Genealogists, as students of history, know that we can only reach an incomplete understanding of our ancestor’s lives. The details, even if we can find them, don’t always mean the same to us as they did to our forebears. Everyone sees the world through their own unique set of lenses: current events, widely-held sentiments, beliefs and/or stereotypes, even personal experiences, change the way we see the world. For example, proper Victorian ladies, even if they kept a daily diary, would Never have mentioned being pregnant (Ssshhh!). Instead, they note that “a little visitor came to stay at our house last night.”
And changes in the language itself from their time to ours can be a barrier to understanding. For example, a lady wrote me about her ancestor. His wife’s obituary stated that “He was a professor of religion for 60 years before his death.” This lady wanted more information on his life. I had researched this man and was shocked. The census records said he was a blacksmith for many years. How had I missed that he was a professor?
Well, I’m not sure that I did.
A professor can also be "one who professes, avows or declares," such as on a religious matter at an adult baptism or confirmation ceremony, thereby becoming a "professor of" that religion.
It could also mean that he was a lay minister, professing his faith to a congregation. I had assumed that the phrase was an old-fashioned, and unusual, way to say that he was a very religious man. Such statements were extremely common in late 19th century obituaries. Wouldn't want anyone to think he was a heathen, after all.
This lady and I had seen the exact same information through two different lenses and saw completely different things. And both interpretations may be completely different from what the obituary writer really meant, if we could ask them.
So leave your modern lenses at the door and try to see through your ancestors’ eyes.
In my research today, I came across the phrase "make him into 'catfish bait.'" This was frontier slang for disemboweling an enemy and dumping his body in the river. It would also have worked as an insult, for anyone who has ever fished for catfish knows that the bottom feeders are attracted to the most rotten, most foul-smelling stuff you can find. I have not been able to find any information on the origin of this phrase, so if anyone knows, please share. Thanks!
© 2011 LuAnn Goeke
Genealogy linked to Jackson County, Iowa
Monday, April 30, 2012
Friday, March 9, 2012
Wentworth-Butters Mystery
My brother, Don Wentworth, called me this afternoon for some genealogical assistance. Some people from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, had come to the genealogical library looking for their ancestors and were having no luck. This is all they knew:
- Maybelle Butters had been married to Harlan Butters, possibly in Jackson Co., Iowa.
- Maybelle later married a Mr. Wentworth.
- Maybelle lived and died in Chicago, Illinois and was buried by the Salvation Army.
- Harlan Butters was born in 1881 and died in 1951.
This sort of puzzle is just what I enjoy. So I logged into Ancestry.com and searched for Harlan Butters in Jackson Co., Iowa.
In the 1900 census, I found Harland Butters, b.Oct 1882, single, listed in Monmouth Twp. as a hired hand for Noble & Caroline Wilcox.
In the 1885 census for South Fork Twp., I found Harland R. Butters, age 3, listed with his probable parents, James & Susan Butters, his little sister, Eunice Butters, and his probable grandmother, Eunice Butters.
In the 1905 census, I found H.R., “Mabel” and Grace Butters listed under the Elwood, Brookfield Twp., Clinton Co., Iowa post office.
I searched for Maybelle Butters but found nothing. I then searched for Mabel Butters. In the 1910 census for Cedar Rapids, Iowa, I found her listed as a 25-year-old divorced lodger working as a restaurant cook.
In the 1920 census for Chicago, Illinois, “Mabelle” Butters was listed as age 33, single, a secretary, her father born in Maine, her mother in Illinois.
Then I searched for Mabel Wentworth. Bingo! Right away, I found her listed in the 1900 census for Brookfield Twp., Clinton Co., Iowa. This was the same location where she, her husband and daughter were listed five years later in the 1905 census. In the 1900 census, Mabel Wentworth, age 15, and her probable sister, Golde Wentworth, age 11, were listed in the home of their grandfather, E.D. Purdy.
I also found a Clinton Co., Iowa birth record for Mabel Elizabeth Wentworth, born on 13 Aug 1884 in Elwood, the daughter of Isaac Alfred Wentworth and Sarah Maria PURDY.
