USA > Iowa > Page County > Biographical history of Page County, Iowa, containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States from Washington to Harrison, with accompanying biographies of each; a condensed history of Iowa, with portraits and biographies of the governors of the state; engravings of prominent citizens of Page County, with personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families; and a concise history of the county, the cities, and the townships > Part 31
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The Essex Index was established in the month of February, 1876, by L. L. Heath, who couducted it until January, 1877, when it passed into the hands of D. W. Jones, one of the thrifty and wide-awake farmers of Grant Township, with L. S. Hanna as its editor. Hr. Hanna greatly improved the paper, enlarging it from a six-column folio to a five-column quarto. He remained as its editor until June 13, 1878, when he retired and S. E. Wilson, afterward County School Superintendent, assumed the editorship. This, however, only lasted a few months, when he was succeeded by J. W. Kendall. In 1880 Mr. Kendall retired, and in his place came A. P. Skeed, followed by Messrs. Moore, Kynett, Morton, and lastly by E. L. Burris. It was not a paying plaut, and suspended publication in the latter part of 1887. The Index did much toward the upbuilding of the sprightly town of Essex, in common with the entire western portion of Page County.
The Reporter was the first paper started at
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
the then small village of Shenandoah. It dates from August, 1871. Its proprietors were M. Nicholson and D. R. Gaff. James McCabe purchased Mr. Nicholson's interest, and the firm was styled McCabe & Gaff. December 1, 1874, the office was purchased by George W. Gunnison. It was established as a seven-column folio, and so continued until 1876, when another column was an- nexed. In March, 1880, the pressure on the columns of the paper demanded a further en- largement, and consequently another column was added. This journal was thoroughly Republican in its political faith, and as such was well received and supported by the enter- prising business men of the place. It also made a specialty of its fine job departinent.
In 1885 the paper passed to the hands of Mentzer Bros., who leased to Mr. Patterson, who changed it from a Republican to a Democratic sheet, enlarged it to an eight- column paper, and "busted." The material was removed to Sidney, Fremont County, and was used for printing the Herald.
The Shenandoah Republican was estab- lished in September, 1877, by W. H. Capron and D. R. Gaff. At first it was an eight- column folio, and was thus run until January, 1, 1878, when the growing patronage de- manded and warranted the publishers in en- larging the paper to a nine-column folio. As its name would signify, this paper was Re- publican in its teachings, and did excellent service for its party.
In its local department no paper in any town no larger than Shenandoah in all Iowa showed a better one. It suspended Febru- ary, 1886, and the outfit went to the Clarinda Herald.
The Blanchard Record was established in December, 1879, by Zeluff & Vosburgh. The town was then but three months old, and this sprightly, sparkling local sheet was of great
public service. It was a neat, cleanly edited paper, which always stood for the right. Later on it was owned and operated by Townsend & Vosburgh. Its size was a five- column quarto.
George J. Shephard came from Fremout County in 1886, and established the State Line Leader and conducted it about one year, and moved to Nebraska.
The Blanchard Sentinel was founded July 4, 1887, by E. H. Winney. It is a Republi- can sheet and has met with various changes. March 1, 1889, H. E. Deater purchased a half interest, and the following October he bought the remainder of the plant, and con- tinued to edit and operate the same until March 22, 1890, when he sold out. It is a live, local Republican journal, having 700 circulation. It is a five-column folio, and is printed on a Prouty steam press. It runs a Northboro and College Springs department.
The Post was established at Shenandoah August, 1882, by C. S. Hanley, with Benja- min Clare as its editor. It was a red-hot Republican journal, boomed all along the line, and obtained the county printing. It was a seven-column quarto, all home print. In June, 1887, it was not found paying property, and it suspended. The subscrip- tion list and good will were sold to Blake & West, who had been publishing a job work sheet-the Clipper. The material of the Post went into the Fire-Brand, aud new material was put in for the use of the Post. January, 1888, Mr. West sold his interest to Benjamin Clare, who now runs the journal.
The Coin Mint was a local journal es- tablished at Coin, January 1, 1881, by Vos- berg & Townsend, publishers of the Blanchard Record. The printing was executed at the last named town, while Arthur Roselle wielded the pen editorially at Coin. It was a Republican paper, and in size and form a
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five-column folio. It died a natural death in July of the year in which it was founded.
