Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1913-07-08
The Accident Happened Just Forty
Years Ago.-He is Now Coun-
ty Superintendent Of
Schools.
THE UN1vERSALIsTs ORGANIZE.
Electing Sheriff-Raising the
Funds for the Erection of
Court House.

From the History of Hamilton
County by F. @. and J. w. Lee: Or
the 26th of June, 1873, little Eddie
Snow, child about twenty months
!of age, strayed from his parent:
dooryard which was near the Hi
nois Central railroad about three
and half miles west of Webster
| City, and got upon the track just as
the afternoon passenger train was
going west. The train was late and
running at a higher rate of speed
than usual, and the trainmen did
not see the little fellow in time to
stop before the train reached and
ran over him. He was, Of course,
too young to know that there was
any danger and made no move to
leave the track. The engine and
three or four cars passed over the
little chap before the train was stop
ped and he was taken out from un-
der it fearfully mutilated. His moth
er, who had just missed the child
stepped out to look for him, saw him
on the track at the time the train
struck him. The conductor took the
child and his mother upon the train
and returned to Webster City, where
both arms Of the injured child were
Manipulated, the right arm just below
the elbow, the left near the shout
der. Notwithstanding his terrible
injuries and the amputation of both
his arms, the little fellow survived
and is now strong and hearty
young man. A suit was brought
against the railroad company for
damages, but the first jury on the
trial disagreed and before a second
trial the case was settled by the rail-
road company paying to the child's
guardian, for his use and benefit,
$1,000 and paying the costs already
made.
When young Mr.. Snow grew to
manhood, he became a school teach
er. In this he was very successful
and in 1910 he was elected county
superintendent of Hamilton county.
His success in life is glowing ex-
ample of what grit and pluck will
accomplish in spite of overwhelming
disadvantages.
THE UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY
ORGANIZED.
In January, 1874, Rev. B. F.
Shook, a Universalist minister, ar
rived at Webster City and delivered
a series OF lectures. They were SO
well received that a society was Or
ganized and he continued to return
and hold services at intervals until
the following year. In 1875, the So
ciety selected grounds and proceed
ed to erect a new church edifice. The
first grounds selected were at the
present site of the Methodist church
and some materials were placed
there and the work of eXcavating for
the foundation commenced, but some
difficulty in securing the grounds oc-
Cured and change was made to
the northwest corner of Bank street
and Wilson avenue. where the
building was erected. The dedicatory
services were held on the 14th Of
November, 1875. Rev. J. w. Han
son, an eminent and eloquent divine
from Chicago. preached the sermon
and had charge of the services. Ell
der Shook was employed as the past
or and remained five or six years.
THE FREEMAN CHANGES HANDS.
In June, 1874, J. d. Hunter sold
the Freeman printing office to T. F..
McCracken, Of Marshalltown, who
took possession and began its publ
cation the first week in July. He
held editorial charge for one year
when Mr. Hunter purchased it again
and has since continued its publica-
ton.
THE ARGUS ESTABLISHED.
About the 10th of July. 1874, the
Webster City Argus issued its first
number, ii being the third paper to
start in the county. The Argus was
started by c. d. Auyer and S. T.
Edwards, both practical printers.
and run politically in the interest
Of the anti-monopoly party at first.
and afterward while in the control
of Mr.. Edwards. was democratic in
politics.
THE CAMPAIGN OF "A.
We have heretofore spoken OF the
great anti-monopoly political revolu-
ton Of 1873 Though this movement
evened up the contesting parties. 1t
made no change In county officers