The Fort Dodge Messenger: July 15, 1903

Happy Man of Fifty Years Takes a Bride of Sixteen

Unusual Wedding Ceremony to Take Place at Lehigh – Interested Persons are Both Well Known.

Autumn and spring will join hands to tread as one over life’s uncertain pathway, when Paul Jacobs and Elsie May Baldwin, both of Lehigh, take the vows which bind them as man and wife. The groom is a miner by occupation and has lived in the vicinity of Lehigh for a number of years. He is fifty years of age and h is bride is sixteen.

Mrs. (sic) Baldwin is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Baldwin, well known residents of Lehigh. The written consent of the girl’s parents was required before the clerk would issue the certificate which licenses them to wed.

The Fort Dodge Messenger: July 9, 1904

Otho Township People Celebrate

This is the Day Given Over to Commemoration of Arrival of Pioneers.

Event Takes Up Whole Day

The Old Settlers Will Be Joined by the Younger Generation in Celebration There of the Days of Auld Lang Syne.

Today at the N.H. Hart home southeast of Otho, will occur a birthday party that will also commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the arrival of a band of pioneer settlers in Otho township. The read date of the arrival of the party was in June, but owing to another social event which occurred in the neighborhood on that date, the present gathering was postponed and is to occur on July 9, the birthday of N.H. Hart.

This party of early settlers arrived in Webster county in June, 1854, when the present city of Fort Dodge consisted of only four or five little log houses and this place as the county seat had scarcely received consideration. These settlers came to Webster county at a time when it required nearly every man in the county to be present at a “house raising.”

Beside the old settlers whose names appear below there will be many of the younger generation present, the children, grandchildren and other relatives of those named, who have come into the world at far more recent dates. The gathering will be largely in the form of a family reunion, as all present will be related either by blood ties or marriage.

The event will take up the entire day and will be entirely of a social nature. A big dinner will be one of the important events of the day, and the old timers will spend the remainder of the time in chatting of the early times when “forty miles to mill” was a short journey.

The old setters expected to be present are:

O.P. Fuller, Mrs. D.F. Claflin, F.B. Drake, G.D. Hart, L.W. Hart, Williams, Iowa.

The Fort Dodge Messenger: July 6, 1904

Jolly Peanutters Enjoy 4th

Celebrated National Holiday at Their Camp

Horse Racing Was One of the Features That Attracted Interest Thrilling Events.

The members of the Jolly Peanut club spent the Fourth at their camping grounds celebrating in their own peculiar and original way. A few friends were invited out, mostly relatives of the club members, and all turned in for a good time. Dinner was served in the most approved manner of campers. However, the sports were the features of the day. The main event was a two mile horse race. Five horses were entered. Each animal, bestrode by a pair of young women, was away at the crack of a pistol, the fair riders hanging for dear life to every available projection. At the end of the first quarter the horses were all in a bunch – eating grass by the side of the road, and the young ladies who had started in the race, were scattered promiscously (sic) along the way from start to finish, dropping off here and there as the horses stopped to nip at the flies or snatch a bite of grass from the roadside. The race, from a spectacular point of view, was grand in the extreme and by far discounted any bounding rope act or ariel (sic) performance ever seen in the city.

One of the young ladies was awarded the race on the grounds of her graceful appearance on the horse and from the fact that she got a good hold of her steed’s mane and succeeded in clinging to the animal for almost half a mile.

After the race the young ladies and their friends spent the afternoon in the usual manner of Fourth of July celebrations. Many crackers, great and small were exploded and in the evening real fire works were brought out and a fine display given.

The Fort Dodge Messenger: July 5, 1904

The family of Mr. and Mrs. James Kincaid, of this city, was increased on Saturday night by the arrival of a bright baby girl.

Tom Joyce, who has been suffering from an attack of pneumonia, is now regarded as on the road to recovery. His physicians this morning benefited him and it is now thought that he will recover, being so strong and robust no fear is entertained of his not making good progress from now own.

Mr. and Mrs. Dan Pearsons were host and hostes (sic) to a jolly Fourth of July picnic party at their home just north of the city. It was more in the nature of an old-fashioned Fourth of July. The hospitality of the host and hostess made the day one long to be rememberes. The families there were those of D.K. Lincoln, J.P. Dolliver and Geo. R. Pearsons.

