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Newspaper Clippings by Subject Matter
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ALHAMBRA BOYS SAVE LIVES ON
TRAIN
Source: The New York Times, New
York, NY, July 19, 1903
Two boys averted a terrible
wreck with the probable loss of dozens of lives by flagging
the early morning express on the Illinois Central before it
ran on the bridge across Silver Creek, which had been
partially burned away, three miles north of here yesterday.
The boys John and William Bilf, twelve and fourteen years
old, respectively, who live on a farm near the creek, were
on their way to a neighbor’s when they saw smoke issuing
from the bridge some little distance from them. About middle
way out they discovered that forty feet of the structure had
been burned away and the bridge was still in flames. They
knew that the fast express would be along in a few minutes,
and if it were allowed to run on the bridge it would surely
go down in midstream, with great loss of life. It must be
stopped, they both knew it, and they set about their
important task. They had no flag, but that trifle was soon
mended. John tore up his shirt and tied it to a staff. Then
together they ran to the track to meet the train. About half
a mile from the bridge they heard the oncoming train, so,
taking their position in the middle of the track they began
to wave the flag as the train came in view. The engineer was
quick to perceive the signal and threw on the brakes
stopping the train within a few yards of the bridge. The
engineer, conductor, and many of the passengers thanked the
boys for their heroism. The two boys are members of a family
of thirteen children. It is supposed that the fire was
caused by coals from the firepan of a passing engine.
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ALHAMBRA - FARMER STABS NEIGHBOR
Source: Ogdensburg, New York
News, September 13, 1907
Sept 12.—Charles W. Hosto, a
farmer living near Alhambra, walked into the office of
Sheriff Jones here and surrendered himself, saying he had
killed Charles Heal, who lived on a farm adjoining his.
Hosto's story was not believed at first, but was found to be
true. Hosto was arrested on the charge of manslaughter and
released on bond pending his preliminary hearing. The two
men quarreled Monday. Hosto declared he cut Heal with a
pocket knife in self defense. He put the man in a wagon and
drove him home. Heal died that night.
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AMERICAN BOTTOM
Source: Alton Telegraph, May 9, 1838
From the St. Louis Saturday News - There is no spot on the
globe more fertile, or more productive, than that tract of
alluvion on the left bank of the Mississippi called the
American Bottom. This district of country commences at a
point near to, and below the City of Alton, extending almost
an hundred miles along the Mississippi to the mouth of the
Kaskaskia river. Its width varies from two to six miles, and
is contracted probably - in some instances to only one mile.
The rank growth of herbage upon this extensive bottom has
hitherto produced an insalubrious effect, which has
prevented settlements in it to such an extent as might have
been anticipated. The fatness of the soil, the fine growth
of timber which it contains, and its vicinity to the market
of St. Louis, are inducements which must ere long produce
such cultivation as will present in the American Bottom, for
a considerable distance above and below a point opposite
this City [St. Louis], continuous gardens and meadows, with
occasional harvest fields to variegate the richness of the
scene. There is not, perhaps, any where, a fairer prospect
for investment in land for the purpose of cultivation.
Present prices are low, and the improvement which is going
forward will render the location healthy. A railroad from
the St. Louis ferry landing to the coal banks, about six
miles from the river, is so far finished as to admit the
running of cars upon it, and a large stock of fuel and coal
is already deposited on the bank of the Mississippi. The
Legislature of Illinois has given a lottery privilege for
the purpose of draining, by its net proceeds, the ponds in
the American Bottom; and some of the public spirited
citizens of the State are about to render this liberal
enactment effective. Countless numbers of human beings will
be benefited by this operation, and every philanthropist
should give countehahes(?) [sic] and encouragement to it.
The principal mosquite manufacture, so annoying to this
city, will be thus broken up, and the local causes of
disease, which impose suffering in apprehension, if not in
reality, will be removed. This is one of the felicitous
improvements which the age of reason will rejoice in. If the
City of St. Louis were not directly interested in this
enterprise, we indulge none of those narrow views which
would confine benefits to nay(?) particular locality.
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BENBOW CITY PLATTED EAST OF ALTON
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, May 3, 1907
The new town of Benbow will be laid out and platted in a
short time by A. E. Benbow, near the Standard Oil refinery
site. Mr. Benbow laid out a town here several years ago at
Glassboro. He now has taken the old plat and will rearrange
it and add some more land to it, making the new town of
Benbow. The owner says that he expects to have a thriving
village there before long. The site is three quarters of a
mile from the Mississippi river.
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BENBOW CITY - SALOON FOR EACH THIRTEEN
Source: The New York Times, May 5, 1908
Benbow City, the flat town, which has grown up around the
Standard Oil Company's new refinery, eight miles south of
Alton, is the "wettest" town in Illinois, and because it is
the wettest it is also the richest. It began its corporate
existence as a village Monday with eighteen registered
voters and twenty-three saloons. Within the corporate limits
of Benbow City there are 300 persons and one saloon for each
thirteen inhabitants. In addition to the twenty-three
saloons there are seven brewery agencies, and each dram shop
and each agency pays $500 a year license. Payments for the
coming year have already been made, and the little village
starts out in life with a $15,000 nest egg. The liquor
interests have paid $50 for each man, woman, and child in
the village, the per capita wealth of which by reason of
this revenue from the liquor interests is greater than that
of any town or city in the United States.
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BETHALTO - A YOUNG LADY'S
SUICIDE
Source: Cleveland, New York
Lakeside Press, October 11, 1879
A very pathetic suicide was that
of Miss Emma Patterson at St. Louis, a few days ago. She was
from Bethalto, Ill., where her remarkable beauty and
accomplishments made her the belle of the place. Her father
was poor, but she moved in the best society, and most of her
associates had far more money to spend on personal adornment
than she had. One of her suitors was John Shelton, and he
recently left a watch and $130 with her while he went on a
short journey. On his return she made trivial apologies for
not giving them back. He learned one day that she had
engaged herself to marry Mr. Montgomery, and he peremptorily
demanded his property. She had spent the money dollar by
dollar in buying bits of finery, and as she could get no
help from her father she was unable to repay Shelton, who
threatened her arrest. She went to St. Louis and tried to
get employment, but failed, and committed suicide.
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BETHALTO NEWS
Source: Alton Telegraph,
February 8, 1894
The ladies of the M. E. church
will give a box sociable at the residence of Mrs. J. T. Ewan
on Wednesday, February 14th. Rev. Allison Hunt will fill his
regular appointment at the C. P. church next Sunday. Mrs.
Lena Starkey is quite ill at her father's residence on
Sherman street. Mr. Harry Picker is convalescing after a
siege of several weeks sickness. Mr. James McDonald visited
Edwardsville twice this week. Mr. S. R. Hudnall and lady are
entertaining a lady friend from Rosemond. Mr. and Mrs.
Brant, of Upper Alton, were the guests of Mr. Fred Ackerman
and lady Tuesday. Mrs. Chas. Dude, of Nokomis, who formerly
resided east of our city, was a welcome visitor at the home
of Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Jackson, of Fort Russell. Tally another
boy for our friend, Fred Ackerman. The big break at the
President mills was patched in double quick time, which
enables them to start up again today. The company has
ordered a splendid new engine, which is now in process of
construction and will be placed some time between now and
harvest. The outlook for our little city is brightening and
we are led to believe that in the next few years we will
notice more growth than we have witnessed in a number of
years past. There is no reason why a large coal mine would
not do well, and enterprises of other kinds would find
perhaps no better location in the State. We are close to
large markets, have fair railroad facilities and prospects
for better, and by the way, we are to have a new postmaster
at the beginning of the next quarter, in the person of
Andrew Jackson Canipe.
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BETHALTO - FIRE AT KAUFFMANN'S
MILL
Source: Rochester, New York
Democrat Chronicle, March 3, 1895
Fire started in the Kauffmann
mill here today. The large elevator adjoining the mill was
in flames in an hour and is a total loss. The flames then
spread to another flour mill adjoining the elevator and that
was reduced to ashes. The elevator destroyed contained
40,000 bushels of wheat. It is believed the fire was caused
by an explosion of flour dust. Loss $200,000. Insured.
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BETHALTO - LAST OF BAND OF FARMERS BURIED IN PRUITT CEMETERY
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, August 9, 1920
Joseph Kitzmiller, the ninety year old resident of the
Bethel neighborhood, nine miles from Jerseyville, who was
buried Saturday, was the last of a band of fifty farmers
organized about 56 years ago to buy ground for a cemetery,
and for a site for a church, according to his son, Richard
Kitzmiller, the Belle street [Alton] barber. Joseph
Kitzmiller followed forty-nine of the original band of fifty
to their last resting places in the cemetery they bought
jointly more than half a century ago. All did not live and
die in that vicinity, but all who moved away and died were
brought back for burial in the cemetery, which the
purchasers named the Pruitt cemetery, a name it has kept
since. The first building erected as a house of worship by
the fifty was a log one, but the Bethel church of today is
the development of the pioneer church organized by the
majority of the fifty. "He helped bury forty-nine of the
original fifty," Richard Kitzmiller says, "and their
descendants helped bury him, the last of the fifty."
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BETHALTO - MAN WOUNDED WITH SHOT GUN
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, December 13, 1923
A shooting affray occurred at Bethalto last night about 7
o'clock in which two residents participated, John Morgan and
Raymond Tuller. Morgan was shot in the right leg, about 150
shot from a shot gun entering the flesh of the leg. Morgan
is a painter and Tuller is a miner. The shooting occurred at
the home of Sylvester Dentor. One story had it that the two
men had been drinking and that they quarreled. Both of them
were arrested after the shooting affray and were held for
trial this afternoon before Justice McCracken. Neither of
the men are married. The cause of the shooting seemed to be
held a mystery in Bethalto where most of the people asked
about it manifested the utmost reluctance to talk about it.
The reports indicated that the wounded man was not seriously
hurt, and that he would get along all right. They were
locked up in adjoining compartments of the village jail at
Bethalto for the night.
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COLLINSVILLE NEWS
Source: Alton Weekly Courier,
August 16, 1855
Collinsville, Aug. 6, 1855 - - Last
Friday morning, the 3rd instant, our village was quite
stirred up by the news that during the preceding night, a
fine horse belonging to Dr. Henry S. Strong had been stolen,
the thief taking off at the same time, a saddle and bridle
belonging to Dr. George H. Dewey. While this news was
passing around, a new excitement came into the field; a
young man was arrested for attempting to pass counterfeit
money; he made several attempts to dispose of the bill, and
finally, thinking perhaps that he had tried it a little too
often, he went to a livery stable, and tried to get some one
to take him to St. Louis, but he was too late. Mr. Huffy, to
whom he had offered the money, with the aid of others, took
him before Justice Nelson, who committed the rogue to jail,
and he was safely lodged at Edwardsville before night. He
gave his name as _______ Ferguson, and said he was from
Fairfield, Wayne Co., in this state. The horse-thief and
horse have not been heard from. Dr. Strong has offered a
reward of $50. The same night, in a quarrel between Charles
Pabst, a German tavern keeper, and a boarder named Joseph
Sheerer, Mr. Pabst received a severe blow upon the side of
the head with a heavy hickory club. Had the blow been direct
instead of glancing, it would have probably broken his
skull. Sheerer thought proper to leave forthwith next
morning. A beer carouse was at the bottom of the quarrel.
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COLLINSVILLE MURDER
Source:
Buffalo, New York Evening Courier and Republic, 1873
On
Saturday last a terrible murder was commuted at
Collinsville, Madison county, Illinois. On the farm of a Mr.
Mair lived a married colored man, George Burke, and a woman,
also colored, named Maria Bowman. Burke had paid her
considerable attentions, which she had refused to receive,
thereby exciting his jealousy. He had threatened her life
several times, but no attention was paid to the threats. On
Saturday he returned from St. Louis very drunk and violent
and assaulted Maria with an axe. After stunning her by a
blow that fractured her skull, Burke cut off the unfortunate
woman's head and right hand and threw the trunk into the
creek near by; then, sobered by his crime, fled, taking the
axe with him. He has not yet been apprehended.
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COLLINSVILLE TORNADO
Source:
Utica Daily Union, June 15, 1896 (in an article regarding
past tornados and their "work")
April
14, 1879 - 1 man was killed and 60 buildings destroyed in
Collinsville, Ills. This tornado struck a cemetery and
leveled every tombstone.
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COLLINSVILLE - A PUBLIC CHASTISEMENT
Source: Auburn, New York New & Bulletin, March 28, 1883
J. N.
Peers, editor of the Herald, was publicly horsewhipped here
by Mrs. Marshall, the wife of a well known business man, for
the publication of an article reflecting upon herself,
husband and mother. Peers was badly marked about the face
and neck.
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COLLINSVILLE - WHERE COW BELLS ARE MADE
Source:
Waterville Times, New York, Abt. 1890
Collinsville, Ills., is a great place for cattle bells. That
cow bells are made and do not grow on trees or elsewhere
seems to surprise some people, but there are four
establishments in the United States which are exclusively
devoted to manufacture of that article, and two of these are
in Collinsville. One hundred and fifty dozen are turned out
daily and thousands of them dangle from the necks of
unfortunate cows all over the prairies of North and South
America. The manufacture of cow bells is entirely distinct
from that of other bells. Instead of being molded the metal
is rolled into sheets, cut into symmetrical polygons, which
when folded are pressed into their well known form. Having
been riveted they are next packed in clay and brought to a
white heat. When suddenly cooled these steel bells are found
to be not only tempered but also beautifully brazed.—St.
Louis Post-Dispatch.
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COLLINSVILLE - BIRTHPLACE OF CATCHER WILLIAM KANE
Source: The Auburn, New York Bulletin, March 13, 1891
One of
the bright and shining lights of the St. Louis "Browns" last
season was Catcher William Kane. Kane is a six footer, and
few balls get by him, He was born at Collinsville, Ills.,
about twenty three years ago and has developed into 170
pounds of manhood. His first work as a ball player was as an
amateur in his native town. After playing with a number of
good clubs Kane joined the Madison club, of Evansville,
Ind., and did such excellent work with this team that
President Von der Ahe soon snapped him up for the "Browns."
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COLLINSVILLE - "ILLINOIS HOUSE"
DESTROYED BY FIRE - HISTORIC LANDMARK
Source: Edwardsville Intelligencer,
September 30, 1891
The Illinois House, five miles west
of Collinsville on the St. Louis plank road, was destroyed
by fire Saturday evening. The flames were discovered about 7
o'clock, and two hours afterward the whole building, which
was a large frame, was a heap of smoldering ashes. Part of
the contents were saved. The loss is about $4,000; no
insurance. The building was within a few hundred feet of
Monks Mound and was known far and wide. For over half a
century it has offered hospitable shelter to the traveler.
Before the days of railroads, it was a popular stopping
place for the stage coach drivers and teamsters going to and
returning from St. Louis. The building had a dance hall
connected, in which were held many joyous social reunions of
the neighborhood, and which, in election years, afforded,
accommodations for political meetings. Singular as it may
seem, a ball was to have taken place Saturday evening, for
which everything was in readiness, and as the hour for
guests to arrive grew night, the fiery element did its work.
Captain John Schmidt was the proprietor of the place. Since
his death, his widow and son, John, have been conducting the
business. The post office of Brooks was in the building. The
books and papers were saved and have been removed to Henry
Seebode's, a near neighbor, where Uncle Sam's affairs will
be conducted until otherwise ordered.
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COLLINSVILLE TRAIN WRECK
Source:
Oswego, New York, Daily Times, September 16, 1895
A
westbound passenger train on the Vandalia line was wrecked
at Collinsville, Ill., yesterday by a misplaced switch.
Fireman Sandifer was crushed beneath the engine and
instantly killed. Engineer H. A. Bauers, who was working
with the lever as the engine turned over, received fatal
injuries. The opening of the switch was undoubtedly the work
of some miscreants bent on plunder or revenge.
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COLLINSVILLE ZINC WORKS BURNED
Source: Rochester, New York Democrat and Chronicle, January
8, 1897
The
zinc works at this place were destroyed by fire this
morning. The works were owned by Meister Bros., and the
damage is estimated at $50,000 with partial insurance. The
fire was of unknown origin.
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COLLINSVILLE TORNADO
Source:
The Waterville Times, New York, February 16, 1900
The
town of Collinsville, Ills., on Thursday narrowly escaped
destruction by a tornado. Many persons were injured in the
immediate vicinity of the village, some of them fatally, and
there was much damage to property.
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COLLINSVILLE LYNCHING
Source:
Auburn, New York Citizen, April 5, 1918
Kneeling with his arms crossed, Robert P. Prager, who was
lynched by a mob last night at midnight for alleged disloyal
utterances, prayed in German for three minutes before he was
strung up, according to statements today by members of the
lynching party. Prager was a coal miner and yesterday at
Maryville, Ill., in an address to the miners on Socialism,
is said to have made remarks derogatory to President Wilson.
Miners became angry and when they threatened to do him
bodily harm he escaped to Collinsville, his home. Some of
the miners, however, followed him, collected a crowd, took
him from his home and led him barefoot through the streets
waving an American flag. The police fearing violence took
him from the crowd and placed him in the City Hall. Later a
mob
gathered in front of the hall and demanded the man. Mayor J.
H. Siegel counseled calmness but the police force of four
was overpowered and Prager was found in the basement of the
hall hiding beneath a pile of tiling. He was dragged down
the street and beyond- the city limits, the crowd
threatening to shoot if the officers approached. One mile
west of the city the rope by which Prager had been led was
thrown over the Iimb of a tree. He was asked if he had
anything to say. His answer was to drop to his knees and
with arms crossed to pray in German for three minutes.
Without
another word he was pulled into the air and allowed to hang.
The mob then dispersed. The police said that while in their
custody Prager had stated he was registered as an enemy
alien, that he was born in Germany but that he had taken out
his first naturalization papers and had hoped to become an
American citizen. Collinsville is 12 miles east of St. Louis
and is in that section of southwestern Illinois that of late
has been active against disloyalists. Walter Clark, mine
superintendent at Maryville said today he was convinced
there was no truth in charges that Prager had hoarded powder
while employed at the mine. Miners have expressed fear that
German spies would get into a mine and attempt to blow it
up. Before the rope was placed about his neck, Prager, wrote
the following note in German: "Dear Parents: Carl
Henry Prager, Dresden, Germany: I must on this, fourth day
of April, 1918, die. Please pray for me, my dear parents.
This is my last letter and testament. "Your dear son and
brother. "ROBERT PAUL PRAGER." In Prager's pocket was found
a long, "proclamation" in which he stated his loyalty to the
United States and to union labor, and told of his difficulty
in entering the Miners Union. Prager, yesterday afternoon
put up posters' at the Maryville mine, proclaiming his
loyalty to the government. When the miners left the workings
they were incensed by the proclamations and began to hunt
Prager.
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COLLINSVILLE LYNCHING TRIAL GET UNDER WAY
Source:
Rochester, New York Democrat Chronicle, May 13, 1918
The
trial of eleven men on murder charges growing out of a
lynching on April 5th at Collinsville of Robert Paul Prager,
enemy alien, was begun today in Madison county circuit court
in Edwardsville. Sixteen men were indicted, including four
policemen. The date for the trial of the four policemen has
not been set and the twelfth civilian has never been
apprehended.
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COLLINSVILLE - PAYROLL TAKEN IN
HOLDUP
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph,
November 15, 1923
Three bandits today held up two
clerks of the Consolidated Coal Company here and escaped
with $14,000 of payroll money. The clerks were returning
from a bank when accosted in front of the company's office.
The bandits acted so quickly the clerks, Ernest Meyer and
Albert Jane, told police they had no opportunity to resist.
The bandits' car drove toward East St. Louis, 10 miles away.
Police pointed out that the circumstances of the robbery
were similar to those of the robbery of Avery Mine No. 1 of
the Southern Coal Coke and Mining Company, near Belleville,
Oct. 23, in which $12,300 was obtained.
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EARTHQUAKE
Source: The New York Times,
February 9, 1903
Two distinct earthquake shocks
were felt in St. Louis and vicinity between 6:20 and 6:25
o'clock tonight. The first shock was of almost twenty
seconds' duration. It was not severe in St. Louis, but in
the western suburban towns and in Alton, Belleville,
Edwardsville, and other near-by towns in Illinois, it was
sufficiently forceful to rattle dishes and swing doors. The
second shock followed within two minutes, and was slight and
of short duration.
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EAST ALTON AREA - ALTON JUNCTION - ASSAULT WITH AN AXE
Source: Edwardsville Intelligencer, Wednesday, January 20,
1892
An assault occurred near Alton Junction on one of the farms
of Z. B. Job, Sunday, in which William O'Neil hacked John
Williams while asleep with a meat ax. The farm house was
occupied by John Gardner and family, Willis Davis, Patrick
O'Brien, William O'Neil and John Williams. Sunday morning a
quarrel took place between davis and O'Neil about the
feeding of the cows. O'Neil drew a knife and threatened
David. Bystanders interfered and Davis, to avoid trouble,
went to Alton Junction. Williams afterwards told O'Neil that
he was in the wrong. Everyone let the matter drop with this
except O'Neil. He got a revolver and loaded it. Gardner
found the weapon and hid it. O'Neil and Williams then
started for the Junction. There O'Neil drank freely.
Williams returned home about 3 o'clock in the afternoon. On
the road to the Junction O'Neil told Williams that he
intended killing O'Brien. Williams on his return told
O'Brien to be on his guard. All the men got home before
O'Neil. O'Brien went to bed and Williams laid on a bench,
thinking to quiet O'Neil when the latter returned. He fell
asleep and when O'Neil returned was sleeping soundly. O'Neil
was blood thirsty and when he saw Williams became enraged.
He went to the kitchen, got an ax that had been used for
cutting meat, returned to where Williams was sleeping, and
without warning struck Williams across the face, cutting a
huge gash from the eat to the chin and breaking the jaw
bone. Williams fell to the floor, when O'Neil struck him
several more times. When Williams groaned the infuriated man
cried, "Now, I'll cut your legs off." On Williams' head,
body and legs the ax did its dreadful work. The noise
awakened O'Brien. He came to the stairway and O'Neil came
towards him and threatened to kill him. Just then Williams
moaned again and O'Neill, with the exclamation, "Ain't you
dead yet," rushed to Williams. He again struck him and
attempted to repeat the blow when O'Brien came up from
behind and shoved him sprawling on the floor. Here O'Brien
held him until Gardner came up and together they tied him. A
telephone message was sent to Alton, and Deputy Sheriff Ferd
Vollbracht went after him. He was taken to Alton and bad a
preliminary hearing Monday. His bond was fixed at $1,000, in
default of which he was brought to the county jail. Dr. W.
Fisher attended Williams, whose injuries left little hope of
saving his life. He presented a horrible sight. If Williams
dies, as seems probable, another will be added to the list
of murders in the county.
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EAST ALTON - READ THE
WANN DISASTER (JANUARY 21, 1893) STORY
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EAST ALTON - WANN JUNCTION
Source: Alton Telegraph, May 18, 1893
Mr. Marion Squires, while ploughing in a field near Wann
yesterday, found a silver souvenir medal that had evidently
lain in the ground for several years, as it was quite black.
The medal is commemorative of the unveiling of Gen. Frank P.
Blair's statue in Forest Park, St. Louis, in 1885.
*****************************************
EAST
ALTON - POWDER PLANT EXPLOSION
Source: Auburn, New York Argus, 1895
Five
thousands pounds of giant powder exploded at the Equitable
Powder Mills, Alton, Ill. Thomas Keff, Henry Ragus,
and William Roetgess were killed.
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EAST
ALTON - POWDER PLANT EXPLOSION
Source: Auburn, New York Daily Bulletin, September 1, 1896
Part
of the Equitable Powder Company's plant four and a half
miles east of Alton blew up shortly before 3 o'clock this
morning. It is known three persons lost their lives. The
works took fire, and the big store house was in imminent
danger for a time. The shock of the explosion for felt for
20 miles and East Alton and Upper Alton buildings were
damaged. In Alton, many fancied an earthquake had come. The
names of the men killed are: Henry Rickert, Thomas Pepple,
and Henry Rogers. A second explosion of less severity
followed the first one.
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EAST ALTON - WAR HORSE STAMPEDE
Source: The New York Times, June
12, 1915
Alton, Ill., June 11 - Five
thousand horses intended for the British and French armies
broke from a stockade at East Alton early today and overran
the surrounding country. The horses became frightened during
an electrical storm and broke down the stout timbers and
barbed wire of the inclosure. They overran the towns of East
Alton, Benbow City, and Wood River, and caused much damage.
The horses delayed two passenger trains, one the Chicago
bound train of the Chicago & Alton, and the other a Chicago
and Eastern Illinois train for St. Louis. The headlight of
the Alton train showed the horses on the right of way.
Members of the train crew opened fire with revolvers,
killing two. An automobile party of five, bound from East
Alton to Wood River, was halted by a band of the stampeded
animals. A horse kicked one of the party, Henry
Wuenstenfeldt, and broke three of his ribs. Most of the
animals were finally rounded up later in the day.
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EAST
ALTON - ANOTHER EXPLOSION AT POWDER PLANT
Source: Poughkeepsie, New York Daily Eagle, November 25,
1915
Two
wheel houses at the plant of the Equitable Powder Company,
East Alton, blew up this afternoon. No one was hurt. The
concussion was felt for 27 miles. Eight thousand pounds of
powder were in the building. The cause of the explosion is
not known. The Equitable Powder Company is making war
supplies for the allies.
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EAST ALTON/COTTAGE HILLS AREA -
SKELETON FOUND IN STANLEY FARM BY ALTON HUNTER
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph,
November 15, 1920
Frank Hamilton, while out hunting
yesterday, discovered almost buried in the sands of the Wood
River creek bottom, about 1 1/2 miles southeast of the state
hospital, the skeleton of a woman which he reported and the
skeleton was taken in charge by Deputy Coroner W. H. Bauer.
The skeleton was devoid of flesh, but clinging to it was
still the remnant of some clothing, including a dark colored
coat, and the shoes were those of a woman. The body had
evidently been buried in the Wasson Stanley farm long ago,
and had been partially uncovered of late. Mr. Hamilton saw
the skull protruding from the sands and made an
investigation. As no one living in the vicinity was reported
to have been missing, it was supposed that the body was that
of one of the wandering patients of the Alton State
Hospital. The theory advanced, is that one of the hospital
patients, wandering at large, either deliberately or
accidentally got into the waters of Wood River when the
stream was at flood, and was deposited where found and
covered by the sands, remaining there until the flesh had
decayed from the bones. Dr. George A. Zeller was
consulted and he said that over a year ago there was one
woman from Jersey county who had disappeared from the
institution and whose relatives made search for her and she
was never found. It is not positive that the skeleton is her
remains, nor is there much possibility of effecting an
identification because of the bad condition of the garments,
which have rotted and discolored until there is little
chance of knowing what the original ______ was. The bones
and fragments _____ clothes were gathered by Deputy Coroner
Bauer, who will hold them until hope of identification is
given up completely. Dr. Zeller declared that there was
enough of the garment to make it possible for a negative
identification, that is that it was not the remains of any
former inmate of the State hospital at Alton. The reason why
the body was not discovered earlier is that the land where
it was found was not cultivated last year. The assumption by
some is that the body was interred by someone where it was
found, not deep in the ground, and the mystery started by
the discovery of the skeleton was deeper as the inquiry
proceeded.
