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ESTABLISHED IN 1885.WEBSTISOME INTERESTINGFAMILY HEIRLOOMS• • iJ. D. Sketchley Celebrates EightiethBirthday—Displays Belies of Long Ago.y. D. Sketchley, who is one of theoldCBt settlers of Hamilton county,^ ■ *Sunday celebrated his eightiethbirthday at his home on Senecastreet by inviting about a dozen ofhis friends and relatives to a finebirthday dinner which was served there. The afternoon was pleasantly spent with conversation and Mr. Sketchley brought out such a number of fine old relics for the admiration and comments of his guests that it has been thought worth while to enumerate a few of these articles of particular interest and describe them for the benefit of the many people who appreciate heirlooms.One of the oldest and most interesting of these heirlooms is a small round calfskin trunk, the possession of Mr. Sketchley’s mother when she was a young girl in Virginia and which must be over 90 years old. This trunk is packed with letters, memoranda and souyenirs which were her own and wliich she evidently kept in a careful state oP preservation for the generations to come. Her name was Sarah Justice and she was born in 1800, receiving a very fine education for that day and age, a diploma from a young ladies school being one of the papers in the trunk. Much literature pertaining to her school work as both student and teacher is contained in this trunk, among it being the announcement of the opening of the Young Ladies Finishing School in Maryville, Tenn., which was con-ducted by* Mr. and Mrs. Sketchley, the parbhts- of J. D. Sketchley.That Miss Justice was a most accomplished young woman is very evident -from the variety of heirlooms and data possessed by her son. She had “finished” in painting, drawing, music, languages and all the common branches, besides being able to spin and weave. Some of the bundles of letters are tied with linen thread spun by herself and a counterpane of very beautiful pattern woven by her is a treasured possession of Mr. Sketchley.Among the letters is one written in 1839 to her by a relative in Mur-freesborough, N. C. This is written in the old style of script which is almost unintelligible on account of the large number of graceful flourishes and the old style writing of the letter “s”. This letter was sealed without envelope and with a wafer, in the manner of the times and cost 25 cents postage to Louisville, east Tennessee. Only letters of necessity were written in those days and the arrival of one was an event.Among the manuscripts is a set of rules for the school which she taught—a set of ten dignified rules for conduct in which—“Young Judies will observe when moving from their seats to walk softly;” also the pupils are gently cautioned—“Those that do not attend strictly to these rules m'ght be expelled.” The rules are written upon the genuine old {parchment paper. Mr. Sketchley has also a large exercise book in which his father kept his mathematical problems. The hook is home-bound with calico and is of heavyparchment paper. The sums wero first dono upon the slate and then copied with iufinito care into this book of unruled paper which is about 95 years old.Sarah Justice Sketchley’s wedding slippers and hose arc interesting relics; the slippers were of white ldd covered with white brocaded silk and ornamented elaborately with rosettes. The Iiobo are of heavy silk with ornamental clocks” up the sides and all the articles are long since yellowed with age. These are about 90 years of age.A gold watch Is one of the oldest anti moat interesting relics. This was handed down as an heirloom to J. D. Sketchley’s father and is over an inch thick. Tho works are ancient enough and the watch still runs, being wound by a chain. Tho inscription “Geo. Goodo, London,1205,” is on the face of the works but the age of the relic is not even guessed at. A quaint wooden box, perfectly round, was the property of Sarah Justice’s great-grandfather who was a Frenchman named John Dupree. There is a queer old cane which was the walking stick of tho elder Mr. Sketchley and which has an ivory head atyi a silk cord and tassel by which to swing the stick from the hand. This is at least 90tyears old.Among these heirlooms is an old fashioned “tucking comb,” an enormous affair of thin tortoise Bhell which was carried by the young women of Miss Justice’s time in a handbox to parties and adjusted with nicety in the hair after arriving. The price mark is still dicern-ible upon the back—$7.50. There are many o£her relics and manuscripts of extreme interest to the lover of the antique, all in excellent state of preservation. There are school books, among them a spelling book of 1831 which is guaranteed in the preface to be “Agreeable to children.”Among the several documents is one the words of which are*.