[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. ]
--Stevens is building a blacksmith shop on First street, west of Maple
--The district conference of the M. E. church meets at West Side, Crawford
county, August 16-19, 1881.
--It is said that fourteen railroad bridges little and big have recently been
washed out on the main line east of Glidden.
--The accommodation train on the Maple Valley road has been temporarily taken
off, owing to the delay of freight occasioned by recent washouts on the main
line.
--Subscriptions to the district fair the first of the week had reached over
$1,500. It is thought there will be no trouble in getting the requisite amount
to start with.
--The children of F. L. and Julia Dennis were baptized and consecrated to the
Lord by the Rev. S. N. Vail at the home of the parents on Monday evening of last
week. Acts 16, 29, 33.
--We hear that a farmer living a few miles from town had three horses killed by
lightning last week, though singularly enough we cannot get the man's name nor
any particulars of the accident.
--By resolution of the city council in answer to the prayer of sundry
petitioners, a sidewalk is soon to be built along the west side of Third street
east of Main, crossing the roaring Odebolt at a high-water grade. This will
enable residents on the hill to reach the business part of town dry shod.
--The announcement in another column that Criss. Waddell will be an independent
candidate for sheriff of Sac county at the coming election will meet the wishes
of the many friends of the present Sheriff, who have found him an honest and
capable officer and who believe in letting "well enough alone."
--None of Odebolt's carpenters and builders are idle, but some of them will have
to make things rattle if they keep up with the demands upon them. Miller &
Thompson, who are now putting the finishing touches to the Winchell warehouse,
have just completed a large farm house some 16 miles out on the Storm Lake road,
and are about to commence the erection of a German M. E. church near the
correction line.
--Hon. J. W. Traer, vice-president of the Cedar Rapids Insurance Company,
arrived here Monday, and Tuesday morning in company with F. A. Ross, the local
agent of that company, visited the farm of Mr. Marion Toungate, about 7 miles
north of this place, to adjust his loss for three horses recently killed by
lightning. Mr. Traer arrived from the west where he had been to adjust similar
losses. This promptness on the part of the C. R. Company is commendable. We
believe it is the only company that insures against tornado as well as fire, in
the state.
For Coroner.
While other localities in the county are pulling and hauling over other candidates, we would like to see this locality slip in and quietly gobble up the office of coroner. We have the best man for the place to be found in the whole North-west. He has a weight of character not often secured for that position, while he has also a weight of person of about four hundred pounds. Comparatively few people have anything to do with a sheriff, and as a general thing their relations with him though amicable are not especially pleasant; but the coroner is liable to set down on any of us, the sheriff not excepted. It is therefore of the utmost importance that the coroner be a man who can be depended on. No doubt our readers already mentally designate the man from even this faint description of him and make it almost superfluous to mention the name of Dr. Huson. We don't know the Doctor's politics, and don't care what opinion he holds concerning the merits of the Revision. It is an office in which religion or politics ought not to interfere, for the coroner should sit as hard and as long on a Republican as a Democratic subject, and in the discharge of his duties the law does not allow him to inquire whether the deceased believed in close communion or took his sacrament upon a broader and more liberal guage [sic].
At this time we of the west end are pulling--gently pulling--for a sheriff, a supervisor and a superintendent. It may be that the greed of other localities will deny our reasonable demands, but we feel like insisting upon having the coroner. It may be that the office of coroner is not to be filled this year, but we have such a good candidate for it we would like to see him run anyhow.
DOGS.--We believe there is an ordinance of the town, permitting the existence of dogs, by virtue of a certain tax or sum of money paid into the coffers of the town by their owners. There could be no serious objection to the ordinance if it was more explicit in defining what other rights and privileges, besides life, it confers upon the dog. It must be admitted that it is possible to conceive of a case where a dog might be thought to be worth the tax assessed upon it, and then the tax helps the city revenue; but it is not clearly defined in the ordinance what particular rights and privileges (besides life,) inure to the dog by virtue of this tax. Does it give him the right to stir up a bedlam with his canine cousins from the country, and get licked more than half the time; to lay around lazy and loose upon the sidewalks, under the feet of passers by, and at night to bark incessantly from sundown till sunrise, to the unutterable annoyance of everybody but its owner: Does the "dog ordinance' confer these and similar rights and privileges: Or does a sort of states rights doctrine prevail wherein all powers not specially granted to the dog are reserved to the city? Will the council committee on ordinances oblige a barked-to-death and outraged constituency by examining the ordinance in relation to dogs, and tell them if, under its provisions, they have any rights that canines must respect?