*********************************************
EAST
ALTON - CROWD ATTENDS BIG CELEBRATION - Thousands on Hand
for Event Which Marks Completion of Village's 2-Mile Paving
Project
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, August 30, 1921
East Alton celebrated the
completion of its two-mile paving project last night. Mayor
Jameson, for the village, yesterday said East Alton would be
host to the entire Alton district, and would care for the
crowd, no matter how great it might be. Two blocks of the
newly-paved street were turned over to dancers. No
automobiles were permitted to be parked in that section, and
when the street was swept and cleaned it made an admirable
dancing floor. At one time 300 couples were dancing,
presenting an unusual sight. The dancers were given full
sway, no traffic being permitted in the two blocks. Two band
concerts were given, one by the White Hussar Band and the
other by the Western Cartridge Co. band. There was a special
movie show. Members of the fire department were in charge of
the refreshment stands. Cake, the product of East Alton
ovens, was the big feature. East Alton gained a reputation
for progressiveness by completing the big paving project,
but last night East Alton gained a reputation for the cake
baking ability of its housewives. Big cakes, little cakes,
white cakes, pink cakes, all kinds of cakes were for sale.
And all the cakes were good glorious examples of the pastry
art. And for ten cents a great big slice was given. The
firemen, dressed up in brand new blue shirts, with
accompanying white ties, were in charge of the refreshment stands, and sold the cakes. Proceeds of the refreshment
sales will go toward the fund to provide a truck for the
fire department. The speakers included Mayor Jameson, former
Mayor Cruse, and John D. McAdams of the Telegraph. Mayor
Jameson quit the East Alton band long enough to make the
opening speech. He welcomed everyone and urged them all to
have a good time. He was followed by former Mayor Cruse, who
thanked the members of the village council which voted with
him to launch the paving project, he thanked and
congratulated Mayor Jameson for carrying out the project and
he thanked the people of East Alton for their cooperation.
Mr. McAdams congratulated the people of East Alton upon the
completion of the paved road. "When this project was brought
up in the courts for confirmation, there was not a single
objector. East Alton is to be congratulated," Mr. McAdams
said. "But East Alton has done more than merely completed a
big paving project and has done more than complete another
link in the paved road to St. Louis. East Alton has carried
out the spirit of public improvement. You have brought
contentment and joy to people, who, when they use this road,
will never know of the hardships you have endured that it
might be a reality." Mr. McAdams then traced the local
history of the automobile. "Fourteen years ago," he related,
"there were seven automobiles in Alton and two in East
Alton. John Vanpreter owned the first car in East Alton. It
was a one-lung (one cylinder) International. It did not even
have a horn, but it didn't need a horn because it made so
much noise. Then James Chessen bought a car, a two-cylinder
Buick. This car had a fine nickel-plated horn, but it is
said that the horn did no good because you couldn't hear it,
either. Now, 4,000 automobiles pass over this road every
day. From 2 to 4,000 in 11 years is the growth of the
automobile."
**************************************************
EAST ALTON - MASKED BANDITS HOLD UP EAST ALTON BANK, STEAL
$8,000 IN CASH
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, November 12, 1921
Four masked bandits at 10:30 a.m. today entered the Illinois
State Bank at East Alton, tied one official and forced
another to crawl under a table, and escaped with $8,000 in
cash in an automobile, held in readiness by a fifth. H. V.
Greene, cashier of the bank, estimated the amount taken at
$8,000. He said the cash had not been checked up, and he
could give no definite figure. All money in the bank, with
the exception of a small amount of silver, was taken. The
loss is covered by insurance with the Aetna Company. The
bandits were in a green automobile. Conflicting reports were
heard as to the direction from which the men came. It was
said at first that they came from the north and later it was
said that the car was an Alton machine. The automobile came
through the streets of East Alton at a rapid clip, it
stopped in front of the bank and four men jumped out and
went into the bank. Three men then pointed _________
[unreadable] the muzzles of the guns through the screen of
the cage. One of the bandits came in back of the counter and
soon was followed by the other three. Greene was ordered to
crawl under a table. He hesitated, and was pushed under the
table by one of the bandits. Larton was told to stand close
to the wall. One of the bandits pulled the telephone loose
and bound him with the wire. One of the bandits carried a
wheat sack and in this all cash in sight was thrown. The
safe and drawers were rifled. The bandits left checks, and
threw aside some War Savings Stamps. Checks were strewn over
the floor. The bandits left the bank hurriedly, one of them
keeping the officials covered. They climbed into the
automobile and speeded away. Posses scoured the surrounding
country in search of the bandits. Police officials of
surrounding towns and cities were notified to be on the
lookout for the bandits. This afternoon no trace of the
bandits had been found. The license number of the bandit's
car was Missouri 213630. The bank was cleaned of all
available funds by the bandits. A messenger was immediately
dispatched to Alton to secure funds and at 12 o'clock, an
hour and a half after the holdup, the first customer came in
and the bank was again doing business. There were no bonds
of large denomination in the bank. These are kept in vaults
of Alton banks. Mr. Greene, the cashier, was signing a bond
when the bandits entered. Mr. Greene, who is an Alton man
and who was formerly bookkeeper for the local agency of the
Anheuser Busch Brewing Co. of St. Louis, described the
holdup to a Telegraph reporter. "I was standing right here
signing this bond," Mr. Greene said and pointed to a bond on
the counter. "One of the bandits shoved a gun at me through
the screen there," and he pointed to the spot. "Two others
covered Mr. Larton and me, while a fourth one came in back
followed by the other three. I was commanded to get under
the table and then shoved under. Mr. Larton was tied with
the wire from the telephone not far from me. Then a sack was
produced and the cash thrown into it." The bandits left the
bank, Mr. Greene said, still covering the officials. The
bandits, Mr. Greene said, were all young men, and each, he
said, seemed to weigh about 175 to 180 pounds. He expressed
the belief that the bandits put on the masks after entering
the bank and took them off before leaving. East Alton was
stirred by the ..... [unable to obtain the rest of the
story]
**************************************************
EAST ALTON - 5 BANDITS GOT $7731 IN BANK AT EAST ALTON
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, November 14, 1921
Search up to noon today had failed to reveal a trace of the
five bandits who last Saturday held up and robbed the
Illinois State Bank at East Alton. After a daring holdup of
officials, the bandits made their escape in a green Essex
automobile, bearing a Missouri license tag. The bandits'
automobile was seen passing through Wood River and was later
sighted on the detour road at Mitchell, headed in the
direction of Edwardsville. Although several posses
prosecuted the search, and police of cities and towns for
many miles around were notified to be on the lookout, the
car was not seen after that. The bandits, H. V. Greene, the
bank's cashier, said Saturday, were young men, all of them
well built. He expressed the opinion that each weighed about
170 or 180 pounds. Four of the bandits entered the bank, and
after forcing Mr. Greene to crawl under a table, and tying
M. W. Larton, assistant cashier, with wire from a telephone
which they tore loose from the wall, placed all cash in
sight in a sack, and made their escape in the automobile
held in waiting by a fifth. The four who entered the bank
were marked. It was said today at the bank that the amount
taken by the bandits was $7,736.66. The Telegraph Saturday
said the amount secured was about $8,000, quoting Mr. Greene
who said the figure at the time would not be definitely
determined. It was pointed out that checking up might show a
change in the figure. The loot of the bandits was all cash.
The bonds of the bank are kept in Alton vaults. The bandits
threw aside checks and war savings stamps.
*****************************************************
EAST ALTON - BLAST IN THE CORNING MILL AT THE EQUITABLE
POWDER CO. CAUSES DEATH OF EDWARD OWENS
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, July 21, 1922
A blast in the corning mill at the plant of the Equitable
Powder Co. today caused the death of Edward Owens, aged 37,
who was at work in the mill alone when the explosion
occurred. The mill building was destroyed and the machinery
badly damaged. The explosion occurred just a few minutes
before 7 o'clock this morning. Owens had gone to work only a
few minutes before it happened. His duty was to feed the big
cakes of powder into the mill for them to be ground up. It
is the practice in such mills to have one man working there
alone. A few months ago, a similar blast occurred in the
corning mill and the man in charge of it was killed. The
mill had been rebuilt and put into service again. Owens was
brought here from a powder plant at Marlow, Ky., to take
charge of the job. He was an experienced powder mill hand.
He leaves a wife and six children, who did not accompany him
to East Alton when he came here to take the job, a month
ago. There was in the mill at the time of the explosion
about a ton and a half of powder. The explosion shook Alton.
Immediately after the explosion, it was distinguished from
the blasts across the river which frequently rock this
territory, by the great umbrella shaped cloud of smoke which
rose and hung suspended over the powder works. The corning
mill is a wooden structure covered with sheet iron, and
houses machinery in which one of the near final steps in
powder making is done. The work is known as dangerous, yet
explosions there have not been numerous. The two which have
occurred recently are the nearest together in a long time.
The one that occurred today will never be explained, and
will remain a mystery, just as the preceding one remained.
The body of Owens will be taken back to Marlow to the family
there. The wife was notified immediately of the death of her
husband, and that the body would be brought to her.
***********************************************
EAST ALTON - FIVE KILLED IN AMMUNITION BLAST - Woman Among
Dead - Dozen are Hurt
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, July 10, 1923
Five persons were reported killed and more than a dozen
injured in an explosion at the plant of the Western
Cartridge Co. at East Alton today. It was established fairly
definitely late this afternoon that four persons were
killed. This was the number said to be dead in the group
brought to St. Joseph's hospital. It was believed fatalities
discovered at the plant would add to the list of dead. It
was reported at East Alton, outside the plant where the
injured were being carried out, that seven were killed. This
source placed the number of injured at 40 or 50. The
explosion occurred at 2:25. The explosion occurred in the
salvage department. Ammunition which was stored in that
department exploded, early reports said....The dead,
according to reports, were William Brummer, a man named
Hunter, a woman named Mrs. Butler, a man who had started to
work at the plant today, and a fifth person whose name had
not been learned. An official list of injured was given out
at the plant late this afternoon. There was no information
regarding the number of dead.
The list of injured, some of them seriously are:
| Alice Cope |
Myrtle Riker |
Mary Young |
Mrs. Maud Butler |
Sylvester Schwartz |
| Lillian Saville |
Glen Elmore |
Septa Holloway |
Alice Gray |
Melvin Fowler |
| Meddie Warner |
Homer Foster |
|
|
|
EAST ALTON - DEATH TOLL REACHES 12 IN EXPLOSION
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, July 11, 1923
Tragedy and its awful partner, Death, were at large in Alton
and its environs today. Stalking in the wake of a terrific
blast at the plant of the Western Cartridge Co., yesterday
afternoon, Tragedy took a toll of dead and maimed that
stands second only to the devastating Wann disaster 30 years
ago. Five were killed outright. Steadily the death toll
mounted until it had reached 12 this morning. Others lay on
beds of pain at St. Joseph's Hospital. Before the sun sets
on another day in Alton, the death list may be greater. Many
were the empty chairs at family supper tables last night.
Fond mothers, devoted wives, loving sisters, making
preparations for the evening meals, felt the shock of the
blast. As terror spreads at lightning speed, so does the
news of disaster. Cooking utensils were dropped, food
forgotten; all joined the mad rush for the plant; others,
more timid, rushed to telephones, called newspapers, the
offices of the cartridge firm, anybody, wanting to hear that
loved ones had escaped, yet holding receivers with trembling
hands, fearing to hear the worst. From surrounding towns
came calls to learn if brothers, sisters, fathers, even
mothers, were in the list of victims. Late into the night
came the calls, always the same, "Was ............ in the
list of dead?" Wails of anguish, cries of despair; sighs of
relief, swooning sounds accompanying the relief from awful
suspense - these greeted the news, sometimes good, sometimes
the word of death. Today, a veil of sorrow, a mist of
pathos, the shadow of death spread over the village of East
Alton, scene of the disaster. But the suspense was not over.
Even yet, on white beds at the hospital, other victims lay,
the angel of death trying to add to his roll of victims; the
spark of life flickering valiantly in its effort to defeat
the monster. The gate was a scene of sorrow. Among the
crowds around the gate were the friends and families of some
of those killed or hurt. As news was brought out of some
dead body or maimed worker, the atmosphere would grow more
tense. some member of that waiting group claimed the unlucky
worker. Some member of the group was sure to collapse as the
news came out. Women with their faces buried in their hands,
sobbing pitifully, were led away by kind friends. Mothers
and families were anxiously inquiring for news of their boy
or husband, and upon learning that he was safely out of the
terrible scene, would break down and sob in relief.
Ambulances would come clanging up to the gate, and roll
through, to return with a horrible burden. As each car came
out, the crowd surged forward to see or find out who was
inside. Distracted mothers and sisters would fight to the
front of the mob to either find themselves happy or
heartbroken. It was a pitiful scene. All was hushed. Little
groups would whisper nervously among themselves, and upon
learning the news of their friends or relatives, would
collapse. Strong men broke down and cried. Even when their
loved ones were escorted safely to them, they would break
down from sheer relief, and turn their steps gratefully away
from the awful scene. Many a prayer was offered up in
thanks.
What the Blast Did
Grouped around the six machines which were engaged in taking
apart the 30-30 calibre cartridges which are being salvaged,
cartridges which were bought from the United States War
Department after the war was over and for which there was no
further use, were about fifty men and women. Their duty
consisted in feeding the cartridges to the six machines. The
machines remove the bullets, empty out the powder, remove
the caps and reclaim every part of the shell, the different
parts doing to their respective places. There was much
powder scattered around and special precautions to guard
against any accident were being taken. suddenly there was a
flash at one of the powder cans at one of the machines and
the fire quickly streaked around. There was a loud report as
two of the machines went off. It was said by John M. Olin,
the general manager, that there was no evidence of
explosions in the other machines. The blast set pieces of
metal flying in every direction. There were few of the fifty
people in the place who did not suffer some kind of injury.
There were five people who were killed outright, and there
were eighteen others who were frightfully hurt. Four of
these died within a few hours after being taken to the
hospital. Those who died in the hospital were Ruth Green of
306 East Eighth street, Alton; Mrs. Mittie Warren of Runyon
street, wife of James Warren; Russell Reyburn of 327 Harriet
street; Charles Hankins of Brownstown, Ill.; Minnie Wagner,
Bessie Jenkins, and Mrs. Sadie Larkins.
Victims Horribly Torn
The blast filled the air with flying pieces of metal and
wood. It was like a barrage of shrapnel had been laid down
on the plant. In every direction the deadly pieces of metal
and wood flew. They were driven with such a fearful force
that they crushed the skulls of some of the victims like
they were so much tissue paper. They shattered the legs of
some of the others. They inflicted ghastly wounds in the
bodies, heads and limbs of the victims. There was a flash of
flame which seemed to be enough to set fire to the ruins and
complete the destruction of the helpless wounded, but the
building being of brick and having little inflammable
material in it, the fire was of little consequence. The
explosion tore the windows of the one story brick structure
which housed the salvaging workers. One man said that he was
blown clear across the room. A boy, Frank Eaves, found a
piece of wood underneath his shirt from the accident, which
must have been blown into the shirt by the force of the
blast.
The Dead:
| William Brummer of East Alton |
Anna Gorman of Alton |
Frank Bennes of Alton |
Howard Hunter of Alton |
Hazel Young of Rockbridge |
| Mrs. Rittie Warren |
Russell Rayborn |
Charles Hankins of Brownstown, IL |
Ruth Green of Alton |
Bessie Jenkins of Alton |
| Mrs. Sadie Larkins |
Miss Minnie Wagner |
|
|
|
*******************************************
EAST ALTON - HOLDUP AT SHAMROCK
HOTEL IN EAST ALTON - POKER GAME INTERRUPTED BY MASKED MEN
GALLANT SOLDIER KILLED - FOREMAN
AT INTERNATIONAL [SHOE] TANNERY TURN OUT TO BE HOLD-UP MAN
BY NIGHT
Source: Alton Evening
Telegraph, October 29, 1923
A hard working man in the day
time, a bandit by night, was the strange contradictory story
of the life of Joseph McMahon, revealed Sunday morning,
shortly after midnight, when a poker party was broken up by
a holdup trio, and two big men died with their boots on. One
of the men who died had been a gallant soldier in the war
overseas, a wounded soldier city for valorous conduct, who
had always declared what he would do if ever he was a holdup
victim, and he did just what he had said he would. That was
John Preede. The other was Joseph McMahon, a young man of
high esteem, member of a well-known family in St. Louis, who
died wearing a black mask which, bloodstained as it was when
taken from around his neck, is in the possession of Deputy
Coroner Streeper. But for the fact that McMahon was
apparently not known to any of the members of the party,
there might be a theory that McMahon and his two companions,
who were wearing masks, had heard of Preede's oft repeated
statement as to what he would do when held up, and while
they were trying him out, Preede did just what he had said
he would do, resist, with his good shooting iron, so that
they had to go through with it and sell their lives for what
they could. McMahon, however, was not on social terms with
the others, though he was foreman of construction work being
done at the International Tannery. Among the men who had
gathered from time to time to play cards for stakes in the
room of the Shamrock hotel where the fatal holdup occurred,
it is said that he had never been one of the number. But for
the fact that on the floor of the lobby of the hotel in the
darkness near the door where he had fallen, was found dead
and masked, the construction superintendent on the tannery
job, no one would have ever suspected that McMahon, a lover
of adventure, chose banditry as one of his pastimes, so
quiet and orderly was he in all things, apparently. The
story of the quiet little game on the second floor of the
Shamrock hotel, the rap on the door, the uttering of the few
words that got the door opened, the entry of a trio of armed
men, the stickup, then the swift moving tragedy that counted
two big strong powerful men as its victims, is like a
chapter in a movie thriller, or one of the old time bandit
stories. There could be nothing added unless, perhaps, it
might turn out, which is improbable, that one of the stickup
gang was a beautiful girl. All the other elements of a
thriller are present. Deputy Coroner STreeper was
suppressing the names of the party in the room, for reasons
he considered good, for the present. They were seated in the
little room, and they had played past the midnight hour. The
stakes are said not to have been very heavy. It is denied
that McMahon had been there and had lost money, and that
there was any chance of him having come back to recapture
some money he might have lost by means he regarded as foul,
and justifying strong action by himself. There was the sound
of stealthy footsteps in the hall, a rap on the door. "Who's
there," was the query propounded by one of the poker
players. "Open up, it's Red," was the reply from outside.
The door was opened, the card players expected to be
confronted by the proprietor of the hotel, H. A. Jenkins,
who is red haired. But the newcomers were quite different.
They bristled with revolvers, they wore black masks that
completely concealed their faces. The masks had been cut
from some black cloth and holes made for the eyes. "Stick 'em
up," was the command from the three masked men, and
everybody complied. "Face the wall," was the next command
and the poker players did that too. Then the bandits
required the men to interlace their arms with palms against
the wall overhead, the arms of the men crossing the arms of
the men on either side next. Then the bandits were ready to
go through the party. One man had been searched, and next
was John Preede. Those who knew him wondered what was about
to happen. They knew Preede had a big revolver, they knew he
was a crack shot, they knew of his war record and the
citation for pure nerve hanging on the wall in his room, and
they knew what he had often said he would do. Nobody was
surprised then, even if they were scared, over what began to
happen. Preedy reached into his belt for his big revolver. A
bandit noted the move of Preedy and a revolver went off. One
of the bandits had tried to shoot Preedy in the left
shoulder. The powder burned Preedy's leather trench coat on
the shoulder and a bullet ploughed through the coat, but did
not touch the skin. That made Preedy mad. He pulled his gun
and he shot once. The bandits started to retreat. He may
have hit his man with the first shot. Four times in the room
the bandits shot. The bandits went out into the hall and
started down the stairs, shooting. Preedy shot some more, in
all five times. His revolver carried nine cartridges and
there were four of them left. Preedy jammed. But somebody in
the gang got him. He was hit by a bullet which pierced his
body from left to right, passing through the heart. That was
down in the dark hotel lobby where there was not a light to
illuminate this battle scene. But Preedy had been long
trained to just such an experience in close corners during
the war, and those who know him say that if his gun had not
jammed he would have laid out two more bandits on the floor.
The barking of the guns aroused but terrified everybody in
the hotel so that, though all heard, no one cared to
investigate. Even the members of the poker party upstairs,
all unarmed, made no move to follow Preedy out into the dark
for his battle with the masked men. But, there fell a
silence downstairs and then people came in from the outside.
They had seen two men fleeing toward the railroad track.
They turned on the lights and there they found two men, both
dead, lying on the floor. Preedy was near the stove,
bleeding and still. A man wearing a mask was lying near the
dead, also bleeding and still. In the pocket of the masked
man was found $40, crumpled as if hastily thrust into the
pocket, when it was taken from one of the men upstairs. In
the pocket of the masked man also was found a piece of mail,
which had to do with the entry of a child in a baby contest.
It had evidently not been mailed. The name of it indicated
that the bearer, the writer, was Joseph McMahon, member of
the firm of McMahon Bros. Construction Co., of St. Louis.
Later, the body was to be positively identified by a member
of the family, W. F. Martin, general superintendent of the
construction company. Said Martin, after the identification,
"I was never so surprised in my life to find that boy there.
He was a good boy, everybody thought, and he was a hard
worker. He comes of a good family and he had a good income.
He had been sent out on this job to take charge of our
equipment that was being used on the tannery job."
McMahon, he said, was unmarried. His father, founder of the
company, is dead, but McMahon has a mother and other
relatives and they claimed the body, taking it back to St.
Louis for burial. It was said that McMahon was drawing
$87.50 a week for his work of operating a steam shovel and
looking after the general progress of the contract work. He
did not mix much, he talked little. He had been at the job
about two months. Saturday noon he did not knock-off his
work when the others did. He stayed and did some repair work
on the machine. Saturday night he stayed around Hartford
until about 10 o'clock. Then the next that was seen of him
was when he invaded the game where the poker party was
passing the night. Those who knew Preede said that he was
born in Riga, Russia, and served in the Russian army. He
came to East Alton about thirteen years ago and he had
worked about there. When the United States got into the war,
Preede went overseas. He was wounded, gassed and once lay in
a shell hole three days and three nights wounded, before he
was rescued. He had been filling the position of millwright
at the Western Cartridge Co. Once, three years ago, he ran
for constable and was elected. That gave him the right to
carry a revolver and accounted for the fact that he was
armed when the bandits tried to search him. Deputy Coroner
Streeper has set the inquest for Tuesday night. The inquest
is set for tomorrow evening. The juries have been impaneled.
It is hoped to be able to throw some light on the identity
of the two men who participated with McMahon in the holdup.
********************************************
EDWARDSVILLE - CHOLERA PREVAILS
Source: The Daily Evening Herald, June 13, 1835
...The [Alton] Spectator adds, that the disease [cholera]
prevails, more or less, in various parts of the State, in
Edwardsville, in the American bottom, and through the towns
on the Illinois River, and St. Louis also has its full
share.....
*********************************************
EDWARDSVILLE - VALUABLE SALE OF REAL ESTATE
(ADVERTISEMENT)
Source: The Alton Telegraph, April 13, 1836
I will offer for sale on the twenty-sixth day of April next,
on the premises, the following property to wit: one hundred
acres of good land, about 40 acres under improvement with an
apple orchard of 150 trees of superior fruit, with a highly
cultivated garden, the mansion house is spacious, being
about 50 feet front, two stories high, 6 rooms in front,
situated near the town of Edwardsville in Madison county,
Illinois, being the Into [sic] residence of James Mason,
deceased; there are several out houses, a good barn, a good
well of water and ice house. Also, lots No. 183 and 185 in
the town of Edwardsville, lying on Main Street, with a large
two story house. All of the above property is sold by the
following order from the court of chancery of the March
term. Paris Mason, Attorney, for Sarah Mason,
Guardian. March 19, 1836.
EDWARDSVILLE - MADISON COUNTY HARRISON CONVENTION TO BE HELD
Source:
The Library of Congress, Rare
Book and Special Collections Division, Advertisement, April
3, 1840
The Madison County Harrison Convention to be held at
Edwardsville, Monday, April 6, 1840. The Upper Alton,
Monticello, and Alton Delegations will assemble on State
Street, on Monday morning at six o'clock precisely; when a
procession will be formed under the direction of Geo. T. M.
Davis, as Marshal of the day; and Joseph Gordon, William B.
Little, Calvin Riley, John C. Young, and Henry C. Caswell,
as Assistant Marshals. Marshal of the Day. Citizens on
Horseback. Upper Alton Delegation. Ship - North Bend. Music.
Monticello Delegation. Alton Delegation. Drays! Wagons.
Carriages, and other vehicles. Citizens generally. Banners
and other insignia will be arranged by the Marshal. By order
of the committee. Alton, April 3, 1840.
********************************************
EDWARDSVILLE - LOVESTRUCK YOUNG MAN PICKS THE WRONG HORSE!
Source: Alton Weekly Courier, September 9, 1853
Edwardsville, August 31, 1853 - "Mr. Editor - After supper
last evening, quite a commotion was excited by the discovery
that a fine, young and high-spirited horse belonging to Gov.
Koerner had disappeared from the hotel stable, and various
conjectures were hazarded as to whether it had strayed, or
was feloniously taken. All who had horses ran to the stable
to see if their property was safe, when it was discovered
that a venerable roadster belonging to the junior editor of
the Telegraph was left in the stable, although it was known
that the young man had departed for Alton an hour or so
previous. Further inquiry elicited the fact that he had gone
to the stable with the hostler, selected the horse himself,
and was so occupied with his pleasant thoughts, that he did
not discover he had exchanged an "old fogy," capable of
three miles an hour, for one of the "Young America" stamp,
capable of ten miles, without 'blowing.' After a good deal
of consultation as to what ought to be done under these
alarming circumstances, it was finally determined to
organize a self-constituted tribunal and try the young man;
whereupon, Esq. Arthur of Six Mile, was unanimously elected
judge, William H. Turner of Alton, clerk, L. B. Sidway of
the same place, sheriff, and Martin T. Kurtz of Collinsville
public prosecutor. The defendant not being present, the
court appointed John H. Shipman, Esq., to defend him, and at
once proceeded to examine witnesses. One witness thought he
was excusable, on account of the large amount of money he
had collected. Another thought his mind was entirely
engrossed by the City Election. Another thought he was
cogitating how to save the present County Court - but the
majority of the witnesses thought he was in love with some
young lady, and one intimated that he knew such to be the
fact. After an elaborate argument in which the books, recent
cases not reported, and personal experience were freely
quoted, the jury retired, and after an anxious season of
deliberation, returned into court the following verdict:
'We, the jury, find the defendant guilty of the latest case
of absence of mind, but, on account of its being caused by
love, we recommend him to the mercy of the Court.' The
verdict was received with marked sensation, the young men
particularly feeling very much relieved. One of them, D.
