USA > Iowa > Crawford County > History of Crawford County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 42
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Inclement weather did its best to interfere with the reunion of 1902, which was held in Denison. A good crowd was present in spite of the rain, but the exercises were not commenced until the afternoon. Hon. H. C. Laub presided, Rev. E. M. Holmes pronounced the invocation, the Boys' Band furnished music. Mayor J. T. Carey gave an address of welcome, which was responded to by Rev. Gillies, of Charter Oak. Hon. P. E. C. Lally was the orator. After his address there were short talks by F. L. Johnson, B. F. Galland, Mrs. Hannah Matthews, John Dobson and Thos. Rae. The officers elected were John Dobson, President ; J. B. Romans, Vice President ; N. L. Hunt, Secretary ; S. McHenry, Treasurer ; Morris McHenry, Historian. A board of township directors was also elected as follows: Iowa, Chas. Miller; Nishnabotny, F. E. Macomber; Washington, S. M. Thew; Boyer, W. A. Davie; Willow, F. R. Shirtcliff ; Paradise, Geo. V. Jordan ; Denison, J. T. Carey ; East Boyer, S. W. Slater; Hays, Henry Hagge; West Side, Tracy Chapman; Milford, Chas. Shives; Goodrich, D. F. Woodruff ; Hanover, Wm. Flaherty ; Charter Oak, Abe Hart; Soldier, Mike Houlihan; Mor- gan, Herman Schultz; Otter Creek, Henry Naeve; Stockholm, F. L. Johnson; Jackson, Ed Downey.
The picnic of 1903 was held at Denison under ideal weather conditions and a large crowd was present. President John Dobson presided and Elder J. T. Turner, of Deloit, pronounced the invocation. The address of welcome was made by Mayor Carey, and responded to by Mrs. Maggie Talcott, of Dow City. Hon. Jacob Sims was the orator for the year. Short talks were made by Hon. Chas. Bullock, Hon. T. C. Blume, B. F. Wicks, Morris McHenry, T. C. Dobson, Z. T. Hawk and B. F. Galland. An original poem, written by Mr. Hugh O'Hare was read by J. L. Ainsworth. The officers elected were Abe Hart, President, and N. L. Hunt, Secretary.
August 30th was the date of the picnic of 1904. The day was cloudy and threatening but a good crowd was present. Mayor Carey called the meeting to order at 2 o'clock and the invocation was pronounced by Rev. W. E. Bryce. In the absence of the President, Mr. J. B. Romans presided. Rev. J. B. Harris de- livered the address of the day and he was followed by a short talk by Mr. John Dobson. The officers elected were: President, Dr. Darling, of Vail; Vice Presi-
GROUP OF OLD SETTLERS All of these had been in the county fifty years
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dent, Dr. W. B. Evans, of Arion; Secretary, N. L. Hunt; Treasurer, T. C. Blume; Historian, Morris McHenry. After the business session Mr. C. F. Kuehnle made a brief address. One of the features of the day was the presence of Mr. and Mrs. Thos. Noonan of Washington township, with their three year old triplets. They were obliged to come forward and sit on the stand as a sample of the good things Crawford county could produce.
The picnic of 1905 was celebrated as the fiftieth anniversary of the county. It was a big affair, the largest picnic which had been held in the county up to that time. Special efforts had been made to make this an extraordinary success. The Oaks Quartette, composed of David and James Waterhouse, W. S. Mitch- ell and L. E. Goodwin, all of Charter Oak, furnished special musical numbers.
Dr. E. Darling called the meeting to order in the forenoon. The address of welcome was delivered by Hon. Chas. Bullock and responded to by Hon. T. C. Blume. Hon. J. P. Conner was the orator of the occasion.
