SPECIAL NOTE There is yet another gap of newspaper articles with nothing being available except births, marriages and deaths for the years of 1882 thru 1888. Below are years 1887 and 1888.  The Columbus Journal, January 5, 1887 BIRTHS CLOTHER--January 2d, to Mrs. G. W. Clother, a son. Mother and child well, and George about as well as could be expected The Columbus Journal, January 19, 1887 DIED CLOTHER--The infant son of Mr. and Mrs. G.W. Clother was buried Saturday of last week. The Columbus Democrat, January 28, 1887 BIRTHS GLUCK--"Smoke a cigar. Its a boy," said I. Gluck as he rushed into our sanctum sanctorum Thursday morning. "He arrived last night. Weighs ten pounds and a half. Ah, a fine fellow," he went on as he rushed into the next room and treated all the boys to a fragrant Havana. "Everything fine, all well," he continued, as he passed out doors again. The Columbus Journal, April 6, 1887 MARRIED HAUSER-ERNST--On March 24th, Miss Julia Ernst, daughter of Mr. John Ernst, was married to Mr. Joseph Hauser of Butler county. A large circle of friends and relatives witnessed the ceremony. Among the many presents that were contributed, we only mention those of Mr. Ernst, father of the bride, consisting of a $500 cash gift, a complete set of house furniture valued at over $100, a good cow, a horse, and many other things. The Columbus Democrat, April 15, 1887 MARRIED DAVIS-FLETCHER--George S. Davis went to Schuyler last Saturday to attend the wedding of his brother, Will R., also brother of ye editor, who joined hands with Miss Alice Fletcher, and commenced life in double harness. Will had come to be looked on as quite a confirmed bachelor, but we are pleased to note that he has got on the right track at last, and we hope to see him and his bride live to a green old age, happy in their new relationship. The Columbus Democrat, April 29, 1887 MARRIED TAYLOR-JONES--Mrs. Taylor (nee Mrs. Rebecca Jones) who was married last week in opposition to the wishes of some of her grown up children, came out to O'Kay on Monday last to persuade her daughter Mary, a young lady of fifteen years, to accompany her back to her home in Genoa. This the young lady refused to do, informing her mother that if taken by force, and compelled to return, she would commit suicide. We have yet to learn the outcome of the matter. The Columbus Democrat, June 3, 1887 MARRIED SEELEY-HASTOUP--On Wednesday, June 1, Judge C.A. Speice pronounced the words which made L.A. Seeley, of Humphrey, and Miss Amanda Hastoup, of Dodge county, man and wife. The groom is a young attorney who recently located in Humphrey. He and his bride were accorded a lively reception upon their arrival at home and the juvenile band turned out in the evening and serenaded them with music not necessarily sweet, but very loud. The Columbus Democrat, July 8, 1887 MARRIAGE ANNOUNCEMENT GREISEN-??--We hear a rumor, and judging from the benign smiles of those interested there's truth in it, that Phil Greisen, brother to Jacob, the great boot and shoe shop man of Columbus, is engaged to be married to an estimable lady from Stearns township. Thus Jacob Greisen will have to stand by and look on whilst the fifth of his brothers is embracing the blessings of matrimony. Say, Jake, your turn next. Brace up! The Columbus Democrat, September 16, 1887 MARRIED SPENCER-SPENCER--Mrs. Cora A. Spencer, who figured in a habeas corpus case here to obtain possession of a child, has returned from Minneapolis, and a reconciliation has been effected between her and her husband, Edward J., station agent at Creston, and they were remarried at that village, September 6. Good. This is as it should be. Now there will be no quarrel as to who shall have the kid. The Columbus Journal, October 12, 1887 DIED SAYERS--John Sayers, who formerly worked for Geo. Scott in this city, was murdered at Albion on the 7th by Martin Haley, "an old hermit who has been considered crazy for a number of years." Sayers lived only 20 minutes after he was shot by Haley. There was no apparent cause for the deed.  