GREATER CLINTON.
By B. F. Mattison.
The crowd of Negroes who landed in town Tuesday morning, part of them accompanied by their wives and children, seemed to have a hard time getting settled. The men mean to get work on the new railroad, but where they will keep their families will be a hard question to answer. The all seem to be hearty and strong, and may make good hands on the grade. So many of them together attracted much attention, as the people of Clinton are not in the habit of seeing more than three or four together; and many were the anxious looks cast at them; but if they stay they will soon cease to be curios.
Mr. John Monroe, of Gopher Hill, would make a good policeman if he is seventy years old. This week a big burly bum came to him, as he was mowing weeds in C. Lamb & Sons' lower lumber yard, and asked for a match; and when John was not looking stole his coat and made off with it. Although John is a little tenderfooted he took after the thief, caught him, and recovered his coat, at the same time giving the tramp names that his mother, if she ever had him baptized, never gave him. John also got back a pipe the bum had appropriated, and came back to his work triumphant.
We met one of those men the other morning who always looks on the gloomy side of things, and he was wondering if he had better send his children to school when it opens. "Send them, of course -- why not?" we asked. "Well you see, the weeds have grown so tall in the school house yard I'm afraid they will get lost." We remarked that when young we would have been tickled to death to have had such a place at recess or noon to have played "I spy" in, and if he was really afraid of losing the children he might "tag" or put a bell on them. He said he might think the matter over, and thought he would use one or the other, or speak to Jim Peterson about it.
Job may have had a boil or two, and it may have bothered him some to keep on in his agricultural pursuits; but he never tried to edit a newspaper and a daily at that. We excuse the editorial page of the Clinton Herald on account of those biles spoken of above. We read all the clippings and had an excuse ready, but when one who knows told us that the Editor never writes his articles, but pounds 'em out on a type-writer, what can we say in his defense? We can say that "David" before he became king once used a sling, but could not say from actual knowledge that David of the Herald did. Brant will tell, I guess, if you ask him.
Our Mayor has at last found a warm spot under his collar; he has let the people block Camanhe [sic] avenue with their moving buildings, and been patient, but now it has ceased to be a virtue. The movers who have the old Voss house in tow had to work all night to get it off the avenue, and some of the others who have obstructed travel and hindered street cars from running ought to have been given the same dose. We learn that Supt. Judson has not been praying any lately; neither has he hired a cheep man to do the damning; he always does his own work.
Do you know a family by the name of Springer living here? said one of the Pennsylvania boys, as the train stopped in Clinton which was bearing him and his comrades home from Manila. "Know him, yes!" was the answer. "He is an uncle of mine," said the soldier. A man and wheel was found and dispatched after Mr. Springer, who was soon on the ground welcoming his loyal nephew home from the war. By the talk of the boys they would not mind trying it again, and it will be no surprise if in the new regiments being raised some of the same lads may be found in ranks once more.
John Wormer who but lately moved from the North End to Chancy, has been obliged to let his work go at the mill, and attend to a very sick wife. For several days she has been very bad, but is now gaining. He says she was sick before they moved, and don't lay it to the climate down here. Thinks all will go on right now, and hopes to be able to keep at his work from now the season out.
Personal.
Mrs. H. F. Smith, of Elkhart, Ind., and Mrs. Bessie Webster, of Butte, Montana, visited with Mrs. Patrick, Bart and Alex this week, and Miss Mary Patrick, of Constantinople, arrives from Iowa City to-day.
Mrs. F. W. Leedham has been visiting at Maquoketa this week.
Mr. Thos. Mitchell, of Salt Lake City, was in town the other day, and went on to Maquoketa, to visit his mother, Mrs. Hodge.
Mrs. Geo. Dallam in children arrived from Southern Iowa and Illinois, Monday last.
Miss Mary Ball accompanied her brother's family to Hawarden, and reached home Tuesday morning.
Mrs. A. H. Love & and Miss Belle Leedham arrived from Ludington, Mich. for a visit at Mrs. George Timothy's.
Mrs. Arthur Davenport and Miss Merrette McMahan returned to Chicago a week ago, after visits in Greater Clinton.
Capt. John Moore and family are with friends in this city.
Mrs. C. Beez and grandchildren called on friends at Moline recently.
Misses Flora Lund and Dibga Allen are home from Chicago.
Miss Kate McEleney is back from Boston.
Mrs. and Miss Brooks returned to Jollet a few days since, after a month at Mrs. J. B. Delan's.
Misses Matilda and Emma Nons, of Plattville, Wis., have been visiting at Mr. W. J. Moeller's.
