davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-08-25
ORE than half a century ago,
iii in a log house, on Franklin
Prairie this county and


~ ORE than half a century ago,
hIu in a log house, on Franklin
@ Prairie (this county and
state) to me the most beautiful of
all prairies OH earth, oil the farm
known as the Jacob Headington
place, my eyes opened to the peep of
day; and if / had my choice of
birth place, would not change the
spot for a palace. To the observer
then, as now, were apparent the
main elements of life, viz: timber
for fuel close at hand. rich virgin
prairie sell awaiting the pillow of the
pineer and spring water in abund-
ance; these were considerations for
the Lomeseeker in pursuit Of life, Ii
berty and happiness, not to be de-
MED.
Of my early recollections, the
most vivid and the one which / re-
member most distinctly, was the
excitement of the people at the time
of the murder of Chas. Telyea, and
the search of posses of men and boys.
for the corpus deficit. Charles Tel
yea, an inoffensive citizen, was said
to have been murdered by John Liv-
ingood (his wife being accessory
on Washingtons Birthday 1861, af-
ter their return from a party at Joe
Malcomb's gotten up in honor of
that day, on the place known as the
Turk Little farm on the Burr Oak
Road between Deccrah and Burr
Oak. The excitement was as | re-
member, intense, the murder being
a horrible butchery of poor Telyea.
His body having been secreted was
not discovered until the following
summer / think in June when two
boys Bolles and Reynolds hunting
for stray calf discovered the body
wrapped in quilt securely tied with
bed cord, in Silver Greek, below the
residence of the late NORTH Lange.
Livengood was apprehended in
Minnesota, brought back to the
scene of his crime, (much was said
about his being kidnapped for that
purpose) after speedy trail was
convicted and sent to the peniten-
tiary, where he served 1919 years, |
before being discharged an old bro
ken man, so nearly blind that he be-
came SO shortly after obtaining his
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-08-25
BOYHOoD IMPRESSIONS OF THE EARLY DAYS
By ATTORNEY M. A. HARMON.

letters, as did the children of the
other families. However, l think |
could draw picture of her, that the
other students of that school, some
of them grandmOthers, others grand
fathers, now would recognize. Our
means of amusement were meagre
but strenuous. We were not like the
pampered children of this day and
age; We were not overdressed, the
possessor of a jack knife was fawn-
ed upon by the less lucky youth, for
the many things that were possible
to be made, such as whistles, bows,
arrows, etc.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-08-25

gloom of all pervaded universally.
We, small children, realized the ma
TONS loss and mourned for the I'M
timely fate of so great and good a
man.
These were my ideas as a boy, l
remember, when the events occurred
as narrated, which l presume was
similar to others of my age, and you
are welcome to them, for Home
Coming" recalls them wildly to
memory.
Yours very truly,
NJ A. HARMON.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-08-25

