This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Bourne Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/ok.2ADE/1571 Message Board Post: SIDNEY ARGUS - HERALD. April 20, 1933. "Town's First Church Organist is No More".-- Word comes to this office of the death of one of the real early-day citizens of Sidney, Mary L. Bourne, whose father, Harvey G. Bourne, served as the first treasurer of Fremont county. Miss Bourne died Easter Sunday at Rushville, Nebraska, where she had made her home for the past several years, aged 83 years, 7 months, 25 days. She was born in Grayson county, Virginia, August 22, 1849. When she was five years of age the family came to Sidney. After completing the public school course here, her education was completed in a Catholic convent at St. Joseph and she then taught in the rural schools for several years. Her father died in 1864 in Salt Lake, Utah, and was buried there. She and her mother lived together until the death of the latter, 1899, most of that time in Hamburg, from which place they moved in 1886 to take up a homestead near Hay Springs, Nebraska, where the mother died thirteen years later. Several years later "Aunt Mollie" moved to the sandhills twenty-five miles south of Rushville where she successfully operated a ranch. Since disposing of her ranch she has lived in Rushville where she has been active in church and Red Cross work. A brother, Richmond Harvey Bourne, two nieces, seven nephews survive, all living in the vicinity of Rushville. It is said that Miss Bourne played the first church organ brought to Sidney. Though gone from here more than half a century, she never lost interest in her girlhood home, as was attested by the fact that she was a subscriber to old Fremont County Herald continuously until its purchase by the Argus and to the Argus-Herald since. The body was brought to Rockport, Missouri, for burial.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Roberts. Campbell, Moore, Smith, Kroon Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/ok.2ADE/1570 Message Board Post: THE SIDNEY ARGUS - HERALD. April 20, 1933. "Lifelong Citizen Called".-- Thomas M. Roberts, prominent citizen of the west side, democratic worker, a former member of the board of supervisors, many years a justice of the peace in his home precinct, died last Thursday, April 20, at his home between Thurman and Tabor after an illness extending over several months. Mr. Roberts was born about one mile from the place that has been his home since his marriage to Dora Campbell, more than fifty years ago. He had reached the age of 79 years, 8 months, 16 days. He was one of eleven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Abe Roberts, all of whom have passed away except one sister, Mrs. Hattie Moore of Tabor, and one brother, Newton Moore, Tacoma, Washington. Mr. Roberts has been a very successful farmer and his farm home was one of the show places of that community. He was well informed on current events, was a man of decided convictions, but ever tolerant of the opinions of others if they ran contrary to his own. Besides his wife, he is survived by four children, Mrs. Mabel Smith of Tabor; Mrs. Ruth Kroon, Fremont, Nebraska; Mark, Shannon City Iowa; Earl of Presho, South Dakota, together with many relatives of lesser degree and a host of friends, as was evidenced by the large crowd which gathered from all parts of the county to attend the funeral on Saturday. Services were conducted by Supt. Lee of Bartlett and burial was made in the Thurman cemetery.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: McCluskey, Powers, Keyser, Weaver Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/ok.2ADE/1569 Message Board Post: SIDNEY ARGUS - HERALD. May 4, 1933.--Sarah Jane McCluskey, daughter of Stephen and Jemina Powers, was born at Springfield, Illinois, October 6, 1846, and passed away at the home of her son, Bert McCluskey, April 28, 1933. In early youth with her parents she came to Iowa and in 1866 she was united in marriage to W.S. McCluskey at Plum Hollow--now Thurman. To this union three sons were born. Robert passed on in early manhood and was joined in the great beyond by his father, W.S. McCluskey, October 23, 1931. Mrs. McCluskey joined the Baptist church in days of her youth, which faith she continued to the end. She was a member of Sunshine Circle and was always interested in their activities. Those who were associated with Mrs. McCluskey during her long residence here know of her kindly nature in the home and her ministrations to friends and neigbors in time of need, thus endearing her to many. She was the type of woman that will be long cherished in hearts of children. The two sons who are left to mourn her passing are A.L. of Brownville, Nebraska, and R.B. of Thurman. One grandson and three granddaughters, four great-grandchildren, two half sisters, Mrs. Nellie Keyser, Mrs. Lulu Weaver of Omaha, one half brother, Will Powers, of Glenwood also survive. The funeral services were conducted by Rev. Buchanan, pastor of the Methodist church, at the home of Bert McCluskey. She was laid to rest by the side of her husband in the Thurman cemetery.