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See: Prj047
http://www.robbhaasfamily.com/Places/Iowa_Index.htm#[001-011]_Fayette_County,_Iowa

http://www.iowaz.info/surname/nefzger.htm (Accessed 16 Sept 2021)

(From Bottom Portion of Web Page)
Growler's Gulch in Fayette and Chickasaw Co's:
Local reference from the late 1800's for the deep valleys of the Little Turkey watershed of the Auburn area between Alpha and Eldorado, and into Chickasaw.Co.IA.

1892Sep22Oelwein.IA, Waucoma.IA, Sept19, 1892..As S.E. Cloyer, a business man of this city was returning from a neighboring town late last night he came up with a pedestrian. Cloyer took into his buggy. Upon arriving here the man jumped out and disappeared. Cloyer soon discovered that his vest and trousers' pockets had been cut with a knife, and his gold watch and pocketbook stolen. He was one of a notorious gang living in a den at Growler's gulch, in Fayette.Co.IA.

1894Nov08Oelwein.IA, Waucoma.IA, Nov 1894. Emanuel Gardner, a tough character at Growler's Gulch succumbs from the effed of rifle shot wounds. A few weeks ago he was shot with a shotgun, but not seriously wounded. The later part of last week he was shot with a rifle. Gardner was a tough character. The coroner and sheriff and sheriff were notified by the man who did the shooting, but he has not been arrested and probably will not be. In fact, it is said the sheriff has been trying for a year to get evidence to hold Gardner.

1894Dec27ElginEcho, A Bad Man Caught. That locality of Fayette county commonly referred to as Growler's Gulch had been divested of another of its ornaments, and the sheriff of Howard county has taken him to Cresco to answer to a charge of forgery. The sheriff of Winneshiek county has also been looking for him, because he is wanted at Decorah for grand larceny, his name is William McCarty. He is a tall man with a "stoop," and does not look to be the smooth fellow he is. Not only is he wanted for forgery and larceny, also for several other things which have developed since the chase was begun, and the officers feel a considerable sense of elation in having gathered him in. Sheriff Howlett, of Cresco, is a man who never says die. When he begins upon something it is almost impossible for him to stop before he reaches the end. He had been looking for McCarty for six weeks, merely stopping for sleep and food, and at last made up his mind that he would find the man in Fayette county. He communicated the belief to Sheriff O'Neal and DeputyPhilips. Last Monday and Tuesday morning Mr. McCary was an inmate of the back room at the official residence of the sheriff, having been captured by Deputy Philips single handed. After hearing Sheriff Howlett's suspicions the deputy at once formed a theory and by putting his and that together decided tht he knew where the man was. He went to the house in the Gulch where McCarty lived. Mrs. McCarty said her husband was at the sawmill. He wandered around back of the house and found the man he wanted chopping wood. McCarty accepted the situation gracefully. He apparently chose not to believe in making trouble in any but a quite and refined manner, and in this differs somewhat from other characters who make their home in that (gulch) region. Two weeks ago he want to within five miles of Cresco and sent another man into that town to get his family. Prior to that he had lived alone in the Gulch, while the officers of Howard and Winneshiek counties searched high and low for him. He might have been there yet had it not been for Deputy Philips.

1895Mar14Elgin.Echo, District Court at West.Union.IA; The State of Iowa vs Max Bysong for assault with the attempt to commit murder, being the result of a quarrel among the good citizens of Growlers Gulch, was continued on account of the sickness the defendant.

1895Apr11Hawkeye.IA, Dan Chase's steam sawmill, located about seven miles NE of Hawkeye, in Growler's Gulch, was burned to the ground last Sat. The fire caught from the engine, loss was about $1309.

1896Jan31Fayette.IA, "A Party of Bold Gentlemen from Growler's Gulch Get Into Trouble" "Simon Nefzger, merchant and postmaster of Lima (Albany), was robbed last Friday night. The thieves took between $20 and $30 in cash, about fifty pairs of pantaloons, a dozen coats, two sacks of flour, a bolt of muslin and a miscellaneous collection of jack-knives and pipes. The robbery occurred early in the evening. The clock had not yet struck seven. Mr. Nefzgar was alone in the store. No thought of danger had entered his mind, for pirates are not given as a usual thing to swooping down upon Lima and carrying away booty in armfuls. Even when the door opened and an elderly man entered, his suspicions were not awakened. The man, who by the way was the senior WARTHAM, the king of Growler's Gulch, said that he was on his way to Wadena from West Union. He had forgotten to get kerosene and wanted to buy some. This was reasonable enough, so Mr. Nefzgar went to the cellar to get the oil, and Mr. Wartham accompanied him to hold the light. While in the cellar, Mr. Nefzgar thought he heard some one in the store, and communicated the impression to Mr. Wartham. Of course Mr. Wartham had heard nothing. He went to the cellar to hear nothing, and that's what he heard and nothing more. When they climbed the stairs the store was empty. Soon Frank HELMS, a patron of the office, came for his mail and departed. Mr. Wartham tendered a dollar in pay for the kerosene. Mr. Nefzgar went to the till for change, and then the game became to unfold itself. I've been robbed!, he exclaimed. The king of the Gulch was astonished. You don't say!, he said; must have been that fellow who was just in here."

