The Columbus Journal, March 28, 1894
MARRIED
SPEICE-NORTH--At San Diego, California, March 19th, Bont Specie and Miss Mae North, both formerly of this city.
The Journal, with the many friends of the young couple here, hopes for them abundant success in life, in every particular.

[...and...]

A simple announcement in the Union of last Tuesday morning created a deal of excitement and comment in this city. It was among the marriage licenses issued, and read:
"Charles B. Speice, aged 25, and Mary A. North, aged 22, both natives of Nebraska and residents of Columbus, Nebr."
A simple announcement, isn't it? But there is a story behind it.
Miss North, accompanied by her mother, have been visiting friends in National City for a month past. Two weeks ago Mr. Speice put in an appearance here, also to visit friends, but was not aware of the presence of Mrs. North and daughter May. It was an old friendship renewed. The fathers of both the young people had been partners in business in Nebraska for years, but of late had drifted apart. Likewise the young people had not met for years. But evidently there was an old flame which was rekindled.
The wedding was a quiet one, performed in San Diego, at which only one intimate friend was present. The immediate relatives of the young couple knew nothing of the contemplated wedding, and were as much surprised at the announcement in the morning paper as any one. But it is all over now, and the happy pair are by this time in San Francisco enjoying their honeymoon at the Midwinter fair.


The Columbus Journal, April 4, 1894
DIED
GUTER--Thursday, March 29th, after an illness of about thirty-four hours, William Guter, in the twenty-fourth year of his age.
Wednesday, he started for a little recreation hunting, but had gone only about a mile when he was attacked with cholic and had to return. He went to bed, but getting no better, at noon Thursday, he was taken to the home of his father, Jacob Guter, east of the city, where he died that night at 10 o'clock.
Mr. Guter was a young man of genial disposition, and all who knew him were his friends. The funeral services took place in the German Reformed church, Rev. Fleischer preaching the sermon, a large concourse following the remains to the cemetery. So suddenly called from the full vigor of young manhood to the quiet of the grave, no death occuring here lately had had so peculiarly solemn an effect upon the young folks of his acquaintance.


The Columbus Journal, April 18, 1894
DIED
STILLMAN--April 14th, after an illness of five days, of pneumonia, Dr. Charles B. Stillman. He was born in New Haven, Conn., in 1831; when three years old his parents moved to Illinois. In 1856 he graduated from the Iowa Medical University and came to Omaha, remaining until the following spring, when he came to Columbus, where he has since resided. He and George W. Hewett came from Omaha, on foot, through the snow, which is recorded as being three feet deep, in the month of March. In August the county was organized, and Dr. Stillman was chosen the first justice of the peace; he was the second county clerk, following F.G. Becher, and preceding H.J. Hudson; he was the first recorder; in the line of coroners he was the fifth; he was the first doctor and for nine years the only physician in this vicinity. He has been mayor of the city, and in many ways have the people shown their confidence in him as a citizen. In 1871 he was married to Miss Celia L. Edwards, who, with their children, Charles L., Albert E. and Lela, survive him. The funeral services are being held at the residence of the family as we go to press, 2 o'clock Tuesday, Rev. Joudon of the Episcopal church officiating. The Masonic fraternity (of whose four organizations here he was a member), furnish the escort to the cemetery.
The good doctor's long life among us deserves a more extended account than our space affords this week. One of our first and best citizens has passed to the spirit world, leaving his best memento in the hearts of hosts of friends who knew him and loved him for his intelligent interest in the affairs of life.


The Columbus Journal, July 4, 1894
DIED
COOK--James Cook walked from Creston Wednesday of last week to his brother Frank's in Bismark township, his brother taking him back by conveyance, but noticing that he didn't seem quite right.
On Friday he came down again, but his brother and Mrs. Cook were absent from home, nobody being there but the children. James asked Louis Dickey (step son of Frank Cook), for a pistol; he told him they didn't have any. Cook then caught sight of a shot-gun, and took it down from its place. He went out into the hog yard; the lad, being suspicious that all was not right, followed at a short distance, but the fatal shot was fired almost as soon as the yard was reached, and the man dropped dead, the shot taking effect in his breast.
The unfortunate man was about twenty-seven years of age, and it seems that a young lady, to whom he had given an engagement ring, had returned the same to him. A letter directed to her with this ring enclosed is said to have been found after the suicide.