Invitations are out for the wedding of Harry Emmett Peterson, of this city to Miss Ella Lorena Hanson, of Lehigh. The event will take place on the 14th of this month at high noon, at the home of the bride’s pahents (sic), in Lehigh. The groom is well known throughout the city, being one of the partners in the newly formed coal firm of Collins & Peterson. The bride is one of Lehigh’s most popular young ladies and is also well known in this city.

The Fort Dodge Messenger: June 29, 1904

Public Recital of Music

Mrs. Smeltzer’s Pupils are Heard by Many Friends.

Recital Took Place at The Baptist Church and Caused Most Favorable Comments From All.

The pupils studying under the direction of Mrs. Smeltzer gave their final public recital last evening. The Baptist church is a delightful place for such an entertainment and the room was filled at an early hour not only by fond parents but outsiders interested in education, children and music.

The program, somewhat formidable in length moved off with great promptness and perfection, that the hour seemed very short.

One might be tempted to comment on this or that pupil, who by personal charm or skill left a particularly favorable impression. Such notice is however, not the object of such a program. It is rather to show the work of the school as a whole. The pupils are of all grades of natural ability, the proportion of genius and talent being no greater than is usual in such a number. The absolute accracy (sic) og (sic) their knowledge of their pieces, the beautiful quality of their tone and the musical phrasing and interpretations are therefore the highest tribute to the excellence of their training. The least showy pupil may record the greatest progress in mental and musical development.

It is pleasant to think how many homes are richer and brighter for this music and how many pupils are learning, almost unconsciously, the difficult lesson of self-control and self-expression.

(Editor’s note: This article is written in such a way to make me think that the pupils were less accomplished than enthusiastic, perhaps. There is no mention of any names of pupils or the works they performed. It makes me think that perhaps there were  few good performances and the writer was trying to live up to the saying, “if you can’t be kind, at least be vague.”)

The Fort Dodge Times: June 25, 1891

Card of Thanks.

We desire to extend out heartfelt thank (sic), to those who lent aid and comfort in our late bereavement, the death of mother and sister and daughter.

Mr. and Mrs. G.C. Kettering
Mrs. Mary Lewis
Mrs. E.M. Holloway

Terrible Storm.

Tuesday night, a terrible storm, 12 inches of water and fierce wind, devastated the country at and west of Cherokee. Forty houses were destroyed at Sutherland, on the Hawarden branch of the Northwestern, but no lives are reported lost. Four persons are reported drowned at Cherokee, and four at Correctionville. Travel on the Ill. Central, west of Cherokee, is still impeded.

Teachers Institute.

Persons who have rooms to let to teachers during Institute, or, who will take teachers to board, will confer a favor by notifying me, stating the number than can be accomodated (sic), terms and place of residence.

Institute begins July 6 and continues two weeks.

John Carr
Co. Supt.

Notice

For Saturday only of each week.

I have arranged to give instructions to country scholars on the piano, guitar, banjo or Mandolin, lessons to be given on corner of George and Fourth streets. Terms, five dollars in advance for 12 lessons.

Will L. Webber

Gowrie

News

I.W. Moore and wife of Callender, attended the concert here last Friday evening.

DeWitt Youker’s school house in the Ellis district, south west of town, closed last Friday.

Grandpa Evans, southwest of town who has been ill for several weeks is still failing.

Miss Mae Lynd was quite sick during the latter part of last week, but is reported better now.

Mrs. Wiseman, of Des Moines, a sister of Mrs. A.M. Felts, visited with the Felts and Preston families last Friday and Saturday.

E.W. Sorber and wife and little Nellie went to Correctionville Tuesday to attend the annual reunion of the North Western Veteran Association, being held at that place this week.

Rev. Lyman Evans, of San Barnardino (sic), Cal., a brother of J.M. on his way home from the Presbyterian convention recently held at Detroit, Mich., visited the Evans family here last week.

Mr. Mortimer and wife and others from Callender attended quarterly meeting here last week.

Mrs. Northam, of Black Hills, Dak. a sister of Mrs. W.H. Goodenough, is visiting here this year.

D.M. Clark is going to raise his house facing the south on Market street, up even with the sidewalk. This will improve the appearance of the property very much.

The Fort Dodge Daily Chronicle: June 21, 1915

Rail Echoes

L.G. Meder, traveling passenger agent for the Union Pacific, is in the city today on business.

