[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. ]
Great annoyance is expressed by those having gardens uninclosed [sic], at the depredations of the cows which are suffered to run at large. A daily herd run by Charlie Stearns has its headquarters west of Walnut street, and cows are turned out by their owners to make their own way to the rendezvous. This they do by taking in all the unfenced gardens on the way. Jake Gable had a fine garden utterly destroyed by these brutes the other day, and their owners ought to be made to pay the damage. Others have suffered in a similar way. The owners of cows should take care of them. It may seem a little thing to the owner of the cow, but is a big thing to the owner of the garden. If there is any thing that will make a peaceable man raving mad and lose confidence in earthly things, it is to have his garden which represents the toil and anticipations of a whole summer, devoured in four minutes by a slab-sided old cow. So far as we have seen, there is nothing in the New Testament or in the late revision that at the moment offers adequate consolation to a man so afflicted.
--Showery.
--This is the first day of summer.
--All times good times in Odebolt.
--Lots of grain coming in these days.
--City Council meeting next Monday evening.
--See Burnside's ad--2000 yds. prints at 5 cents per yard.
--Main street is being rounded up and the low places filled.
--Mayor Ross has sold his ponies--'fraid this will bust up that fishing party.
--Good work horses are said to be $75 to $100 per head higher than they were one
year ago.
--A bell now surmounts the M.E. place of worship--Masonic Hall--and calls a
sinful world to prayer.
--Dr. Baker, of Ida, came here last week and assisted Dr. Hull in successfully
performing a difficult surgical operation.
--Hon. Ed. R. Duffie was in town on Monday last, en route to Marshalltown, where
he holds the May term of the district court.
--Messrs. Motie, Mattes, Matthews, Anderson and Pitsor make a musical
combination hard to beat. They are genuine "musical mokes." Each one
playing not less than five different instruments.
--The excavation of the new brick block of Mr. Wright, corner of Second and
Maple streets, is about completed and the foundation commenced. The work will be
pushed forward as fast as possible. The block when completed will cost $10,000.
--The "High-flyers" of Cook Center left the "Duck-legs" of
Richland township, last Saturday at base ball, to the tune of 38 to 19. The game
was played upon the Mystic Park grounds. Dell Coy umpired the game to the mutual
satisfaction of both nines.
--Monday morning a team belonging to Mr. Bills, while being loaded at the
Clinton Lumber yard, became frightened and dashed off, scattering lumber along
their route, and finally brought up on a wire fence near the residence of Mr.
Stearns. The horses were not seriously injured.
--Jake Gable offers his interest in 50 cabbage plants, 1 bed of lettuce (more or
less,) 1 ditto radishes (more or less,) a fractional acre of potatoes and other
garden truck (that was,) for information that will lead to the apprehension of
the base-bred bovine that devastated his patch. Apply at the telegraph office.
--Moody took a trip Denisonward Sunday, well supplied with ice cream,
confectionery, etc. It is said his visit was in furtherance of a project for his
permanent settlement in life, with every anticipation of connubial felicity. His
friends are greatly rejoiced at his prospects, and the OBSERVER offers
congratulations.
--In November 1879, while a law student at Ann Arbor, Mich., C. E. George, Esq.,
of this city, heroically saved the life of a little boy who had fallen into the
river. A pleasant reminder of the occurrence came to our fellow-towns-[people]
last Monday, in the shape of a very fine gold ring from the American Humane
Society, of which he has been made an honorary member. The ring bears his name
deeply engraved on its outer surface, and on the inner circle: "Presented
by the American Humane Society, May 2, 1881." It is a testimonial to be
proud of.
--Mr. H. C. Wheeler has recently laid out and recorded 100 lots in his
addition to Odebolt.
--Cole, the circus man, offers $10,000 for the ugliest woman. He never will find
her if he should offer double that sum.
--Presbyterian ice cream on the 22d, Methodist ice cream the week following. Are
we to have no Advent refreshments this season? [Advent was another church
congregation in Odebolt at that time.]
--Deputy Postmaster Francisco has been suffering severely the past two weeks
from rheumatism. He is getting better, however.
