NEWS FROM THE 1881 ODEBOLT OBSERVER
[Since the
1881 portion of this newspaper has not been microfilmed, Bonnie Ekse has made it
her mission to
transcribe important items about the people and happenings of
1881 in Odebolt. ]
THE OBSERVER, Published every Wednesday, By
F. R. Bennett
Odebolt, Sac County, Iowa.
Subscription, $1.50 per year in advance
Odebolt Observer
Volume 1, No. 36, March 2, 1881
__Some enterprising gentlemen—we wish we knew their names—went down with a team to Maple River junction [a small town in Carroll County] last Sunday, and brought up the mail for this place. It was the first eastern mail we had had here since the 18th of February, and brought Chicago and Eastern Iowa dates to the 24th. Though but a small portion of the delayed mail, it was very thankfully received.
__J. C. Bodine and other shippers in this vicinity, being unable to get cars on this road, last week drove stock to Storm Lake and shipped by the Illinois Central. The North-Western road lost $2,100 in this one instance—enough to have paid for keeping the line open, no doubt. The N.-W. company seem to think they have the business of this locality anyhow and will use their convenience in keeping the road open.
__The cabinet maker—we mean Odebolt’s cabinet maker, not Garfield’s [James A. Garfield would be inaugurated as President on March 4, 1881]—will commence the erection of a brick store building as soon as the weather will permit.
__As soon as the weather will permit work will be commenced on a new building at the corner of Maple and Second Streets. The building will be of brick, 45x90ft., two storys [sic] high.
__There is and has been for months a great scarcity of dwelling houses in Odebolt, and exorbitant rents are in many cases asked and obtained. Why do not some of our wealthy men put some of their means into good residences for rent?
__The railroad situation remained as it was at the date of our last issue, that is, a close blockade, up to yesterday noon, when the scoop train made its appearance, followed by the irregular with long delayed freight, mails and express goods. This was the first and only train since Feb. 18th. We don’t know how our people could have stood it, if it had not been for the excitement they have had in talking up and talking down candidates for the new town officers.
__The Sac Co. Abstract Co. is the name of a new firm composed of Hon. E. R. Duffie, of Sac City, John Wright, Chase. E. George and Dell Coy, of this place. They have just completed arrangements for a set of abstract books of all lands in Sac county. The work will be done by Messrs. E. A. Moody and B. W. Trout who will commence their work within ten days and expect to have it completed by May 1st. The books when done will be kept in connection with the Bank of Odebolt, and will be a valuable acquisition to this part of the county. The work will be done under the personal supervision of Judge Duffie, which, with the experience of Messrs. Moody and Trout, will warrant the expectation that the books when completed, will be entirely correct and reliable.
__The spelling school at the school house last evening was well attended by both scholars and visitors. The exercises were opened by recitations by the Misses Burleigh and Master Frank Wright, after which sides were chosen by Miss Edith Sutton and Jas. Martin, for a good old fashioned spell down—the prize being a Webster’s dictionary. The sides were chosen from among the scholars and after some good spelling on both sides the prize was awarded to Miss Sutton, who maintained the floor until the last contestant was down.
Then came a dialogue, well delivered, between two of the younger
scholars. The teacher then appointed C. E. George and J. Heuston to choose
sides for another spell. The contestants this time were chosen indiscriminately
from visitors and scholars, and after considerable fun and bad spelling in which
one of the chiefs went down on “police” and the other on “ferrum,” the
contest was decided a draw—the two remaining contestants being Miss Ida
Prentice and Mr. Will Caswell who were both seated by the same word.
____________________
Frank Davey of the Estherville Vindicator, has got into a tit with a lot of
females.—Sheldon Mail.
Isn’t there a misprint somewhere in that item? Sac Sun
The Mail evidently had reference to the milky appendage of a mastodon.
____________________
ED. OBSERVER:--On Wednesday evening last (Feb. 23rd) we had the pleasure of attending a surprise party at the residence of J. H. Mertz. It was a genuine surprise party, and the folks in our vicinity know just how to get one of these things up. At about 8 o’clock on the evening mentioned about thirty ladies and gentlemen walked into the house and took possession of things generally. They stowed away the furniture in one of the rooms and then commenced a dance which was kept up as one of the principal features of the evening. At 11 o’clock the party was invited into another room to partake of refreshments to which ample justice was done. After supper, games and dancing were indulged in until 2 A.M., when the raiders took their departure.