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Morse, Hackett, Shoemaker, Proctor Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/ok.2ADE/1568 Message Board Post: THE SIDNEY ARGUS - HERALD. December 24, 1931. "A Pioneer at the End of Life Journey".--Charles Fremont Morse, aged 75 years, all of whose life save twelve years was spent in this county, died at the home of his son, Fred Morse, three-fourth mile north of Anderson, at 6:00 o'clock Tuesday morning following a period of declining health of some three or four years, serious for the past six months. The funeral services will be held at the Morse home this afternoon at 1:00 o'clock, conducted by Rev. John W. Todd of Shenandoah, and burial will be in the Grandview cemetery. Mr. Morse was born at Howell, Michigan, October 2, 1858, came to Sidney with his parents October 12, 1868, and has spent the remainder of his life here. He formerly resided on a farm west of Sidney, but some fifteeen years ago moved to town and built the Mutual telephone line, which he operated for a number of years. This spring he and his son moved to the E.W, Hutchison farm a short way above Anderson. On October 26, 1880, he was married in Fremont county to Miss Lucy Hackett, who, with two of the three children born to them, survives. The children are the son, Fred, and Mrs. R.B. Shoemaker of Red Oak. The other daughter, Mrs. A.E. Proctor of Shenandoah, died last June. He also leaves one brother, Dr.S. E. Morse, who resides at Dixon, California.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Henderson Classification: Biography Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/ok.2ADE/1567 Message Board Post: THE SIDNEY ARGUS - HERALD. December 17, 1931. "Anderson All Lit Up".--The first night the juice was turned on, Anderson had a hectic blowout--and I don't mean a measley puncture. The town, the people and part of the animals were electrified. Our town joined the procession of modern cities. Even the sky above resembled the aurora borealis. The people in surrounding towns, never having seen any light in our direction, thought our town was on fire. Three fire-fighting outfits roared into town to help us. They were somewhat chagrined but soon molified with a weiner sandwich apiece, also a cigaret--the brand that is kind to your esophagus--and they soon joined in the festivities. We had a free dance and everybody was so enthused and exhilarated about the lights they danced with such abandon it looked like hugging set to music. We had the Ultramarine band from Omaha, so named from the color of their uniforms. They played "Little Annie Rooney" and several other international airs during the evening. A famous orator traveling incognito disabled his car near our town the same night, so he stayed and orated for us; and he surely eulogized our energy, enterprise and aggressiveness. He said a growing aggregation of such enterprising individuals,surrounded by a cordon of superb suburban satellites, would some day be the axle Iowa industries would revolve on. It couldn't be otherwise. This epochal event puts us miles in advance of surrounding towns, because our electrical system is equippped with every dingus and doodad evolved by the electrical wizards right up to now. Our town was so brilliant the feminine bovines stood around wide-eyed all night munching hay, and the next morning they gave twice their usual amount of lacteal fluid. Hens scratched and monkeyed around and each one laid an egg the first night. The roosters were so sleepy next morning that they forgot to crow until sunup. There were two or three backwoodsy people, the kind who have retarded the coming of the millenium, who didn't take lights. Few non-residents realize the importance of our city. The Anderson academy is turning out embryonic presidents and congresswomen; we boast two immense elevators, one slightly out of repair at present; there are only six stations on the Burlington