The next paper started at Coin was the Eagle, in November, 1881. This was an independent sheet, a five-column quarto, with Newspaper Union "insides," or ready-print. Its present owner and proprietor, Arthur Roselle, is the oldest continuous newspaper inan now publishing in Page County. He is assisted by his estimable wife, in an editorial manner. Its present circulation is 900. A complete job department is doing a paying business.
The Courier was launched "forth as a coni- peting paper at Coin. It was a red-hot Re- publican sheet, founded by A. A. Thompson, backed financially by Dr. Cokenower, of Cla- rinda, with others. It started in October, 1885, as a seven-column folio, employing a hand press. After three months it was leased to J. H. Fowler, and then passed to C. R. Stimpson and E. L. Burris. It suspended at a loss, February, 1889.
The Sentinel was established at Shenan- doah, in November, 1887, by C. N. Marvin, owner and publisher at present. It is a very creditable, truly Republican journal, full of excellent local news matter and one which looks to the upbuilding of Shenandoah. At first it was issued as a seven-column folio, but in August, 1889, was changed in form to a six-column folio-all home print. One full page is now devoted to the sole interests of Prof. Croan's " Western Normal College."
The Fire-Brand was established by C. S.
Hanley, formerly of the Post, in June, 1887. It is a neat paper, in size and form a seven- column folio. It is purely a religious jour- nal-inore so than any other paper in America, as not one line of advertisements have ever appeared in its columns. It is ably edited by Mr. Hanley and his wife, but conducted on a very singular and novel plan. It is owned by a joint company of Free-Methodists, of which society it is a defined exponent. Each member of the company and each employé or workman receives no pay, but all depend upon faith in God and the liberality of its patrons. The nominal price is $1.00 per year, but all are free to its use by sending in their names. It is in no sense a money-making plant; they work that good may follow, and strange to say, they have subscribers from Nova Scotia to Texas, inany of whom take fifty copies for free distribution. In January, 1890, their list had run up to 3,840 each issue. It is printed on a steamn-power " Prouty" press, each week's issue filling seven mail sacks. It contains religious news from all quarters of America. Instead of business " ads" its surplus columns contain flaming scriptural quotations, as do the en- tire sides of their office-outside-" Holiness to the Lord," etc. It is purely a Free-Meth - odist " Perfection " journal.
At the village of College Springs (Amity), there have been numerous attempts at journal- ism, the facts concerning which have died with the past.
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
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EVENTS OF INTEREST.
VAVAVAVAL
CHAPTER XVII.
NDER this heading will come many items not found in chapters by them- selves. Among these will appear short notices of the more prominent fires, floods, storms, accidents, deeds of criminal violence, the grasshopper plague, celebrations, " old settlers' reunions," and many other items, which have been carefully indexed: hence easily found by the reader.
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION -- JULY 4, 1876.
Page County has ever been noted for her loyalty and patriotism, as demonstrated on public occasions, but never did the people manifest a greater degree of interest than in carrying out their Fourth of July celebration on " Centennial year." The celebration was held at Clarinda. About 9,000 people and 1,200 wagons were in town that day. Since the dawn of that memorial day, 100 years before the above celebration, there never liad been a more beautiful day, on which all na- ture seemed to smile in her loveliest ways. Early in the morning the roads leading into Clarinda were lined with teams, horsemen and footinen. About ten o'clock the Harlan Township delegation of 141 wagons arrived filled with joyful people, old and young. This advent was the signal for the marslial,
Mr. Miller, to form the throng already as- sembled, into an orderly procession. He was assisted by Captains Norton and Rawlings. The procession was the grandest scene ever witnessed in southwestern Iowa. It was headed by the Clarinda band seated in their new wagon and drawn by four magnificent white steeds. The music discoursed was in- deed inspiring and befitting the day. Next came the speaker's wagon, and following that might have been seen a wagon conveying thirteen young ladies, representing the thir- teen original States of the Union, with the Goddess of Liberty standing in the midst The wagon was trimmed, festooned and flag- draped until it was a dazzling sight to behold The young ladies all looked like real queens, with their crowns glistening in the bright, almost bewildering sun-light of a summer heaven. While the procession passed through the streets many remarked, " It is certainly the prettiest sight I ever saw!"
