The News From Dysart & North Central Iowa – First Week of March 1914

Posted on March 8, 2022July 15, 2022 by Carrie Koster

The News From Dysart and North Central Iowa
First Week of March 1914

State News

Tama County's Pheasant and Quail Nursery

Traer to Get Game Preserve
SIX THOUSAND ACRES OF LAND INCLUDED

"Traer gets the game preserve of Tama County. The timber land west of town offered a very desirable spot and E. D. Sawyer and others got busy with the result that a contract was sent on by the state game warden to be signed by the property owners, with the understanding that the preserve would be located here if the lease was signed by all the owners of the land included. Mr. Sawyer has thirty or more names on the lease. These parties contract to prohibit all hunting upon their premises for five years and to protect the birds in all possible ways. The preserve will include about 6, 000 acres, much of which is covered with timber. It takes in the McEwen farm and stretches two or three miles west and north. The state will put up signs along the boundary. In April or May a large number of pheasant and probably a lot of quail will be brought here and liberated within the preserve. Great things are anticipated in the way of increased flocks with the five years. These pheasant are imported from Hungary and they multiply rapidly when protected. " Traer Star Clipper March 6, 1914.

The same week, The Dysart Reporter, ran an article that sportsmen in Boone County were also working to establish a preserve at a place called Hat Grove, halfway between Boone and Des Moines along a stream of water called the Big Creek Waters. Another game preserve was secured east of Moravia consisting of 6500 acres.

In June of 1914, the Traer Star Clipper reported that the game warden sent 120 eggs of the Chinese ring-necked pheasant to Traer which were given out to farmers in the vicinity to be hatched.

Originally an Asian species, the ring-necked
pheasant was successfully introduced into North
America in 1881 and into Iowa about 1900. Iowa’s
first ring-necks were introduced accidentally when
a severe windstorm wrecked the pens of game
breeder William Benton of Cedar Falls releasing
approximately 2,000 birds. Benton’s birds spread
north and west and constitute Iowa’s founding
stock. The DNR began stocking pheasants around
1910 with most regions of Iowa receiving large
stockings of ring-necks by 1930. The ring-neck has
since become the most important gamebird in Iowa
with an estimated statewide population of 4 to 6
million birds.

IOWA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

Editor's Note: The history of introducing pheasants to Iowa is, of course, more than can be covered in this posting. For readers desiring more information, I recommend:

THE RING-NECKED PHEASANT IN IOWA, by Allen L. Farris, Eugene D. Klonglan, Richard C. Nomsen Click to access book_ring_necked_pheasant.pdf.Iowa conservation commission

earlyaviators.com

Patent War Closes Grinnell Aeroplane

"The Wright company of which Orville Wright, the pioneer airman, is president, has served notice on the Grinnell Aeroplane Company to cease manufacturing aeroplanes. The demand is based on the recent decision of the US Circuit Court of Appeals in which it decided as an infringement against the Wright Company patents any heavier than air flying machine which uses a rudder with the wings." Dysart Reporter March 5, 1914

The Wright Company Patent Wars have been written about extensively. Many believe that this slowed the development of airplanes in the US significantly. Readers desiring more information can find many articles, podcasts, and books by searching the internet. I found this website particularly helpful in understanding the lawsuits. https://wrightstories.com/articles/patent-wars. Wright stories.com

Population Decline

"State officials are seriously discussing the loss of 15,000 men from Iowa in 1912 and 1913, as reported by Adjutant General Guy E. Logan, and many suggestions are made regarding plans to overcome the reported loss in population. The Department of Agriculture has suggested that moving pictures of Iowa should be manufactured to be exhibited. It is the idea to make the pictures entertaining and at the same time create a desire among those who see them to come to Iowa. Another idea of this department to attract people to the state is to issue booklets by counties giving the main points regarding each of the ninety-nine counties of the state. Each division of the state would be described independently of the remainder of the state, so that the booklets could be used for local as well as state advertising. The suggestion that the governor appoint a commission to study the causes of loss of population and to recommend a remedy was also made. Adjutant General Logan states that the loss of 15,000 fighting men in the last two years, or 22,000 in the last five years is a serious situation for the 22,000 represent good strong healthy men whose services are needed to build up Iowa. All of these men were between the age of 18 and 45 and were able-bodied. A loss of this many toilers represents a far greater loss than a simple falling off of the population by 22,000." Dysart Reporter March 5, 1914

Local News

Mayor of Dysart Gets Into a Very Public Fight

Dysart Reporter March 5, 1914

Trouble ensued on Monday morning when the Mayor of Dysart, Dr. John P. Redmond attempted to move into the residence of Mr. and Mrs. E.A. Braden and family. Mrs. Braden is the sister of Dr. Redmond. Last fall, the Braden's began construction of a cottage. The plan was that when the home was finished, Dr. Redmond would move into the John Redmond home where the Braden's have been living. The Braden's new house was not finished in time for the planned March 1st move. The Braden's have been living with John and Mrs. Braden's father two blocks east of Main Street for the past seven years. No notice was given to them to move

Monday morning at about 7 a.m., Dr. Redmond crossed the street to the home were the Braden's have been living carrying a large box. He was met on the porch by Braden at which time he announced his intention to move into the house that day. Braden let him know this would not be happening. Redmond had a screwdriver in his hand which he made a pass at Braden with; striking him in front of his left ear. At the same time, Braden struck Redmond, knocking him to the ground where he held Redmond until several men intervened. At that time, Redmond first attempted to use his powers as mayor to deputize the men who had come to help. Braden and his wife then left the scene and went to the hardware store. Redmond attempted to use a ball bat but this was taken away from him by the other men present. He then followed Mr. & Mrs. .Braden into the store wielding a club.

The marshal George Geyer had been called. When he arrived at the hardware store, Redmond ordered Geyer to take Braden to jail. Geyer could do nothing but obey the order. Before they left the store, Redmond refused to make out bonds for Braden and insisted he be taken to jail. This was all witnessed by several men who were in the store. Redmond then went to the gun case stating that he wanted a revolver. He was told that one would not be sold to him. Once he saw that Braden was in jail, he began moving his possessions into the house.

The excitement on the street had reached the level of white heat and a delegation of men threatened to break the jail to pieces to get Braden out. Redmond ordered Geyer to bring Braden to the office where he made out a bond ordering Braden to appear in front of the grand jury as well as a peace bond

W.J. Dysart, the justice of the peace, was consulted and ordered that the bonds were illegal and that Braden would need to be re-arrested. He was re-arrested at which time C. J. Schmidt and Ed Heineman swore out bonds for $200 promising that Braden would appear for trial. The charge was "assault and battery with the intent to do great bodily harm". To most of those present, Braden was just trying to protect his family and was unarmed when he was attacked with the screwdriver.

Even after all of that, Redmond remained determined to move into the house. About one hundred men were present by this time and Braden invited all of them into the house. With one hundred men against him, Redmond could do nothing. During the approximate half hour that Braden was in jail, Dr. Redmond had moved a bed into one of the bedrooms and put a few things into the cellar.

Redmond called Dr. Carl from Garrison to come and tend to his wounds. Dr. Carl arrived about 10:30 p.m. and performed an examination. Several stories are circulating about the extent of his injuries. The incident occurred on Monday and as of Thursday, Dr. Redmond was still in bed. Dr. Gessner tended to Braden's injuries. The wound in front of his ear was about one-half inch deep and lay right over a large artery which if severed would have been much more serious.

A trial will be held on Friday. This will be a jury trial and the judge will be W.J. Dysart. M. J. Tobin of Vinton has been hired to represent Braden. Sentiments are running high in support of Braden. Most feel that Redmond had no right to start the trouble. His efforts to deputize spectators was poorly received. Recently, Braden had inquired about legal procedures to force a man to vacate a dwelling and he found that a family having a notice served on them has 38 days to get out. Braden had not received such a notice. Redmond had received notice that he was to vacate the property he was occupying but Dave Wilson was not pushing him to move out. In fact, he understood that Redmond would not be able to move until the Braden's had moved out.

"The Gene Braden trial which was to result from the trouble which arose between Dr. J.P. Redmond and Gene Braden on Monday of last week did not take place for the reason that no one appeared against Braden. Dr. Redmond states that he was not informed of the trail and was entirely unaware that such proceedings were to be taken. Dysart Reporter March 12, 1914

Social Happenings

Many Moves March First

Annual Moving Time Just Past - Many People Change Places of Residence

William Flechner who has been living at the John Kersten farm SE of town moved to a small town south of Des Moines. Charles Bridge has moved to the Kersten farm.

John Dilcher has moved from his farm SE of town to Waterloo. Ed Nyde who worked for Del Karr a few years ago has moved onto the Dilcher place from a farm near Washburn.

Herman Holtz moved from the Hartman Kersten farm to the Mrs. George Speck farm SW of Garrison. Hartman Kersten is moving back to the farm from Vinton and John will farm the place.