Gillespie, Esq., paid a high tribute to the good sense
displayed by the jury, in an exordium prompted by the
excitement of the occasion. His Honor, Judge Arthur, then
arose, and putting on that black beaver, honored as an
emblem of judicial authority, and a constant terror to the
evil-doers of the Bottom for the last fifty years, proceeded
to pronounce upon the defendant - who had in the meantime
been brought into Court - the extreme sentence of the law.
The sentence was solemn and impressive, and delivered in the
following words: 'Wretched young man! You have done the
deed! - and now you see what you have come to. But for the
merciful recommendation of the jury, there is no telling
what I should have done. Have you nothing to say for
yourself? what! - nothing! Listen then wretched youth while
the sovereign people through me do speak. The judgment of
this Court is that you be taken to the place from whence you
came. That you are no judge of democratic horse-flesh. That
you pay the expenses of this Court, amounting to a half
bushel of peaches. That you marry the girl who has caused
all this trouble, and may the Lord have mercy on your soul!'
The Rev. John Gibson of Troy, who was present and watched
the proceedings with great interest, immediately stepped
forward to the prisoner, and offered his services,
remarking, by way of consolation, that he ought to be
thankful that the Court had not condemned him to marry a
woman with half a dozen children, in whose origin he had no
agency."
************************************************
EDWARDSVILLE - THOUSANDS OF
SHEEP PASS THROUGH
Source: The Evening Chronicle,
Syracuse, New York, July 26, 1854
A drove of sheep numbering
eleven thousand head passed through Edwardsville, Illinois,
on the 8th inst. They were from the state of
Tennessee, and are to be wintered in Missouri, when they
will be driven to Salt Lake.
**************************************************
EDWARDSVILLE - SENTENCED PASSED
Source: Alton Weekly Courier, June 4, 1857
Yesterday, between nine and ten o'clock a.m., sentence of
death was pronounced upon Robert Sharpe, George W. Sharpe
and John Johnson, for the murder, on the 12th inst., of
Jacob Barth. The sentence is that between the hours of ten
o'clock a.m. and six o'clock p.m., on the 19th day of June,
proxime, the prisoners are to be hanged by the neck until
they are dead.
************************************************
EDWARDSVILLE - THE HANGING OF GEORGE W. SHARPE AND JOHN
JOHNSON FOR THE MURDER OF JACOB BARTH
Source: Alton Weekly Courier, June 25, 1857
Click here to read the story
************************************************
EDWARDSVILLE - MOB ACTION ABATED AFTER TRIAL OF GIPSON,
BARBER AND WATSON
Source: The New York Times, June 28, 1857
The trial in the case of the People vs Gipson, Barber and
Watson, for the murder of Jacob Borrk, was closed, and the
case given to the Jury at 8 1/4 o'clock yesterday evening.
After being out just forty minutes, the Jury returned and
rendered a verdict of "Guilty!" Mr. Sawyer entered a motion
for a new trial, which after argument, was allowed by the
Court. The Germans from Highland and vicinity, and other
friends of the deceased, were very much incensed in
consequence of the new trial being granted, and the attack
from the mob, for the purpose of seizing the prisoners and
hanging them, in Judge Lynch's summary manner, was
confidently expected last night or today.
Upon hearing of the gathering of a mob in Edwardsville for
the purpose of administering summary punishment to the three
murderers of Baird [note: above paragraph spelled the name
Borrk], and of the likelihood that they might be arraigned
before the Court of Judge Lynch, we dispatched one of our
assistants to the scene of action for the purpose of
gathering all the particulars of events as the occurred. It
appears that several hundred of the citizens of the
southeastern part of this county, friends and acquaintances
of the deceased, hearing that the prisoners were about to
take a change of venue, determined to take them from the
jail and hang them without trial. This body of men was
composed principally of Germans, fellow countrymen of the
murdered man, and were led on by two men named Smiley and
Savage. Between ten and eleven o'clock Monday, the mob
entered the town from the south on horses, in wagons, and on
foot to the number of four hundred. The leaders and some of
the other members of the gang bearing red and black flags,
with which they marshaled on their blood thirsty companions.
As soon as Sheriff Job received intelligence of their
approach, he proceeded to take steps for the protection of
the jail. He had placed some twenty or thirty men in and
about the jail, and provided them with such arms as could be
procured, when the mob made a rush towards the building,
headed by the leaders, Smiley and Savage, who each bore a
flag. When the two leaders had approached as near as it was
thought proper they should, the officers and some of the
citizens who had resolved to sustain the law at all hazards,
headed by Sheriff Job, rushed upon and unhorsed them, taking
from them their flags and their arms. Several others of
those foremost in the ranks were unhorsed. This determined
and bold action appeared to intimidate the remainder to some
extent, though threats were still made and continued for a
number of hours (the mob neither advancing nor retreating),
during which time speeches were made by Messrs. Gillespie,
Metcalf, Job and others, in English, and Mr. Krafft in
German. These speeches appeared to have a good effect, for
soon after, the threats of the rioters began to be less
frequent and less savage, and in half an hour the whole gang
had left town.
*******************************************
EDWARDSVILLE - MAJOR NINIAN
EDWARDS, [JR.] WRITES BOOK ON HISTORY OF ILLINOIS
Source: Syracuse, New York Daily
Standard, June 12, 1869
Major Ninian Edwards, of
Springfield, Ill., is preparing for the press a volume
entitled "The Life and Times of Governor, Ninian Edwards."
It will give a history of Illinois from 1789 up to the year
of the Governor's death, in 1833. [Note: Edwardsville is
named for Ninian Edwards]
*********************************************
EDWARDSVILLE - THE HANGING EXECUTION OF WILLIAM BELL FOR THE
MURDER OF HERMAN WENDELL
Source: The New York Times, November 16, 1869
Click here to read the story.
*********************************************
EDWARDSVILLE - DANIEL B. GILLHAM
Source: Edwardsville Intelligencer, October 27, 1870
Daniel B. Gillham - This gentleman, who was nominated by the
late Democratic convention for representative to the General
Assembly, was born in this county in 1826, and is
consequently 44 years of age - the prime of manhood. His
father came from South Carolina to Madison County in 1802,
and devoted the whole of his life to the pursuit of
agriculture, from which he amassed a considerable fortune.
The subject of this notice received a fair education and by
perseverance and industry has risen to prominent notoriety
as a successful agriculturalist and horticulturalist. He has
been a member of the State Board of Agriculture for the last
four years, and was re-elected by acclamation, at the last
meeting, to serve two years longer. Mr. Gillham is just the
man to send to Springfield the coming winter, and the party
did wisely in nominating him. Always a Democrat, always
working for the good of the agricultural community, he is
just the man for the place. Col. C. F. Rodgers and Theodor
Miller are equally worthy of the support of the Democratic
party.
********************************************
EDWARDSVILLE NEWSPAPER
Source: Utica, New York Daily
Observer, July 29, 1872
The Bots Newspaper,
Edwardsville, Ill., a German newspaper, and Republican
strong, hoists the banner of Greeley and Brown at their
masthead.
********************************************
EDWARDSVILLE CHILD KIDNAPPED
Source: Alton Telegraph, September 2, 1880
From Edwardsville, Ill., Aug. 29 - The mysterious
disappearance yesterday morning of Joseph P. Seip, the eight
year old son of Nicholas Seip, one of Edwardsville's
prominent German citizens, still continues to be the main
subject of conversation. The only theory advanced by parties
working on the case is that he was kidnapped by a band of
movers who were camped on the roadside, about midway between
here and his home.
*******************************************
EDWARDSVILLE - MILL BURNS
Source: Canton, New York St.
Lawrence Plain Dealer, 1887-1890
The Kohler Brothers mill and
several other buildings were destroyed by fire at
Edwardsville, Ill.
*******************************************
EDWARDSVILLE - THE EXECUTION OF PATRICK BOYLE, 1892
Click here to read the story
*******************************************
EDWARDSVILLE - TRAIN WRECK
Source: Rochester, New York
Democrat Chronicle, August 2, 1892
It is reported here that the
limited east-bound passenger train, on The "Big Four" which
left here at 4 P. M. collided with a freight train at
Edwardsville Junction, Ill., the engineer and fireman being
killed and a large number of passengers being injured,
several fatally. Dispatches have been sent both to this city
and Alton for a number of physicians. Later—The
accident was caused, it is thought, by a disobedience of
orders. The engineer of the east bound tram had orders to
wait at Edwardsville crossing for the incoming train. The
latter was behind time, and after what he considered a
reasonable time, the waiting engineer pulled out, meeting
the other train on a curve. Information at this hour
(midnight), is that the engineer and fireman of the incoming
train were killed, and several passengers were badly, some
seriously injured. None of the coaches left the track. An
oil car filled with gasoline was wrecked and caught fire
from a spark from a workman's pipe. There was no explosion
for an hour afterwards, the working crew having been called
off from fear of an explosion. They returned in forty
minutes and twenty minutes afterwards the gasoline exploded,
throwing the oil car 300 feet. There were no fatalities, but
several railroad men and quarrymen were badly burned about
the face and neck. The most seriously burned are as follows:
J. R. Withrow, chief train
dispatcher of the Big Four; T. J. English, trainmaster; J.
H. Berry, general master mechanic; J. O. Nelson, chief
engineer; J. S. Carr, yardmaster; about eighteen quarrymen,
slightly burned. Loss about $8,000. The cause of the wreck
was a broken axle.
**********************************************
EDWARDSVILLE - STRIKERS' ROW
Source: The New York Times, October 1, 1897
While the miners employed in the Madison Coal Company's
shafts at Edwardsville, Ill., were going to work today, they
were attacked by a mob of strikers, who were influenced by
thirty or more women sympathizers. The strikers threw stones
and cayenne pepper and beat their opponents with clubs, but
no shots were fired, and nobody was killed. One miner,
however, had his skull crushed and numerous others were cut
and bruised. A clerk of the Madison Coal Company was blinded
by pepper. The strikers far outnumbered the workers, who
were guarded by a force of Deputy Sheriffs on their way to
the mine. T. W. McCune, a Deputy Sheriff in the escorting
posse, was disarmed and dragged to one side, where a crowd
of irate strikers beat him with their fists and clubs until
he was almost unconscious. Though heavily armed, the
Sheriff's officers took their drubbing without making any
attempt to use their guns. They were outnumbered ten to one,
but they fought with their fists. Had a shot been fired, the
consequences would have been fearful, as the strikers were
frenzied. The miners, who fought as best they could with
their tin dinner pails, were finally allowed to go to work.
After the attack the strikers and the women formed in line
and marched through the streets of Edwardsville, shouting
and singing. No arrests were made. The riot resulted from a
partially successful effort to work the Madison Mines. The
delegation from Glen Carbon brought thirty women with them,
and these were the leaders in the riot. It is rumored that
more strikers will reach here during the night to help
intimidate the non-union men. Superintendent Glass of the
mines said today that the force of deputies would be
increased tomorrow to a number sufficient to protect the
miners, and that the workers would be escorted to the mines
in safety.
**********************************************
EDWARDSVILLE - CHIEF OF POLICE
SHOT
Source: Rochester, New York
Democrat Chronicle, February 1, 1900
Chief of Police, Barnsboeck
(sp?) today attempted to arrest three robbers who were
dividing their spoils. One felled him with a revolver and
all escaped, holding a crowd at bay with their guns. Later,
one robber was captured. A posse and bloodhounds traced the
others to the Madison mines, where they exchanged twenty or
more shots without effect. The two robbers are still at
large.
************************************************
EDWARDSVILLE - POSSE CHASES
ROBBERS
Source: Auburn, New York Weekly
Bulletin, April 21, 1902/1903
Edwardsville, Ill.. April
21.—Rural telephone service made It possible for two farmers
to call an armed posse in a short time to hunt down thieves
who had plundered their farmhouses, and after a chase two
suspects were overtaken in a buggy. In the fight that
followed Frank Charles of Mobile, Ala., one of the supposed
robbers, was fatally wounded by Charles Glass, a farmer. The
other man left the buggy when his companion was shot and
escaped after the posse had followed him three miles.
Charles Glass and Henry Hendricks were the men whose houses
had been entered. When they discovered their loss they
immediately notified the nearest constable and their
neighbors, who responded at once, all heavily armed. Among
the things stolen was a tent. It was known the raiders had
escaped in a buggy, and the trail was a hot one. The posse
overtook a buggy, on the outside of which a tent was
strapped. There were two men in the vehicle. They were
ordered to surrender, but laughingly refused to do so. Glass
removed a shotgun from the buggy and one of the pair drew a
revolver and fired at Constable L. J. Lawrence of East
Alton, who returned the fire. Neither shot was effective.
Glass then fired the shotgun and struck the man in the buggy
in the jaw. The other man then escaped.
********************************************************
EDWARDSVILLE - TWIN BROTHERS
COMMIT SUICIDE
Source: Utica, New York Herald
Dispatch, March 18, 1903
March 18.—Dr. A. B. McKee, a
leading physician of Madison county, and his twin brother,
Charles, committed suicide together in in the stable of Dr.
McKee's residence, in Edwardsville. The two brothers were
found side by side yesterday. It is not known at what time
Dr. McKee and his brother took the poison, but the general
impression is that they went into the stable during the
night. Going to one of the stalls they reclined upon a bed
of straw -and then, swallowed the poison. The double suicide
has created a profound sensation here, coming as It does on
the heels of another sensation in which Dr. McKee was the
central figure. Dr. McKee was to have appeared in court next
Saturday to answer a charge preferred by Miss Emma Rowekamp,
a servant employed in the residence of Charles Otter, of
Edwardsville. Dr. McKee and his brother were close
companions. One theory advanced is that Dr. McKee told his
brother that he intended to kill himself, and that rather
than be separated Charles also agreed to join him. Dr. McKee
was thirty-eight years old. He leaves a widow and one child.
He enjoyed a large practice. Charles McKee. his brother, was
formerly a traveling salesman, but lately had been helping
his brother as an office assistant. He seemed to feel the
disgrace of his brother's arrest almost as much as if he
were the accused party.
Mrs. McKee is prostrated over the tragedy.
******************************************************
EDWARDSVILLE LELAND HOTEL FIRE
Source: The New York
Times, New York, March 7, 1905
Victoria Bateman Burned in Hotel. Actress Nearly
Lost Her Life in Hotel Fire. condition Serious.
St. Louis, Mo., March 6. -- Miss Victoria Bateman, an
actress, narrowly escaped burning to death in a fire at the
Leland Hotel in Edwardsville, Ill., today. It is said
to-night she is in a precarious condition. Miss Bateman was visiting friends in the "Dr. Jekyll and Mr.
Hyde" company which is under the management of Oscar Dane
and played in Edwardsville tonight. Miss Bateman was with
Mr. Dane in a stock company of which the latter was manager
and intended to watch the rehearsal at the Tuxhorn Opera
House this afternoon. She had gone to her room to take a nap
after dinner and about 3 o'clock a member of the company,
who had gone to the third floor to summon her saw smoke
coming from beneath the door. The proprietor broke in the
door. A cloud of smoke and flame surged into the hall. The
proprietor crawled in on hands and knees and encountered the
form of the unconscious woman lying on the floor. She was
dragged out and medical attention was given her.
********************************************************
EDWARDSVILLE, ILLINOIS TRAIN
WRECK
Source: Edwardsville
Intelligencer, Edwardsville, IL, January 13, 1909
The first train from Alton this morning over the
Wabash-Terminal had a disastrous wreck just west of town.
The train consisted of two cars, the first a combination
baggage and smoker and the second a passenger coach, pulled
by engine 405.
At 7 o'clock this morning the train was speeding for the
Junction to make the early morning connection from Chicago.
It whirled around the curve at the intersection of the Alton
road near the place of Martin Drda, and crashed into four
cars of coal. The front end of the engine was smashed, and
the first coach [ineligible] in the air and reared across
the tender of the locomotive. The first coal car was crushed
by the impact and the others were driven a hundred yards
down the track.
How the cars came there is a mystery, but it is supposed
that they escaped from the yards south of town. It was said
at the Litchfield & Madison office this morning that one of
the yard crews had probably been switching there last night,
but the office force did not know whether any coal was left
for transfer. At any rate the runaways traveled over the
"High Line" past Woodlawn, out across the Wabash main line
and then across Cahokia creek to the Alton road, where they
came to rest. Today's wreck lies directly across the wagon
road.
Engineer Andy Herrick, who was on the 405, was painfully
hurt, but according to reports received here none of the
other members of the crew were hurt, nor were the passengers
more than bruised. Inquiry at the main office of the
Terminal in Alton failed to develop the fact that they even
knew there was a wreck.
There was only one chance of saving the train and it came
too late. Martin Drda, who lives in the neighborhood, went
out of the house and saw the coal cars just a moment before
the passenger struck. He heard the latter coming, but before
he could get to the place the crash came.
Ben Bernius, carrier on Route Six, found the road blocked by
the wreck, so he drove back to the junction and brought the
accumulation of mail up town to the post office. Express
matter remained at the Junction until noon, when it was
secured by means of sleighs.
*******************************************************
EDWARDSVILLE - CLERK OF CIRCUIT
COURT
Source: New York, New York
Clipper, December 19, 1915
Simon Kellermann Jr.. the
showman's friend and counselor, of Edwardsville, Ill.,
dropped into Chicago during the carnival and fair manager
gathering and met many friends of former days. He was once
with 'em. He is a mighty fine fellow. He is the clerk of
Madison County Circuit Court at Edwardsville. Drop in and
see him.
******************************************************
EDWARDSVILLE - THREE MEN KILLED BY TRAIN
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, September 18, 1922
Three men were killed this morning when a McKinley line
train struck a Ford sedan, three miles west of Edwardsville,
at the Center Grove crossing, near the home of Frank
McCormick. The victims were Thomas Naylor, aged 70; John
Peterman, aged 60; George Naylor, aged 22. All were on their
way to work in the coal mines from their homes, and had
taken the St. Louis road as a short cut to their place of
employment. They had the Ford sedan closed up and evidently
did not hear the warning blast blown by the interurban
motorman as he approached the crossing. The train,
consisting of a combination motor and chair car and two
sleepers, hit the automobile carrying the three men squarely
in the center and dragged it 300 feet. The two old men were
instantly killed. The young man lived about one hour. All
died from skull fractures and internal injuries.
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FOSTERBURG BALL
Source: The Daily Observer,
Utica, New York, February 26, 1869
At a ball in Fosterburg, near
Alton, Illinois, given a few nights since, five or six
persons drank poisoned liquor, two of whom are reported this
morning as having died.
****************************************************
FOSTERBURG NEWS
Source: Alton Telegraph, August
20, 1885
Our merchants are doing a large
business in the way of buying country produce, which is sent
to Alton once a week. Mr. John Roloff and family have been
spending a week or so in Alton. The bridge contractors,
Thos. Titchenal and Ollie Foster, have just completed a
bridge in the western part of the township. Mr. John Uzzell
of Bethalto was in the burg last week. Miss Jessie Waggoner
of Godfrey is the guest of Miss Lillie Dillon. Miss Lydia
Lobbig has returned from a visit at St. Louis, where she has
been spending a week. Mr. J. S. Culp was in the burg last
week on business. Mr. Charles Titchenal left for
Springfield, Mo., last night. Mrs. S. Holt of Upper Alton
paid her parents a visit last week. Mrs. M. Dillon returned
to Springfield last week. A. L. Foster took a drive to "pie
town" last Tuesday evening. Mr. J. J. Luft is back on the
bench again. Rev. A. Vogle has gone to Racine, Wisconsin.
*************************************************
FOSTERBURG NEWS
Source: Alton Weekly Telegraph,
June 24, 1886
Harvest is in full blast at
present. Mr. John Haag's span of mules ran away yesterday
with his binder; fortunately the driver was not injured. As
Louis states, "he does not know how he did manage to get
clear." The binder was broken up badly. Say, John, is an
assessment made on Sunday legal? Mrs. Hodge is making an
improvement on her residence, in the way of a new porch.
Miss Polly Kipper, of christian county, is visiting at Mr.
Chas. Graner's. Mrs. Hellie Holt of Upper Alton is visiting
at O. P. Foster's. Mrs. C. Titchenal is visiting her parents
this week. Miss Tillie Ost of Upper Alton visited home
Sunday. Mr. E. Griable has the best shade trees in town.
Wanna Frankford met with quite an accident yesterday, but is
getting along all O.K.
*****************************************************
FOSTERBURG NEWS
Source: Alton Weekly Telegraph,
July 1, 1886
The rain of last Saturday did a
great deal of damage to bridges in this township by washing
them away. One near Samuel Williams' residence was washed
away, one near Mr. Klinkey's and one near Mr. E. Doolings
and one at Mr. Wm. Manns, also the filling at the bridge
near Wm. Baker's. Thomas Titchanel left his tent and tools
at the bridge near Mr. Gell's in Wood River Township where
he had a force of men repairing the bridge. To Tom's
surprise, Sunday morning he found that his "tepe" had
floated down and was hanging in a tree; of course Tom and
Ollie had the right idea that the "tepe" was ripe, so they
just picked it and returned to hunt for the tools which they
found near by. Among others who suffered from the high
water, Mr. Thomas Dulanty, 27 acres of wheat washed away,
and Mr. John Wortman had near 100 bushels carried off. Mr.
John Krieg suffered a loss in the same way; also Mr. Wm.
Baker. Misses Lydia and Rosa Lobbig are visiting in Alton at
the present writing, the guests of Miss Emma Hummert. Mrs.
E. Grieble made a business trip to St. Louis last week. Mr.
John Roloff, of Upper Alton, has been plastering the saloon
belonging to John Rammes. Mr. Henry Lobbig bought a fine
horse from Mr. Kenecht for $145 and has been offered $250,
but says he will not sell as he likes to drive as fine an
animal as any person. John Heuis, Jr. is talking of leaving
- he will go to Minnesota. John has a great many friends who
are sorry to see him leave, but all wish him much success.
Mr. John Graner will soon bring out his threshing outfit. As
he is a first class thresher any person having any threshing
to do will do well in calling on him. We are glad to state
that John Paul is able to be out on the street again. Mr.
Charles Wortmann will leave for Springfield soon. Miss
Nellie Holt, who has been visiting relatives at the burgh,
returned to her home in Upper Alton yesterday. Mr. L.
Falkenburgh, who has been on the sick list, is improving.
The hour for the A. M. E. Sunday school has been changed
from 2 o'clock p.m. to 9 o'clock a.m. Prof. E. B.
Young is Superintendent. "Let every body turn out and make
it the leading Sunday school in town." Rev. A. Byer
has returned from a visit to Indiana.
***************************************************
FOSTERBURG NEWS
Source: Alton Daily Telegraph, August 4, 1887
Hurrah for our daily mail. As Mr. Sam Williams was leaving
with his traction engine and separator from Mr. Weaver's
last Thursday, a spark from the engine set fire to Mr. D. H.
Warner's meadow, and the fire spread over the dry stubble at
such rapid rate that the men could not check it until it had
burned several shocks of oats and part of the fence of J. D.
Dillon, and part of Mr. Warner's hedge. The moonlight
hop given in Foster's grove was a very enjoyable affair;
good order was maintained. Quite a large number were present
from Alton and Upper Alton. They will give another "hop" in
the grove sometime in the near future. Mr. Tom Titchenal has
been fixing the break in his mill pond and will start the
mill as soon as it rains. "You never run the engine unless
you have the steam." Rev. S. P. Dillon of Litchfield, Neb.,
is visiting at his uncle's, J. D. Dillon. Theo Foster
of Harvel, Ill. spent a few days at his old home. Theo is
one of the boys and is always welcomed back to the burg.
Miss Florence Robinson of Gillespie, Ill., who has been
visiting friends at the burg, returned to her home last
Thursday. Mr. E. Jinkinson and family of Dorchester spent a
few days with relatives and friends at the burg last week.
Deputy Sheriff Crowe was in town last week on official
business. Mrs. R. V. Jinkinson spent last week with
relatives at Bethalto. Mrs. J. Vannatta of Dorchester is
visiting relatives at the burg this week. The trustees of
the Fosterburg Cemetery have had the weeds and grass mown,
which makes quite an improvement in the looks. The sidewalk
leading from Rev. Vogel's to the Baptist church needs fixing
very badly. Another grand moonlight hop in the grove next
week. Our mail carrier has a new horse now, and of course,
the mail will be on time hereafter. -Spavin.
FOSTERBURG NEWS
Source: Alton Telegraph,
September 14, 1887
The old mill started up last
week. They are sawing out bridge lumber as there are several
bridges in this township which are in need of repairs. No
doubt but what our bridge contractors will have lots of work
this fall. Mr. F. Petters and brother, Samuel, will
leave for Chicago next Thursday where they are going to
spend the winter. They have many friends here, who wish them
much success. Mr. C. C. Brown, who has been dangerously sick
for the past two weeks, is, we are glad to say, so much
improved as to be able to be out on the streets again.
Mrs. S. Titchenal, we are sorry to say, is very sick, but is
improving. Miss Rosa Lobbig spent last week with friends in
Alton. Mrs. John Dillon is visiting her son at Springfield
at the present writing. Mr. Mose Thompson and family will
start for Kansas about the 20th of this month. Mr. T. has
purchased a farm there and will make it his future home.
Miss Lillie Steizel, of North Alton, is the guest of Miss
Linda Newhaus. L. Pfister has improved his store by
putting up a new porch. Mr. Geo. Norris has the agency
for Wm. Flynn's marble works. If there are any persons
wishing anything in that line it would be well to give him a
call. Mr. Theo. Hossner, of Jerseyville, was in our
town last week. The coal miners are not having very good
work now, as so very little coal is used since the threshing
season is over.
***************************************************
FOSTERBURG NEWS
Source: Alton Telegraph, February 16, 1893
There was quite a number of stock hurt in this township
during the time that Mother Earth was covered with ice. We
hear of several horses over in the west part of the township
that fell and were so badly injured that they had to be
killed. Also, some cattle, over in the east part that fell
and had to be killed.....It is surprising how much coal is
hauled from here to your city [Alton]. The teams from Alton
come out to our coal mines almost every day and there have
been several teams from here that have hauled coal to your
city every day. This winter has been splendid for the
miners. Good roads and cold weather cause the miners to
smile. They have had all the work they could do and then
could not get out coal fast enough....The children of Mr.
and Mrs. Martin Thompson who have had the scarlet fever for
a couple of weeks are almost fully recovered....The school
in the primary room will close in two weeks, or the first of
March. The attendance in room No. 1 has not been very large.