In the 1895 census, this family was listed in Sabula, Jackson Co., Iowa.
Note how I had to be flexible about spelling. Mabel instead of Maybelle. Harland instead of Harlan. People in the past were often less well-educated than we are today and often spelled only by the sound of a name. When searching, search by the way names sound, not strictly by the proper spelling, or you will overlook valuable records.
So, in the end, we learned:
- That Wentworth was actually Mabel’s maiden name.
-The names of her parents, sister and grandparents.
-The names of Harland’s parents.
-A range of dates for Harland and Mabel’s marriage.
I emailed all the information to Don who printed it out. The lady from Cedar Rapids thanked me profusely, stating that I had saved her hours of searching for the wrong names.
I love my hobby! © 2011 LuAnn Goeke
- Maybelle Butters had been married to Harlan Butters, possibly in Jackson Co., Iowa.
- Maybelle later married a Mr. Wentworth.
- Maybelle lived and died in Chicago, Illinois and was buried by the Salvation Army.
- Harlan Butters was born in 1881 and died in 1951.
This sort of puzzle is just what I enjoy. So I logged into Ancestry.com and searched for Harlan Butters in Jackson Co., Iowa.
In the 1900 census, I found Harland Butters, b.Oct 1882, single, listed in Monmouth Twp. as a hired hand for Noble & Caroline Wilcox.
In the 1885 census for South Fork Twp., I found Harland R. Butters, age 3, listed with his probable parents, James & Susan Butters, his little sister, Eunice Butters, and his probable grandmother, Eunice Butters.
In the 1905 census, I found H.R., “Mabel” and Grace Butters listed under the Elwood, Brookfield Twp., Clinton Co., Iowa post office.
I searched for Maybelle Butters but found nothing. I then searched for Mabel Butters. In the 1910 census for Cedar Rapids, Iowa, I found her listed as a 25-year-old divorced lodger working as a restaurant cook.
In the 1920 census for Chicago, Illinois, “Mabelle” Butters was listed as age 33, single, a secretary, her father born in Maine, her mother in Illinois.
Then I searched for Mabel Wentworth. Bingo! Right away, I found her listed in the 1900 census for Brookfield Twp., Clinton Co., Iowa. This was the same location where she, her husband and daughter were listed five years later in the 1905 census. In the 1900 census, Mabel Wentworth, age 15, and her probable sister, Golde Wentworth, age 11, were listed in the home of their grandfather, E.D. Purdy.
I also found a Clinton Co., Iowa birth record for Mabel Elizabeth Wentworth, born on 13 Aug 1884 in Elwood, the daughter of Isaac Alfred Wentworth and Sarah Maria PURDY.
In the 1895 census, this family was listed in Sabula, Jackson Co., Iowa.
Note how I had to be flexible about spelling. Mabel instead of Maybelle. Harland instead of Harlan. People in the past were often less well-educated than we are today and often spelled only by the sound of a name. When searching, search by the way names sound, not strictly by the proper spelling, or you will overlook valuable records.
So, in the end, we learned:
- That Wentworth was actually Mabel’s maiden name.
-The names of her parents, sister and grandparents.
-The names of Harland’s parents.
-A range of dates for Harland and Mabel’s marriage.
I emailed all the information to Don who printed it out. The lady from Cedar Rapids thanked me profusely, stating that I had saved her hours of searching for the wrong names.
I love my hobby! © 2011 LuAnn Goeke
Monday, September 12, 2011
Fulton Iowa Sunday School Picnic
I have found another old photo of a group of Jackson County people that I would like to identify. This picture is marked "S.S. Picnic at Fulton."
The date is unknown, but probably 1905-1920. I have only identified two people: Anthony Stoll and his wife, Viola (in the back row).
A similar picture of the 1915 Fulton Sunday School Picnic was published in “The Shopper Stopper” on October 17, 1973. Many of the same people could be in both photos since they were probably taken just a few years apart. The caption for the 1915 photo included these surnames:
DeGraw, Frank, Green, Head, Henton, Hute, James, Lainberger, Mayberry, Rannels, Ruff, Shields, Stoll, Smith, Sutton, Thompson, Watters, Wilcox, Zirkelbach.