Chris Selk moved from his farm SE of town to the residence he purchased from Art Schuchart. Fred Selk moved from the Fulton Boyd farm to his father's farm.

Charles Luze moved from the Fuoss farm to the Haefling farm NE of town. Henry Bauer vacated the place last week and moved to his farm near Waverly. Ben Pippert is now settled on the Fuoss farm.

Mike Meinhart who married Miss Libbie Hach last week is to occupy the Fulton Boyd farm vacated by Fred Selk. John Boyd has rented the farm and Meinhart will work for him.

Dr. Forward moved his household effects into the Charles Zobel place vacated by the W.W. Milne family last week.

George Thiele moved last Thursday to the farm east of town vacated by John Cohrt. Cohrt moved to the Henry R. Miller farm SE of town which Roy Waller vacated last fall. Charles Zobel moved yesterday from his residence in town to his farm east of town vacated by George Thiele.

Bert Burke and his wife have started housekeeping on the William Runyan farm east of town vacated by W. A. Sanford.

R.C. Hall moved his goods from the Charles Urmy residence to the W.D. Brandt place in the SW part of town and really belives that he has moved into a fine residence district. S. Barber has rented the Urmy property for the use of the blacksmith that he has hired.

Lee Murphy has rented the E. A. Huppert farm near Waterloo and will move there the first of next week. Verl Hite has rented the Siemens property which Murphy will vacate.

J.M. Tupper moved the last of the week into the J.G. Temple residence. F. W. Wallace moved into the place vacated by Tupper which he purchased last fall. Ray Johnson moved into the place vacated by Wallace which he has purchased. We understand that Mrs. Hubbard expects to live in her cottage vacated by Ray Johnson.

Art Schuchart moved from the south part of town to his new home two blocks west of Kranbuchl's furniture store.

Clifford and Clarence Milne have started farming on the Andrew Milne place vacated by William Harms. Their grandfather is helping them get started. They are two good boys and though young will undoubtedly make good at farm management.

Are you dizzy yet? My vision of living in this small town in the 60s and 70s was that nothing ever changed much. Either I was wrong or the 1910s were a very different time than the 70s in terms of people moving around!

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Dysart Reporter March 5, 1914

The News From Dysart and North Central Iowa – Last Week of February 1914

Posted on March 1, 2022July 16, 2022 by Carrie Koster

The News From Dysart and North Central Iowa
Last Week of February 1914

Awful Tragedy in Clutier

"Clutier had her periodical tragedy Saturday night - the most appalling of all"

Traer Star Clipper February 27, 1914

Reports have been received of the tragic events which occurred on Saturday, February 21, in Clutier. It was reported that two young men who had apparently been drinking got into an altercation at the Corwin Restaurant. In an effort to preserve order, the marshal Tom Weaver arrested one of the men, Charlie Krezek, at about 10 p.m. Krezek and three companions had come to Clutier from Traer about 4 p.m. Saturday to take in a dance. They arrived early in the evening, but Krezek had not been at the dance when arrested. The marshal locked him up in the town jail for the night as a dance was in progress at the Bohemian Hall. Presumably the marshal was needed at that location also.

Clutier Train Station

At 11:40 p.m. when the night passenger train arrived, several young men from Traer including Ray McNeal, John Andrews, Louis Caslavka, Wayne Evans and a Mr. Fillersich who were on their way to the dance discovered the jail on fire as it is near the depot. About this time other parties from up town learned of the blaze. All set to work to rescue Krezek who was fast becoming engulfed in flames. Using a timber, the front door was battered down, but this did not liberate the poisoner. There were two rooms in the jail, and he was in the second, behind a door of iron bars which opened outward. In vain did the crowd labor in every effort to batter away this door. In a sad twist of fate, it is reported that Charlie recognized the boys who had come to his aide and they recognized him. He begged them for help in escaping and by all accounts they did all that they could do to help him.

Marshal Weaver had been summoned in the meantime but when he arrived the flames were shooting through the barred door, and he was unable to unlock it. Several attempts were made to break in through the barred window on the north side of the building without success. The fire company was called out and as the village has a good waterworks system water was soon playing upon the flames and the frame of the building was saved although the inside was badly gutted.

As soon as the heat had subsided so that it was possible to unlock the door Frank Roubicek rushed in and carried out the body of Charlies Krezek. Roubicek was overcome with smoke himself and a doctor was summoned to care for him. Krezek had doubtless died of smoke inhalation before the fire reached him. The body was taken to the undertaker's until Dr. Redmond could arrive on Sunday morning.

In April of 1914, Joe Seda of Traer, was awarded a contract to build a new cement block, fireproof, jail in Clutier. This building still stands today.

Several erroneous reports circulated after the event. There seems to be nothing in the story that the marshal could not find the key to the door or that there was a fire in the stove. The blaze started in the room where the poisoner was while the stove was in the first rom. All the evidence indicates that Krezek started the blaze by setting fire to the mattress. It is supposed his idea was to start a fire and call to people upon the street and thus be liberated as he had done this on a previous occasion. He had set fire in a jail in the past and had been able to escape with another poisoner. At that time, he was rescued unhurt and fined $25.00.

On Monday, the 23rd, Dr. Redmond, of Dysart, the county coroner, empaneled a jury and held an inquest. The jurors were Ferdinand Mundt, W.M. Kokesh, and J.F. Kubaleck. A dozen men were called to testify, several being Traer fellows. The jury's verdict was as follows: "we find that said deceased came to his death on February 21st between 10 and 12 o'clock at Clutier, Iowa, by being burned, said fire was in our opinion, caused by deceased. We do further find that he did not come to his death feloniously and that a crime has not been committed on deceased"

The young man whose death thus came so tragically is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Mike Krezek, one of the old residents and well to do citizens of the Clutier neighborhood. He was 24 years of age. He has been employed by various farmers in late years. Since Christmas he has been working at Will Whitmore's four miles northeast of Traer.

Editor's Note: I was not able to locate the exact cemetery that Charlie is buried in. This is a view from a rural cemetery in Tama County between Clutier and Toledo

The deceased is survived by his aged parents, four brothers and five sisters. One brother, John, lives in Utah and he and his wife were notified and arrived in time for the funeral which was held Wednesday the 25th, forenoon at the home in Clutier. Father Broz of the St. Francis church west of town was the officiant. There was a large attendance of sympathizing friends, whose floral offerings were liberal and beautiful. The body was too badly burned to be shown. Burial was in the cemetery at the St. Francis church.

Clutier was founded in 1900 by a railroad promotor named William E. Brice. The town is named after Mr. Brice's sister and brother-in-law, Bertram and Maude Clutier. It was primarily a Czech settlement. It is home to the last remaining lodge building in Iowa tied to the original Western Bohemian Fraternal Association and is shown in the photo above. Tama County economic development commission

Farmer's Fair Organized in Cedar Falls

The Commercial Club of Cedar Falls has voted to organize the Cedar Valley District Fair Association which includes memberships from nine nearby counties. Efforts had been made to join this group with the Dairy Cattle Congress, but this met with great resistance from the people of Waterloo. Subscriptions are being sold to fund the organization and sixty acres of land have been purchased near the Iowa State Teacher's College.

Traer Star Clipper - August 27, 1915

Business News

McDevitt & Smythe's Big Sale

Saturday morning the Meggers Co. Store will open for business under the new firm of McDevitt & Smythe. The store has been closed for the past two weeks and the stock has been gone over and made ready for the sale being launched. The sale will last for thirteen days and the bargains will no doubt be taken quick.

Final Test Today:

The final test of the electric light plant is being made today. Professor Hill, Dysart's elecctric engineer is here and has been going over the work with the councilmen. The large engine at the plant was not in the best working order a week ago but for the past several days it has been running better, a couple of factory men having had it in charge. The street lights have been working fine lately and we have heard no complaints about the lights in residences.

Blacksmith Shop Changes Owners

Olmstead Brothers, Ray and Bob, have purchased the blacksmith shop formerly owned by J. G. Temple and they expect to open for business Monday, March 2.

New Electric Sign

"Movies" is the sign in front of the electric theater. It is an electric sign placed there Saturday and is drawing a lot of attention. Within a short time we will see more electric signs over the street. Dysart is getting to be some city, if you don't believe it ask us!

Farm News

Dr. Burns of Traer came down Tuesday morning and vaccinated 23 calves for James Wilson. A number of farmers northeast of town have lost some calves with the black leg and Jim wanted to be on the safe side by vaccinating.

Blackleg or Blackquarter or Clostridial myositis is an acute infectious disease clostridium chauvoei (bacteria) and characterized by swelling, usually in the bulky muscles, severe toxemia, and high mortality rate. The disease is acute, causing fever, and highly fatal in cattle and sheep. Blackleg is a worldwide disease and mainly affects cattle. thevetexpert.com

Social Happenings

Henry Schuett Back to U.S.

