The Fort Dodge Messenger: March 3, 1903

Street Car Route Has Been Outlined

Fort Dodge Light & Power Co. Announces Line to be Followed by Extension

Present Petition to Council

Ask That Streets be Brought to Grade at Points Along the New Line

The management of the Fort Dodge Light and Power company has determined the route to be followed by the extension of the car line which is planned to be constructed this spring. The route is as follows:

From Twelfth street and Central avenue:

South on Twelfth street to Fourth avenue south,

East on Fourth avenue south to Eighteenth street,

South on Eighteenth street to a point two blocks within the Oleson Land company’s tract,

East to the grand stand of the Mineral City Park association.

The entire extension contemplated is two and one-quarter miles in length. The company has already sufficient material on hand to complete the construction of one mile.

A petition was presented to the city council on Monday evening asking that at certain specified points the streets be brought to grade along the proposed route of the extension. The council referred the matter to the street and alley committee. None of the changes asked are of any special importance. One is for a two foot cut for a short distance on Fourth avenue south between Twelfth and Thirteenth street, just in front of the German Lutheran church. A short fill is also requested on Eighteenth street between Fourth and Fifth avenues south.

Manager Will Healy, of the Fort Dodge Light and Power company stated this morning that the company expected to begin work on their extension as soon as possible after a grade had been adjusted, if the council should take favorable action on their petition.

Tags: 1903, Healy

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Feb. 26, 1903

W. Jorgensen’s Spring Chickens

Fort Dodge Man Has  Novel Record to Live Up to Each Year

Chickens First on Market

For Several Years, Including This One, He Has Had Brood by Washington’s Birthday

A W. Jorgensen, of this city, holds a record in the matter of spring chickens. For years past, it is Mr. Jorgensen’s proud boast that his spring chickens have been the first on the market. It is one of the events of his year when his first brood of chickens open their eyes upon a frosty world, just a little ahead of every one else’s.

For several years past, Mr. Jorsensen has had a brood of chickens hatched out before Washington’s birthday and this year was no exception, altho it was a close shave. It was only the day before that historic date that thirteen fluffy yellow balls crept out of their shells into the light of day, but they appeared and now bid fair to rank well with the other Jorgensen chickens.

Mr. Jorgensen scorns the use of the incubator. His chickens are all the product of the faithful efforts of the mother hen, who hatches them out in the orthodox manner which was in vogue when incubators were still incubating in the minds (sic) of the inventor.

Tags: 1903, Jorgensen

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Feb. 17, 1903

Plans For Work on New Library

Will be Commenced as Soon as Contract is Let for Setting Marble Now on Hand

Little Remains to be Done

With Setting of Marble Building is Practically Finished. Hoped to Open May 15.

Work on the new library building will recommence just as soon as the contract is let for the setting of the car marble which now stands in the Minnneapolis (sic) & St. Louis yards, consigned to the Northern Building company, and awaiting a claimant. One of the members of the library board stated this morning that there would be no difficulty in securing the contents of the car as soon as needed.

The library board has extended a proposition to the Vermont Granite & Marble company, which furnished the marble, to look after its setting also, and is awaiting a reply, which is expected shortly. It is considered highly probable that the contract will go to these parties.

The marble now in the yards comprises all that is needed for the completion of the building. It is for wainscoting, floor and stairs, and when it is in place the new library will be practically finished.

The steel book racks have arrived and are ready to be put in place; the woodwork is finished,a nd the electric fixtures are ordered. As yet however, no furniture has been ordered.

An effort will be made to hurry the work along so that the date of opening Fort Dodge’s fine new library building may be on May 15, the twenty-ninth anniversary of the starting of the library in this city. Whether this can be accomplished or not, is a matter which depends on many things, but the building will be finished by then if possible, and the occasion of the opening will be marked with appropriate exercises.

Tags: 1903

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Feb. 11, 1903

Another Chapter in Anderson Case

Supreme Court Dismisses Appeal on Account of Anderson’s Marriage to Plaintiff

$10,000 Judgment Still Stands

Anderson Appears to Have Got Him a Wife to No Purpose in Evading Judgment

John Anderson in marrying Sophia Olson got him a wife and also secured the affirmation of the judgment against him. This would appear by a decision of the supreme court, announcement of which was received here today, decides that there is no appeal now before the court, inasmuch as plaintiff and defendant have married, thus leaving the judgment still standing against Anderson.

Last week, Healy & Healy, the attorneys for the plaintiff, she who was Mrs. Olson and is now Mrs. Anderson, filed a motion showing Anderson’s marriage to the plaintiff and suggesting the dismissal of the case by the reason of the disability of Anderson, as husband to further prosecute the appeal as against his wife. The motion to dismiss the appeal was sustained by the supreme court, which has the effect of confirming the $10,000 judgment. The case now stands as though no appeal had been made.