The afternoon program was of real historical importance. The program had been arranged so as to cover the complete history of the county. Mr. John Dobson spoke of the "Beginnings of Crawford County," Morris McHenry cov- ered the period from 1855 to 1865, H. C. Laub carried the story on to 1875. At this point in the program Secretary Leslie M. Shaw was introduced. This came as a surprise as it was not known that he would be in the city until the day before. His proud friends and neighbors gave him a royal welcome. Truman J. Campbell made one of the hits of the day. He had been assigned the history from 1885 to 1895 and he responded by singing an original song which related the history of the decade assigned him. C. F. Kuehnle brought the history down to date. Other features were "The Sons and Daughters of the Pioneers" by S. J. Woodruff, "The Coming of the Irish," by M. O'Connor, a portion of which excellent historical document is included in this volume, "Crawford County's 'Old Soldiers," by A. J. Bond and the "Coming of the Swedes," by A. Nore- lius. The only fault with the program was its extreme length, but from an his- torical standpoint it was the best the association has ever had. The officers elected were: President, Truman J. Campbell; Vice President, C. H. Weed; Secretary, N. L. Hunt. It was on this occasion that the photograph of the pioneers of fifty years was taken, a picture which is reproduced in this volume.
August 30, 1906, was the occasion for another great picnic which was said to have beaten the one of the year before in point of attendance. President Campbell called the meeting to order and presided. A chorus, led by Mr. B. J. Sibbert furnished music. Mr. C. F. Kuehnle made the address of welcome, pre- senting the Old Settlers with a great, gilded key to the city. Another interesting event was the presentation to the association by Mrs. Allie J. Robinson, of an historic old flag. Mrs. Robinson made a presentation speech, telling how in the early days the good ladies of Milford township felt that there should be a flag at the Fourth of July celebration and how they had thereupon gathered at the home of Mrs. Huchstep and made the flag which she presented. Hon. C. G. Saunders of Council Bluffs was the orator of the day.
A unique feature of the day was a reproduction of the first school in the county. This was conducted by Mr. Morris McHenry, the first teacher. The old roll of twenty-six pupils was called and seven of the former scholars re-
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sponded to their names and took seats on the platform. Mr. McHenry made them recite some of the old lessons. The program closed with an original poem by J. L. Ainsworth and the business session at which A. H. Rudd was elected President and N. L. Hunt Secretary.
September 5th was the picnic day for 1907 and two thousand people were present. President A. H. Rudd presided and Mr. C. F. Kuehnle introduced the speaker of the day, Elder Heman C. Smith, historian of the church of Lat- ter Day Saints, of Lamoni, Iowa.
Taking a lesson from the length of former programs, this program was brief and after the close of the address only a business session was held at which the following officers were elected: President, C. M. Criswell; Vice President, Dr. E. Darling; Secretary, N. L. Hunt; Treasurer, M. E. Jones.
The picnic of 1908 was held in Denison on September Ist. At this time a by-law was introduced fixing Denison as the permanent place of meeting and also fixing the date. Hon. P. E. C. Lally was the speaker of the day. Col. Geo. I. Wright, now of Denver, Colorado, was at his old home for a visit and he re- sponded with a talk on old times. The oldest pioneers present were Mrs. J. O'Banion of Boyer township and John Dobson of Deloit. The officers elected were Chas. Bullock, President; John Dobson, Vice President; N. L. Hunt, Sec- retary and Treasurer.
Rain seriously interfered with the picnic held September 3d, 1909, at Deni- son. On account of illness President Bullock was unable to preside and Vice President John Dobson took his place. The address of welcome was delivered by Mayor W. C. Rollins. Readings were given by Miss Florence Baker and Miss Martha Hugg. The speaker of the day was Hon. L. T. Genung, of Glen- wood, Iowa. The officers elected were: President, Hon. J. P. Conner ; Vice Presidents, Dr. Darling, Vail; John Dobson, Deloit; Chas. Robertson, Charter Oak; Morris McHenry, Dow City; and T. J. Campbell, Manilla; Secretary, N. L. Hunt, and Treasurer, S. McHenry. At this meeting it was decided to locate the picnics permanently at Denison.