Now and then man would be seen
with a new idea of his own, wholly
new to the rest; he was received as
hero, at once. For one l recollect
about midway in the parade was a
man with feelings quite exhuberant,
carrying upon his head bucket of
tar, which he had contrived to light
and let burn regardless of the conse-
quences, and | never shall forget
how he looked as the burning tar
streamed down, if | live to be as
old as Methusalah.
Now, at this day, we do not have
times like we had then; perhaps it
was caused by the trials of soul 20
which men were subjected, and there
is now no cause to produce the effect.
Sayings were different from today.
Songs of the people were not like ours
Of the present time. Slang phrases
were coined in a different way A
really laughable saying, was sent
along from place to place, all over
the country. As an illustration,
certain Judge was performing q mar
riage ceremony for a couple at the
residence OF one Of the most pruml-
nent residents of DEBORAH. The lady
Was just from the East, quite cal
mred and refined, and highly
pleased to be SO fortunate as to have
q Judge to perform the ceremony.
You can imagine her CONSERVATION,
when he finished the ceremony by
saying Il pronounce you man and
wife and in the same breath with
out even a pause. said TO the host:
Logan, does your dog suck eggs
My boys say, that they caught him
in the said trick on Friday" 1t
seems that the Mr.. Logan had given
the Judge q dog a few days before,
the Judge in his alteration twas
said to be absent minded) had for
gotten, as soon as the ceremony was
over, Just how it would sound, and
the phrase became famous, as a say
ing all over the country for trite
question to apply to anyone Offering
a dubious proposition, and is some
times used to this day in the country
and we'll understood by the old
timers. Again. the people of the
time were quickwitted as well as in
genious. To show you, a dealer in
DEBORAH had received what is very
common now, stove damper to sell.
TO be placed i'm the stove pipe to pre-
vent the heat from all going up the
chimney, and in introducing his new
thing. he said to an Irish stone ma
son, Pat, if you will buy one of
these (dampers) and put it in your
stove pipe, you will save half your
fuel" Quick as a flash came the
answer, "Begorra, I'll take two or
them and save it all.
The literature was almost all of
the war style, mostly consisting OF
patriotic songs. poems, with sketch
of war experiences. The music TO be
attractive must have martial air,
We had a drum corps at this early
time. il consisted of Hal Brown
Doc. Temple. and VIM. Vreeland,
Sr. and was used on most occasions
to fire patriotic hearts, when public
functions were being had. or enlist
ments were sought. From the from
tier to the city this was the expe-
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-08-25

even if they had no force to fire
them). How would that situation
strike the people of this city today
were we threatened with an attack
by Indians, when we consider the
teams and people camped on the
Hat near the old stone barn and
also covering the part of the city
now known as Park Addition. How
the men armed themselves with all
kind of weapons. pitchforks, corn
knives, butcher knives, clubs, etc,
! resolved to die fighting at all haz-
ards in defense of their families,
firesides and homes, and that they
would sell their lives as dearly as
possible, and resist to the last man
1t was a relief to us and gave us
courage.
The conditions prevalent then,
really do not seem to THIS generation
to have existed, or to be possible
for them to exist. All the details or
the Indian massacres were as famil-
ier 10 vs. children then as the base
ball news IF the present Gav is to
the average boy. We knew of the
sayagery Of the Indian, and his de-
sire to have revenge through savage
buJchery. The atrocities of the
Sioux Tribe was well known 10 US
Little Crows name was a familiar
household word. We learned the
lesson OF true manhood's hate for
the detestable negro renegade, God
frey, smart colored man, who
spoke German. French. English and
Indian fluently, although a rene
gade and was more savage, cruel,
treacherous and inhuman than any
Indian in the Sioux nation. He
knew all settlers, their residences,
numbers and resources. and under
the guise of friendship betrayed
many into the hands of the Indians
that otherwise might have escaped
His belated death recently occurred
on one of the reservations, he hav-
ing turned states evidence. which
with other evidence caused the con-
viction of 80 Indians hanged at Man
kato. We afterward found that our
fears were groundless, there were no
Indians within many days travel of
us. Space was not annihilated at
that time, we did not have the con-
veniences we have for the receiving
or sending of news. nor did we have
the present methods of locomotion.
Medicine and surgery had not made
the strides then they have since,
operations were practically un-
known. OF course some died, but
the general health of the public was
better than now Mechanics and i'm
plements were not advanced any
where near what they are now, peo-
pie were poor in purse, frugal, home
spun was popular, and broadcloth
and billed shirt were putin on
style"
After all our fears had been dis
sipated and the people, women and
children, young and old were rejoic-
ing. hoping for the pleasures OF
peace the nation was again plunged
into despair by the assassination of
President Lincoln, and the seemingly
concerted attempt of assassins to as
sassinate Secretary Seward and other
members of the Cabinet, the deepest
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-08-25
Cured Hay Fever and Summer Gold.

