The Fort Dodge Messenger: June 10, 1905

Bones Broken in Game

Ball Player Breaks Collar Bone in Webster City

Webster City, June 10 – Third Baseman Dow of the Williams’ base ball team, which played in this city, had the misfortune to break his collar bone during the game. He was taken to the office of Dr. Rummel where the fracture was dressed. The injury will not prove serious and the young man returned home on the afternoon train.

The accident happened in the last half o the sixth inning. The Williams team was at bat and Dow was on first base. He attempted to make second and a long low ball was thrown (to) Arthur Martin, who was  holding this base for the Baraca team. Martin stooped to get it and tag the runner and Dow attempted a slide. He collided with Martin’s knee with such force as to break the collar bone.

The young man was taken from the ball diamond and assisted to the office of Dr. Rummel. The doctor states tat the injury is by no means serious. It will lay the young man up for two or three weeks, however. Of course beside the breaking of the collar bone, Mr. Dow was considerably bruised about the shoulder.

Tags: 1905, Dow, Rummel

The Fort Dodge Messenger: June 9, 1905

Carriage Horse Runs From Fright

Bad Stroke of Luck for W.E. Parsons But it Might Be Worse.

Run Into By Another Horse

The Collision was The Cause of Mr. Parson’s Horse Running Away – Buggy Was Somewhat Damaged and Horse was Slightly Hurt.

W.E. Parsons had a narrow escape yesterday afternoon. He and Mrs. Parsons were out in the woods on north Fifteenth street, plucking flowers for the hotel. Mrs. Parsons was engaged in picking the flowers when two boys came downt he street as fast as there (sic) horse could draw them. Mr. Parsons was keeping the flies off his horse and was standing just past the turn of the lane that goes from Fifteenth street to Fourteenth street. Instead of turning out to escape Mr. Parson’s buggy the boys went directly for ti and hitting one (of) the rear wheels, upset the buggy. The horse which is a high spirited one, became frightened and started to run and, Mr. Parsons being on the ground was unable to stop the horse, so let go of the bit. Away went the horse, tipping the buggy over three times, then the buggy righted itself and the horse ran in the middle of the road home. The loss was slight, being to one of the lamps, the footrest, a whip, and the injury to the foreleg of the horse caused by the casting of a shoe, and a light wrench to one of the rear wheels. Luckily the buggy, which was a high Stanhope, was unoccupied at the time of the accident or Mr. and Mrs. Parsons would very likely have been seriously injured.

Tags: 1905, Parsons

Becker Florists is still in business. They run this truck every year in the Frontier Days Parade. This photo is from June 2, 2012.

The Fort Dodge Messenger: June 8, 1905

Gardening Done on a Large Scale

Becker Brothers Have Been in Business Since 1885.

Have Two Separate Gardens

Rich River Bottom Land Below Town Furnishes Several Crops a Year and Farm Land East of Town is Also Worked – Ups and Downs.

Let the amateur gardner (sic) walk west on First avenue south from Sixth street and down in the valley he will see a sight that will delight his eyes. Laying out in regular rows or planted in solid plots, are many kinds of vegetables. about a block of the rich river bottom land is used for truck farming and supplies many of the people of the city with vegetables.

This plot and a ninety acre farm are owned by the Becker brothers, Fred, John and Chris. John Becker tends to the garden on the flats and the other brothers to the farm, on which are raised more vegetables and the ordinary farm products. The ground on the flat is so rich that no attention is paid to the evolution of crop theory but the same kind of vegetable is sown repeatedly. In the farm east of town the land is not so rich, so that care in the planing of the vegetables is necessary.

The Becker brothers started operations in the year ’85 (1885) and have continued them in the same place ever since. The place has undergone some improvements, such as tearing down the extensive green houses and building hot beds instead, but beyond that and a few other changes, the place is just the same. All of the early vegetables are started about the fifth of February if the weather permits. If the weather does not permit at that time the gardeners are forced to wait until some time in March. The earlier the stuff is planted the better it is, of course, for the planter’s pocket book. The ground is plowed deep in the fall so as to let the frost get in the earth and pulverize it. As soon as the weather permits the plants are set out and the seed sown. The earliest stuff is planted in the ground on the flat and the late product in the ground east of the city. No fertilizer is needed as the ground is so rich that two or three crops are grown on this piece each year.