The picnic of 1910 was held on September 9th. Sears McHenry presided in lieu of Judge Conner, who was ill. The Vail band furnished music and the meeting opened with the singing of a number of old-time songs. Judge Con- ner's address was read by Mr. McHenry and T. J. Campbell responded with an original song. The oration of the day was delivered by Hon. Walter I. Smith of Council Bluffs.
At the close of the address was held the baby show. Hon. J. P. Conner had donated twenty-five dollars to be given in prizes to the prettiest babies born in Crawford county of Crawford county parents. There were numerous entries. The judges were E. Gulick, Mrs. F. H. Morgan and Mrs. O. M. Criswell. The prize winners were Baby Goldbeck, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ed. Goldbeck; Mary Elizabeth, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. M. J. McAhren, and Alice, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Messenbrink. It was announced that, through the gen- erosity of Judge Conner, the baby show would be made a permanent feature of future picnics.
The picnic for 1911 will take place on August 3Ist and the following pro- gram has been arranged: Address of Welcome, President W. C. Rollins ; Re-
OLD SETTLERS' PICNIC AT DENISON, SEPTEMBER 1. 1908
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sponse, Hon. W. A. Davie; "County History," F. W. Meyers ; Address, United States Senator W. S. Kenyon. The Conner Baby Show will also be a feature.
This chapter devoted to the old settlers' organization would not be complete without special mention of two men who have done more than all others to main- tain the interest in the gatherings and to do the unselfish, hard work of which too little is thought, but upon which the entire success of the undertaking rests. One of these men is N. L. Hunt, born in the county and one of its oldest set- tlers although still far from being an old man. He has been secretary of the asso- ciation for many years and he is always at his post and each year he is the old, reliable stand-by who starts the wheels and keeps the machinery of the associa- tion in order. The other is Eugene Gulick, Imperial Coffeemaker to the Old Settlers of Crawford County. It has become an established custom that free coffee and tea shall be served at the annual picnics. This is paid for by the people of Denison but it is made by Eugene Gulick. No matter where he may be he always returns to Denison for the picnic and superintends all the arrange- ments for the coffee-fest. It is a labor of love and it is well done every year. Undoubtedly others will be raised up to carry on the work should they join the vast majority of the pioneers, but to very many the old settlers' picnics would not be the same without N. L. Hunt as secretary and without "Gene" Gulick's hearty laugh to sweeten the coffee.
The association has been successful in its primary purpose, that of affording a meeting place and a glad holiday for the old settlers of the county, but it has failed to accomplish all that it might as an historical association. Steps should be taken to better preserve the history of the county as it is made from day to day. The historian's report should be the most important and interesting part of the yearly program and that report should be carefully preserved for future generations.
CHAPTER XXXI.
THE DEATH ROLL OF THE PIONEERS.
In an earlier chapter we have read of one of the first winters spent in Deni- son, how the young men clubbed together, and worked and played, and how in spite of cold and snow they were comparatively content, for were they not young and strong and hopeful, with life before them and the future an unopened book but peopled still with roseate dreams? But the snows of time are harder to defy than the snows of winter. The years moved on apace and with the opening of the Twentieth Century we find that the pioneers are growing old. They have fallen as the leaves of autumn until, to-day, there remain but few of those who bore the brunt of early settlement.
The death roll of the pioneers since 1900 is long and sad and the names recall the faces of many loved ones, of many who played important part in the history of our county and of many others who played humbler, but just as important parts, in happy homes. We give the list of the fallen pioneers, those who have died since 1900, as nearly as possible. It has been the effort to give them all, if some have been omitted it is unintentional and greatly regretted. Where possible the date of their coming to Crawford county is given in parenthesis, following the name.
THE DEAD OF 1900.
Ethan McKim (1861), Deloit; Rev. Wm. Wright (1876) ; Mrs. J. B. Romans; Esau McKim (1861), Deloit; John White, West Side; Danl. Nehls, J. F. Rudd, Dow City.
THE DEAD OF 1901.