OUHCU may TCVCF anu OUI1lItr COIU.
A. S. Nusbaum, Batesville, India,
writes: Last year 1 suffered for three
months with summer cold so dis
tressing that it interferred with my
business. l had many of the symp-
toms of hay fever, and a doctors
prescription did not reach my case,
and I took several medicines which
seemed only to aggravate it. For
tunately l insisted upon having Fo-
ley's Honey and Tar. 1t quickly cur
ed me. My wife has since used Fo-
ley's Honey and Tar with the same
success" Sold by Engberton's
Pharmacy. Aug.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-08-25

In 1851 our family moved to De-
corah, and lived in the east part of
town. My oldest brother, John
Harmon, had responded to the call
to arms, when the Rebellion broke
out, enlisted in Capt. Willett's Com
pany ID. 3rd Iowa Infantry, and was
followed By my brother, Bernard
Harmon, as soon as he was old en-
ough TO be taken by the recruiting
officers, and the parting of not only
my brothers, but others as well, left
deep impression upon me. Peo-
pie were more demonstrative then
than now, parents, true patriots.
were giving more than wealth TO
their country; they were giving their
own flesh and blood. No one was
expected to return from that war,
replete with carnage, unless to come
back shattered wreck or a helpless
cripple. Many were the heart rem
'ering scenes we children were sub
5ected to: news was scarce, how we
used to crowd the old post Office to
hear the papers read after a battle.
tHave often listened to Mr.. Adams
read the list of dead or wounded)
while some one would hear of dear
one gone to return no more, or per-
haps wounded unto DEATH with Spar
tan-like fortitude. We youngsters
were impressed with the idea after
the disaster of Bull Run, that South
ern hordes would invade the North,
and trample us under foot; or, If we
escaped that fate we would probably
lose orr scalp locks (I had more then
than I have now) and this feeling
was shared by many of our elders,
too, to the blood-thirsty Sioux, who
becoming restless. and afterward did
break out and massacre many set
tiers, near New Ulm, in Minnesota,
and some in the western part of
Iowa, of which | will describe later
On. We, boy-like, formed compan-
les, drilled, marched, counter
marched, had sham-battles, had
barracks in the old Reed building,
then unoccupied, now owned and oc-
cupied by James Bucknell. The
martial spirit was strong among all
classes, and Island No. 10 was again
attacked, assaulted and captured in
DRY Run" as nearly as the limited
means and machines OF warfare
would permit. A piano hox used for
a gun boat. manned by boys. came
down the creek and took the ia
nous island in replica, as did our
elders in reality in the South.
The continuous victories of our
captains at FIT. Donelson, Vicksburg,
Gettysburg, Chickamauga, Stone
River, Memphis. New Orleans, Look
out Mountain (where Gen Hooker
was said to have fought the clouds),
Sheridan's splendid victories in the
Shenandoah Valley. Sherman
March to the Sea, Thomas victories
scared into our young minds, and
finally AppomatoX, with worldwide
results relieved the pressure on old
and young alike and we were over
joyed. At each of our great victor
les, the country went wild, DEBORAH
with the rest. When Vicksburg
was taken what time there was In
this city. remember we'll, so we'll,
The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1909-08-13
Bank Probe Starts.

A complete campaign of investigation
was mapped out by the special commit
tee on guaranty of bank deposits Great
ed at the last session of the legislature,
when it held meeting at the state
capital Friday morning. The active
work of the committee will not begin
until early in September, when the
members will go to Chicago, Sept. IL,
to attend the annual meeting of the
National Bankers association. Four
important subjects will be considered
by the committe:
Increasing the force of the bank ex-
aminer's office
Prohibiting the loaning of money by
banks to active bank officials.
The segregation of commercial de-
posits from saving deposits.
Insurance of bank deposits.
Meetings will be held in practically
every city in the state on invitation.
The committee is anxious to hear from
bankers and business men of all cities
who wish to be heard, that a program
may be made out announcing the dates
of the hearings.
Senator w. H. Owen of Maiden
Rock was elected chairman of the joint
committee and Assemblyman Plat
Whitman of Highland was elected Sec
rotary. Senator Owen and Assembly
man Whittet of Edgerton were select
ed as committee to choose the help
for the board. ALI the members ex-
cept Senator Wright were present at
the meeting.
The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1909-08-13
Wisconsin Farms Are the Best.

