The Fort Dodge Messenger: March 31, 1903

Is There Firebug in Harcourt?

Events of Past Few Days Cause Strong Suspicion

Three Fires in Same Place.

Harcourt Citizens Kept Busy Fighting Fire in Haggin Drug Store – A Period of Excitement.

Harcourt, March 31 – Harcourt has this week had a narrow escape from a disastrous fire which has awakened much excitement among the citizens of this town. Last Wednesday morning about 7 o’clock the fire was discovered at the drug store. With the aid of as many citizens as could be mustered and the appliances which the town possesses the fire was quickly subdued without any damage to property.

About 10 o’clock the same day the cry was again raised, “Fire at the drug store,” and by the time sufficient aid arrived the whole building, including the restaurant building now occupied by L. Haggin and family for living room was filled with a dense smoke. About fifty men arrived at the scene, some of them fighting the fire and the rest removing the furniture from the rooms. The most valuable portion of the drug stock was also removed.

though the whole building seemed on fire, yet the citizens by heroic exertions again saved it and the fire was supposed to be out but the next morning at 3 o’clock the fire alarm was again called and the fire again put out.

How the fire started in a mystery and considerable talk of incendiarism is beaing (sic) heard, altho no cause or reason can be assigned for such a supposition. The building, a double one, two stories high, is owned by W.J. Struthers and J.E. Swanburg, Mr. Haggin, the druggist leasing the building. The furniture and drug stock are badly damaged from the effect of fighting the fire.

Had the building burned down, there is no doubt that the meat market owned by A.A. Peterson and the Wilson Brothers store would have shared the same fate as they adjoin it.

Tags: 1903, Haggin, Peterson, Swanburg

The Fort Dodge Messenger: March 31, 1903

Rockwell Young Man Elopes With School Girl

Young People Take Their Romance in Their Own Hands and Leave Town Together.

Rockwell, Iowa, March 31 – Rockwell is experiencing a decided sensation in the elopement of two of her young people: Miss Zell Smith and Guy Davis. Miss Smith is an unusually prepossessing young lady not quite 18 years of age, and has been attending the public school here this winter and rooming in the second floor of the Mallory block. she is an only daughter of Mr. and Mrs Isaiah Smith, well-to-do people living six miles northeast of Rockwell and who, it seems objected to the attentions of young Davis.

The  young couple boarded the 8:20 train north Wednesday evening and nothing has been seen or heard of them since. The continued absence of Miss Smith from school aroused suspicion and yesterday noon friends broke into her room and discovered a note addressed to her parents telling them of the step she was about to take and begging forgiveness for the sorrow and heartache she would cause them.

The young lady’s father was immediately notified, but he is completely at sea as to her whereabouts. Mr. Davis is a son of respected parents living in the country a short distance from town.

Professor Mahannah is grieved at the occurrence, as Miss Smith was one of the brightest pupils in the whole school. People generally regard the affair as unfortunate and regret that the young people had not acted with less rashness.

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The Fort Dodge Messenger: April 3, 1903

Takes Runaway Couple Home

Stern Father Locates Daughter, a 17-year-old Bride of Six Days

Ran Away From School to Wed

Isaih F. Smith, of Rockwell, Says he will See What Virtue There is in the Law

Marshalltown, April 3 – The curtain was drawn in this city Wednesday afternoon on a little domestic tragedy, which had its beginning a week ago when Ivan Guy Davis, a 19-year old boy living near Rockwell, eloped with pretty Lola Zelle Smith, aged 17, a student in the Rockwell high school, from which she was to graduate next June. The couple was married at St. Anthony, Friday, March 27, by Mayor Samuel Meekins.

Isiah F. Smith, a well-to-do farmer living six miles northeast of Rockwell, in Bath township, who is about to retire from the farm and move to Mason City to reside is the father of the bride.

Miss Smith was in school at Rockwell and on Wednesday, March 25, obtained an excuse from the principal on the grounds of  illness. The illness was caused from the bacilli of love, a fresh culture of which had found fertile ground in the heart of her affections. Ivan Guy Davis, aged 19, son of S.R. Davis, formerly a farmer living three miles north of Zearing, but now living near Rockwell.

The young people didn’t ask either Papa and Mamma Smith, or Papa and Mamma Davis, but took French leave, going to Mason City. At that place they boarded the fast night train of the Iowa Central, No. 6 coming to this city. On Friday they obtained a license at the office of Clerk of Courts Knisely, Ralph Le Fever of St. Anthony, minor son of A.D. LeFever, a farmer living about midway between St. Anthony and Zearing, acting as sponsor and searing to the affidavit in which the legal ages of the young people was the most important.