John B. Huckstep, Deloit; J. F. Burk (1869), C. M. Staley, Mrs. J. Fred Meyers (1874), Jos. Brogden (1855), O. C. McAhren, Mrs. H. Stessie. Mrs. Henry Dohle (1871) Ethel Austin, Mrs. Margaret Tiernan, Dow City, Mrs. C. P. Frodig, Kiron, Mrs. Sophie Espholt, West Side, C. J. Bowling, Wm. Reimers, S. B. Greek, Edward Brogden (1855) N. A. Swanson, Kiron, Philip Giss, Emma Bell Kinnan, Mrs. Levina Seagrave (1857) A. Robertson, Dow City, A. F. French, Gottlieb Spiegel (1882) D. Tempest, Vail, Jeremiah Ryan, Vail, Mrs. Thos. Binnall (1862) Mrs. J. R. McFarland (1879) John Sievers, Sr., Mrs. C. R. Smith, Manilla, John F. Piper, David Hoff, Manilla, Mrs. C. Cody Vail, Levi Noll, Dow City, Mrs. L. B. Nixon, Mrs. Le Valley, Charter Oak.
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THE DEAD OF 1902.
Patrick Henry, B. Aylesworth, Daniel Riddle (1854), George Heston (1868), M. Ainsworth, Mrs. Chas. Tabor (1873), S. Eastman, Hon. Hugh Langan, Mar- tin Conroy (1863), E. R. Barber (1876), Henry Topf, M. C. Lawler, H. F. Pfankuch, Hy Lapel, John Thorpe.
THE DEAD OF 1903.
Mrs. D. F. McHenry, Bernard Lane, Thos. Griffin (1873), John Short, Vail (1873), Hy Revwswot, James Smyth (1865), John McCarthy (1876), Daniel McCarthy (1874), Peter Beermaker (1887), D. W. Shaw, J. P. Shuler, L. B. Lorenzen (1876), Capt. H. J. Lorentzen (1887), Hy Vanervere, Hy Nobles.
THE DEAD OF 1904.
J. N. Gunn, Jackson twp. (1880) ; Wm. Smith, Patrick Mahoney, Mrs. T. W. Harker (1870), Mrs. Isaac Gillmor, Mrs. W. A. Davie; T. C. Dobson, Deloit (1852) ; Wesley Cochran; Andrew Fellingham, West Side; Leroy Cadwell, Ma- nilla ; J. M. Campbell (1878), Mabel McAhren, T. W. Butler, Fred Luth, Leroy Cadwell,
THE DEAD OF 1905.
Ward Butterworth, Mrs. John Jones, Mrs. C. L. Nicholson, L. A. Sewell (1872), John Denahy (1886), D. O. Johnson (1874), Cyrus Sprecher, Mrs. Aug. Weickmann, Mrs. C. Stegemann, Mrs. B. P. Jurgensen, A. D. Rouilliard, Rev. J. B. Harris, T. J. Swan (1874), E. H. Wood (1880), Henry Eggers, Mrs. Susie Griffin, L. B. Nixon (1872) ; John Baber, Dow City; Mrs. P. Oxwang, P. M. Lynch, Vail; Mrs. Wm. Byrnes, Vail; Robert Molseed, Vail (1873) ; Thos. Leahy (1880), Wm. Glau, Henry Bendixen, J. H. Clough (1875), Gus Henning, Mrs. Mary Ainsworth (1868), Hans Kuhl, Henry Wiggins (1869), H. W. Gould (1880), Mrs. M. Hunt (1864); M. C. Wilson, East Boyer; F. J. Herre, West Side.
THE DEAD OF 1906.
