The Enterprise

Afton, Iowa, March 16 1882
Local news
Mr. Paulus, last Monday, got on a spree and was taken to the cooler, and while there, thought he would amuse himself by setting fire to a woolen blanket. The smoke would have suffocated him in a very short time, had not the Marshal come to his rescue. He was so far gone that it took several minutes to restore him again.

The Enterprise

Afton, Iowa, March 23, 1882

Mr. Thos Little has built, plastered, and papered his new house this winter and called it No. 16 that being the number of houses he has built to reside in since he was married. He built eleven houses in Illinois, three in Ottumwa, one in Decatur county and one in
Afton. He was burned out four times. The only house he ever insured burned three days after the policy run out. High water on the Mississippi river, washed a good home with house-hold goods away once. The above has all occurred inside of forty-five years

The Enterprise

Afton, Iowa, April 20, 1882
A young man living in the west side of town recently proposed to a young lady and she accepted. He asked the privilege of naming the day; she granted this. He named the next day after the resurrection, stating if she came up good, he would take her, if not, he would not accept her.

The Enterprise

Afton, Iowa, July 20, 1882
Jos. Smith, who was arrested at Hopeville, a short time ago, charged with horse stealing, recently turned state's evidence and exposed an organized company of horse thieves composed of himself, John Monroe, now in jail at
Afton, and Dode Smith of Ringgold Co. The last named person was arrested, last Tuesday, and taken to Mt. Ayr. The trial of Smith was postponed for 30 days. Shields said Smith is the leader, that he (Smith), furnished the pony and gave all the directions for stealing a horse for which he (Shields) served a term of 18 months imprisonment at Ft. Madison and that the horse was sold and money divided between the three. They, it appears, have been in cahoot for a number of years. Monroe says he could have sent Smith to the penitentiary over fifteen years ago.

The Enterprise

Afton, Iowa, Oct. 5. 1882
The new and thriving town of Tingley, Ringgold Co., was visited by a fire one day last week. Dr. St. John's drug store and several other buildings were razed to the ground, including a new furniture store-room. We understand the buildings are being replaced.

The Enterprise

Afton, Iowa, Mar. 13, 1884
Osceola has had quite a sensation on account of the body of an infant child being exhumed, on last Thursday, on the lot of a widow names Amanda Harris, (colored). A coroner's jury decided that the child came to its death by violent means. A warrant for arrest was served on Amanda Harris and her daughter, and Lee Berger, her son-in-law, on a charge of murder. All the parties waived examination and are in jail awaiting the action of the courts. The accused admit Mrs. Harris, to be the mother of this child but deny any crime having been committed.

The Enterprise

Afton, Iowa, April 3, 1884
Miss Amanda Barnhart, totally blind, is now making preparations and expects to start for Dakota next Tuesday for the purpose of taking up a homestead and tree claim. This is spunk and enterprise that we feel proud of, and we are willing to wager that there is not a county in this state or in the United States which can produce her equal. Our girls are all made of just such material.

The Enterprise

Afton, Iowa, April 17, 1884
Mrs. Mary McMillen, of this place, has recently been granted a pension of about $3,600 on account of deceased son, Lieut. William H. McMillen, member Co. E., 4th Iowa Regiment, who was killed at the battle of Pleasant Hill, in Lousiana, on the 13th day of April, 1864. The parents will receive $15 per month. This is one of the largest amounts received by any pensioner at this place, and while it is scarcely worth mention as compared with the loss of their son it no doubt will support the old couple the remainder of their days. The pension was procured at the instigation and assistance of Mr. P. H. Stanfield.

The Enterprise

Afton, Iowa, May 29, 1884
The graduating class of the
Afton High school of '84 comprises of fourteen girls and but three boys. The names are as follows: Alice Bishop, Viola Baxter, Effie Bolinger, Hattie Bagg, Willie Berry, Ethel Cherry, Gertie Diven, Mollie Groves, Meda Hunter, Willie Hunter, Josie Kirkwood, Mary Martin, Cora Miskimins, Libbie Nix, Thomas Robinson, Nettie Stayt and Mary Wright

Category of "OOPS"

July 10, 1884
Last Saturday the Marshal was called upon to kill what was supposed a mad dog, which was running around the streets frothing at the mouth. In the evening, however, it was learned that the dog had run under a brick-kiln, at the brick yard, to get in the shade, and the boys, not knowing of his presence there, built a fire at each end of the kiln. Later in the day, the workmen at the yard, were occasionally disturbed by a moaning sound. The dog had been in his terrible prison five hours before he was discovered, and was so weak that he had to be draged out and water poured over him before he was able to walk, but he would doubtless have recovered had he not been shot.