It is suggested than an amendment to the dog ordinance be made in the manner of assessing the tax. It is now, we believe, governed by the alleged age of the animal--all under six months old going free; and it is asserted that hundreds of doge in town never get over six months old! We have ourself seen them larger than a Texas steer, and it was averred that the city had no official knowledge of them; that they lived and loafed in absolute contempt of the fiat of the city council and the defraudment of the city treasury. It is therefore suggested that the assessment of the tax be based upon size or weight rather than the alleged age of the animal, which even in so truthful a community as ours, is liable to be inaccurate from faults of memory.
_________
--A carload of wire and twine for binders has been received by J. H. Ketterer
& Co.
--Mr. H. T. Martin is visiting the various townships of the county in the
interest of the District Fair.
--H. L. Willson has moved into his new house on the hill, and now views the town
from a point south by east.
--A larger safe has been placed in the office of Messrs. Geist & Buehler.
The one formerly used by them is offered for sale.
--Alderman Rehberger, whose house on Second street has been undergoing repairs,
has now removed into it from Main street.
--Dr. Boardman's residence is already enclosed and the work in being pushed
rapidly forward by Messrs. Graham and Conklin the builders.
--The Land Company having disposed of nearly all the lots in its town plat,
recently ordered the survey of several additional blocks to the east and south
of the park.
--Uncle Gilbert returned Saturday from a weeks' trip to the north-west. He
reports land hunters numerous and voracious all over that region. He sold a
little tract of 12 sections to a single person.
--Word from his old home in Germany has reached a citizen of Odebolt that the
wheat crop there is almost a total failure. From this and advices from other
parts of Europe, it is safe to say that whatever crop this country has for
export will meet a good market.
--From those who attended the celebration at Sac, we have no doubt it was well
conducted and quite creditable to our Sac City neighbors. We shouldn't think of
belittling it for the world; but it wasn't--that is--you couldn't expect it to
be anything like so large and grand as Odebolt will show them next year!
--A happy event--or rather two happy events transpired last evening in the
marriage, at the residence of Mr. Aug. Kalmer, north-east of town, of Mr. H. F.
Warneke to Miss Hannah Kalmer, and Mr. William Jacobie to Miss Anna Kalmer, the
doubly pleasant affair winding up with a big dance in the evening. The brides
are daughters of our townsman, Mr. Jacob Kalmer, and the grooms are worthy young
business men of this place, too excited yet to realize the full extent of their
happiness. The OBSERVER wishes the young couples as happy married lives as it is
the lot of humanity to know.
--A fine large safe graces the office of Zane & Helsell. It weighs some
5,000 lbs. and is large enough to contain their abstract books, and the cash and
collaterals of half the town.
--The home of Lewis Voight and wife is blessed by the advent of a bright little
daughter yesterday. Lewis is the happiest man alive unless it be Grandpa
Fairbanks. Cigars and congratulations.
--Attention is called to the announcement on this page, of a new firm in Odebolt
business circles--Messrs. Winchell & Webster. We shall have more to say
concerning the new firm at the proper time.
--The new warehouse of F. A. Winchell is just completed. The warehouse is 32x54
feet and designed exclusively for the storage of flax. A new office 16x18, with
platform scales attached, fronts on First street.
--It is said Bro. Miller was so tickled over Sherman's nomination for Governor,
that he actually embraced Hastings, of the Carroll Herald. We really hope when
Sherman is Governor he will not treat Bro. Miller with such neglect as has been
shown him by the Garfield administration.
--It will be seen from the Council proceedings, to be found on the 4th page,
that preliminary steps have been taken by the Council towards extending the
corporate limits of Odebolt so that they will take in the Wheeler addition on
the west, and what is known as "Bang town" on the north. This is a
movement so obviously advantageous that there should not be any objection to it
from any source.
FOR SUPERVISOR.--We learn that a paper is being quite numerously signed by our
citizens, requesting Hon. W. W. Field, of this vicinity, to become a candidate
for County Supervisor. Should Mr. Field consent to serve, he will undoubtedly
receive the unanimous vote of all parties in this portion of the county. No
better choice could be made. He is well known and deservedly popular throughout
the county, and would carry the western half of it with scarcely a dissenting
vote.
