The Evening Messenger, Dec. 11, 1901
George M’Nett is killed
Fireman on Central Meets Terrible Fate on Tuesday
Thrown Under Car Wheels
Struck by Bridge and Thrown to His Death. Make His Home in This City

When passenger No. 4, on the Central pulled into Fort Dodge at 11 o’clock this morning, it bore a sad burden, the mangled body of Fireman George McNett, who full of the vigor of healthful manhood, left the city on freight No. 51, early Tuesday afternoon.

Mr. McNett was killed at a bridge not far from Brogan, a little station just the other side of Wall Lake. He was thrown from the engine, and either fell, or was drawn by suction, under the wheels, which mangled the body terribly before the train, which was running at a rapid rate, could be brought to a stand still. As nearly as can be learned, Mr. McNett was leaning out of the cab for a drink of water from the tank, when the train came to the bridge. He was stooping, but the bridge was low and struck him, throwing him from his hold and hurling him to his death under the iron wheels below. Death must have been instantaneous.

Engineer Clarke brought h is train to a stand still as quickly as possible, and the mangled body was picked up and taken on board the train. John Fox, a fireman who was on the train learning the route, fired the train into Omaha. Mr. McNett spent his boyhood days in this city and had been living in Fort Dodge two years, having moved here from Livermore. During this time he has been in the employ of the Illinois Central railroad, and has made many friends among the railroad boys. He was a careful man, and one who seemed in little danger of a death such as befell him. He was married and leaves a wife and little daughter, Bessie, five years old. Mrs. McNett is almost prostrated by the shock, but is bearing up under it as well as could be expected.

Mrs. McNeil, the mother of Mrs. McNett, who has been visiting her daughter, Mrs. Clint Githens, in Des Moines, has been summoned by wire, and arrived this morning, accompanied by her daughter, who will remain until after the funeral.

Mr. McNett was a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen, and was insured in that order for $2,000 ($3,536.45 today). He was a member and faithful attendant of Sacred Heart church. He was 30 years old.
His companions on the road will have charge of the funeral, which will probably be held from the Sacred Heart church. The time cannot, as yet, be definitely announced.

Fort Dodge Messenger and Chronicle, Jan. 2, 1918

Joseph Lynch is buried Monday

The funeral of Joseph Lynch, who died Saturday after a short illness with pneumonia, took place Monday morning at 9;30 at Corpus Christi church. Monsignor J.T. Saunders officiated. During the requiem mass Bernard O’Leary sang Ave Maria, Miss Ursula Ryan sang Salutaris and a duet by Miss Ryan and Mrs. Len Carter was given.

Burial was in the Corpus Christi cemetery. the bearers were Eugene Conway, Hugo Hetter, Lou Brunenkant, Emmett OConnor, Walter Lynch, and John Hogan, all boyhood friends of the deceased.

Mrs. Edwin Dwyer of Chicago, a sister, and Mrs. P. Gilday of Council Bluffs, an aunt, were here for the funeral.

Fort Dodge Messenger: Jan. 4, 1906

Divorced Couple Remarried in City

J.W. and Mrs. Dora Leighton Divorced in 1903 Remarry Yesterday.

One of the most peculiar marriage incidents on record in this vicinity occurred in this city yesterday when Rev. George C. Fort united in marriage J.W. Leighton and Mrs. Dora Leighton, both of Livermore.

The story of the strange romance is that Mr. and Mrs. Leighton were divorced in 1903, the decree being granted from the Humboldt county district court. Mr. Leighton, who was a prosperous hardware merchant of the town of Livermore, took to drink some years ago and according to evidence given at the hearing of the divorce proceedings, made life miserable for his wife and family for several years prior to the action for separation. The decree was granted, despite the protests of Leighton who did everything within his power to prevent it.

Sobered and saddened by the action that his wife had found necessary, he began rapidly to mend his ways, maintained strict sobriety, and sought to repair the wrong that he had done. In the end a reconciliation was brought about between himself and wife which has ended in their marriage in this city yesterday. Mr. Leighton is a cousin of E.I. and L.L. Leighton, of the firm of Leighton Bros. of this city and is well known to many Fort Dodge residents.

Fort Dodge Daily Chronicle: Oct. 30, 1889

A Rocky Game

The Gilmore Citys and Clares vs. For (sic) Dodge at the Ball Park Results in a Victory for the Sluggers.

It was a very small crowd that witnessed an attempt made by eighteen men to play a game of ball at the ball park yesterday. The game was totally devoid of anything brilliant and poor playing was the feature unless it was that the aggregation from the northwest made five of their ten runs off of Orelup in the last half of the sixth, this being the only inning that he pitched. A home run was also made off his delivery.

Only six innings were played, the visitors who kicked all through the game finally succeeding at the close of the sixth inning to kick themselves out of the game. A gentleman from Manson umpired the game. Following is the score by innings:

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Oct. 28, 1912

Just Purchased Auto; Runs Into Valuable Horse

Running his newly purchased auto for the first time, B.F. Kortz of the Prusia Hardware company ran into a valuable horse belonging to E. Gannon this morning on First avenue north. The shoulder of the animal was broken and it was necessary to have him shot. The horse was in the street in front of the new Wahkonsa school house where he is used in hoisting the material to the top of the building. It is asserted that the animal at one time was a very valuable one and that he had captured a number of prizes at different fairs.

The Lehigh Valley Argus: Oct. 26, 1906

Two Pretty Weddings

Mr. Hay and Miss Russell; Mr. McAnally and Miss Daniels

Both Weddings Held Wednesday.