The Columbus Democrat, January 6, 1888 MARRIED CHAMBERS-NORTH--Stella Gertrude North and Edwin H. Chambers, were united in marriage at Grace Episcopal church in this city, Wednesday, January 4, 1888, Rev. R.L. Knox officiating. A large number of invitations had been sent out, and ere the hour of ceremony arrived, the church was packed to its utmost capacity with friends of the parties. Exactly at 12 o'clock noon the bridal party entered the church, the bride on the arm of her uncle, Hon. J.E. North, and the groom with Grandma North, the bride's grandmother. They marched up the aisle to the strains of Mendelsohn's wedding march, played by Miss Elsie Morse. At the altar the beautiful marriage ceremony of the Episcopal church was read, and the twain were pronounced one. Hon. J.E. North gave away the bride, and Grandma North, the groom. After the ceremony the happy couple received the congratulations of their friends, and then entered a carriage and were driven to the residence of Hon. J.E. North, where a dinner and reception was given to the relatives. Mr. and Mrs. Chambers left on the early train Thursday for their future home, Niobrara, visiting a few friends in Iowa on the route, and will be at home after the 11th inst. The wishes of the community for their welfare go with them, and the parting with Miss North was a sad blow to her many friends and relatives here, who have known her from childhood. Stella Gertrude North, the bride, is the daughter of the late Major Frank North, and was born in this city. She is a tall, handsome girl, the possessor of the most excellent traits of character, and is beloved by all who know her. Her departure leaves a void in social and home circles in Columbus which will be long noticed. Edwin H. Chambers is a resident of Niobrara, and a young gentleman of pleasing address. He, like his beautiful bride, is a native of Nebraska, having been born in Dakota county. He is engaged in the real estate business, and has attained a large practice in land cases before the Niobrara land office. The only regret we can express in the matter, is that the newly married couple are to settle elsewhere than in our own city. We envy Niobrara her acquisition in the person of Mrs. Chambers. May prosperity attend the couple; may happiness ever dwell within their home; may time deal gently with them; and the besty wishes of this community, which follow them, be potent for good. The The Columbus Democrat, January 27, 1888 DIED METZ--Since our last issue we have learned more particulars regarding the death of little Frank Metz, who perished during the late blizzard, up in Wheeler county. As stated before, Mrs. Miller and her little son and daughter, arriving at Ewing, and not finding Mr. Miller there to meet them, hired a sleigh and started to drive home, a distance of 20 miles south, Thursday afternoon. A couple of colored men residing near the Miller farm in Wheeler county, were at Ewing with a sleigh, and they drove in front of Mrs. Miller, guiding her team. When about twelve miles out the storm came up, blinding the party and the horses so that they could not keep the road. The two colored men got out and taking a hitching strap tied Mrs. Miller's team to the back of their sleigh. Then one man went ahead to try and find the road, while the other went to the heads of the front team to lead the animals. All would have probably went well, but for Mrs. Miller's team getting loose from the front sleigh. This mishap was not discovered until they were lost from the two men. Little Frank Metz, when he realized what had happened, took the lines and attempted to keep the horses moving, but to no avail, as they were soon stuck in a snow drift. The heroic boy made every effort in his power to get the team and sleigh out of the drift, and failing in this, tried to unhitch the horses, but he was so overcome with the cold that he could not accomplish even that. Then he and his mother and little sister settled down to make a night of it. The two colored men, as soon as they missed them, set about trying to find them, and they put in nearly the whole of the night in searching. They shouted at the tops of their voices frequently, hoping to get a response from the lost party. Mrs. Miller and Frank heard them calling several times, but were so weak that they could not make themselves heard in response. The men being unable to find them and being nearly frozen themselves, sought shelter at a neighboring farm house, which was situated about a mile from where little Frank perished. They commenced searching again, early in the morning, but did not find the lost ones until about 9 o'clock a.m. The physical suffering and mental agony of Mrs. Miller and little Frank was terrible. The only wrap in the sleigh besides their clothing was an ordinary bed-quilt. In this, Mrs. Miller wrapped her little daughter and held her on her lap. Frank was warmly clad, but in some way his overcoat became unbuttoned and his hands were so benumbed with cold that he could not button it again. He realized along in the night that he was dying and asked his mother to pray. He rallied once or twice, but finally he could stand it no longer, and he said, "I guess we can't do anything, mama," and he laid down by his