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Sixty-Six Letters in Name

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The Clinton man with sixty-two letters in his name has been beaten. A sister of ex-Sheriff George W. Losey of Battle Creek has sixty-six letters in her name.

T. T. A. T. W. S. E. T. K. O. H. Lindloff of Clinton, Iowa, whose full name reads .Through Trials and Tribulations We Shall Enter the Kingdom of Heaven. claimed the longest given name in the United States.

The Lindloff claim is disputed by ex-Sheriff Losey in favor of his sister, now Mrs. Martha Virginia Beveline Elizabeth Amanda Caroline Sarah Ann Rosaline Losey Beckley of Pueblo, Col.

Mr. Losey writes to the News from Battle Creek: .Editor News: I have just read the article in the News of this date headed .Sixty-two Letters in Name.. Mr. Lindloff of Clinton, Ia., will have to guess again before he can claim the longest name even in Iowa as my only sister, who was born in

Davies county, Iowa, forty years ago, can I think go him several better so far as letters are concerned.

.I herein hand you her name in full, sixty-six letters beginning with Martha Virginia Beveline Elizabeth Amanda Caroline Sarah Ann Rosaline Losey and now Beckley by marriage.  .My sister now resides in Pueblo, Colo.

.Now this is no joke but her actual name. I can explain how she came to get all those names but refrain at this time from doing so.

.I am respectfully, Geo. W. Losey..

—–Norfolk News. Source: The Madison Star-Mail, January 17, 1908, page 1.

News article mix-up

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The following was copied as found in the newspaper article.

One of the small papers published an item lately which was a weird mixup of an account of a wedding of an auction notice. The most interesting part of the item follows:

William Smith, the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Josiah Smith, and Miss Lucy Anderson were disposed of at public auction at my farm, one mile east, in the presence of seventy-five guests, including two mules and twelve head of cattle.

.The Rev. Mr. Jackson tied the nuptial knot for the parties, averaging 1,250 pounds on hoof. The beautiful home of the bride was decorated with one sulky rake, one feedgrinder and two sets of work harness nearly new, and just before the ceremony was pronounced, Mendel & Sanwedding march was rendered by one milch cow, five years old, one Jersey cow and one sheep, who carrying a bunch of bride’s roses in her hand was very beautiful. She wore one light spring wagon, two crates of apples, three racks of hay one grindwith about one hundred bushels of spuds. The bridal couple left yesstone of .musseline of sole. trimmed terday on an extended trip.  Source: Madison Star-Mail, January 6, 1927, page 7.

Entertained Jesse James

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The following interesting story of early days is told in “The Covered Wagon,.” the official publication of the Pioneer days celebration to be held in Norfolk:

.Misses Marion and Jean Preece of Battle Creek, Nebraska, have some interesting tales of experiences handed down from their grandparents, who were among the pioneers of the Elkhorn in the days of great distances and no railroads. One evening a steely eyed stranger of fugitive demeanor came to their home and asked for a night.s lodging, requesting that he be permitted to lie down on the floor before the fireplace. This privilege was granted in accord with the spirit of true western hospitality and the stranger was proffered food which he refused. On lying down before the fireplace he took from his belt two large caliber revolvers, pearl handled silver mounted, and laid them beside him on the floor, ready for his hand. The stranger departed the next morning, leaving a silver dollar on the floor where he had slept. This was a lot of money in Nebraska in those days. A few weeks later word came to the Preece home that one of the James boys hand been wounded in a gun battle in South Dakota and that Jesse James had made the trip overland through Lincoln and the Elkhorn Valley to aid his brother. The time tallied with the visit of the mysterious stranger and the family always believed that they had entertained Jesse James. Source: Battle Creek Enterprise, Thursday, August 20, 1925, page

A Man’s Prayer

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Teach me that sixty minutes make one hour, sixteen ounces one pound, 100 cents one dollar.

Help me so to live that I can lie down at night with a clear conscience, without a gun under my pillow and unhaunted by the faces to whom I have brought pain.

Grant that I may earn my meal ticket on the square and that in earning it I may do unto others as I would have them do unto me.