that ship more grain than we do; we have a garage that receives cars sounding lke corn shellers and sends them out purring like a cat full of cream; our bank is a s solid as the Rock of Gibraltar; a general store that's hard to beat; a postoffice right up to the minute; a restaurant that sports a chef fresh from Paris; a church that would attract attention in New York City. Our wonderful bungalows elicit excited exclamations from strangers. Some people call them idealisitic love nests--only one divorce has been hatched out of them. Our beautiful boulevards are a source of astonishment to the uninitiated; they are as smooth as a velvet carpet and pass by age-old elms and emerald lawns. "When a bigger whoopee party is pulled, Anderson will pull it."--Ralph Henderson.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Latter Day Saints Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/ok.2ADE/1566 Message Board Post: THE SIDNEY ARGUS - HERALD. Dec. 17, 1931. "Fire Destroys Landmark".--Thurman and vicinity suffered a loss Sunday which is very much regretted by the entire county. The Latter Day Saints church, located about a mile and a half east of Thurman, burned to the ground, with all its contents. This church had served the community for its various gatherings for over forty years, having been built in 1889. Sabbath school was held Sunday morning, but as there was to be no preaching service on that day the congregation departed earlier than had been the custom. About 2:00 o'clock a passerby saw smoke issuing from the roof and spread the alarm, but by the time help could be summoned the building, which was of frame construction, was a mass of flames. The benches, furnishings, piano and all else were of the best materials and a credit to any rural organization. Because of lack of water nothing could be saved.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Oldfield Classification: Biography Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/ok.2ADE/1565 Message Board Post: SIDNEY ARGUS - HERALD. Dec. 17, 1931. "Pioneer Auto Owner Describes First Car".--W.G. Oldfield, whose address is Shenandoah but who lives in Fremont county, was in Sidney Tuesday making application for his driver's license, and stated that he drove one of the first "high-wheelers" to make appearance in Fremont county, back some tweny or twenty-five years ago. He never did wear it out but junked it some years ago, which act he is now sorry for, as the vehicle would be worth considerable as a curio. The machine was a "Schatz", he stated, and cost him about as much as one of the present day models of any of the more popular makes. The old machine was powered by a two -cyclinder engine under the seat, with chain drive to the rear axle. The springs ran the entire width of the car, and over rough roads the body rose and fell like troubled seas, while the vibration of the engine rocked it like a cradle. Between the conflicting motions, a driver had all he wanted to do to stay in the vehicle and control its ferocious speed of seven or eight miles an hour--more or less.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Tyner, Bateman, Kingsolver Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/ok.2ADE/1564 Message Board Post: THE SIDNEY ARGUS - HERALD. Dec. 3, 1931. "Mrs. John Bateman".--The death of Mrs. John Bateman takes from the commmunity in which she lived a most highly respected member. She was a daughter of a pioneer family, Jonas and Mary Tyner. The long residence of the family in the Farmer City neighborhood gave them a large circle of acquaintances. Mrs. Bateman was a native of Iowa, born on a farm near Davenport on October 2, 1871. When 2 years of age she came with her parents to Fremont county and has lived here since that long gone day. She and John Bateman were married October 2, 1889. Ten children were born to them, all of whom are living. Her death is the first in the family. The children who mourn her death with their father are Earl of Bay City, Michigan; Clarence of Randolph; William, Ernest, Allen and Cecil of Farmer City; Mrs. Mildred Kingsolver of Farragut; Edna, Russell and Lowell at home. Three sisters and three brothers also survive. Funeral services were held from the Methodist church in Shenandoah Thanksgiving afternoon conducted by James Pearson, assisted by Rev. Peter Jacobs who was a former pastor of the family. Mrs. Bateman's continuous residence of fifty-eight years in Fremont county numbers her among its pioneers. She was taken suddenly ill on Saturday. Recovering from this attack she went about her duties as usual. When taken again it was evident that her condition was serious, a nurse was called who gave her constant care. Tuesday , November 24, she passed away, bringing to a close a career fraught with usefulness.