Farm women in 1876 were usually called “farm wives” while their husbands were called “farmers,” implying they were not an equal partner in the business of farming. But Susan H. Jennings of Henry County was a true farmer in her own right.
Al and Emmet Burton thought they had a thriving little business going—illegal but profitable. But a German tramp who couldn’t speak English and a club-footed horse put them out of business and into the county jail.
“Men are savages at meals. Give ‘em music.” That was the opinion of Fort Madison State Penitentiary warden James C. Sanders. Sanders was in the position for ten years, 1908 to 1918, and his philosophy about penal systems caused a sensation around the country.
It was the Iowa State Fair of 1860—the seventh ever held. The state was young—only 14 years old. The American Civil War had not yet started in 1860. The capital had only recently been moved to Des Moines from Iowa City. The population of the state was not quite 700,000.
Mary Virginia “Jennie” Wade was the only civilian killed at the Battle of Gettysburg during the Civil War, but her sacrifice would have been overlooked if not for a group of Iowa women.
In the summer of 1913 a gang of horse thieves was operating from Boone to Belle Plaine and points in between all spring and summer. Finally, in August there was a breakthrough.
Mae, Anna, Loren, and little Eva were just four of the 45 victims in a deadly train crash four and a half miles north of Green Mountain in March 1910. Descriptions at the scene of the tragedy were gruesome.
“As usual, this year’s class was the best in history.” The newspaper reporter who covered the Centerville High School class of 1896 must have been a cantankerous, but seasoned writer. And he certainly had attended more graduation ceremonies than he cared to in his lifetime.
Forest City, Iowa, home of Winnebago Industries—well-known for bringing modern camping innovations to Iowa in the 1950s. But long before anyone had heard of Winnebago campers, a man in another Iowa community was gaining recognition for his design of a “camping car”—or “land yacht” as some called it.
“The Rural School Problem,” “Rural Schools Ought to Be Abandoned,” “What to Do With Small Schools” — In some ways news headlines in the 20th century were not much different than those of the 21st century. Education issues were hot news items.
Rev. George Cyphert Tally of Keokuk County was described as having as a “rugged, forceful, crude” man with “more zeal than discretion” but also a gifted orator. In the midst of the Civil War, the preacher started a confrontation between local Copperheads and Union supporters that required interventi
