Allen -Contributed by Roseanna Zehner |
|||||||||||
| "Does the
Name Shattuck Ring a Bell?" News article, notes & photos -Contributed by Nancy Shattuck |
|||||||||||
| Creamery
Patrons Get Checks 1930 patrons & photos -Contributed by Sharyl Ferrall |
|||||||||||
| Book Review Alexander's History of Allamakee and Winnesheik Counties was delivered to subscribers here two or three weeks ago. There are undoubtedly many mistakes in the volume--it could not well be otherwise in the haste with which it was prepared, but on the whole we infer that it is sufficiently accurate for practical purposes and of great value in the preservation of our early history. [read the book] Postville Review, January 20, 1883 -Contributed by Sharyl Ferrall |
|||||||||||
| ALLAMAKEE COUNTY
HISTORICAL and ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY On November 30, 1915, there was organized at Waukon, Iowa, the Allamakee County Historical & Archaeological Society, which in the constitution declared to be an "auxiliary to the State Historical Department of Iowa at Des Moines, the Historical Society of Iowa at Iowa City, the Waukon Public Library and the High School Library at Waukon" The objects of the Society are broad in scope, include the preservation of all records amd materials bearing upon the history of the county as well as relics & remains of the prehistoric inhabitants of this region. The membership fee is $1 per year. The following officers were elected to serve until the annual meeting which will be held on the 2nd Tuesday of January: Charles F. Pye, pres. H.B. Miner, vp A.M. May, secretary-treasurer E.M. Hancock, curator In addition to these officers the list of incorporators includes Ellison Orr, Charlotte Honcock & and Miss Jessie Lewis. Iowa Journal of History and Politics; Jan 1916, vol XIV, No.1; pg 149. -Contributed by Sharyl Ferrall |
|||||||||||
| FRITZ FAMILY
BIBLE ENTRY A Family Bible was given to Ludwig and Verena Fritz as a wedding present (1847) from his father, Johann Martin Fritz. The notations are not in chronological order, sometimes questionable dates and names are entered by several persons over the years. Iowans are teased by us Wisconsin folks, a lot. I thought the following notation from the Family Bible was funny. It was by Ludwig. He wrote: "My son Wilhelm married on 24 November in the year 1887 after Christ's birth with virgin Marie Gruber in Lansing in the God forsaken state Iowa, U.S.A." -Contributed by Jacob O. Fritz (I have no idea why he was sour on Iowa!) |
|||||||||||
| 1893
CHICAGO WORLD'S FAIR Allamakee Attendees -Contributed by Sharyl Ferrall |
|||||||||||