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Briley, Shook Classification: Biography Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/ok.2ADE/1563 Message Board Post: THE SIDNEY ARGUS - HERALD. Nov. 5, 1931. "Thurman News".--William A. Briley, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Briley, was born in Clinton county, Kentucky, June 13, 1853, and passed away very suddenly at his home in Macedonia October 28, 1931. He was one of a large family of children and the last member to pass on. When he was 6 years old he came with his parents by steamboat to St. Joseph in 1864 and came via ox team to Iowa. They established their home on his father's farm near Thurman where all eleven children were born. In 1909 he moved with his family to Mills county where he lived until a few months ago when he and his wife moved to Macedonia. Besides his wife he leaves three daughters, Mrs. Ruby Shook of Malvern, Nanette Briley of Council Bluffs and Esther of San Francisco; six sons, Walter of Glenwood, Anthony and Oscar of Malvern, Joe of San Francisco, George of Pine River, Minnesotra, and Robert of Macedonia. The body was brought to Thurman Sunday afternoon where funeral services were held in the Methodist church, conducted by Elder M. H. Craig of S.t Joseph.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Calvert, Pollard, Steel Classification: Biography Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/ok.2ADE/1562 Message Board Post: During her retirement, Mabel Bridges (4/6/1891 - 4/18/1976), using a card file, gathered notes on the earliest of the pioneers in Fremont county. I'm copying the following from Mabel's notes: 1852: Fremont county census: "Franklin township" C. Calvert...5m...3f 1854: Fremont county census: "Sidney township" Charles Calvert....3m....3f....1 voter....2 militia....no aliens 1856: Iowa State Census, Fremont county: "Sidney township" Charles Calvert.....53....5 years in Iowa....b. VA Elizabeth............30....5.............................Ind. Margaret A..........16.....5............................Ind. Mary B................15....5.............................Ind Nancy B................1....1.............................Iowa Geo. F. Pollard.....25....1.............................NC Philip Steel............7.....6............................VA

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Elliott, Hammond Classification: Marriage Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/ok.2ADE/1561 Message Board Post: THE SIDNEY ARGUS - HERALD. Nov. 5, 1931. "Sidney Girl Bride of a Young Merchant".--Miss Helen Elliott, oldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Elliott of Sidney, and Howard Hammond, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Hammond of Thurman, were united in marriage at the Methodist parsonage in Nebrasaka City by the pastor of that church Tuesday morning. Following the ceremony, which was witnessed by Hazelle and Charles Elliott, sister and brother of the bride, the young couple left for a visit at Omaha. They will make their home at Anderson where the groom last week bought the Charley Henderson grocery store. The bride is a graduate of Sidney high school and for the past three and a half years had been engaged as head bookkeeper at the National Bank of Sidney up to its closing some three weeks ago. Here she made many friends by her efficient acounting and unfailing courtesy in meeting the public, all of whom will extend to her their best wishes for a future filled with happiness and prosperity. Mr. Hammond is a graduate of Thurman high school and has had considerable experience in the mercantile business during the past several years. Friends all over the county will wish them life's best.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Bell - TO - Zach Classification: Biography Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/ok.2ADE/1560 Message Board Post: THE SIDNEY ARGUS - HERALD. Nov. 5, 1931. "Four Score and Ten For a Civil War Vet".