mother's feet in the bottom of the sleigh, and about 7 o'clock in the cold, calm dawn he breathed his last. Mrs. Miller's left hand and some of her toes were badly frozen, and one of little Julia's feet was slightly frosted. Mr. Miller brought his wife and daughter to this city, on Saturday last and they are now comfortably quartered at the home of Mrs. Miller's daughter, Mrs. Henry Hockenberger, where Drs. Marytn & Schug are attending them. It is feared that Mrs. Miller will lose some of the fingers of her left hand, and possibly some toes. The little girl is getting along alright. The Columbus Democrat, March 16, 1888 BIRTHS EVANS--To say that Dr. C.D. Evans was happy when he arrived down town from his residence Monday morning last, would be putting it mildly. The arrival of a daughter at his home that morning was the cause of his joy. The little miss tips the scales at 8 1/4 pounds and she and her mother Rose are getting along nicely. The Columbus Journal, March 21, 1888 DIED HOPPEN--It pains us to record this week the death, by accidental drowning, of Willie, son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Hoppen, of this city. The breaking up of the Loup river is always a local event that attracts considerable attention from young and old. The constant rush and roar of the waters and the ice create an interest in all who hear that is not easily suppressed, and nearly all are instinctively drawn toward the stream. And this is not strange. It is very natural that it should be so. Among the many scores of people who went near to see the turbulent stream last Sunday was Willie Hoppen, a lad of eight years, accompanied by other children near his age, whose homes are near by. While pushing cakes of floating ice near the margin of the stream Willie somehow missed his footing and slipped into the water. One of the older boys clutched at his hair but could not get hold enough to secure the unfortunate lad from drowning. The accident occurred about three o'clock. Every effort was made to find the body, but, as we write, without avail. (additional write-up about this from the Columbus Democrat) The Columbus Democrat, March 21, 1888 DIED HOPPEN--On Sunday last, between two and three o'clock, Willie, the bright little eight-year-old son of Paul Hoppen, of this city, met an untimely death by drowning in the Loup river, south of this city. The news soon spread over the city and it was not long until the banks of the river were lined with an anxious and sympathizing crowd and a search was at once instituted to procure the body from the turbulent water. The search was prosecuted until night, and has been resumed each day since, and postal cards have been sent to all points along the Platte river, (the Loup emptying into the Platte about 4 miles from where the child lost his life) below here, notifying them of the sad event, and requesting that they look out for the body, but as yet without avail; the water does not give up its dead. The particulars of the drowning as near as we can learn are as follows: The ice in the Loup having broken up, a great many children, and many older people were attracted to the river, Sunday, to see it go out. The river was high and the ice was running out rapidly. A party of little fellows, among whom was Willie Hoppen, procured sticks and commenced poking at the large cakes as they neared the shore, pushing them further out into the current. While engaged in this play, Willie lost his balance and fell into the river head foremost. One of his companions made a grab for him and succeeded in catching him by the hair of the head, but the hold slipped and Willie was soon out of sight under the mass of ice and water. This is one of the most heartrending accidents which has occurred here for some time. The Columbus Democrat, April 13, 1888 DIED DUMKEE--The most shocking and brutal murder ever recorded in the annals of Platte county, was committed on a farm three miles northwest of this city on Monday evening last, about 8 o'clock. The victim was Carolina Dumkee, and the murderer is Albert Dumkee, her husband. Albert Dumkee and wife have been making their home with their only son, Charles A., a young married man about twenty-three years of age, who is a tenant on the farm where the tragedy was committed. The old man is a surly, cross-grained old brute, and has frequently given the otherwise quiet family trouble, by his threats of violence and general quarrelsomeness. In February last the son paid the old man $25 in consideration of his leaving the place, and promising not to come back again. He went to Grand Island, and after about two weeks, turned up in this