--We have been favored with a look at the plan of the Wright Block as it will
appear when completed, and must say it will be a beautiful and imposing
structure, far in advance of anything previously attempted along the line of the
Maple Valley road, so far as we have seen. It will be a worthy monument to the
enterprise and public spirit of its builder. It will cost not less than $10,000
and be named, as just indicated, the "Wright Block." This is right;
Wright is right, and the block is Wright, and it's all right, just as we write.
School Meeting.
At the annual school meeting of the directors of the Odebolt Independent District on Thursday last, the former principal and department teachers were employed, at the same salaries as were paid last year. This action of the Board will give general satisfaction to parents and scholars, as there was no desire on their part for a change. The school will re-open August 19.
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--A few musical guests of Doctor Hull's family were singing and playing the organ the other evening in his parlor, which is in the second story of the red front building. The hour was getting late, and the basso guest, under the inspiration of the music, the company and the occasion was beginning to discount the "basso profundo" of the music before him, while the tenor the alto and the soprano evolved little short of a celestial symphony, a heavy lumbering step resounded upon the stair. On and upward it came, with a thud and a bang that silenced the symphony and awed the singers, who instinctively turned to the door to see what "ghost of goblin damned" had been evoked by that unutterably profundo basso. The door opened with a bang, and in lumbered a burly dutchman, evidently more than "half seas over," who inquired, 'ven dot (hic) preaching pegin, ah?" He was informed that it was not a church he had stumbled into and that there was to be no preaching there. He was finally hustled out and the marshal met him at the foot of the stairs and took him to hear a sermon at the calaboose. But did ever such heavenly music invite such unheavenly visitant; such ethereal strain evoke such a bodily presence! From this it may be inferred that below the deepest "basso profundo" of the books lies a lower deep from which the charm of minstrelsy may draw uncanny sprites of sumptuous odor. "Basso profundo" will do, boys, and it isn't safe to go below it.
(Typed from the original; this volume is not on microfilm)
--Boy thieves pester the citizens of Vail
--Sunday was delightfully cool and pleasant.
--We learn that the wife of Mr. Brensinger, the market man, is lying quite ill.
--Several very beautiful and expensive marbles have been put up in the cemetery
of this place.
--The sociable of the ladies of the M. E. church on last Tuesday was a well
attended and very pleasant affair.
--Miller says he is the "editor of the only Republican paper in the
county." Well, what of it! Who said you wasn't!
--Rev. H. T. Martin will preach at the school house in Cook Center next Sabbath
at 10:30 A. M., and at Mt. Hope at 2:30 P. M. the same day.
--H. T. Martin has sold his restaurant to S. W. Bond, who takes possession
Friday. Mr. M's family remove to the house on Maple street.
--Over $2,200 has already been subscribed to the District Fair. It is a sure go.
Come out to the meeting next Saturday afternoon at Congress Hall.
--The birds have left the window of the City Drug Store, and it is now devoted
to the legitimate uses of a show window. It looks very attractive, but we miss
the birds.
--Dennis says he didn't know until last week that there were three Sunday
schools in town. We'll bet he knows how many saloons there are in town, and just
what beer costs a glass.
----40,000 pounds of wool are awaiting shipment from this point to eastern
markets. The wool was raised in this vicinity and was clipped from the herds of
Messrs. Mills, Waugh, Messer and Bennett.
--Z. W. Sparks, Esq., drives the finest team of roadsters in this neck of woods.
But what o'that! A good team is only one of the luxuries a man may reasonably
indulge in, who owns a farm a mile square in this most productive part of Iowa.
--We were probably a little premature in saying that brick-laying would commence
on L. Schmitz' building this week. The work has been delayed by the non-arrival
of the plan in the hands of the architect at Carroll; but no extended delay is
anticipated from this cause and the work will be pushed forward as fast as
possible.
--A call from the jolly editor of the Glidden Sentinel is among our notes of
Wednesday last. We were glad to make the acquaintance of Bro. Russell, as indeed
we would be that of all our editorial brethren of Western Iowa. We believe Bro.