-- Monday was the 90th birthday anniversary of A. J. Focht, and a large number of friends and relatives gathered at his home Sunday in observance of the event. "Jack" is one of the few remaining earlyday pioneers of Fremont county, he having spent all but fourteen years of his life in this section, coming here with his parents from northern Ohio at that age. As was the customary mode of travel at that time, the journey was made in a covered wagon, crossing the larger streams on a raft, which frequently required a full day to construct. The family home was on a farm just north of Sidney, and Mr. Focht recalls that buffalo in great herds came to the Missouri river on the Nebraska side for water and darkened the banks for a considerable distance up and down the stream. Another event he recalls very plainly is the passage of John Brown's "army" through this section. He himself is a civil war veteran, one of the few left in this section. He spent almost four full years in the service. Those who gathered with him Sunday, bringing many baskets to furnish dinner in his honor, were Mr. and Mrs. Brice BELL, E. J. BLAKELY and family, Vern BOLDING and family, E. C. DeVALL and family, Glen DYKE, Mrs. Susanna DYKE, Mr. and Mrs. Bruce FOCHT, Dale FOCHT and family, Mr. and Mrs. Elmer FOCHT, Perry FOCHT and family, Mrs. Bertha LEWIS and daughter Madge, Mr. and Mrs. E.S. LUCAS of Randolph, Ida LUCAS, Clifford NORMAN and family, L. L. VANATTA and family, Wilbur ZACH and family. Mrs. Susanna Dyke and Mrs. E.S. Lucas are sisters of the honoree.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Aspedon - TO - Troxel Classification: Biography Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/ok.2ADE/1559 Message Board Post: SIDNEY ARGUS - HERALD. May 23, 1940. "Legion Awards For 8th Graders".--American Legion awards were presented as usual this year to boys and girls graduating from the eighth grades of public schools of the county as follows: Fred William Aspedon, Riverton Phyllis Elaine Bachelor, Tabor Betty Lou Barnard, Randolph Norma Carlisle, Riverton Ruth Davison, Thurman Steven Elliott, Sidney Ruby Keys, Percival Richard Lintner, Anderson Phyllis Miller, Anderson Margaret Mortimore, Sidney Roger Ralph Patrick, Tabor Oliver Rickabaugh, Randolph Jean Ann Roberts, Farragut Glen Rogers, Percival Rex Steele, Thurman Robert Troxel, Farragut

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Birkby, Myers, Gealey, Billesbach, Cummings, Jennings, Goodfellow Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/ok.2ADE/1558 Message Board Post: SIDNEY ARGUS - HERALD. January 12, 1939. "Mrs. Walter Birkby Buried Here Saturday".--Funeral service for Mr. Walter Birkby, former resident of the community, who died at the family home at Gordon, Nebr., last Wednesday, Jan. 4, after a brief illness, were held at the Widberger funeral home Saturday, Jan. 6, with interment in the Grandview cemetery at Knox. Rev. C.M. Corrie, pastor of the Farragut Methodist church, formerly pastor at Sidney, had charge of the services. Accompanying the remains to Sidney were her husband, Walter Birkby, and her children, Thomas Birkby and wife and sons; Mrs. Ethel Myers, Mr. Myers and their daughter Helen; Mrs. Bette Gealey; and Mrs. Cecille Billesbach and Mr. Billesbach, all from Gordon, Nebr. Her son, Morton Birkby, and family from Thurman were also present for the services, as were her sister, Mrs. Annie Cummings, and Mrs. Cummings of Farrragut. These, with a large concourse of other relatives and friends followed her remains to the place of interment, following the services in Sidney. Sena Gertrude Jennings, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Levi Jennings, was born at Hamburg March 9, 1872 and departed this life at Gordon, Nebr., Jan. 4, 1939, at the age of 66 years, 9 months and 25 days. At the age of 14, she moved with her parents to Sidney, where she grew to womanhood, and was married in June, 1891 to Walter Birkby. To this union were born 11 children, four of whom preceded the mother in death. Besides the five named as attending the funeral, are a son, Walter Birkby, Jr., of Oklahoma City, Okla., and a daughter, Mrs. William Goodfellow of Sheridan, Wyo. There are also 11 grandchildren. In 1926, Mr. and Mrs. Birkby and their family moved to Gordon, Nebr., where they have since made their home. Both in Sidney and in their newer home, Mrs. Birkby leaves many friends, who with her family, mourn her passing.She was a sincere Christian and was a faithful member of the Presbyterian church, having joined the Grandview church in 1906.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Ricketts, Platt, Jacobs Classification: Biography Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/ok.2ADE/1557 Message Board Post: SOURCE: Unknown. DATE: July 8, 1937.--"S.F. Ricketts Knew History".