city. His son met him here shortly after his return and the old fellow begged so hard to be allowed to return to the farm that the son permitted him to go back. Everything ran along smoothly and nothing occurred to interrupt the peace and tranquility of the home until the day of the murder. On that day it appears that a certain knife which was kept sharpened for use in repairing harness, etc., was missing and as the old man was sulking, it was suspected that he had secreted it with the intent of doing some mischief. Charles demanded it from him, and he finally gave it up. He then disappeared from the place and came to town. In the evening, about eight o'clock while Charles Dumkee and his hired man, Albert Luth, were out at the barn milking, the murderer, who had undoubtedly been secreted somewhere near by watching an opportunity, rushed into the house, club in hand, and commenced his fiendish work. His wife and his daughter-in-law, Annie Dumkee, were seated in the sitting room, the younger woman nursing her infant child. As soon as the women saw the fiend and noticed that he was armed with a club, they attempted to make their escape. He dealt his daughter-in-law, Annie, a fearful blow over the head and followed it up with two or three more, then he turned his attention to his wife and commenced the work of murder. During the scuffle Annie dropped her baby. She was knocked senseless for a few moments by the blows she received but when she regained consciousness she made her escape, crawling a portion of the way to getting out of the building. When she reached the outside, she gave a scream, and but for the fact that her husband and Luth were nearing the house, returning from the barn, they would not have heard her as she was so weak that she could not raise her voice to a very high pitch. When they reached the house the scene in the sitting room beggared description. The murderer had escaped, and lying on the floor the old lady was breathing her last. Charles raised the head of his mother and with one gasp, her spirit had fled. The baby, fortunately had escaped injury. Word was immediately sent to this city and Sheriff Bloedorn and a large posse hastened to the scene of the tragedy. Parties were sent out in every direction to scour the country in search of the murderer, but it was not until about 5 o'clock the next evening that his capture was effected. About the hour named, Frank Anderson, Frank J. North and John Huber run him down near Stevens' grove, and he was brought in and safely lodged in jail. When the sheriff and posse arrived at the house a messenger was at once dispatched to this city and Dr. Schug was summoned to look after and dress the wounds of Annie Dumkee. It was found that while her wounds, consisting of gash across the top of her head and various bruises were quite painful, they were not necessarily dangerous. It was found that the left side of the murdered woman's head was crushed in and one of her shoulder blades broken. There was a facture at the base of the skull, and from the way she was bruised about the body it would seem to indicate that after knocking her down the old brute had stamped her with his feet. In the absence of Coroner Caldwell, Sheriff Bloedorn impanneled a jury and held an inquest. The following was the verdict: "That the said Carolina Dumkee came to her death on this 9th day of April, 1888, about 8 o'clock p.m., by blows on the head with a club or other instrument in the hands of Albert Dumkee, said injuries being a fracture at base of skull, also left parietal and part of frontal bones, believed by this jury to have been wilfully and feloniously made by Albert Dumkee." Signed, Theo. A. Helmig, H.C. Carrig, A.J. Clother, Ed. E. Williamson, S.A. Weddell and Lynn Snodgrass. The murdered woman was nearly 62 years of age, and the murderer is about 54. From what we can learn the murderer and his wife separated in Minnesota something over two years ago. The separation was caused by Dumkee beating his wife and threatening her life. Last fall Charles Dumkee sent his mother money to come to this country, desiring after the hardships she had endured during the time she had lived with his brute of a father, to make her declining years comfortable and happy. She arrived here from Germany about the first of last December. The murderer told a Democrat reporter that he and his wife came to this country from Germany about eleven years ago. They were married in 1863. He has been in Nebraska ever since he and his wife separated in Minnesota, about two years ago, and most of this time he has been around here. When seen at the jail on Wednesday, the countenance of the