By the following letter, we learn that Henry Schuett, who has been making his home in Germany for some time has gotten homesick and will soon be in America. "Dear Sir: Will let you know that I am coming back to Iowa. Will leave Hamburg on the 26th of February on the steamer Auguste Victoria, therefore do not send any Reporter to Germany after you get this letter. I got homesick all at once and now there is no place like America. Yours respectfully, Henry Schuett."

John Krug Shares Trip Details

John Krug 1864-1947. Photo from findagrave.com

John Krug called in the Reporter office the other day and was telling some of his experiences on his recent trip to Portland, Oregon. He was out there about three weeks and spent the time visiting with relatives and seeing the country. Around where his relatives live, it is mostly timber. Dairying is carried on most extensively. John had a couple cousins interested in large sawmills. The roads there are not worked and are always in bad condition. The timber being so plentiful they use planks to cover the roads, calling such roads "corduroy roads." Now they are graveling some of the main roads, but this proves very slow and expensive. John says the city of Portland is experiencing pretty hard times. Many men are out of work and the men who are steady workers are cut down to three days per week. He says the way the people account for that condition is that the men that do not want work come there to spend the winter where the climate is warm. on account of that the vice districts are overcrowded, and people have to be careful where they are and hang on to their pocketbooks. John said he was very careful and never went out on his own.

Tonsillectomy

Verl Hite went to Waterloo Tuesday morning to have his tonsils removed. He has been bothered with them for some time and expects to get along better without them.

Box Social in Bruce Township

There will be a box social at Bruce Township School Number 9, 6 miles east of Dysart on Friday night, March 6. The program will commence at 7:45 p.m. Ladies please bring supper for two and Gents bring their pocketbooks. Miss Blanche Tharpe, Treasurer.

Church News

Evangelical Church Upgrades to Electric Lighting

The Evangelical Church building as it appears today. /the church is now known as the Dysart United Methodist Church

Several improvements at the Evangelical church and parsonage which have been in progress for some time are now completed. Electric lights and quarter sawn oak floors were added to the parsonage. Electric lights were added to the church. The ladies aid society sponsored the improvements to the parsonage. The Young People's Alliance paid for the fixtures at the church and the trustees shouldered the rest for the congregation. Semi-direct light is used in the church which is the most practical and up to date now on the market.

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The News From Dysart – Third Week of February 1914

Posted on February 22, 2022July 15, 2022 by Carrie Koster

The News From Dysart – Third Week of February 1914

Tama County Pioneers Celebrate Anniversary

Waterloo Courier February 26, 1914

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.

Business News

Stepping Stones in Time

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.

The News From Dysart – First Two Weeks of February 1914

Posted on February 9, 2022July 15, 2022 by Carrie Koster

The News From Dysart - First Two Weeks of February 1914

City News

At a regular monthly meeting the Town Council reviewed a number of applications for the position of Superintendent of the Eclectic Light Plant. W.D Crowl was hired at a salary of $76.00 per month. George Geyer was hired as night man and will continue his position as Marshall. He will draw a salary of $75.00 per month. Mr Crowl has been at work doing electrical work since last November. He is a young man who came here from Chicago. Mr. Geyer has been in the employment of the city for seven years. Mr. Geyer will be performing the task of meter reading and collecting fees which he will deposit with Mr. Irvin Moeller at the Dysart Savings Bank. Residents who pay their fee before the 10th of the month will recieve a 10% discount on their bill. The electrical engineer will be in town next week to test the equipment. The planned date for opening the plant is February 18.

Farm News

Shroeder & Goken shipped eleven cars of cattle to the market. Carloads were received from Henry Fischer, E.N Riddlesbarger, August Jansen, Henry Siemens, Dengler and Schreck, Lorenz Lorenzen, Albert Witt, Rudolf Siemens and Ben Lorenzen.

G. J. Monroe purchased a yearling filly from W. H. Bechtold, of Breese, Illinois and had the colt shipped here last week by express. Mr. Monroe believes he has added a fine animal to his bunch of fine horses.

T. B. Grain Co & Marsau shipped nine carloads of hogs from Dysart last week. They received carload lots from H.P. Jensen, John and Ed Powell, Dan Rinker, Peter Untiedt, Frank Bragonier and John Hack.

Dave Reddick shipped a load of fine horses from Dysart to Thomas at Waterloo. There were seventeen and he was paid an average of nearly $20 per head.

Wilson Bros. are advertising a closing out sale to be held Febuary 13th. They will sell 21 horses, 74 head of cattle, 100 hogs and their farm machinery.

Social Happenings

Fred Steaffler and his seven-year-old son of Sheyboygan, Wisc., came last week for a visit with Fred's sisters Mrs. Charles (Emma) Burmeister, Mrs. Henry (Wilhelmina) Kusel and Mrs. John (Caroline) Selk. Mr. Steaffler has sold his farm in Wisconsin, and he expects to spend several months here in Dysart.

Mr. and Mrs. Erwin Moeller of Dysart were in Cedar Rapids yesterday. They came to attend the meeting last night of the White Shrine No. 1 an organization recently formed by members of the Eastern Star. Mr. Moeller is cashier of the Dysart Savings bank

Editor's Note: The Order of the White Shrine of Jerusalem started in 1894 in Illinois. The organization continues today, and their website says they provide funding for medical care.

School News

The Senior Class of 1914 is beginning their preparations for graduation. They had several evening meetings where they decorated the the west end of the assembly room in the school colors of black and orange which included a dinner of oyster stew. Their class motto is "Work and Win" They have agreed to perform a modernized version of the Merchant of Venice as their Senior Class play in April.

Iowa State Gazetteer and Business Directory

Some of the students have been out looking at colleges for post-graduation. Dewey Thiele recently traveled to Waterloo explore the Waterloo College of Commerce where he may go to improve his salesmanship skills. Jane Heinrich has gone on a visit to Iowa Falls where she is considering going after graduation.
Editor's Note: For more information on the Waterloo Business College, you can visit: https://www.lostcolleges.com/waterloo-business-college

In what may have served as inspiration for Alfred Hitchcock, a female teacher in Wales was recently attached by a hawk which flew in through an open window in her classroom. The bird was clinging to her blouse and was only dislodged with difficulty when a male teacher came to her rescue. The bird is now in a cage in one of the classrooms.

Deaths

John Kavalier formerly employed as a section hand at Chelsea, Vining and Elberon, died at the home of his sister, Mrs. John Ash, in Dysart last week. He had been living with his sister for the past couple of years due to illness and had been seriously sick for several months. He was bedfast for only two weeks. Yellow jaundice was the cause.

John Kavalier was born in Bohemia in 1871. He came to America with his parents when he was six years old and settled with them near Vining, Iowa. He was married in 1895 to Mary Korble who died six years ago on the 8th of February. He was very superstitious about that date and stated to friends that if he could live till then he felt that he would get well. But he had not the strength to live till that date. Born to this union are the sons, George and Albert. When he was first married, he lived at Chelsea where he worked on the section. From there he moved to Vining and then to Elberon, continuing his section work at those places. He was at that work for about thirteen years. After his wife died, he has been making his home around Dysart with his relatives and working for those that needed his help.

Mr. Kavalier was well known among the farmers in this vicinity. He was a willing worker and those that have been used to his help will miss him greatly. Tuesday morning, a short prayer was made at the John Ash home by A. R. Kepple and the body was taken to Elberon where the funeral was held at the Methodist church. The services were conducted by Rev. Powell, of the Evangelical church of Vining, the same minister that conducted the services over the body of the mother of the two orphan boys. Interment was made in the National cemetery, five miles southwest of Elberon.

Neighbors Protecting Neighbors

Posted on February 6, 2022July 15, 2022 by Carrie Koster

Neighbors Protecting Neighbors

Fire Protection in The Early Years

"Neighbors noticed that the home of Mrs. Martin Kerner was afire and the fire bell was rung. The company was called out but when the men got there some of the neighbors had nearly extinguished the fire with water buckets. The fire was caused by a faulty flue and had not been noticed by the family until their neighbors sounded the alarm. Not much damage was done. The Reporter states that the fire company was on hand with hose carts and the men were in their places as they had practiced. This was only the second fire since a new system was put in place and in both instances the homes had not sustained much damage. It is reported that there are thirty men in the fire department. The officers are: Chief John Keel, Secretary Iver Shupe (1871-1957), and Treasurer Ed Schmidt. (1887-1981). " Dysart Reporter February 12, 1914

This was not Dysart's first experience with fire, and it would not be the last. In February of 1875 a fire had broken out at the large elevator of Brown, Doty, and Company and destroyed much of the building and contents. This fire was fought by town residents and also several farmers who lived close to town. Although the building had been insured, the contents which belonged to several areas farmers was not. It was estimated at the time to be a loss of between $8,000 and $10,000 to these farmers.

Realizing that a fire on the Main Street would quickly spread and devour all the businesses at once, the city organized a hook and ladder company in 1878. A hook and ladder company tears part of the structure down while it is on fire in order to contain the spread of that fire. They have no other equipment available to them.