Mrs. A. C. Lorenzen (1875); S. W. Slater, East Boyer; Jas. Sheridan (1885), F. J. Young (1871); G. S. Jordan, Milford (1881) ; A. B. Keith (1873), Mrs H. G. Iseminger (1881), Fred Bugge, Mrs. W. J. Scriver, John McSorley, James Owens (1877) ; C. H. Woodard, Manilla; C. J. Salomon (1883), G. H. Bond; J. P. Petersen, East Boyer; Mrs. Vera McGrew, Dow City; Claus Grill, Goodrich; Frances L. Johnson, Deloit; Emil Kruger, Schleswig (1881) ; Geo. Ullrich, Charter Oak; Mrs. Henry Shirtcliff (1873), J. W. Wightman (1869), M. Brosnahan (1879), Mrs. L. Lorenzen, Prof. H. H. Savage; S. E. Dow, founder of Dow City (1855) ; John Segebart, Manilla ; Mrs. L. L. Bond (1882), Mrs. S. E. Dow (1855) ; Mrs. E. Howorth, Goodrich ; Frederick Petersen, Para- dise ; Mrs. J. A. Dieter, Vail (1883) ; Tracy Chapman, East Boyer (1852) ; Mrs. Herman Schultz.
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THE DEAD OF 1907.
Erastus Thew, Buck Grove (1870) ; Mrs. W. E. Cole, Mrs. Wm. Familton (1872); W H. Marshall (1871), Mrs. Orpha Joy King (1881), Hon. George Rae, Dow City (1865) ; Matthias Carstens, Aspinwall; Wm. Mundt (1870) ; Mrs. Thos. Carey, Iowa (1873) ; Mrs. Sarah Long, Vail; Mrs. J. T. Kevan (1872), Mrs. Sabina Gould (1872), Mrs. Walter Dillivan, Michael Kinney (1875), H. Norman, Sr., John O'Connor, Mrs. E. R. Snell, Carl Schelm, Mrs. P. Hillebrant; J. W. Bonsall, Dow City (1874) ; Harry Scaggs, Memorial Day (1871) ; Claus Frahm, James Magner, Sr. (1882) ; P. J. Breen, Vail; Mrs. S. L. Gable (1858), H. F. E. Evers (1883), Martin Neal (1863), John Torrey (1880), Thos O'Connor (1871), Gus Heuttmann, David Woodruff, Mrs. E. R. Barber (1876), Mrs. F. M. Potter (1882), Mrs. C. Otto, Sr. (1885), R. Trosene; Gustav Girard, Schleswig; Mrs. J. F. Harthun ; Mrs. H. J. Hattery, Deloit; Geo. Peper, Iowa township; Mrs. Thos. White.
THE DEAD OF 1908.
Amos Weatherby, Dow City; D. J. Butler, Arion, first white child born in the county ; R. C. Hawley (1860), W. W. Jackson (1868), Mrs. Prudence Clark, Lawrence Winans, M. Von Tuil (1875), Mrs. T. G. Hill; George E. Spottswood, West Side ; C. H. De Wolf ; T. G. Hill, aged ninety-one ; S. Poitevin, Mrs. W. J. Cochran (1859), Mrs. W. W. Jackson (1870), E. M. Ainsworth, W. W. Coon (1867), A. J. Larson, Mrs. H. J. Cummings, Jackson Broadus, James Powers ; B. White, Vail (1872) ; Rudolph Kolls, Mrs. Anna Berg (1879), O. J. Ains- worth, Mrs. Elizabeth Ayres, Henry Jaacks.
THE DEAD OF 1909.