I am happy to share the photo, but I would appreciate any help in identifying those in it. Even if you know when one of the older people died or the ages of any of the kids, it could be helpful. Just leave me a message. You can see the photo and two close-ups at this link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1925399614692.2095539.1233205371&l=b763bdf70d&type=1
You do not have to belong to Facebook for this. Thank you!
The date is unknown, but probably 1905-1920. I have only identified two people: Anthony Stoll and his wife, Viola (in the back row).
A similar picture of the 1915 Fulton Sunday School Picnic was published in “The Shopper Stopper” on October 17, 1973. Many of the same people could be in both photos since they were probably taken just a few years apart. The caption for the 1915 photo included these surnames:
DeGraw, Frank, Green, Head, Henton, Hute, James, Lainberger, Mayberry, Rannels, Ruff, Shields, Stoll, Smith, Sutton, Thompson, Watters, Wilcox, Zirkelbach.
I am happy to share the photo, but I would appreciate any help in identifying those in it. Even if you know when one of the older people died or the ages of any of the kids, it could be helpful. Just leave me a message. You can see the photo and two close-ups at this link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1925399614692.2095539.1233205371&l=b763bdf70d&type=1
You do not have to belong to Facebook for this. Thank you!
Friday, August 12, 2011
Stoll-Sherberger Photo Collection
I have a collection of digitized photos I call the Stoll-Sherberger collection. The photos belonged to Viola (Sherberger) Stoll of Maquoketa, Iowa. Viola, born in 1882, was raised in Mahaska and Muscatine Cos. of Iowa. In 1906, she married Anthony Stoll of Fulton, Iowa and lived most of the rest of her life in Jackson Co.
The dates of these photos run from about 1888 up to the 1960’s. There are lots of family photos, some of friends and classmates, and I am happy to share them, but many are as yet unidentified. To me, such photos are very sad: beautiful and precious, but lost from their families forever. The names below are the main family lines shown in these photos for each county, but there are many more and may not include all the names of friends.
You can find more information on any of these families at this free link: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=stoll-shimerda. Additions and corrections are welcome.
If you can help to identify anyone, I would appreciate hearing from you. Please feel free to let me know if you have any questions. You can view the photos at this free link: https://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.1756651836103.2087883.1233205371
Jackson/Jones Co. names include: Stoll, Henry, Gleason, Russell, McCutcheon, Shimerda, Bennett, Pierce, Bierlein, Dostal, Morse, Silberhorn, Clute, McComb, Henry, Rowe, Hopson, Zabortsky, Waters, Blizek, Mayberry, Bollinger, O’Donnell, Hayward, Morse, Copus, Wentworth.
Muscatine Co. names include: Sherberger, Minor, Mowry, Holzhauer, Doran, Dockweiler, Schwin, Bedford, Knott, Moyers, Wacker, Peeks, Wyatt, Van Atta, Kulles, Eshleman, Bates, Atwell, Cooling, Wallace, Shouse, Dice, Wierhauser, Chartiere, Lockshart, Shore, Mulford, Stevens, Silberhorn.
Mahaska Co. names include: Minor, Sherberger, Hoskins, Fry, Beal, Huff, Zane.
The dates of these photos run from about 1888 up to the 1960’s. There are lots of family photos, some of friends and classmates, and I am happy to share them, but many are as yet unidentified. To me, such photos are very sad: beautiful and precious, but lost from their families forever. The names below are the main family lines shown in these photos for each county, but there are many more and may not include all the names of friends.
You can find more information on any of these families at this free link: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=stoll-shimerda. Additions and corrections are welcome.
If you can help to identify anyone, I would appreciate hearing from you. Please feel free to let me know if you have any questions. You can view the photos at this free link: https://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.1756651836103.2087883.1233205371
Jackson/Jones Co. names include: Stoll, Henry, Gleason, Russell, McCutcheon, Shimerda, Bennett, Pierce, Bierlein, Dostal, Morse, Silberhorn, Clute, McComb, Henry, Rowe, Hopson, Zabortsky, Waters, Blizek, Mayberry, Bollinger, O’Donnell, Hayward, Morse, Copus, Wentworth.