Blind me to the faults of the other fellow, but reveal to me my own.

Keep me young enough to laugh with little children and sympathetic enough to be considerate of old age, and when the day comes of darkened shades and the smell of flowers, the tread of soft footsteps and the slow procession, make the ceremony short and the epitaph simple—.HERE LIES A MAN..

Source: Meadow Grove News, July 17, 1925, page 1.

Family Gatherings

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Higbee Family Gathering     Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Higbee and Sharon of Chicago, Ill., Capt. Ronald Higbee of Port Newark, New Jersey, Mr. and Mrs. William Holmes of Scottsbluff, Mr. and Mrs. Homer Higbee and family of Central City, Mr. and Mrs. Tyler Higbee, Mr. and Mrs. Leland Higbee and Nancy, and Mrs. Lucy Higbee were Sunday dinner guests at the David Higbee home at Norfolk.  This was the first time in seven years that all members of the Higbee family have enjoyed being together. Source: Meadow Grove News, Thursday, September 19, 1946, page 1.

Meet After 51 Years   Mr. and Mrs. Frank P. Flood of Oakland, Calif., have been the guests of Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Lang in Battle Creek the past week. Mr. Flood is a brother of Mrs. Lang and the two had not met for fifty-one years. It was indeed a happy reunion of brother and sister. Source: Battle Creek Enterprise, Thursday, September 18, 1947, page 1.

Mr. and Mrs. Henry Kirchhefer of Fremont, Illinois spent the weekend at the home of his sister, Mrs. Mina Botsford. This is his first visit for 13 years. Before moving to Illinois he lived at Tilden.

Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Langston and their daughter, Lucile, of Crescent, Okla., are visitors at the Wesley Phillips home, coming here via the auto route. Mr. Langston is a brother of Mrs. Phillips. Source: Meadow Grove News, July 31, 1925, page 1.

Family Reunited Twice in Past 16 Years       Mr. and Mrs. William Flesner, Battle Creek, and ten sons and daughters during the holidays were able to hold their second family reunion in the past sixteen years, at which all were able to be present. One reason for the reunion was the presence of a son, Pvt. Vernon Flesner, radio operator in the army air corps at Elgin Field, Fla.    Those in the family are: Mrs. Herman Praeuner, Mrs. Carl Tiedgen, Mr. and Mrs. William Flesner, Mrs. Alva James, and Mrs. Marvin James, all of Battle Creek; Mrs. Otto Schilling, Norfolk; Vernon Flesner, Elgin Field, Fla.; Mrs. Albert Praeuner, Madison; Victor Flesner, Battle Creek; Mrs. Gerhardt Carson and Henry Flesner, both of Columbus.    Source: The Norfolk Daily News, Tuesday, January 6, 1942, page 3.

May 1883 “Norfolk Journal”

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This will be about the most important term of District Court that Madison county has had in some years. The case of Madison county versus F. W. Fritz’s bondsmen, the Corovon damage suit against the Sioux City & Pacific Railroad Company, the Bear versus Koenigstein town lot suit and several other important cases involving interests of no small magnitude are on the docket and expected to come up for hearing at this term of Court. The Grand Jury will also have some important work before it.

The lunch festival held at the Methodist Church on Tuesday evening happened on an unfavorable time, as the weather was too unpropitious for many to venture out. However, there was a reasonable turn-out and a social time. Lunches and hot coffee were sold, and later the surplus cakes were auctioned off. The receipts were $10. No expenses.

A number of Dr. Schwenk’s Norfolk friends assembled at his house per invitation last Sunday, and “toasted” his fortieth birthday. It is needless for us to say that the Doctor entertained his guests with characteristic courtesy, for this will go without saying where the Doctor is known. A couple of hours were pleasantly spent.                                                                                                                     Source: Norfolk Journal, Friday May 4, 1883, page 3.

 

Norfolk, NE.

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The building on upper Main Street belonging to B. Grant, and occupied in the lower story by a milliner store, was struck by lightning Sunday morning about three o’clock. The building was not set on fire, however. The lightning struck on the west side of the building about the center of it near the top, and tore a hole about six feet square, at the same time breaking the panes out of a window in a bed room occupied by Jerry Freeman, the colored bartender in Hopper & Co’s saloon. The head of Jerry’s bedstead was also torn and he slightly shocked.

