[Since the
1881 portion of this newspaper has not been microfilmed, Bonnie Ekse has made it
her mission to
transcribe important items about the people and happenings of
1881 in Odebolt. ]
--Rev. S. N. Vail occupies the Dubbs residence.
--Theo. P. Worsley is the new landlord at the Delmonico.
--The Public School commences next Monday, the 11th.
--Rees Gabriel, the lumber man, will occupy G. H. Parker's new house on Maple
street when finished.
--A young blizzard last Thursday reminded people of this locality that "one
bird does not make spring."
--Elder H. G. McCulloch has bought a lot in Wheeler's Addition upon which he
will immediately erect a dwelling.
--There will be a business meeting of the Advent Christian brethren this
(Wednesday) evening, April 6th, at the old school house.
--We learn that a man, a passenger, was killed by the cars last night, near the
water tank at Wall Lake. We did not learn his name.
--Elder Pitsor has commenced the building of a residence for himself, a short
distance south of his previous location on Main Street.
--Rev. H. G. McCulloch, the Adventist minister, preached his first sermon here
last Sunday morning at Congress Hall, to quite a large audience.
--Miss Anna Kallmer has succeeded Mrs. Shanks in the millinery business, at the
old stand of the latter on Second street.
--R. U. Wheelock has located in Odebolt, and will sell the McCormick harvesting machines in Sac and Ida counties the coming summer.—Boone Democrat.
--Bro. Dennis says the price of town lots has fallen $50 a-piece since it has been known that he came here to locate. If this [is] true, it is hard on the real estate dealers—and not very flattering to Bro. Dennis.
--Thomas Hay, living twelve miles north of town, accidentally shot himself last evening about 8 o'clock, with a shotgun, the charge going entirely through his body. Dr. Groman was called. His recovery is doubtful.
--We hear of a dozen or more dwellings to be erected in town forthwith with many more to follow. The first ripple of the building boom has struck us. From present indications, Odebolt will almost double the number of her buildings the present season. Eligible residence sites are being gobbled up rapidly and prices will soon advance.
--We are informed that Miss Lou Beckman, of this place, who some weeks since visited Davenport for the purpose of having her eyes operated upon, is about to submit to a second operation upon them, with every prospect of having her sight fully restored.
--A man whose name we did not learn has lost a fine young cow in a singular manner on our streets one day last week. He had the cow and a colt both hitched to the rear end of his wagon leading them, when the colt kicked the cow, striking her on the head and killing her instantly.
--The Reporter says Charley Pitsor is the fighting editor of that paper, having succeeded Will Caswell to that arduous and responsible position. This anticipates us somewhat, as we had intended securing Mr. P. for this paper. But we hold no malice on this account to either him or our contemporary, and only hope that Charley, for whom we have a real friendship, will not get his handsome mug smashed by our man.
--We are pained to see in the Odebolt department of the Wall Lake Journal, the statement that some one—Ben Worden, if we remember correctly—discovered a long red hair on the coat-collar of its bachelor Odebolt assistant. Will the new editors of the Journal please overhaul the doings of its Odebolt correspondent? He will ruin the reputation of the fraternity. By all means, give him to understand that this thing must not occur again.
--We regret to hear of the death of Mrs. Wm. T. Neville, of Wheeler town'p, who died on Saturday last. The funeral, which was delayed until Tuesday for the arrival of relatives from Clinton county, took place at the M. E. church here. Mr. Neville has the sympathy of all who know him in this bereavement which comes upon him with double force at a time when a son of his is lying dangerously ill of fever.
--A partnership has been formed by Messrs. Frank Corey and W. H. Dunkelberger, in the grocery business, and the stock greatly enlarged…By way of postscript they wish to say they can speak 17 different languages, and can take a hint in 140—and these do not half express the business advantages of the new firm.
--The City Council sat as an equalizing board Monday A. M. and P. M., and a busy and interesting time they had of it, from all accounts. The happy citizen this morning is among those whose tax assessments were equalized down, and the mad and consequently unhappy citizen among those whose assessments were equalized up, or not at all. We haven't been able as yet to ascertain whether the happy or unhappy ones predominate. But all will upon reflection, no doubt concede that the Council has endeavored to do its work fairly and without partiality. The choice of Marshal has not yet been made. The proceedings entire will be found in another column.
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The time drawth [sic] nigh when with the dawn of spring the glib tongued nursery agent, the smooth bore insurance agent, the frisky lightning rod man, the seedy tramp, and other vermin will be turned loose upon the farmers to pray upon the fruits of industry.—Reporter.
[The OBSERVER says:] The above from Dennis, is the first intimation that men of that stripe ever pray. They prey, but never pray. They gobble, but never give thanks.