The Columbus Journal, August 1, 1894
DIED
UPLENDORF-- Saturday night at 9 o'clock when the Fast Mail came in from the east, pulled by engine No. 837, engineer Michael Decker, she ran into freight engine No. 719, engineer Harry McConnell.
The freight crew had orders to take siding for the Fast Mail to pass, but owing to the local freight standing on the west end of the siding they had to run beyond the switch on the east, and upon the siding, which they were doing at the time of the collision.
Owing to the recent strike, the east-bound freight traffic is now very heavy and the long freight trains are moved with more or less difficulty and hence the wreck, which probably one more second of time could have prevented. Before the engineer could back his train of fifty cars onto the siding and the brakeman could turn the switch, on came the mail train with a mighty rush and the crash was terrible, so loud that it could be heard all over the city. The freight engine took fire at once causing an alarm to be turned in which brought out the entire fire department and a large crowd of people, some placing the number at two thousand. When the crash was over the two engines looked like one long engine with one smoke stack in the center, so closely were they driven together.
On the front end of the first mail coach were two tramps, one of whom jumped and the other was instantly killed by the tender being telescoped into the mail coach. The boys worked heroically to extricate the unfortunate man and just before they got to him there was an explosion of gas, from the tender which sent them out of the coach in a great hurry. The gas caught fire and for a time it seemed as if the car would burn, but a few pails of water put the fire out and they got the man out by jacking up the end of the tender.
He proved to be Ludwig Uplendorf of Essen, Germany, 44 years old and on his way to Denver. He had a small bundle and forty cents in money. One of the mail clerks was hurt on the foot and returned to Omaha the same evening. The engine men on both engines saved themselves by jumping. Engineer Decker put on his air and reversed his engine before he jumped. Passengers in the rear coaches were somewhat shaken up but no one injured.
Sunday the Union Pacific wrecking train crew were at work picking up the pieces of the wreck. They came fully prepared and handled the large heavy trucks of the engine with ease. When they looked over the tender they found her as innocent of running gear as a stone-boat, so they picked her up and loaded her onto a flat car and hauled the whole outfit into the shops during the afternoon.
It is not known absolutely at what rate the mail train was moving at the time of collision, but it seems altogether certain that they were running in violation of a city ordinance, which requires that within the corporate limits the speed shall not exceed twelve miles, and between F and Quincy not more than six miles per hour. At six miles an hour it does not seem possible that such an accident could have happened.
ITEMS.
The body of Uplendorf was buried here Sunday.
The loss to the Union Pacific by the wreck was figured at $1,750.
The mail train was composed of four mail cars, two coaches and a sleeper.
Ed. North, who was a passenger in one of the coaches, said there was not much shaking up.


The Columbus Journal October 31, 1894
MARRIED
MASLONKA-MIECEK--Tuesday morning of last week, Rev. Father Anastacius, at St. Bonaventura church, united in marriage Anton Maslonka and Miss Victoria Miecek. The event was one that was quite extensively celebrated, the festivities being kept up at the home of the bride for several days and evenings, and we are informed that hundreds of pounds of beef and flour were used, besides 125 chickens, 3 hogs, 2 sheep and liquid refreshments in the shape of a half hundred or so kegs of beer.


The Columbus Journal, November 21, 1894
BIRTH
DAVIS--Born, to Mr. and Mrs. D.F. Davis, at Columbus, Tuesday morning, Nov. 13, a daughter. You know it is claimed the women were responsible for the election of President Cleveland, and on this basis Postmaster Davis claims to be doing his duty for the democratic party. Long life to the young lady.

The Columbus Journal, June 19, 1895
MARRIED
PHILLIPS-WELLMAN--Mr. Louis Phillips and Miss Maggie Wellman were married at the residence of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Hoppen, Thursday at 5 o'clock, Rev. Meissler officiating. The house was crowded with relatives and friends to witness the ceremony. A splendid supper was served about 6 o'clock. During the evening the newly-wedded couple were serenaded, first the little boys, number about thirty entertained the audience with music from tin cans, etc., then came the big boys with a horse-fiddle, fire-crackers and any other instruments that could be had. Later the Cornet Bank and Maennerchor societies gave some beautiful selections until a late hour.


The Columbus Journal, November 27, 1895
DIED
NORTH--Word was received here Tuesday morning of the death, at Omaha, at 1 o'clock a.m., of Mrs. James E. North.
She had been afflicted for several weeks with typhoid fever, and while here life had been despaired of several times during her severe illness, her death was a shock to her many friends in this city, which had been her home for many years.
Nellie Arnold was born in Steuben county, New York, in 1844, and at the age of fifteen, was married in this city, by the late Dr. C.B. Stillman, to James E. North, theirs being the second marriage in Platte county.
She leaves, besides her husband, her children, Edward W., Mrs. C.D. Evans, Frank J., Mrs. C.B. Speice and Miss Nellie North.
At this hour, Tuesday morning, we are informed that the funeral will take place here, but the time has not yet been determined upon.
Mrs. North's departure to the world of spirits will be sincerely mourned by all her acquaintance who had learned to appreciate her many good qualities.
The heartfelt sympathy of all old friends will go out to the afflicted husband and children in a loss which only Almighty power and love can assuage.