--If you want to know something of the early history of the western part of Fremont county, that part bordering on the Missouri river west of Percival known to the first settlers as "Civil Bend," you should converse with Samuel Platt Ricketts, who was eighty-five March 28. This aged pioneer has lived in that community more than eighty years. No one is more familiar with the history of this region than this citizen of Percival. It is interesting to hear him tell of the things he has experienced, the early settlers he has known, the changes that have taken place in that part of the county. Mr. Ricketts was nearly four and a half when the family arrived in Civil Bend. They had come from near Oberlin, Ohio, from the Great Western Reserve. Their farm back east was but eight miles from Lake Erie. The family group were the father, Richard Ricketts, the mother, Charlotte Elizabeth Ricketts, and five children, Charlotte Elizabeth, Richard, Mary, Samuel Platt and Asel Edwin. Another child, Myra Grace, was not born until in 1857. The route the family took for its western journery from Oberlin, Ohio, was the one that crossed the Mississippi at Rock Island, passed through Iowa City and on to the western part of the state. It took most of the summer to make the trip. They arrived early in the fall of 1855. It required two covered wagons and a double seated buggy all drawn by horses, to bring their equipment. The buggy probably was the first vehicle of its kind brought to Fremont county. While enroute west they crossed ponds and marshes on corduroy roads made of heavy logs. While in some places the logs were none too close to each other, they served to keep the horses and wagons and buggy from miring in the mud. When crossing one of these places in Iowa Mr. Ricketts' mother remarked at the time that it reminded her of the road at the southern end of Lake Michigan. Corduroy roads were quite common in those days for there was much swampy land. By making such a highway they saved taking long detours. Mr. Ricketts' father, Richard Ricketts, was born in Baltimore, Md., Feb. 6, 1802. The father of Richard Ricketts died before his son, Richard was born, and the mother died when he was but six weeks old. Samuel Ricketts' father was born a slave owner, for in the estate which the orphan boy inherited were five negro slaves, two men, two women, and a baby of one of the women. His father was raised by an uncle and this negro mammy. The estate at the time of his inheriting the same was estimated to be worth $15,000. When he had become of age it had dwindled away so that all he received was a $20 gold piece. Some of the family estate became a part of a large city in New Jersey. Sixty acres of the original inheritance was located near Harper's Ferry, made famous because of John Brown's raid. Mr. Ricketts' father was bound out to a cabinet maker when thirteen and served until he was eighteen. I N D I A N S: Samuel Platt Ricketts did not see any Indians until he came to Civil Bend. There was no Indians residing in the county then, but every winter some of the Pawnees from Nebraska camped in the timber along the Missouri river. The Pawnees knew Lester W. and his wife, Elvira Platt, for they had been missionaries among them in Nebraska in the early forties. The Indians highly respected these missionaries. Coming to visit them they found the region a desirable place to hunt and trap. The heavy timber furnished them shelter and fuel. The marshes provided an abundance of mink and muskrat. These they trapped and sold the furs. Muskrat furs then brought ten cents. Wild game provided them with an abundance of food. The Pottawattamies, whose home had been in western Iowa, often came back from Kansas to visit this section. They preferred to camp around the old Lake Waubonsie and in the Waubonsie hills. One time Mr. Ricketts attended a Pawnee war dance. The original tribes were very war-like and probably were feared more than any other in the mid-west except the Sioux. There were quite an Indian village camped in the neighborhood that winter. The Indian braves were dressed in the war regalia typical of that day. Their faces were painted in glowing colors characteristic of their tribal customs. There was something wierd and suggestive about their native music and about their movements. The Indian bucks possessed tomahawks and spears, which they brandished in fiendish glee like they did in the days when they planned to go to war against some enemy tribe. It startled Mr. Ricketts to see them swing the tomahawks as though they were going to strike the