Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-02-28

{; The commingling odor of fresh hides
and sour paste Was not as delicious az
altar of roses, but its fragrance abides
in my memory. 1t was in this build
ing (close to Court, on Main) when
James W. Norris bought the Courier,
He moved 1t to the one story brick on
| the corner of Market and Second
where the Daily Ottumwa Courier was
born. No, I'm little fast, before that
it was located In the John Pumroy
building, corner Market and Main,
third f1oor--as spoken of in my prev
ious effusion. Perhaps 1t was from
there that it went to the little brick.
At some time in it's history 1t was To-
Gated in the two story brick on Main,
between Market and Green streets;
then it went over on Second into .-.e
| two story frame owned by j. w.
Dixon. At this time Major Hamilton
| was in the legislature; Hedrick was
internal revenue supervisor. The pa
per was left in my hands as it's fore
man, and one day ventured to write
leading editorial the caption being:
The Republican Party" for which !
received from Hamilton, who was In
Des Moines, the following laconic note,
BILLY, bully for you-do it some
more!" But Sam. B. Evans, who was
editor OF the Democrat, made all sorts
of sport Of "the silly effusion of the
callow youth who ventured on whole
editorial!''
I cannot fix exactly the time that it
occupied the second story of frame.
on Market and Second, opposite the
little brick, but under it, on the first
floor was the postofflce with ALI Hoddy
as chief clerk. 1t was while located in
the little brick as before mentioned,
that the daily was born, James Norris
editor and proprietor, N. D. Mussel-
man, foreman, Bill Holden and my
self compositors, and Jim Bowles
devil. It was there that we three,
NJ. C. & H. bought out Jimmy Norris
not one of US having cent. How'd
we do 1t? Got up a great big stock
company Of merchants and others,
issuing our promise to pay "in either
advertising, job work, or cash--the
latter at the option of the members
of the obligations" Then we had
meeting Of all the creditors, who
elected an editor-the choice falling
upon Gen. John M. Hedrick, the hero
of the Dahlonega insurgents, out also
real hero in the war in which he
was badly wounded. His competitor
was Lawyer A. A. Stuart, the author
Of Stuart's Iowa Colonels and Regi-
ments. Hedrick beat him only one
vote, as I now remember 1t. Muscle
man sold his interest to Hedrick, as
I also did mine soon afterward. Holden
sold to Hamilton. When the Office was
removed to the Neville building I do
not recall. Holden's father was q
tailor, he (Bill) married VIM. ]. Ross's
daughter Louise. Ross was at one time
treasurer of wapello county; moved to
Kansas and reappeared at Ottumwa at
the time OF the grass hopper raid"
appealing for aid, and got it, for every.
body had faith in VIM. Ross He was
an upright man, faithful officer and
good citizen. His son. Tom, an Of
tumwa product, is leading lawyer In
southern Kansas. saw him here in
Topeka not long ago. There was Joe
Campbell, who was treasurer Of the
county, with his brother Dave rs
deputy, but Hosea B. Jones lowered
about, for the treasurer's Office of Wa
pello county without Hosea In calling
distance at least, would have been
playing Hamlet with no sad Dane.
Joseph Hayne was treasurer during
war times, and he, too, was q grand,
good man. Joe Rogers married his
daughter Dora. Alfred Lotspiech sue
ceeded to this Office. He was q splen-
did man-was justice of the, peace
when we left Ottumwa. W. H. H. AS
bury succeeded Lotspiech. In fact Wa
pello county was singularly blessed
with competent, honest men as her
treasury officials-for that matter,
though, I should not be invidious-so
far as now remember-old Wapello
never blushed in shame for delinquent
officials. Judge Osborne-let's see,
what was his official designation II
probate judge, was it, or was there
such an Office in his day? At any rate
it was he who had to do with records
that finally became the county aud
itor's office to which George D. Hack
worth succeeded. Mr.. Hackworth was
a first class surveyor who doubtless
trod every foot in Wapello county IN