Prof. Churchill informs us that the average in his room
during the past month has been only five, the scarlet fever
causing many to stay away. Mr. T. C. Dillon, who was so
badly burned at the Wann disaster is improving as fast as
could be expected. His face is almost well, but it will be a
long time before his hands are well again. Mr. and Mrs.
Jacob Hunt and Miss Mollie Rinker have gone to Minnesota,
where they will make their future home. Their many friends
here wish them much success in their far northern home.
*******************************************************
FOSTERBURG NEWS
Source: Alton Telegraph,
February 8, 1894
There was a rag tacking at Mrs.
Luft's one evening last week. Some of the boys made a
record. A party of young ladies hied themselves off to a
hillside and took a slide, but would prefer not to have
their mishaps recorded. There was a party at Harry Clayton's
south of town Thursday evening last week. Dancing was the
principal feature of amusement. Harry Ashlock, of Alton, is
visiting his grandfather, Capt. Ashlock, at present writing.
Miss Tillie Ost is visiting with her sister in St. Louis.
Miss Sarah Thompson, instructor at the Hines school, spent
Saturday and Sunday with Mrs. E. K. Pruitt, of Dorsey. John
Schafer came up from St. Louis to visit his parents on
Sunday. William Kramer, of Brighton, manufacturer of the
Blue Label cigar, was at the burg one day last week on
business. Theodore Hossner "formerly connected with the
Jerseyville nursery and as salesman stands in first rank" is
at the burg interviewing old acquaintances. Albert Haag, of
this place, a very worthy gentleman is his successor. Mrs.
R. V. Jinkenson is spending a few days with her son, John,
at Bethalto. Amos Challengeworth's little boy, Harvey, has
been quite sick. Am sorry to state that Mrs. Wm. Baker's
condition is no better. Her condition is serious. John
Dingerson has returned from a visit with his uncle at Mt.
Olive. I am requested to announce that on Feb. 18th there
will be a meeting at the English M. E. church at 2 p.m. and
at 7 p.m. also. State Lecturer Alex. Kearly and others will
be present. All farmers and especially the ladies are
invited, for they are eligible to membership as well as men.
The tax collector wants to see you. He will be at the
Buckstrop school house Feb. 17 and at the Ingersoll school
on the 24th. At any other time than the above named, he can
be found at his store. The regular quarterly meeting of the
Fosterburg Horse Thief Detective Society meets at the hall
on next Saturday evening, Feb. 10th. All members are
requested to be present as there is very important business
left over from last meeting. The organization is in good
condition, consisting of about sixty members. Zero weather
has put new life into our coal industry. Wm. Challengsworth
has quite a force of men at work in his pit this winter.
Thos. Titchenal reports an air shaft in the shape of a land
slide. The coal at each mine is of superior quality always
to be had at very reasonable figures. It you will try it you
will buy it and have no other.
***************************************************
FOSTERBURG NEWS
Source: Alton Telegraph,
December 31, 1896
Mr. Addison McKnight is now in
Alton where he has a situation. We hear that several of our
citizens will go to Springfield to the inauguration of the
State officers, Jan. 11. Mr. W. E. Dodd, who returned from
Iowa a few weeks ago, is talking of starting a weekly
newspaper in our town. It will be a non-partisan paper and
be independent of any political party - devoted to the
general news of the day. Mr. Dodd will make his paper a farm
journal and subscription price on $1 per year. We hope that
all our citizens will aid the enterprise all they can, and
let the subscription list have most, if not all their names
thereon, for if the citizens do not lend their help in some
way or other, it is very evident that Mr. Dodd can not start
a paper here. Although our town is quite small, we have a
splendid location for a wide-awake newspaper, and such a
paper cannot do otherwise than help the town. When the
subscription list is circulated, let all sign for the paper,
and then subscribe for some friend, thereby helping the
paper and at the same time help our town. The dance given by
the Fosterburg Social Club Christmas eve was a most
enjoyable affair, it being the first of the season. There
was quite a large attendance, there being about forty
couples present. The music was furnished by Bunker Hill
talent; and at twelve o'clock, Mrs. Pfaff furnished a
splendid supper for the merry-makers. It was the small wee
hours of morning when the last of them left the hall. We
understand the club will give a ball every two weeks at
Pfisters Hall. There will be a call meeting of the
Fosterburg G. A. R. Post on Wednesday 6th, 1897, for the
purpose of making arrangements for the instigation of the
newly-elected officers. It is requested that all members of
the Post be present. Mr. Wm. Meeters spent Christmas with
friends in St. Louis. No doubt but what William saw the
sights in city, at the other end of the bridge. Miss Cassie
Titchenal, who has been in poor health for two or three
months, is much improved. Messrs. C. Osh and Frank Mason
visited relatives in St. Louis. The Fosterburg National Band
are coming to the front, and are keeping up the practice
twice a week. The new blacksmith shop of John Ost's is
nearly under roof, and it will be one of the best construct
shops in town. The old historical shop, corner Wain and
Seminary ave., has been torn down, and that corner looks
very much as though a cyclone had visited it. Deputy Sheriff
John Dillon spent Christmas with friends at the Burg,
returning to Edwardsville Sunday evening. Mrs. E. Burger and
children, of Alton, are spending the holidays with their
parents, Mr. and Mrs. V. Pfaff. Mr. August Faderly and wife,
of Alton, drove out last Sunday and spent the day with
relatives. The coal miners have been having steady work all
fall and winter, the roads having been in such fine
condition that those who have had any hauling to do have had
no reason to complain. We hear that there will be a supper
given in the near future for the purpose of raising money
for the sidewalk fund. The three Sunday schools had
Christmas trees last Christmas eve, and it is useless to say
the hearts of the little ones were made glad. F. C. Dillon
has been spending the past week visiting relatives and
friends in Springfield, Ill. Prof. J. U. Uzzell and family
of Bethalto, are visiting relatives here, west of town. The
Prof. has many friends who will be glad to know that he is
in our midst again. Miss Lizzie Whitlow of Jerseyville is
the guest of the Misses Thompson during the holidays. We
hear the farmers say that dry, freezing weather we have been
having is very hard on the growing wheat and the prospect
for a good yield next year is not as good as it was four
weeks ago, yet some say that the roots of the wheat have not
been injured by the freeze. The Fosterburg school is having
no vacation this year. It is not often that we have school
here during the holidays. Our doctors report that there is
but few cases of sickness in this section.
**************************************************
FOSTERBURG NEWS
Source: Alton Telegraph, June
24, 1897
Wheat harvest will be on hand
next week. Clover harvest has failed to bring the usual and
much needed rains. A few more days will put an end to the
harvesting of this crop, which has been quite a large one.
Mrs. Lydia Meisenheimer was very sick on Tuesday evening and
found the services of Dr. Hall necessary. Mr. A. L. Foster
spent Sunday in Kirkwood, Mo. Mr. H. G. Bassett draws
the lines over one of the best driving horses in the
township. Miss Minnie Seiler came up from St. Louis and made
a short visit at the residence of Mr. August Seiler. Mrs.
Peter Schan and family left Wednesday to join Mr. Schan in
Iowa. Geo. Deckert, traveling salesman for the Liggett &
Meyers' Tobacco Company of St. Louis, was around Monday
looking after the wants of his customers. The Grangers at
their festival on the evening of the 12th, cleared $20,
which was quite satisfactory. Rev. Hussey, State Missionary
of Upper Alton, occupied the pulpit at the Baptist church
Sunday morning and preached to quite a large audience. Mr.
E. Griebel has been seriously afflicted with throat trouble
the past week. Under the treatment of Dr. Moore he has
improved in a manner that is pleasing to his many friends.
Mr. Samuel Peters has been on the retired list for a few
days on account of sickness. Mr. Amos Brueggeman and wife,
of East St. Louis, are visiting with relatives. The ladies
of the Baptist church will give an ice cream festival on the
church lawn on Tuesday evening, 29th. Everybody is invited
to attend and enjoy the evening. Besides refreshments, there
will be plenty of music.
************************************************
FOSTERBURG NEWS
Source: Alton Telegraph, January
25, 1900
Spring weather in January seems
somewhat out of place, and zero weather to any extent in the
future will certainly do much damage to wheat should there
be no snow as a protection. A continuance of the present
warm weather will make an end of the fruit crop for next
year. Mrs. Mollie Handlon, of Alton, spent Sunday with
friends. Stella Wood, of Alton, is home at present writing.
Mrs. Gus Dodelins and sister, Julia, of Centralia, are
guests of Miss Lila Newhaus. Wm. Herman, our collector, has
filled out his bond of $11,500 with security as follows:
Isaac Shurfey, C. F. Lobbig, J. S. Culp and Frances Herman.
He went to Edwardsville on Wednesday and did business with
County Clerk Riniker. Joseph Heines has found employment at
East Alton and is thinking of moving his family to that
town. Frank Vanatta and Robert Allen, of Gillespie, are
visiting relatives at the Burg. John Culp, Jr., had his hay
press at work Monday baling hay for Mrs. C. C. Brown. N. T.
Wood's daughter, Nettie, is quite sick. Thos. Whyres
returned two patients that had escaped from Dr. Smith's
sanitarium at Godfrey one day last week. Lawrence Segrist's
child died at Godfrey and was buried Sunday. Rev. Morey
conducted services at the Wood River church. John Roloff and
John Burns, the two Johns, put in part of one evening last
week searching in the school house. Well, for John Jacob Luft, it was rather a hilarious search, full of fun and
nothing serious. Making no find, they proceeded to kick in
one side of the curb and otherwise disfigure the same to
their own amusement.
**********************************************
FOSTERBURG - "RIVER OF FIRE"
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, July 24, 1912
"That fellow will never set the river on fire," is an old
saying frequently heard in this world, but it cannot be said
truthfully of Phil Kennedy, the well known Foster township
dairyman and farmer and Charles Ducommon, another prominent
farmer who lives close to Mr. Kennedy. Mr. Ducommon met a
Telegraph reporter this morning and told of how the water in
the west fork of Wood river is covered with oil, or gas or
grease of some kind, and he said that the boys who have been
going in swimming in the river that runs through the Kennedy
farm have been in the habit of lighting matches and with
them set the river on fire. The gas or oil on the top of the
water ignites readily, he says, and blazes merrily for some
time, the flames mounting to a height of six or eight
inches. Conditions are similar in the water further up on
the Ducommon farm and in other places. Later, a Telegraph
reporter met Mr. Kennedy, and asked him about the matter and
he hemmed and hawed quite a bit before finally admitting
that all Mr. Ducommon had said is true. He went further and
said that boys last winter could indulge in a warm bath in
Wood river very readily by setting fire to the oil floating
on top, thus heating up the waters below. Taking good hot
refreshing baths in the dead of winter in the open air and
in running water, is something new under the sun and adds
one more achievement to the long list of things accomplished
by Foster township. It is the belief of very many Foster
township farmers that oil or gas, or both, can be found in
paying quantities under the surface of the earth in that
section, but they hesitate about spending the money
necessary to do the prospecting. Mr. Ducommon brought in a
lot of fried chicken today, which he was taking to Tolle's
grove where an all day picnic is being given by the Foster
Hard Roads Association. Other farmers and their wives will
bring in more fried chicken and home made pies and cakes
this afternoon for the delectation of guests of the picnic
this evening.
*********************************************
FOSTERBURG - ALOYSIUS DRUMLEVE INJURED WHILE HELPING FATHER
ON FARM NEAR FOSTERBURG
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, June 22, 1921
Aloysius Drumleve, eleven year old son of Philip Drumleve,
was operated on for gangrene poisoning at St. Joseph's
Hospital yesterday afternoon as a result of being
dangerously mangled by a binder with which the boy's father
was cutting wheat on his farm near Fosterburg. The older
Drumleve said his son accompanied him on the rounds of the
wheat field, and started to help when the harness of one of
the horses became unfastened. The boy re-hitched the horse,
he continued, and moved aside, thinking he was out of the
path of the mower. His father also thought the boy was out
of the way and started his team. The youngster, however, had
not moved far enough aside, and was struck down by the
sickle, the teeth of which clutched his left leg just above
the ankle. Quickly stopping his team, the father jumped to
extricate his son, whose leg had been badly cut by the
mower, all the blood passages being severed. Despite medical
attention, gangrene set in, and an operation was deemed
necessary. The boys' leg was amputated just below the knee,
and this morning he was pronounced somewhat relieved.
*********************************************
FOSTERBURG - FIRE DESTROYS LARGE BARN ON FOSTER ROAD
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, November 16, 1921
Fire destroyed a barn on the place of Harry Maggos on the
Fosterburg road beyond the State Hospital, about midnight
last night. In the barn were burned five horses, nine
cattle, about 30 tons of hay and a number of pieces of farm
machinery. The barn was about 50 feet long and 45 feet wide.
On one side was a machinery shed under which the machinery
was stored. Near the barn and close enough for it to have
been damaged but for a favorable air current that carried
the flames away from it was a new Moon automobile valued at
$2,800. It escaped with no damage to speak of. Sotir Durato
of East End Place said that one of the horses destroyed
belonged to him, and that he was keeping it on the place.
Durato said that the owner of the place was in St. Louis
where he went to undergo treatment for an injury he
sustained while at work on the place. Two hired men were
left there to look after the property and beside was another
man who owned the Moon car, and was spending the night
there. The cause of the fire is unknown, according to Durato.
When the fire was discovered, neighbors went there to do
what they could, but the inflammable contents of the barn
made it impossible for anything to be done toward saving any
of the property that was burning. J. A. Giberson said today
that his agency carried $1,000 on the barn in favor of Miss
Annie Spurgeon, who owns the farm, and rents to Maggos. He
also had $3,000 on the contents of the barn which covered
also the horses and some of the hay, and he also had a
special policy on the five horses and $300 on a stack of hay
near the barn. The total is over $5,000 the one agency had
involved in the fire, and it is assumed the loss is total.
********************************************
FROGS STOP THE TRAIN
Oswego, New York Daily Times,
July 24, 1906
Perhaps the only instance on
record where frogs stopped a railroad train occurred
recently in Madison county, Ill. Just before the train
reached the vicinity there was a heavy rainstorm, and
millions of small frogs about the size of a silver quarter
were rained down. When the Chicago and Alton limited came up
the heavy drive and crushed the frogs in myriads, and the
tracks became so greasy that the drivers were helpless to
move the train. After a delay of an hour a pusher engine was
secured and assisted the train up the grade and beyond the
point where the frogs had descended.
[Note:
click here to read more about raining frogs!]
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GLEN CARBON -
BRICK WORKS FIRE
Source: Utica, New York
Observer, April 15, 1895
The St. Louis pressed brick
works at Glen Carbon, Ill., have been almost destroyed by
fire. Loss $250,000; fully insured. The Eastern Railway Co.
lost 20 cars in the fire.
**************************************************
GLEN CARBON TO HOLD FAIR FOR
ALLEGED MURDERER
Source: Buffalo, New York
Morning Express, April 16, 1902
Wilkes-Barre, Pa.. April 15-—In
order to raise money to defend Joseph Machutis, charged with
murder, the people of Glen Carbon, Ill., will hold a fair.
Machutis was brought here last night by Chief Jones, who
arrested him there on Saturday. He is charged with the
murder of Stanley Molensky two months ago in this city. He
fled and was traced through the coal regions until he was
located at Glen Carbon. He had been there two months when
caught on Saturday and he had made many friends. They
believe he is innocent and as he has no money, they are
preparing to hold a fair to raise money for his defense and
to send his wife on here to engage lawyers and do her best
to get him freed. The fair will be held next week. The trial
will occur In a short time.
**********************************************
GLEN CARBON DESPERADO
Source: Syracuse, New York
Telegram, June 15, 1905
Glen Carbon, Ill., June 15.—With
one side of his face mutilated with a charge of buckshot,
Gustave Mergel, who murdered Mrs. Josephine Keller and
fatally wounded her husband at their home near here on
Tuesday, was captured by a posse yesterday afternoon in a
school house two miles south of this town. He was brought
here in a dying condition. The shooting of Mergel was done
by a member of the posse. Mergel had been pursued and
tracked to the empty school house. With all doors and
windows barricaded he held his pursuers at bay for several
hours, firing upon them whenever they approached.
***********************************************
GODFREY - MONTICELLO SEMINARY ANNIVERSARY
Source: Alton Weekly Courier, July 8, 1853
July 1 - The Annual Anniversary of this excellent
institution took place on Wednesday last. The day was
exceedingly warm, with occasional showers. The number of
visitors was larger, we think, than ever before, and the
Chapel was not only crowded to its utmost capacity, but
every place opposite the doors and windows of the Chapel,
where there was a possibility of hearing the exercises, was
crowded with listeners, and many were denied even that
privilege, and had to go away disappointed. The exercises of
the day consisted of the alternate reading of the
compositions of the young ladies, and vocal and instrumental
music, and were of a character which fully sustains the high
reputation the institution has attained. A portion of the
time we found it impossible to obtain a good place for
hearing, and cannot therefore speak as fully of some of the
compositions as we would wish, or as they deserve. The
present Chapel is entirely too small for such an occasion.
With a ceiling exceedingly low, and the presence of several
pillars supporting the roof, make it exceedingly difficult
to speak so as to be heard perfectly, and in music, some of
the finest and most effective passages are entirely lost. It
is in contemplation, we understand, to erect a church in the
immediate neighborhood, which will be built with a view,
among other reasons, to obviate the difficulty now
experienced. The reading by the young ladies was generally
sufficiently loud to be heard throughout the Chapel, and the
enunciation clear, distinct, and firm - not hurried, but
natural; and their attitudes while reading or singing, very
easy, graceful and unaffected....[compositions listed by
Ellen E. Prince, Marilla S. Tolman, Harriett M. Lyons, Amy
Chandler, Isabella Hurlbut, Rosa J. Teasey, Joanna E. Rice,
and F. S. Van Arsdale, ] .....Diplomas were awarded to the
Senior Class, which was composed of the following: Misses
Chandler, Rice, Lyons, Godfrey, Van Arsdale and Teasey....
[music listed]....The Annual Address was delivered by the
Rev. Mr. Gassaway of St. Louis. The address was an eloquent
one, replete with beautiful thoughts, elegant extracts from
the poets, and gave a fine exposition of what constituted
woman's true education, which he contended, would invariably
fix her position. He had no sympathy for the sticklers for
the so-called "woman's rights," and expressed himself as
much opposed to "petticoat" government. The address abounded
with encouragement to the young to persevere in the paths of
duty and rectitude, thereby ensuring to themselves happiness
in the future. The speaker closed with a well merited
tribute to the generosity and benevolence of Capt. Godfrey,
for his exertions in behalf of female education. Altogether
the exercises were of a very interesting character, and were
highly enjoyed by those present. May many more such
anniversaries gladden the hearts of parents and the friends
of education, and throw out an influence through the land to
purify, exalt, and refine.
*********************************************************
GODFREY - MONEY RAISED FOR MONTICELLO SEMINARY
Source: The New York Times, June 20, 1856
Mr. A. W. Corey, the agent of the Monticello Seminary in
Illinois, has been highly successful in his efforts to raise
a fund for the enlargement of this Seminary. At the present
time about $10,500 have been subscribed by the people of
Alton and vicinity, and there is every prospect that the
amount will be raised to $15,000.
**************************************************
GODFREY - SEMINARY AT MONTICELLO ONE OF THE FINEST IN THE
WEST
Source: Alton Weekly Courier, December 17, 1857
The Seminary at Monticello when completed will be one of the
finest buildings in the West. Not only will it be noble and
palatial in its outward appearance, but also elegant, tasty
and convenient within. Among other things, water will be
carried into all the stories, thus obviating the necessity
of carrying it by hand. Workmen are now busily engaged in
erecting works for the manufacture of gas, with which to
light the building. It is expected that the arrangements
will be completed in about a fortnight, and the gas will be
used for the first time on Christmas night.
*************************************************
GODFREY NEWS
Source: Alton Weekly Telegraph,
July 1, 1886
Miss Cynthia Mason is visiting
in Brighton, with her uncle, Mr. Frank Stewart. Miss Belle
Walker of St. Louis is visiting at Mr. Walter Merriman's.
Mrs. Alex Crawford and Miss Anna were in Brighton last
Sabbath. Mr. Lee Townsend of St. Louis called on the Misses
Gregg last week. Miss Tolman of Kane, last week, visited her
cousin, Mr. John Tolman. Prof. E. L. Waggoner and family, of
Lebanon, are here visiting. Miss Holbrook, who has been
visiting here for some weeks, has returned to her home in
Brighton, accompanied by her cousin, Mrs. Chas. Virden. Mr.
Willie Waggoner is quite sick.
****************************************
GODFREY NEWS
Source: Alton Telegraph,
September 14, 1887
Rev. W. G. Waggoner and
daughter, of Upper Alton, called on friends here last week.
Rev. E. E. Waggoner leaves today to attend school at
Lebanon. Mr. T. C. Ingham and mother went to Shipman one day
last week. Prof. E. L. Waggoner, of Lebanon, came to see his
mother last week. Mrs. E. B. Waggoner, of the same place, is
now here. Miss Lue Darlington visited relatives here this
week. Miss Mollie Fink, of Carlyle, commenced teaching in
Mason school this week. She is a lady of fine ability and
promises to add much to the social and literary enjoyment of
the neighborhood. Anthony Young, who had his foot so badly
cut while bathing in the Godfrey pond last week, and who has
been very sick ever since, is, at present, much better.
Mrs. W. F. Waggoner is still very sick with rheumatism. Rev.
J. W. Baine started for conference today. Rev. Wycoff, an
evengelist, will preach at the Godfrey church next Sabbath.
*****************************************
GODFREY MONTICELLO LADIES SEMINARY BURNED
Source: Jersey County Democrat, November 8,
1888/Submitted by: Bev Bauser
A bevy of
pupils of the institution, comprising Misses Nellie McConkey
and Myrtle Kimberly of Kansas City; Anna Blair of Ottawa, Kas.; Ollie Travis, Pleasant Hill, Mo.; and Clara Parish of
Chillicothe, Mo., awaited the outgoing train tonight under
the charge of MR. O. W. Maxfield, the outside
superintendent.
“We were
not frightened a bit,” they said, in chatting chorus. “Most
of us saved a few things and when we got out safely and saw
how slowly the building was burning, we went back and
secured a great many of our valuables, but many of the girls
lost their clothes, money and jewelry in the flames. Our
teachers went quietly from door to door and marched us out
and down the three stairways with the precision of veterans.
Most of the Alton girls went home today, and we are going
out on this train.” The
seminary numbered pupils from St. Louis, Alton, Chicago,
Denver, Shreveport, Springfield, Milwaukee, Belleville, Fort
Smith, Otta, Kas., and many other towns throughout Missouri,
Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. Among the St. Louis
girls attending the school this year were the daughters of
O. J. Lewis, Misses Edwards, Travis; the daughters of Phil Chappel
of Jefferson City, the two daughters of Joel Rickey, and
Miss Curd of Fulton, Mo.; Miss Bertha Brownlee of Lebanon,
Ill., were also in attendance. Chicago and Milwaukee had an
unusually large number in the school, which depended mainly
upon Chicago, St. Louis and Alton for patronage and its
alumni numbers many of the society leaders of these cities.
Among the prominent members of alumni from St. Louis are the
three Misses Sneed, Mrs. Anna Sneed Cairns
of Kirkwood, Mrs. John M. Allen, Mrs. Judge Shephard
Barclay, Mrs. Pat Dyer, Mrs. Judge Denison, the two
daughters of Judge Hunt, the daughters of Gen. Burnett, Mrs.
Geo. W. Parker, Mrs. Isaac Sturgis, two daughters of O. J.
Lewis, Miss Lottie Willis, the daughters of John Nixon, Mrs.
Julia Blow Webster and Mrs. Webster Loughborough. A
flourishing alumni association, numbering 240 members, has
been in existence in Chicago for a number of years, and a
similar organization was affected in St. Louis last spring
with a membership of 60. The late Rev. Dr. Truman Post of
St. Louis was president of the board of trustees for 35
years. Dr. J. B. Johnson is now the St. Louis member of the
board. The
building was of stone, four stories and a basement, and
contained about 150 rooms. The dormitories were on the
second and third stories. The contents of the art studios
and music rooms on the fourth floor were completely
destroyed, the losses, including some 20 pianos and model
casts and valuable paintings. The oil portrait of Capt.
Godfrey, the founder of the institution, was saved, much to
the gratification of Miss Haskell and her assistants. The
opera chairs, carpets, piano and organ in the anniversary
hall on the first floor were saved and lie stored in the
basement of the little village church opposite the ruins of
the institution. About one-third of the library of several
thousand volumes was saved and is preserved at the residence
of Mr. James Brown, of the firm of Dodd, Brown & Co., of
this city. The burning seminary was a beacon for the towns
of Jerseyville, Shipman, Alton, Godfrey and the entire
surrounding county, thus preserving its dignity as an
educational light to the last. The flickering flames from a
winter’s supply of coke still lit up the desolate walls at a
late hour tonight. The residence of Mr. Brown is but a few rods from the seminary
and caught fire several times, but was saved through the
watchfulness of the spectators.
Miss
Haskell’s Story
Miss H.
M. Haskell, the principal, was seen in the seminary cottage,
which stands about 700 feet from the fire. Her costume
illustrated most forcibly the general ruin caused by the
early morning flames. She was seated in the parlor, which
was filled with masses of blankets, all varieties of
clothing, trunks, chests, dressing cases and other articles
that had been hurriedly saved. Miss Haskell's attire was the
dress which she had hastily thrown on Sunday morning when
escaping, and a blanket was thrown about her, giving her
quite a primitive appearance. She received the Republic
representative with excuses for her appearance, stating that
she was but one of the many who were forced to adopt such
wear. Miss Haskell told the story of the fire as follows:
“Every
soul in the building had retired at 10 o’clock, and were
asleep at 11. Shortly after 1 the matron, Mrs. Pendleton,
who sleeps on the first floor in a room nearest the kitchen
department, was awakened by partial suffocation from smoke,
and springing up discovered that the northwest portion of
the building was filled with smoke. She at once awakened the
men servants and then aroused me. About the same time the
fire was discovered by a teacher sleeping on the third
floor, Miss Strachlin, who aroused the rest of the teachers.
The 425 scholars asleep on the second and third floors were
awakened by the teachers, who directed them how to escape.