The Columbus Journal, March 4, 1896
DIED
LUCHSINGER--Fred Luchsinger lived on section ten, town nineteen, range one west in Grand Prairie, and was a well-to-do farmer, having 480 acres of land, a herd of 60 yeard of cattle, eight horses, $1850 in bank, $80 in cash, and about $500 besides in securities, and no debts. It had been noticed by acquaintances that since the death of his wife about three years ago, Mr. Luchsinger had been in depressed spirits.
Wednesday last he had been in Platte Center, returning home about 8 o'clock in the evening. It was remembered afterwards by one of the children that when he took his cup of coffee he emptied something out of a small vial into the coffee before drinking. It would seem that he regretted his act immediately, and called for milk, a doctor being sent for to Humphrey seven miles away, but before his arrival, the unfortunate man was dead, breathing his last just before 10 o'clock, about an hour and a half after drinking the coffee. The vial had been thrown by him into the box for cobs, near the kitchen stove, and was found in the ashes. Having passed through the fire, there was no label on it, but it is supposed to have been strychnine that the man put into his coffee.
Mr. Luchsinger was about 52 years old, was born in Switzerland, but had lived in this country since his early youth. He was a soldier during the War of the Rebellion, enlisting in October, 1861, in Co. K, Second Wisconsin Infantry, of the old Iron Brigade; transferred to the Sixth Wisconsin, in June, '64, and serving through the war as color bearer sergeant.
He leaves seven children, the oldest aged 20, the two youngest (twins) 8 years old. The funeral Saturday was attended by a large number of people, considering the severity of the weather.


The Columbus Journal, June 17, 1896
DIED
HANEY--June 12, of paralysis, after an illness of four months, at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. C.J. Carrig, John Haney.
Mr. Haney was born in Ireland in 1834. When he came to this country, he settled in Pennsylvania. In 1857 he came to Nebraska, locating on the farm, four miles east of Columbus, which was afterwards his home during all these years. For some time there were only two houses between his own and Fremont. A few years ago, in the month of June, Mrs. Haney died, and Mr. Haney never recovered from the irreparable loss of his life companion. Some three and a half years ago, his horse ran away, throwing him to the ground, injuring him so severely that he never gained health and strength.
The funeral was held Sunday, a large concourse of people following the remains to the Catholic church, where services were held, and from there to the cemetery near by. John Haney was a large-hearted man of generous impulses, devoted to his family and friends, and his departure will be sincerely mourned by his hundreds of acquaintances.


The Columbus Journal, July 22, 1896
DIED
NORTH--Miss Nellie R. North, the youngest daughter of Mr. James E. North of this city, died Sunday morning at 3 o'clock of peritonitis.
Miss North was born twenty-one years ago at Columbus, Neb., and was known to almost every person in that town. She was educated at Wells college, Aurora, N.Y., and for the last few years has lived with her parents in Omaha. In Columbus, at college and in Omaha Miss North was unusually popular and well beloved. A peculiar tenderness and femininity which were characteristic of her made her one of the most lovable of women--if, indeed, she could be called a woman. As a matter of fact, she had hardly yet ventured to think of her own life as independent from that of her well loved home and her father and mother. When, a few months ago, her mother died, she so mourned for her as to acquire a distaste for life. Though young, beautiful, intelligent and surrounded with the comforts of life and the devotion of her family, she continually expressed a desire to be reunited to her mother. Her devotion to her father alone reconciled her to the loneliness which she suffered, and when she learned of her approaching hour, she was oblivious of all considerations save a division of desire, not knowing whether she preferred to join her mother or live for her father.
This distinguishing and childlike tenderness was so characteristic of her that it would be impossible to mention her life and what it stood for without speaking of it. She was the impersonation of filial love. Her life was so sweet, pure, unselfish, so lovely with all the loveliness that comes from the finest sensibility, that she was remarkable among women. She was of that class to which Shakespeare's "Cordelia" belonged, and her untimely death has brought a crushing sorrow to her father, who had not yet had time to accustom himself to his other bereavement. Miss North bore the same name as did her deceased mother. The funeral will occur at Columbus, Tuesday, at 10 a.m., from the house of Mrs. C.D. Evans, eldest daughter of Mr. North. The above we reproduce from the Omaha World-Herald of July 20. The cause of Miss North's death was peritonitis, her illness of only two weeks' duration. Prayers were held at the family residence in Omaha at 8 o'clock Monday morning and the body taken from there to the train, arriving here, with the escort of relatives, at noon Monday. The funeral took place yesterday, Tuesday, forenoon at 10, from the residence of Dr. C.D. Evans, Rev. Samuel Goodale officiating, Misses Emma Wake and Eulalia Rickly and R. Geer and G.A. Schroeder rendering appropriate music. Roy Cornelius, Earl Pearsall, Jesse Becher, Luther and Jay Cushing and Arthur Gray acted as pall-bearers. The bereaved friends have the heartfelt sympathy of all their acquaintances in their deep affliction.