In July of 1882, the Traer Star Clipper reported that a massive fire in Dysart that claimed six businesses. "About 3 o'clock in the morning a bright blaze was noticed in Manrid & Haney's Drug Store, by a gentleman who was watching the sick. He quickly gave the alarm and a crowd was soon on the scene working valiantly - women included - but the fire had become too strong a force to be controlled." The drug store burned down. The wind was from the south. The building next to it on the north was made of bricks so between the wind and the bricks, that building was spared. However, on the south side stores caught fire one after another until four had been consumed. The buildings included a saloon belonging to William Seefield; a grocery belonging to Mrs. Horton and occupied by Sult and Company. the Welcome Mowry's Store occupied by Pinkerton Drug Store, and a meat market, A barber shop was pulled down to save other buildings. A livery stable on the west side of the street caught fire and burned. This belonged to Joseph Furrow. The horses were rescued but three sleighs were destroyed. The wooden addition to Federson's store was burned and his good damaged. The total loss was estimated at $20,000. The Star Clipper concluded, "They have no fire protection whatsoever, and it was only by hard work (of the citizens) that the fire was finally checked. Most of the stores will be rebuilt, some of brick." A Remington Fire Engine was purchased in 1883.

In 1886 bylaws were established and the company was named the "Pioneer Engine Company". At first, the fire engine was pulled to the location of the fire and the water was pumped by hand from cisterns which were located around town. The machine was pumped by three or four men on each side of the machine similar to a hand car on the railroad. There were two cisterns on Main Street, one by the schoolhouse, one by the elevators and at several other places. A prize of $5.00 was given to the first team that got to the engine and got hitched up. The work was so hard that one team could only stand to pump for a few minutes at a time.

After a citywide water system was created, small hose carts were used which were pulled by teams of men and the races to see which team would arrive at a fire first continued. In 1887, a report to the city indicated the Pioneer Engine Company had the following equipment: One horse, one hand power Remington Engine with two suctions and two horses and six hand levers. Also one axe, two sledges, four iron stakes, two spanners, four braces, two chains, two wrenches, one lamp, one oil can, two sec. whiffletrees (pivoted swinging bar to which the traces of a harness are fastened and by which a vehicle or implement is drawn) and one neck yoke.

In 1889, the fire department was reorganized and became the Dysart Fire Department. Membership was limited to 40 members: 18 assigned to Engine Force, 12 to hose and 10 to hook and ladder. In that same year, they were able to purchase a Running Cart.

In 1890, a second big fire occurred in April. This fire was also reported in the Traer Star Clipper. "Our sister town of Dysart was visited by a disastrous fire early Sunday morning, which laid waste to the greater portion of one side of the main business block. In a reprint from the Dysart Reporter, "Sunday morning between 12:30 and 1:15 o'clock fire was discovered in the restaurant of Mrs. Weigle, a widow lady. The fire had gained such headway that nothing was saved from the building, the occupants having barely time to escape with their lives. From the restaurant the fire spread both north and south. On the south were J. T. Drayton's Jewelry Store and J. T. Kranbuehl's Furniture Store, which were soon enveloped in flames. Much goods were saved from these two buildings, though in a considerably damaged condition. Adjoining the restaurant on the north was Marsau's Meat Market, from which nothing was saved due to close proximity to the origin of the fire. Following the meat market, four more building succumbed to the devouring element - Mrs. Julia Duncan's dressmaking establishment, Joseph Furrow's Meat Market, lately leased to H.W. Lahmon; Stewart & Drayton's Harness Shop, Cody & Wench's Millinery establishment, and J. Kullmer's Clothing House." Most of the goods in these buildings were removed, although much was damaged. By the time the flames reached the Kullmer building the good work of the fire company and bucket brigade had the fire well under control. Had the water supply been sufficient the loss might not have been so great. "The fire department fought the fire heroically and are deserving of much credit....Three hours had wrought a disastrous work, and the Sabbath morning dawned on the smoldering embers of nine business houses and the homes of several families." The loss added up to about $12,000. Most the businesses had no insurance.

In 1918, the use of chemicals was added to the arsenal of tools the Fire Department had available to fight fires and improved their efficiency. This had the capacity to carry 45 gallons, claiming to be equal to 18,000 gallons of water, and could force a stream of chemicals 80 feet into the air.

In 1920, a new fire truck was purchased and a telephone system of alerting firefighters was add. Previous to this the department was dependent on a bell system. The first motorized fire truck was purchased in 1929.

The Dysart Rural Fire Company was organized in 1932 and each member was assessed a fee of $10 so they could purchase a fire engine. Moving forward from 1931 both departments progressed in their methods and purchase of equipment. They joined forces in 1963 when they jointly purchased a Ford Econoline truck. The present day Community Fire Station was opened in 1969.

As a child growing up in a small town in the 1960s and 1970s, our firefighters were integral to so many area of our lives. They contributed heavily to the sense of safety that we enjoyed as children. They not only protected us from fires, but they guarded us from the weather by spending long hours out in the country watching for tornados. They responded to emergencies of all kinds and manned our ambulance service. They were the first ones out after storms and sounded all clear when it was safe for the rest of us to venture out.
They, with the support of their families, offered important social functions through dances and breakfasts and fire safety demonstrations at our schools. I cannot imagine how much time these men and their families sacrificed for all of us.

They practiced their skills by doing controlled burns on abandoned houses which when you are a ten-year-old straddling your stingray bicycle is a pretty big deal in a small town. Sometimes they sponsored contests with other area firefighters where each could hone their craft while still providing entertainment for the rest of us.

They were the good guys. They were present and provided comfort in people's toughest times and they contributed greatly to our corporate celebrations. They drove their trucks in parades and lit the fireworks on July 4. They were the other adults in your world who you could identify and knew could and would help you if you were in need. Many people have served the town of Dysart over the years as firefighters and first responders. They still do. All of their contributions are noteworthy but to me the term firefighter means Harold, the Dons, Leo, Gordon, the Bobs, Ralph, Terry, Dick, Ray and Steve and many others who added so much to the tapestry of our lives.

The News From Dysart – Last Two Weeks of January 1914

Posted on January 31, 2022July 15, 2022 by Carrie Koster

The News From Dysart - Last Two Weeks of January 1914

Top Stories

Electricity Will Soon Start Flowing Throughout Town

The local paper reported that Dysart was soon going to become one of the towns to be favored with electricity, "the force that no man can define, yet which can be used to great advantage." According to "Stepping Stones in Time" in 1901 a hot air engine was placed in the gas plant to manufacture enough gas so all lights could be used at once. In early 1909 the city installed a new boiler for the gas works, to heat the water for mixing with the gas and a notable improvement was realized. The electrical plant construction was approved in 1913 by special election.

In January 1914, the Dysart paper reported that Dysart's citizens has always been "quite energetic" about municipal improvements. The building which was to house the mechanicals needed to generate power was nearing completion at the corner of Tilford and Wilson, just south of the railroad tracks. To the left of the building were the supply tanks which stored the 10,000 gallons of fuel needed to run the engines. The fuel cost the city five and a half centers per gallon and it was believed that two tanks would be needed per year.

The Dysart Reporter gave this account:

In February of 1914 it was reported that Ernest Hix put a concrete floor in the electric power plant. In March, there appears to have been some conflict over the cost of the plant prompting the project manager to write an open letter to the Reporter, clarifying costs. The total cost of the plant was $13,411.44. The plant at first ran 24 hours a day on Tuesday and Wednesday "for the benefit of those using electric irons."

In October the city posted a notice in the Reporter asking that all residents, business and churches turn on all their lights between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. so that the Alamo Engine Works of Omaha could test the engines at the plant.

On December 30, 1915, in a special session of the City Council met to consider the purchase of electric current from the Iowa Railway & Light Company of Cedar Rapids which was approved for the next 20 years. The Council disposed of the local equipment for $3500.

Harold Langbehn

Editor’s Note: When I look at that building, I always think of our old neighbor and longtime city employee, Harold Langbehn. As a child when I passed by, I would always look over to see if I could see him with his signature cap.

Growing Economic Troubles in the Cities Start to Find Their Way to Dysart

"A well-dressed man was put off of a train here Tuesday morning and at noon he was up against the question of something to eat without any money. He started out to get a dinner and was successful after stopping at the fourth place. We talked with the fellow and he said he was on his way from Minneapolis to Kansas City, was a boiler maker by trade and was looking for work. He said that work was harder to get than he had experienced for fifteen years. Men in Minneapolis are being fed through what ar called "soup houses" and stopping at Mason City and a couple of other towns he said everything was shut against outside help and a good bit of the local help. We hpe these hard times in the cities let up soon." Dysart Reporter

Farm News

The train yards have been very busy of late. Several carloads of livestock were shipped recently. Nate Burhenn sent two cars of cattle and a car of hogs, T.B. Grain Co and Marsau a car of hogs, W.C. Heineman a car of cattle, O.J. Smith two cars of cattle. W.C. Heineman and Nate Burhenn accompanied the shipment to Chicago. H.P. Jensen also shipped two cars of cattle to Chicago.