The happy pair, congratulating themselves on their capability of outwitting the old folds, took the Story Branch train in the evening for St. Anthony, where Mayor Meekins was induced to tie the nuptial knot.

At the Rockwell end of the line the scene was not so happy. Mr. Smith was about two days late, but when he found that his daughter had left school he was pretty sure what had happened. He also found that young Davis was not at home and at once began the search. He came to this city and consulted the marriage record and a few little notations under the “D’s” told him all he wanted to know.

He went to Zearing Wednesday morning, with the idea of tearing the bride from her young husband. Davis refused to be torn and accompanied his wife and her father to Rockwell Wednesday evening.

Tags: 1903, Davis, elope, LeFever, Mahannah, Marshalltown, St. Anthony, Story City, Zearing

The Fort Dodge Messenger: March 31, 1905

Moving Time in Frogland

Thousands Swarm Streets

Resident of West Fort Dodge Tells a Story of Their Trip Up The Hill and Across The Tracks – Move Means Fishing is Good at This Time.

For the past few nights the migration of the frogs from the river to the higher grounds on the tops of the hills has been taking place, and it is one of the most peculiar sights that has been seen in Fort Dodge for a long time. The frogs seem to do all of their moving in the night, and after nine o’clock the streets down toward the river have been swarming with the hop toads on the move.

A resident of West Fort Dodge who has witnessed the sight on two or three nights, states that there were hundreds of the little fellows, and that they fairly swarmed over the sidewalks, so that it was hard to walk without stepping on them at times. On his way toward the bridge he notices the first one at the top of the hill just above the tracks. This one hopped off the walk in front of him, and taking a few steps more there were several others jumping past him. As he got down to the tracks, they were swarming on every side, and hundreds of them were encountered from there on down to the river.

There was no mistaking the way they were traveling, as they were all headed toward the top of the hill and were going right along as though they had a definite idea as to their destination.

Other people report that while the emigration of frogs was gong on here, the same thing was happening farther  up the river and that they were swarming up the hill toward Round Prairie in the same manner. It is probably that the movement was general and that they were making for the ponds, sloughs and creeks farther back on the hills.

While this movement has never been remarked in Fort Dodge, it is said to be no very uncommon thing, and that when the frogs leave the river in this manner, they are fleeing for their lives from the fish, which denotes that the fishing is good. However, owing to strict enforcement of the game laws, the fact that the fishing is good will not do much toward making local fishermen happy.

Tags: 1905, frogs, Round Prairie

The Fort Dodge Messenger: March 31, 1903

To Be Finished Within Month

Fort Dodge’s Carnegie Library is Very Nearly Completed

Progress is Satisfactory.

E.C. Wakefield, superintendent of Construction, is Looking foward to Completion.

The new Carnegie library which has been in process of construction during the past two years, and which was to have been completed many months ago, will be ready for the occupancy of books in a month. Such is the opinion of E.C. Wakefield, who for a time had charge of its construction under the Northern Building Company which recently came to a disastrous end, and who is superintending its completion. Wakefield says that the marble and ornamental plaster work will be completed this week and that most of the library fixtures, such as the loop stacks – metal shelves for holding the books – are on hand and are ready for setting up.

Many causes have contributed to the delay in completion. The material was ordered when there was a great demand for all building material so that the company had to wait several months for the steel. A strike among the stone cutters also caused considerable delay and lastly the failure of the Northern Building company has tended to make the building as slow in completion as the Chicago postoffice.

Now that the material is all on hand and an energetic library committee shoving the work thru, the new Carnegie Library will soon be in a condition for patrons to admire its architectural beauty.

(Editor’s note: I’ll have to go back and do some research about the Northern Building Company, to find out why it “came to a disastrous end.”)

Tags: 1903, Northern Building Company, Wakefield

The Fort Dodge Messenger: March 30, 1903

Dog Fight Led to Fist Fight

Con Fogerty (sic) Was Heavily Fined for Striking Mrs. Montgomery

Was a Busy Police Court

Busy Monday Attested the Fact That Spring Has Come Again – Six Drunks Docketed.