Isaac Bixler (1881), Mrs. Jacob Fegtley (1875), Mrs. P. C. Roggendorf (1882), Hugh McWilliams (1859), Mrs. E. S. Plimpton (1858) ; M. B. Lewis, Dow City (1874) ; T. J. Phillips; M. E. Ryan, Vail (1875) ; Mrs. Hy. Bumann (1874), J. F. Wiley (1871), Isaac Gillmor (1869), J. P. Miller (1872) ; Mrs. Sarah K. Dobson, Deloit (1852) ; Mrs. Catharine Swan (1873), Wm. Hermann (1875); Dr. W. B. Evans, Arion (1877) ; James Maynard, M. King (1881), M. D. Wright (1873), Frank Meggers (1879), Mrs. A. Lenz (1882), Mrs. Wm. Bergstedt, H. H. Saggau (1876), Mrs. Cynthia Brown; Maj. G. W. Holmes, Charter Oak (1883) ; Mrs. Anna Mount (1863), Samuel Luney (1867), John Way (1872), Mrs. H. H. Lehfeldt (1870); Mrs. Pat'k Carey, Iowa township (1870) ; Edward Barden ; J. W. Bayles, Manilla (1870) ; John R. Dorfler, Rick- etts (1883) ; Mrs. Thos. Costello, Vail; C. P. Ely (1874) ; Harry G. Dobson, Deloit; Mrs. Patrick Behan; Jurgen Grill, Schleswig (1874) ; Wm. Nemitz, Charter Oak; Jas. Riddle, Dow City (1870) ; John Powers, Vail (1882) ; John Thies, West Side; John Gorman, Buck Grove; F. Boger, Buck Grove; Samuel Gibson, Dow City; Arnold Lee, Dow City; Mrs. Wm. Jepsen, Schleswig; Mrs. T. A. Hickey, Manilla ; Wm. Kunze, Charter Oak; James Slattery, Buck Grove; W. J. Bauman (1880), James Cose (1870) ; Geo. Binnall, Dow City; C. Diers- dorf. Schleswig; L. L. Servoss.
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THE DEAD OF 1910.
Mrs. Jane Cavanaugh (1872), Mrs. P. Brinckmann ( 1882), Jerome Black- man (1870) ; Bert Whited, Buck Grove; Henry Rohwer, West Side (1873) ; Mrs. F. C. Buss, Dow City (1879) ; Mrs. H. Peper (1879) ; John Lochner, Vail (1878) ; Louis M. Baer (1881), Mrs. P. Grainger (1881), Mrs. Wm. Wright (1876), Mrs. W. W. Coon (1875), A. Herrig, J. H. Carstens ; Mrs. B. B. Long, Vail; M. McMahon, Iowa township (1869) ; A. P. Hart, Charter Oak; E. J. Ballangee, Dow City (1870) ; Mrs. C. Giss (1880) ; Thos. Costello, East Boyer (1875); Mrs. Peter Clinton (1885); Henry Guth, Aspinwall (1890); Mrs. Edith Burk, Ainsworth (1876) ; Mrs. Luke Gaffey, Henry Vosgerau (1876) ; Mrs. G. W. Huntington, Dow City(1869) ; Hon. H. C. Laub (1855) ; Mrs. Jane Landon, Deloit (1865) ; Hon. J. B. Romans (1871), Aug. Odefy (1885), Mrs. M. Boger (1886), Mrs. B. Eastman (1887), Mrs. P. A. McCarthy (1867), Mrs. Frank Sherwood, Miss Frances Hart (1887), Mrs. Kate Davis Rollins (1886), Mrs. Carl Beerman.
THE DEAD OF 19II.
Mrs. M. Morgan (1869), Mrs. J. M. Campbell (1878) ; Chris Lantau, West Side; Mrs. A. Edans (1883), Hon. Morris McHenry (1856) ; Henry Walker, Manilla (1871) ; Julia C. Mulligan, Geo. H. C. Lass (1864), Mrs. Delphine Bra- naka (1874), Mrs. C. Green (1864), Mrs. Dorothea Schroeder (1889), M. F. Christiansen (1880), Mrs. J. B. McClellan (1889) ; Mrs. And. Petersen, Buck Grove; Adolph Huebner (1883), Mrs. Lydia Marshall, Mrs. W. A. Ackley, Henry Kelly (1880), C. F. Heiden (1868), N. La Frantz (1869), Mrs. J. H. Lochmueller (1867), Mrs. Sarah Mahler (1878), Mrs. Hugh McWilliams (1862), B. F. Galland (1868), Mrs. H. A. Crandall (1861), George W. Nichol- son (1880) ; Mrs. Hy. Petersen, Manilla (1889) ; Mrs. Jas. Walsh, Hayes (1883) ; Mrs. Lewis Romans, John Kelly (1869), A. M. Conyne, Mrs. Elizabeth Gunn (1881), George A. Richardson (1882), Leora Henry, Henry Maynard (1879), Mrs. Leon Vassar; L. P. Mooney, former sheriff ; E. H. Smith (1872), Hy Ma- centum, P. Fineran (1881), Geo. Dodd (1876), Peter Meeves (1881) ; Otto Larson, Kiron (1871); Mrs. Chas. Lindberg, Kiron (1869) ; Ed Zea (1861) ; Mrs. Carrie Johnston, Kiron (1871); J. D. Christensen (1873), Geo. Servoss (1878) ; J. Saunders, Manilla; Mary A. Clinton, Harry Morris (1882), Mrs. Elizabeth Cook (1881), Mrs. Geo. Flint (1875) ; Jurgen Jabens, Schleswig ; J. R. Brockelsby, Hayes (1874) ; Mrs. Otto Linstrom, Kiron; Mr. Staffanson, Kiron ; Mrs. A. F. Johnston, Mrs. Wm. Gilbreath, Hon. H. C. Schroeder (1877), Mrs. I. Hird (1880), Wm. Koappen; J. D. Schmidt, West Side (1875) ; Mrs. H. S. Gulick (1872) ; Wm. Braddy, former city marshal; J. P. Duncan; D. C. Cran- dall, Dow City; Al Marshall.
