News Articles

Charles J. Biedermann

Iowa City, Iowa, March 28. - Charles J. Biedermann of Grafton, Iowa, 158-pound wrestler, has been chosen captain of the University of Iowa's wrestling team, although this is only his first season with the squad.

[Duluth News Tribune, Duluth, Minnesota, Published March 29, 1918, sub. by CD]

The Charming City Of Northwood Iowa
First Things, Great Things And Unusual Things

G.O. Mellem was the first settler of Worth county.

Ole G. Mellem was the first white child born in the county.

B. H. Beckett was the first merchant of Northwood, his store building still stands, in the rear of the Worth County State Bank.

Hon. Lemuel Dwelle is the oldest living business man of Northwood, having maintained an office constantly for more than fifty years.

Andrew Gray holds the palm for continuous service in one location, he having had a blacksmith shop at his present place of business for 39 years.

O. V. Eckert is the banner mayor of Northwood he having held the office five terms, no two of which were in succession.

The first three permanent pioneers of Northwood were G.O. Mellem, 1853, Simon Rustad 1854 and I. M. Bolton 1856. These three reared 26 children, a record that is hardly being maintained by the present generation.

The first election in Worth county was held at the home of B. H. Beckett in NorthwoodOct 13, 1857. 74 votes were cast.

The first death in Worth county was the drowning of a surveyor in the Shell Rock river near Northwood in 1853.

The first wedding was in 1860, A. T. Boltun and Felinda Bliton, uniting their fortunes.

The first saw and feed mill was built by Chas. Wardall in 1857.

The first flour mill was erected by Lemuel and A. J. Dwelle in 1860.

The first court house was located at Bristol in 1857. The next four have been located at Northwood. It is hoped there will be no more for many years to come.

The first post office in the county was established at Northwood in 1857, Dr. D. D. Franklin being postmaster.

The first hotel was opened in 1858 by landlord John Becker.

The first church edifice erected in Northwood was the Presbyterian church which was completed in 1872.

The first school in Northwood was taught in the old stone court house by Catherine hostetler in 1858.

The first lodge organized in the county is still flourishing. It is Northern Light Lodge A.F. & A.M.

The fire department was organized in 1883 and has just celebrated is 24th birthday by the installation of a new fire alarm system.

The first bank in the county was established in 1869, then known as the Worth Bank, now known as the Worth County State Bank.

The first newspaper in Worth county was the Northwood Pioneer, issued in October 1869 by P.D. Swick.

Here are some of the unusual terms of office as regards length: Duncan McKeercher, treasurer 8 years; T. L. Ringham, records 8 1/2 years; A. C. Blackmore, auditor, 9 years; G.A. Lee, sheriff (when completed) 9 years.

The Worth County Agricultural Society was organized in January 1879.

The first elevator was built in Northwood in 1871.

Recorder John M. Slosson and Supt. H.A. Dwelle are the only persons who have been elected to county office whose fathers held county offices also.

The first railroad in Worth county was built in 1871, the first trains entered Northwood in October.

[Source: 1907 Northwood Semi-Centennial, transcribed by K. Torp]

Clarence Storr

Fireman Burned in Wreck

Northwestern Freight Engine Topples over Near Joice, Iowa

Des Moines, Ia., May 17. - A Chicago & Northwestern freight engine left the track near Joice, Iowa, today and toppled over, burying the fireman, Clarence Storr, who was roasted to death.

[Rockford Republic, Rockford, Illinois, Published May 17, 1909, sub. by CD]

Florence & James Shamo

Signs Requistions Iowa Bank Robbers

Springfield, Ill., July 27. - Requistions signed by Governor Kendall of Iowa for the return of Hanlontown, Iowa, of Florence and James Shamo, charged with bank robbery were granted upon orders from Governor Small today.

The couple are under arrest in Chicago. They were indicted for robbing the Citizens' Savings bank of Hanlontown of $45, 950 in bonds, October 27, 1919.

[Rockford Morning Star, Rockford, Illinois, Published July 26, 1921, sub. by CD]

Four Dead In Fire

J.C. Jensen and three children were cremated and Mrs. Jensen escaped with three other children, all badly burned, with fire, which started by pouring gasoline over kindling, consumed the Jensen home near Northwood, Iowa.

[Colfax County Stockman, 28 Jan 1911 - Submitted by Barb Ziegenmeyer]

Goul, Hagen & Tenold

Mr. and Mrs. G. Goul have has as their guests Mrs. Carrie Tenold, and daughter, Cora of Kensett, Iowa, and Mrs. Hagen, and daughter, Clarice, of Northwood, Ia.