The plaintiff’s attorneys have an attachment against hte land which was sold to satisfy the judgment, for fees. The case will come up at the March term of court.

The net result of Anderson’s attempt to defeat the lein (sic) for attorneys’ fees seems to have been to have the whole judgment against him affirmed. Instead of his marriage effecting his purpose, it has resulted in depriving him of whatsoever chance he had in his appeal, as the judgment is now in force and effect to the sum of $10,000.

Tags: 1903, Anderson, Healy, Olson

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Feb. 6, 1903

Humboldt Post Office Gutted

Explosion of Lamp Starts a Blaze Which Results Disastrously for Interior of Building

Money Orders Are Destroyed

Letters and Papers of Entire Mail are Burned. Money and Stamps Protected by Safe

Humboldt, February 7. – Money orders, letters and papers were destroyed in a fire which wrecked the interior of the postoffice (sic) building at this  place this morning. All the mail which was in the building at the time was completely destroyed and the fixtures were completely wrecked. The money and stamps were saved only on account of the fact that they were safely locked in the safe.

The fire was started thru the explosion of a kerosene lamp, which was accidentally knocked from a table while the early morning mail was being distributed. The kerosene caught fire and almost instantly the flames spread to the papers and other inflammable materials which were scattered about.

The Humboldt fire department turned out in force and save the building but not before the interior was a complete ruin.

The postoffice force were able to make their escape in safety from the burning building, but were not able to carry anything with them so rapid was the advance of the flames. Miss Pauline Metzler, one of the postoffice force, lost her overcoat and $8 ($192 today) in money.

Tags: 1903, Metzler

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Feb. 5, 1903

Short Change Man on Central

Gentleman With Deft and Oily Fingers Works Smooth Graft

A Nebraska Man His Victim.

Son of the Soil, Out to See the Sights, Exchanges $50 for Meagre (sic) Roll of $15.

Waterloo, Io., February 5. – Marshal Simmering this morning received a letter from Cyrus Alton of Elmwood, Nebraska, stating that he had been victimized to the extent of $35 on the Illinois Central passenger train between Waterloo and Manchester Saturday night. He gave a description of the grafter and told how the game was worked.

Shortly after the train pulled out of Waterloo a well dressed stranger sat down in the seat beside Alton and began conversing with him. Alton readily fell into the snare. Judging by his letter he is a farmer. He had become weary of the long ride and was glad of the opportunity to break the monotony. Soon after the stranger worked himself into the good graces of Alton he told him how badly he wanted to exchange some small bills for a large one to give to a relative who would leave the train at Dubuque. Alton liked to be obliging and inquired how large a bill was wanted. The stranger thought a $50 would do and Alton pulled out his roll and selected a fifty. The stranger had a number of small bills and counted them out. They appeared to be $5 bills. There was just $50 the first time he counted them out, but in order to escape a mistake he counted them again. Sure enough there was just $50. Alton took them and placed them in his pocket, not suspecting the fraud. However, when he arrived in Chicago he took an inventory and found that the roll contained just $15 a number of $1 bills having been substituted for the $5 ones.

Tags: 1903

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Feb. 4, 1903

This is Not a Pat Crow Letter

But is Apparently From a Reformed Kleptomaniac Desiring to Make Restitution

An Anonymous Communication

Manager P.D. Johns, of Johns Dry Goods Co., Receives $2 in a Strange Way

Manager P.D. Johns, of the Johns Dry Goods company, hardly knows what to make of an anonymous letter which he received a few days ago, containing two bills, of $1 each. After mature deliberation, Mr. Johns h as about decided that he is in receipt of an epistle from a reformed kleptomaniac of the fair sex, who has repented of her misdeeds and has taken this way of atonement.

The letter is written in a small, well formed hand, on good stationery. The words are well chosen, the spelling good, and the grammar almost correca (sic). Apparently the unknown person who wrote the letter is a lady of some education.

The envelope, which Mr. Johns unsuspectingly opened in his morning’s mail a few days ago, is postmarked La Crosse, and was mailed on January 29. The letter itself is undated. All Mr. Johns’ detective ability has been brought to bear on the solution of the problem, but he is now almost constrained to give up the puzzle as one which is beyond solution, and to rest content with the $2 which dropped down on him so unexpectedly.

The letter as received by Mr. Johns, reads as follows:

Johns Dry oods (sic) Co., Fort Dodge, Iowa. – Inclosed please find $2 for indebtedness which I owe your firm for some time past. This is no mistake, so please enter it as cash, as there is no charge made of it.

