Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 238, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 October 1913 — Recalls Trip to Rensselaer Over Narrow Guage—Pawned Watch. [ARTICLE]

Recalls Trip to Rensselaer Over Narrow Guage—Pawned Watch.

John Biederwolf and Mayor Tom O’Connor, of Monticello, accompanied by James Walsh, of Kewanna, were in Rensselaer for breakfast this morning, having come over on the early morning train and then taken passage on the milk train enroute to Streator, 111., on business. Mr. Biederwolf has been an infrequent visitor to this city, but recalls a visit here way back in the seventies, just after the narrow guage railroad was extended this far north. John was a young buck then and must have found something here very much to his liking, for he relates that he went broke over here and had to pawn his watch. He redeemed the watch later, however, and still has it, a heavy silver case watch with good movements that keeps perfect time and the only watch Mr. Biederwolf ever owned.

Mayor O’Connor took considerable interest in a brief visit to the city fire engine house and noted that the engine has stronger running gears than it had when he and several members of the Monticello council paid an inspection visit here several years ago, on which occasion one of the wheels broke and the mayor and one or two others narowly escaped serious injury.