I found
a website with local news from Deloit, Iowa (where the McKims lived until 1914ish). The articles go back to the late 1800s. Most of the news is pretty boring (so-and-so visited so-and-so this week, and a grand time was had by all, etc.), but a few gems stand out:
5/29/1885
We regret to learn that Mrs. Joseph McKim of Milford township is very sick with dropsy and consumption.Included for the simple reason that it includes the word "dropsy."
10-23-1885
It is expected that a meeting will soon be held relative to the organization of a band in this place. A good band is an ornament to any town and as we have good "material" here, we do not see why such a move would not be heartily seconded by our citizens.
Can't we have a literary society during these long winter evenings? It seems that much valuable time is going to waste, which might be saved. Call a meeting and organize. Lets have something going on.Apparently they were short on entertainment in Deloit, Iowa, 1885.
10/7/1887
Bill McKim is the happiest man about town. It's a girl and came to live with him Sunday.I can only assume (hope?) this is a birth announcement.
10/21/1887
Cary Philips and Mort McKim took in the Mikado at Denison, and report it immense.Glad to see I come by my appreciation for good theatre honestly.
12/16/1887
Scott McKim looks oh! So lonely - caused by Mrs. Scott having gone to Vail for a few days' visit.2/10/1888
The Deloit Literary Society met Friday evening and effected a new organization by electing James McKim President and selecting a subject for next Friday evening, "Resolved that a well regulated license law is preferable to the present prohibitory law." All invited.How is that topic literary?
5/4/1888
The McKim mill, one of the oldest landmarks in the county, situated on Wolf creek near Deloit, was undermined by the late high water and toppled over into the creek. The loss will be several thousand dollars.Well crap.
3/20/1889
The Heffelfinger & McKim roller mills are turning out fifteen-barrels of flour per day, which we are glad to note find a home market. Thus far all the output has been sold to the citizens of the vicinity, so that freight bills cut no figure. Our family has tried a bag of this excellent flour and is satisfied that it is equal to the best. We congradulate our citizens on the success of the mills.Apparently they recovered from the flood damage.
6/28/1893
Eugene McKim returned from Ames college last Thursday.There goes my chance to claim I'm the first in my family to go to college (forget that both my sisters and both parents did...).
4/24/1895
Scott McKim, our postmaster has a trotting horse and it is a stepper.I assume this was an ad, as this followed:
5/8/1895
Scott McKim has sold his trotting horse to Mr. Whiting.5/15/1895
Will C. C. please keep his feet out of the coal pail hereafter, in time of Sunday school it makes such a racket.Heh.
11/20/1895
We acknowledge a pleasant call from Mr. J. R. McKim, an old resident of Crawford Co., who is spending a short vacation with his parents in Deloit. Mr. McKim is editor and proprietor of the Pittsburgh Kansas Smelter. It is a newsy little daily in its first year. The Review wishes it prosperity.Smelter?
11/27/1895
News is scarce as rain.You don't say!
10/14/1896
Jas. McKim and S. D. Newton are losing their hogs with the cholera.11/11/1896
I wonder what Roy McKim goes to Dow City so much for. Will someone please say? Perhaps that new buggy could tell.Apparently nobody could have any secrets in Deloit, Iowa.
Also, apparently this Roy was my great great uncle (great grandfather's brother), who was a teacher (documented as a B student during his own schooldays) and played a brass instrument. And then died in WWI, of course.
4/7/1897
We understand that Roy McKim and best girl were visiting in Omaha last week.The plot thickens.
James McKim had the misfortune to lose six fat hogs, which were killed by lightening last Wednesday.If hog-keeping skills are hereditary, I'll make sure never to try it.
5/15/1897
Roy McKim went to Dow City Saturday to see his best girl.That answers that question.
5/19/1897
On Wednesday of last week Scott McKim's wife and son Glen had a narrow escape as they were returning from Denison bringing some furniture. The team ran away, they were both thrown from the buggy but fortunately they were not hurt except being frightened and breaking and marring the furniture.
5/26/1897
Scott McKim had another run away in Denison on Monday of last week which resulted in demolishing his spring wagon.D'oh.
6/16/1897
Roy McKim still has attractions at Dow City, we learn there is a charming school marm living there.These people can't leave well enough alone, can they?
8/18/1897
The ice cream social at Mrs. Sarah McKims on Friday evening was well attended and an enjoyable time was had by all.Heh.
11/3/1897
Uncle David McKim is laid up with rheumatism again.Roy McKim and Miss Madge Talcott came up from Dow City Monday evening of last week, stopping in town over night Tuesday, they went up to Sac City to visit Miss Talcott's sister.And now we have a name for this mystery school marm.
12/10/1897
Elder Wm. McKim went to Persia last Saturday, where he conducted services Sunday.I assume this means Persia, Iowa.
Postmaster McKim and wife were among those in attendance at Uncle Tom's Cabin in Denison last week.Heh.
2/15/1898
David McKim and wife are on the sick list. Uncle Dave is again entertaining the "grippe" and his wife is quite seriously ill with a combination of diseases.Yet another amusingly-named malady.
3/15/1898
Mr. Talcott of Dow City visited at Wm. McKim's last week.The schoolmarm's father visiting Roy's family, eh?
Mrs. William Johnson united with the L. D. S. church, Sunday, Elder William McKim performing the rite of baptism.So apparently my great grandfather (Roy's brother, don't remember his name) was thrown out of the RLDS church (for a reason I don't remember -- I'll have to ask). Good to know I come from good stock.
6/14/1898
Roy McKim has secured a job of work of Mr. Talcott near Dow City.A job from the prospective father-in-law?
Deloit has again come to the front with a well organized company of guards. When the call for troops struck the city, it hit us hard, so we proceeded to organize. Bent Ateman was duly elected major; Jim McMullen quartermaster; Gene Brogden, mule driver; J. T. Turner, chaplain; Ed Turner, surgeon; John Lentz, bandmaster; while Leon Mead, Fred Dawson, Scott McKim, John Moore, and Walter Keith, will act as high privates. We are now ready for orders, clothes and rations, especially the later. Marines will be taken at once to the southern portion of the city to guard against a possible invasion by the Spanish. Torpedoes will be placed along the river banks in case torpedohe Spanish torpedoe boats should get away from our navy and stray up the Boyer. Hurrah for Cuba.Now I'm just confused.
4/19/1916
B. E. McKim has purchased a new Ford car to deliver mail on his route.
Mr. and Mrs. B. E. McKim autoed to Denison Friday.First thing he does when he gets a company car is go joy-riding off to Denison....
5/24/1916
Relatives here received an announcement of the birth of a son to Mr. and Ms. Bert McKim of Independence, Mo. on Saturday, May 13th. His many friends here congratulate.So the McKims in Independence were apparently my relatives.
7/19/1916
One day last week, B. E. McKim's little baby drank some gasoline, making it quite sick for a while. However, nothing serious resulted and the little one seems to be as well as ever.I always knew automobiles were the work of the devil.
8/30/1916
The Review is in receipt of a letter from Mrs. S. Horr of Deloit, who has been spending the past few months in Thunder Hawk, S. D., telling of the death of Mr. William Martin McKim, who died at his home near Thunder Hawk, August 16, 1916. The parents of the deceased were William and Almedia McKim, who were among the pioneer settlers of Crawford county and who will be remembered by a very large number of people in Crawford county.Labels: narcissism
