The Fort Dodge Messenger: Aug. 8, 1904

Enters Houses in Broad Day Light

Stranger By The Name of James Wilson Was Caught in the Act.

Puts Up Queer Appearance

After Making Failure of Attempt to Enter Blanden Residence in Daylight he Sneaked into Benj. Jones’ Home – Held to Grand Jury.

Nerve beyond record had James Wilson who was arrested Sunday evening for entering two Fort Dodge homes in broad day light at 6:30 in the evening. after failing in his efforts to enter the Blanden home from the basement, he walked over to Benjamin Jones’ residence on First avenue north, and while Mr. Jones was sitting on the front porch entered the house through the back way. He went up stairs and began rifling the rooms of several small articles. Descending he was heard by Mr. Jones, who rushed into the house and grabbed the thief. With a clever himself of his coat and flew out of the house leaving Mr. Jones with nothing but an old ragged coat.

Caught by Chief Welch.

Running up the alley he began to attract the attention of all passers-by, Chief Welch happened along and immediately gave chase. The pursued, though fleet of foot, soon became rattled in the maze of streets and back yards and was captured near the home of Doctor Ristine.

Actions Decidedly Queer.

After his arrest Wilson was questioned by the police and his conduct and answers seem to point to his being somewhat off, though some think that this is put on. He is about five feet eight inches in height and wears a very dark beard. He occasionally puts a look on his face which reminds one of an insane asylum. When captured he put up a fight and uttered a volley of oaths at the officer who caught him, so that he had to be handled roughly. He will give no explanation as to his conduct, claiming that he remembers nothing.

Seen by Ed Cullen.

Coming out of the cellar window of the Blanden residence, Wilson was seen by Ed Cullen who notified the police at once. After his arrest an investigation of the home was made. It was found that had had entered it through the cellar window in the hopes of reaching the main part of the house through the basement. The doors connecting the two floors being locked, his trouble was in vain.

Waived Examination.

Under ordinary procedure Wilson would have been taken before a justice for a preliminary hearing, but he waived this opportunity and will appear before the grand jury the last of this month.

Tags: 1904, Blanden, Cullen, Jones, Ristine, Welch, Wilson

The Fort Dodge Messenger: July 1, 1903

Mine is Lighted by Electricity

United States Gypsum Company Inaugrates (sic) Improvement at Mineral City Mill.

Is Running Day and Night.

Both Mill and Mine are Thoroughly Lighted – Drilling is Also Done by Electricity – Improvements at Blanden Mill.

Improvements have just been completed in the Mineral City mill and mine of the United States Gypsum company, which the officials of the company in this city claim,  make it the most modern and best equipped mill in the country.

Both mill and mine have been fitted up with electric lights thruout, and the work is now carried on there day and night without intermission. The drilling is also done by electricity. These improvements have only just been completed, and the mill is now running under them.

The Blanden mill has also been greatly improved by the addition of new machinery.

One of the mills and mines of the company has been closed down and the men transferred to the Mineral City mill, but Manager Duncombe stated this morning that this was merely temporary and quite in accordance with the usual policy of the company when it was necessary to close the mill for repairs. The company had some trouble with water in the mines during the heavy rains, but this is now entirely over, and the damage done is less than was expected.

Tags: 1903, Blanden, Duncombe

The Webster County Gazette: May 14, 1880

Strawberry Festival

The Presbyterian ladies brought the first strawberries to town, and served them in the name and in behalf of the new temple. The attendance was good, the strawberries were delicious and the musical part of the entertainment was not less so. But the dishes were too large and the berries cost too much to make the speculation a very profitable one.  The berries cost the ladies 38 cents per quart. The receipts were about $80 and the net proceeds will be $20 or $25. The music was very enjoyable and the programme reads as follows:

Tags: 1880, Barnes, Berry, Blanden, Davies, Johnston, Kirkup, Pauline, Rudesill, Waldrop

The Fort Dodge Messenger: April 22, 1904

Colonel Blanden Dies Thursday

Pioneer Business Man and former Soldier Succumbs to Long Illness.

His Life Ended Peacefully

His War Record of Note – Prominent in Banking business.

One more pioneer gave up this mortal life when Colonel Leander Blanden passed away Thursday evening. Men, the chapters of whose lives are incidents in the growth and upbuilding of the community, one by one are ending their lives of usefulness and passing to greater reward and the death of Colonel Blanden adds but another to the long list of pioneers who have passed before him.

Colonel Blanden died Thursday evening at 6:30. Death was the immediate result of apoplexy, altho the deceased had been a sufferer from Bright’s disease for several years previous to his death. Death was peaceful, the vital forces which had sustained life during his long illness gradually becoming exhausted until finally the spark went out and a life of seventy-four years was ended. Deceased passed his last moments on earth with his relatives, who were around his bedside when the death angel arrived.

The funeral will take place tomorrow afternoon at 3 o’clock from the residence on the southeast corner of Central avenue and Tenth street. The members of Fort Donaldson post, G.A.R. will attend the funeral in a body. Burial will be in Oakland cemetery.

Leander Blanden was born in Burlington, N.Y., in 1830. There he spent his boyhood days and the first years of his young manhood. When the gold fever spread over the country in 1849 young Blanden like many others in the east started for the gold fields of the west. For two years he remained in California, returning to Burlington in 1851. Soon after his return from California he decided to move to the middle west and soon after settled in Marengo, Ill.

In Marengo he was engaged in the grain business with his brothers and followed that pursuit until the outbreak of war between the north and south, when the young man, inspired by patriotism that led his grandfather to fight for liberty in the revolution forsook the peaceful pursuits of business life for the hardships and dangers of a soldier. Leander Blanden fought for the union as his grandfather had fought against English tyranny and oppression in the war of the colonies against Great Britain. His war record is an important one, and one that was a source of pride to deceased during life, and may well be regarded as such by his surviving relatives. three times he was promoted for meritorious service, first to major, then to colonel, and finally to the position of brigadier-general. It was the title of colonel received in the army that he retained in after years.

At the close of the war, Mr. Blanden returned to Marengo, but remained there only a few years. In 1868 he moved to Fort Dodge, and for thirty-six years made this city his home. During the first years of his residence he was engaged in the grain-buying business, and soon after entered the banking business, for some years being president of the First National bank.

Colonel Blanden besides being among the early and  most successful of Fort Dodge financiers, was also a pioneer in the gypsum industry, a business that especially in the earlier days was one of great importance to the city. He built and operated what is known at the Blanden mill, which was the second gypsum mill operated in the vicinity of Fort Dodge. During the last years of his life, colonel Blanden confined his interests (missing text) and other property, being especially interested in his farms, where he spent many hours of quiet and rest.

Colonel Blanden was united in marriage in 1885 to Mrs. J.M. Berry, who died some years ago. The union was blessed by no children.

Tags: 1904, Blanden