Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1913-06-17


made chairman of this board.
BASE BALL IN THE SIXTIES.
1t was about this time that Ham
ilton county, like the whole coun-
try, was struck by what might be
termed the "base ball craze 1t was
then new game, and clubs were
formed in different parts of tine
county. Crowds went out to wit
ness the game, and old and middle
aged men seeing it, were reminded
of how they used to play "town
ball." and took hand. A report of
what was denominated "a hotly
contested game of base BALI is civ
en- in one of the local papers of the
day, in which the score is put down
at 10 to 81. But then with the
rules of that day and ''live' ball,
| the surprising number of runs may
we'll be excused. The "craze' has
never died out, and probably never
will.
THE FIRST BANK ESTABLISHED.
In December, 1867, B. F.. Miller
arrived in Webster City and immed-
lately opened the Bank of Webster
| City" and he is entitled to be listed
as the first banker and his the first
bank in the county. During the year
he was Joined in business by Jay
Sternberg and the business enlarg
ed, building put up, and a new
fire and burglar proof safe was pro-
cured.
A CHRISTOPHER SCARE.
The last of September, 1867, wit
messed quite scare throughout the
county. Stories had been circulat-
ed about the ravages Of grasshop-
pers in Dakota, and other western
localities, and so when suddenly the
very sun was obscured by clouds of
these festive choppers" that alight
ed and swept everything before
them, and then proceeded to bore
the earth full of holes and plant
therein their eggs, the people be-
came truly frightened. True, the
grasshoppers did little damage, for
the corn was generally too well ma
tured to be injured by them, and
little was left for them but turnips
and cabbages. But these afforded
the "hoppers' an opportunity to
show up "a sample" of how they
could clean up a crop of green, and
the farmer trembled when he
thought of what might happen in
the spring when that mat of chop
per eggs should hatch, and be turn
ed loose upon the spring crops. His
fears were not wholly unfounded, ,
for when spring came, the "hop-
pers" Matched out and went to work
on the young crops. They appear
ed to be re-enforced by others from
the southwest, and for a while it
seemed certain that the whole crop
must go. But suddenly they arose
and left in the early part of July,
having damaged the crops on an
average of about one-half. Some
fields were scarcely touched, while
others were totally destroyed. The
greatest amount of damage was
done to the oats crop-many fields
being not worth the harvesting.
This was quite a calamity to the
new settler, who generally had little
to fall back upon, and some left the
county, while no doubt emigration
was slightly checked by the reports
Of the disaster
JUDGE CHASE FOR CONGRESS.
Up to the summer of 1865 Hon.
A. w. Hubbard of Sioux City had
represented the sixth district in
congress, but by reason of failing
health, he was not a candidate for
reelection. AS consequence. G..
w - NouNu, y. Vial hSOu, Sudl IcS
Pomeroy, d. D. Chase and John
Scott entered the race for the nom
nation. Judge Chase of Hamilton
county had achieved considerable
distinction and popularity while dis
trict attorney and district judge and
went into the convention with more
strength than any two candidates.
Unfortunately for his chances for
success, however, political differen-
ces had risen between him and Col
Chas. \. Clark, and Colonel Clark
opposed his nomination. He was
able. fearless and untiring in his
position and went to the convention
| to defeat Judge Chase if possible.
though not a delegate. Chase, as
the strongest and leading candidate,
was unable to make any combina-
tons, while the weaker candidates
could and did combine and after two
days in convention and seventy-sey-