Of course they were frightened badly, but behaved
splendidly, and there was no panic. There were two stairways
leading down from the upper floors, and in 20 minutes after
the first fire was first discovered everyone was out of the
building. The men, under the charge of Mr. Maxfield, went to
work to fight the fire. It had originated in the bake room,
near the oven, which had no fire in it since noon on
Saturday. A defective flue is the only explanation possible
for the origin of the fire. The kitchen is in the northwest
wing and was a frame building. The rest of the seminary
building was of stone. It was five stories high and had
sixty-four sleeping rooms. By fighting the fire with buckets
of water the flames were gotten under control, and although
the kitchen was destroyed we thought the rest of the
building was saved. Suddenly
the flames began to leap from the roof of the seminary. The
fire had communicated under the tin cornice and unperceived
until too late to be checked. We had to sit and watch the
dear old place burn. It was a curious scene. The teachers,
scholars and servants of course, had thrown on whatever
garment was nearest, and as many blankets and other bedding
had been hastily thrown out we all arrayed ourselves in
these and thus, wrapped in all sorts of parti-colored
blankets and coverlets, out in the campus, sat on trunks,
mattresses and chests until daybreak, with the flames
lighting up the scene so vividly. It was a wild picture. No
one, of course, could think of sleeping, and we talked of
the sudden awakening and escape and watched the seminary
being so swiftly destroyed before our eyes. The
citizens of Godfrey turned out in a body and were at the
scene half an hour after the fire began. They did everything
possible to aid, but it was then too late. I regret to say
that thieves, during the excitement and confusion, stole
several articles, a gold watch, jewelry and money belonging
to various scholars and teachers. This morning the citizens
of Godfrey did everything possible to alleviate our
discomfort. We all had to breakfast, of course, and
accepting the many invitations extended, were distributed
among various homes by the two seminary omnibuses, for
breakfast and dinner, afterward being gathered again at the
seminary cottage. I telegraphed at once to the parents of my
scholars and also applied by wire to the authorities of the
Chicago and Alton railroad for free transportation home for
the scholars, but receiving no response, I paid the fare of
85 pupils who went. The loss
was $150,000, the insurance $70,000, placed with Alton
agents, Dr. McKinney and Whipple & Smiley. The seminary will
be rebuilt at once and will issue a circular to all
trustees, alumni and patrons of Monticello Seminary, also to
the governors of various states, soliciting aid in
rebuilding. The seminary was the pride of several states
having large alumni associations, notably one in St. Louis
of 60 and Chicago of 240. I have received telegrams today
from all quarters and especially kind attention from the
people of Alton and Godfrey. I am sure the grand old
seminary will soon be rebuilt.” Two
frightened fathers from Duquoin, Ill., who had just alighted
from the train, were seen by the Republic reporter.
Their names were A. C. Brookings and L. B. Skinner, and
although they had been telegraphed by Miss Haskell that
everyone was saved, they were very apprehensive until met by
Mr. Maxfield at the depot and assured that their daughters
were saved. Their trip was in vain, as Miss Haskell had
already sent the two young ladies home on the afternoon
train.
A
Thrilling Experience
Otto W. Maxfield, the outside superintendent, who looks after a farm
of 120 acres belonging to the establishment, was the only
one who had a thrilling experience during the fire. He had
rushed to the third floor to save everything possible, and
sprang into a closet, when a Negro assistant, not knowing he
was there, closed the door and ran hurriedly on, also intent
on saving valuables. Maxfield found to his horror that there
was no knob on the inside. He threw himself against the
heavy door, but it refused to yield, and he shouted and
kicked against it vigorously, knowing that the flames were
approaching that room. “It was a frightful moment,” Maxfield
said, “and I was panic-stricken, but fortunately the Negro
man heard my cries and released me. He asked me how I felt
locked up in there, but just then I had neither time nor
breath to answer him, as the fire was entirely too near us.”
****************************************************
GODFREY - MONTICELLO LADIES SEMINARY FIRE
Source: New York Times,
New York, November 5, 1888
Godfrey, Ill., Nov. 4.-The
famous Monticello Seminary was destroyed by fire at 1
o’clock this morning, and 125 young ladies had a narrow
escape from a frightful death. The night was clear and cold,
and at 10 o’clock every inmate of the college was in bed or
preparing to retire. At midnight the fire broke out in the
basement, directly beneath the kitchen, and burned for a
considerable period before the danger was discovered. The
smoke ascended through the halls of the main building, and,
pouring through connecting doors into the halls of the
dormitories in both wings, aroused the girls and teachers.
By this time the fire had taken possession of the first and
second floors of the main building and was reaching out to
the wings. The teachers showed rare presence of mind at this
terrible crisis. Many of the girls were yet sleeping
soundly, unconscious of danger, though the smoke was
suffocating and the panic widespread. The women and older
girls struggled bravely through the smoke, pulling the
terrified girls out of their beds and instructing them to
leave everything and run for their lives. The stairways at
both ends of the wings were not yet in possession of the
flames, and the frightened girls, clad only in their night
clothes, rushed pell-mell into the blinding smoke and escaped
down the stairs. Some carried their clothes in their arms,
some carried souvenirs of affection in the shape of books,
birds and correspondence. All were dreadfully frightened by
the awful glare in the rear, and yet many refused to move
until assured that loving companions were safe. The girls
huddled in groups in front of the building and remained
until all the students were reported safe. They were then
distributed among the neighbors in the town of Godfrey, and
every effort was made to soothe their distress.
Before the escape of the students two servant girls, who
were sleeping in an apartment over the kitchen, jumped from
the windows and are believed to have sustained fatal
injuries. Mrs. Haskell, the principal, was almost crazed by
the casualty. As the little town of Godfrey is practically
helpless in case of fire, telegraphs were sent to Alton to
asking for engines. Meanwhile the fire had taken entire
control of the old college that has one of the most
illustrious alumnae in the United States. The building was
of stone, five stories high and 110 feet front. It was built
in 1845 by Benjamin Godfrey, its founder, and was the oldest
seat of learning of its kind in the West. Before 3 o’clock
in the morning it was in ruins. The flames swept through the
wings, chapel and all the school rooms. A fine gallery of
paintings was destroyed, and a library that was the pride of
the seminary. Valuable collections of souvenirs and gift
from the Alumnae met the same fate. The outhouses and
stables went down before the march of the fire, and the
total loss is estimated at $250,000. Most of the young
ladies lost everything except their night dresses and lives.
Money, baggage and everything of value was abandoned. They
take their loss good-naturedly, and are thankful for their
fortunate escape.
*******************************************************
GODFREY MONTICELLO SEMINARY
SCHOLARSHIP
Source: Buffalo, New York
Morning Express, October 4, 1890
Mrs. S. V. White of Brooklyn,
the wife of Deacon S. V. White of Wall Street, has presented
the Monticello Seminary of Godfrey, Ill. with $5,000 to
endow a scholarship to be named in honor of her husband.
***************************************************
GODFREY MONTICELLO SEMINARY
Source: Auburn, New York Daily
Bulletin, May 17, 1894
Several weeks ago the principal
of Monticello seminary learned that some of the students
were receiving notes and packages left at the store of John
Roberts. She therefore prohibited the young women from going
to the store. Roberts has sued the principal for $5,000
damages.
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GODFREY MONTICELLO SEMINARY
STUDENT CALMS THOSE IN PANIC AFTER TORNADO
Source: Utica, New York Saturday
Globe, May 30, 1895/1896
....At the time the Vandalia
train was blown off the track on the Merchants' Bridge, the
Chicago & Alton limited was having an even more narrow
escape on the Eads bridge. Not more than 15 seconds after
the train had passed the east span the storm came and
wrecked that very portion of the structure. Naturally the
loud crash immediately at the rear of the train frightened
the passengers, and there was a panic for several minutes.
But there was one young woman in that train who maintained
her presence of mind. She was Miss Harriett Haskett, who
attends the Monticello Seminary, at Godfrey, Ill. She
immediately set out to reassure the other passengers that
there was nothing to be frightened about. "We are safe," she
said in commanding tones, standing upon her seat, "and every
one of you should take your seats and be quiet." The cool
manner and heroic voice of the pretty young woman had its
effect, and within five minutes after the accident happened,
the car over which the young woman took command was in a
state of quiet. She was declared heroine of the day.
*************************************************
GODFREY - MONTICELLO LADIES
COLLEGE HISTORY
Source: Syracuse, New York Daily
Journal, June 24, 1897
The fifty-ninth anniversary exercises of Monticello seminary
were held last week and a class of fourteen young ladies who
have completed the four years' course received their
diplomas The school was founded In 1833 by Captain Benjamin
Godfrey, who gave the lands and erected the buildings as his
own expense, the cost being about $110,000. It is the oldest
school for the higher education of women in the West, and,
with the exception of Mount Holyoke, the oldest in the
country. It was built in a primeval forest, four miles north
of Alton, Ill., and all the material used in the
construction of the building was brought from the East. In
1888 the buildings and all their contents were destroyed by
fire, entailing a loss of $300,000. Miss Haskell, who has
been principal for thirty-one consecutive years, at once had
a temporary structure built, and the studies of the pupils
were interrupted for only two months. She then laid the
plans for a more capacious building, and in two years the
present beautiful edifice, one of the most complete and
adequate for educational purposes in the United States,
finished and dedicated. Since that time a memorial chapel
has been added, and during the present year a large annex,
four stories in height, has been finished.
****************************************************
GODFREY - C. & A. WATCHMAN SHOT BY STRANGER, RETURNS FIRE
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, April 12, 1899
The C. & A. yards at Godfrey last night was the scene of a
fatal shooting affray, in which the C. & A. watchman, Mr. H.
H. Sattgast was shot in the leg by a stranger, and the
officer in return put two bullets into the man's body, from
the effects of which he died at 5 o'clock this morning. The
affair happened at about 9:30 o'clock. The man was put off a
freight train by the conductor. He was in an intoxicated
condition, and the conductor asked Officer Sattgast to take
care of him. His hat was lost and the officer had a hard
time to keep him from falling under the train while
searching for it. Sattgast pushed him away several times,
when suddenly he started to run, and when about ten feet
away, opened fire on the officer with a 38 caliber revolver.
The bullet struck Sattgast in the left leg. Quickly drawing
his revolver he fired four shots at the form of his
assailant. Two of them took effect, one passing through the
side of the head, and the other striking him in the hip.
Both men were rendered assistance. Officer Sattgast's wound
was found not to be serious; the stranger's injuries were
fatal, and he lingered unconscious until 5 o'clock this
morning when he died. Not a scrap of paper nor anything else
was found on his person to identify him. He was well
dressed, looked like an Italian, had $21 in his pocket, and
besides the revolver carried a dirk knife strapped to his
body by a belt. The only reason given for his attack on the
officer was because of his intoxicated condition. Coroner
Bailey went to Godfrey this morning, empanelled a jury and
held an inquest on the body. A verdict of justifiable
homicide was rendered by the jury. Mr. Sattgast's
wound is not a serious one, and it is hoped he will recover
from the effects in a short time. He is a son-in-law of Mr.
C. H. Warner, of this city, and has held the position of C.
& A. watchman at Godfrey for several years. The place is a
difficult one to fill, as much trouble has been experienced
with tramps and other dangerous characters stealing goods
from box cars. The body of the dead man was brought to
Alton late this afternoon and will be buried here.
******************************************************
GODFREY MONTICELLO SEMINARY
CELEBRATION
Source: Rochester, New York
Democrat Chronicle, November 9, 1900
The students of Monticello
Seminary celebrated McKinley's election with a special
programme. The young ladies, attired in curious costumes and
carrying oddly-figured and shaped banners, held a parade on
the campus. After the parade they repaired to the Ean
Eleanor Reed chapel, and campaign addresses were made. Miss
Ruth Bryan, daughter of the Democratic nominee, delivered an
address on the silver issue.
***************************************************
GODFREY MONTICELLO SEMINARY
INSTRUCTOR
Source: Skaneateles, New York
Free Press, June 15, 1906
Miss Mabel B. Stackus, musical
instructor of Monticello Seminary, Godfrey, Ill., arrived in
town yesterday, and will spend the summer with her parents,
Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Stackus.
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GODFREY BECOMES A MULE SHIPPING POINT
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, August 30, 1911
A car load of mules was shipped from Godfrey yesterday by
Amos Jones for J. B. Forward, a mule raiser there. This is
not the first car of mules to be shipped from Godfrey or the
last, there being a great demand for these Godfrey mules. A
full car of mules - numbers about twenty-five, and they must
be well fed and fat before they will be accepted on the
market. They are taken to the East St. Louis stock yards,
where there is always a ready sale for this Godfrey mule.
For many years it has been an established idea that mules to
be mules must come from Missouri and it was printed from one
side of the world to the other that the Missouri mule made
possible the good showing of the Boers, of Africa, before
John Bull outwitted them. Hereafter, this fame of Missouri
must give away to the Godfrey mule, he is just as big, as
wise and promises to become just as famous as the Missouri
mule.
**************************************************
GODFREY - RELIC FOUND AT
MONTICELLO SEMINARY
Source: Richfield Springs, New
York Mercury, 1913/1914
A quart of corn, yellow and
perfectly preserved, was found in a glass jar in the
foundation of the old school building at Godfrey, Ill.
Workmen who were tearing down the walls got to the cap of
the jar. They worked carefully to get the jar out intact,
believing It might contain money. The corn is perfect In
color, is not shriveled or discolored and seems to be
perfectly preserved. It is believed the germ is alive,
though the corn has been in the wall 75 years to the
knowledge of living men.
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GODFREY - OLD TIME HOUSE PUTTING ON AIRS - OLD BENJAMIN
GODFREY HOME WIRED FOR ELECTRICITY
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, December 28, 1920
Will Waters of Godfrey township has just completed
installing a complete outfit of electrical apparatus and
wiring in his house to illuminate the place. To do so he had
to run the lines 2,000 feet at his own expense, to connect
with the electric line that extends from Alton to Godfrey.
The home Mr. Waters lives in was the old Godfrey home, and
was built in 1832. In another year the house will be ninety
years old, but in its youngest days it was not so
comfortable nor so well equipped as now with its hot water
heating plant and its electric lighting system installed by
the present owner, Mr. Waters. It is one of the finest, if
not the finest, country homes in Madison County, being built
of stone and finished in fine style inside.
******************************************************
GODFREY - NEW COAL MINE IS IN OPERATION ON SMITH FARM
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, November 15, 1921
Another coal mine - practically within the city limits -
will be operated this winter by James Vermillion and his
son, Arthur. They have sunk a shaft on some land known as
the "Old Smith Farm" at the northern end of Humbert street,
on what is commonly known as the Brighton road, and they
found a three foot thick vein of coal of fine quality. They
are now busy installing apparatus, erecting necessary
buildings, putting in scales, and doing other work, and
expect to begin getting out fuel for the public about
December 1st. They have engaged six coal miners, and expect
to get out 300 bushels or more of coal daily from the start.
Three hundred bushels a day is the minimum and they expect
to increase the output and their mining force steadily as
room is made for more men. The owners of the coal mine say
the probably prices for coal from the Vermillion mine will
be 15 cents a bushel at the mine; 19 cents per bushel
delivered. The Tom McNally mine on Rozier street, was opened
a few months ago, is being worked steadily, seven miners
being employed there at present. The output is being
increased right along, and the quality of the coal is being
praised by users. The McNally mine and the Vermillion mine
combined should be able to supply 1,500 or 2,000 bushels of
coal daily by the last of December, and possibly more than
that.
**************************************************
GRANITE CITY - MYSTERY SHROUDS HEADLESS BODY FOUND ON ISLAND
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, August 17, 1920
The inquest over the body of an unknown man found yesterday
on Chouteau Island near Granite City was held last night at
Granite City. The verdict of the jury was that death was due
to "an unknown cause, probably drowning." Dr. J. H. Wedig of
Granite City, who was foreman of the Coroner's jury, said
the body is that of a man. The body was in such a state that
it was almost impossible to determine if it were that of a
man or woman. Dr. Wedig said it was very difficult to tell
without a post mortem. Examination of the body showed that
the left leg had at one time been fractured and was two
inches shorter than the right. This is believed to be the
only means of identification. The body was headless. Both
hands and feet were also missing. One of the legs had been
severed at the knee. It is not known if the head, hands and
feet had been cut off, or if the long stay in the water had
caused them to fall off. The body was nude. The fact that
there were no clothes was the only ground for a theory of
murder. The body, it was believed, had been in the water
about three months, and if the body had been clothed when
thrown into the water, it is not believed the clothing would
have disappeared.
**************************************************
GRANITE CITY - FIRST BRICK BUILDING ERECTED GUTTED BY FIRE
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, February 18, 1921
A disastrous fire, originating in the basement of the Julius
Rosenberg store in Granite City this morning caused damage
to the extent of about $40,000 according to estimates made
by the owner of the store. The building is located at the
corner of 19th and State Streets, and was a landmark of the
city, since it was the first brick building to be erected in
Granite City, and is said to be worth about $75,000.
Rosenberg was on the second floor taking stock when the fire
was discovered about 8:30 this morning. His only escape down
the stairway was cut off by flames, and his rescue was
effected through the efforts of Constable Nelson, who
incidentally weighs about 250 pounds and is six feet four
inches tall. Nelson took Rosenberg from a window on the
second floor by means of a ladder. Mr. Rosenberg is a former
mayor of Granite City, and has been operating a store there
for some time. In the basement where the fire originated,
considerable china was stored in excelsior, and this is
considered responsible for the destructive flames. The loss
is said to be covered by insurance.
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HIGHLANDER TAKES THE PRIZE
Source: Syracuse, New York Daily
Courier, October 20, 1868
At the great shooting festival
at Vienna, a leading prize has been taken by a rifle man
from Highland, Ill. The Swiss rifles have proved to be by
far the best in use at the festival.
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HIGHLAND PICKLE FACTORY
Source: Syracuse, New York Daily
Standard, July 2, 1883
A pickle factory at Highland,
Ill. has contracted for over 400 acres of cucumbers with
farmers, and expects to ship about 15,000 barrels.
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HIGHLAND - HELVETIA MILK CONDENSING CO.
Source: Troy Record, August 27, 1885
The Helvetia Milk Condensing Co. is laying pipes to M. J.
Schott's artesian well, which will furnish them about 25,000
gallons of water daily. Next week work will be commenced on
an artesian well on the grounds of the company. Business is
increasing daily, and orders for 200 cases (800 dozen cans)
are ahead. Their largest shipments go to Texas and
Louisiana.
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HIGHLAND - BOILER EXPLOSION
Source: Rochester, New
York Democrat Chronicle, October 17, 1888
The boiler of a traction engine
exploded Monday evening on a farm [unreadable] north of
Highland, Ill. Christ Rafferman, the proprietor and
engineer, was instantly killed. Hugh Rice received serious
injuries. William Hansel had both legs and one arm broken.
William Arbert had one arm and one leg broken. Julius
Schneider was seriously injured on the back of the head.
*************************************************
HIGHLAND - GENERAL FRYE'S ARMY
ARRIVES
Source: Poughkeepsie, New York
Daily Eagle, April 11, 1894
Gen. Frye's industrial army, 300
in number, reached this place last evening, walking on the
railway track. They camped twenty seven miles east of the
city. The city has sent a wagon load of provisions to the
camp.
**********************************************
HIGHLAND BAKER AND CONFECTIONERY
Source: Troy Star, September 6, 1894
Adolph Kuntzmann started a restaurant, bakery and
confectionery in Highland today, and has an excellent
location. He is a hustler, and we wish him success, though
we are sorry to lose him, both as a business man and
citizen.
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ILLINOIS, HOW IT WAS BOUGHT
Source: Jersey County
Democrat, January 8, 1883
In the year 1723 the state of
Illinois was bought of ten Indian chiefs representing ten
tribes by twenty-two white men in Pennsylvania and England.
The territory was in two tracts, one called Southern
Illinois and the other the balance of the state and a
portion of Southern Wisconsin. The consideration was "200
stronds, 260 blankets, 360 shirts, 150 pairs of stroud
breach cloths, 500 pounds of gun powder, 4,000 pounds of
lead, one gross of knives, 30 pounds of vermillion, 2,000
gun flints, 200 pounds of brass kettles, 200 pounds of
tobacco, two dozen gilt looking glasses, one gross of fire
steels, 16 dozen gartering, 10,000 pounds of flour, 500 bu.
of Indian corn, 12 horses, 12 horned cattle, 20 bushels of
salt and 20 guns, the receipt whereof we do hereby
acknowledge. These articles have been paid and delivered in
full counsel." The deed was signed and executed before a
French notary public at Kaskaskia village.
*************************************************
IMMIGRATION FROM TENNESSEE
Source: Alton Telegraph,
February 22, 1862
To the Editor of the Alton
Telegraph - Within the last few days some fifteen thousand
emigrants from Tennessee have arrived in Illinois, seeking a
location in our State, perhaps to settle for life. It is
understood that these emigrants are merely a committee,
representing many thousands, who will follow them if they
will send favorable reports back. They have left their
baggage wagons south of the Ohio river, with instructions
for them to congregate at Cairo, and await further orders.
They are generally respectable in appearance. Many of them
frankly acknowledge that they prefer the old national flag
to that of the C. S. A. (Confederate State of America).
It is hoped that our people will treat them well, and that
they may prove to be worthy citizens of the (justly
denominated) Garden State.
Citizen.
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MADISON COUNTY JAIL ESCAPE
Source: Syracuse, New York Daily
Journal, December 15, 1852
All the prisoners in the Madison
County jail, Illinois, seven in number, recently made their
escape.
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MADISON COUNTY POOR FARM
Source: Alton Weekly Courier, August 3, 1854
We learn from J. Chapman, Esq., one of the County Judges,
that the County Court has completed the purchase of the farm
of Andrew Miller, Esq., near Edwardsville, for a County Farm
for the poor. The price is $4,000, the place containing
twenty acres, and the house being sufficiently large for all
immediate purposes. It has lately been put in complete
repair. We are glad the County Court has completed this
purchase. It is much better than any attempt to build, and
will be a saving of several thousand dollars to the county.
***************************************
MADISON GUARDS
Source: Alton Weekly Courier, June 10, 1858
At a meeting of the members of this Company, held in
Edwardsville on the 29th ult., an election of officers was
held, with the following result: Joseph H. Sloss, Captain;
J. G. Robinson, 1st Lieutenant; I. R. Dunnigan, 2d
Lieutenant; Joseph Newsham, 3d Lieutenant; T. J. Newsham,
Ensign; J. M. Brown, Orderly Sergeant; G. C. Lusk, 2d
Sergeant; J. A. Dunnigan 3d Sergeant; Henry Putnam, 4th
Sergeant; Henry Wilder, 1st Corporal; J. Bartlett, 2d
Corporal; J. H. Gillham, 3d Corporal; Edward Friday, 4th
Corporal. A change in uniform from the Jacket to the
Frock coat was agreed upon. Captain Sloss presented the
company with an invitation from the citizens of Edwardsville
to join them in the celebration of the next Fourth of July
in full dress uniform, which was unanimously accepted.
Several persons were received as members of the Company.
**************************************
MADISON COUNTY OLD SETTLERS MEETING
Source: Liberty Weekly Tribune, December 11, 1874
At a recent Old Settlers' meeting in Madison County, Ill.,
Hon. Joseph Gillespie said St. Louis, in 1820, contained
about 2,000 inhabitants, each of whom would winter on a
handful of hazelnuts.
***************************************
MADISON COUNTY SPELLING BEE
PRIZE - A GIRL
Source: Buffalo, New York
Evening Courier, April 18, 1875
The spelling mania is taking
queer shapes. A Madison county, Illinois, girl has offered
herself as a prize to the one of her four suitors who out
spells the other. The trial is to come off next Saturday, in
the district school house, and twenty-five cents admission
is to be charged, the money to go towards furnishing a house
for the young couple.
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MADISON COUNTY HEAT WAVE/Source: Troy Star, June 21, 1894
Editor Troy Star - Dear Sir - One of the oldest inhabitants
of this county stated today, June 18, that for fifty years
we had never had such hot and dry weather as we are having
at this time. I will state that the year 1854 surpasses this
year so far, in both respects, that from the 10th of April
to the first of July there was not even a shower of rain -
only a few drops in any portion of this county; that many
days in June the mercury was 100 in the shade; that on
Thursday, June 24th, with my family we started from Troy to
Terre Haute in the old four-horse stage coach, and the dust
in the road was from two to four or five inches deep the
entire route; that while on the cars from Terre Haute to
Baltimore several children died, being overcome by the
intense heat and dust. Yours Respectfully, Thomas H. Bell.
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MARINE - FIRE AT THE RESIDENCE OF MRS. CATHERINE BUTLER
Source: Alton Weekly Courier, November 21, 1855
Marine, IL - To the Editor, Nov. 10, 1855 - - I assume the
unpleasant task of announcing to the public the destruction
this morning by fire of the residence and outbuildings of
Mrs. Catherine Butler, widow of the late Rev. Calvin Butler,
of this vicinity. The fire originated in some unknown way,
in the dwelling house, about three o'clock this A.M., and
completely destroyed the same, with almost every article of
furniture, clothing, &c. Extending from the dwelling
to the stable, the fire consumed the latter, some three or
four hundred bushels of oats, the entire supply of hay, some
harness and farming utensils. The horses, three in number,
were forced, uninjured, from the stable. Mrs. B. and six of
her children - all then at home - escaped in their night
clothes, with no other bodily injury than a severe cut
received by the oldest daughter in the left wrist,
completely severing the radial artery. The older pair of
twins, girls, aged thirteen years, ran barefooted and in
their night clothes, a mile to the village, to obtain a
physician and arouse the inhabitants. Although bereft of a
comfortable home, and of almost every necessary just at the
commencement of winter, and thus thrown upon the attention
of friends and neighbors, the escape of the entire family
with life, enables Mrs. Butler fully to retain her usual
cheerfulness. This is a case which appeals to the liberality
of a Christian community. Signed George T. Allen
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MITCHELL - MAN SHOOTS TWO MEN, THEN KILLS HIMSELF
Source: Edwardsville Intelligencer, January 15, 1895
Louis Banker shot Phillip German and Andy Welsh and then
killed himself at Mitchell yesterday evening. William
Gillham and Louis Banker went to Michell yesterday morning.
They remained around the place all day, visited the saloons
and drank freely. Toward evening they went to the Lake Park
hotel, conducted by Fred Martin. Someone proposed to play a
game of cards and a table was made up. A quarrel ensued and
the game broke up. Gillham and Joseph Henk continued to
wrangle and a combat seemed inevitable. German interfered
when Banker stepped to one side, drew a revolver and shot at
German, the bullet entering the latter's throat. Mrs. Martin
had come into the room and begged the desperate man to
desist but this infuriated him still more and he pointed his
revolver on the woman. Andy Welsh, a helper about the place,
stepped up to defend the woman when Banker leveled the
revolver at him and fired on his second victim, the bullet
entering Welsh's arm. German, who was shot first, had
dropped and when Welsh was hit he also fell. Banker, seeing
his victims on the floor and blood flowing freely from their
wounds, presumably concluded that he killed both. He went
out on the porch and immediately another report of the
revolver was heard. Several ran out and saw Banker just as
he sank. He still grasped the revolver which was smoking.