John Hahn, one of the prominent farmers west of Dysart, has rented his farm and sold his stock and machinery to his sons. He and Mrs. Hahn are making plans to travel through the western states this year.

R. B. Allard, who has farmed northeast of town for many years, has decided to sell his farm machinery and household goods and move to Texas. An ad for this sale appears in this paper.

Dysart's Orphan Train Children

Copies of Ben and his sibling's story are available by contacting The Dysart Historical Center at https://www.dysarthistoricalcenter.com/

William Struve and Louisa Koepke, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Claus Koepke were married at the German Lutheran parsonage. The bride was born and raised to womanhood here. Mr. Struve is a stock buyer in Elberon. The party came to Dysart in an auto and returned immediately after the ceremony.

"A merry crowd of Bohemian ladies surprised Mrs. Jim Ulrich at her home Saturday evening and had a feather stripping bee and spent a very happy evening."

Editor's Note: One of our readers has provided a link for you to learn more about feather stripping bees. Although this one is from Poland, one would guess it was very similar for the Czechs. : Thank you, Joan https://www.sophieknab.com/blog/stripping-feathers-in-old-poland

The young son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred luze was baptized and christened a week ago last Sunday. Rev. Christiansen performed the ceremony in the presence of relatives. The boy was named Carl Henry.

Entertainment

Henderson Stock Co. Performs at Opera House

The Henderson Stock Company played all last week at the opera house and enjoyed good crowds. The plays each night was good. Many people went to the opera house on Saturday expecting to see Dora Thorne (a play) but instead a very funny mistaken identity comedy was staged. The crowd seemed well pleased. Mrs. Holtz held the lucky number on the pig which was given away the last night and Albert Miller went on the stage and caught it with as much ease as he would were he in his barnyard. The audience expected to see a lively chase around the house but was disappointed. R. Henderson stated that it was his intention to come back to Dysart in the Spring. Editor's Note: Were they chasing a live pig around the Opera House?

The News From Dysart – Third Week of January 1914

Posted on January 23, 2022July 15, 2022 by Carrie Koster

The News From Dysart - Third Week of January 1914

Top Stories

Harry K. Thaw Nearing Release

Papers around the country are once again reporting "that Harry K. Thaw is nearing his freedom. Men who conducted a recent examination declared him not insane and he is now waiting for the court to grant him bail. Some of his friends say that he expects to go into business in Pittsburg. He ought to make a fine lawyer after all the experience he has had through the courts. "

Editor's Note: True crime enthusiasts will likely recognize Harry Thaw's name. In 1906 he shot noted architect Stanford White at Madison Square Gardens in front of hundreds of witnesses. The story captured the nation's attention during this time of yellow journalism fanned by Thaw's wealth, mental illness and his beautiful wife, Evelyn Nesbitt, a young actress of her day. His trial was considered the "Trial of the Century" at the time. He has been the subject of numerous books, articles and podcasts. Follow this link to hear a favorite.

https://listen.stitcher.com/yvap/?af_dp=stitcher://episode/59241285&af_web_dp=https://www.stitcher.com/episode/59241285

Public Funding For Tuberculosis

Oakdale Sanitorium in Iowa

In a reprint, The Dysart Reporter states that during the previous year, nearly $20,000,000 was spent on efforts to treat and prevent TB in the United States. At the time there were five hundred sanitoriums and hospitals throughout the country for this purpose. In Iowa, the expenditure of money was not as large as the Eastern states but a great deal of work was still being done. It quotes, "the Bureau of Tuberculosis has been successful in securing the cooperation of practically every social force in the state, and a vast amount of volunteer work has been carried on, extending in many instances to the most obscure section of the state."

By this time, the state sanatorium at Oakdale was fully operational. Oakdale eventually was absorbed by the city of Coralville. Dr. J.P. Redmond of Dysart was appointed examining physician for the Oakdale sanitorium in this territory by the state board of control. In an article in 1910 he reported that citizens of Dysart who were being treated there were doing well. In 1918 it was reported that Guy Shugart of Elberon had gone to Oakdale to visit his wife.

Editor's Note: These types of separate isolated communities were popular at this time and in the same paper it was announced that land had been secured to build an epilepsy colony in Iowa. This opened in 1917 at Woodward, Iowa.

The Cedar Rapids Gazette published a weekly column on the news from Oakdale including the arrival of new patients and visitor information. For most of the patients Oakdale became their long-term home and functioned as a separate community.

William Taylor 1/15/1858-5/27/1915

In the April 15, 1915, edition of the Dysart paper it was reported that the superintendent of the state sanitorium was in Dysart to consult with Dr. Redmond regarding the sickness of William Taylor. It seems reasonable to assume this is the same William Taylor who is buried in the Dysart Cemetery and died in May of 1915. He had farmed northwest of Dysart and left a large family.

Editor's Note: There are several resources available on the internet to learn more about the Oakdale Sanitorium including this one:

https://dailyiowan.com/2010/12/17/after-103-years-oakdale-hall-to-come-down/

The photo for William Taylor is from here: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/151855525/william-taylor

Dysart City News

E.F. Douglas has been appointed the Acting Postmaster.

Dysart Town Hall - Stepping Stones in Time

Notice from the Mayor's Office: "Owning to erroneous reports instigated by dishonest parties regarding the cost of material for inside electrical wiring I desire to inform the citizens of Dysart that all material is furnished the consumers at a basis of 5% over cost price, except Sunbeam Magda Tungston lamps. The invoices are the town property and open for inspection at the mayor’s office. We will be glad to order flat irons, washing machines and any other electrical devise on same basis. John P. Redmond, Mayor.

Editor's Note:

The Town Hall was established in 1878 under the Town Hall Company. Gore and Hallett used the lower level as their agricultural implement warehouse and the second floor was the town hall. It was located at the corner just west of what was once Wieck's Feed Store on Wilson Street. Stepping Stones in Time

"The Town Council has decided to close the gas plant on completion of the electric lighting system which will be about February 4, 1914. Parties desiring residences or business places connected with electric lights should notify the mayor’s office at once. J.H. Lindeman, Town Clerk"

Electric Lights were anticipated to change the whole town! Main Street "The Great White Way"!

Business News

Tile Yard to Run Full Tilt

Stepping Stones in Time

The stockholders of the Dysart Brick & Tile Co. met and elected George Hix, M.S. Barnes and Chas. I Creps as officers. Last summer the stockholders made plans to trade the tile yard for real estate, but the deal never closed and at this meeting they decided to open the yards as soon as spring weather allowed and to run a full force of men. The previous summer the yard only ran about one-third of the time and their stock was quickly sold. Recently the manager had been turning down orders. The stockholders voted to improve some of the equipment and kilns. Up until that point, the plant had employed 7 or 8 men, but the number was going to increase to about 15. The Dysart Brick and Tile Co. it was reported was well known across the state.

Stepping Stones in Time

Editor's Note: This was located just west of Dysart Fair Grounds. It was organized in 1890 by George and Ernest Hix who were brothers. They shipped bricks all over the country by railroad. The plant burned out twice. In 1902 fire completely destroyed the plant but it was rebuilt. It was destroyed by fire again in 1927. After this the company was completely dissolved by a vote of the shareholders. Many of Dysart's buildings were made of bricks manufactured at the plant including the Dysart Museum.Stepping stones in time

The stockholders of the First National Bank have elected the following directors: C.P. Federson, E. F. Douglass, F.H. Schmidt, C.J. Schmidt, Herman Schroeder, Henry Eckhart, Theo. Heckt, Dan Lally and W. C. Heineman.

B.H.S. Hardware Co. Has Ford Business

The B.H.S. Hardware Co has contracted for the Ford agency for this vicinity and has already sold two cars, one to Emil Barta and one to James McNamee. They received a car load of cars here the first of the week. The building formerly occupied by the millinery store will be fixed up for a garage and they will keep their car and supplies there.

School News

Chief Red Fox

"Chief Red Fox, of the Sioux tribe and graduate of Carlisle College visited the high school Wednesday and gave an interesting talk about the Indians and their customs. He also gave some of their dances which the little people enjoy very much."