--Will. Moyer arrived Monday with his bride, and in the evening was being
congratulated by his many friends. He set up the cigars like a man.
--It will be seen from their card in this paper that Messrs. Chas. E. George and
Dell Coy, attorneys, have become partners in the practice of their profession.
They are young men of integrity, ability and full of business pluck and energy.
They make a strong team.
--Justice Sutton heard his first case last Saturday. The suit was a very civil
one between O. Volkert and Jacob Kalmer, originating in a misunderstanding about
the sale of some dead hogs. Mr. Helsell appeared for the plaintiff and Capt.
Stanfield for the defendant. The plaintiff won.
___________________
C. E. George, of Odebolt, is the champion pedestrian of this neck o' woods. -
Ida Pioneer.
Pshaw! We can walk a mile to his seven-eighths, any day.-Sac Sun.
[OBSERVER says:] Can you? That's as good a thing as we want. We know where the
money is that says the Odebolt man can beat the Sun man for any sum, in any
distance, by any mode of travel. Now, Miller , put up or shut up. [Miller was
the editor of the Sac Sun.]
--The "Modocs" of Cook township met the "Athletics" of Cook's ranch on the 5th and after a prolonged battle retired victors with a score of 52 to 8, having whitewashed their opponents six times during the game. Jake Anderson, umpire, Charlie Hatfield and Henry Hanson, scorers. Last Saturday the "Modocs" were to have played the "Prairie Boys" at Odebolt, but owing to the storm the game was postponed.
Married.
June 8th, 1881, at the residence of the bride's sister, Mrs. Wm. Graham, in Odebolt, Rev. R. S. Fysh officiating, Mr. James Kenney, of Eden township, Sac county, and Miss Rilla, daughter of Elams Williams, Esq., late of Delaware county, this State.
THE OBSERVER acknowledges the receipt of a bountiful supply of cake, and wishes the young couple all the happiness vouchsafed to married mortals.
At Forest Home, the residence of the bride's sister, near Ames, Iowa, June 9th, 1881, by Rev. Bennett, Mr. William F. Moyer and Miss Lou. Buckman, both of Odebolt.
The happy couple arrived here Monday last and are receiving the hearty congratulations of their many friends. The OBSERVER wishes them a long and happy married life.
_________________________________
--BRICK--We are told that the kiln of brick just burnt by Taylor & Sherbahn, and which has just been opened, are superior to any heretofore made by them. This is good news for builders, and we are glad to learn, for the sake of Messrs. T. & S. that they have at length been successful in the manufacture of a better article….We hope many of those contemplating building will be induced to use brick instead of frame, especially when building on the business streets.
--Catholic services will be held by Father Norton at the church in this place
Sunday the 19th inst.
--The Presba juvenile concert, which gave entertainments here Saturday and
Monday evenings last, was well patronized and highly spoken of by those who
attended it.
--Our Hook and Ladder boys made a splendid run at the Council Bluffs tournament. The top of their ladder was not reached as some of the other teams, but so far as the 300 yard run went they came in second best in the field. The following is the time each team scored in its run:
Name. .............................200 yards........................ 300
yards.
Atlantic…………………25½ seconds…………..40 ½ seconds
Manchester……………..26 2-5 " …………......….41 2-5 "
Muscatine………………25 " ……………..............40 1-5 "
Council Bluffs…………..28¼ " ………….........….44 ¾ "
Odebolt……………….....24 4-5 " ………......…......40 2-5
"
--The "Old Settlers" of Cook township are to have a pic-nic [sic] at Wilson's grove on the 15th inst. They do not say how "old" the settler must be to become one of their number, but kindly invite all to participate with them. Wind and weather permitting , it will no doubt be a jolly sociable. These "old settlers," though not dating as far back as some of the eastern societies of that name, have yet had an experience full of incidents of interest to present Sac county residents. Dell Coy, Esq., and other speakers address those present.
--Several new buildings have been put under contract since our last issue.