A. D. Campbell, state commissioner
of immigration, has prepared compar-
ison of advantages of new farmers go
ing to north Wisconsin to settle rather
than to Canada.
The distance from markets is a bad
drawback in Canada. On the same day
wheat sold in Calgary at Soc and 81. Ia
at Minneapolis. Barley prices were Doc
and 92c respectively. Oats 25c and SIC.
Flax $1.OO and $1.18. Total $2.35 in
Calgary and $3.50 in Minneapolis, the
Minneapolis rate being go per cent
above Calgary. Perishable vegetables
sell for little in Canada and detertorate
while being shipped. Not so in north
ern Wisconsin.
Good schools and churches are COM
mon in Wisconsin, and these enhance
the price of land. Wisconsin is also a
dry healthful country. Land will go
up, says the commissioner of immigra-
ton, as Wisconsin has plenty of rail-
roads with cities and villages growing
fast
The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1909-08-13

WHILE the rate commission, in recent
decisions, has indicated that in certain
cases it will make allowance for intan-
gible value and also for going value, it
has not so far as we know, ever given
recognition to a hazard value. This
important element of risk in all indus
trial enterprises far too often is over
looked, yet it applies to utility corpora
tons with the same force as to private
corporations. Utility corporations are
no more safeguarded against trouble
than are private companies. Disastrous
losses due to storms have come repeat
edly to a local telephone company Fire
losses easily may befall any corpora
ton, nor can they be insured against;
and the company that does not have a
considerable net revenue above actual
interest on invested capital, for protec-
ton against this certain hazard, has a
door directly opening into the bank
ruptcy court. While the rate commits
sion may, or may not, consider duly this
danger element in relation to corpora
tons, and allow suitable interest on
capital for protection against it, the
capitalist certainly will dwell upon ii
fully before investing money where his
earnings are to be limited by any law
or commission. Madison Democrat.
The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1909-08-13

JULY l, Modern Woodmen OF Ameri,
ca records for the first time showed
more than million beneficial members
The exact number in good standing be-
ing LOIS, $50. In addition there were
SO, 499 social members, making the to-
tai number 1,055,06 On July there
was 81 ,625, 000,000 protection in force
Modern Woodmen of America is now at
the head of all fraternal beneficial So
cieties or insurance companies doing
business in the United States in point
of certificates or policy holders, and
only one company has larger amount
of insurance in force. 1t means some
thing to be Modern Woodman, for
the average man wishes to be,a part of
that which is the largest and best in
existence.
The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1909-08-13

Now that it is all over, it seems to
be question whether the new tariff is
worth the price it has cost the country
in delayed business, agitation, long
speech making in halls of legislation
and heated discussions on every street
corner. We were fairly well satisfied
with our conditions until the politicians
began to tell US we were being robbed
by the tariff" They talked it so long
and so loud that it became regular
"bogy man." There is more humbug
about this tariff question than anything
that disturbs the public mind.
The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1909-08-13

We BELIEVE the return card ought
to be on every envelope passing through
the mails, and would favor law max
ing such return card compulsory, as it
is in England, but we believe that the
government is in the wrong when it
engages in such printing enterprise,
and that such practice ought to be
stopped. The fact that for years the
government has been printing such re-
turn cards does not make it any the
less an evil. A wrong is never lessened
by the heightened period of its exist
ence.-EX.
The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1909-08-13

A GREAT many men in all the walks
of life when they pass the age of fifty
commence making preparations to be
old. They think it is time to stop work,
give up the care and purpose of their
life and become as soon as possible a
nonenity There is but little sense or
reason in this view. Far better is it
for a man to keep his hold on his voca-
ton as long as he has strength and
judgment left. He will live all the
longer and be all the more useful for it.
The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1909-08-13
THE power of the big Kilbou