There was considerable excitement in Norfolk last Sunday evening over the mysterious disappearance of little Johnny Parke and his cousin from Ponca, who was visiting him. They started down town on an errand about one o’clock and not returning to dinner the suspicions of their parents were naturally aroused. Hoping, however, that they would return soon no search was instituted by Mr. Parke until about 5 o’clock, when he took a circle of the town and inquired diligently of everyone he met, but his efforts seemed to avail him but little. One small boy had seen them going toward the river on the St. Paul railroad track, another had seen them at the Union Depot, &c. Their going toward the river was enough to excite apprehension for their safety and cause the suspicion that the little fellows might have ventured too near the water and been drowned. At this juncture neighbors were invited to participate in the search and a general reconnoiter of the surrounding country was commenced. The river was examined for straw hats or any other evidence of the whereabouts of the urchins. The railroad track was traveled for several miles, the sloughs south of town were carefully explored, farmers were awakened from their dreamy slumbers (for by this time nature had mantled herself in her black nightgown) and interviewed, the grave yard was visited and the quiet communion of the spooks and spirits disturbed. But, alas! The unsympathetic waters refused to breed straw hats, the railroad track furnished no satisfactory evidence of the truants, the sloughs knew no small boys, the farmers had seen nothing of them and the silent precincts of the departed proffered no encouragement to the searching friends. Tired feet and fallen spirits compelled searchers to return to town to find that in the meantime the boys had come home by way of the St. Paul road which they had been excursing over a foot-back to Hoskins. It was quite a picnic.

Source: Norfolk Journal, Friday June 29, 1883, page 3.

Deer Creek gleanings

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Deer Creek

Some pieces of corn to plant yet and some up ready to plow. Quite a considerable breaking will be done this season.

The new mill on Buffalo Creek is all enclosed and the carpenters say it will be ready to turn out a grist the first of September next.

Old gentleman Lewis is building a fine frame home on his place.

Ira Church has lumber on the ground for an addition to his house.

Source: Norfolk Journal, Friday June 8, 1883, page 3.

Railroad Accident

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Terrible Railroad Accident
One Brakeman Killed Outright
Engineer Badly Mutilated
Engine, Tender and Five Loaded Freight Cars Completely Demolished.

Owing to the terrible rain of last Tuesday night, the Sioux City train over the C. St. P. M. & O. railroad, due here at 7:45 P. M., laid over at Wayne, which is thirty-five miles from this place, through fear that washouts might have occurred and would not be seen in the night. On their way in on the following morning, at about half past six o’clock and when they were about five miles out from Norfolk, they ran into a culvert or small bridge which had been completely washed from under the track, yet the rails and ties were still left in position so that the damage was not noticed until too late to be avoided. The locomotive dropped directly into the opening; the tender and first freight car were completely demolished; the second car passed completely over all yet mentioned, reaching its full length upon the solid grading and then rolled upon its side into the ditch. The third car lay smashed above the engine, while the fourth and fifth were pitched right and left cross-wise of the track, each with one end in the water and the other reared high in air; both were very badly broken up. The locomotive is apparently completely destroyed.

Joseph Pheasant, the head brakeman, who at the time of the accident was riding in the cab with the engineer, was so completely buried up that his body was not recovered until about four o’clock in the afternoon. His injuries were such as would likely have caused death even had he not been held under water as he was. He was a resident of Norfolk and leaves a wife and six sons and daughters, one of whom is married.

Samuel T. Reed, engineer, was caught below one knee by some of the timbers of the floor of a car, and held in the water up to his chest until eleven o’clock when he was released. The leg below the knee was mashed to pieces, and also a portion of the foot. The left hand also sustained some injuries. During the whole time of this trying ordeal of four and a half hours duration, with one leg mashed and firmly held fast by timbers, and nearly the whole of his body under water which was very cold, Mr. Reed bore it all like a hero. The fireman, at the time was outside at work upon the engine, and was thrown into the water and hurt by something striking him on the back. He was also badly strangled, but succeeded in making his way to the bank.