A dog fight resulted in a fist fight Sunday afternoon and the fracas culminated in police court this morning when Con Fogarty was fined $25 and costs for striking Mrs. Montgomery a blow on the forehead which to use Mrs. Montgomery’s own words, penetrated “plumb to the bone.”

On Sunday afternoon Con Fogarty’s dog encountered Mrs. Montgomery’s canine pet and proceeded to literally eat up his adversary, being incited in so doing, it is claimed by Fogarty. Mr. Montgomery tried to make peace but Fogarty objected. Then Mrs. Montgomery appeared on the scene and Fogarty struck her with brutal force on the forehead, the wound being plainly visible when the lady appeared against Fogarty in police court this morning. James O’Hare, who was also implicated, was fined $5 and costs. both Fogarty and O’Hare being unable to pay their fines were sent to the city jail.

Besides the dog fight case, six drunks were docketed. David Fuller, who was charged with carrying knuckles besides being drunk, admitted that the knuckles were his possession, but said that he had them by accident. He was fined $7.10 and left his gold watch as security, having no cash. Simon Fodge who resides in the country was charged with being drunk but was dismissed on payment of a dollar and on promise of going home. James West, John Hanson, Sam McElroy and James Hallison were charged with being drunk. All please guilty and were accordingly given the customary $7.10 fine. West left a watch in place of cash. John Hanson was discharged and McElroy, who when asked by His Honor what was his business, replied, “I ain’t got no business,” was committed to jail. Hallison was also sent to jail.

This morning’s docket was the heaviest in some time and those connected with police court are beginning to feel that spring has really come.

Tags: 1903, Fodge, Fogarty, Fuller, Hallison, Hanson, McElroy, Montgomery, O'Hare, West

The Fort Dodge Messenger: March 30, 1903

Home and Society

On Tuesday, March 24, a surprise party was successfully carried out at the resident (sic) of Mr. and Mrs. C.W. Mavity on Seventh avenue north in honor of Miss Myrtle Donald who soon departs for Havelock, Iowa, to make her future home. The evening was spent in playing stock exchange and other games. The hostess was presented with a gold souveneir (sic) spoon. Light refreshments were serve.

The invited guests were as follows:

■ ■ ■

Mrs. E. Olson entertained on Thursday evening for Miss Olga Christopherson of Thor, who has been visiting in this city. A delightful evening was passed, Mr. Klinehaus and Miss Oleson furnishing some well appreciated musical numbers. Those present were Messrs. –

(Editor’s note: I think that Carl Christopherson in the second notice was accidentally put in with the Misses category or the name is wrong. I try to transcribe what I see, only making note of what looks wrong, so I left the name where it was.)

Tags: 1903, Albright, Anderson, Bechtel, Christopherson, Colwell, Cuppett, Donald, Flaherty, Gordon, Halligan, Heilemann, Henry, Klinehaus, Koll, Lemon, Mack, Magennis, Mavity, McGuire, Moeller, Murphy, Oleson, Ottosen, Rank, Schaffer

The Fort Dodge Messenger: March 30, 1906

With Spirit Lake Relief Expedition

Ora P. Malcom (sic), of Pocahontas, Was One of Fort Dodge Company of Rescuers

Tells Story of Experiences

Perils and Hardships Experienced by Those Who Started on Errand of Mercy

Ora P. Malcolm, of Pocahontas, was one of the members of the detachment from Fort Dodge, which braved hardship and suffering on their way to the rescue of victims of the Spirit Lake Massacre.

The story of that perilous expedition will never cease to be of interest to Fort Dodge people, and Mr. Malcolm is one of those who are best fitted to tell the story of the perilous march.

The Rolfe Reveille contains the following regarding the experience of Mr. Malcolm with the Fort Dodge relief party:

“The news having reached Fort Dodge near which place Mr. Malcolm was working, of the Spirit Lake massacre, a company was formed to go to the scene. Word having been sent to Webster City and Homer, each of these towns raised a company, and the late John F. Duncombe was chosen captain of the Fort Dodge contingent, with which Mr. Malcolm took service. Major William Williams of the Fort commanded the expedition which started on its hard tramp March 24. Snow was two feet deep on the level, and twenty in some places. Three wagons drawn by oxen contained supplies, and because of the roads, some days but six or seven miles were made. The boys at times formed themselves into two lines and tramped back and forth to beat a path so the oxen could pull the loads through.