Muscatine Co. names include: Sherberger, Minor, Mowry, Holzhauer, Doran, Dockweiler, Schwin, Bedford, Knott, Moyers, Wacker, Peeks, Wyatt, Van Atta, Kulles, Eshleman, Bates, Atwell, Cooling, Wallace, Shouse, Dice, Wierhauser, Chartiere, Lockshart, Shore, Mulford, Stevens, Silberhorn.
Mahaska Co. names include: Minor, Sherberger, Hoskins, Fry, Beal, Huff, Zane.
Monday, August 8, 2011
Union Center Sunday School photo, 1910-1915
I recently came across this photograph marked simply "Union Center Sunday School." It appears to have been taken about 1910-1915. I've been able to identify a few people, but would appreciate any help in identifying the rest.
Lower left corner: Opal Russell, age 3-4, sister, Leitha Russell. Their mother, Anna (Smith) Russell, is on the far right. Their maternal grandmother, Sarah (Beers) Smith, is above them holding a small boy. Their paternal grandmother, Clara (Cunningham) Russell, is standing in the open church doorway. Fred Mychalek is in the center of the picture, with probably one of the ministers to his left.
The Union Center Methodist Episcopal Church was located in Section 31 of Fairfield Township, just at the Maquoketa township line, 7 miles east of Maquoketa. The cemetery is easy to get to, just off Hwy. 64. The land for the church was donated by Bert Haylock from his farm. The sanctuary was built about 1870. The church was on the Methodist circuit and served by pastors from Preston and Charlotte - two of whom were Rev. Williams and Rev. C.W. Clemo.
We would like your help in identifying the other people in the photograph. So if you recognize anyone, please let me or Don Wentworth know.
You can also find this photo at this link: photo. You do not have to belong to Facebook to see this picture.
Or ask Don Wentworth to see the printed photo.
Thank you for your help! © 2011 LuAnn Goeke
Lower left corner: Opal Russell, age 3-4, sister, Leitha Russell. Their mother, Anna (Smith) Russell, is on the far right. Their maternal grandmother, Sarah (Beers) Smith, is above them holding a small boy. Their paternal grandmother, Clara (Cunningham) Russell, is standing in the open church doorway. Fred Mychalek is in the center of the picture, with probably one of the ministers to his left.
The Union Center Methodist Episcopal Church was located in Section 31 of Fairfield Township, just at the Maquoketa township line, 7 miles east of Maquoketa. The cemetery is easy to get to, just off Hwy. 64. The land for the church was donated by Bert Haylock from his farm. The sanctuary was built about 1870. The church was on the Methodist circuit and served by pastors from Preston and Charlotte - two of whom were Rev. Williams and Rev. C.W. Clemo.
We would like your help in identifying the other people in the photograph. So if you recognize anyone, please let me or Don Wentworth know.
You can also find this photo at this link: photo. You do not have to belong to Facebook to see this picture.
Or ask Don Wentworth to see the printed photo.
Thank you for your help! © 2011 LuAnn Goeke
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Books Available on the Internet
A lot of my research is done on the Internet and with books that are available online. So I thought I would share with you some of my favorite sites for online books with Jackson County information. Just copy and paste the links into your browser.
GOOGLE BOOKS - *Free* - Use this link to get to the Google Books homepage: http://books.google.com/bkshp?hl=en&tab=pp I find many genealogies and county histories here. On the left is a search box which is wonderful! Capital letters are not required. To find an exact phrase, surround it with quotation marks. For example, type: Ballou+genealogy or "jackson county, iowa"+history
When I used the Jackson County search, I found several biographies of people who had lived in Jackson County but whose biographies were published in other counties. The books come up as page images, but at the top of the page, click “Plain Text” to cut and paste. Double check the wording after pasting! The program is trying to “read” the text and it is not foolproof.