The marriage of Miss Letitia Maud Russell, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Russell of this place, and Mr. Archie Hay, of Coalville, occurred at the home of the bride’s sister, Mrs. Sam Reynolds, at high noon, on Wednesday, October 24th, 1906, Rev. H.C. Nissen of the M.E. church officiating. Only the relatives of the contracting parties attended the wedding. The bride was attired in a becoming gown of cream henrietta, trimmed in lace and silk applique and looked very handsome. The wedding march was played by the bride’s sister, Miss Ethel, while the happy couple took their places where solemn vows which made them man and wife were spoken. They were attended by the bride’s sister Miss Maggie Russell and Mr. Wm. Jordison. After the ceremony the company sat down to a bountiful wedding dinner.

The bride is well and favorably known in Lehigh and vicinity. Until recently she was one of the efficient “hello” girls of the Lehigh Telephone company in which capacity she has been employed during the past three years. She is a popular young lady holding the highest esteem of all acquaintances and friends, and is endowed with those womanly traits of character which make her loved and respected by all.
The groom is an industrious young man and is held in high esteem by those who know him well. This popular young couple will go to keeping house at Coalville, where the groom has prepared a home. The best wishes of a host of friends for a happy married life is given the happy couple.

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The marriage of Miss Mollie Agusta Daniels, daughter of Mrs. W.H. Daniels, to Mr. Earl Baker McAnally, both of this place, occurred at the home of the bride’s mother on Wednesday evening, October 24th, 1906, Rev. H. C. Nissen of the M.E. church officiating. About sixty invited guests were present and the wedding was a very pretty affair. The house was prettily decorated with autumn foliage. The bride was attired in a beautiful gown of white silk. The happy couple was attended by Miss Maria Elsberry and Mr. James McAnally. Lohengrin’s wedding march was played by Mr. N.H. Tyson as the young couple took their place before the assembled guests. After the ceremony had been performed and congratulations had been given the happy couple, all sat down to an elaborate wedding supper of eight courses.

The bride is a member of one of Webster county’s prosperous and highly respected families and has a large circle of close friends. The groom is an industrious and thrifty young man who also has a large circle of friends and acquaintances. Both are popular Lehigh young people who are beginning their journey together in the brightest of life’s mornings. They have gone to keeping house at the home of the bride’s mother where they will remain this winter.

The Argus joins with the many friends of both couples in wishing them a happy and contented married life.

(Editor’s note: I find the differences in the descriptions of the two weddings to be interesting. You can tell the different social and economic statuses of the two couples even before being told that the second bride’s family is prosperous, just by the descriptions of the wedding dresses and wedding suppers, the number of guests at each wedding, and the fact that Leticia Russell worked before she was married.)

The Dayton Review: Oct. 25, 1906

Judge Kenyon Removes to Chicago

It is with mingled pleasure and regret that the people of this vicinity learn of the removal of Judge W.S. Kenyon of Fort Dodge from this county. He has been appointed general attorney

William Squire Kenyon of Fort Dodge. Photograph from the Library of Congress. Source: Harris & Ewing, photographer

of the Illinois Central railroad, for which he has been district attorney for a number of years, and takes up his new duties at once with headquarters at Chicago. His promotion is indeed a deserved one, and earned by his fidelity to the duties of his profession. In that his friends indeed rejoice.
The regret that is universal is the fact of his removal from this county. For sixteen years he has been located at the county seat in the practice of his profession. During that time he has built up, not only an immense practice by his industry and his energy, but has endeared himself to everyone by the greatness of his integrity and his manhood. Loved and respected by everyone, he carries with

him the sincere good wishes of all to his new field of labor.

Fort Dodge Daily Chronicle: Oct. 23, 1906

Louis Fiene to Oklahoma

Picture of Louis Fiene from the Library of Congress. Source: Baseball cards from the Benjamin K. Edwards Collection. Issued by the American Tobacco Company.

It is proverbial that those belonging to sporting circles are good spenders that they make their money easily and get rid of it easily. However, this does not seem to to be true of Fort Dodge men. Frank Gotch, the world’s champion wrestler, salted his money in real estate and has become independently wealthy and now it seems that Louis Fiene, one of the crack pitchers of the Chicago White Sox and a former Fort Dodge boy will follow his good example. Fiene has returned home with over $2,000 (about $53,208 today), his share of the winnings of the team and a salary saved for this year’s work and with this and previous earning will buy a farm in Oklahoma and move his mother and sister to that place. Fiene’s rise in the baseball world has been phenomenal. Starting three years ago with the independent Fort Dodge team the work of this boy wonder, for he was then only nineteen years of age, won him a place for 1904 with Cedar Rapids of the Three I League and the following year he did great work with Detroit. Although laid up most of the past season with a game arm, what work he did was great. His pitching in the last series with Cleveland when he allowed only four hits has become historic.

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Fort Dodge Daily Chronicle: Oct. 22, 1906

Sows at Sixteen and Harvests at Eighty-eight

Webster City Oct. 22 — Mrs. Prudence Bishop of this city has received a box of beautiful Bellflower apples from her brother, of Streator, Ill., who picked them from a tree which she planted seventy-two years ago. Mrs. Bishop is now eighty-eight years old and probably not another woman or man in Iowa enjoys the unique distinction of eating the fruit from her own vine and fig tree almost three-quarters of a century after planting.

Yellow Belleflower apples. Photo by Sven Teschke. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Germany license.