Then came another huge wagon tastefully trimmed conveying thirty-seven girls, em- blematic of the sister States of the Union, as it then existed. Just behind this camne the Clarinda Fire Department witli their appli- ances elegantly decorated, while each member was properly uniformed-" all decked and
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ready for the fight." Then came the solid 141 wagons from Harlan Township, which with the remainder of the procession amounted to upwards of 1,200 wagons.
At the grounds the meeting was called to order by N. B. Moore, president, who made befitting remarks, after which all joined in singing " America." Prayer was offered by Rev. J. A. Wilson, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The Declaration was read by U. J. Terry. At the close was sung the " Star Spangled Banner," which caused long and loud cheering
There had been a prize offered to tlie per- son who should write the best township his- tory, and the committee awarded the first prize to U. J. Terry for his history of East River Township, which was forcibly read by George H. Powers.
The president then introduced the orator of the day, his Honor Judge Day, who dis- coursed in masterly style.
A barbecue dinner had been prepared and was partaken of by the then hungry multi- tude. Many oxen and smaller animals were sacrificed for the occasion. After dinner many strolled about the grounds, and large numbers remained in the city until the grand night scenes of fire-works became the wind- ing-up feature of a long to-be-remembered and wholly successful centennial celebration.
DESTRUCTIVE STORM.
June 26, 1875, Page County was visited by a ulost destructive storm of wind and rain, cansing much loss of property, injury to per- sons and even death. The storm was most terrific west of Clarinda, though its effects were felt throughout the entire county. Fences were blown away, houses unroofed and blown over, trees twisted off, crops pros- trated, etc. In Clarinda awnings and signs were blown down, out-buildings generally
blown over, brick chimneys torn to pieces, gardens damaged, etc. Among the greatest of sufferers, as chronicled in the local news- paper, was the family of Mr. Whitney, living near Page City. The whole family were in bed when the storm struck the house. The residence was blown to atoms and its contents scattered abroad over the prairie. Even the foundation was carried some distance beyond the roof, by a singular action of the storm. The incessant glare of the lightning enabled the older members of the family to get to- gether, though all were more or less injured. But it was found that the two youngest chil- dren were missing. After long search the next to the youngest child was found within its cradle not much injured.
A Mrs. Beach, who lived near by, saw that the house occupied by the Whitney family liad blown away, and at once sent her son to see what had become of the family. He dis- covered them all huddled together in a corn- crib. Search was then made for the missing baby, who finally was found entangled in a lot of bedding and smothered to death. Mr. Whitney was a poor man and had only lived in the county a short time. Through the goodness of his neighbors a new house was built for him.
The same storm unroofed the Covenanter Church in Harlan Township, and one end of the Congregational Church at College Springs was torn off. The house of J. C. Journey, in tlie south part of the county, was blown twenty feet from its foundation.
HIGH WATER.
In the month of September, 1876, thou- sands of dollars worth of property was swept to destruction by high water in the Nodaway River. The stream had been on a " bender" for about a week when another severe rain storm along its headwaters caused it to rise
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eight feet higher in one night, and higher than ever before or since known.
Above Clarinda, on the flats, men, women, children and live-stock had to leave their homes and seek the uplands for safety. But there were many surrounded before they knew of the danger, and these were obliged to wade or swim to the bluffs. It was a terrible siglit to see cattle, hogs, horses, sheep and poultry all set afloat in a few ininntes and any num- ber of them drowned. But ou came the raging stream and on it went, casting gloom and dismay over all who resided in the valley. It swept away fences, hay stacks and corn. The old wagon bridge just east of the town was upset, and the bridge at Shambaugh mill was moved from its foundation. Fortunately no one was drowned in the angry waters.
ACCIDENTALLY HUNG.
On March 18, 1871, a son of T. T. Pender- graft, about five years of age, hung himself in the barn. The little fellow went to the barn to hunt for eggs, and attempted to go from one part of the barn to another, by crawling through a wedged-shaped opening between two planks, when it is supposed his feet slipped and lie went down, leaving his body on one side of the hole and his head on the other side. He was soon afterward found dead.
BURNED,
In April, 1871, Mr. E. Heady, of Valley Township, had been to Villisca with his fam- ily, and returning home left an adopted child of his brother-in-law in the wagon playing. The child found a match and with it lighted tlie hay in the wagon-box and was soon en- veloped in flames, which caused the poor child's death a few hours afterward.
STRANGLED.