The Enterprise

Afton, Iowa, July 24, 1884
The State Board of Health has issued a circular calling attention to the new law governing burial permits. From and after October 1st, 1884, no incorporated city or town in this state shall allow the burial of the dead body of any person without a permit issued and signed by the clerk or recorder of such city or town.

The Enterprise

Afton, Iowa, Oct. 2, 1884
Peter Cale lost his cow last week, and a subscription paper is being circulated for the purpose of buying him another cow. Mr. Cale, we understand, has been sick and met with other misfortunes lately.

The Enterprise

Afton, Iowa, Oct. 2, 1884
The old soldiers' reunion, at Creston, opened with a fair crowd and good prospects Tuesday morning. The report soon circulated among the soldiers, however, that they were being exhibited like wild beasts for money, and their relatives and friends were compelled to pay 25 cents each to see them. This created considerable wrath among the veterans, and in the afternoon, when a soldier's widow was refused admittance on account of not having 25 cents, they rebelled, declaring they would no longer stand the outrage, and would leave the grounds before they would allow it to continue, and some, in their wrath, proceeded to tear down the fence. This stoped the admittance fee, and everything was again running smoothly. Meantime, however, the Creston people were not sleeping, but were studyng out some new plan to bleed the soldiers, who they had so cordially invited, the day before, to come and partake of their hospitality. At noon of the second day, it was announced to the soldier that their pantry was empty, and each soldier would be compelled to defray his own expenses during the remainder of the encampment. This money scheme, however, proved a failure, for the soldiers left for their respective homes in the afternoon, with their bosoms filled with love for Creston, the place, they credit with their army's greatest defeat. The next reunion will be held at St. Joe.

The Enterprise

Afton, Iowa, Oct. 16, 1884

A case of considerable importance was tried at Corning, Adams Co., on last Tuesday, that of J. W. Holland vs. Union County. Mr. Holland's claim was $250 for building a bridge at the Lamb ford, in Pleasant Tp., $200 for the bridge and $50 for extra work on same. Plaintiff was allowed the $200 by the jury. The case will no doubt go to the supreme court. Mr. Holland claims that he made the plan for the county, the board accepted it and he built the bridge accordingly. The board claims that he, (Holland), furnished the plan and built the bridge and guaranteed it, and that the bridge fell before the approaches were made or it had been accepted.

Afton, Iowa, Feb. 13, 1885

Last Sunday afternoon one of the most terrible wrecks that has occured on the C. B. & Q. R.R. for many years past was caused by a broken rail. No. 3, the west bound train, fell through the long bridge about a mile and a half west of Cromwell. The engine, baggage and mail car passed luckily over the broken rail, but the smoking car and passenger coaches went down the terrible precipiece and, with the exception of the Pulman car, were smashed to splinters. The news was sent to Creston and the wreck train crowded with railroad men and citizens were soon dispatched to the scene, which was described, by one of those present, to be one of the more horrible scenes ever human eye beheld. A young man by the name of Carroll, who is expected to be fatally injured, took his new made bride, who was dead, in his arms and carried her several yards, where he fell in a swoon. It is wondered, by all who have visited the wreck, how any human being could escape alive. It is claimed by railroad men that the accident was one of those unavoidable ones, that that the rail broke after the engine struck it. The killed was placed in the old postoffice room in the Summit House and the wounded were given rooms and nurses appointed to take care of them. The dead reported were Mrs. J. Powell, of Louisville, KY.; Mrs. Dr. W. C. Carroll, who registered Saturday at the Summit House and was from Denver; Mr. R. Brown of Mt. Pleasant, lately in the employ of the "Q". The last two named it would seem were brothers as both were from the same place and both bound for Pacific Junction. Those injured were Mrs. Day from Burlington, should injured; Mrs. Fitch, sister to our fellow townsmen Jas. Groves, serious injured on head, also sustained other very painful bruises; Powell, son of the lady killed, probably fatally hurt; C. H. Coombs, from Nebraska, shoulder hurt; Jas. Thomas, North Eureka, Iowa, ugly scalp wound; Dr. W. C. Carroll, badly wounded; L. C. Fossler, a traveling man from Monroe, Iowa, wound in small of back; Geo. Carey, Omaha, his injured; A. B. Cole, scalp wound; Geo. Highland slightly wounded; Mr. Lindsay back broken; Mr. Waterman, Corning, fatally hurt; C. B. Davis, Corning and Mrs. Ferrell of Prescott, also injured; trainmaster Sierres, leg broken. Later-Mr. Waterman, of Corning, son of Lyman Waterman, of Creston, is dead; also, Mr. Lindsay and another whose name we did not hear. Mrs. Fitch is not expected to live. The cars descended about 60 feet and were literally smashed to splinters.