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The subject of Rev. Fish's discourse next Sabbath morning will be
"Things we never get over in this world," instead of
"Unsuccessful repentance," as stated in the OBSERVER—Reporter.
[The OBSERVER says:] Correct. We accept the amendment. And this reminds us of
one thing we never could "get over" when a boy—the fence around Old
Bogg's orchard—we always went through it.
--For the comfort of those who anticipate a late season and poor crops we
quote the following historical item:
"In 1843 the snow was three feet deep, and not a drop thawed until the
first day of April, but the season following was an excellent one and the crops
were for years famous for their plentitude and quality."
--After the season of blockade [the railroad was blockaded by snowdrifts], it does one good to see the piles of goods, wares and merchandise constantly arriving. As he goes along the street he sees goods to the right of him, goods to the left of him, goods before and behind him, and if he doesn't keep an eye open he is likely to have his toes smashed or his shins barked by moving boxes and barrels.
--H. T. Martin has commenced the fruit trade with a stroke of policy at once bold, independent and profitable. Bold, because he chanced the market here with 150 barrels of apples in one shipment; independent, because he took the large risk alone, and profitable, because he realized a fair profit on them, at the same time delivering them to his customers at a price lower than good fruit has ever been sold here at this season of the year. The apples were of standard varieties and raised in Mahaska county, this state.
--In the last Reporter, Bro. Dennis assumes the helm and makes his bow, though in his valedictory in the Wall Lake Journal of the same week, he announces that his future location will be Ida Grove. As he does not reconcile this apparent discrepancy we will not attempt to do so. We hear it rumored however, that since his purchase of the Reporter a very advantageous position has opened to him at Ida, which if he can find a purchaser for the Reporter, he has determined to accept. We learn further, that negotiations for the purchase of the Reporter have been had with Mr. Frank Kelley, its former owner, now residing in Dakota, with what result we have not heard. [See letter from Frank Kelly]
--Adrian H. Davenport, well known to the writer and all early residents of Scott county, died recently at LeClaire, aged 66 years. He was a lieutenant in the Black Hawk war, and said to be the first white settler in Scott county.
--Citizen Lynch was passing around the cigar Friday last--it is a girl.
--School commenced last Monday morning, with a good attendance.
--Tincher & Worsley are putting up a livery stable on the Nagle lot on Third
and Main streets.
--Mr. Thos. Hay, whose accidental shooting we related last week, died of his
injuries on Thursday.
--Blair, the face-maker, is at his gallery on Third street and will “take”
you for less money than anybody.
--School Supt. Darling will hold a teacher’s examination in Odebolt at the old
school house, on the 15h and 16th insts.
--The Odebolt post office now contains 600 boxes, 230 having been added last
week. But this is none too many for the business done.
--The wool-growers association, which met at the Odebolt House two weeks ago
will have a meeting at the same place next Friday, at 1½ P.M.
--We are glad to learn that the son of W. T. Neville, who was unable to leave
his bed to attend his mother’s funeral last week, is now convalescing.
--Will. E. Caswell returned from Atlantic, last Thursday, and informs us that he takes his old position of fighting editor on the Reporter. We at once secured C. J. Pitsor in the same capacity for this paper. Now it is the other chap’s mug that is in danger, as C. J. confidentially asserts he “can get away with W. E.’s baggage.”
--”Blizzard” got in his work again last Friday and continued it without
intermission until Tuesday morning.
About six inches of snow fell during that time. Fortunately it did not
drift so as to stop railway trains.
--We learn per Reporter Moody that Bro. Bennett, of the Observer, has moved
into the M. E. parsonage at Odebolt. The reasons for this are not given,
and perhaps we should look for fuller statement before extended comment.
But we say that if there was ever a tough subject for grace to tackle, Bro. B.
furnishes it.--Sac Sun.
[The OBSERVER responds:] It is not usual for Bro. Miller to await “fuller
statement” on any subject before making comment, and it seems he did not in
this instance. It’s a fact that we live in a parsonage, but it must not
be therefore inferred that we are a parson. We make no pretension to such
holy calling…
--Several passengers from yesterday’s blockaded train go west this morning
by hired conveyance.
--The train from the east due here yesterday A. M., reached the end of it’s
[sic] tether when about a mile and a half east of town. Passengers came in
by sleighs.
--Messrs. I. S. Bailey and B. A. Coy, in from Cook Centre [sic] yesterday, said
they never saw better sleighing any winter than there now is on the country
roads. How is this for the 12th of April?
--Our home attorneys think it is a little cheeky for lawyers from
Marshalltown and Des Moines to come to our Court, and after getting to trial a
case from another county, take occasion to air their legal learning, prolonging
the trial to an unbearing length, and cutting off the business of home
clients. It is no wonder that so many people look upon the law as a
farce.--Sac Sun.