“Hertford Female Academy. This will certify that Miss Sarah X. Justice, a student In grammar, painting, geography and philosophy has a distinguished honor in her class. Signed. Farimot M. James, Dec. 22, 1826.”When this same Miss Justice had reached her eightieth year, her ambition was in no wise diminished and she painted pictures and did beautiful lettering and drawing. When she was eighty-six years of age, she executed an intricate drawing in ink in her grandson’s autograph album, writing in addition the words, “May your life be an emblem of the rose, and heaven be your home.”This accomplished woman was also a poetess and bits of poetry in her delicate handwriting are in this calfskin trunk. One is upon “The Duty of Young Persons”—Our days begin with trouble . h,ere, our life is but a span, •And cruel death is always near, 30 frail a thing is man.Then sow the seeds of grace whilst young,That when thou comst to die,Thou mayst sing forth that triumph songDeath, where’s thy victory?”“Praying will make us leave sinning and sinning will make us leave praying. Have communion with few. Be intimate with one. Deal justly with all. Speak ovil of none.” Much of the character of the woman who left these bits of writing and articles may be determined by the neat, methodical way in which her papers are folded, and the collection is a real treat for those interested in relics.MM.MOMComplete Deal for Moines I LiuPRESIDENT EBBDeclares M. St. Independ Devel44Minneapolis, Mirter conferring withton, president of tlman Erb, presidentoils St. lKuis ronied that negotih'made to sell the MSoo Line or to theMr. Erb said thatMinneapolis conceover of the Des Moi,road by the M. iA meeting of ththe Des Moines was held Friday when the sale of trackage and all p St. L. was autho be another nieetirholders of the M. neapolis Saturday, actions will be ra was here yesterda:TOWN OF SI70 Widows, 40 Witelors, 50 OldA Modem Bicycle.It seems that while the automobile has been forging ahead in the way of improvements, tho bicycle has not stood idly by, for the manufacturers are now making bicycles with three speeds, and one of these machines may be seen in C. F. Gardner’s hardware store. These bicycles have a low speed, intermediate speed and high speed. Before this idea came out it was found by bicycle riders a hard proposition to climb a Bteep grade but now, with the adoption of the three speed brake, it is very easily accomplished, as all the rider needs to do is to simply reach down to the top bar of his bicycle, throw it into low speed and peddle leisurely up the hill. The brake is but very little larger than a common coaster brake and according to Mr. Gardner, comes but very little higher in price. Tho low gear is Gl, tho intermediate 80, aud the high gear 106. The high gear is very much higher than a common geared bicycle and when one is in a hurry or ou good roads ho may, as motorists put it, “let her out.Couples CSmith Center, Ki pid has missed one tirely and the con ing the effects, getting the reputa ern part of the si less” city and 4t dlt; The city has a plt; men, women and c.HE TOOK AWITHSeward Leniley 1Friends WoulcHis Whei11Buys Peterson House.Bay D. Hughes has bought the house in the 800 block on Water street occupied by tho F. M. Talcott family. This property was owned by Mrs. John L. Peterson. Mr. Hughes expects to remodel it, making it modern and up-to-date and the Hughes family will move thero-in about the first of April. The Talcott family are moving from this residence into the house in the 900 .block on Water Blreet, recently occupied by the R. P. Smock family.Letters have he Seward Lemley, hr lie in ley, who resit Bartlett farm east the man had no ii his relatives and f: not writing them a bouts. Upon tl: them a card statii: leave Champaign, gin la by tho way dently foil in witl party going to Tex and quickly chaug' to Texas to look at before his return : Illinois lie wrote there, and she sent anxious brother ii letter was unconc* the experiences of dreaming of tho ai ing his relatives, ends well and tlilt; the brother’s fami ing from him willWANTED—placeand wife. P. T vision street.Clover seed test! $11 a bushel. A. tor. Phono 291.
Newspaper Details
Webster City Tribune
Webster City, Iowa, US
Fri, Feb 26, 1915
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Patty M.
IL, USA 22 Jul 2018
Other Publications Near Webster City, Iowa
Hamilton County Journal
Webster City Tribune
Webster City Daily Freeman Journal
Standard Atlas of Hamilton County Iowa