Some books are full view, some have no preview and some have just a snippet view, but at least you know it exists. If you create an account, you can also save the books to your personal library at Google so you can find it easily.
Both volumes of the 1910 J.W. Ellis History of Jackson County are available “full view” on Google Books. For Vol. I , use this link -
http://www.google.com/books?id=HHwUAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#PPP7,M1
For Vol. 2, use this link -
http://books.google.com/books?id=HXwUAAAAYAAJ
INTERNET ARCHIVE - *Free*
The 1879 History of Jackson County, is available free online at the Internet Archive and downloadable in several formats. Use this link - http://www.archive.org/details/historyofjackson00west.
There are also many genealogies at this site.
IOWA HISTORY PROJECT - *Free* Another great site for books. Find it at http://iagenweb.org/history/.
ANCESTRY – Subscription required after 14-day Free Trial. Page images of the 1889 Portrait and Biographical Album of Jackson Co., Iowa are available here.
If you know of any other sites, please let me know. Enjoy! © 2011 LuAnn Goeke
GOOGLE BOOKS - *Free* - Use this link to get to the Google Books homepage: http://books.google.com/bkshp?hl=en&tab=pp I find many genealogies and county histories here. On the left is a search box which is wonderful! Capital letters are not required. To find an exact phrase, surround it with quotation marks. For example, type: Ballou+genealogy or "jackson county, iowa"+history
When I used the Jackson County search, I found several biographies of people who had lived in Jackson County but whose biographies were published in other counties. The books come up as page images, but at the top of the page, click “Plain Text” to cut and paste. Double check the wording after pasting! The program is trying to “read” the text and it is not foolproof.
Some books are full view, some have no preview and some have just a snippet view, but at least you know it exists. If you create an account, you can also save the books to your personal library at Google so you can find it easily.
Both volumes of the 1910 J.W. Ellis History of Jackson County are available “full view” on Google Books. For Vol. I , use this link -
http://www.google.com/books?id=HHwUAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#PPP7,M1
For Vol. 2, use this link -
http://books.google.com/books?id=HXwUAAAAYAAJ
INTERNET ARCHIVE - *Free*
The 1879 History of Jackson County, is available free online at the Internet Archive and downloadable in several formats. Use this link - http://www.archive.org/details/historyofjackson00west.
There are also many genealogies at this site.
IOWA HISTORY PROJECT - *Free* Another great site for books. Find it at http://iagenweb.org/history/.
ANCESTRY – Subscription required after 14-day Free Trial. Page images of the 1889 Portrait and Biographical Album of Jackson Co., Iowa are available here.
If you know of any other sites, please let me know. Enjoy! © 2011 LuAnn Goeke
Saturday, June 11, 2011
The Taplin-Gage Wedding Calamity
I found two intriguing newspaper articles. The first was published soon after the wedding of John Taplin and Anna Gage of the Sterling area:
Mrs. Blair and children started on Sunday to drive to the eastern part of the county to visit their mother and brother and attend the wedding of her niece, Miss Anna Gage… It may be of interest to those who met Miss Gage when she was here last spring to know that she was married on Wednesday evening, Sept. 11, to John W. Taplin. The wedding was attended by about two hundred and fifty invited guests. The bride was attired in white brocaded silk and carried white and pink rose buds. The presents were numerous, costly and beautiful. - 13 Sept. 1895, Maquoketa Excelsior, Maquoketa, Iowa.
The second article was written nearly a month later.
Fatal Results. Sabula Gazette: the terrible malady mentioned in last week's Gazette continues to increase in this city and vicinity, although there is no evidence of any new contagion.
Geo. E. Bryant, of near Sterling, passed away at four o'clock Thursday, after enduring the most terrible suffering for many days.