THE power of the big Kilbourn dam
was turned on last week The dam
across the river is $50 feet long. The
plant contains four huge electric gen
orators of $500 horsepower each, MAX
ing the total electric production 10000
horse power. An elaborate transmits
sion line, consisting of heavy copper
cables, mounted on windmill like tow
ers connects Kilbourn with Watertown
where current is delivered to the Mil
waukee trolley system. About 5000
horsepower will be sold to the trolley
lines,
The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1909-08-13

IN THE appointment of committees of
the House, Speaker Cannon has dropped
out of the reckoning the insurgent
members who refused to stand by party
precedents and determined to raise cain.
Even our own Hal Cooper is dropped
from the head of the Insular committee
of which he has been chairman for sew
eral sessions.
The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1909-08-13
1.-TWO Merry Tramps.

1.-TWO Merry Tramps," the great
musical success for the past eleven sea-
sons, will appear at Royal hall, Monday
evening, Aug. 16.
This play abounds in music of the
high class order, while. the story is one
of the most interesting and novel ever
written for the background of a mu-
steal comedy.
In song hits 1.-TWO Merry Tramps" is
especially prolific and from the list are
no less than twelve where it is wholly
a matter of Individual opinion as to
which is the ''singiest" and the most
WHISKY" They include 1.-THE Tale of
a Belgian Hare" 1.-THE Bellies of Bar
tlesville," ''When the Lights are Turn
ed Down Low" Goodbye, Isabelle, "
''The Love Bug and the Lady"
They range in theme from the seri-
Gus to the comic, from sentimental to
patriotic. Bessie Bennett has furnish
ed good verses, while Jerome Travers'
music is of the kind you carry from the
play house and hum on your way home.
The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1909-08-13

IT is known that the United States
has by far the greatest railroad mile
age of any country on earth, but per-
haps not many would guess that North
America lacks but comparatively few
miles of equaling the total mileage of
Europe, Asia and Africa.
The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1909-08-13

Reduced railroad rates have been
secured for the Wisconsin State fair at
Milwaukee, September 1917 One and
one-half fare for the round trip.
-One-t third off on all one-piece silk
and wash dresses at our clearing sale. -
T. P. Burns.
The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1909-08-13

SENATOR JOHNSON is right when he
said the true test of the new tariff law
is, will the people get their food and
clothing any easier than under the old
law. The question of cheapness alone
is false standard of measurement.
The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1909-08-13
Change in Business.

The undersigned having purchased
the livery business of Frank Horton,
respectfully solicit share of the public
able to furnish rigs and care for those
who come.
36t2 JOYCE & COMPANY.
The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1909-08-13
Low EQUATOR Speed.
Seminoies in the Everglades.

Seminole Indians still live in the
everglades, just as they were in the
riors massacred Gen. Candy These
people have intermarried, some of
them. with negroes. They are fishers
and hunters.
The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1909-08-13

SCRATCH the back of man who
doesn't know enough to know when he
is licked and you will find an insurgent.
The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1909-08-13

Gov. DAVIDSON, it is reported, has
his ear close to the ground listening for
any spontaneous demand from the peo-
ple for his reelection and vindication.
The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1909-08-13

The famous Navassar band of forty
ladies has been engaged for the full
week at the Wisconsin State fair. This
is one of the most popular musical or
CARNATIONS in the country. In addition
to this several of the best bands in the
state will be in attendance daily.
Ladies' white lawn waists trimmed
with heavy cluny lace; So values at 93c
at our clearing sale. T. B. Burns,
GAINESVILLE.
The new buildings being erected on
the State fair grounds in Milwaukee
are being rapidly pushed toward COM
pletion, and will be ready for use at
the opening of the fair, Sept. 18th.
Low Equator Speed.
s 1t is true that every function OF
body and mind slows up about 20 per
cent, and permanently, too, after six
months under the equator. Faster
telegraph operators sent from here to
New Orleans after a few months fail
perceptibly in speed and never re-
cover.-New York Sun.