The Enterprise

Afton, Iowa, Feb. 26, 1885
Fire-Mr. Lamb Shepherd Burned Out Again!
About 1 o'clock. This is the third time within about five years that Mr. Shepherd's residence has been destroyed by fire. It will be remembered that his house was burned last September with no insurance. This time the property was insured for $400 in the Hawkeye Insurance Co. Loss, about $600. No one was at home at the time except Mrs. Lamb, who was sick in bed, and a little girl. Mr. Lamb was attending Mr. Allen's sale. The fire is supposed to have originated from the flue. The household effects were totally destroyed.

Afton, Iowa, April 2, 1885 The Kail family, of Creston, who created such a sensation in January by proclaiming that the world would come to an end Jan. 4th, created quite a sensation Saturday evening about 6 o'clock, by T. W. Kail, a member of the family, coming out of the residence in a nude condition and proceeding to a stone foundation near by, and in his naked condition ran around the foundation, tearing out stones, and imagining himself tearing down the wall so Babylon. The neighbors, however, objected to Kail's appearance, and they had him and Rawson, who it is claimed is the cause of the family's insanity, arrested. The remainder of the family, who consist of the old lady, two more boys, two daughters, on a young woman and the other a little girl, and the wife and three children of O. B. Kail, followed their brother prisoners to the city bastile and could not be induced to return to their home, but stood shivering in their clothing. Finally, by arresting Jake Kail, the remained of the family was inducted to return home. While the trio were in custody they went through all manner of religious exercises, imagined themselves Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Monday morning they were fined before the Mayor or Creston, and on Tuesday, O. B. Kail and Jake Kail were tried before the insane committee at
Afton, adjusted insane and sent to the asylum. Rawson was telegraphed to come to Chicago, and his trial will come off as soon as he returns.

The Enterprise

Afton, Iowa, April 9, 1885
Mr. J. S. Larimer, whose wife and son were last summer killed by lightning, is now engaged in erecting a beautiful granite monument over their remains in the
Afton cemetery. The cost of the monument will exceed $300
(article from paper)

Afton, Iowa, June 5, 1884
Killed by Lightning.

On last Saturday evening, about 6 o'clock, Mrs. J. S. Lorimor and son Oscar were killed by lightning. They were near the house at a milk house when struck. Oscar, aged about 18 years was killed instantly, but Mrs. Lorimor showed sign of life for a short time. The young man showed no sign of cuts or bruises but his mother was cut in the head and ear. Mr. Lorimor, who was standing in the stable door at the time was stunned slightly. Some horses in the yard were knocked down.
The remains of the deceased were brought to
Afton on Sabbath evening and placed in one grace in the cemetery. A long procession followed the remains to the cemetery where it was joined by a great number of our citizens in sympathy with the family. Funeral services were delivered at the house by Rev. Myers, and the closing ceremonies at the grave by Rev. Alex Darley. Mrs. Lorimor was one of those good, kind mothers who made all who met her glad to associate with her. Mr. And Mrs. Lorimor are old residents of the county, having come here in 1854 and settled on their present place in New Hope Tp., about 14 miles from
Afton. The family are all grown up and married except one son, who remains with his sorrow stricken father who has the heart felt sympathies of a large circle of relatives, friends and neighbors.

The Enterprise

Afton, Iowa, April 23, 1885
Tuesday morning about 1 o'clock a fire broke out in the skating rink, at Murray, and before the flames could be controlled the principal business part of that town had been consumed. Three buildings were reduced, with nearly all of their contents, to ashes, and the only brick building of the town badly demoralized. The loss is estimated at about $10,000, with a very small insurance.