Others in the city and country are in a very dangerous condition and more deaths are anticipated. Among all of those mentioned it last week, but two persons have recovered sufficiently to be out of the house - Geo. Scarborough and Wm. Burton, and they are far from well men yet. The others are still very sick and with few exceptions show very slight improvement. Since our last report the following new cases have been reported to us, and of course the list is by no means complete: Miss Sutton of Clinton, at the home of Wm. Walker, W.G. Newsome, W.T. Berner, Dr. F.G. Maskery, Jas. P. Gage, Mr. and Mrs. Jos. Dickinson, Miss Maggie Rogers, a number in Thos. Taplain's family, Chas. Corlis, wife and daughter, Mrs. Christ Petersen, Pearly White, four of Mr. and Mrs. Jehu Bryant's children, two of them now at school at Iowa Falls, Mrs. Jas. Scarborough, Miss May Chappel, two of Chas. Bartlett's children, Mr. and Mrs. John Watts, Douglas Scarborough, Mrs. Geo. W. Scarborough.
The physicians of Sabula, Savanna, Miles, Preston and Clinton still differ as to the exact nature of the disease and we will pass that point "until the doctors agree," if they ever do. But this fact remains undisputed and unquestioned by any person in this vicinity - the malady originated and was spread broadcast at the Taplain-Gage wedding. Good authority states that it originated from pressed chicken or ham, while other good authority says that the germs may have originated in the oppressive foul atmosphere caused by the crowding of so many persons into the rooms. We are neither a scientist nor a physician, hence pass those causes without comment, but the statement that it originated at the wedding we base upon these facts: there were probably between 70 and 75 persons from Sabula present at the wedding. Of that number between 25 and 30 are now down with the disease, while among the remaining 925 residents of the city who were not at the wedding, there is not a single case of any kind. And according to the very best evidence obtainable, this is the exact condition that prevails throughout the country where the disease is prevalent. If a single family from an entire neighborhood was at the wedding, the disease is with them if it is anywhere in that locality, and no one else is afflicted. Although some of the patients have been down almost three weeks, there is not a single instance where the disease has spread to their nurses or anyone else who was not present in person at the wedding. It is argued, and truthfully so, that those who did not eat of any of the meats are sick which gives some color to the theory of the disease germs floating in the atmosphere in those crowded rooms.
There is a movement on foot to call a council of all the physicians who have had anything to do with the cases, to see if something like a unison of opinion and action cannot be arrived at and we sincerely trust that the movement may materialize into a reality.
The Gazette has been backward in taking up this matter and only does so now because it is the most terrible condition and calamity that has ever overshadowed this community and as a matter of public import that cannot treated lightly. Yet, bad as it is, it is not so bad as the wild rumors floating about would paint it. Trace any of the rumors to their source and you will find them highly exaggerated. It is the opinion of every physician with whom we have conversed that the disease is not contagious and there has not been a single instance in this locality of it spreading outside of those originally exposed. We hope to be able to give something more tangible next week. As matters now exist it takes the well part of the community to take care of the unwell. - 11 Oct. 1895, Maquoketa Excelsior, Maquoketa, Iowa.
It seems obvious that this “malady” was actually some form of food poisoning contracted at the Sept. 11, 1895 wedding feast for John Taplin and Anna Gage. Between thirty and forty people were sickened and at least seven died.
I have compiled a list of as many of those who were sickened in this event as I can determine.
1. George E. Bryant, of near Sterling, died 3 Oct 1895, age 28, son of Edwin & Mary Bryant, first husband of Lou (Watts), who later married Thomas Taplin.
2. George Scarborough
3. William Burton
4. Miss Sutton of Clinton, at the home of William Walker.
5. William Walker & dau. Jessie Walker and
6. Lucy Walker, dau of M/M William Walker, died Oct. 7, 1895, age 14.
7. W.G. Newsome
8. W.T. Berner
9. Dr. F.G. Maskery
10. Jas. P. Gage
11. M/M Joe Dickinson
12. Miss Maggie Rogers
13. A number in Thomas Taplain’s family.
14. Chas. Corlis, wife & daughter
15. Mrs. Christ Petersen
16. Pearly White
17. Four of M/M Jehu Bryant’s children, two of them at school in Iowa Falls.
18. Mrs. Jas. Scarborough
19. Miss May Chappel
20. Two of Chas. Bartlett’s children.
a. Susan, died Oct. 11, 1895, age 14.
b. Unknown Bartlett child.