Miss Jennie Bennett is back from LeClaire.
Miss Lillian Henline is up from Muscatine for calls on friends here.
Rev. Mr. Steege has passed part of the week at Dundee, Ill.
Miss Clara Hetherington, of Dubuque, has been visiting her aunt and cousins in Lyons.
Mrs. S. A. Ade, of California, is calling at Mrs. Potts'.
Mrs. Alice Foster recently arrived from Louisville, Ky., where she had visited with the family of her brother, Dr. Matthew Leeper, Surgeon in the United States Army. Dr. Martindale moves into her house.
Miss Isabelle Kinross returned to Dubuque the other day, accompanied by Miss Claranelle and Mr. George Nattinger.
Messrs. A. C. Lovell, S. P. C. Stumbaugh, Cambells, Robinson, Wagner and Bonney, are up from Laurel to enjoy our Fair hot weather.
Mr. A. A. Root and family are back from Cleveland, Ohio.
Mr. Peter Hart and family, of Eau Claire, Wis. lately called on friends here.
Mrs. McKinley is now at Andrew, with her mother, who is severely ill.
Miss Emma Buechner, of Lyons, Iowa, is the guest of Otto Jessen and wife. -- Mt. Carroll Democrat
Mrs. Hopper and daughter, of Morrison, Mrs. H. Berne of Dakota, Miss Jenks of Stillwater, and Miss Hanks of Albany, have been visiting at Mr. Bennett's.
Mr. W. S. Buell is up from Bairdstown, Ill., for two or three weeks with his family.
Miss Ethel Sutton goes to Sabula to-day, to teach school there, beginning Monday.
Dr. H. P. Fischer is at home and down to business again.
(At this point, the photocopy is chopped off a bit on the right side making some things illegible. I put an underline __ where I couldn't make out what was written.)
Miss Berenice Upton is with relatives at __ence.
Dr. and Mrs. Lewis were at Iowa City __ week, called there by the death of Mr. __ Strohm, the father of Mrs. Lewis.
Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Jackson, of Chicago __ out for a call on her parents, Mr. and Mrs. __ Conway.
Miss Lula Newcomb returned some days __ preparatory to school work.
Mrs. Breese is at home again, ready or __ opening of school.
Mrs. ? McDonald and daughter Miss B__ have been visiting at Mrs. L. J. Buell's __ week.
Mrs. Winnie Hatton Bennett arrived home __, after several months with her sister __ Atlanta and Indianapolis.
Miss Frantz, of Harrisburg, Pa., and __ Haverstick, from Rock Island, spent a few __ with Mrs. Denker and Mrs. Shenk recently.
Miss Hattie Henningsen was at Miles Wednesday.
Mr. Virtus Lund junior has also been out __ Chicago lately.
Mr. Burton Ackerman is back from Seat__.
Misses Ella and Ollie Cook are home __ Minneapolis.
Miss Ada Bedford has been elected ass__ principal of the public schools at Wa__ Louisa county which she has accepted, a__ go to her charge next Thursday -- DeWitt Observer.
W. B. Ebensberger, the ice cream m__ Clinton, brought his family to this city Tuesday for a drive. -- Morrison Sentinel.
Aug. 19, 1859, at Lyons, occurred the marriage of Alexander Holt of that city __ lena Rowland, of Charlotte, Iowa. Saturday, Aug. 19, 1899, was therefore the fortieth anniversary of that event, and was celebrated __ family and friends at Fulton, Ill., their p__ home. -- Fulton Register.
Mrs. Fannie Thomas and son left M__ morning for their home in Lyons, where __ Thomas will begin teaching the high school. -- Maquoketa Record.
Miss Jessie Snoddy returned home from __ton and Lyons Tuesday evening from a pl__ visit with friends. -- Maquoketa Sentinel.
Miss Jessie Montague, of Chicago, is __ glad the hearts of Uncle and Aunt Stebbins __ a visit.
Miss Roach, of Lyons, visited with the G__ over Sunday. -- Lost Nation Chronicle.
Harry Frazier has returned from La__ City.
Gertrude and Guth Rodman have return __ a month's visit with their aunt and uncle __ and Mrs. Henry Gallion, of Beloit, Wis.
Miss Vannie Henkel went to St. Louis __ night, to be ready for school.
Miss Edith Eaton is expected home from __therville Sunday morning.
Miss Cora Davis is now at home, and will return to Chicago on the 8th; and Mrs. D__ and daughter go in ont the 8th - to be rea__ the reopening of the schools on the 11th.
(Source: Clinton Mirror, 02 Sep 1899)