Rev. W. W. Brown, has let the contract for two dwellings on the
"hill," which will be for rent. Wm. Graham is the contractor.
Postmaster Van Deusen has let the contract for
his new dwelling on the "hill," to Miller & Thompson.
The contract for building Dr. Boardman's house
has been let to W. Graham.
E. Geist is building a new house north of the
railroad.
We understand that work on all of these jobs is to be commenced at once and the
work pushed forward to completion.
--The Odebolt firemen made a good record at the tournament, although they did
not win the prize. They came in second on the run. The distance--three hundred
yards--was pretty severe on men who had practiced as little as our boys had.
They did not expect to win the prize, and so nobody was disappointed that they
did not. The Muscatine team which was the successful contestant, is an old,
well-drilled company and one of the best in the State.
The Odebolt team had an opportunity during the
tournament to take notes and see how they can improve themselves, and the
investment of time and money in the trip may be a good one after all. If the
boys had felt before they started just as they did after they came back, they
would probably have remained at home and saved their money.
Personal.
- Mr. and Mrs. Shanks will soon start on a visit to relatives in Ohio.
It is perhaps unnecessary to state that Mr. S., though originally an Ohio man,
does not expect an appointment to an office. He isn't exactly of the Garfield
stripe.
- R. D. Mason, a brother of A. B. Mason of Sac, now "teaching the
young idea how to shoot" at Cook Center, gave us a pleasant call Saturday.
His school there is in a flourishing condition.
The Tournament.
One who was at the Bluffs gives us the following information concerning the
Odebolt company:
The Odebolt team took part in the grand parade and were
assigned to the fourth division. They made a fine appearance and were greeted
with frequent applause in the march.
They were obliged to use a Council Bluffs truck in the
tournament, as theirs was not of the regulation weight, and their ladder not of
the proper length. Our boys therefore labored under quite a disadvantage in
having to use a heavier truck and longer ladder than those they had practiced
with.
Time to butt of ladder Time to top of ladder
Phoenix, of
Atlantic,
42 2-5
sec.
48 2-5 sec.
Rescue,
43 1-5
"
49 1-5 "
Relief,
41½
"
48 1-5 "
Phoenix, of C.
B.
44¾
"
54 ½ "
Odebolt,
44
"
56 2-5 "
Of the Odebolt company the Council Bluffs Nonpareil
says: "The Odebolt Company, of Odebolt, came forward from the start in good
shape and made the 200 yards line in better time than any other company and
passed the 300 yard line in a trifle less than the Muscatine company. Taken all
together, the run was good. Where they failed the most was in the ladder man,
who, as the ladder was being raised, sprang forward to grasp it, missed his
footing and fell through the rungs, but quickly recovered, evidently somewhat
hurt and disconcerted, and ascended almost to the top and started down. He was
again urged on by those below him and reached the top in 56 1-5 seconds."
The boys made an excellent run, and their ill luck with
their ladder is of course to be regretted; but all will wish them better success
at the next annual tournament at Muscatine.
Ice Cream and Strawberry Festival
On Wednesday June 22d an entertainment will be given in Masonic Hall by the ladies and gentlemen of the Presbyterian society. The object of the officers is to have a grand, good social time, and if possible raise a little money to pay rent due for last winter's use of the Masonic Hall by the Presbyterian and Union Sabbath schools. Below we give the bill of fare for the evening, and the names of those who are chosen to apply a little of their ample talent in making the entertainment one of value and enjoyment to all those who may have the good fortune to attend:
Opening service by Rev. S. N. Vail.
Anthem by the choir.
REFRESHMENTS.
Berries with cream, cake, and lemonade.
Ice cream and cake.
Lemonade.
Extras of all kinds such as fruits, nuts, flowers, candies, etc., etc.
COMMITTEES.
To procure tables--John Bruce, James Taylor, Wm. Sampson.
Arrange and wait on tables--Misses Fields, Slemmons, Willis, Taylor, Jennie
Buchanan, Sutton, Lena Messer, McKibbin, Julia Johnston, Mesdames Winchell, Lee,
Summerwill, Burnside, Taylor, Rodocker.