murderer did not show any evidence of remorse. His brutal features bore a look of stolid indifference. The family aside from the old man have always borne a good reputation and have been respected by all who knew them. The murdered woman was buried in the Columbus cemetery, Wednesday. The funeral services were held at the German Lutheran church. On Wednesday afternoon the murderer, Albert Dumkee, was taken before County Judge Hudson when the complaint, charging him with murder in the first degree was read to him. He plead guilty and waived examination. He told County Attorney Gondring in German that he committed the deed and that they could hang him or shoot him now, he did not care. The murderer served a term in Germany for killing a man when in a heat of passion, and it is also claimed that he served a term in Minnesota for horse stealing. His next act will probably be performed at the end of a rope, after the May term of the District Court disposes of the case. The Columbus Journal, April 25, 1888 MARRIAGE CORRECTION SANDERS-RICE--In last week's Journal was a paragraph announcing that the cards were out for the marriage of Wm. Sanders and Miss Amanda Rice. Our reporter had very good reason for believing that his information was correct, but such is not the case this time. He reserves the right to punish his informant in his own way. The Columbus Democrat, May 25, 1888 DIED DUMKEE--On Wednesday morning and for several days previous, the residents of this city were all agog over the approaching trial of Albert Dumkee, for the brutal murder of his wife, the trial being set for Wednesday in the District court. About 8 o'clock, and about the time court was opening for the morning session, prepartory to empanelling a jury and proceeding with the trial, word was received from the jail, that the prisoner had suicided by hanging himself in the cell. A Democrat reporter hastened to the jail for a verification of the report, thinking that perhaps some one had started it mischievously. But when he arrived there all doubts werre dispelled from his mind, as Dumkee was found suspended to the grating on the north side of his cell, stone dead. He had taken his suspenders, a piece of bed quilt and his handkerchief and twisted them together making the rope with which to put an end to his miserable and worthless career. He was in his shirt sleeves and looked quite natural and life like, and had evidently only been dead a few hours. He was hanging so low that his toes touches the floor. The last time Dumkee was seen alive was on Tuesday night when the sheriff gave him his supper. He ate heartily and seemed to be in excellent spirits. The next seen of him after that was on Wednesday morning about 8 o'clock when Deputy Sheriff Newman took him his breakfast and found him hanging as above described. The prisoner never seemed to relent or feel the least remorse for the brutal crime he had committed, and as there is not the shadow of a doubt of his guilt, the following translation of a note he left written in German, shows that he went into eternity and appeared before the tribunal of God with a lie on his lips and malice in his heart: I request the county that they bury me alongside of my wife. I couldn't stand it any longer in this hole. I have been freezing day and night for three weeks. I was laying on iron plates and my bones are stiff. I don't want to make the county any more costs now, farewell. The county says they are going to lynch me. I am born 1836 on 25th day of September in Prussia. I leave behind me one son, one daughter-in-law, they killed us both. ALBERT DUMKEE. The corpse was interred in the Pottersfield at the expense of the county, yesterday, the son not caring to gratify the wish of his unnatural parent by having him laid by the side of his murdered wife. The Columbus Democrat, June 1, 1888 BODY LOCATED HOPPEN--Yesterday, Paul Hoppen received a telegram from Fremont announcing that the body of a drowned child had been found in the river near that point, which was supposed to be his son Willie, who was drowned in the Loup river south of this city on Sunday, March 18. Mr. Hoppen took the noon train for Fremont and identified the body by the clothing, as the body was too badly decomposed to be recognized by any other mark. The body was brought to this city last night and will be interred this afternoon at 3 o'clock. The deceased child was about eight years old at the time of his death. The Columbus Democrat, June 15, 1888 DIED GILLESPIE--From C.E. Fields, editor of the Lindsay Sentinel, who is in the city attending the meeting of the board of supervisors, of which body he is a member, we learned the following particulars of the death from lightning of a one-year-old daughter of James Gillespie: During the storm of Monday night lightning struck the chimney of the Gillespie residence situated three miles east of Lindsay, and in passing down through the building killed the little girl, who was sleeping in bed between her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Gillespie were uninjured. This is one of the most remarkable occurrences that has come under our observation for sometime. How the little one could be killed and the parents not injured in the least is indeed wonderful and their escape is miraculous. The Columbus Democrat, June 22, 1888 MARRIED MUSTARD-??