Editor's Note: During the early months of 1914 Chief William Red Fox traveled throughout eastern Iowa performing and lecturing. Between January and March of that year he had performances scheduled in Dubuque, Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, Davenport, Greene, Nashua, and Allison. Born in 1870 he was the son of Black Eagle and nephew of Crazy Horse. As a child he witnessed the massacre at Wounded Knee on 6/25/1876. He lived at Fort Yates from 1876-1882. He was removed from his tribe and sent to the Carlisle University (Carlisle Indian School in Pennsylvania) from which he graduated in 1889. He was recruited by Buffalo Bill and spent several years traveling with his Wild West Show. Later he performed by himself and traveled with his wife who had been a trick rider in the Buffalo Bill show and child as a vaudeville performer. He appeared in several silent movies. He lived to be 105 years old and died in 1976. Chief Red Fox is the author of a book entitled The Memoirs of Chief Red Fox. Throughout his life he continued to perform and lecture on his heritage and sought "to dispel many of the erroneous notions in the brains of the American children regarding the Indian & his characteristics. "

"The DHS. pupils are looking forward to a new gym which they feel sure will be erected soon. "

Another Serious Car Accident

Friday evening word came to town that Dr. Lames and wife were in an auto accident about two and a half miles northeast of town, near Jim Wilson's farm. The accident occurred about 3 p.m. and they were not discovered until about 4 p.m. when some children returning from school saw them. The car had flipped, and both had been ejected from the vehicle. The doctor was pinned under the car. Jim Wilson and his hired man, George Kling, soon came to the rescue and lifted the car off the doctor. Mr. and Mrs. Lames were taken to the Jim Wilson home. Dr. Gessner was notified about the accident and soon went out to care for them and brought them to town in his auto. Both were badly hurt. Mrs. Lames had a broken arm and wrist as well as being badly bruised. Dr. Lames had a broken shoulder, several broken bones in his hand and leg injuries. Dr. Gessner sent for two physicians from Waterloo to assist him and between the three physicians it took three hours to tend to the injuries. They were recovering at home with the help of a nurse who had been sent down from Waterloo.

Editor's Note: Stepping Stones in Time includes a biography of Dr. Lames. A summary of that biography is added here. Dr. G. Lames, was one of Dysart's most respected citizens and a pioneer in veterinarian medicine. He was born in Le Claire, Iowa. As a child, he played with Wild Bill Cody in Le Claire. In 1881, he graduated from Davenport Business College. He moved to South Dakota taking up a land claim which he worked for six years. He graduated from Chicago Veterinary School in 1891. After practicing in Le Claire for one year, he moved to Dysart where he stayed for the rest of his life. When he arrived in Dysart, he only had twenty -five cents in his pocket which he spent for a night's lodging. He had an immense field to be covered by walking, horseback or wagon. He and a veterinarian from Vinton were the only veterinarians for this part of the state. He had no office of his own but worked through the drug store. Because there were no telephones, he could be gone for three or four days without coming home. During that time his wife would not know where he was. He passed away in 1937 and was the father of Harry "Doc" Lames who also served as a veterinarian in Dysart. Stepping Stones in Time

Entertainment

Henderson Stock Co. Scheduled to Perform

The Henderson Stock Co was scheduled to perform at the Opera House. They were to present the latest up-to-date comedies and dramas including a grand scenic and electrical performance of Robert Louis Stevenson's Dr. Jeky (Dr. Jekell) and Mr. Hyde.

"At Valley Forge"

To be presented at the Dysart Opera House, a play showing the brave deeds and sstartling episodes relating to a patriotic story of the American Revolution promised to "touch the hearts of the people". The ad promises that the military and civilian costumes worn in the drama are exact reproductions of those worn during the revolutionary period.

Deaths

The Dysart Reporter printed a beautiful resolution regarding Mrs. Arthur ( Mary E. Cary) Sewall who had recently died after falling from her sleeping porch.

Resolutions of Respect

"Whereas, on the evening of Tuesday, January 6th, 1914, the messenger of death invaded our circle and severed a link from our chain, summoning from time to eternity Mrs. A. Sewall (Mary E. Cary Sewall), one of our most beloved members. We shall never again enjoy her genial companionship and wise council. She was always a willing worker in our circle and we mourn her departure, and her memory will ever be kept fresh and bright in our hearts, as she was loved by all, and therefore be it.

Resolved, that it is with sorrow that we thus part with Mrs. Sewall. We would emulate her virtues and bow in humble submission to the power of one who "Doeth all things well," hoping for a meeting in the great circle of a never-ending eternity, where with hands clasped in hers, we shall take up the link of the chain now severed.

Be it resolved that the sympathy of The Hearthstone Circles go out to the bereaved relatives, and while we fondly cherish the memory of the departed one, we will never forgot those whom she loved.

Be it resolved that we, the members of the Hearthstone Circle so conduct ourselves that when the summons comes our circle will be unbroken in our home on high.

Resolved that these resolutions be spread upon the minutes of our circle and that they be published in the Dysart Reporter and that copies of same be sent to the near relatives of the deceased.

The Hearthstone Circle

Editor's Note: Although no information could be found about The Hearthstone Circle, it seems logical that it may a group from the Catholic Church of which Mrs. Sewall was a member.

Advertising

Hupmobile

Dave Wilson

The News From Dysart – Second Week of January 1914

Posted on January 15, 2022July 15, 2022 by Carrie Koster

The News From Dysart - Second Week of January 1914

Top Stories

A New Vaccine Appears to be Working!

"Vaccination for typhoid fever has been demonstrated successful in both the army and navy of the United States. In the whole army, with 50,000 men, there are only two cases of typhoid fever during the past year. One of these cases is a man not immunized and the other was vaccinated, but it is thought that his vaccination was for some reason or other not effective. In the army, vaccination against typhoid is compulsory. In the navy there were seven cases of typhoid fever during the entire year, but vaccination in the navy was not made compulsory as early as in the army. It is now compulsory. The vaccination for typhoid seems to have removed one more dread of army and navy life. Armies especially have been devastated by this disease. If this vaccination had been known before the Spanish-American War, it would have saved many lives. Vaccination for typhoid has exceeded all records for vaccination against smallpox. The time is coming when other diseases will be obliterated by vaccination. The world is coming to the idea of disease prevention. The success that has been achieved and demonstrated in typhoid fever will make such progress more rapid and certain. "

Local News

Family Fights Back Against Implication of Theft

The Traer Star Clipper reported this week that "Will Aschenbrenner of Dysart was in Traer this week consulting with attorneys relative to a peculiar happening in his town. The other night $25 worth of feathers were stolen from the produce dealer, H.W. Beilke. Bloodhounds from Waterloo were employed and put upon the scent, some of the businessmen aiding in the cost. The hounds followed the railroad track most of the time two miles east, then went a mile north and west, returning to town from the north and passing through town, bringing up at Will Ashenbrenner's residence, and refused to go further. The house was searched, and no feathers were found and there the matter stands. Mrs. Aschenbrenner had been working in the produce store a week before. Mr. A feels much wrought up and was inclined to prosecute but the attorneys did not take the case. Of course, the public opinion is divided but we understand the Aschenbrenners are generally thought to be innocent, despite the verdict of the blood hounds. Later developments may shed more light."

Farm Report

The Des Moines Homestead paper reports that R. W. Waller sold a cow named Lassie, born in 1910 for $140.00.

The Zoebel Bros are offering for sale an April yearling white Short-horn bull sired by Rosie's Prince by Scottish Prince and out of Imp. Rosie. The bull they are offering is out of Butterfly's Golden 2d, a Cruickshank Butterfly cow, sired by Golden Lad, he by the noted show bull, The Lad for Me. This bull is of the right type and in excellent breeding condition, and any breeder in need of a good white Shorthorn bull should visit this firm and look over this animal. They also have three ten-month bulls sired by King Archer...Zoebel's also have a few good Percheron stallions and mares for sale.

Business News

Stores to Close at Seven O'Clock

"Finally, the Dysart merchants have decided to close their stores at seven o'clock in the evening instead of staying open till everybody had their visit out. Most of the towns throughout the country have been doing this for some time. Dysart has started the habit several times but never held to it but for a few months at a time. There is nothing to the old reason of waiting for the farmers. Farmers are not coming to town at nine and ten o'clock in the evenings nowadays as they used to years ago. Times have changed and the old habit of the stores staying open fifteen and sixteen hours a day should change accordingly. When the closing time is seven o'clock there is a little more pleasure to the clerk's life."

"We the undersigned proprietors of Dysart stores, will close our respective places of business from Monday, January 5 to April 1st, at 7 o'clock in the evening except Saturday."

Keidel Brothers
Henry Pippert
J.M Tupper
J.H. Lindeman
R. Cold and Son

Isaac Dicken Buys Dray Line

This is an unknown Dray Line Driver and Rig inserted in the story to help the reader understand the term. It is not a Dysart resident to the best of the Editor's knowledge.

"Isaac Dicken purchased John Ackerman's dray line. The deal includes horses, wagons and street sprinkler. Possession to be given on January 15. Mr. Dicken has been running Will Rueppel's dray business for the past several years and proven himself a very accommodating drayman. Ackerman has operated the third draw line for Dysart for several years and has worked up a good business. The Dysart draymen have always been busy. Now that Mr. Ackerman has sold his dray, he will focus on his butcher and egg business. However, he is thinking seriously of moving to California. He is offering his property south of Dysart for sale and if he finds a buyer, the town will lose the Ackerman family. "

This image is from the Cobblestone Museum in Albion, New York and is entered as an example of what a harness shop might have looked like in 1914. This is not Mr. Schmidt's shop in Dysart.