squaws who witnessed the ceremonies. When he saw how stoically and unconcerned the squaws met their threats his fear abated. The Indian ceremonials of those days were a perfect reproduction of the ancient tribal customs. It wa! s so intense and so realistic that its impress was so marked that as he relates the story you can almost feel the emotions that surged through him at the time. L O N G D A R T S One day Mr. Ricketts saw two Indians, dressed only in breech cloth and sandals, playing a game of skill. Each had some long darts pointed with barbs.They would roll rings made of buckskin. When the rings began to wabble they would see how often they could throw a dart through the center, before it struck the ground. They seemed to enjoy the sport, were very enthusiastic in their efforts, and were remarkably expert in the use of the darts. On one occasion the folks in Civil Bend had quite an Indian scare. Word had come to them that hostile Indians from the north were advancing toward Lincoln, Nebr., and might move eastward across the river into Iowa. But they never came. When you hear the early settlers of Fremont county talk about Civil Bend, remember that it was not a village or a city. On the maps of the county, even of that early day, you will find it not. It was a section in the bend of the Missouri river. Draw a line on you county map due north and south about a mile west of Percival, make it long enough so that it will cut the river at each end of the line, and all the territory lying between that line and the river was known as "Civil Bend". It was given that name in derision by those who lived in a bend of the river just south of them. This bend was called the "Devil's Bend" on account of the rough character of some of its citizens. The next story about Mr. Ricketts will tell about floods, severe winters, wild game, prairie fires, the "Underground Railway", volunteers for the Union army, fighting in the west.--Rev. Peter Jacobs "Just Folks", taken from the Shenandoah Evening Sentinel of March 17, 1936.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Calkins, Gilmore, Capt. Hunt Classification: Biography Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/ok.2ADE/1556 Message Board Post: 1.--1846: James W. Calkins, private in Captain Hunt's Co. of Missouri volunteers. 2.--1849: Settled September 19, 1849 the southwest quarter of selction 25 township 67 range 42 which he patented at Fairfield Land Office on May 1, 1850; address was Linden, MO. 3.--1850: Listed in the household of Chauncey Calkins. 4.--1852: Fremont county census--"Madison Township: J.W. Calkins....5m....1f 5.--1852: Marriage license to James Calkins and Eliza Jane Gilmore issued on May 10, 1852.--Greenwood records. 6.--1852: ORDERED to serve as grand juror until August 1, 1853.--Greenwood records, dated Sept. 2, 1852. 7.--1854: Fremont county census: "Madison township" James C. Calkins....1m...2f...1 voter....1 militia....no alien 8.--1856 Iowa State Census: "Madison township: James W. Calkins....29....NY....6 years in the State Eliza........................21....Oh....? Mary E......................3.....Iowa..? Miron R......................0.....Iowa..?

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Unknown. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/ok.2ADE/1555 Message Board Post: THE SIDNEY ARGUS - HERALD. Nov. 12, 1931. "No End in Sight for Cattle Testing Farce".--Iowa national guardsmen escorting veterinarians carried the state's campaign to enforce the law requiring tuberculin testing of cattle into Lee county Tuesday. No resistance was encountered as the workers tested fifteen head on the Frank Boeding farm near West Point, ten on the Herbert Seyb farm near St. Paul, fourteen belonging to Barney Miller, and forty at Stephen Steffensmier's. After testing these four herds in the north part of the county, the veterinarians notified Sheriff Maas at Keokuk that they would not test others until Thursday or Friday. Testing in Des Moines county having been completed on Monday, an early windup of injections this year was foreseen, since reading of the results of the test is expected to be finished Thursday in Des Moines county and not more than a dozen herds remain to be tested in Lee and Jeffrerson counties, the veterinarians said. About 200 troopers left their base at 5:00 a.m. to accompany the testers. It is planned that when they go into Jefferson county they will move their encampment from Burlington to Fairfield. On the Frank Boeding farm last week three veterinarians, accompanied by Sheriff Maas and one deputy, were three times denied permission to test. Tuesday twenty-five or thirty farmers gathered at the Steffensmier property and, while no resistance was shown to the testers, they laughted at the veterinarians until troopers drove them from the place.