Word was at once sent to this place, when the U. P. engine, which was just starting out on its regular trip to Columbus, was recalled and with two box cars dispatched to the scene of the disaster and remained there until eleven o’clock when Mr. Reed was released and brought to town. A large number of our citizens went out on the special train, and when there all who could see where their services could be of any benefit turned in and worked with a zeal that was commendable. Especially did the railroad boys exert themselves to the utmost, getting into the water frequently up to their necks, in their efforts to free the imprisoned foot of the unfortunate engineer. This, however, could not be done with all the power that could be brought to bear upon the obstruction, until the U. P. engine was backed up and hitched to the same with their cable and hooks, which had the desired effect and the poor fellow as set at liberty. A shout of joy went up from the crowd, but the recollections of the victim still undiscovered suppressed any great demonstrations. Mr. Reed was at once placed upon the train and brought to town, and in the afternoon Drs. Bear and Richards amputated the leg below the knee.

On Thursday at 12 o’clock an inquest was held by Coroner Tanner and a verdict rendered to the effect that Joseph Pheasant came to his death by being crushed about the hips and drowning.  The extent of each cause the jurors were unable to decide. Following are the names of the jurors: Herman Pasewalk, J. A. Light, D. S. Crow, Louis Sessions and J. C. Morey.

Source: Norfolk Journal, Friday May 11, 1883, page 3.

 

Last Tuesday night we were visited with the heaviest fall of rain which this country has experienced in several years. For about two hours and a half the rain fell in torrents, until the whole surface of the ground was literally covered with water. How many railroad washouts this will be the cause of it is hard to tell, but at this writing (Wednesday P.M.) we have the accident on the St. Paul road, of which we give an account elsewhere, and the morning train due here from Creighton, still stands on the track two miles north of town, with a washout of one hundred and fifty yards of grading which will have to be replaced. Passengers will be transferred by a special train sent up that far from the lower depot.

Later—The above mentioned break has been repaired so that trains are now making their customary runs. Source: Norfolk Journal, Friday May 11, 1883, page 3.

Charles Ransom, conductor on the wrecked train where Reed and Pheasant lost their lives, was quite sick for several days afterward from the effects of working in the water at that time. He is now out and around again, though not able to resume his place on the train.

We hear of a railroad accident which happened between Blair and Omaha last Monday which was very similar to the one between here and Wayne, of which we gave an account last week. In this case the engineer, named Getty, brother of our fellow townsman, was scalded to death.

Samuel T. Reed, the unfortunate engineer on the smashup of the St. Paul train last week, died on Friday night at half-past ten and was buried on Saturday. He leaves a mother and several children, his wife having died in Iowa a few years ago. He was about thirty-three years of age.

Markets—Wheat, No. 2, 80c., No. 3, 70c; Rye, 35c; Corn 30c; Oats, 30c; Hogs $6.00 Butter, 10c; Eggs, 12c; Flour (straight), $3.25; Coal. Wyoming, $7.00; Anthracite, $14.00.

Source: Norfolk Journal, Friday May 18, 1883, page 3.

 

Card of Thanks

The undersigned respectfully takes this method of expressing her sincere thanks to friends, neighbors and citizens for their kindness, sympathy and aid in the time of affliction. Mrs. Joseph Pheasant.                                                                                                  Source: Norfolk Journal, Friday May 18, 1883, page 3.

Card of Thanks

A card of thanks is most heartily rendered by the family of S. T. Reed to all those who assisted and sympathize with us over our grief and great loss. The memory of them will ever be cherished in the hearts of the remaining members of his household. M. J. Reed.                                                                                                                            Source: Norfolk Journal, Friday May 18, 1883, page 3.

Cane from train wreck

Ed Feather has a cane made from the recently wrecked engine on the St. Paul road. The body of the cane is made from the black walnut moulding of the cab and the handle was the metallic handle to the head-light. Ed had it made as a memento of the sad catastrophe. Louis Sessions put the cane up.                                                              Source: Norfolk Journal, Friday June 8, 1883, page 3.