On December 6, 1868, a three-year old child of Caleb A. Aylesworth, suddenly died
from strangling over a copper rivet which it had swallowed. It happened at the hotel, while at play with his brother. It seems he jumped off the sofa with the river in his mouth, and in inhaling his breath swallowed it. He lived but five minutes.
KILLED BY LIGHTNING.
In July, 1875, William Hardee, a step-son of Stewart Henderson, while walking along the road was struck by lightning and in- stantly killed. He was beloved by all and his untimely death cansed great mourning.
SIIOT.
One Sunday, October, 1875, a son of J. D. Sullivan living six miles north of Clarinda accidentally shot himself in the bowels. He died Monday afternoon and was buried the next day.
Again, on Sunday, November 13, 1879, the people of Clarinda were astonished to learn that Allie Chamberlain, a boy about fifteen years old, had, in the store of James Shambangli, accidentally shot and killed a son of Mr. Sliambaugh's, named Charlie, and of about the same age of the one who killed him. A coroner's inqnest was held, but no evidence could be brought against young Chamberlain. It was a careless trick of one clever school boy with his dear companion. Worlds could not make good the loss. It cast a gloom over all Clarinda and learned the boys a lesson, which some will carry through life.
CRIMINAL DEEDS.
Page County has been particularly fortunate in not having to defend indicted criminals to near the extent of most counties. Up to the present time there have been but four inurders committed during a period of forty- seven years. It generally happens that the unsettled condition of society, which belongs
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to a new country, is conducive to crimes of a revolting order. Usually a few desperate characters have left some other country for the good of that country and to escape the strong grip of the law, and have gone to a newer country, there to again commit dark deeds. However the stain of crime is found upon the pages of her history. Among the more brutal ones may be mentioned what is styled the "Klughe Case," the particulars of which were carefully written up in the Page County Democrat of December 24, 1874, and read in substance as follows:
"One of the most horrible murders ever committed was perpetrated in this county on Monday night last; indeed, the word horrible falls far short of describingit in all its enormity and diabolism. In truth it scarcely enters into the comprehension of the human mind how such a terrible deed was committed. About four or five miles north of Clarinda lives a German family named Klughe (pro- nounced Kluga). The family consists of Klughe, his wife and five or six children. They have resided in Page County for about four years, on an eighty-acre tract of land. They were in reduced circumstances and lived badly enough, it is true, but they would have fared far better had it not been for the extreme brutality of the head of the house- hold, Mr. Klughe. This brute, or devil, or whatever he is, treated his family and all over whom he had any control with extreme cruely, frequently beating and abusing them in the most shocking manner. About one year since, one of his sons was forced to leave home on account of his father, who in an angry fit chopped off one of the boy's fingers with a hoe. By intimidation he in- duced the little fellow to say it was the re- sult of an accident. Klughe's family lived in constant fear that their lives would be aken. The wife worked hard to provide for
the family, and her only reward was her hus- band's abuse. A few days ago Klughe started three of his children to school. Among them was a daughter aged about ten years and six months. This child, it seenis, never had attended school before. Monday evening Klughe called his child to him and began to question her to see what progress she had inade at school. The little thing had not yet mastered the alphabet. The parent tried to make it repeat the letters, butof course it could not do so. At this Klughe becaine enraged and sent one of the other children for a stick, with which he began beating his child in a most shocking manner. Its inability through pain and fear, to even pronounce a single let- ter, only enraged the monster the more, and flying at the poor child with the ferocity of a tiger, he tore off her scanty clothing and began savagely beating and kicking her. Then he seized an iron stove-lifter and struck the child a dreadful blow. Then he picked up a stove lid and struck the child again. All the while he warned his wife and chil- dren, if they interfered, or attempted to give an alarm he would kill them all. At length he procured a stick of stove- wood, and again assaulted the little one, who now lay crouched up, bleeding and bruised under the table. Driving it from thence, after inany hard blows, lie pursued it under the bed, where he struck it repeatedly with heavy blows. One of the blows delivered at this time, it is be- lieved, crushed the poor child's little skull, just above the eye, making a depression large enough to admit of an egg. Not yet satis- fying his ferocity, he dragged hier from under the bed, to the middle of the floor and there stamped and kicked it, again and again. At last from exhaustion, he ceased his hellisli work, and went to bed cursing and swearing most frightful oaths at his little crushed and mangled victim, as well as at the remainder
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of his family. For three long hours had he beaten liis own flesh and blood, and what long hours they were no one but the mother and sisters knew. Out of doors the snow was silently falling, pure and white as the pinions of angels, and softly beating against the windows as if it fain would enter and cover with a spotless mantle that which was so black within. As soon as she dared to, Mrs. Klughe lifted her dying daughter on tlie bed and bound up her crushed form. In a few moments the child died and its gentle spirit went up through the beautiful snow- flakes, pure as any of them, to a far kinder parent than it had ever known on earth.