All of the products of these plots are sold to the stores, and not peddled from house to house. This selling to the stores reminded Mr. Becker of the uncertainty of the income obtained from the sale of the vegetables. He said: “one year in the middle of July I had nothing to do but sit around and smoke. The price of the early potatoes was twenty-five cents a bushel and we decided to sell our crop. We thot (sic) we had done quite well but when fall arrived potatoes were selling at eighty cents per bushel and we had lost a large sum of money. I remember of another time when we decided to hold our crop for higher prices. We did, and in the fall our potatoes sold at 23 cents a bushel and we lost again. So  you see that while the income is good some years, at the end of other seasons, even the weather thought the weather is fine we get little for our crop.”

(Editor’s note: In the quote from Mr. Becker, he refers to prices from different years. I used an inflation calculator, but since I didn’t know which years he was referring to, I used 1905. So 25 cents would be about $5.99, 80 cents would be about $19.16, and 23 cents would be about $5.51 – if he meant 1905. Since he was referring to previous years, the amounts would be higher.)

Tags: 1905, Becker

The Fort Dodge Messenger: June 5, 1905

Little Baby Passes Away

One of the little six months old twins of Mr. and Mrs. Otto Koke passed away Sunday morning. The funeral of the little child will be held from the house Tuesday afternoon and interment will be in Oakland cemetery. The little child was sick for some time.

The many friends of the parents sympathize deeply with them in their loss.

Tags: 1905, Koke

The Fort Dodge Messenger: June 5, 1905

An Early Settler Passes Away

Mrs. Jane Crosby, One of the Earliest of Fort Dodge Settlers Dies

Over Eighty Years of Age

Mrs. Crosby Leaves Three Children to Mourn Her Loss – Funeral was  Held From the Family Home on Second Avenue South This Afternoon

Mrs. Jane J. Crosby, widow of Seth S. Crosby, one of the earliest Fort Dodge settlers passed away at her home on Second Avenue South between Seventh and Eighth streets on Sunday morning at about 10:00. Mrs. Crosby had been ill for some time and her death was not unexpected. It was due to old age and heart failure, she being over eighty years of age.

Mrs. Crosby is well known in this city especially among the early settlers for she has resided here constantly for over two score years. Her husband has been dead several years, but she leaves two sons and a daughter to mourn her loss.

One son, Charles Crosby, was formerly a member of the firm of Crosby & Bechtel who operated the Model restaurant. Another son is D.M. Crosby of Boston, who was called here some time ago by the serious illness of his mother and had been with her constantly. A daughter from Chicago is also here to attend the funeral.

The funeral was held from the house this afternoon at 2:00 and interment was at Oakland cemetery. Rev. Fort of the Methodist church preached the funeral sermon.

Tags: 1905, Crosby

The Fort Dodge Messenger: June 2, 1905

Operators Stop Work as Bees Swarm

Western Union Telegraph Office Closed for Half an Hour

Drive Operators From Keys

A Very Amusing Incident Occurred at the Western Union Telegraph Office This Morning But One Whose Comic Part is Not Appreciated

The Western Union Telegraph operators, manager and messenger boys were all driven from their office in quick fashion this morning at about 10 o’clock. The operators and other employes (sic) were working at their desks when a swarm of bees flew through the open door and began to light on different objects all over the room.

With a shout of dismay the operators left their keys and hurried from the office. They all hurried  with heads down too, for the upper part of the room was filled with these insects. The operators and other employes rushed into the street and before any had stopped they were on the other side of the street.

A hurried consultation was held and a plan of attack was drawn up. The plan had to be decided upon quickly too for the operators had left their work, even while they were sending and receiving message. The could hear the dot and dashes being rattled off which signified their call and knew that operators elsewhere were all wondering what was the matter at Fort Dodge.