[Rockford Register Gazette, Rockford, Illinois, Published October 24, 1916, submitted by CD]

John Trustem

Iowa Land at $180 Acre

Hanlontown, Iowa,--The first farm sale to be recorded here since the great land boom in 1920 took place this week when John Trustem farm, one and a half miles north and one mile west of town, to his brother, Gule, at $180 an acre.

John Trustem then bought the Caroline Escherich farm, adjoining the Trustem farm, for $130 an acre, and he assumes the drainage tax, which amounts to about $12 an acre.

[Daily Register Gazette, Illinois, Published March 19, 1923, sub. by CD]

Kensett News

Rev. Dawson and wife and Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Locke went to Marble Rock Monday afternoon to attend conference.

Jeff Tolefson was in town Tuesday.

Sam Pangburn was down from Northwood Tuesday.

A. Low and Dr. Hewitt were Kensett visitors Tuesday.

Everybody celebrated. Some went to Northwood, others to Manly and Clear Lake.

Mr. Klinefelter, our depot agent, went to Clear Lake Sunday to hear Sam Jones.

A wedding occurred Sunday at the home of George Overholt. Mrs. Russell, a sister of Mrs. Overholt, was married to Mr. Wells of South Dakota. Mr. and Mrs. Wells will return to Dakota soon.

Misses Belle Sherman and Blanche Eckert, J. R. Smith and Rev. Stevens came down on their wheels, Monday morning and went to Manly. Mrs. Stevens and Mrs. Smith went by train. Mr. and Mrs. Smith were on their way to Jefferson, Iowa. The others of the party went back to Northwood on the passenger.

Editor Gilrup was around Monday morning canvassing the town for the county fair premium list.

Mrs. Billings returned Thursday from her visit at St. Ansgar and other points.

(Source: Northwoods Anchor, Worth Co., Iowa; Tuesday, 09 July 1895)

LoAnn Erickson

Frozen dead girl was shot, officials say

Mason City, Iowa. - A 13-year-old Minneapolis girl whose frozen body was found in a wooded creek bed in northern Iowa has been shot in the chest at least twice, authorities said Friday.

The body of LoAnn Erickson was found Thursday just east of Fertile, Iowa. Minneapolis police have been led to the area by a suspect in the case. LoAnn had been missing since Saturday.

Dr. William McAllister, acting Worth County medical examiner, said it would be Sunday or Monday before the body was sufficiently thawed to conduct an autopsy to determine the exact cause and time of death.

"She had two (bullet) wounds in the chest, and there may be others," McAllister said. "There's also a break in the skin in the cheek. I couldn't tell if it's a wound."

Police were led to the area by Clark A. Bailey, 24, Minneapolis, who has been charged with aggravated assault and kidnapping in connection with LoAnn's disappearance. Another man, Edward G. Mins, 24, Minneapolis, has been charged with criminal sexual conduct in the case.

Thomas Hopewell, deputy director of the Iowa Bureau of Criminal Investigation, said Bailey admitted to Minneapolis police that he had been with the girl in the Fertile area, 120 miles south of Minneapolis, but denied having anything to do with her death.

LoAnn's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Erickson, were out searching for her when a police chaplain arrived at their house Thursday to tell them their daughter's body had been found.

Robert Erickson, Leonard's brother, was at the house when the chaplain arrived. When his brother called home later, Robert told him LoAnn was dead.

"He didn't day anything, and he didn't tell Mary," Robert Erickson said. "He drove her home, and when they got here she found out - and it was terrible."

Family members attended a private memorial service for LoAnn Friday morning.

"I just hope the guy who killed my baby never forgets the look in my daughter's face when she was killed," Mrs. Erickson said on her return home. "He'll have to live with that forever and suffer for the rest of his life."

"I know that my daughter is with God and not in the hands of some pervert," she added as she stared at a Christmas tree in the corner of the room.

The family will go ahead with Christmas plans.

"We're planning to go to our parents' home because the kids have to have Christmas," Robert Erickson said. "We can't deprive the kids of Christmas even though they know that LoAnn won't be there. They don't understand the finality of death."

[Rockford Morning Star, Rockford, Illinois, Published December 25, 1976, sub. by CD]

Theodore Bergland

Head Mashed Under Drive Wheel of a Tractor Plow Engine

Crosby, N. D., April 26. - Theodore Bergland, aged 25, was killed this morning when his clothes became entangled in the gearing of a tractor engine. He was thrown to the ground, one drive wheel passing over his head and mashing it almost to a pulp.

Bergland recently came here from Joice, Iowa, and the remains will be shipped there for burial.

[Grand Forks Herald, Grand Forks, N.D., Published April 27, 1912, sub. by CD]