“When they had finally reached the vicinity of the lakes, they found a detachment from Fort Ridgley had secured the country for the Indians, who were gone. The men were then told off in fours, every fourth man to go to the lakes to help bury the dead and the rest starting homeward. Mr. Malcolm was among the latter. It had started to rain and when they reached Cylinder creek in Palo Alto county the stream was hald (sic – should be half) a mile and filled with floating ice.

“All the party were wet to the skin, and when at night the rain turned to snow and a howling blizzard set in, they found themselves not only in discomfort but in danger. A wagon box had been placed on the ground for shelter and Duncombe and others caulked this with blankets town into strips, proposing to cross the stream in it. He and three others, among the A.N. started across the others declining to trust such a craft.

“The four passed safely, but it being impossible for one or two to take the awkard (sic) craft back in such a gale, they went on a couple of miles to Shippey’s cabin where they found food and shelter.

“Returning the next morning to the stream they found it frozen over excepting a narrow channel. they could see nothing of their friends on the other side, and so Mr. Malcolm, being the lightest of the party, was chosen to go across and investigate. Taking a board from the wagon box, he went carefully out on the ice, placed it across the channel and crawled over.

“He found the men but none would cross the channel on so frail a bridge., and he returned. The next morning it was frozen over and all crossed, and the rest of the homeward journey was without event. the trip lasted seventeen days, and Mr. Malcolm says that no tiem during his service in the war of the rebellion did he experience seventeen days of such hardship as came to him on the Spirit Lake expedition.

“Of the party left to bury the dead at Spirit Lake two perished in the storm and their bleaching bones were found on the prairie long afterward. When the blizzard struck this company they disagreed as to the direction to be taken, and the two who lost their lives struck out with the conviction they could reach a cabin, but they lost their way. The balance of the company stood their ground until morning when they reached timber and were safe.

“When spring had opened Mr. Malcolm came to Pocahontas county with a man named Smith, and the farm now owned by Lot Fisher and the quarter west of it were pre-empted. Later W.H. Hait, Robert Struthers, Perry Nowlen and others arrived, and Pocahontas county had gained some of its best of citizens. Robert Struthers has passed to the great beyond, W.H. Hait is a progressive and vigorous stock raiser and farmer, while Mr. Nowlen and Mr. Malcolm with their good wives are living in Rolfe taking the ease they earned in those early days and the years since.”

(Editor’s note: The Spirit Lake Massacre occurred March 8-12, 1857. Word reached Fort Dodge days later, and a relief expedition was formed. The men faced physical hardships on the way to the scene and on the way home, and two men died in a blizzard while returning. Because of the mass amount of coverage of the expedition, it will have its own page – or pages – which will be a work in progress for some time.)

Tags: 1906, Hait, Major William Williams, Nowlen, Ora P. Malcolm, Spirit Lake Massacre, Spirit Lake relief expedition, Struthers

The Fort Dodge Messenger: March 30, 1906

Stranger Needed Friend

Unsophisticated Pair Have Trouble in Getting a Marriage License

Tall and gaunt, and beyond a doubt from the rural districts one Joseph Stupka leaned across the desk of the clerk of courts at nine o’clock this morning and asked for a marriage license, stating that his girl was by his side and all arrangements were complete except the securing of that important document. He was asked if he had a witness who could identify him and then it dawned upon him that trouble might yet be in store.

A skirmish of the town was made, and being acquainted but little he was unable to find a person whom he knew. A return to the waiting and anxious bride found her in tears. The groom full of determination this time started out once more on his quest. Fortune favored him for he happened to remember the clothier from whom he had purchased the wedding clothes. A quick return in company with this gentleman was made, and this time the license was secured.

The groom resides in Fulton township. The bride’s name is Miss Maragaret (sic) Thomas. She lives at Town Hill Illinois.

Tags: 1906, Stupka, Thomas

The Fort Dodge Messenger: March 30, 1906

EXTRA

Mad Dog in the East End

Police Shoot Animal Taken With Rabies at Two O’Clock This Afternoon.

An excited telephone call from east end residents received at the police station shortly before two o’clock this afternoon made known the fact that a dog evidently mad was running around at fourteenth street and fourth evenue (sic) south, foaming at the mouth and snapping viciously at other canines and pedestrians.

Chief Tullar and Captain Grant made a trip post haste to that part of the city and found the report true to detail. The animal was a terrier and showed unmistakable signs of rabies. he was instantly shot by the officers. It is not thought that any other animals were bitten.

Tags: 1906, Grant, mad dog, rabies