"One of the oldest businessmen in Dysart, one that has been in the same business in the same building for thirty years, is C.J. Schmidt. He started in business in the building he now occupies thirty years ago this spring, when Dysart was just a promising young town and probably before the boom tide had left. When Mr. Schmidt first came here the beginning of the town was still fresh in the people's minds and he can tell the history of Dysart from the beginning down to the present day. Last week, C.J. Schmidt sold a half interest in his business to his son, Ed Schmidt. Ed was brought up in the harness business and is a practical harness maker, having worked for his father for the past 7 or 8 years. The business will no doubt be strengthened by the partnership."

Editor's Note: A biography of C. J. Schmidt which originally appeared in the History of Tama County has been placed on the Tidbit's page.

Ben Pippert has also sold his dray business. He has sold to John Sorrell. Ben has rented the Fuoss farm west of Dysart where he will move March 1.

Social News

Last week we learned that Dr. Forward was considering a move to Dysart for his Naprapathic practice and this week it is announced that he has indeed made the move.

1914 Oakland Automobile

Fred Bower has a new Oakland auto, Emil Barta a Ford, and Albert Ames a second hand Ford.

A ten-dollar reward is being offered for the return of a Violin outfit lost Friday, January 2, 1914, between Creps' livery barn at Dysart and Elberon, on the first road west of Dysart. The outfit consisted of a fine violin, a snakewood bow, black leather case, and a few violin supplies. Finder, please call Elberon Orchestra and receive your reward. E. J. Kucera.

Editor's Note: At a later date, I am hoping to write more about the fraternal organizations which were popular in early 1900 society in Dysart. To clarify for today's reader the First National Bank is not the brick building which currently stands at the corner of Main and Wilson. That building did not open until 1917. According to "Stepping Stones in Time" the First National Bank was located on the east side of Main Street. It as three stories tall and made of brick. The bank occupied the first floor, the second floor was rented to medical Doctors and Dentists, while the third floor was used as a lodge hall. The Editor believes this building was still standing in the 1960s but defers to more knowledgeable readers.

Area Churches

The Luther League will meet at the home of Ervin Moeller on Friday evening, Jan. 6th, instead of Tuesday, Jan. 13th. A German play, "Many Cooks Spoil the Broth" will be the main entertainment of the evening and all members are requested to be present and witness the program. Annual dues should be paid at that time.

Editor's Note: The January 8, 1914, edition of the Dysart Reporter contained an ad for the Church of Christ which I have opted to exclude from my post. The ad is decidedly anti-Catholic and doesn't bear repeating. According to "Stepping Stones in Time" the church was established in May of 1913 by two evangelists and met in a home and a hall before a church building was erected north of the railroad tracks. This building opened in December of 1913. The church was discontinued in 1918 due to a lack of membership. The building was moved and became a residence which sat at the end of my small neighborhood. I remember playing in that house as a child. Looking back on it now, I can see how it could of at one time been a church.

The News From Dysart – First Week of January 1914

Posted on January 12, 2022July 15, 2022 by Carrie Koster

The News From Dysart - First Week of January 1914

Top Stories

News was received from the Burlington Hawkeye that a dangerous forger had been placed under arrest in Kansas City and taken to Pawnee City, Nebraska, for trial. The accused, named H.C. Burwell, had several aliases and had been very active in different towns throughout Iowa. The Iowa Banker’s Association had hired the Burns Detective Agency to track him down and bring him to justice. Working with a known accomplice, Mr. Burwell, had forged the name of a Dysart man to secure a deed on a property in Mitchell, S.D. Reports indicate that the forger had previously spent 10 years in the Iowa State Penitentiary.

Farm Report

Eli Messer made the news twice this week. First, he purchased a farm in Black Hawk County for $500 per acre and then he filed papers with the Black Hawk Co. recorder to form a corporation. Capital stock of $40,000 was sited and the corporation was established to promote his dairy farming operation. J. G. Brinkerhoff was the second incorporator.

Schroeder & Goken were busy shipping carloads of hogs from Dysart to markets in Cedar Rapids and Chicago. Hogs were brought to town by several farmers including John Jacobs, Ed Heck, Abe Lincoln, Henry Jansen, Charles Vaupel and Will Christian; as well as Hans Schmidt and Theo Heckt.

T.B. Grain Co. & Marsau shipped hogs to Cedar Rapids brought in by Joe Kosnar, Laurens Ohlsen and Charles Arp.

Kressley & Campbell were busy using a tiling machine throughout the fall and winter. They were laying at least 50 rods every day through 10 inches of frost.

Crime

A lengthy article appears regarding the theft of several feathers from a local businessman. This is posted here as it was reported by a Waterloo paper.

Bloodhounds Work In Dysart Brought Down from Waterloo to Trail Man Who Stole Feathers

Last Thursday afternoon Dysart was in a great state of excitement. The sheriff of Blackhawk County had been called to bring his bloodhounds and trail the person or persons who had stolen some feathers from the yard of H.W. Beilke’s place. Mr. Beilke is a produce man here and he has been dressing a large amount of poultry this season. He had about twelve or fifteen dollars’ worth of feathers drying in the yard. Thursday morning when he went to look at his feathers they were nowhere to be seen. There has been a good bit of talk around town about petty thievery that had been going on and when this act became known, some of the businessmen thought it was about time to dig into the matter. A paper was circulated among the businessmen and money raised to hire the man with the bloodhounds.

The dogs were brought here and taken to the Bielke property about three o’clock Thursday afternoon. They picked up a scent very quickly and started east down the railroad track and went two miles east and then north to the road and back to town. They went right through town and south to the Will Ashenbrenner place and circled around the pasture then to the woodshed and then to the house. The house was searched but no feathers were found.

Of course, when this happened, and the hounds ended their search at the Ashenbrenner home it was thought that some of the family was the guilty party. But no feathers were found and nothing to prove any of them guilty only that the dogs had followed the trail down there. The Ashenbrenners, of course, were very indignant about the matter and insisted that the search should go on till the feathers were found to either prove the Ashenbreeners guilty or innocent. If they have had nothing to do with the feathers which they declare strongly, they have been done a great wrong, for public opinion has been bought against them. The opinion will hang to them till something is brought up to provide their innocence. We are in hopes that the instigators of this matter will still keep up the search for the feathers. It is not now a matter of feathers only but a matter of right or wrong to the Ashenbrenner family toward whom the crime has been directed. It is very probable that the party that perpetrated this act is the same that has been doing similar acts around town for some time and if this party is not found and proven guilty the town of Dysart will not gain its full profit by the bloodhound search.

_{Editor’s Note: Herman Bielke was born in Germany in 1865. He immigrated to the United States in 1870 with his parents. In 1920, he and his wife Mary (also born in Germany) were living in Dysart along with their son, Clarence and daughters Edith and Mary (who married Rudy Havran) and Frances. He died in 1949 at the age of 84 of an apparent heart attack. His obituary notes that he had operated a produce stand in the town of Dysart for 40 years which was located “on the other side of the railroad tracks”. His wife, Mary, predeceased him in 1946. Both are buried in the Dysart Cemetery}_.

Business News

Farmer’s Lumber Company Declares 15% Dividend for members and elects news officers. At it’s annual meeting members voted to decrease the size of the board from 11 to 7. Those elected to the new board were W.W. McElhiney, Ed Minkel, Fred Leo, W.D. Brandt, E.A. Huppert, H.P. Jensen and Dan Lally.

Sports

A basketball game with Dysart at Shellsburg was played on New Year’s night. The score was 44 to 13 in favor of Shellsburg.

There was a wrestling match in Traer on Christmas night. It was reported in the Dysart Reporter that one of the Traer sportsmen got some outside talent in and the event was attended by 11 men.

Social News

The Dysart Reporter was full of social news. With the holidays just passed, there were several notations of Dysart residents traveling out of town to spend time with relatives, people traveling into Dysart to visit and former residents returning home to see their parents and loved ones. Presumably many of these came and left by train as Dysart had an active depot at the time. There were two passengers trains arriving and leaving daily.

Of interest, Dr. Forward and wife of Oakland, Iowa, were at the home of Mrs. N.A. Lawyer visiting. Dr. Forward was noted to be a Napraptic physician who was considering a move to Dysart if the business looked promising.

Editor's Note: A napraptic physician focuses on connective tissue as opposed to a chiropractor who focuses on the alignment of bones.

Dr. H.L. Zimmer came up from his home in South English, Ia., last Wednesday and has been spending the holidays at his home here and with his friends. He is getting along very well with his practice there.