1896Jan28WestUnion.IA, "Growler Gulch" Gang Gobbled. Growler's Gulch is again in evidence and our new sheriff, Alf Hockings, has been lucky enough to score a brilliant point as almost his first official act. A sled containing four strangers drove up to the store of Simon Nefzger at Lima (Albany), a small village a few miles SE of West Union. The four occupants tied their team and went into the store, where they engaged Simon in conversation. they were after a jug of kerosene and it was necessary for Nefzger, an old man upwards of 70yrs of age, to go to the cellar after it. The youngest member of the party, a boy of 17, went with him to hold the light. While the proprietor and boy were gone the other three raiders helped themselves to all the goods they could carry out while the old man and boy were gone. They managed to gather in 50 pairs of pants, 25 coats, 20 shirts, a box of men's caps and to rob the till of $18 in cash. IN the till was a counterfeit dollar. That was found on a member of the raiding party when they were captured this morning. Soon after the four were gone the old man discovered his loss and notified his son/law, who at once came to West Union to notify the Sheriff, who hooked up and started out with his deputy about midnight. They struck the trail just south of Lima and in the bright of moonlight and on the freshly fallen snow were able to follow it unerringly. Southwest of Lima the track turned northward toward the big of "Growler's Gulch." A few miles NW of town the officers overhauled a sled containing Ben Warthan and C.B. Richardson. These men were arrested and the contents of the sled examined, when the goods enumerated above were found. A few hundred yards ahead another team was seen. Sheriff Hocking took possession of the rear team and sent Deputy Thomas ahead to gather in the remainder of the gang. When he ordered them to stop they started the team on a run. He pulled his gun and fired when one of the fellows jumped from the sled and cut across the fields. Thomas gathered in the team and Perry Warthan, the 17y old son of the leader of the gang. The prisoners captured proved to be Ben Warthan and C.B. Richardson and Perry Warthan. The fellow who got away is unknown but is thought that his early capture is certain. After leaving Lima the goods were placed in sacks and when overtaken by officers the rear sled apparently contained a load of grain. If these rascals are convicted, the bad gang in "Growler's Gulch" will be pretty effectually weeded out.

1896Mar26Fayette.IA, Prisoners sentenced for their evil deeds by the Fayette County Court. Judge Hobson closed a three weeks term of court, his final act for the season being the sending of five criminals to the penitentiary as Anamosa. Ben Wartham and C.R. Richardson, Growler's Gulch notables, each go over the road for five years for robbing old Simon Nefzger at Lima (Albany) a few weeks since.

1900Aug29Oelwein.IA, Randalia news; Mr/Mrs Waltham have rented Mrs. Liscum's house and came wed. They are from a place northwest of West Union, called Growlers Gulch. We hope they are not growlers.

Census (family)

From Image:
1] Jim Wortham: Head of household - 25, white male - married for 1 yr. - Born Iowa, parents born U.S. - Able to read, write and speak English - Occupation: Junk Peddler -
2] Alfretta Wortham: Wife of head (informant) - 18, white female - married for 1 yr. had 1 child who is living - She and parents born Iowa - Occupation: None - Able to read, write and speak English
3] Edward V. Wortham: Son - 2/12 white male, Single - he and parents born Iowa
Household:
- Property: Rent Home

Census (family)

From Image:
1] James Wartham: Head of household - 40, white male, married - able to read, write and speak English - Born Iowa, Father born Ohio, Mother born Illinois - Occupation: Laborer for town
2] Silvia Wartham: Wife of head - 38, white female, married - able to read, write and speak English - Born Iowa - Father born Illinois - Mother born Ohio
3] Edward Wartham: Son of head - 9-10/12, white male, single - attended school - able to read, write and speak English - Born Iowa, father born Iowa, mother born Indiana
4] Melvin Wartham: Son of head - 4-7/12, white male, single - He and parents born Iowa
5] Norena Wartham: Mother of head - 75, white female, widowed - Able to read, write and speak English - Born Illinois - Parents born Canada - Occupation: None
Household:
- Owned home with Mortgage

Property (Fam)

1930: Farm owned, Value $650 - Monroe County, Wisconsin

Census (family)

From Image:
1] James S. Warthan: Head of household - 40, white male, married, 26 at first marriage - His and parents born Iowa - Able to read, write and speak English - Occupation: Laborer, Odd jobs - Veteran: No
2] Lillian Warthan: Wife of head - 34, white female, married, 20 at first marriage - She and her parents born Wisconsin - Occupation: None - Able to read, write and speak English
3] Melvin Warthan: Son of head - 14, white male, single - attended school - Able to read, write and speak English - He and parents born Iowa - Occupation: None
4] Raymon Warthan: Son of head - 2-10/12, white male, single - He and father born Iowa, Mother born Wisconsin
5] Lewellan Warthan: Son of head - 1, white male, single - He and father born Iowa, Mother born Wisconsin
6] Ezra Warthan: Brother of head - 61, white male - Marital Status: Unk - He and parents born Iowa - Able to read, write and speak English - Occupation: Laborer, Odd Jobs - Veteran: No
Household:
- Property: Farm owned, Value $650

Children (Family)

1910: had one child who is living

Occupation

1920: Laborer in Town - Cedar County, Iowa
1930: Laborer, odd jobs - Monroe County, Wisconsin

Education

1910, 1920, 1930: Able to read, write and speak English

Parents

1909 (Marriage): Benjamin Warthan and Lovina Hewit
1930: Both parents born Iowa