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: A dozen National guardsmen from Fremont county. Classification: Military Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/ok.2ADE/1554 Message Board Post: THE SIDNEY ARGUS - HERALD. Nov. 12, 1931. "THIS COW WAR OF OURS."--While Iowa will "get the boys out of the barnyards by Christmas" there are signs that the Iowa cow-testing war may be renewed next spring and prolonged indefinitely. From Cedar county, where it all started, the rebellion has spread to other counties until now testing under martial law has gone into its sixth week. With the appearance of guardsmen hostilities cease, but they brake out immediately in new territory. If the completion of the work in the yet untested counties were all that promised trouble, the end of the war might be in sight. Only a small portion of the state remains untested. But the campaign for tuberculosis eradication doesn't end with one test. It has to be repeated over and over. Heartened by the trouble which farmers in the southeastern counties have been making with their opposition, objectors have been organizing elsewhere to resist application of the second test. They threaten to submit only to military rule. This greatly increases the gravity of the situation. While the militia has been able to handle the situation without bloodshed, its continual employment for years or even months would create a serious problem. The cost of pacification would be staggering. For the brief time the war has been in progress the expense to the state is said to have reached more than $100,000.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: 10 or 12 from Co. "E". Who were they? Classification: Military Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/ok.2ADE/1553 Message Board Post: THE SIDNEY ARGUS - HERALD. November 5, 193l. "Cow War Casualties".--Who said the late "cow war" was all play, with no resulting casualties? Sidney's ten or dozen members of Company E who were in the thickest of it, and who resturned once more to peaceful occupations Saturday, can tell you differently. Of course, the trip to Tipton being the first of its kind, was to a certain extent one that gave the boys a novel experience and being such, was not regarded as a very great hardship. But this last call, to Burlington, was different. To begin with, a bad start was made, chargeable to somebody who thought he was a regular cutup pulling the old gag that war had been declared by Japan and the cattle veterans were wanted to help put down the little slant-eyed Japs. How could a fellow help but get a wrong start into things with such a beginning? And then to top it all off, the Sidney delegation to a man lost their clothes, but fortunately not their skins. No, the loss was not occasioned by some enraged papa-cow who resented the invasion of the boys into his bovine domicile, nor by an infuriated farmer with a pitchfork. In fact, the loss is not permanent--their clothes have only been temporarily withdrawn from circulation. All because the chap entrusted with the key to the lockers in the armory at Shenandoah went out and lost it. So why should the "cow war" be regarded as a lark? Ask the boy who were "over there". N.B.: To find other postings about the Cow War, go to the "Search" space and type in +cow war and that is all that will come up.--W.F.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Bankston, Shannon, Axtell Classification: Biography Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/ok.2ADE/1552 Message Board Post: THE FREMONT COUNTY SUN. April 9, 1909. "The Potato King".--William Bankston of Tabor, the Potato King of south west Iowa was down Monday, delivering a load of choice potatoes to Shannon & Axtell, they having purchased several hundred bushels of him. Mr. Bankston is one of two colored men who reside in Tabor, and is a man of intelligence and of moral worth and is withal self made and self educated, coming to Tabor many years ago and going to work at common labor, has by frugality and habits of industry made and saved for himself a fortune of several thousand dollars and today owns a fine farm and town property in Tabor. For a great many years Bankston has raised large crops of potatoes and is an expert in this kind of farming.