21. M/M John Watts
22. Douglas Scarborough
23. Mrs. Geo W. Scarborough
24. Olga Watt, died in Barnsville, Ohio, aged 22, dau of M/M Stewart Watt.
25. Bessie (Sutton) Kimball, daughter of Phillip & Mary (Reid) Sutton, wife of Owen Kimball, died Oct. 29, 1895, age 26.
Bessie (Sutton), wife of Owen Kimball, died on 29 Oct 1895, six weeks after the wedding. “She died at her home three miles east of Miles, the seventh victim of the prevailing malady." Were there any more who died after Bessie?
I have been only been able to identify five of the seven who died. Can anyone tell me who the other two were?
The Dead:
1. George E. Bryant, of near Sterling, died Oct. 3, 1895, age 28, son of Edwin & Mary Bryant, first husband of Lou (Watts), who later married Thomas Taplin.
2. Lucy Walker, daughter of M/M William Walker, died Oct. 7, 1895, age 14.
3. Susan “Susie” Bartlett, died Oct. 11, 1895, age 14, daughter of Charles & Addie (Kimball) Bartlett.
4. Olga Watt, died in Barnsville, Ohio, aged 22, dau of M/M Stewart Watt
5. Bessie (Sutton) Kimball, daughter of Phillip & Mary (Reid) Sutton, wife of Owen Kimball, died Oct. 29, 1895, age 26. © 2011 LuAnn Goeke
Mrs. Blair and children started on Sunday to drive to the eastern part of the county to visit their mother and brother and attend the wedding of her niece, Miss Anna Gage… It may be of interest to those who met Miss Gage when she was here last spring to know that she was married on Wednesday evening, Sept. 11, to John W. Taplin. The wedding was attended by about two hundred and fifty invited guests. The bride was attired in white brocaded silk and carried white and pink rose buds. The presents were numerous, costly and beautiful. - 13 Sept. 1895, Maquoketa Excelsior, Maquoketa, Iowa.
The second article was written nearly a month later.
Fatal Results. Sabula Gazette: the terrible malady mentioned in last week's Gazette continues to increase in this city and vicinity, although there is no evidence of any new contagion.
Geo. E. Bryant, of near Sterling, passed away at four o'clock Thursday, after enduring the most terrible suffering for many days.
Others in the city and country are in a very dangerous condition and more deaths are anticipated. Among all of those mentioned it last week, but two persons have recovered sufficiently to be out of the house - Geo. Scarborough and Wm. Burton, and they are far from well men yet. The others are still very sick and with few exceptions show very slight improvement. Since our last report the following new cases have been reported to us, and of course the list is by no means complete: Miss Sutton of Clinton, at the home of Wm. Walker, W.G. Newsome, W.T. Berner, Dr. F.G. Maskery, Jas. P. Gage, Mr. and Mrs. Jos. Dickinson, Miss Maggie Rogers, a number in Thos. Taplain's family, Chas. Corlis, wife and daughter, Mrs. Christ Petersen, Pearly White, four of Mr. and Mrs. Jehu Bryant's children, two of them now at school at Iowa Falls, Mrs. Jas. Scarborough, Miss May Chappel, two of Chas. Bartlett's children, Mr. and Mrs. John Watts, Douglas Scarborough, Mrs. Geo. W. Scarborough.
The physicians of Sabula, Savanna, Miles, Preston and Clinton still differ as to the exact nature of the disease and we will pass that point "until the doctors agree," if they ever do. But this fact remains undisputed and unquestioned by any person in this vicinity - the malady originated and was spread broadcast at the Taplain-Gage wedding. Good authority states that it originated from pressed chicken or ham, while other good authority says that the germs may have originated in the oppressive foul atmosphere caused by the crowding of so many persons into the rooms. We are neither a scientist nor a physician, hence pass those causes without comment, but the statement that it originated at the wedding we base upon these facts: there were probably between 70 and 75 persons from Sabula present at the wedding. Of that number between 25 and 30 are now down with the disease, while among the remaining 925 residents of the city who were not at the wedding, there is not a single case of any kind. And according to the very best evidence obtainable, this is the exact condition that prevails throughout the country where the disease is prevalent. If a single family from an entire neighborhood was at the wedding, the disease is with them if it is anywhere in that locality, and no one else is afflicted. Although some of the patients have been down almost three weeks, there is not a single instance where the disease has spread to their nurses or anyone else who was not present in person at the wedding. It is argued, and truthfully so, that those who did not eat of any of the meats are sick which gives some color to the theory of the disease germs floating in the atmosphere in those crowded rooms.