--We learn that Oscar Mustard of Polk county, the young man over whom a girl went nearly crazy and attempted suicide some weeks ago, has concluded that he likes the girl better than he does the horse his father gave him to break off the engagement, and has married her. This is nice. Now we hope to see a wonderful production of little Mustard plants. The Columbus Democrat, June 22, 1888 DIED EARLY--It is with deep sorrow The Democrat announces the death of Hon. J.W. Early which occurred on Tuesday evening, June 19, 1888, at 3:45 p.m. His death was the direct result of injuries sustained some weeks ago by being thrown out of a buggy while out driving with a party of friends. The news of his death was a terrible shock and surprise to the people of this community, as it was known that he had been getting along very nicely and it was supposed that he was in a fair way to recover. Up to within a few moments of his death he was cheerful and feeling quite well, and his family and friends little dreamed that he was then on the verge of eternity. There was a no more popular, no more generous and whole-souled man on God's foot-stool than J.W. Early, and in his death the community looses one of its best citizens whose counsel was always sought and heeded in matters of public interest, his estimable wife, who is almost prostrated by grief, a loving husband and his five children an affectionate father. We do not attempt to do justice to his memory in this article but leave the matter for an obituary notice which will appear in our next issue. Mr. Early was born in Columbiana, Ohio, on the 29th day of December, 1844, and was consequently at the time of his death, forty-three years, five months and ten days old. He had been a resident of this city many years and held the office of county treasurer for two terms. In politics he was a republican and he was an influential man in his party. The funeral occurred on Thursday, at 2 p.m., and never in the history of Columbus has there been as large a turn-out at a funeral. The Columbus Journal, August 8, 1888 MARRIED SOUTHERLAND-ALBRIGHT--One morning last week, when people came down street in Schuyler they found a hay man with hat, coat and pants on. It was labeled W.J. Southerland. Mr. S. was recently married to the former wife of I.E. Albright. The Columbus Democrat, September 7, 1888 BIRTH ??--Mrs. Samuel Rickly has taken the little infant girl that was mysteriously left in the parlors at the Grand Pacific last week to raise. It has been learned that the little one was born at Genoa or near there, August 20. We were unable to learn whether the little waif has a father or not--that is, whether it is legitimate. The Columbus Journal, November 14, 1888 DIED LUSCHE--November 7th, after a few days' illness, at his residence on Shell Creek, Henry Lusche, aged 65 years, 5 months and 7 days. The remains were interred at the cemetery near the Lutheran church Nov. 9th, Rev. Chris. Moessner preaching the funeral serman. Mr. Lusche was born at Sage, Oldenburg, Germany, and immigrated to America in 1852, coming to Nebraska in 1856, and was one of the first settlers of Platte county. How highly the deceased was respected by all who knew him was shown by the large number of friends who followed his remains to their final resting place; the funeral train was probably the largest ever wetnessed in this vicininy. The deceased was in good circumstances owning one of the largest farms on Shell Creek. He leaves a widow and 8 children, 5 sons and 3 daughters to mourn his loss. The Columbus Journal, December 26, 1888 DIED KARGES--The remains of Mrs. Annie Karges, wife of Martin Karges, of Silver Creek, were brought here for interment last Sunday. Funeral services were held at the Monastery church with burial at the Catholic cemetery. The husband and family has the sympathy of many friends in their bereavement. (the above article is displayed as written, including all typing & spelling errors) |