__We noticed County Auditor Peck on our streets Tuesday.
__Charlie Merrick is building a very neat cottage in Bangtown. [ Note: H.
H. Bangs, who specialized in buying and shipping livestock to the markets in the
early years, resided in the north part of the town and, after him, that area was
once generally referred to as "Bangtown." ]
__Z. W. Sparks is building a tenant house on his farm near town.
__Philip Schaller, our efficient County Treasurer, was in town yesterday
collecting taxes.
__Theo. P. Worsley, known as “English Jackie,” has recently purchased a
one-half interest in Tincher’s livery barn.
__James E. Tompson, who has been at work for Mr. L. M. Sherman, of Wheeler
township during the past winter, was taken to the Insane Asylum at Independence
by Sheriff Waddell last week.
__There is a snow drift in Early 10 miles long, 30 miles wide, and 72 inches
deep.
Odebolt Observer
Volume 1, No. 37, March 9, 1881
__Dr. Groman is fitting up the Boles property on Maple street, which he has
just purchased.
__We hear that the snow plow is at work this side of the Junction. Hope it
will get here before another blizzard comes.
__Two gentlemen were here last week trying to procure rooms in which to engage
in the manufacture and sale of bottled liquors such as pop, ginger ale, etc.
__Several of our merchants, tired of waiting for the blockade to be raised, sent
teams to Wall Lake for goods which were lying there enroute to this place.
Others have received large consignments of flour from Vail and elsewhere.
Motie & Co. and C. S. Lee have cellars full of potatoes yet, so who
cares for the blockade, anyway?
__As a little daughter of Frank Burleigh was crossing Main Street last Saturday
evening about 7 o’clock she was knocked down by a runaway team hitched to a
sleigh, and it was thought dangerously injured. She was carried home by
Mr. Summerwill, and Dr. Hull summoned, who found the child considerably bruised
and shaken up, though fortunately no bones were broken.
__The German Hotel on Main Street has been sold to Mr. Jacob Koehler.
__A change of partners has occured [sic] in the meat market of Edens &
Co, in which Mr. Buhman the Co. retires and his place is filled by Mr. C. M.
Hunter, formerly of Hunter and Tincher liverymen. Mr. Buhman, we
understand, is a practiced cigar maker, and will soon engage in that business
here.
Odebolt Observer
Volume 1, No. 38, March 23, 1881
__There will be a sociable in Masonic Hall, this (Wednesday) evening.
Programme [sic]: select reading, recitation, music, charades and
refreshments. All persons are invited to be present.
__Two dollars fine and costs amounting to two dollars and eighty-five cents, is
what an Alta man paid Mayor Ross last Saturday morning, for a little diversion
in which inebriation was the prominent feature.
__A wrestling match, between Orv. Tincher of this place and Ike Daffer, of Cook
township, came off in Warneke’s Hall last Saturday afternoon, with a large
crowd of sports to witness the skill. Daffer won two out of three falls.
__Our lawyers are all attending court this week at Sac, and everything here is
quiet. No arrests, no trials, no litigation. Everybody seems to feel
as secure as the sinner, who, in reading the new Bible, found that “Hell”
was abolished.
__The new Methodist minister, Rev. Mr. Fish, preached his first sermon here,
last Sabbath morning. He preached at the Fox school house in the afternoon
and here again in the evening. He is a young man of good ability and seems
earnest and zealous in his work. We hope he may be instrumental in
re-awaking his church here and building up its membership.
__Mr. John Heuston has purchased a half interest in the stock of goods of A. B.
Dubbs, and the clothing business will hereafter be conducted by them jointly…
__There can be little doubt but the backbone of winter is broken—and it is
time.
__Services will be held at the Catholic Church on Thursday, March 31st, Rev. P.
Norton, of Breda, officiating.
__Messrs. George & Coy have placed a very fine book case in their law
office, manufactured by Miller & Thompson, of this place.
__We regret to learn that Mr. Mann, late of the Reporter, is now lying
dangerously ill at the Odebolt House, he having been attacked with hermorrhage
[sic] of the lungs.
__The Gleaners of Sac City [a drama group who also performed in Odebolt] have
realized $125 for their exhibitions and propose to donate it for the
establishment of a library in that place. The Sun says that with this sum
properly invested, the town can in five years have a library its citizens can be
proud of.
__The last clubdance [sic] of the series will come off next Monday evening, at
Congress Hall. These are said to have been very pleasant social
gatherings; but as everything in this world whether pleasant or disagreeable
must have an end, so must they. Come in at the finale next Monday night.