The Columbus Journal, December 16, 1896
MURDERED
GLESING--When The Journal went to press last week (Tuesday) there were rumors here of a murder having been committed somewhere in Colfax county the night previous, but names and incidents could not be learned. Wednesday's Omaha Bee contained particulars in full, from which we condense.
Deidrich Glesing was the young man shot and instantly killed at the home of his father in Colfax county Monday night by Claus Dettefsen. The crime was committed during a terrible fight, the outcome of an attempt by the murderer to shoot Christina Glesing, a 20-year-old girl, who had rejected the advances of the murderer.
The actions of the murderer show that he had deliberately planned to kill the girl, and also any of the family who undertook to interfere with him.
Marx Glesing is the father's name, and he lives about eight miles northeast of Schuyler. In the neighborhood lived Claus Dettefsen, who came from Dodge county last spring and rented one of the Richard Henry farms. He became enamored of the girl the first time he saw her, and wished to marry her then. The character of the young man being somewhat unsavory, the attentions offered were much opposed by the father and but coolly received by the daughter. The first thing to turn young Dettefsen's mind was his failure to get to dance with Christina at a dance that was given at the home of a Mr. Zigler during the summer. But a short time later young Dettefsen and Christina happened to meet at a Catholic church across the line in Dodge county, and during his conversation with her he told her that if she would not marry him he would kill her father; that he was the one that was to blame for her disliking him and that he was a man he hated.
Monday night about 7:30 Dettefsen appeared at the Glesing home, having driven over in a two-horse buggy, as was learned next morning when search was instituted for him, walked into the house without knocking at the door to warn them of his approach and took a seat in the kitchen where all of the family were sitting at the time, excepting Mr. Glesing, who was suffering from headache and had gone into his bedroom and laid down to sleep. There seemed nothing out of the way in his demeanor, and he conversed with the family in good spirits, laughing, joking and entering heartily into the general good time that was being enjoyed by the large family in their pleasant, congenial home. There being musicians in the familiy a dulcimer and violin being the instruments played upon, the party later adjourned to the sitting room and added music to the former enjoyment. Soon after arriving in the sitting room, Dettefsen took a bottle of whiskey, a half-pint bottle, and drank about half of its contents, after which he removed a second bottle from his pocket, found afterward to have contained strychnine, poured its contents into what remained of the whisky, and threw the empty strychnine bottle into the lap of one of the women. Immediately after doing that he arose, drew a 32-caliber revolver from his pocket and fired at Christina, who stood across the room from him and immediately before the door leading in to the room in which her father was sleeping. Christina fortunately having been watching him, quickly stooped and the ball passed overhead and entered the door at a point to her about shoulder high. Two more shots were fired at her, but without effect. Diedrich Glesing, her 21-year-old brother, sprang at the man and threw his arms about him, but in such a way that his left arm was held, while his right, containing the pistol, was left free, whereupon the pistol was swung over Dettefsen's left shoulder and fired, the ball striking Diedrich almost in the center of the forehead and killing him instantly. While this was going on Bernhard a younger brother, had escaped from the room to run and warn the neighbors, and Christina by her cries to her father that Claus was shooting had awakened him from his sleep; but during this short time Dettefsen had attacked Mrs. Glesing and knocked her to the floor, having fired at her the remaining shot in the revolver as she lay there, but without effect, and wound up his assault upon her by striking her with the butt of the revolver on the cap of her right knee, where a most painful and serious wound was inflicted. Mr. Gelsing, as he came from his bedroom, was met at the door by the desperate villain, who struck him a fearful blow over the left eye with the butt of the revolver, the blow and others administered afterwards by the barrels of the shotgun Mr. Glesing carried with him from the bedroom being so serious as to cause blood to flow freely from the wounds and his ears and nose as well. Dettefsen pointed the revolved at Glesing's abdomen and pulled the trigger, expectin thus to kill him; but the last ball was gone, and a blow from Mr. Glesing's left hand sent the pistol to the ceiling and gave Glesing a chance to get his double barreled shotgun to bear upon Dettefsen and pull; the cartridge failed to explode and Dettefsen started toward the kitchen door, whereupon