Editor's Note: According to "Stepping Stones in Time" Dr. Zimmer grew up in Dysart and graduated with the class of 1909. He went to the State University of Iowa and graduated in 1913. After graduation, he worked for a dentist in South English. He then went to the Black Hills and played baseball. He returned to Dysart in 1915 and started his dental practice. "

Notable Deaths

Edward Z. Dempsey former postmaster of Dysart died at age 58 after being ill for some time with typhoid fever.

Mrs. Arthur Sewall, a women in her 60's, died after falling from her second floor balcony. It was reported that she was cleaning rugs over the railing of her sleeping porch when she lost her balance and fell to the ground. She was hospitalized in Cedar Rapids for several days before succumbing to her injuries. (Editor’s note: Mr. Arthur Sewall was an prominent member of the Dysart community having arrived there in 1873. He was a builder and built several homes in the community. He was also the builder of the Opera House. A copy of his biography as it appeared in the History of Tama County can be found on the Dysart Tidbit’s page for those who are interested.

Area Churches

The Ladies Aid Society of the Evangelical Church had a meeting coming up at the home of Mrs. Anna Jessen. Meanwhile the Ladies Aid Society of the Methodist Church was set to meet on Wednesday with Mrs. M. J. McNamee.

German School and Confirmation Classes were set to start on Monday evening, January 4 at 7 p.m. with Rev. H. Christiansen.

Revival Meetings are being held at the Evangelical Church featuring the Gospel Team from the state university at Iowa City. The meeting were being sponsored jointly by the Evangelical Church and the Methodist Church. The meetings have been nightly and according to the paper, the churches were "packed to the rafters". It was reported that Wednesday night, after the meeting was completed, a large crowd relocated to the Opera House where a number of stunts were performed.

Dysart – The Golden Buckle of the Cornbelt

Posted on January 8, 2022July 15, 2022 by Carrie Koster

Dysart - The Golden Buckle of the Cornbelt

When I look back on growing up in small town Iowa during the 1960s and 1970s, I realize that for the first 18 years my world consisted of a 20-mile radius from my house. My town had enough businesses and services that we could get most everything we needed from one of the hardware stores, one of the grocery stores or Dawson’s Variety Store. Occasionally we would make the 20-mile trip to Waterloo for school clothes or on incredibly special days a movie at the Paramount or lunch at King’s featuring a Frenchie and onion rings. Those trips to the city were rare.

Our shoes were purchased nine miles away in Traer at Frank’s Shoe Store where you could get a pair of patent leather shoes and a toy in a golden egg laid by the big red goose. Those trips always included a stop at the bakery for a treat like a cinnamon swirl cookie to eat now and a bag of treats in a white wax covered bag to take home for later. I can still smell that bakery today and when I am in Traer and walk by the building the olfactory memory hits me hard and I crave something sweet.

My mom’s family lived 20 miles to the south of Dysart in Belle Plaine where we went to visit them and later attended to their graves in the cemetery. These trips usually included a coveted trip to the Maid Rite for a sandwich with a little bit of extra salt, ketchup, mustard and pickles. Add in fries and a malted milk served with the extra milkshake in the metal mixing container and a long spoon and I was in heaven. I loved to look at the circus train display that adorned the top of their cupboards while I ate a slice of pie.

My dad grew up near Elberon where we would go to see family friends the Homires: Cletis, Cody, Curtie and Evelyn whose names all seemed magical to me somehow. Elberon, with its sidewalk which was higher than the street and looked like something out of an old western to me. A trip to Elberon meant a cold pop from the Coca-Cola cooler in front of the gas station and maybe a bag of Lay’s potato chips.

My dad loved to drive around so we took a lot of rides out into the country. Since my grandparents owned a farm, he had the opportunity to be a farmer but did not appear to want that life. He preferred to farm by observation and conversation, I guess. After leaving the farm, he drove truck for the local feed and seed company and as a result, knew the name of every farmer in our part of the world. It was not at all unusual for him to suddenly turn down a long gravel driveway to someone’s house just to visit. He and the farmer would stand in the yard, smoke cigarettes, and talk about the latest news. I would usually find a kitten to play with or if I were lucky there would be a kid who wanted to show me their barn which was a real treat. I loved the smell of hay in a barn and the adventure of exploring this unfamiliar and to me, dangerous world.

A few miles out past the cemetery which lay on the edge of town, we purchased eggs at Olga Finzen’s. Her son, John, was the best man at my parent’s wedding. Olga was a fascination for me. Dressed in a flowered dress, with a full body apron covering her clothing she would slip on her large men’s rubber boots to go out and retrieve eggs. She seemed tough as nails and sweet as sugar to me. Their house held a hundred smells of cooking and baking and farm life. She spoke with a heavy accent which I found mesmerizing.

My parents owned a business in Dysart but every Thursday night, we would leave town and go out to eat as a family. These trips took me to the Washburn Truck Stop, the Lincoln Café in Belle Plaine, Vesley’s Drive-In in Traer for broasted chicken, The 218 Café in Vinton, and The King Tower in Tama. Sometimes we would go to Blazek’s Park on the Old Lincoln Highway in Chelsea. Mom would tell me about its heyday when it was a dance club drawing a large crowd on weekend nights with a lighted outdoor dining area and live music. I so wanted to see that in person.

My dad knew every farm pond and creek in the area and somehow had permission to fish at all of them. At least that was what we were told. Afternoons would find us fishing in a pond behind a cemetery in Geneseo or along the banks of the Wolf Creek near the Brandt’s house outside of La Porte. Those trips usually included a stop at the quarry on the dirt road that that led to the creek. Sometimes we would go to Dudgeon Lake by Vinton and hunt for trilobites along the banks of the Cedar River. My parent’s friends had cottages over by Mt. Auburn where we would spend the day with the Hixes, the McAndrews and the Thorens.

It seems to me now in retrospect that my dad was a bit of a rolling stone. I do not remember spending much time just sitting at home when he was not working. In my memory we were always out driving, fishing, or exploring. I should not tell on my mom but she enjoyed exploring abandoned houses. She was not afraid to go peek in their windows. She never took anything from these lonesome dwellings, but her sense of adventure included having to have a "look see". She also liked to collect wildflowers and many rides included her telling my dad to “pull over Alvin” so she could retrieve the shovel that she had brought along in the trunk and dig up a plant from the roadside or ditch.

Most of the kids I knew growing up experienced “the family ride” and I suppose that many did not enjoy these, but I did. I like to think that growing up in a time without cell phones and electronic distractions allowed me the luxury of developing observational skills. Our rides seemed like mini adventures to me. I spent a good part of my early life either fighting with my brother over the window ledge in the back seat of a car or the bench seat of whatever pickup my dad was driving at the time wedged between my parents, both with their arms resting comfortably out of the window with the wing windows blowing cooler air into their faces. We did not have air conditioning in our home so these drives offered moving air instead of the oppressing humidity that is an Iowa summer day.

My dad also seemed to know where all the best free fruit and nuts were in the county, and I can remember tromping through some woods that were located in the Bohemian Alps along the Duponda Blacktop near Toledo searching for hickory nuts or walking through the woods that would later become Hickory Hills Park hunting for morel mushrooms. I was terrible at finding them. My dad would walk behind me and pick up the ones that I had not already crushed. We picked raspberries along train tracks and pears from my grandparent's orchard.

We went to other places near our home like Clutier, Gladbrook for the Corn Carnival, Vining, and Keystone to attend family reunions at the Turner Hall. We drove out north of town to see the pampas grass by Milne’s farm which still takes my breath away. We went to Vaubel’s pond and the Seven Hills Road where we marched as boy scouts and girl scouts. We drove my brother back and forth to the Boy Scout Camp near that sign for Mooreville, a town which no longer exists.

Further north were the remnants of the wagon tracks that brought settlers west in the late 1800’s and the big round barn. If you look at a map you will see that all of these are within about a 20-mile radius of my house at the corner of Wilson and Grant.

As a child, I knew my town well because it was the center of my life. It was the place where I rode my bike and went to school and swam in the pool and played at my friend’s houses. For a large part of that childhood, I stayed in my neighborhood, a short one block street running north and south connected to two streets that ran the whole distance of my one-mile square world. A collection of nine houses with fifteen kids, give or take a few, depending on who was living next to the Goodwin’s at the time. I was a truly fortunate child. I grew up in a peaceful place full of happy memories and good people.

When we returned from our short trips out of town, we were greeted at three corners by a sign that read, “Dysart, The Golden Buckle of the Cornbelt” and, it really was. I have not lived there in many years, but it stays in my heart as one of the finest places I have ever been.

Dysart came into being because of the westward expansion of the railroad. It was incorporated in 1872 which means this year, 2022, she turns 150 years old. Over the years, I have collected a number of stories about Dysart and surrounding area. In honor of that anniversary, I have set a goal to bring to life some of stories that I have garnered from the past. I am taking it easy on myself and shooting for a goal of one story per month but hoping for more. If you are reading this and want to join the adventure, I say “Welcome aboard!”. I'd love to have you along.