Supplies--Mesdames McKibbin, Vail, Bangs and Taylor.
To procure ice cream and berries--W. Van Deusen, George McKibbin.
Dishes--John Bruce and William Sampson.
Lemonade--C. W. Sutton and John Heuston.
Reception--Rev. Vail, Messrs. McKibbin, H. McFall, Frank Burleigh, C. D.
Boardman.
Collectors at tables--Miss Edith Sutton, Mrs. Summerwill.
Treasurer, Frank Burleigh.
Lemonade--Chas. Waggoner, Kate Waggoner.
Flower girls--Jennie Worden, Jennie Burleigh, Ollie Wright, Berdie McFall.
Window and Door Screens.
Hurry up or you won't get one of those new style door and window screens at Geist & Buehler's. They are selling like hot cakes.
Mr. A. C. Rodocker and family left this A.M. on a visit to relatives in Michigan and Hanover, Kansas, to be absent three or four weeks.
Dr. Crosby, of Cook Center, last week sold to J. C. Bodine a bunch of hogs 7 months old, whose average weight was 202 pounds. Who can beat it?
Bro. Pitsor has moved into his new house on Maple street, and now has come to him the time foretold by the prophets, when landlords should cease from troubling and the righteous be at rest.
A gang of burglars and safe-blowers have been operating recently in the towns of West Side, Aurelia and Vail. At the latter place they blew open the safe in the steam mill, but obtained only $20 for their trouble.
A ride to Cook Center last Thursday in company with Doctor Hull, was highly enjoyed by ye editor. The roads, considering the quantity of rain which has of late fallen, were good except in the sloughs, which in many places were nearly impassable for loaded teams. All vegetation is springing forward rapidly. Corn and wheat look well, though some pieces of the former are not so clean as a good farmer likes to see them. Most lands have been a little too wet since the corn came up to work in it sufficient to keep the weeds back, but in two weeks from this time the corn fields will present a much finer appearance. The straw of wheat, oats and barley promises to be very heavy this year, and the self-binders will come in good play. We noticed some fields of winter rye which was well headed and stood up handsomely.
Rev. Fysh will preach at Wall Lake June 26th inst. Subject, the Prodigal Son, or "Sowing Wild Oats." We hope Bro. Gregg will not fail to hear that sermon and stick a pin there.
The new store room of Burleigh & Summerwill is nearly completed and is one of the pleasantest business rooms in the city. It is light and airy with frontage on both First and Second streets.
Rev. S. N. Vail baptised [sic] ten children last Sabbath at the Currie house, east of town. A good sized audience greets Messrs. Vail and Sutton. The people in that section ought to bestir themselves and secure preaching service frequently. They are well able to do so.
Public Roads.
On almost all the roads leading into town are sloughs over or through which it
is impossible at present to haul loads. It behooves farmers and others in the
different road districts to see that the road supervisors do their duty and at
the proper time have the road and poll tax applied to the improvement of the
highways. We are told that many of the roads now traveled are not legal
highways. This, it strikes us, should be attended to at once. The needed public
roads should be located and work expanded upon them this fall to the full extent
of the tax provided by law for their improvement. There is no portion of the
state where the roads are naturally so good as in this section. At most, it is
only a slough now and then that needs working and it does not speak well for the
thrift and enterprise of the community when it denies so slight an amount of
labor as would make and keep the roads in a passable condition the year round.
____________________
The Wall Lake Hook & Ladder Co., No. 1, have challenged the Odebolt H. & L. Co., No. 1, to run for a purse of $50.00 on the Fourth at this place. The foreman, Rob't Pattison has a pretty $10.00 note to put upon his company. There are others who have v's and x's to back our boys. -- Journal.
(OBSERVER says:] We are authorized to say that the challenge will be accepted
by the Odebolt company, when the Wall Lake company or its friends put up the
money. As far as we can learn, the challeng [sic] has so far no other backing
than the bluff of the Journal, no formal challenge having been made. If the Wall
Lakers mean business, let them put up the seads.)