Dennis bases his claim to ability as a journalist upon his having at a remote
period worked a case in the same office with, and listened to the words of
wisdom which illuminated the Franklin-like countenance of Bro. Russell.
--A well informed farmer of this vicinity gives the encouraging information that
in his opinion the damage to the wheat crop has been very much over-estimated.
He mentioned several fields in which, two weeks since, half a crop was despaired
of, now promising a good fair yield. It was this gentleman's opinion, from
somewhat extended observation, that though bald wheat will not amount to much,
other kinds will yield fairly.
--The most serious objection (except his politics) which we hear urged to Mr. H.
C. Wheeler, as a candidate for State senator, is that he is a very
"sectional" man. In a literal sense he may be so considered for his
"indefeasible right in fee simple" extends over about twelve sections;
but in a general and what is considered an offensive sense, he is as unsectional
as the average western editor, who lacks just 640 acres of anything
"sectional" in his make up.
--Hon. W. W. Field authorizes the Reporter to say that he is not, and under no
circumstances will be, a candidate for the office of supervisor this fall. We
are sorry, for Mr. Field is a West End man and one who would have honored the
position. If it was his purpose to escape public attention and devote himself to
his own affairs, we fear he has pursued the wrong course. Although, technically,
Mr. Field may exercise the inalienable right of the American citizen to decline
office, yet it is almost certain that a course so unusual, so singular--so
unexplainable upon Republican party theory and so absolutely unsupported by
Republican party precedent, will thrust upon him a greatness more annoying to
him than the office he escapes. We hope Mr. Field may be induced to reconsider
the refusal which by the way, he has not yet formally announced.
The District Fair.
We hops those interested will bear in mind the district fair meeting which will
take place next Saturday afternoon at Congress Hall. The committees appointed at
the last meeting have been active and will no doubt be able to make satisfactory
reports. Let there be a good attendance from both town and country at the
meeting.
__________________
--There will be services at the Catholic church in this place next Sabbath
morning, at 10:30 o'clock, Rev. Father Norton officiating.
--The R. R. Land Co. has donated a block each to Vail and Mapleton for a park,
with like conditions as to their improvement as required of our city
authorities.
--At the parsonage, on Friday of last week, the children of Mr. Alexander and
Isabella McGeachie [sic] were baptized and consecrated to the Lord by the Rev.
S. N. Vail. Acts 2, 38, 39.
--Post-master Van Deusen's house on Hardscrabble is progressing finely, being
already enclosed. It is a handsome location, from which the P. M. can overlook
the deputy and a large portion of the town.
--There is much trouble just now in Kansas about the enforcement of the
prohibition law. Juries refuse to convict under it and the Governor threatens to
order out the militia and enforce the laws at the point of the bayonet.
--It is recorded by some of our exchanges that Rev. Mr. Gilkerson, formerly
Presbyterian pastor here, recently received an express package from an unknown
quarter, which contained a very fine gold watch. At last accounts the Rev.
gentleman was quite ready to return thanks but didn't know to whom they were
due.
--The loss of Mr. McCarter by the burning of his barn, which was struck by
lightning week ago Monday morning was five horses, 500 bushels corn, farm
implements, hay, etc. aggregating some $1,200. He was partly insured in the
Farmers' Ins. Company of this county, but his loss over and above his insurance
is about $700, which is a very serious one for him.
--We tender acknowledgement for a complimentary ticket to the Summer meeting of
the Chicago Driving Park association, on July 16th and 23d inclusive. $50.000 in
prizes will be competed for and the meeting is expected to be the most important
one for several years. S. K. Dow, is President and D. L. Hall, Sec'y.
--The Sacrament of the Lord's supper will be administered in the Presbyterian
church on Sabbath morning Aug. 7th. The session of the church will meet at
residence of Mr. Vail on Saturday previous at 11 A. M. Those wishing to unite
with the church either by certificate or by profession of faith will please meet
with the session at that time. REV. S. N. VAIL
__________________
Dennis blames Sac City for not furnishing a larger excursion train from Odebolt to Sac City on the 4th. Last year Sac City arranged its own train, and Odebolt should have done the same this year. The main fault lay with the agent at Odebolt. If the people of Odebolt desire Dennis to be their spokesman, we should say that very few people here will attend their next celebration.--Sun.