Blood oozed from the right temple of his head. He had fired
a bullet and killed himself. The Wabash west-bound train was
drawing up to the station which is just opposite the scene
where the tragedy occurred. Coroner T. W. Kinder and
Supervisor Frank Troeckler were passengers, returning from
the board meeting here yesterday. John Vogt, knowing that
they usually returned on that train, hastened to meet them,
and excitedly told the story of the deed. Coroner Kinder and
Supervisor Troeckler went to the hotel and found evidences
of the bloody work. A jury was impanelled by the Coroner and
an inquest held. The jury consisted of M. S. Link, foreman;
Oliver Pettingill, clerk; Barney Meinerling, Martin Nagel,
Mike Noonan and Mat Marcum. The evidence of eye witnesses
was taken. The verdict of the jury is that Banker came to
his death by a shot from a 38 calibre pistol fired by his
own hand. German, the first victim, is a blacksmith at
Mitchell and is in a critical condition. Welsh, who is the
second victim, has a dangerously shattered arm.
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MONK'S MOUND OWNER DIES -
INTERESTING HISTORY RECALLED
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, Wednesday, June 28, 1899
The funeral of Hon. T. J. Ramey, the owner of the famous
Monk's or Cahokia Mound, took place today from the family
home to Collinsville. For several years Mr. Ramey, as the
agent of a number of scientific institutions, has been
digging and delving in the old mound, and the results of his
labors will soon be published. He was a great student of
Indian character, and always claimed that the Indians had
nothing to do with the great mound, or its prototypes in
Ohio. He claimed that these mounds were erected by a people
of a much higher order of intelligence, and that they were
intended for several purposes and not alone as burying
grounds, as was universally believed. He held that the
parties who constructed the big earthwork had a distinct
knowledge of geometry, as all the figures on the inside are
constructed on geometrical lines. The mound, although made
of earth, bears some resemblance to the Egyptian pyramids.
It has terraces, rooms, halls and anterooms, courts, etc.,
all of which contain relics of the times and specimens of
the handicraft of the constructors of the mound. Mr. Ramey
also proved that the mound was not built from earth taken
from the adjacent low places or hollows, but nearly all the
inside material, thousands and thousands of tons of it, was
brought from the bluffs many miles away, supposedly in
boats, the river then being several miles wide. The old
gentleman contended for years that he would have a monument
to his memory which would last longer than any gravestone
that the local artists could construct. He held that his
investigations in the mound would live in history and would
add much to the learning of the age. He also said that he
did not wish his papers published until after his death, and
then not until they had been edited by members of the
highest scientific institutions of the country. The farm
upon which the mound stands will now pass into the hands of
younger members of the family, but it is understood that
there is a clause in the will preventing a sale of the
premises until the whole inner structure of the mound is
explored. Some time ago Mr. Ramey was offered $100,000 for
the tract upon which the mound stands, but would not sell.
He said he took as much interest in the mound as anyone
else, and as he did not need the money he would not permit
it to pass into other hands. About ten years ago a
delegation from the Smithsonian Institution visited the
mound, and spent several days exploring it and taking notes
of Mr. Ramey's work. Many of the party agreed with him that
the mound was not the work of the Indians who have occupied
America since Columbus' time, while others held that it was
purely one of the bigger class of graveyards erected by the
Mound Building Indians. How this class of people could
construct perfect hexagons and other figures so
mathematically correct was not understood by any of the
party.
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MORO - WOMAN KILLED BY TRAIN
Source: The Edwardsville
Intelligencer, Edwardsville, Illinois, July 13, 1892
An accident occurred at Moro,
Friday, which cast a pall of sadness over the entire
community. Miss Alice Bivens, a popular young lady who was
living in the family of Mrs. M. B. Mitchell, who lives on
the west side of the Big Four track, west about 10 o'clock
to the east side to a garden to get some vegetables. When
she was returning, freight train No. 43, Frank Carens
conductor, was coming from the north and as she stepped on
the track the train struck her, breaking her neck and
instantly killing her. She wore a sun bonnet and a shawl,
and it is presumed, did not notice the train approach. The
train was running at a speed of 18 to 20 miles an hour, and
every effort was made to stop it when the lady was noticed,
but it was too late. Coroner Bonner held an inquest at which
the facts brought out showed that the train men were in no
wise to blame, her death being one of those sad mishaps
beyond the ken of human powers. The young lady was 24 years
old and a daughter of Dallas Bivens, of Ft. Russell, who
died in 1867. Her mother is living, and is the wife of
George Morgan, of Moro. The funeral took place Saturday, and
was largely attended. Rev. Webb, of the Baptist church, of
Bethalto, conducted services.
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MORO - FIRE DESTROYS TWO BIG BARNS ON OLD HOMESTEAD OF THE
N. S. DAY FAMILY
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, July 26, 1922
Fire destroyed two big barns and other outbuildings on the
John Hoemm place near Moro this morning. The fire broke out
with great violence shortly after midnight, and nothing
could be done to save any of the buildings. Fortunately, the
big house on the place, occupied by the family of William
Manns, was saved from destruction. The barn contained a
large amount of hay, grain and feed. The house was the old
homestead of the N. S. Day family. Included in the
destruction by fire were five straw stacks, 600 bushels of
wheat, 150 bushels of oats, all the harness for the horses
on the place, sixty loads of clover, alfalfa and timothy
hat, a large amount of machinery and small tools, a corn
crip containing 100 bushels of corn. The family were out
attending a dairymen's meeting at Moro, and got home about
11 o'clock. Everything was all right at that time. Soon
after midnight, Joseph, the 10 year old son of Mr. and Mrs.
Manns, was awakened by the sound of the crackling of the
flames and the glare of the light from the burning barn. He
gave the alarm and roused the other members of the family.
His father rushed and saved one wagon out of a shed that
stood between the barn and the house. That was all that was
saved out of the shed. The family have a telephone, and they
called John Gueldner, who was the first one to answer the
telephone call. Mrs. Gueldner called everybody on the line,
about 25 families, and in 25 minutes there were fully 75
people on the ground all ready to help, but the fire gained
too fast for them to do much good. A barrier of high green
trees separated the house from the burning. The trees caught
fire, but they protected the house from the worst of the
heat and to this fact is attributed the saving of the farm
home. Mr. Manns had not been carrying any insurance, but not
long ago he took out a policy for $1,100 on his personal
property in the Northwest Mutual Fire Insurance Association.
Mr. Hoemm carried $800 on the buildings destroyed. The
insurance will not near cover the loss. The farm was being
operated on shares and part of the destroyed contents of the
barn belonged to Mr. Hoemm. The lease arrangement called for
part cash and part in crops. Yesterday Mr. Hoemm,
recognizing the smallness of the crop, had made a present to
Mr. Manns of half the cash rent, rebating it to him. This
afternoon a mass meeting of the residents in that
neighborhood was held for the purpose of making presents to
Mr. Manns of articles he will need to continue farming, as
their way of showing their sympathy for an unfortunate
neighbor.
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NAMEOKI - FATAL RAILROAD ACCIDENT
Source: Alton Weekly Courier,
November 5, 1857
A passenger informs the Missouri
Democrat that when the cars coming west reached a point one
mile this side of Nameoki, about eleven o'clock on Tuesday,
the engineer observed a man lying on the track at a short
curve, and immediately reversed the engine and caused the
brakes to be put down, but too late to prevent a fatal
accident. The cars ran over the body which proved to be that
of an Irishman, who is supposed to have laid himself down on
that perilous spot while intoxicated. The fragments of a
bottle, smelling of liquor, were discovered, mixed up with
the terribly mutilated remains of the unfortunate man.
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NAMEOKI - WABASH TRAIN HELD UP BY FIFTEEN MASKED MEN
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, February 5, 1920
Fifteen masked men this morning held up Wabash passenger
train number 6, two miles south of Nameoki, and secured $500
in cash and valuable jewelry from the passengers. The masked
men had six automobiles waiting for them and after securing
their loot dashed off. It is believed they came in the
direction of Alton. According to information obtained today
at Nameoki, the men first held up freight train 91 of the
Wabash. The watches and money of the crew were taken, and
the crew were forced to extinguish all lights on the train.
This was at 4:10 a.m. It was shortly afterward that the fast
passenger, number 6, one of the Wabash's finest trains on
this division, came through Nameoki. The train was stopped
and the passengers searched. According to reports about $500
in cash was taken from the passengers, in addition to
jewelry and other valuables, the value of which was not
learned.
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NORTH ALTON - A NEW COAL SHAFT
Source: Alton Daily Telegraph,
April 11, 1893
Yesterday morning Messrs. John
Molloy and Samuel Ball, commenced work on the new shaft at
North Alton. They got down some 15 or 16 feet by evening and
will push the work until they find the "lost vein," or its
twin brother. Both of the men engaged in the enterprise are
experienced miners, know how to proceed in order to make
every move a movement of progress, and their past success in
locating veins warrant the confidence their friends feel in
ultimate victory now. The shaft is being sunk on the land of
A. T. Hawley, just off Elm street, and to the left of the
Presbyterian mission. Coal has been found and mined
successfully all around the new prospect hole, and the
projectors of the hunt depend on striking the "black
diamonds" in paying quantities at a distance of 90 or 100
feet. The Telegraph wishes the gentlemen every possible
success in their undertaking. The "lost vein" is there: of
this there can be no doubt: may it soon be advertised in the
"Found" columns of all the papers.
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NORTH
ALTON - STATE STREET [TROLLEY] CAR LINE
Source: Alton
Telegraph, April 28, 1896
Work on the North Alton electric
line is being pushed vigorously by President Porter. The men
who struck are still working peaceably enough and are making
rapid progress with the work. To comply with the terms upon
which the bonus is given, the line must be in operation on
the first day of June. The completion of the road on time
will require fast work, but it is thought that cars will be
running by the specified time. President Porter stated
yesterday every rail will be spiked on the entire line to
Fourth street by Saturday night. Mr. Porter also stated that
nothing had been done in regard to changing the route from
Third and Piasa street, and that he expected to go along
with the work on that route. A force of men began setting
the poles on Third street this morning for the trolley wire.
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PRAIRIETOWN -
EPIDEMIC
Source:
Alton Telegraph, Thursday, March 25, 1897
Dr. L. C. Taylor,
who was sent by the State Board of Health to investigate and
report upon the outbreak of pneumonia at Prairietown, this
county, which has resulted in numerous deaths, has made his
report to Secretary Scott. The infected district was about
six miles square, with Prairietown as the center. Dr. Taylor
states that the clinical history of the cases which caused
the alarm is that of an extremely severe and fatal type of
croupous pneumonia, associated with the peculiar matter
attributed to la grippe. Several cases presented the
attitude of direct contagion. From 50 to 60 cases were
treated during the scare, most all being accompanied by
distinct chills. Many deaths occurred during the past month,
some dying within 48 hours after being stricken. Very few
children died. Dr. Taylor concludes his report classifying
the disease as an epidemic of croupous pneumonia.
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ROXANA
Source:
Utica, New York Herald Dispatch, May 5, 1908
Benbow
City, the first town which has grown up around the Standard
Oil Company's new refinery, eight miles south of Alton,
Ill., began its corporate existence as a village, Monday,
with eighteen registered voters and twenty-three saloons.
Within the corporate limits there are 300 persons. So there
is one saloon for each thirteen inhabitants. In addition to
the twenty-three saloons, there are seven brewery agencies,
and each have $500 a year licenses. Payments for the
licenses have already been made, and the little village
starts out with a $15,000 nest egg. It will probably not
vote against license for some time.
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ROXANA - MAN IS KILLED, SEVERAL
HURT IN ROXANA BLAST
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph,
December 6, 1921
A blast of fire which accompanied
an explosion in a new department of the Roxana Petroleum Co.
refinery at Roxana, last night at 6:20 o'clock, caused the
death of one man and the burning of four others, who were
taken to St. Joseph's hospital for treatment. Other men
suffered minor burns. The new still which blew up was
wrecked. The dead man, H. C. Prochazka, of Milwaukee, a few
days before had come to take employment in the place. He was
32 years old. His body was frightfully broken by the
explosion, as well as burned by the flame and oil. The more
seriously injured were J. S. Miller of Upper Alton; C. P.
Dubbs, president of the Universal Oil Products Co., L. E.
Nackus and T. L. Harvic, also of the same company. The
explosion occurred in a new high pressure still in which a
patented process of refining gasoline is done. The Universal
Oil Products Co. has the patent rights on the process and
had interested the Roxana company in trying it at their
plant. For more than six months the Universal company has
had a force of employees there building the still and it has
been in operation. It was being given its final test last
night when the explosion occurred that wrecked the still and
caused the injury of perhaps a dozen people and the killing
of one. Standing around the still at the time of the
accident were about two dozen men. The test seemed to be
progressing satisfactorily when, without any apparent
warning, there was a blast, and burning oil and gas flames
were blown about while fragments of the still went in all
directions. Fortunately the still was remote from any other
property and no damage was done except to it. The still had
a large capacity and there was a large amount of oil in it
when the explosion occurred. One story had it that hot oil
was being drawn off and cold oil was being admitted rapidly
to the still and some attributed the explosion to that fact.
The process was being watched intently by the men connected
with the company which had set up the still, which was known
as the Dubbs plant, being named for the inventory, Mr. Dubbs,
who was one of the men burned. Prochazka was closer in than
the others which accounted for the fatal effects of the
explosion in his case. Aside from the four men who were
hurried to St. Joseph's hospital, there were perhaps three
others who were badly burned and others who had minor burns
or whose hair was singed by the blast. Mr. Dubbs departed
for Chicago on the 10 o'clock train to get into a hospital
there. He wished to reach his wife before she would be
informed of the accident, but it is doubtful that he
succeeded in reaching home before she learned of it. The
three other men remained in the hospital at Alton for
treatment. It was said today that the new still had not been
accepted by the Roxana Company. Deputy Coroner Streeper took
charge of the body of the dead man and will hold an inquest.
The body of the victim of the explosion will be shipped to
Milwaukee tonight. The inquest will be deferred until the
other men injured by the explosion are able to testify.
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SCALPED, HOW IT FEELS
Source: Jersey County
Democrat, November 8, 1867/as printed in the Springfield
Republican
William Thompson, a telegraph
repairer along the line of the Pacific railroad, has had a
novel experience. He has been scalped by the Indians, and
yet lives to tell the tale. He lost his hair just before the
capture of the train at Plum Creek Station, recently
reported, and this is the story he tells to the wondering
citizens of Omaha, where he now is: About
nine o'clock Tuesday night, myself and five others left Plum
Creek Station, and started up the track on a handcar to hunt
up where the break in the telegraph was. When we came to
where the break proved to be, we saw a lot of the ties piled
upon the track, but at the same moment Indians jumped up
from the grass all around and fired upon us. We fire two or
three shots in return, and then, as the Indians pressed on
us, we ran away. An Indian on a pony singled me out and
galloped up to me. After coming to within ten feet of me, he
fired, the bullet entering my right arm. Seeing me still
run, he "clubbed his rifle," and knocked me down. He then
took out his knife, stabbed me in the neck, and then making
a twirl around his fingers with my hair, he commenced sawing
and hacking away at my scalp. Though the pain was awful, and
I felt dizzy and sick, I knew enough to keep quiet. After
what seemed to be half an hour, he gave me the last
finishing cut to the scalp on my temple, and as it still
hung a little, he gave it a jerk. I just thought then that I
could have screamed my life out. I can't describe it to you.
I just felt as if the whole head was taken right off. The
Indian then mounted and galloped away, but as he went he
dropped my scalp within a few feet of me, which I managed to
get and hide. The Indians were thick in the vicinity, or I
might then have made my escape. While lying down, I could
hear the Indians moving around whispering to each other, and
shortly after placing obstructions on the track. After lying
down about an hour and a half, I heard the low rumbling of
the train as it come tearing along, and I might have been
able to flag it off, had I dared.
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ST. JACOB
- FRYE'S ARMY IN A SAD PLIGHT
Source: Syracuse, New York Daily
Standard, April 10, 1894
St, Louis. April 9.—With rain
coming down in torrents and a cold raw wind whistling
through their improvised storm houses, Gen. Frye and his
discouraged army have sat and shivered around their
campfires at St. Jacobs, Ill.. 25 miles east of here, for
the past 24 hours. The men are scantily clad and as the last
few days have been cold and stormy, many of them have
contracted severe colds. Others are suffering from diarrhea
and kindred ailments, due to rapid changes in food, water
and climate. Owing to the isolated condition of the army, it
is almost impossible to secure medical attention and the
sufferers are dependent upon the charity and care of the
people in the neighborhood. The men have become quarrelsome
and mutinous and dozens of them are hourly deserting the
camp. When the army went into quarters Sunday night it
numbered 678. This morning's roll call showed only 407
present.
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TROY - STABBING
Source: Syracuse, New York Daily
Standard, November 17, 1884
William Vanderburg stabbed and
killed Michael Gibbons, in a political altercation on Friday
night. He was captured yesterday.
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TROY CIGAR FACTORY
Source: Troy Star, June 21, 1894
I desire to announce through the Star that I have opened a
cigar factory in Troy, and will make only first-class
cigars. I have competent union workmen, and the tobacco with
which I manufacture my cigars is of the best quality. I will
not retail cigars myself, but sell only to dealers. Hoping
you will call on your grocer or other dealers and try my
manufacture. I remain Very Respectfully, Adolph Buscher.
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TROY - BANK ROBBERY
Source: Syracuse, New York
Evening Herald, November 25, 1899
The Troy Exchange bank at Troy,
Ill., eight miles from St. Louis, was wrecked by safe
blowers. about 2:e0 A. M. and everything of value that was
in the bank was taken. The robbers secured between $3,000
and $5,000 in cash and a large amount of bonds and other
securities and escaped.
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TROY TRAIN WRECK
Source: Buffalo, New York
Morning Express, May 25, 1890
A terrible railroad accident is
reported on the Vandalia line near Troy Ill. Trains with
help and physicians have been sent to the scene of the
accident. Reports are very meager. The railroad officials
acknowledge there will be no train in over the road before
noon tomorrow. 12.45 A. M.—It is now reported that six or
seven passengers were killed. It is impossible at this time
to get anything definite.
Source: Rochester, New York
Democrat Chronicle, May 26, 1890
On the Vandalia railroad today
a, fast freight train, laden with cattle collided with a
local freight. Both engines and a dozen freight cars were
demolished. William Butler, a brakeman, was killed and
horribly mangled. Five others were injured.
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TROY - HORSE ACCIDENT
Source: Troy Star, September 13, 1894
Henry Ritcher, a son of Aug. Ritcher, intended to take a
drive out on the Marine road Sunday morning, but as he was
driving west on Market street his horse became unmanageable
and he decided to turn to the right on the St. Jacob road. A
high rail fence around the Zenk pasture at this corner
completely shuts off the view of the St. Jacob road. As he
turned this corner trying to hold his horse, he collided
with Jac. Hoenig's team, Mr. Hoenig and family being on
their way to church. One of the latter's horses was
instantly killed by the collision, the shaft of Ritcher's
wagon entering its breast. Mr. Ritcher immediately offered
$50 to make good Mr. Hoenig's loss, but the latter refused,
saying he wanted $65. It is the general opinion that Mr.
Hoenig is acting unwisely in the matter. In the first place,
it was not entirely Mr. Ritcher's fault, and $50 cash will
buy a first-class horse these days. It would be a good idea
if the street committee of this city would look into the
matter, as this place of accident has a very short turn;
with the high fence lowered the danger would be nine-tenths
less.
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TROY - OLD BUILDING TO BE TORN DOWN
Source: Troy Star,
September 20, 1894
The old frame building between the Commercial hotel and M.
F. Auwarter's store has been purchased of the latter by John
C. Gebauer, who is tearing it down for the use of the
lumber, which, despite its old age, is still in first-class
condition. This is one of the oldest buildings in the city.
It was built in 1838 by John Brede, and has done good
service ever since. Mr. Auwarter will immediately erect a
one-story brick business building on the site. One by one
the old buildings are giving way to new and better ones.
Boom 'er up, an investment in Troy real estate is a "sure
thing."
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TROY - CATHOLIC CHURCH CORNERSTONE LAYING
Source: Troy Star, November 22, 1894
The cornerstone of the new Catholic church, now in process
of erection, will be laid on Thanksgiving day - next
Thursday. The ceremonies will be opened at 2 o'clock in the
afternoon. Revs. Aug. Schlegel, of Edwardsville, and J.
Meckel, of Highland, will deliver appropriate sermons.
Solemnity will be added to the occasion by the splendid
music, which will be furnished by the celebrated Black Jack
brass band. Everybody is invited to attend the celebration.
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TROY CEMETERY ASSOCIATION HOLDS MEMORIAL SERVICES
Source: Weekly Call, May 23, 1895
The Troy Cemetery Association will hold memorial services
Saturday, June 1st, at 2 o'clock in the Presbyterian church.
Gen. Benj. P. Runkle of Ohio will deliver the principal
address, with short addresses by the pastors of the
different churches. Music suitable and familiar will be
selected. A cordial invitation is extended to all to come
and join in with the association in making this our first
memorial exercises a success. The church will be open from 9
to 11 o'clock Saturday morning, June 1st. All friends are
requested to contribute flowers and send them to the church
in the morning of the above named day. A committee will be
at the church to receive the flowers. After the exercises in
the church, the friends will march to the cemetery and
engage in the beautiful and impressive service of decorating
the graves of the fallen brave. There are 25 or 30 graves of
soldiers in the Troy cemetery who fought in the Black Hawk,
Maxican and Civil wars. These graves on Decoration Day will
be designated by a small American flag, and a paper
containing the name of the soldier and the war in which he
fought.
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TROY - OLD SPANISH COIN FOUND IN BLACKJACK COMMUNITY
Source: Troy Call, January 1, 1900
Otto Bress, while shucking corn last week in a field near
the residence of John M. Riebold in the Blackjack community,
found an old Spanish silver coin which is 113 years old. It
is about the size of a half dollar and in a fairly good
state of preservation. On one side is the bust of a man and
the words "Carolius IIII, Dei Gratia, 1805," and on the
other "Hispan Et. Ind. Rex. 2R. F. J." and a coat of arms.
No one seems to know the value of the coin. The history of
how it got where found and how long it has lain there would
doubtless be interesting.
**********************************************************
TURTLE FOUND FROM 1820
Source: The Otsego Farmer,
Cooperstown, New York, September 10, 1887
A mud turtle with "1820" burned
on its back was recently found in Horse Creek, Madison
County, Illinois.
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UPPER ALTON LYCEUM
Source:
The Library of Congress, Rare
Book and Special Collections Division, Advertisement,
February 8, 1839
Notice: At the next regular meeting of the Upper Alton
Lyceum, to be held on Tuesday evening, February 11, at the
Seminary Hall, the following question, by order of the
Society, will come up for debate: "Has Congress power to
abolish Slavery in the District of Columbia, without the
consent of the inhabitants thereof?" Gentlemen and ladies
are respectfully invited to attend. M. H. Abbott, Sec. pro
tem. Upper Alton, February 8, 1839.
*****************************************
UPPER ALTON PASTURE AVAILABLE
Source:
The Library of Congress, Rare
Book and Special Collections Division, Advertisement, 1840?
Attention!! Whigs! Democrats!! and Conservatives!!! All who
want to put their horses in a good English grass pasture,
can be accommodated by applying to the subscriber in Upper
Alton; or to James Strong at the Buck Inn, near where the
pasture is situated. There is first rate feed, and a stream
of pure water running through the lot. N. B. - There has
been nothing pastured on the lot this season; and the lot
contains 40 acres. The fence is good - and great care will
be taken to prevent escapes and accidents, but will not be
responsible for either. Price per week, 37 cents; or $1.50
per month - payable when taken out.
L. S. Wells.
********************************************
UPPER ALTON - LOST POCKET BOOK
Source:
The Library of Congress, Rare
Book and Special Collections Division, Advertisement, ,
April 17, 1840
Notice!! Taken from the subscriber on the night of April
16th at Nutter's Tavern, in Upper Alton, a calfskin pocket
book, containing various notes and receipts, but no money,
to wit: A receipt given by J. H. Randle, J. P., for notes
left with him for collection; one given by Julius L.
Barnsback, J. P., for the same purpose; one given by Thomas
Rattan, J. P., for the same object; one on Lott, J. P., for
the like purpose; and one on Isom Cranfield, J. P., for the
same: all in favor of C. N. Henderson, except that of
Cranfield, which is given in favor of the undersigned. Also,
a note on Samuel Sanner for $128; one on John Irvine for 27
or $29; and one on C. N. Henderson, payable to William H.
Hungerford, for $403.30; and various other small notes and
other papers not recollected. The above named Justices are
hereby notified not to pay any money on their respective
receipts; as also those persons whose notes are here
mentioned, to disregard any holder of them until further
orders, as they have never been assigned; and that they were
feloniously taken from my possession. Any person finding
said pocket book, who will leave the same, with the
contents, in the hands of J. H. Randle, Esq. in Upper Alton,
shall be suitably rewarded. William H. Hungerford,
April 17, 1840.
***********************************************
UPPER ALTON - RELIGIOUS NOTICE
Source: The Library of Congress, Rare Book and Special
Collections Division, Advertisement, March 27, 1841
Rev. A. Chandler will preach at the brick school house, in
Upper Alton, on Saturday evening, March 27th, 1841, at half
past 6 o'clock. Also, at half past 2 o'clock p.m. on Sunday,
the 28th instant, at the same place, he will reply to a
discourse to be delivered in the forenoon, at the Baptist
Church, Upper Alton, against Universal Salvation. Also, he
will preach at the above place, on Sabbath evening next, at
candlelighting. March 27, 1841
***********************************************
UPPER ALTON - WOOL CARDING
Source: The Library of Congress, Rare Book and Special
Collections Division, Advertisement, April 1841
Farmers - - - Look Here. Wool Carding! The undersigned
wishes to inform the public in general, that he is now
establishing himself in the above business, in the town of
Upper Alton, And will, in a few weeks, be ready to
manufacture wool into rolls. From his long experience,
having his machines in complete order, clothed with a set of
the best quality of Eastern Cards, together with his paying
strict attention to the business, he hopes to merit and
receive a liberal share of public patronage. He warrants all
work intrusted to his care, to be done with neatness and
dispatch, and equal to any in the western country, or no
charge. Persons from a considerable distance, by staying
over night, may depend on having their rolls home with them.
The wool must be well washed, and picked clean of burs and
trash, with one pound of clean grease with every seven
pounds of wool. Being a stranger, and wishing to establish
himself permanently, he solicits the farmers generally to
call and see his work before going farther. His prices will
be reasonable, and terms good. April, 1841. J. A.
Montgomery.
***********************************************
UPPER ALTON PLANKROAD MEETING
Source: Alton Weekly Courier, June 4, 1852
We are glad to see that Upper Alton is up and doing. From
all we can learn the road labor has never been of that
advantage which its normal amount would lead the public to
expect. The gentlemen who have been appointed to act for the
citizens in that matter are energetic and practical business
men, and we hope soon to be able to announce that the
building of Plank Roads leading to Upper Alton, is in
successful progress. Would it not be well for our citizens
to turn their attention to building a Plank Road from this
city [Alton] to Upper Alton (who will be the first to move
in the matter)?