" The following morning, Klughe, finding that the child was indeed dead, like the cra- ven, black-hearted wretch tliat he is, lastened to Clarinda and placed himself under the protection of the sheriff, who confined him in the calaboose. As soon as the facts were inade known a coroner's jury was impaneled. Esquire Briggs acting as coroner, hastened to the scene. Upon the testimony of Mrs. Klughe and her children, the dead being the most potent witness of them all, the jury found a verdict that the child had been mnur- dered by its father. Those who visited the corpse say it was a horrible siglit to look upon. Drs. Van Sandt and Barrett niade the post mortem examination, and said the body was one mass of bruises, cuts, gashes, fractures and contusions.
" About four o'clock Tuesday, Klughe was arraigned for murder, but waived examina tion and was spirited away by the officers to the depot and was taken to Glenwood to the Mills County jail for safe keeping, as there was a mob-lynch feeling in this community. All Tuesday inen visited the little corpse, went out and talked low but earnestly. They assembled by groups of twos and threes. They would, no doubt, have lynched him had 26
he not been taken away. The culprit was about fifty years old and was born in Prussia. He had his trial in March, 1875, and was convicted and sentenced to the penitentiary for life; but after being confined a short time he became insane and was sent to Mount Pleasant Insane Hospital to spend the re- mainder of his miserable existence."
WIFE-WHIPPING.
In June, 1876, Page County was disgraced by a fearful case of wife-beating, of which brief mention should here be made.
About 1873 Milt Vansant married Miss Alice Hakes, and for a time all seemed well, but evidently the devil lurked within the husband's make-up, and in a few short months lie commenced beating his wife, which vio- lence he kept up in the most shocking man- ner. Sometimes he would pound her with a club, and at other times switch her nude body with a whip. Once he threw an ear of corn which injured lier side and caused a miscar- riage. The case which let the whole matter out occurred in June, 1876, when he at- tempted to cut her flesh with a butcher-knife. It seems that he had attempted a rape upon a cousin of his wife, but was foiled in the at- tempt, and then there came a twelve-year-old girl and the sister of his wife, to remain with them awhile, and this fiend outraged her in the presence of his wife, and then, pointing his shot-gun toward both, swore he would kill them if ever they mentioned it; but the ruined girl went home and in a few days told all, when the fiend was placed under arrest and properly punished.
THE SHENANDOAH TRAGEDIES.
During the month of August, 1888, there occurred one of the most exciting and sicken- ing tragedies that ever blotted the fair pages
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of Page County's records. In brief, the fol- following covers the material facts:
A little girl, aged six years, named Ethel Pine, was returning from town, where she had been sent on an errand by her mother. She met Frank Phillips, a big burley dray- man, twenty-five years of age. Phillips per- suaded the child to accompany him to his barn, where he told her he would show her his nice horses. When the fiend in human formn got to the barn he attempted to outrage the girl. He then told her he would kill her if she ever mentioned it. He then gave her five cents and told her to go home. Soon after the child bought candy with the money, and in that way the mother found the whole matter out, and Phillips was arrested and tried before Esquire Einery and bound over to court. There was considerable talk about using violence on the fiend. At ten o'clock at night a crowd of men gathered at Pine's hardware store, and after a time took Phillips' father (who was determined to protect his man-grown son), and after tying him to a telegraph pole, overpowered the officer at the jail and took the prisoner out and treated him to a coat of tar and feathers. Frank Pine, the ontraged girl's father, was among the crowd who did this, and he also gave Phillips a ter- rible whipping with a horse-whip. He was then taken back and locked np. He became defiant, and abont two o'clock in the morning they took him ont and swung him by the neck to a telephone pole. They made him confess the crime, together with that of two similar ones. He was told he conld go if he would promise to leave the State and never return, to which he agreed.
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