The Fort Dodge Messenger: Feb. 22, 1906

Peter Madison Used Whip on Professor

School Teacher Grimes Attacked for Chastising 12 Year Old Boy.

Parent Was Peter Madison

He Decided to Take His Son’s Part Against Professor Grimes – Southwest Part of County Excited by Irate Parent’s Acts.

Callender, Feb. 22 (Special to the Messenger) – Down in Roland Township School District No. 3, five miles west of the hustling little town of Callender occurred last Tuesday a scene that the participants and spectators will not soon forget. The school in question was in charge of Professor Grimes, lately of Farnhamville.

While performing his professional duties last Tuesday he had occasion to chastise the 12 year old son of Peter Madison.

The fractious boy was turned across the schoolmaster’s knee and an old-fashioned spanking was administered. When he got released from the toils of authority he made a bee line for the paternal roof and in less time than it takes to tell it interested his sire in his behalf.

A Horse Whipping.

The two returned to the school building accompanied by a friend of Madison’s who chanced to be visiting with him at the time. The three unceremoniously entered the schoolhouse and while the professor’s back was turned the parent began at once to show his ire and indignation by using a horse whip on Professor Grimes. Grimes decided not to take the attack with Christian meekness but proceeded at once to land a left hander on the linguistic organs of his antagonist, which sent him sprawling to the floor. One application of this kind was sufficient. Madison was later forced from the room and out of doors while protesting frantically with vile language and threats of great bodily injury. In the meantime the pupils of the school became so affrighted that they made hasty and spectacular escapes through windows and doors. School was dismissed for the time being and both parties to the combat went post-haste to seek legal revenge. Professor Grimes going to Fort Dodge to hold a consultation with county Superintendent Brown and Madison laying his side of the case before Justice Rasmussen.

To Be Settled in Courts.

The matter will undoubtedly be tried in the courts. County Superintendent Brown getting first chance at it.

In Callender, and especially in the vicinity of Justice Rasmussen’s office, it is the excitement of the hour. Eager throngs from surrounding neighborhoods, and particularly from school district Number 3, Roland township are present and are on tip toe of excitement, watching every whisper pertaining to Madison and his wary antagonist.

Gray headed men are likewise on the scene, exchanging and relating stories referring to the customs of school teachers when they were boys – when the old saying “spare the rod and spoil the child” was the idea of almost every parent and teacher alike.

A Messenger representative interviewed Professor Grimes and was informed that the law would be allowed to take its course and he would be satisfied to abide by the consequences.

(Editor’s note: This article is obviously biased in favor of the teacher. No mention was made of the boy’s alleged offense or of how hard he was spanked. The article is written to make the teacher the victor of the fight; whether or not that was true is difficult to say. It’s hard to say whether the spanking was set off by a real offense, how hard the parent attacked the teacher and how hard the teacher really fought back. It is interesting to note, however, that people in 1906 were saying that “spare the rod and spoil the child” was taken seriously when they were kids, when in 2012 we think the same thing of 1906.)

The Fort Dodge Messenger: July 7, 1903

May Mean a New Factory

I.C. Lovejoy of Callender Invents Tornado Barometer.

So Constructed that Bell Will Ring When Tornado Approaches – Hopes to Manufacture it Here.

Fort Dodge may have a new factory if the plans of Prof. I.C. Lovejoy of Callender, for the manufacture of a tornado barometer, are fulfilled. The Callender Times has the following:

Prof. I.C. Lovejoy, who for the past two years has had charge of the Callender schools, has constructed what he is pleased to call a tornado barometer, and which promises to some day be considered a household necessity. Of course, so far as the barometer itself goes it is probably no better than any other, but Mr. Lovejoy has succeeded in so constructing an electrical attachment that should a tornado come within a radius of 200 miles of the barometer, a bell will ring and keep ringing until the danger is past, or until the tornado has passed beyond this territory.

Besides determining when  a tornado is within 200 miles, he can change the mercury in the tube so that it will not give warning until the tornado is within ten or fifteen miles, or any desired distance between ten and 200 miles. The barometer also gives the change of weather, etc.

With one of these in your home no one need be afraid to retire at night when a storm is approaching, or sit watching the storm for feat some dangerous cloud may prove a tornado. The little barometer will warn you in time for you to find the cellar or cave.

Prof. Lovejoy informs us that probably in another year he will open a factory for the manufacture of these instruments, and says probably he will locate the factory at Fort Dodge. He has several other scientific instruments he is working on besides the barometer which promise to become quite popular.

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.