__The sociable at Masonic Hall this Wednesday evening was well attended and the
exercises were very interesting. The recitation of Barbara Fritchie by
Mrs. Winchell, and Poe’s Raven, by Mr. C. J. Pitsor were highly
commended. Refreshments were served and all present had a good time.
The Blockade
Is again broken by the arrival of the trains….
__Business has perceptibly improved since the [snow] blockade [of the
railroad] was raised.
__Our merchants are all receiving piles of goods, and are busy as bees.
Next week they will be better able to tell the public what they have to sell.
Vail Observer: Mr. Swan Nelson, of Odebolt, was in town yesterday after flour, of which article he buys an immense quantity of the Vail mill to supply his Odebolt customers.
Ida Era: The town was out of flour again, Tuesday, but on Wednesday D. A. Babcock sent a team to Odebolt where he had 3,000 pounds, which supplied our immediate needs. The flour trade was booming just after that team reached town.
Advertisement - "Notice to Breakers of Prairie: I want to hire 10,000 to 12,000 acres of prairie broken, to commence as soon as the frost is out of the ground in the spring. I will contract with responsible parties for breaking any number of acres, and will contract with the same or other parties to plant and harvest flax on the ground broken. Two dollars per acre will be paid as fast as the work progresses if desired. Apply to T. Gilbert at Odebolt House, Odebolt, Iowa.
Odebolt Observer
Vol. 1, No. 39, March 30, 1881
__Mud, mud, beautiful mud.
__Heavy trains are running on our road now days [sic].
__We learn that E. C. McKeever has purchased of E. Geist the property on the
corner of Main and Third streets, known as the old school house, and will
remodel it for a business location. It will make a good one. Mr.
McKeever intends to add another story to the old school building, put in a nice
front and make it a first-class store room.
__Geo. Francisco, a nephew of O. B. Francisco, arrived last week from Boscobel,
Wisconsin, and will remain during the summer.
__Twenty cars of cattle were shipped Tuesday, by Messrs. Bodine, Coy and
Flanders.
__The business boom seems to have struck the harness makers, sure. Both
shops were full of made up work a few weeks ago, and now both are about sold
out, with orders ahead for several weeks. It looks as though somebody
means business.
__Geo T. Williams, of Ida, late of the late Pioneer, gave us a pleasant call
last Friday. He is as lively as ever. The shutting off of the
Pioneer’s wind does not seem to have affected that of Geo. T. He is a
tornado of talk and vivacity it does one good to get in the track of, in these
dull times.
__The prospect for the speedy revival of business is encouraging. The
railroad is now running two trains daily each way, merchants and dealers are
receiving belated goods freely, the weather is favorable, the snow disappearing,
and active work in the fields will soon begin. An extra busy season is
opening for our farmers, and we trust it will be a busy and prosperous one for
all.
__After the first of April, Mayor Ross will have his office in the room over the
City Drug Store, on Main street--a pleasant location. In this room also
will be the office of Messrs. Ross & Huson, insurance agents, who besides
that of fire, are working up a good business in the Home Life Association, of
Burlington, which though as yet a new company, is fast winning its way to
popular favor.
__The last Reporter contained the valedictory of Bro. G. A. Hickok, he having
sold the office to F. L. Dennis, of the Wall Lake Journal. Mr. H. gives as
the reason for this step, that he wishes to devote the next year or two to
study. We bid good bye to Mr. Hickok with regret, and hope his retirement
from journalism is but temporary. We congratulate Bro. Dennis on his
purchase of the Reporter and becoming a citizen of a live town. Both
gentlemen have the OBSERVER’s best wishes.
__The house and lot on the corner of Main and Second street, known as the Nagle
property, was sold at auction yesterday, for $715.
__While the Ida Pioneer has passed in its checks, the Wall Lake Journal taken a
change of venue, the Odebolt Reporter gone entirely into other hands, and the
Sac Sun about to set in Africa, the OBSERVER keeps on in the even tenor of its
way, waxing in strength daily, now and read of all men in these parts as the
best advertising medium in Sac county--only $1.50 per year in advance, five
cents per line for locals, and other advertising at correspondingly low rates,
particulars made known on application: marriage, death, birth notices
free; obituaries of reasonable length half price to all but suicides and victims
of delirium tremens--these must pay full rates. Job work a specialty.
__We hear of two or three persons for whom freight has been received at the
depot, have come and taken the goods, but in the hurry and bustle of business at
that very busy locality, have forgotten to pay the freight on the same.
Such absent mindedness is scarcely excusable and is moreover, liable to be
construed into dishonesty. The station agent is after the absent-minded
ones with a sharp stick.
(Researched and submitted by B. Ekse)