*******************************************
UPPER ALTON MASONIC CELEBRATION
Source: Alton Weekly Courier, July 2, 1852
The customary anniversary of "St. John" was observed
yesterday by the Masonic Society of Upper Alton, and many
members of the Order, as invited guests, from this city
[Alton]. A procession was formed at the Masonic Hall,
numbering over 150 persons, and preceded by a band of music,
marched to the Methodist church to listen to an address by
Rev. W. F. Boyakin of Carrollton. We wish we had more room
to enlarge upon the Address, than we have at this time. It
was a complete thing, throughout. Many strong points were
made in it, that were new and novel; so much so that we made
a minute of them, but time and space forbid their
publication (Oh! this publishing a morning paper, when all
our best copy comes in at sundown!). His illustrations and
anecdotes were very interesting and entertaining, and the
historical knowledge evinced by the Orator, in making so
good a case for the order, as regards its origin, its great
age, and its usefulness in the past, was most commendable.
We have since learned that a move has been made, that this
Address shall be printed. We hope, considering it as a fine
literary and historical production, that the information is
correct. After the Address, the procession formed, of
members of the Order, ladies, and invited guests, and
marched to an adjacent grove, where an elegant repast was in
waiting. We are informed that over 300 persons sat down to
the tables, and that everything passed off harmoniously and
to the satisfaction of all.
*********************************************
UPPER ALTON - A GRAND HUNT
Source: Alton Weekly Courier, October 14, 1853
We notice in Saturday's Telegraph an account of the Annual
Hunt, of the sportsmen of Upper Alton, which took place last
Thursday. Two parties were organized of twenty-five hunters
each, and the defeated party was to give a barbecue and ball
to the victors - one party commanded by Capt. Stocker, the
other by Capt. Carr. Capt. Stocker's company was victorious,
their game counting 730; while Capt. Carr's company only
counted 536. It is proper to state, however, that several
who were chosen on the latter side did not attend. The
barbecue and ball took place last Friday, and went off in
good style.
************************************************
UPPER ALTON - SHURTLEFF COLLEGE BUILDING COMPLETED
Source: The New York Times, December 24, 1853
The new College buildings at Upper Alton, Ill., are now
completed, and ready for use. The 29th inst. has been
appointed for a general gathering of the friends of this
institution, on the occasion of the opening of the rooms for
congratulatory and dedicatory services.
*******************************************
UPPER ALTON - HORSE STOLEN FROM DR. JOHN JAMES
Source: Alton Weekly Courier, April 13, 1854
A horse and valuable quilted Spanish saddle were stolen from
the stable of Dr. John James, of Upper Alton, on Thursday
night. The villains take advantage of the absence of
officers, who are attending Court, as they have a better
chance to get the start. They are evidently masters of the
art, as none but those hardened in crime could exercise so
much apparent forethought. We say they, because other horses
have recently been stolen from this vicinity, and the
thieves have made good their escape. An organized gang is
probably operating among us, and we would recommend
organized efforts to detect them.
*********************************************
UPPER ALTON SICKNESS
Source: Alton Weekly Courier, August 24, 1854
Several sudden deaths have occurred at Upper Alton within
the past few days. We have reason to believe that some of
the deaths were from cholera. The family of Robert Dunlap,
Esq., has been deeply afflicted. First the wife and mother
died; next a nephew residing in the family; next a child;
and next a young lady who had a home with them. Another
child was quite low yestereday, and the father has been
seriously sick. Four deaths in one family, in less than a
week, is a fearful mortality. Such times as these are a
severe test of the friendship of relatives and neighbors,
and those who shrink not from the calls of humanity under
such circumstances may be counted as friends indeed.
*********************************************
UPPER
ALTON - ELOPEMENT AND SHOOTING
Source: Syracuse, New York Daily
Courier, December 1, 1857
The Alton, Ill., Democrat gives
an account of an elopement at Upper Alton, which terminated
rather seriously. A young man (name not given,) from
northern Illinois, won the heart of a young lady by the name
of Carter, in that city, against the will of her friends.
She got into the buggy, and they were driving away to the
nearest magistrate, when the father started in pursuit on
horseback, and soon overtook the couple. The young lady
jumped out. The father leveled a. shooting iron at the young
man, who raised his foot and arm to shield his face. The
contents of the gun or pistol passed through the foot into
the wrist, and a part of the loading entered the right eye
of the young man, below the pupil. A shot passed to the
depth of a couple of inches and has not yet been removed. No
legal steps have been taken in the matter, and the young man
refuses to arrest the old gentleman.
*************************************************
UPPER ALTON - HORSE RAILROAD
Source: Alton Telegraph, December 13, 1867
We this morning took our first trip to Upper Alton on the
far-famed streetcars. As we rolled rapidly along we entirely
forgot that Alton was a city of only some 15,000
inhabitants, and imagined that it had attained the colossal
proportions of its sister city St. Louis - so metropolitan
appearance was given to every thing from a real street car.
The road-bed is as yet somewhat rough, but is daily becoming
smoother and more settled. At Upper Alton station there is a
side switch to enable cars to pass each other. The long hill
at this point, which many supposed would be an almost
insurmountable obstacle to the building of the road, is
ascended without difficulty - and without the need of an
extra horse. The cars stop at Hewit's store, but the track
is being laid to the Post Office, which will be the terminus
of the road. We advise any person who is skeptical in regard
to the success of this road to take a trip to our
neighboring town, and he will be convinced of his mistake.
Two cars have been running all day. On our up-trip, the car
was only comfortably full, but on returning there was hardly
standing room for the passengers - there being about
forty-five persons aboard. We learn that on one trip
fifty-two persons were carried. The Upper Altonians have an
abiding faith in the road, and are sustaining it nobly. It
is certain to have an iportant influence in increasing the
prosperity of both places. It needs only a hasty survey of
the place to discern the rapid stride Upper Alton is making
in wealth and importance. During the past year a great
number of buildings have been erected - many of them being
handsome and substantial edifices. The whole aspect of the
place, indeed, is that of growth and prosperity. There was a
large number of teams on the streets, and the merchants
seemed to be doing a prosperous business, as doubtless is
the case. Since the opening of the year, College Avenue has
undergone quite a transformation - several new buildings
having been erected upon it. The completion of the street
railway has undoubtedly had much to do with this impetus to
the growth ..... [unreadable] ...largely increased value of
its property.
***********************************************
UPPER ALTON NEWS
Source: Alton Telegraph, Thursday, November 8, 1877
The report of principals of Upper Alton public schools, for
the month ending October 31, makes a good showing. The
enrollment, Oct. 1, was 245. Number now belonging, 290.
Average daily attendance for past month, 225 - a marked
increase over September. The college literary societies are
doing good work this year. Last evening an excellent
programme was presented by the Alpha Zeta Society. The hall
of the Sigma Phi Society is undergoing repairs, and no
literary meeting was held by them last night. Mr. Das. R.
Kendall was, last night, elected President of the latter
society, and Mr. Amos Marshall, Vice President. Mr. Mark
Dickson, agent for C. B. & Q. railroad, at this place, on
Wednesday evening was married to Miss Mamie, daughter of
Oliver B. Ground of Madison Mills, Bozzatown. Welcome Mark!
*************************************************
UPPER ALTON - TROUBLE FOR CONDUCTOR MAXEY
Source: Alton Telegraph, November 21, 1878
A man from North Alton named Motley, yesterday boarded
Conductor Maxey's car at Bozzatown, and being considerably
the worse for whisky, he caused serious annoyance to the
passengers by repeated and disgusting profanity. The gentle
words of the conductor availing nothing, he spoke with more
authority and, in the event of a repetition of the insult to
the ladies present, announced that he would have to abate
the nuisance by putting Mr. Motley off the car. The only
effect of his words being a renewed and more offensive flow
of oaths, the obstreperous passenger found himself landed
without the car. This aroused the belligerent spirit of the
man and he commenced a target practice on the conductor with
McAdam stones. As this proceeding was endangering the lives
of his passengers, Mr. Maxey promptly gathered a piece of
chain, hanging on the platform, and "went for" the man,
inflicting several serious wounds, but effectually silencing
him. The car passed on, the man crawled into a passing wagon
and went to Upper Alton where his wounds were dressed by Dr.
Yerkes and medicine (purchased by Maxey) was administered
and he was sent home. The universally testimony of the
passengers was to the effect that the action of the
conductor was perfectly justifiable since he was really
dealing, not with the man, but with the demons that had
possession of him. Orville Y. Lowe was also victimized last
evening by whisky. He came up from Alton perfectly crazy
with liquor, and ere the delirium had passed off, he visited
the Fisharty house and caused serious damage by breaking
windows and sash, even shooting through the windows with his
revolver. A warrant was sworn out against him, but the young
man had left town. It is a specially sad affair as the youth
is not habitually intemperate.
******************************************************
UPPER ALTON - SHOOTING
Source: Syracuse, New York Daily
Courier, February 21, 1895
A shooting affray occurred last
night on the main street in Upper Alton. Charley Nevlin and
"Dode" Daily were standing in front of the post office, and,
it is alleged, made an insulting remark to Miss Nixon, a
respectable young woman, as she passed. She told her
brother, John, who returned to resent the affront, but was
met by a shower of stones, being severely injured about the
head. He drew a revolver and shot both Nevlin and Daily,
inflicting wounds that are believed to be fatal. Nixon
surrendered to the police.
*****************************************************
UPPER ALTON POSTMASTER MISSING
Source: The New York Times, December 1, 1897
No word has been received from W. L. Gillham, the missing
Postmaster of Upper Alton. The United States authorities
today took possession of the Post Office through his
bondsmen, who have instructions to withhold the books from
him should he return. Members of his family express the
utmost confidence that Gillham's affairs, both in the office
and in his private business, will be found perfectly
straight. They profess to have little fear lest he will
return and explain, but the fact that he has sent no word
since the matter has been published broadcast, where it must
have met his eyes, if alive, is in itself alarming. There
are rumors abroad that tend to reflect upon his character
and temperament, but these are so utterly at variance with
his previous life and habits that they are given no
credence, and the theory of foul play seems the most
tenable.
*********************************************************
UPPER
ALTON DUEL TO THE DEATH
Source: Utica New York Weekly
Herald, December 28, 1897
Mack Clayton and Jefferson
Parks, both of Upper Alton, fought a duel to the death at
the latter's home last evening over a woman. Clayton used a
pistol and Parks a
knife. Both will die. Two years ago Parks ran away with
Clayton's wife. The men quarreled about this for a year, and
Parks finally compromised this difference by paying Clayton
$10. A quarrel over this sale of Clayton's wife caused
yesterday's killing.
*******************************************************
UPPER ALTON - SOCIAL EVENT AT MILITARY ACADEMY
Source: The Alton Telegraph, Saturday, February 11, 1899
The Western Military Academy was the scene of a brilliant
social event Friday evening which eclipses all other social
events in the history of the academy. It was a banquet and
reception tendered by Col. and Mrs. A. M. Jackson to the
cadets and graduates of the institution and their friends.
No expense or trouble was spared by the host and hostess to
make the event one altogether worthy of the institution and
in keeping with the prosperity of the school. Some time ago,
Col. Jackson promised the boys a handsome treat when the
enrollment reached 80 cadets, and true to the promise,
preparations for the reception were begun when the goal was
reached. There were present a hundred guests from the Altons
and St. Louis, who with the cadets and officers, made a
brilliant company. During the reception from 8 to 9 o'clock
the parlors presented a most attractive appearance, gaily
decorated in the academy colors and thronged with
beautifully dressed girls and cadets in full dress uniform.
Promptly at 9 o'clock, the company was summoned to the
dining rooms. Here the brown and gold had again been used
with charming effect. Ropes of evergreen intertwined with
colors were festooned across the rooms, and dainty yellow
shades diffused the light over the well appointed tables.
The banquet was one of many courses, and elegant in every
detail. For two hours the dining rooms were filled with the
merry hum of voices and laughter. One of the pleasant
features was the music, discoursed throughout the evening,
by the St. Louis Philharmonic Quartette. After the banquet,
the young people danced in the gymnasium, which was prettily
draped in the national colors. Much taste had also been
displayed in several handsome military decorations of guns,
swords and sheaths on the walls. The evening passed and the
hour for the home-going came all too quickly. The guests
were loath to end an evening which had furnished such
delightful entertainment, and departed reluctantly,
showering Col. Jackson and his faculty with congratulations
on their successful management of the school, and on the
event which had so fittingly celebrated it. Among
those present from abroad were: Mrs. W. F. Parkerson and
daughter, the Misses Carroll, F. W. Shapleigh, R. H. Green,
Mrs. Major Morgan and daughter, Mrs. R. W. Green and
daughter, E. R. Handlan, F. H. Humphrey, R. G. Hager, Miss
Brubaker, Miss Markell, Mrs. Pauline Hill and Miss Hill,
Chas. F. Jones, wife and three daughters, of St. Louis; R.
H. Handlan, of Terre Haute.
*******************************************************
UPPER ALTON - STONE DAM AT ROCK SPRING PARK
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, May 10, 1899
The new stone dam at Rock Spring Park to continue water in
the lake there, is almost complete. A heavy wall that will
not wash away is being built and a fine body of water will
be continued in the hollow to form a lake.
****************************************************
UPPER ALTON - DRAM SHOPKEEPER SOLD LIQUOR TO SCHOOL BOYS
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, May 17, 1899
James Logsden, a saloonkeeper who has a saloon near the C.
B. & Q. station east of Upper Alton, was arrested on a
warrant sworn out by Col. A. M. Jackson of Western Military
Academy, charging him with selling liquor to minors. The
case was originally set for trial next Monday, but through a
mistake as to the date, the plaintiff and defendant with
their lawyers and witnesses appeared at the council room
this morning. The case was dismissed at plaintiff's cost
until Monday.
*******************************************************
UPPER ALTON - MEMORIAL DAY CELEBRATION
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, Wednesday, May 31, 1899
Memorial Day in Upper Alton was observed with appropriate
services at Oakwood cemetery in the morning. The hour of
exercises was set at 9:30 o'clock, and at the hour a large
number had assembled at the cemetery. A drizzling rain began
falling and continued throughout the exercises. The crowd
did not seem to mind the wet, but stood under umbrellas or
gathered under trees for shelter. At 10 o'clock the
procession which had formed at the school house, entered the
grounds. Mr. Emory Dixon, Officer of the Day, of the G. A.
R., accompanied by Rev. James Osborn, the speaker of the
morning, led the procession. Next came the Juvenile Band,
followed by several hundred school children carrying flowers
and flags. The old soldiers with their wives followed last.
The school children were marshaled in a hollow square, in
the center of which stood the G. A. R. The exercises
were opened by the reading of the decoration prayer by Post
Chaplain William Reeder. The band played several selections,
and the school children, led by Supt. Lowry, sang America
and other national airs. Mrs. Demuth made a short talk,
after which Mr. William Loehr, Post Commander, introduced
Rev. James Osborn, who held his auditors in rapt attention.
The decoration of graves concluded the exercises. The
procession marched back to town, breaking ranks at the post
office.
****************************************************
UPPER ALTON - MILITARY ACADEMY
BURNED
Source: Albany, New York Evening
Journal, February 6, 1903
Fire of supposed incendiary
origin destroyed the Western Military Academy at Upper Alton
last night, causing a loss of $30,000. The fire was a fourth
one in 17 days in the academy. All the fires were started
while the cadets were at supper. No explanation can be given
for the persistent attempts to destroy the academy.
******************************************************
UPPER ALTON - DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS
JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER
Source: Utica, New York
Observer, March 7, 1907
College President Refused to See
Him When He Called Incognito
Andrew Carnegie's conditional gift of $15,000 to
Shurtleff College In Upper Alton. Ill., has revealed the
fact that John D. Rockefeller had previously visited the
school, incognito, while efforts were being madeto obtain a
donation from him. The gift of Carnegie is expected to cause
Rockefeller to contribute again. He gave Shurtleff $15,000 a
year ago. His later denial of support to Shurtlefff, which
is a Baptist Institution, is believed to have been due to
his experiences while inspecting the school. When
Rockefeller visited Alton he registered at The Madison Hotel
as John Davidson," using his middle name for the last. He
rode to Shurtleff College and asked to be shown through the
buildings. The president was busy and didn't greet
Rockefeller or accord him an interview. None learned until
long afterward that the quiet man, whom they had regarded as
a curious visitor, was the millionaire. Rockefeller's
identity was learned through a letter that came to the host
addressed to John D. Rockefeller.
*****************************************************
UPPER ALTON - BRICKLAYER INHERITS SHURTLEFF COLLEGE
Source: The New York Times, January 25, 1908
From Des Moines, Iowa, Jan. 24 - Not having fitted himself
to become owner of a big educational institution, J. C.
Felom, a brick mason of this city, discovered today that he
had an elephant on his hands in Shurtleff College of Upper
Alton, Ill., to which he is heir. One of his wealthy
ancestors, to spite his immediate heirs, bequeathed all his
money to found this college, providing that after a certain
number of years it should revert to his lineal descendants.
The time has elapsed. Mr. Felom, the bricklayer of this
city, is one of eight descendants.
*******************************************************
UPPER ALTON - OLD LANDMARK IS REMOVED
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, March 1, 1919
The old residence building at the corner of Salu and Humbert
streets - the Wiest homestead - has been removed and in its
taking away one of the oldest landmarks in that section of
Upper Alton is gone. The property is owned by Samuel
Spurgeon, who resides just south of the old homestead on
Humbert street. Mrs. Spurgeon was a member of the Wiest
family. The house stood very near to the corner, the street
lines of both Humbert and Salu streets running close to the
house. At one time this house was one of very few that stood
in the north section of Upper Alton, and as Salu addition
was laid out and some houses built in it before the lower
part of Upper Alton was ever a town, the Wiest place was no
doubt one of the oldest houses in Upper Alton. For a number
of years the house had not been occupied. Mr. Spurgeon
started a couple of weeks ago to wreck the old building and
to clean up the corner. While the removal of the house takes
away an old landmark, it makes a great improvement not only
to the corner but to the others in general. Just what Mr.
Spurgeon's plans are for improving the corner further is not
known, but he evidently has some plan in mind which he will
carry out later on.
****************************************************
UPPER ALTON - DIRT STREETS TO BE GRADED AND OILED
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, June 2, 1921
George Y. Henry of East Alton has contracted with the city
of Alton to grade the dirt streets of 25 blocks in Upper
Alton for the sum of $270, and will begin work on the job at
once. Henry has agreed to smooth out the surfaces of the
streets and grade them to the proper angles for drainage,
and will guarantee them to be satisfactory. The funds to pay
for this work will come from the ward funds, and after the
grading is completed, it is proposed to oil the streets.
Money for this purpose is to be raised among the property
owners of the streets improved, and is already partially
arranged for on Evergreen and Burton streets. Harold Curdie,
who has purchased the road equipment of Stafford and Miller,
has offered the city the use of a steam roller to pack down
the street in this work. Curdie has a contract for paving in
Vermillion, Ill., and says that if the city can use his
roller right away, it will be at their service free of
charge.
****************************************************
UPPER ALTON - HOUSE DESTROYED BY FIRE
Home of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Mooney Destroyed
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, January 12, 1922
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Mooney at Main and Judson
street was destroyed by fire this morning at 10 o'clock. The
fire is thought to have been started by a defective flue.
Firemen responded to the call, but were hindered in their
work by water plugs, at the corner of Main and Judson and at
Washington and Judson, being frozen. Mr. Mooney, who works
night for the Illinois Terminal, was asleep when the fire
broke out. He was aroused and with the help of neighbors
carried out the furniture. The loss to the home is estimated
at $4,000. The building is a six room, one story house and
was built by the late Frank Eberlein and was occupied by the
Eberlein family as a residence for a number of years. Mrs.
Margaret Cook, widow of Dr. E. A. Cook, and her son, Edgar,
occupied part of the house. The J. A. Holmes home, next to
the Mooney house, was blistered and scorched by the heat,
but water from a small garden hose prevented the house from
catching on fire.
**********************************************************
UPPER ALTON - WOMEN BATTLE
RESISTING DANCE HALL EXCLUSION
(Roaring Twenties In Full Swing! Scant Clothing and
Shimmy Not Allowed!)
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph,
March 20, 1922
Resisting an officer and assault
and battery on the officer were the charges preferred by
Mrs. Clara Lowe, police matron, against Margaret Carter and
Mrs. Bessie Garber, sisters, as the result of a row in
Sweetin's hall in Upper Alton Saturday night. It all came
from an attempt on the part of Mrs. Lowe to exclude the two
women from the dance hall. The police matron objected to the
style of dress worn by Mrs. Garber. "If she had sneezed, she
would have had next to nothing on," was the way Mrs. Lowe
saw it, and she said that the scantiness of it as not to bad
as the frailty of it. Mrs. Lowe said that she had once
before told the girls to keep away from the dance hall and
they came back Saturday night. It had been a strenuous
evening with Mrs. Lowe. She was striving as dancing censor,
to suppress the shimmy and other dances she had proscribed
and right there was Mrs. Garber, garbed in a dress which
Mrs. Lowe said was shocking to her. She ordered her out of
the hall. Mrs. Garber retired to the dressing room, put on a
black dress and came back. Mrs. Lowe still insisted on her
leaving. Then Maggie Carter came into it, according to Mrs.
Lowe, and attempted to obstruct the ejection of Mrs. Garber,
her sister. One of the women challenged Mrs. Lowe's physical
ability to eject anyone from the hall and the doughty police
matron never took a dare. She went to it and so did the
sisters. When the melee was broken up by police officers,
Mrs. Lowe's glasses were smashed, her hat knocked off, her
hair had been pulled and she had been slapped in the face,
but she was full of fight and seemed mistress of the
situation. She said that some of the men interested
themselves in behalf of Mrs. Garber and the row became
general by the time the policemen - Jeffers, Morrow and
Moran - came to her aid. The men were not locked up. For the
part the two women had in pulling the hair, knocking off the
hat and breaking the glasses of the plucky police matron,
Mrs. Lowe had them booked for trial in the police court.
Following the fight, Mrs. Lowe reiterated her purpose of
stopping women going to public dance halls with too little
dress and when using dances with too little modesty in them.
The two accused women took a change of venue to Justice
Lessner's court, and there they were granted a continuance
to Thursday. They indicated their intention of fighting the
case and will get a large number of witnesses.
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UPPER ALTON - FIRE CAUSES DAMAGE TO HISTORIC BUILDING
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, September 17, 1923
Fire caused extensive damage to one of the oldest buildings
in the business district of Upper Alton this morning, when
the property at the northwest corner of College and
Washington avenues became ignited from a coal oil stove.
Built far back before the memory of modern day residents of
Upper Alton goes, the building was a landmark in that part
of Alton because of its old colonial type of architecture.
It was not a good example of colonial architecture, but
nevertheless that was the trend of thought in the mind of
the builder, and because it was so distinctive in its
design, the building attracted much attention. The fire
broke out early this morning when Harry Rundle went down
into the kitchen to start the coal oil stove. A little while
later he noticed the odor of smoke and discovered that the
kitchen and the stairway was on fire through some mishap to
the coal oil stove. A fire alarm was sent in and the firemen
responded. They soon had the fire apparently extinguished.
About 7 o'clock a second and much bigger fire broke out in
the building and that was what caused the greatest damage.
The flames worked their way through the walls of the
building and scattered out so that it was impossible to put
out the fire before it had burned off the roof and ruined
the second story. The kitchen also was badly damaged. During
the fire, Mrs. Rundle, who was upstairs, escaped through the
flames in the kitchen, carrying her baby with her, and she
was but slightly injured. The place was until recently
conducted by Harry Welch Green, who disposed of his business
there to Harry Rundel. Welch Green carried the insurance on
the fixtures, but a complication has arisen in that he had
not notified the insurance company of a change in ownership.
Welch Green said that the fixtures had not been paid for to
him and that he still reserved the title, which may make a
difference. The building belonged to the estate of William
Dailey, deceased. It was built entirely of wood. There seems
to be a general impression in Upper Alton that the building
was close to a century old. So far as known it had never had
a fire before. It had undergone great dangers from fire in
the past. It is recalled that several times it was menaced
by fires which were destroying property close to it, but the
old structure seemed to bear a charmed existence, as it was
spared. Many Upper Altonians had expressed the wish that the
ancient landmark might be removed in times gone by. While
not a heavily productive piece of property, still it
continued to serve a purpose. Whether it will be torn down
or will be repaired was a subject of much discussion in
Upper Alton. The upper part is so badly damaged it might not
be profitable to do more than make a one-story building out
of it. It is said that the building was most substantially
put goether, and that it is typical of old style
construction.
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WOOD RIVER DANCE
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, March 13, 1912
The dance given by John Carstens and Elbert Shepherd was
well attended last night, it was given in honor of the
birthdays of Carstens and Shepherd.
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WOOD RIVER HISTORY
Source: Syracuse, New York Daily
Journal, July 15, 1912
Alter three years of planning,
the Standard Oil Company, which owns the refinery at Wood
River, Ill., is ready to realize its dream of a model city
for employees. After the refinery was in operation, the men
who operate it began to settle near the works, and the
village of Wood River was founded. But another settlement
beat the village to the name, and it was necessary for it to
be known as East Wood River until it absorbed the other
town. Then a fine school building and model homes were
erected. Next plans were made for electric lighting. Sewer
contracts will be let at once, and a water system will be in
operation by Christmas. This ends a struggle of three years
made by the Standard Oil Company to make its town habitable.
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WOOD RIVER FLOOD
Source: New York Times, new
York, NY, August 21, 1915
The storm that devastated the
Texas Gulf Coast last Monday and Tuesday, sweeping
northward, struck St. Louis and surrounding communities with
diminished fury last night and today, bringing with it the
heaviest downpour in the history of the city, and causing a
flood that drove hundreds of city and suburban residents
from their homes. Up to 5 o'clock tonight the rainfall since
the storm began was 5.95 inches. The 500 residents of Benbow
City and West Wood River were warned of the oncoming flood
by two men on horseback, who, preceding the water by a few
minutes, rode through the streets calling, "Run for your
lives!" The entire population of both towns sought refuge in
the city of Wood River. Four hundred employees of the
Western Cartridge Company and the Equitable Powder Company
in East Alton escaped the wall of rushing water. The
property loss of these two plants alone was estimated at
more than $200,000. A Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St.
Louis train, with seventy-five passengers, was caught
between two streams of flood water and was stalled. Efforts
to remove the passengers by boat were begun.