Afton, Iowa, June 11, 1885
Quite a sensation, caused by a baby, was realized by our citizens on last Saturday. A young woman with an infant babe arrived on the evening train from the West, Friday, and stopped at the Occidental Hotel. She registered Mrs. Bell St. John, Hutchison, Kan., and after leaving orders to be called early the next morning retired. The following morning, after paying her bill, she started at 5 o'clock for the country. About an hour later the occupants of the hotel were aroused by the crying of a baby, and upon investigation, it was learned that the young woman had left her child. Mr. Babcock, who by the way was considerable excited, immediately went in search of the truant mother, found in which direction she had went and sent Deputy sheriff Hall after her, who found her near Macksburg and brought her back. She at first denied of being in
Afton and leaving a baby, but after being informed in regard to the extent of the crime she was about to commit, and that her guilt could easily be established, she acknowledged that she was the mother. During Saturday over a hundred parties called to see the infant, and eight different parents wanted to adopt it, but the mother's love, which had again returned to the young woman, was to strong and she refused to part with her child. The mother was only seventeen years old and the child, which was a girl, was two weeks old. We understand she has no father, but her mother, whose name is St. John, lives near Macksburg. The seducer has fled but the authorities are after him, and it is hoped that he will be brought to justice, and made pay dearly for the young and happy life which he had been the cause of blasting forever.

The Enterprise

Afton, Iowa, June 18, 1885
The Creston foundry burned down last Saturday.

The Enterprise

Afton, Iowa, June 18, 1885
Mrs. Lamb Shepherd, of Union township, died last Thursday, after a painful illness for several months, brought on by taking a dose of medicine, which entirely ruined her throat and stomach. She leaves a large family of children, a bereaved husband and a large circle of friends to mourn her untimely death. In a related article -
The question "Can children return, from their Havenly home, to comfort a loving mother on her death bed?" is being agitated by a number of our citizens, since the death of Mrs. Shepherd. During her illness and when she seemed to be the lowest, beautiful music, coming from an unknown spirit would float into the room, and could be heard by all its occupants, and on each occasion Mrs. Shepherd would raise up in her bed and exclaim: "Oh, how sweet. I will soon be with you, dear children." We, like the majority of mankind, are great disbeleavers, but responsible men and women declare they heard the music and there is no question as to its truthfulness, but in regard to where it came from, or what caused it, is the question. A short time ago strange musical sounds were also heard in a house in
Afton, but on thorough investigation it was discovered to be a musical mouse. The above may be accounted for in the same way.
In the July 2, 1885 paper:
Something strange in regard to the music at Mr. Shephard's house, of which we spoke some two weeks ago, is that as soon as the corpse was removed from the house the music ceased, and we understand has not been heard since.

The Enterprise

Afton, Iowa, July 9, 1885
Last week Miss Mary Swanker, through her father Charlie Swanker, brought suit against W. H. Doherty (all of Pleasant township) for bastardy. Miss Mary having just become the mother of a bright infant. Mr. Doherty is an excellent young man and highly spoken of by all who know him. He strongly declares his innocense, and many of the neighbors believe that he is being victimized. The trial will come off at the next term of court.
July 16, 1885
Lightning struck John J. Thompson's barn Tuesday. Mr. Thompson and his men, who were engaged in storing hay in the loft, had just gone to dinner, which doubtless saved two or three lives. They were notified that something had been struck in the immediate vicinity by a quick flash and loud crack, and upon rushing out found the barn on fire. The barn was filled with horses, implements and hay, and it was soon one ocean of flame, and it was all the men could do to rescue the lives of the horses and keep the granary and house from being consumed by the flames. Three horses are dead and about three more were so badly burned that it is feared they can not recover. Several sets of harness and other miner things were also consumed in the flames. His, fine stallion, however is uninjured. A very low estimate of the loss is put at $2,500; insurance at $1,000.

The Enterprise

Afton, Iowa, June 7th, 1888
Mr. J. C. Sullivan, of Creston Marble Works, has secured the contract for erecting a monument at Pisgah, about four miles east of
Afton, to the memory of the Mormon community who died at that place in 1846-7 and '48, during their temporary residence there. The monument will be of granite, 12 feet high, surmounted by a bust of Brigham Young and will have on one side the following inscription:
"This monument, erected A. D. 1888, in memory of those members of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints who died in 1846, 1847 and 1848, during their exodus to seek a home beyond the Rocky Mountains.
Interred here is
WILLIAM HUNTINGTON
First Presiding Elder of the temporary
Settlement called Pisgah;
---also---
LENORA CHARLOTTE SNOW
Daughter of Elder Lorenzo and Charlotte
Squire Snow;
---and-
ISAAC PHINEAS RICHARDS
Son of Elder Franklin D. and Jane
Snyder Richards

Union County,Iowa

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