[OBSERVER says:] Never mind Denny. He went to Ida on the Fourth and rumor
says he met with hard luck. He is mad at himself because he did not go to Sac on
that day; but never mind him. He is hardly himself responsible for what he says,
and you certainly would not think of holding Odebolt people responsible for him.
__________________
We have been presented by Mr. Solon G. Hall with a new book called the Revised version of the New Testament. From a hasty perusal of the work we should judge it to be a very interesting one. We noticed it contains much consolation for overworked and poorly paid editors, while it has a terrible place in the future, known as "Hades," for all delinquent subscribers. We trust that every paper throughout Iowa will recommend this scholarly work to their readers. If Bennett, of the Odebolt OBSERVER, had one, it would, no doubt, be useful to him and be the means of his reformation. Let Miller, of the [Sac City] Sun, Gregg of the [Wall Lake] Journal, and Dennis of the [Odebolt] Reporter, chip in and present him with a copy of this work, and they will have less trouble with him.--West Side Enterprise.
[OBSERVER says:] If we had to wait for our religious pabulum until we derived
it from Miller, Gregg or Dennis, we fear the density of our moral ignorance
would be as great as theirs. They each have been presented with a copy of the
New Version, but as yet they have made no sign, and it is by no means likely
they have looked into it. Our copy is so well read that the marginal notes are
half obliterated by thumb marks, and it is even now out on missionary service
somewhere about town.
--Give us rain for a change.
--The foot-race between Charlie Ream and J. Baker was won by Ream.
--Hinkle won the wrestling match and at pulling sticks.
--The Odebolt Ball club entertained the celebrated High-flyers last Saturday.
Owing to the long grass, the proportion of runs made to runs earned was as 10 to
1. Odebolt came out in the finish with a majority of three to their credit.
--It was several weeks ago that the De Witt Observer changed its form to an 8
column folio and brightened up its dress, though it was always well dressed,
never tardy and ranked A 1 in scholarship and deportment. Success to our De Witt
namesake.
--Mr. L. Francisco has shown us a fine specimen of flax raised by him on his
farm near this place. The stalks measure 32 inches and are well headed. Mr. F.
has a large area sown to this staple which promises to be a profitable crop this
season.
--H. C. Wheeler and Hank Waite have commenced cutting wheat, just to get their
machines in running trim. Full harvesting operations will not begin for a week
or ten days yet. They both say they have fields that will go 25 to 30 bushels to
the acre, and others that will hardly pay for cutting.
--The name of our townsman C. E. George, Esq., having been used in connection
with the Demoratic [sic] nomination for representative in this district, he
wishes us to say for him that his business engagements will not admit of his
being a candidate for the office, but he will cheerfully support any Democrat
who may be nominated.
--Mr. A. C. Rodocker and family returned Thursday from a visit of several weeks
in Kansas and Nebraska. Mr. R. caught the western fever while absent, and says
if he can sell out here he will move west of the big muddy. We shall dislike to
lose Mr. R. and family, but we suppose the far west must be settled and Odebolt
have to contribute her quota.
--A dastardly attempt on the life of Cornelius Powell, of South-East Wheeler
township, was made last Saturday night. The facts, as near as they can be given,
are as follows: About 12 o'clock, after Mr. P. had retired for the night, some
person unknown shot at him through the closed window as he lay in his bed. The
bullet passed thro' the glass into the room just over his head, missing him by
only a few inches and burying itself in the panel of a door on the opposite side
of the room. It was a very narrow escape indeed, and why any one should have any
malice against Mr. Powell is more than can be imagined.
--Dr. Huson is inclined to be incensed against us for announcing him a candidate
for coroner thus early in the canvass. Since last week he has been nearly bored
to death with applications from Republicans for deputyships, and with offers to
canvass for him. He wishes us to state for him distinctly, and once for all,
that he will not prostitute the office to place hunters nor barter the fat
positions out in advance to those claiming to have political influence in the
county. But after election he will make such choice of his subordinates as he
trusts will be acceptable to the public. This, he says, is all he can say,
except perhaps to add that no Democrats need apply. (He needn't be afraid!) He
says that Democrats will be treated with proper deference when in need of the
official ministrations of the coroner, but under no circumstances can they come
in, (ante mortem,) for any of the rights, benefits or emoluments of the office.
(Typed from the original - has not been microfilmed) - by B. Ekse.)