[The OBSERVER:] The lawyers, not the law, make the farce.
--A telegram received by De Witt relatives Monday morning, announced the sudden death of Mrs. Wm. T. Neville, at Odebolt, and Mrs. Neville, Mrs. R. M. Smith, S. S. Neville, and Miss Adda Brown went west on the same day.--De Witt Observer.
--The following is a list of unclaimed letters remaining in the Post-office
at Odebolt, Iowa, April 1st, 1881:
John Bower, Mrs. Anna P. Bennett, Mrs. Hannah Bennett, Mrs. W. H. Heller, (2),
Gust. N. Harnedt, Jacob Jorgesen, Jas. Brumbough, Miss Anna Goranson, Mrs. At.
Hinckley, William Mechler, Miss Nellie Peters.
W. VAN DEUSEN, P.M.
--The book keeper at Ketterer & Co.’s is protected from the surging
crowd by a raised platform and barb wire fence.
--It is decided that the Odebolt fire company will attend the fireman’s [sic]
tournament at Council Bluffs the first week in June next.
--Mr. B. F. Ogden arrived from Jackson county, this State, last Thursday, bringing with him teams, farming utensils, etc. He also brought lumber and materials for a house, which he will at once proceed to erect on his farm south of town. [Odebolt’s current Mr. Ogden, our former Superintendent of Schools, says this man is not his relative.]
--Connoisseurs in horse flesh are admiring Mayor Ross’ team which he
recently brought from Story county.
--Eden’s & Hunter closed their meat market last week and O. P. Sprague,
the owner of the building, has occupied it for a fruit store.
--A. Stoops & Co. have purchased the circulating library of John Hueston and removed it to their drug store. They contemplate making considerable additions to it of late popular works which will make it quite complete as a library. It will be open to the public at a low price per volume.
--To relieve the threatened potato famine here, Mr. H. T. Martin left last week for the eastern part of the State to buy a few car loads. If to be had he will find them. In the meantime the demand is partially supplied by Mr. O. P. Sprague, who is retailing them at $1 per bushel--the same price he paid for them. The Red Front laid in a large supply last fall, but they are now nearly all gone and the other dealers have none on hand.
--Mr. Rowley, foreman of the Wheeler farm, had sown 200 acres of wheat last
Saturday. Pretty good.
--B. F. Stearns is at work in the smith shop of Mr. Reynolds again, and looks as
natural as though he had never left it.
--Farmers are pushing the work of seeding this week and with favorable weather a
few days more will see the bulk of the wheat sown.
--Henry Willson, of Willson & Caswell, is building the first residence on
the mountain. He is the pioneer in this particular. The view of the
town from his location is superb.
--City Marshal Kennedy is notifying all real estate owners to remove from their
premises all manure, garbage and filth of every kind. A failure to do this
within five days from notice subjects the owner to costs.
--The pretty school ma’ams in attendance at the teachers’ examination here last week seem to have played hob with the mental balance of the man of the Reporter. Remember, old boy, that you are a married man and ought to behave yourself.
--The firemen held a rousing meeting Monday evening. Eight new members were enrolled. The company will compete at the coming fireman’s tournament at Council Bluffs in June.
--”Mount Zion,”, “The Patch,”, “Horeb,” “Look-out Mountain,” and “Tornado Cliff,” are some of the appellations the disappointed ones give to that part of the city lying east of Willow and south of Third streets. One man thinks “Hardscrabble” would do very well for a name; but the hardest scrabble was among the fellows who won’t go there--who didn’t get any of the lots.
The Park.
It is probable that the Council will take early action in regard to the improvement of the public park. The R. R. company very generously donated a block of ground to the city for a park on condition that the city expend a certain sum for its improvement and decoration. By all means let the park be improved.
--Miss Evvie Martin will teach the summer term in the Mills school house, and her sister, Miss Alice, will teach the summer term in the school house five miles northwest of town.
--The front of the old school building has been taken out and a sash front put in, and the windows in the rear enlarged.. It is now a light and pleasant room and will be occupied by Mr. McKeever as a harness shop, with perhaps one front window devoted to tonsorial art.
--W. H. Hess is building a dwelling on Main street, opposite the Presbyterian church. He says he “don’t care to build his house on dot hill, for ven dem rain coom and der vind plows, dey beat upon dot house and preak it all to eternal tam smashes.” It’s pleasant to find one man who doesn’t want a lot on Hardscrabble Hill
--We are among the unfortunate ones who didn’t get a lot on the hill. Like many others, we came mighty near it and just as we had decided we’d take one, George and Dell Coy gobbled it up. It’s all right for lawyers to get as near heaven as they can in this world for if all accounts are true--but everybody knows the saying, and we do not wish to seem vindictive. We would have liked the lot though.
(Researched and submitted by B. Ekse)