Fortunately as the employes took themselves out of the door the door itself was left wide open and some of the bees seeing that there was nothing to be found there were leaving the room. As the employes discovered that the enemy’s forces were being reduced they made a valiant rush for the office and taking newspapers rolled up and other misslies (sic) began the work of extermination. Soon the slaughter was great and over-whelming. But meanwhile the time had been flying and before it was thought safe to resume operations at the keys a half hour had gone, and messages from all points were piling up. Now the office rules are that a door shall be kept tightly closed until a screen door can be purchased.

The swarm of bees is attacking many business houses.

At the Keim and Bunn candy factory they have become a veritable nuisance. Sulphur (sic) is being burned constantly there to drive them away.

Tags: 1905

The Fort Dodge Messenger: May 9, 1905

An Honest Boy of the City

Joe White Ten Years Makes Effort to Return Money

Is Same Boy Who Offered to Give Skin in Skin-Grafting Operation at Hospital

There is one  honest boy in the city of Fort Dodge and he is the same little fellow who offered to contribute a little part of his cuticle to the little girl at the hospital in the recent skin grafting operation.

This same boy with a companion was walking along the street last night and found a $5 bill. He was at once greatly concerned to find the owner of the money and it was not long until it was restored. The money was the property of a young woman who works at the home of Sheriff Oleson. The boy who found it is Joe White, the ten-year-old boy of Thomas White, a traveling man of this city.

Tags: 1905, Oleson, White

The Fort Dodge Messenger: May 9, 1905

Roy Parker Bitten by Hunting Dog

Was Cared For by Physician and No Bad Results are Feared

Roy Parker was severely bitten by a dog belonging to George Kehm (on) Eighth Avenue north and Eighth street last evening as he was walking past the Kehm residence. The wound inflicted by the animal’s teeth was so severe that it required the attention of a physician. It is thought, however that there will be no serious results from the bit, as the dog is known to be in a healthy condition.

The police were notified of the affair and the animal was to have been killed, but on the promise of the owners to keep him muzzled, they allowed it to live. The dog is a valuable one, being a thoroughbred hunter, and Mr. Kehm did not wish to lose him.

At the time he was bitten Parker was walking in the north end of the city and was approached by the animal from behind almost without warning the dog snapping him in the fleshy part of the calf. He will be lame for some time to come from the effect of the attack.

Tags: 1905, Kehm, Parker

The Fort Dodge Messenger: May 1, 1905

Gowrie

John Swanson, one of the hands who are employed on the bridge gang, was quite badly hurt by a falling plank one day last week. The plank struck him in the face and resulted in breaking his nose and bruising his face in general.

Little Pearl Chase, of Trenton, North Dakota, arrived in Gowrie Monday  morning. Pearl is going to make her home with her aunt, Mrs. F.N. Brunson and attend school here as there is no school convenient where  her parents live.

Miss Ruby Osborn is sick at present with tonsilitis.

Mrs. Clark left here for Minneapolis Monday evening where she expects to visit with friends for a few days.

Little Gladys and Helen Spangler have been on the sick list lately.

Mr. and Mrs. Chase of Fort Dodge visited with their daughter, Mrs. T.N. Brunson, the fore part of the week.

Wedding bells are ringing. Have you heard their chimes?

Miss Lucy Chock who has been attending school in Clare, is visiting with her parents at present.

Walter Evans of Worthington, Minn. who has been visiting for a few days with his mother, Mrs. O.E. Evans, returned home Monday, accompanied by his two children who have been visiting with their grandmother for sometime.

Mr. and Mrs. Guy Johnson of Callender were visiting friends in Gowrie Sunday.

Mr. and Mrs. L. Burgoon of Paton were transacting business in Gowrie last Saturday.

The E.L. social held at the home of Mrs. and Mrs. Wertz was quite well attended in spite of the inclemency of the weather and about $9 was raised (about $216 today).

Mrs. Hibbard of Lorhville is visiting friends and relatives in town this week.

Oscar Lungren who is attending the Ames Agricultural college is home for the Easter vacation.

Tags: 1905, Brunson, Burgoon, Chase, Chock, Clark, Evans, Hibbard, Johnson, Lungren, Osborn, Spangler, Swanson, Wertz