The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-09-20
Palmyra Miser Buried His Gold in
the Ground Instead Of Deposit.
ing II In 4 Bank and
Then Died.
TEN THOUSAND DUG UP
~ earch Has Continued and II is
q Expected That Several Thous-
= and Dollars More Will
be Found.

1NDIANOLA, la. Sept. 20.-More than
$4,000 has been dug out of the
ground where the late Andy Dickson
buried 1t on his farm near Palmyra,
and the authorities have been direct
ed by Judge Edmund Nichols to re-
sort again to the farm Monday and
continue the search. 1t is believed
that more tnan $4,000 In gold pieces
will be found on the place when 1t Is
thoroughly searched.
Dickson died at the age Of eighty
years, at his home three miles from
Palmyra and thirteen miles from IN
dianola, on August 20. To the amaze
ment Of his widow and his other rela-
uves-he had no children-he was
found not to have any money in the
bank. The i.phew OF his wife, An
drew Smith was made administrators
OF the estate, and when it got to be
common gossip In the neighborhood
that there was countless buried treas
ures on the farm, he went to digging
about the place.
At shed. old and dilapitated, about
twenty yards from the house in which
Dickson and his wife lived and where
he died, Smith discovered $4,000 In
gold pieces, many Of them being 81 90
coins. He at once reported the mat
ter here, and Friday Judge Nichols di.
rected Sheriff Kimer who took Lee
Hiatt Of the board of supervisors with
him to search the premises They
went to the farm and, digging about
the same old shed used as a smoke
house, unearthed $1O,oO5 In gold
pieces.
They were found in two Jars. In a
g'ass one was $4.005 and in an earth
enware jar was found $4,000. The
money was brought here and placed
in safe custody, and the court direct
ed the sheriff to return Monday and
prosecute further the search for treas
ure which is still believed to be buried
on the farm.
Dickson was miserly He had few
relatives. He was childless and OF
four brothers and four sisters but one
is living and his whereabouts are un.
known. He owned 260 acres of very
fine land which made him an annual
rental Of from $1,000 to $1,500. He
owned 1000 chickens and from these
he secured the income on which he
and his wife lived. His farm he be-
gan to rent out twenty years ago.
He was discovered never to have
placed cent in the bank and his ex.
penses were very small. 1t is recall.
ed that whenever he received silver OF
paper money he always asked to have
it changed into gold pieces. 1t was
these coins that he buried.
AS he approached death a relative
of his wife, named Garrett sitting by
his bedside thought to prepare the old
man for death by suggesting to him
the possibility of hts demise. He was
unaffected The visitor suggested
that probably it would be wise for
him, under the circumstances to tell
his wife of the money he had, for IL
was neighborhood gossip that he had
an immense amount OF money some
where.
Yes" whispered the dying man, q
have lots of money, lots of money, In
many. many places. But I would have
to show you where 1t is They were
his last words. but just before he died
! he placed in the hands of his wife the
key to the little house where $12,30s
already has been unearthed. She
wondering what he had done with his
money, nevertheless, did not think o.
finding the fortune in the shed, the key
] to which he had given her with shak
ing fingers.
| The old man operated blacksmith
shop for many years. too. 1t was The
source OF considerable revenue. also
and 1t has been supposed that in ant
| about 1t may be found more GOLD
| coin. Indeed, search OF the place dis
| c'osed the. location of sort Of boz
or receptacle under the floor, but thu
box is gone, probably buried up at tn.
smoke house with the rest Of tn;
treasure
The income Of the old mans farm
for twenty-eight years has not beel
accounted for, and it is believed tina
from $4,000 to $4,000 will yet b'
found on the place, possibly vastl.
more. The place is covered with lit
tie old houses and sheds and tre'
stumps. They will be diligentl.
searched.
Read The Daily Gate City, II