The News From Dysart – Third Week of February 1914
Tama County Pioneers Celebrate Anniversary
Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Brase, currently of Jesup, recently celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary. Mr. Brash was born August 4, 1831, near Edenborough, Scotland. At the age of 3, he came to Canada with his family. At the age of 17, he returned to Scotland with the intention of going to Australia to seek his fortune in the mines. His mother persuaded him to return to Canada with them.
Mrs. Brash, whose maiden name was Isabella MacKilligan, was born in 1835. The couple married in 1855 near Blandford, Ontario. In 1869, the couple came to Iowa, arriving first in Cedar Rapids. They purchased a team and a wagon, loaded all of their belongings and started across the prairie some 45 to 50 miles west. They purchased lumber in Tama to build their first home and outbuildings. Their farm consisted of 332 acres and was located in the Northwest corner of Tama County.
The Waterloo Courier notes, "Mr. and Mrs. Brash have lived, to see Traer, Dysart, Reinbeck and Gladbrook grow into thriving little cities." They retired from the farm and moved first to Reinbeck and then to Jesup where their daughter lives.
Iowa State Penitentiary Finds Success Paying Prisoners for Work
Paying prisoners for their work within the walls of the Fort Madison Penitentiary has now been tried long enough to prove the venture successful. Those convicts earning salaries are employed on the new cell house including electricians, wirers, plumbers, plasterers, steam fitters mechanics and iron workers.
Civil War Medals
Charles A. Wright of Keokuk is wearing the first medal to be procured in that area from the mint in accordance with the provision of an act of congress giving the old soldiers of the civil war a medal. The medal was established in 1905 commemorating the 40th anniversary of the war. To qualify a soldier had to serve between April 15, 1861, and April 9, 1865. The metal is both blue and grey signifying both the Union and Confederacy.
Business News
H.P. Jensen has returned to Dysart to act as manager of the Tama Benton Grain Company. He is taking over for Will Milne who has retired. Nick Hansen, who is well known to Dysart people returned to Dysart last week and will work for Mr. Jensen at the grain office .Mr. Hansen came from California where he has been employed for some time by an oil company.
New Business Incorporated in Town
Ruthenberg Clothing Co. recently filed papers of incorporation. The amount of capital is $10,000.
Dysart Firm Changes Hands
J.H. Lindeman has sold his store to George H. McDevitt and Will J. Smythe of Cedar Rapids. The store will be closed until a thorough re-arrangement is completed, stocks re-marked and overhauled in preparation for the opening sale. This is one of the oldest stores throughout the section. H.P. Jensen who has just returned to manage the co-op was the first man connected with the store and later F. H. Freshe and Frank Meggers owned the store under the name of Freshe & Meggers and after Mr. Freshe retired, Will Meggers was taken into the firm. After the senior Mr. Meggers died, the name was changed to The Meggers Company. Mr. J.H. Lindeman only recently acquired the store and is now selling to the new owners.
Player Piano Now Available
C. B. White has installed an electric player piano in his café and when the electric plant is in operation, the piano is dispensing music to the public. It is an easy matter to hear good music. Just drop a nickel in the slot and the music starts.
Farm News
Several hogs were shipped to Cedar Rapids and Chicago. Farmers whose hogs were shipped include Fred Elliott, George Bunz, Theo. Heckt, E. A. Huppert, George Melhouse, C. Seebach, Adam Herwig, Joe Raudabaugh, George Burr and Wilson Brothers. Other farmers shipping out livestock include Charles Vaubel, Jones Brothers, Ed Cox, Frank & Roy Burhenn, Ollie Jones and Earl Vaubel.
Hog Cholera Effects Local Iowa Farmers
Reports from around the state show that last year 2,827,907 hogs valued at $33,000,000 in were lost due to hog cholera. This is effecting all 99 counties. Benton County shows a loss of 22% of its hogs or a total loss of 28,000. Tama County suffered a loss of 28% of the hogs or 31,608 hogs.
Social Happenings
In a letter from Hans Wieck at Taopi, Minnesota, written Sunday he says; "It is snowing here today although the winter so far has been a soft one. With the exception of mother, who is sick now, we have been getting along nicely. There are plenty of good farms for sale here at good prices."
Henry Gunderman and Carrie Thiele were married last week. They were married at the home of Charles Thiele on Main Street. The bride is the only daughter of one of Dysart's most highly respected families. The groom is the son of Mrs. Henry Gunderman. Henry had a neat little house built on his farm south of Dysart this past summer and the couple will make their home there.
The town of Elberon currently has no houses available for rent or sale. The postmaster Jesse Shugart has moved his family to Marshalltown where they will remain as there is no place for them to live in that town currently.
About sixteen couples enjoyed a Valentine party at the home of Miss Agnes Kesl last Friday evening. The rooms were gaily decorated with red paper hearts and cupids, sixteen of the former were strung on a card across the open doorway and the gentlemen were given a bow and arrow and each in turn was requested to pierce one of the hearts on which he would find the name of the lady who was to be his partner for the evening. Much fun was had at the expense of the gentlemen's skill with the bow and arrow but after many trials all succeeded in securing a heart and likewise a partner. The evening was a round of merriment from beginning to end. A delicious three course supper was served including brick ice cream through the center of which was a pink heart.
School News
The seventh grade enjoyed a bob ride Tuesday evening. Misses Wild and Zika chaperoned the crowd. The class is indebted to John Kersten for his kindness in furnishing the team and bob and doing the driving. The fourth and fifth graders also were treated to a bob ride by Walter Leo.
Entertainment
Advertising Directed at Your Aches and Pains
Maybe it's because of the winter blahs but there is a lot of advertising this week directed at curing your ills!