This brings the list of our dead among those who had lived long in the county or who had been prominently identified with its history, down to August 20th, 19II, and it speaks more eloquently and more pathetically of the work the grim reaper is doing than could the most impassioned phrases. Long before another such a volume of Crawford county history is written the first pioneers will have passed away.
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Three hundred and forty-seven names are recorded in the lists above, who among us will be the three hundred and forty-eighth will have been answered before this book reaches the hands of its readers, but, whoever it shall be, let us hope that the verdict may be "Well done, thou good and faithful servant," just as we know that it has been with the vast majority of the pioneers who have gone before.
CHAPTER XXXII.
A CHAPTER OF TRAGEDIES.
It is only by an examination of the actual records that one can realize the number of tragedies that have taken place in Crawford county. Prior to this century all the records are not available but since the year 1900 the complete files of the Denison newspapers afford a fairly accurate source of information.
Crawford is a law-abiding county; its people as a whole are happy, con- tented and prosperous; few of its people are engaged in hazardous pursuits. Nevertheless the newspaper files show that since January 1, 1900, six people have been murdered, eleven have been victims of self-destruction and more than sixty have met sudden and unexpected death through accidents. This is an appalling record for a space of but little more than ten years, a record which few would believe unless they saw the facts and the figures. To the credit of the county let it be said that but one murder was committed by an actual resident of the county, but on the other hand it must be recorded that but three of the guilty parties have been punished for their crime. Of those who died by their own hand, nine were men, but two women having committed this awful deed. Of these unfortunates let no more be said. They must answer to the Almighty, not to men, and the deep burden of grief borne by their relatives is heavy enough without having the names of their misguided loved ones thus preserved in a permanent record of the county.
Of the deaths by accident about fifty per cent were in connection with the operation of the railroads of the county. Another heavy toll to pay. A large number were occasioned by runaways and similar accidents with horses. Strange to say, until the recent accident at Kiron when a loaded automobile was run down by a train, there is no record of a single death either in an automobile accident or where a machine in any way occasioned the mishap.
The first murder in the county during this period, from, 1900 to date, was that of J. H. Love, whose body was found by trainmen of the Milwaukee lying near the track west of Arion.
The skull was battered in by a blunt instrument and although considerable money was found on his person, the fact that he had displayed a still larger amount at Arion the day before led to the belief that robbery was the motive. From the actions of Mr. Love at Arion it was thought that he was a professional
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gambler. He had been making his home in a "hoboe" camp. The inquest de- veloped little information beyond that given. Suspicion was directed towards local parties but they were able to prove an alibi. Search was made for two negroes said to have been with Love shortly before his death, but no trace of them was found and no arrests were made for this crime. The date of this murder was August 16, 1901.
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