Fred J. Morrison, division claim agent for the Illinois Central, went to Council Bluffs today on business.

Sick List

Miss Loyala Van Rhein, is sick at her home.

Miss LaVena Decker is confined to her home with illness.

A.E. Rutter, who has been sick with typhoid fever, is slightly improved.

The little son of Mr. and Mrs. V.B. Tennant is sick with quinsy.

Miss Bessie Struthers underwent a slight operation this morning.

Mrs. George Kearby was operated on at the hospital for appendicitis, Saturday.

Notice to Not Give Credit.

My wife, Clara Mikelson, having left my bed and board, and deserted my home, notice is hereby given that I will not be responsible for her debts after this notice is published.
P.J. Mikelson

New Arrivals

Sunday a daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. K. Echternacht. (Editor’s note: I’m not really sure if that initial is a K, an F or an E.)

The Fort Dodge Messenger: June 16, 1904

The Jolly Peanut Club

A New Fun Finding Organization is Organized.

Eight Young Ladies Band Together As Eight Kernels in a Peanut Shell.

Seven members of the Jolly Peanut club, accompanied by Mrs. Harry Vincent as chaperon and Bruno Schroeder as coachman, left the city this morning in a large carryall for Humboldt, where they will spend the day in the various manners of enjoyment best known to young girls. The club was organized some time ago, but this is the first expedition into other lands as an organized band of funfinders.

The young ladies, eight in number, spent the night at the Schroeder residence, sleeping all in one bed, arranged by laying two big mattresses on the floor side by side. This was done in an attempt to live up to their name, it is supposed, like eight little kernels in a peanut shell. The girls were up at 4 o’clock this morning to be ready for their lark, and all in their big carryall passed thru the streets at 6 a.m. , rousing the town from its slumbers with the  hubbub of tin horns secured by them the night before the occasion.

The Peanut club was organized by the  young ladies for a good time organization, and they plan to follow as closely as possible the life and doings of “Eight Girls and a Dog.” The dog is not as yet forthcoming, but the club is otherwise complete with eight as lively girls as are often seen in a bunch.

The members of the club are as follows: Doris Olney, Hazel Schroeder, Olive Maher, Lulu Kepner, Talma Kitchen, Jean Marquette, Beth Wright, Hazel Clark.

The Webster County Gazette: May 21, 1880

Border Plains

A little son of Jim Wheeler’s has been quite sick with the diptheria (sic), but is now recovering.

A three years old colt, belonging to Davis, fell dead in the harness while plowing corn one day last week.

Silas Goss believes in the “fonetic sistem of spelin.” Sukses Silus to your efforts.

John Tapper, our new school superintendent, was through this part of the county last week attending to the duties of his office; and right here perhaps it would not be out of place to remark that Mr. Tapper is doing a good work in our schools. His gentlemanly manner gains for him the respect and regard of all our teachers, while his enthusiasm for school room work leaves an influence which cannot be otherwise than beneficial.

It was Beightol’s house than burned instead of Brightol, as was made to appear by your type in last weeks paper and Beightol was living in it at the time.

Samuel Suture and wife start for Colorado soon.

While Will Clark and a little son of E.L. Pratt, were planting corn the other day  the team – a pair of colts got away form Will and started off to plant corn on their own hook. For a time Will said he never saw corn planted as fast, but the planter soon began to assume a form that would not warrant it to work in a systematic manner, and planting operations were suspended although the horses went on. When stopped it was found that the planter was completely demoralized. Although the loss at the time was quite serious yet under the circumstances it was fortunate that it was no worse.

It would probably be a pretty good idea for the good people who  hold religious services in the school house, to occasionally clean the same. When Paul wrote “cleanliness is next to Godliness” he ment (sic) the school house floor as much as any thing else.

Several person who were converted at the revival meetings last winter, held at the Blanchard school house, were sprinkled last Sunday.

N.B. Hyatt of Webster City revealed his smiling visage last Sunday to some of this friends in this township.

We were mistaken when we said not long ago that the measles were subsiding in this neighborhood. They are wading right in with the stern vengence (sic) of a lightning rod agent. We almost took ’em the other day.

A young lady of this town s hip boards at home and walks to and from her school nigh and morning a distance of three miles. We call that grit.

The leap year party at Duncombe was a success.