Since the above was in type we learn that a proposition has been received from
the Wall Lake company to compete with them at Wall Lake on the Fourth for $20 a
side, but we believe our boys have decided to go to Sac on that day.
Volume Two.
With this number closes the first year of the OBSERVER. We do not know that any extended remarks from us are necessary on the occasion, but it seems a proper time to thank our friends for the very liberal support they have given the paper.
One year ago the publication of a second newspaper for Odebolt may have looked to some like a hazardous enterprise, but it was undertaken with a firm faith in the future growth and improvement of our town and adjacent country--a faith which has found ample justification in the year just closed, and on which may be safely predicted the hopes of a brilliant future.
In the year just closed, Odebolt has nearly doubled the number of its buildings, with some now in process of erection more durable and costly than any that have preceded them. Business in every department has expanded and increased until it has become necessary to double our former railway facilities. Quite as rapid has been the improvement in agriculture in every direction about us. Thousands of acres in the past year have been broken and will soon add their bountiful product to the yield of previous years, giving an aggregate of production never before realized. In flocks and herds the increase if not in equal ratio, has been large as the increased shipments fully attest. And with this increase in material prosperity there is every present reason to anticipate that the prices of our staple products will continue to be reasonably renumerative [sic].
Upon the visible improvement which this brief retrospection shows, and the almost boundless prosperity which the on-coming years will bring to our beautiful and productive section, the OBSERVER offers joyful congratulation. To live in such a country is a daily delight; to watch its development a continous pleasure, and to chronicle, as the OBSERVER hopes for many years to do, its advancement step by step towards the acme of physical, social and moral development, is a prospect worth living for.
So with a hearty "God bless you" to its friends (it knows of no enemies) the OBSERVER closes its first volume and hopefully tackles the future.
_________________
--Have you seen the comet? It does not appear so large as the comet which appeared in 18?8 [illegible; perhaps 1878], but it is quite large enough to jar us if it were to hit our planet. Of this, however, there seems to be no danger, and timid people need not fear.
--There has lately been added a new cabinet, a barometer and a thermometer to the features of the post office. The deputy can now anticipate atmospheric changes, make change for P.O. stamps, regulate the temperature, study the new version and keep himself in good moral, religious and climatic balance.
--Five new residences are now in process of erection on the ridge east of Willow street. That will be one of the pleasantest portions of town when built well upon, as it promises soon to be. We learn that all the lots on the ridge east of the park have been sold, upon nine of these buildings have been or are being put up, and that several others will be improved the present season.
The District Fair.
A meeting of those interested in the organization of a district fair is called at Congress Hall in this city on July 2d at 2 P.M. The lively interest which was felt in this project last fall seems to have abated somewhat, though it is to be hoped it can be revived and the fair be made a success. All interested should make it a point to be present at the meeting on the 2d, hear the reports of the committees and see what has been and what still remains to be done to put the project in the way of accomplishment. Let us go ahead with it or quit talking about it.
--Hot? Well, don't complain. It makes corn.
--We received a call Monday from A. B. Mason, Esq., of Sac, who is announced as
a candidate for the office of School Superintendent. Mr. M. is visiting personal
and political friends in this vicinity, with a view to see how the land lies.
--Some idea of the business done in real estate in this county may be had by reading the list of transfers published in this paper from time to time. The transfers published, it must be remembered, are absolute conveyances in fee simple, and their number indicate an active condition in the land market.
--W. R. Olney, one of the pioneers of Eastern Iowa, gave us a pleasant call Friday. Mr. O., though seventy years of age, is as robust and active as most men at forty. He, with a friend, travels by his own conveyance and goes from here to Shelby county. He was a prominent citizen of Clinton county 45 years ago. He now resides at Moline, Ill.
Mr. Summerwill has moved into his new house in Wheeler's addition.
Mrs. F. L. Lindquist leaves to-day for Omaha, to reside permanently, Mr. L. having preceded her several days since.
_______________
--W. A. Helsell, Esq., has been chosen to deliver the annual address before the Alumni of the Agricultural College at Ames.
(Transcribed by B. Ekse)
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