There is a movement on foot to call a council of all the physicians who have had anything to do with the cases, to see if something like a unison of opinion and action cannot be arrived at and we sincerely trust that the movement may materialize into a reality.
The Gazette has been backward in taking up this matter and only does so now because it is the most terrible condition and calamity that has ever overshadowed this community and as a matter of public import that cannot treated lightly. Yet, bad as it is, it is not so bad as the wild rumors floating about would paint it. Trace any of the rumors to their source and you will find them highly exaggerated. It is the opinion of every physician with whom we have conversed that the disease is not contagious and there has not been a single instance in this locality of it spreading outside of those originally exposed. We hope to be able to give something more tangible next week. As matters now exist it takes the well part of the community to take care of the unwell. - 11 Oct. 1895, Maquoketa Excelsior, Maquoketa, Iowa.
It seems obvious that this “malady” was actually some form of food poisoning contracted at the Sept. 11, 1895 wedding feast for John Taplin and Anna Gage. Between thirty and forty people were sickened and at least seven died.
I have compiled a list of as many of those who were sickened in this event as I can determine.
1. George E. Bryant, of near Sterling, died 3 Oct 1895, age 28, son of Edwin & Mary Bryant, first husband of Lou (Watts), who later married Thomas Taplin.
2. George Scarborough
3. William Burton
4. Miss Sutton of Clinton, at the home of William Walker.
5. William Walker & dau. Jessie Walker and
6. Lucy Walker, dau of M/M William Walker, died Oct. 7, 1895, age 14.
7. W.G. Newsome
8. W.T. Berner
9. Dr. F.G. Maskery
10. Jas. P. Gage
11. M/M Joe Dickinson
12. Miss Maggie Rogers
13. A number in Thomas Taplain’s family.
14. Chas. Corlis, wife & daughter
15. Mrs. Christ Petersen
16. Pearly White
17. Four of M/M Jehu Bryant’s children, two of them at school in Iowa Falls.
18. Mrs. Jas. Scarborough
19. Miss May Chappel
20. Two of Chas. Bartlett’s children.
a. Susan, died Oct. 11, 1895, age 14.
b. Unknown Bartlett child.
21. M/M John Watts
22. Douglas Scarborough
23. Mrs. Geo W. Scarborough
24. Olga Watt, died in Barnsville, Ohio, aged 22, dau of M/M Stewart Watt.
25. Bessie (Sutton) Kimball, daughter of Phillip & Mary (Reid) Sutton, wife of Owen Kimball, died Oct. 29, 1895, age 26.
Bessie (Sutton), wife of Owen Kimball, died on 29 Oct 1895, six weeks after the wedding. “She died at her home three miles east of Miles, the seventh victim of the prevailing malady." Were there any more who died after Bessie?
I have been only been able to identify five of the seven who died. Can anyone tell me who the other two were?
The Dead:
1. George E. Bryant, of near Sterling, died Oct. 3, 1895, age 28, son of Edwin & Mary Bryant, first husband of Lou (Watts), who later married Thomas Taplin.
2. Lucy Walker, daughter of M/M William Walker, died Oct. 7, 1895, age 14.
3. Susan “Susie” Bartlett, died Oct. 11, 1895, age 14, daughter of Charles & Addie (Kimball) Bartlett.
4. Olga Watt, died in Barnsville, Ohio, aged 22, dau of M/M Stewart Watt
5. Bessie (Sutton) Kimball, daughter of Phillip & Mary (Reid) Sutton, wife of Owen Kimball, died Oct. 29, 1895, age 26. © 2011 LuAnn Goeke
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)