Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-02-28
There have been many inquiries as

There have been many inquiries az
10 why the Courier has not published
more Of the Caldwell letters, re
miniscent OF the long ago. Owing tc
the press of news, consequent upon in
stalling the full Associated Press
leased wire report, the Courier has fol
some weeks been compelled, with re
Eret, to hold one OF Mr.. Caldwelps en-
.ertaining letters In the Office, awaiting
m opportunity for publication. The
complete letter Is not given today, but
! portion of 1t is herewith published
and the rest will be published within q
few days.
Mr.. Caldwell's "reminiscences, prev.
lousy published, in which he re-
viewed some of the incidents in the
early life of Ottumwa, from the store
Of memories he cherishes as the result
of his long residence here, proved to
be among the most interesting features
ever given the Courier readers,
especially the home readers. In per-
Bonal letter he states that the press
Of duties in his Office (Mr. Caldwell Is
now assistant state printer of the
state of Kansas) may prevent him
from contributing further letters In MIS-
series until after the Kansas legis-
lature adjourns, but 1t Is to be hoped
that he will be able soon to continue
his interesting articles.
Mr.. caldwelrs Letter.
I was born November 81, 1871. My
father being an enthusiastic Wing,
gave me the name of the unfortunate
president, William Henry Harrison.
So that in 1851, in the early spring, l
was not yet ten years of age when
my father indentured me as an ap-
prentice to Richard III. Warden, for
three years. The old slave idea was
thus hung upon me. And while do
not hold grudge against Dick War
den cannot but remember how like
q slave was worked. 1t would have
been equivalent to violation OF the
commandment thou shalt not steal,
If the Courier once was not swept out,
fires going, everything ready for &C
tivfty by s O'Clock every morning, and
as devil that was my stunt. Break
fast at $3.50, work at case, or at roll
ing forms of either Jobs or the paper,
at Z, kept going without intermission
till IL One hour for dinner; work
from / to g. one hour for supper, back
to ONCE at z, working with tallow
dips till 8, from the first day Of Oc-
tober until the night Of the thirty-first
of March, every year. Every Thurs
day morning, clear or foul weather,
summer and winter, carried Cour1ers
to the subscribers in town, all over the
town between the hours of and q.
M. so that 1t is not wonderful that |
knew every man. woman, child, dog,
cat or animal In Ottumwa during those
years at least MY wages were mag
niflcent, as follows: First year, $35
and board; second year, $35 and
board third year, $50 and board; had
to clothe myself. Ed. T. Lewis was
foreman for long time. then Jay W..
Neishbor now or recently. well
known publisher in New York;. He
was succeeded by a little squatty
Dutchman, John Pringle. Don't know
what became of him. Lewis, think,
went out to Idaho, then territory
Pringle, think, was succeeded by
Oliver Graves, brother OF D. L. Graves;
he by Frank Foreman. I'll never forget
with what awe regarded Foreman
because he would go to case without
line Of copy and set up three or four
columns each week of an original
serial story that ran several weeks
and was q good one too. In after
years I emulated him, when the ONCE
was in the hands of Hedrick & Haml-
ton. situated In the second story OF
the brick at the corner of Market and
Second streets-at which time I was
foreman. Hamilton congratulated me
on that effort In after years, while
the Beloit< (Kansas)
Courier. that was my custom-set up
direct from case every bit OF my
original matter excepting possibly
few local items.
The Ottumwa Courier was located
in two story frame building belong
Ing to the Myers family, off from Mar
ket street, but in the saw log yards OF
their mill. don't know that I can
trace it right along, but 1t seems to
me that it was moved to the second
story of the brick building erected by
D. l.. Graves on the first floor OF which
Graves conducted harness snop and
leather store and dealt in green hides.