the second cartridge in the shotgun was tried, but with the same result as before. Dettefsen seemed now intent upon making his escape, but was assaulted by Glesing, who tried to brain him with the shotgun. Dettefsen caught the gun by its barrels and in teh struggle that ensued the lever was unlocked and the gun came in two, Dettefsen holding the barrels, Glesing the stock and the barrels at once began to sescend with rapidity and violence upon the head and shoulders of Glesing, but not with sufficient effect to down him, as his opponent seemed to be wearied with his maniacal struggle against so many. He still seemed to desire to retreat and in passing to the kitchen again, where Bernhard, the younger brother, and a younger sister were, he assaulted the girl and beat and bruised her badly with the gun barrels and then started for Bernhard, who passed out of the room and into the darkness, closely pursued by Dettefsen and sought refuge in a cornfield near by. Dettefsen did not follow him far, evidently going at once to his buggy and continuing his retreat.
A strange part of the affair was that none of them were aware that Diedrick had been killed until after the murderer had gone. The neighbors were warned and the sheriff and his deputy sent for, appearing as soon as possible upon the scene and starting in pursuit. Dettefsen's buggy was found a mile and one-half east of the scene of his crime, it having got broken so that it could not be used. A few miles further on, one of the horses he had been driving was found running loose, which indicated that he had taken the other, a bay horse, and continued his flight.
Word brought in by the coroner was that the last known of Dettefsen was that he was at the home of a brother-in-law in Dodge county at 11 o'clock Monday night. His direction of flight from there is not known. It was thought he might be found to have drank the whisky into which strychnine was put, but the bottle was found in the room where most of the fighting occurred, having been dropped.
The coroner examined Diedrich's body and found that another shot than the fatal one had entered his body. Dettefsen left a note to his mother, who kept house for him, stating that he intended killing the girl and then himself; that he was not to blame for it and could not help it, though he knew she was not worthy of him. Word came early in the evening that he had been caught, but the sheriff and deputy came in later and denied having seen or heard of him further than above reported. The Schuyler Quill gives the following additional items: The sheriff came back and at once had bills struck offering a reward of $100 for his capture. A photograph of him, taken in 1890, was secured and pictures struck from it and attached to the bills and sent broadcast over the country.
The bills give the details of the deed and a description of the murderer, as follows: "Is 20 years old, is about 5 feet, 9 or 10 inches tall, will weigh about 170 pounds, is light complexioned, with small light moustache, is a well built, very strong, big boned man, with broad, drooping shoulders, is low German, but also speaks English, has small blue or gray eyes, deep set, and somewhat peaked face, wore when he left here a cap, a brown striped suit, and a long, dark overcoat." That night Sheriff Kroeger, Deputy Van Housen, and James Fiddes went up to Dettefsen's house and searched it. The mother was away, but they found a note addressed to her, written in German, which translated about as follows: "Dearly Beloved Mother--When you read this writing I will no longer be among the living. I shall voluntarily seek death, for life without her (you know whom I mean) is not worth living. I well know she is unworthy of my love, yet I cannot help loving her. I feel as though the cloud of insanity would hover about me did I not put an end to this. However, before I leave this life I will have revenge on her, so that she may not exult over me, for I know she is cruel hearted enough to do it. Now, farewell forever. I hope to find a lenient judge in the world to come. If I don't, I leave this life possessed of the assurance of your forgiveness." It was signed, "Your loving son, Claus Dettefsen." This shows that he expected to kill the girl and then take poison. On Wednesday Coroner Lowery and County Attorney Brown went out to the Glesing place and an inquest was held over the dead body of Diedrich, B. Donovan, Henry Foust, W.L. Michaelsen, Rudolf Hobza, Andrew Gless, and James W. Smith were the jurors and they brought in a verdict declaring that the deceased came to his death from a pistol shot wound at the hands of Claus Dettefsen, feloniously fired.
On Wednesday the dead son was buried, it being a sad affair for the family and friends. So far no trace is had of the murderer. A telegram from Norfolk and one from Columbus announced that he was secured, but Sheriff Kroeger went and investigated and found them to be the wrong men. The whole country is aroused and no doubt the fellow will be captured.


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