The New Era Humeston, Wayne co. Iowa February 18, 1886 The First and Last Criminal at Ft. Madison The prisoner longest in service is No. 730, Samuel Trogden, sent June 29, 1867, from Wapello county for life, for murder. He has been a good soldier, and had served a term in this prison before the war for horse stealing. The next 'veteran' is No. 823, J.B. Mathews, committed May 1868, from Washington county for murder. Both were well behaved and Mathews is too old to work. The youngest recruit came to-day, bears the name of Johnson, and gets the number 4,277, which represents the total number of men who have been confined here since the prison passed under state control in 1849. The first prisoner, or No. 1, was Isaac Grimes, of Cedar county, committed September 22, 1849, under a sentence for sixty days for "assault with intent to commit great bodily injury." Grimes was a native of Indiana, 32 years old, and some man had probably called him a liar, which no Indiana man would take. He was pardoned after languishing eight days. This prison was began under federal auspices in 1839, but there is no record beyond "No. 1" as above noted. -- Senator Young in the Atlantic Telegraph. The Iowa House passed a bill on the 12th exempting old soldiers from the payment of poll-tax. Mrs. Ida M. Riley, principal of the schools at Chariton, is going to Ames to teach in the State Agricultural College. In addition to her professorship she will be College librarian. Robert Lincoln, son of the martyred President, owns a fine tract of land in Crawford County. It was purchased by his father years before he became President of the United States. Last week two more of our great men passed to eternal rest, after long an duseful public lives. General Hancock and Horatio Seymour, the soldier and the statesman have passed away leaving their country bowed down with grief. One by one our great men are passing away leaving their places on the battle field and senate floor to be filled by the rising generation. H.P. Sayles met with a painful accident at Clearfield last Tuesday. He was coupling cars and in some manner got one of the fingers on his left hand between the bumpers mashing it entirely off at the middle joint. Dr. Singer of Clearfield, dressed the wound, and it is getting along splendid. W.F. Watson, of Albia, will establish a cheese factory at Allerton, Iowa, if the milk from 500 cows can be secured and delivered at the factory once each day during the season. The price will be regulated by the price of cheese to some extent. The milk from good cows will run from $5 to $6 per month for six months. -- Allerton News. Cambria - Mr. Harvey Alsire and Miss Frankie Miller were united in marriage last Thursday. ----- Arizona Republican Phoenix, Arizona Territory February 18, 1891 Arizona's Fourth Judge - Ed. Wells, of Prescott, Appointed to the new Position. Washington, February 17 -- The nomination of Edward W. Wells, of Arizona, as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of that Territory has been transmitted by President Harrison to the Senate. Ed. W. Wells was born in Lancaster, Ohio, February 14, 1846. When but seven years of age his parents moved to Iowa. The boy attended the public schools of Oskaloosa [Mahaska co.]. When sixteen years old he went to Colorado and there engaged in mining for two years, when he removed to Prescott, Arizona. [remainder of the very lengthly article has been abstracted as follows: In 1867 he was appointed Clerk of the District Court, holding the office for seven years. Studied law and admitted to bar in 1875. Deputy US Attorney two years in the 1870's. Director of the Bank of Arizona in Prescott and real estate owner in Maricopa county, Arizona] ----- Arizona Republican Phoenix, Arizona Territory February 18, 1896 B.T. Tillinghest, managing editor of the Daily Democrat, Davenport, Iowa, arrived yesterday over the Santa Fe, for a short visit to Phoenix of which he has heard so much, and will before leaving try to visit most of the points of interest and familiarize himself with the attractions of the locality. ----- Mountain Democrat Placerville, California February 18, 1905 Judge Fairall, a distinguished lawyer and jurist of Iowa City, Iowa, is in Placerville on legal business in the settling of a $68,000 estate. Transcribed by Sharyll Ferrall Iowa Old Press http://www.IowaOldPress.com/