(Editor’s note: I believe “Pat Crow letter” refers to a ransom note. Pat Crowe was involved in a kidnapping for ransom in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1900 – according to Wikipedia, it was the first successful kidnapping for ransom in the United States. More on the kidnapping here.)

Tags: 1903, Johns

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Feb. 3, 1903

Big Bridge Now 2-3 Done

1,720 Feet are Now Standing of 2,582 to be Built

Preparing to Cross River

First Piling Was Sunk on Monday – S.C. Stickney Pleased With the Bridge.

Just two-thirds of the new Great Western bridge across the Des Moines river has been completed. The length of the bridge when finished will be 2,582 feet, of which 1,720 feet are now up. All that now remains is to carry the bridge across the river and u p the comparatively short approach to the summit of the bluff standing opposite, and all will be done.

Work was commenced on Monday  at driving the piling, which will bear the false work of the span while the bridge is being carried across the river.

General Manager S.C. Stickney visited the bridge during his recent visit here, and expressed himself as highly pleased with the progress which had been made.

The other bride work, which is being done on the old Mason City & Fort Dodge line north of this city, is progressing satisfactorily. The bridge at Lime creek, north of Mason City, has been completed with the exception of a little riveting. The work has been transferred to the Boone river bridge, which is being moved. Engineer Harvey stated this morning that the iron will be put in on this bridge on Wednesday.

Preparations are being made to begin work on the lower yards in this city.

Tags: 1903, Harvey, Stickney

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Feb. 2, 1903

Marriage Ends Sensational Suit

S.J. Anderson and Mrs. Sophia Olson Decide to Kiss and Make Up

Ends Breach of Promise Case

Marriage Ceremony Was Performed at 11 O’clock on Saturday Night. Last Chapter

Sven J. Anderson and Mrs. Sophia Olson were united in the bonds of matrimony on Saturday night, in the neighborhood of 11 o’clock. The ceremony was performed by Rev. G.W. Pratt, of the Methodist church at the home of the bride, 215 Second avenue south.

The mere statement that she who was Mrs. Sophia Olson is now Mrs. S.J. Anderson does not convey the full significance of the action. It means also that the oil has been poured upon the troubled waters of litigation, that suits and counter suits are now things of the past; in a word that one of ht emost sensational breach of promise cases ever tried in Webster county, has practically been disposed of.

They who are not Mr. and Mrs. S.J. Anderson have been much in the public eye for the past week or so. Last week their case was submitted to the supreme court in Des Moines, Anderson praying for a reversal of the judgment. Last Saturday, the couple showed up again at the capital city. They wanted to get married, and they went to Chief Justice Bishop, of the supreme court, and told him so, adding that the head of the court was the chosen one to make them man and wife.

Chief Justice Bishop balked at the responsibility. The Des Moines Register and Leader tells what happened as follows:

“Judge Bishop refused to perform the ceremony, his principal reason being that Mr. Anderson and Mrs. Olson wanted to file with the court as a part of the marriage Freemon a statement and stipulation regarding the suit now pending which would probably have the effect of cutting Senator Thomas D. Healy and M.F. Healy, attorneys for Mrs. Olson, out of their fees.

“Mr. Anderson, who is aged 53, and Mrs. Olson, who is 34, first made their appearance at the office of the county clerk where they secured a marriage license. Then they betook themselves to the supreme court and hunted up the chief justice. Judge Bishop advised them to confer with an attorney, and said in view of the importance of the damage suit that was on he thought it ws improper for him to unite them in marriage.”

Disappointed in their hope of being married by so exalted a personage as a chief justice, Anderson and his bride to be, returned to Fort Dodge on Saturday evening. County Clerk Colby had left his office, but was corralled and brought back and issued a license empowering the two to enter into the state of matrimony which they did without delay.

The marriage return, made out in proper form and testifying to the fact that S.J. Anderson and Sophia Olson were married on January 31, is now on file at the office of the county clerk.

Mrs. Sophia Olson sued Anderson for breach of promise and got a judgement of $10,000 ($239,495 today) a year ago last summer. Anderson’s farm was attached for the judgment, and Mrs. Anderson bought it on sheriff’s sale. Only a few weeks ago, a new development appeared in the case when Healy & Healy, who were the attorneys for Mrs. Olson, now Mrs. Anderson, brought suit to recover the attorney’s fees alleged due them thru their petition.

The bringing of the appeal before the supreme court, and the marriage on Saturday night, practically closed the episode.

T.D. Healy, one of the attorneys for the erstwhile Mrs. Olson, stated this morning that the marriage would in n o way effect the collection of the attorneys’ fees.

Tags: 1903, Anderson, Bishop, Colby, Healy, Olson, Pratt