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WOOD RIVER - FAMOUS HEAD TRACT IS SOLD TO SYNDICATE - DEAL
FOR ADDITION IN WOOD RIVER IS CLOSED
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, June 23, 1920
One of the biggest land deals in the Wood River district in
recent years came to a close early today, when a syndicate
of men bought the property south of and adjoining what is
now known as Head's addition in Wood River, from J.
Augustine Head of Alton. According to real estate
authorities in Alton, the land is the best piece of real
estate left in the Wood River district, and brought the
biggest price ever paid in that district for acres. The
purchase price was $65,000 for 43 acres. The purchasers
interested in the deal are the Harnett-Eggman Realty Co.,
Oscar Sotier of Alton, Clarence Hale of Alton, Frank Rippley
of Grafton, Thomas M. Holdman of East St. Louis, and I. C.
Hatridge of Wood River. The transfer of this property
recalls its early history, when "Tiny" Head became famous
because of the muskmelons called "gems" which he raised on
the land. It also marks the remarkable enhancement of
property value in the Wood River district since fourteen
years ago when Head sold the present site of the Standard
Oil Company to that firm for $60 an acre. At that time it
was believed Head was making money on that land. The
property sold by Head today for $1,500 an acre is just
across the street form the Standard Oil site on the
Alton-Edwardsville road, and reveals an obviously remarkable
enhancement in value. According to Mr. Harnett of the
Harnett-Eggman Realty Co., which originated and pushed the
deal through, the 43 acres will be subdivided into lots for
houses, and it is intended to make it the finest residential
district in Wood River.
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WOOD RIVER ROBBERY
Source: Watertown, New York
Daily Times, August 4, 1921
Three bandits today held up and
slugged Tommy Felaido, a post office messenger at Wood
River, Ill., and escaped with three mail pouches, one of
which was believed to have contained $60,000 in currency
consigned to the Standard Oil Refinery at Wood River. The
robbery occurred shortly after the pouches had been thrown
from a train from St. Louis. Felaido met the train, placed
the pouches in a push cart and started for the post office
across the tracks, when the armed trio stepped from an
automobile, commanded him to throw up his hands, threw up
pouches in the automobile, and escaped. An hour later an
abandoned automobile was found in a corn field five miles
south of Edwardsville, Ill. A rifled mail pouch
containing parcel post matter addressed to Wood River
residents was found nearby.
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AUGUST LUER BUYS WOODLAND HILL CEMETERY AT WOOD RIVER -
PLANS TO MAKE GROUNDS BEAUTIFUL & WELL KEPT PLACE
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, September 7, 1923
Announcement has been made that August Luer has taken over
the Woodland Hill cemetery property at Wood River, and that
an association is to be formed in which the lot owners will
elect directors and officers. The cemetery enterprise was
launched several years ago at Wood River, and about forty
lots were sold. A number of people have been buried in the
lots. The cemetery became involved in the failure of the
Wood River Bank, now in the hands of a receiver. The
announcement says that H. H. Clark, I. C. Hatridge, C. A.
Harnett, and John Elble have disposed of their stock in the
cemetery, and have resigned as officers and directors,
turning the property over to August Luer. The new
stockholders, directors and officers are August Luer, A. L.
Peterson and M. E. Turner, with Mr. Luer as president, A. L.
Peterson as vice-president, and M. E. Turner as secretary
and general manager. Mr. Turner is Mr. Luer's son-in-law.
One-fourth the cemetery ground has been laid out in lots and
put on the market, and there is said to be a possibility of
being 7200 lots for sale in the property. The plan of the
new owners of the cemetery is to set aside $20 out of every
sale of lots in the cemetery and create an endowment fund
for the permanent upkeep of the property. Mayor Elble was
one of the chief movers in bringing about the change in
ownership....
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WOOD STATION, ILLINOIS TRAIN
WRECK
Source: Cook County
Herald, Arlington Heights, Illinois, January 12, 1906
Engineer Frees Himself. Held
Under Wreck with Leg Crushed, He Saws Timbers Away.
Pinioned under wreckage resulting from the collision of two
Burlington freight trains near Wood Station, Ill., which was
made more complete by the explosion of an engine boiler and
a car load of powder, Engineer Grover Hinderer of
Beardstown, Ill., with his leg crushed and held fast, sawed
desperately for forty five minutes and finally freed himself
and was pulled out. He was taken to the hospital at Alton
and it is believed will recover. Fireman W. A. Anderson was
seriously injured, but will probably live. Brakemen Mason,
Franks, and George Anderson were imprisoned in the debris
and at first were believed to be dead, but finally were
rescued not seriously injured. Rescuers were unable to
release him Engineer Hinderer and finally passed him a saw,
cheering him until her released himself.
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ADAMS - SCHULTE WEDDING - BRIDE WEARS CENTURY OLD GOWN
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, May 23, 1922
At a
very pretty church wedding Monday afternoon at four o'clock,
Miss Ellen Louise Schulte became the bride of Charles Adams
of Jerseyville. The wedding ceremony was performed by the
Rev. Joseph Jenkins at the First Baptist Church in this city
[Alton], of which the bride has been a member for a number
of years. The bride, who is the only daughter of Mrs. Mary
Schulte, was attired in a dress over a century old, it being
worn by a bride of 1810. The material was cream canton crepe
and was brought to this country from Canton China, by
Captain Spry, a sea captain, for his daughter's wedding
gown. A beautiful shawl of delicate gray silk, beautifully
embroidered by the Chinese, which was worn by Captain Spry's
daughter at her wedding, was also worn by Miss Schulte.
These exquisite heirlooms were given to Captain Spry's
granddaughter, Mrs. Louise Patterson, formerly of
Jerseyville, and at her death they were given to Miss
Schulte with the request that she wear them at her wedding.
The bride wore as her wrap a large shawl of white silk,
brought from Japan by the sea captain, and adorned with
heavy white embroidery. Mr. Adams is the youngest son of
Mrs. Olive Adams, and a grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs.
Charles Adams, pioneer residents of Jersey County. He is
engaged in farming and has furnished a home for his bride on
the James Persell farm, one-half mile east of Jerseyville.
More than a hundred friends and relatives witnessed the
ceremony at the church. The church was decorated by the
young ladies of Miss Schulte's Sunday School Class, who also
acted as ushers. After the ceremony, a wedding luncheon was
served to fifty relatives and friends of the young couple at
their new home.
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ALLEN, ERNEST L.
Alton Man to Receive War Cross From French Government
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, February 6, 1920
Ernest L. Allen, residing at 309 Vine street, has been
notified that a Croix de Guerre with bronze star has been
awarded him by the French government, and it will be
presented to him Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock by Capt. W.
L. Grabbe, officer in charge of the United States Marine
Corps recruiting station at St. Louis. The award is being
delivered through the Marine Corps because Allen served in
that branch of the service during the war. Mr. Allen, an
employee of the Standard Oil Co., in the experimental
department, enlisted in the Marine corps April 20, 1917. He
served in the 5th regiment, second division, and for a
period of four months was on the fighting line all of the
time. The worst fighting he saw was in Belleauwood and San
Mihiel sector. He was on the Champagne front October 4,
1918, when he was wounded. Speaking today of the Croix de
Guerre being awarded to him, he said he was not informed as
to what particular exploit was to be recognized, nor why he
was getting the recognition. He said he had heard that Croix
de Guerre was to be given to him, but that when he wrote to
inquire about it, he received no reply. When informed by the
Telegraph today that the presentation was to be made Monday,
he said that so far no notice of it had come to him. He is
26 years old and has lived here nine years.
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BAILEY, MRS. AUGUST
Source: Rochester, New York
Democrat Chronicle, June 21, 1903
Mrs. August Bailey, who with her
young son and daughter was found lying unconscious along the
Big Four railroad track near East Alton, Ill., with wounds
in their heads, early yesterday, died last night without
regaining consciousness. The children have revived, but have
not been able to give an account of the assault or tell who
committed it. The girl, it is believed, will die, but the
boy has a change of recovery.
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BANDLIER, PROFESSOR A. F.
Source: Syracuse, New York Daily
Standard, April 26, 1883
Professor A. F. Bandlier, of the
American Archaeological Institute, S. F. Baldler, of Tuscon,
and a Mexican, have been captured in Sonora by Apaches and
taken into the mountains. Doubtless they have been murdered.
Bandlier has been investigating Indian antiquities for
several years. His family reside at Highland, Ill.
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BANGE, BEN
Source: Edwardsville Intelligencer, August 28, 1896
Ben Bange has bought the Clover Leaf butcher shop next to
Hotz & Son's lumberyard, and has assumed control. Mr. Bange
is an industrious young man, and has a wide acquaintance. He
will sell choice meats, and give courteous treatment, and
relies on the public for a fair share of patronage. The
Clover Leaf management continue to conduct the shop opposite
Tuxhorn Bros.' store.
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BELL, WILLIAM
Source: The New York Times, November 16, 1869
Click here to read the story.
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BERRY, DAVID
Source: Syracuse, New York Daily
Journal, September 27, 1866
On the 7th Inst, as Mr. David
Berry, living near Alton, Ill., was driving his team into
his yard, the bees from one hundred or more hives, made a
sudden attack upon the horses and himself, stinging both of
the animals to death, and Mr. Berry severely. It appears,
from Mr. Berry's statement, that the attack was simultaneous
from all the swarms, and that It was impossible to escape
their fury except by flight.
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BOESCHENSTEIN, C.
Source: Alton Telegraph, March 2, 1893
Mr. C. Boeschenstein and wife will represent Edwardsville at
the inauguration of Mr. Cleveland as President. Mr.
Boeschenstein should improve his opportunity and inform Mr.
Cleveland that notwithstanding "Old Madison" is not
represented in the Legislature by any member of the lower
house being a chairman of any committee, there are
multitudes of Madison county Democrats who think themselves
perfectly able to fill the offices.
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BRUNO, TONY
Stages Successful Defense Against Demands of Two Masked
Robbers
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, December 14, 1921
Tony Bruno, an Italian living on Harriet Street and
conducting a little store there, was shot in a successful
resistance of a holdup by two masked men last night at 8
o'clock. Bruno refused to throw up his hands, offered
resistance to the two men and one of them shot him. Bruno
got possession of a revolver and fired as the two robbers
were escaping through his store door to the street, and he
thinks he may have wounded one of the men. Bruno was sitting
in his kitchen, off which opens a little room occupied as a
bedroom. His wife had gone to bed and he was sitting up a
while waiting for some chance customers to come into the
store. They came, but they wore handkerchiefs tied over
their faces and they didn't want to buy, they wanted to get
the proprietor's money. They pulled a revolver on Bruno and
told him to give up his money. Bruno told them he would not
do it, he would die first. With that he made a thrust at one
of the men with his arm and the other fellow fired twice at
Bruno, hitting him once. Bruno dodged into the bedroom,
where under a pillow he had a revolver. The two bandits
turned to run out of the place and Bruno fired as they
passed through the door. The bullet did not hit the wall or
the door and Bruno thinks for that reason one of the robbers
carried it away with him. Dr. Worden, who took care of
Bruno, said that the ball entered his left shoulder and did
not come out. There was very little blood shed though the
bullet traveled close to a large artery beneath the collar
bone. Today an x-ray examination of the wounded man was made
to locate the ball. Bruno is a powerful built man, though
not very tall. After he had vanquished the two holdup men,
he enjoyed greatly telling of his experience. He did not
know he was shot until after the bandits had left the place.
He was unable to give any good description of them. Bruno
happened to have a considerable sum of money in his pocket
at the time of the attempted holdup.
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, December 16, 1921
A surgical operation performed on Tony Bruno, yesterday
afternoon at St. Joseph's hospital, resulted in the
extracting of the bullet which was fired into him by a
bandit who was one of two trying to hold up and rob Bruno in
his little store on Harriet avenue a few nights ago. The
condition of Bruno was alarming today, but the attending
surgeon said that he might survive the wound. The ball was
extracted because Bruno had been showing fever and there was
fear that infection might have set in. As a precautionary
measure, the wounded man made preparations for dissolution
while he was still able to do so, before undergoing the
surgical operation which was a hazardous one on account of
the dangerous place where it was necessary to explore in
taking the lead from the man's body. The surgeon succeeded
in accomplishing what they were after without injuring any
of the vital spots which were close by where the bullet had
lodged.
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CHARLESS, FRANK
Source: Alton Telegraph, September 6, 1877
Saturday evening, about 9 o'clock, as Dr. C. M. Smith was
riding down Belle street in his buggy on his return home
from making some professional calls, he met, near Clifford's
grocery store, a buggy driven by Frank Charless of Godfrey,
who was accompanied by two other young men. The horses
driven by Carless were going quite rapidly, and Dr. Smith
tried, in the intense darkness, to turn out of the way, but
in vain; his buggy collided with the other, threw him out
and inflicted such severe injuries that he was taken home in
a semi-unconscious condition, in which state he still
remains. Dr. Davis was called, and did all that was possible
to relieve the sufferer. It is feared that internal injuries
were received, but hopes are entertained of his ultimate
recovery. Frank Charless was thrown out of his wagon and
dragged some distance, but succeeded in stopping his team
without receiving any serious hurt, but one of the men with
him was badly bruised by the concussion. The third occupant
escaped uninjured. Both buggies were badly broken. Dr.
Smith's condition shows some improvement this afternoon, we
are glad to state, and his friends are correspondingly
encouraged.
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CRAIG,
MARY
Source:
Auburn, New York Citizen, December 8, 1908
There
is a woman in Alton, Ill., Mrs. Mary Craig, 77 years old,
who hasn't tasted water for forty years. And yet they say
woman is not eligible to the suffrage.
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DAVIS, GEO. T. M.
Source: The Journal and Advisor,
Auburn, New York, October 2, 1839
The town of Alton, Illinois was
the scene of much excitement during the early part of the
month, in consequence of a lawyer at that place named G. T.
M. Davis, having gone off supposedly to Canada, with funds
to a large amount, belonging to his clients. It is said he
carried with him about $15,000 or $20,000 belonging to his
clients in New York, Philadelphia, and Boston, and has left
a host of creditors at Alton. He left a daughter on a sick
bed at Alton, who died soon after he decamped.
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DAVIS, GEO. T. M.
Source: The Journal and Advisor,
Auburn, New York, October 9, 1839
We last week inserted an article
deeply censuring Mr. T. M. Davis, of Alton; (Illinois) for
the manner in which it was asserted he had "gone off" from
that place. As an act of justice to Mr. D. we insert his
explanation of the charges there brought against him,
contained in the following letter to the editors of the
Journal of Commerce.
SYRACUSE, Sept. 18,1839. Editors of the Journal of
Commerce—
Gentlemen: I have just seen in your paper an article
purporting to be a copy of a letter dated at Alton, in the
state of Illinois, announcing that I had absconded from that
place with a large amount of money belonging to my clients,
and that I had fled to Canada. Seven years since I removed
to Alton from this place; and have during the whole of that
time resided there. My wife has been for nearly two months
at this place on a visit, during all which time I believe it
was well known at Alton that I intended to come after and
return with her. I traveled in the most public conveyances,
came in company with many gentlemen from that state who are
acquainted with me, and some of whom I presume are now in
your city. My name may be found upon the public registers of
every hotel at which I stopped from that place to this. It
was well known to the most reputable inhabitants of the city
of Alton that I was preparing for the journey and intended
to go to New York and Philadelphia. I hope to be in your
city in a very few days, and shall convince my clients of
the falsity of the publication referred to. I presume I know
the source of the article which you have copied; and in
regard to the author I have only to say that at home he
cannot injure me, and I shall hope that ultimately he will
not be able to do so abroad. GEO. T. M. DAVIS. of Alton,
Illinois."
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DAY, DR. W.
Source: Oswego, New York Daily
Times, March 3, 1893
Dr. W. Day of Highland, Ill.,
died in a private [railroad] car in the, West Shore railroad
yard at Wechawken, New York yesterday. His death was caused
by an overdose of anti-pyrine, taken for a severe attack of
neuralgia.
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DECK, JACOB
Source: Utica, New York Daily
Observer, June 11, 1872
On Sunday last, while the family
was at church, the residence of Jacob Deck, near Upper
Alton, Ill., was robbed of $4,100, including $2,200 in coin,
and $1,900 in currency, the robbery being committed by a
dissolute son and two companions, who are all in arrest.
More than half the money had at last accounts been
recovered.
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DUKES, JAMES
Source: Alton Daily Telegraph, Tuesday, May 2, 1893
The notorious James Dukes, of Godfrey, the man who a year or
two ago shot Brown of North Alton, was in town yesterday on
a spree and towards nightfall began making trouble. When
Officer Sweeney attempted to lock him up he resisted.
Officer Tonsor went to the assistance of Officer Sweeney,
Dukes at once turned on Tonsor and struck him one or two
blows, when the officer used his club on the ruffian with
such effect as to immediately bring him to terms. He was
locked up for the night. Dukes was fined $10 and costs this
morning by Squire Quarton for disturbing the peace. He gave
notice of an appeal, but up to two o'clock had failed to
give bonds and is being held in "durance vile."
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DUNN, E. W.
Source: The Evening Journal,
Albany, New York, February 15, 1850
A man named E. W. Dunn has been lately arrested by St. Louis
officers, at Alton, Illinois. In his house was found a large
amount of counterfeit money, and a complete bogus
manufactory.— The Marshal approached the house, and gained
ready admittance ; they found two females in the parlor, who
received them kindly. Inquiring for Dunn, and learning that
he was up stairs sick, the officers gave an alarm for a
party outside to enter, one of the females, the wife of
Dunn, rushed for the stairs, but was caught by Marshal
Stein. Marshal Felps instantly proceeded to Dunn's room and
secured him. The women showed battle with the officers, and
Mrs. Dunn upbraided her husband for being taken, strenuously
urging him to shoot. On reaching the house, $1,800 In bogus
money was found, consisting of Mexican, dollars, five franc
pieces, American half and quarter dollars, dimes and half
dimes. They found the moulds for these several pieces,
together with a galvanic battery and everything requisite
for the manufacture of spurious coin. The $1,800 secured by
the officers was principally in Mexican dollars and five
franc pieces, neatly executed and well calculated to
deceive. Dunn has been living in Alton about two years and a
half, and professed to be a speculator in patent weights—he
never followed any ostensible business. It is supposed that
he has been carrying on the counterfeit business ever since
he first went to Alton, and from his present wealth
succeeded in putting about $20,000 of his coin into
circulation. His arrest and exposure created quite a
sensation, as the man has heretofore been regarded above
such suspicion. He and the two females were lodged in jail.
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EMERY, GEORGE
Source: Alton Weekly Courier, November 25, 1858
On Tuesday evening about the hour of ten, as one of our
citizens, Mr. George Emery, who is a clerk in the office of
the Illinois Mutual Insurance Company, was proceeding on his
way home, being at that time near the crossing of Ninth
street and the Chicago, Alton and St. Louis Railroad, he was
approached from behind by some miscreant, who, without a
moment's warning, drew back his fist, armed as it is
supposed with brass knuckles, knocked him down, and struck
him several blows while he way lying upon the ground,
cutting away a small part of his nose. To hide his guuilt,
the ruffian then dragged his victim, now in an insensible
state, to the Railroad, and placed him across the track.
Fortunately for Mr. Emery, he was discovered by one of the
employees of the Railroad Company, just before the cars came
in sight, who removed him from his dangerous position. We
are happy to state that Mr. Emery was able to be out
yesterday, and will doubtless recover entirely in a few
days. It is thought that from the fact that he was not
robbed, the miscreant mistook him for some other party.
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ENKE,
LIDDLE
Source: Poughkeepsie, New York
Daily Eagle
Miss Liddle Enke committed
suicide at Alton, Ill. by jumping into a cistern.
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ENOS, ELLISON
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, July 28, 1922
Ellison Enos, football star, son of Dr. W. H. Enos, came
near suffering grave injuries Wednesday evening in his
motorboat, after starting for a ride with Harrison Wood. His
trousers leg became caught in the motor and winding on the
motor, his leg was drawn against the revolving engine, and
two bad cuts were caused. Fortunately before he could suffer
injuries that would cripple him for life, the engine stopped
itself and with the assistance of Harrison Wood he was
disentangled. The cuts are above his heel at a place where,
if the engine had not bee stopped, he might have suffered
the tearing out of tendons, which would have permanently
crippled him. It required seventeen stitches to close the
wounds. He was able to be up and around today. Similar cases
of men being caught in moving engines have resulted in very
serious injuries.
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ESTEP, JOHN - "FROGS IS A REVOLUTIN', I KNOW IT!"
Source: June 22, 1893
John Estep is a fisherman who haunts the waters of the
Mississippi near the mouth of Woodriver, and yesterday he
went over to Missouri frog hunting, he having received an
order from St. Louis for frog hams. Among other frogs he
captured, one with five fully developed legs, and he is as
proud as a pea fowl about it. In speaking about his latest
catch, last evening, Mr. Estep said: 'I ketched a frog once
that had whiskers like a cat. I ketched another one once
that had a tail like a muskrat's. 'Nother time I hauled in a
big feller that only had one hind leg, and that was enough
like a chicken's to have a spur on it, but it didn't. Then
there was a curious old frog I ketched years ago that had a
head you'd a swore belonged to a snapping turtle, and the
nobby feller with a regular white streak round his neck like
a dude's collar, and a round spot covering one of his eyes
that made him look exactly as if he was wearing one of them
dandy eye glasses. Then there was the frog I ketched that
was so cross-eyed I was almost afraid to take it off the
hook. But I consider this here five legged frog the biggest
piece of flesh of the kind I ever ketched. I'll tell lyou
why: It ain't no freak, this five legger aint. It is the
result of deliberation on the part of the frogs. Frogs is
gettin' scarce, but folks has got to have them and the frogs
know it. Frogs is the smartest things in creation. Now what
does them five legs on this frog mean? It means that the
frogs haint no doubt of what they are here fur, and knowing
they are growing lesser and lesser on the face of the earth,
and in the swamps thereof, they are jest agoing into the
growing of more legs, so that the decrease in the number of
frogs will be made up by the increase in the number of their
fat and juicy kickers. This fellow only has five. They'll be
doing better bimeby, and some of these days I will fetch in
a stock of frogs wearing all the way from eight to ten legs
apiece, and every one of them of a quality to make a
frog-eater go crazy with delight. Mind what I tell ye; frogs
is revolutin' and I know it."
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FARR, WILLIAM
Source: Auburn Morning News,
Auburn, New York, February 13, 1873
Ingenious Escape from Jail.
Triumph of Chemistry and Some Fire - Safe Out of Jail
The perseverance and ingenuity used by a prisoner, Wm. Farr,
in escaping from the city jail at Alton, Illinois, are not
common. The Telegraph says : "The prisoner obtained a hammer
and some acids, which an accomplice had slipped in between
the gratings of a window. With these he went to work on the
fastenings of his cell door. The acids were applied to the
iron into which the bolt slid, and in time had so eaten into
the material that a blow with a hammer was sufficient to
break it off! This done, he drew back the bolt with a piece
of wire and walked out of his cell. When in the corridor, he
took a shovel full of coals from the stove and climbed up to
the ceiling (which is the floor of the entrance to the
library-room) and set it on fire, hanging his bed blanket
around the flame to keep the light from being seen from the
street. He next went to work with a saw made from an iron
spoon, and assisted by the fire, soon had a hole through the
ceiling large enough to admit him to the room above. He then
took a bucket of water and put out the fire, not, we
suppose, for the sake of saving the building, but that he
might crawl through the hole without being burned. Having
reached the room above, all he had to do was to open the
door and walk out a free man.
*********************************************************
FOWLER, KATE
Source: The Evening Journal,
Albany, New York, December 20, 1866
Miss Kate Fowler, of Alton,
Illinois, had a terrible earache, and for want of a better
remedy, poured a teaspoonful of. the oil of peppermint into
her ear. She very soon became delirious and died soon after.
*******************************************************
FRIBERT
Source: Syracuse, New York Daily
Journal, November 25, 1861
Awful - In Madison county,
Illinois, a few days ago, a crazy German named Fribert, who
had lost his reason on the death of his wife, shot dead his
four children, then blew his own brains out.
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FRICKENSTEIN, AUGUST
Source: The Stevens Point
Journal, Stevens Point, WI, July 28, 1906
Edwardsville, IL Farmer Killed By
Cow, Jul 1906
August Frickenstein, 42
years old, a well-known
Madison county farmer, was
butted to death by a muley
cow when he attempted to
take the cow's calf away
from her for the market.
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GILL, JAMES
Source: Alton Evening
Telegraph, September 13, 1923
James Gill, a farmer
living at East Alton, went through a horrible experience
yesterday afternoon on Worden avenue, when the breaking of
the forward support on his hayrack allowed him to be
precipitated with some bales of hay down on the horses'
backs, and from there behind the frightened animals. Gill
was riding on the load of baled hay, and when near the old
Dan Gillham place, the ladder on the front of the hayrack
broke off. This removed the support of the bales and they
easily slid out from under Gill, carrying him down in a
confused heap with the hay. The frightened horses began to
run away and Gill dropped down behind them, and after being
dragged for a while he was released and the team went on.
The horses were stopped after a run of about three blocks.
Gill sustained a fracture of his left arm and the side of
his head was badly scraped. He suffered some other injuries.
********************************************
GILLHAM, SENATOR
DANIEL B. - MURDER MYSTERY CLEARED
Source: The New York
Times, February 12, 1891
The murderers of
Senator Daniel B. Gillham have been arrested, and two of
them are now in the jail at Edwardsville. On the night of
the 19th of March, 1890, Senator Gillham discovered a
burglar in his bedroom, and in endeavoring to capture him he
was shot twice, receiving wounds which caused his death on
April 6 following. The two men now in jail are John Brown
and H. C. Wyatt. Wyatt was captured in Omaha last week, and
made a full confession, implicating Brown and a man named
George Starkey, who was arrested at St. Joseph, Mo., today.
Brown was arrested here on Friday last while at work on the
Bluff line. According to the confession of Wyatt, Starkey
entered the house and did the shooting while he and Brown
stood guard on the outside. Wyatt is a sewing machine agent
and lived in Alton at the time of the murder, and Brown
boarded with him. Starkey lived at Bethalto and has been in
trouble before. Willard Gillham, the son of Senator Gillham,
has devoted his entire time in searching out these men, and
was assisted in the work by other members of the family.
There is general rejoicing over the news of the capture, as
Mr. Gillham was one of the most prominent men in Madison
County and Illinois. He was a very rich man, and has held
many public offices in the State. At the time of the tragedy
he was a member of the State Board of Agriculture.
*************************************************
GILLHAM,
STATE SENATOR DANIEL B.
Source:
Buffalo, New York Morning Express, February 13, 1891
ALTON, III., Feb, 13.—The
murderers of Senator Daniel B. Gillham have been arrested
and two of them are now in the jail at Edwardsville. The two
men now in jail are John Brown and H. C. Wyatt. Wyatt was
captured in Omaha last week and made a full confession,
implicating Brown and a man named George Starkey, who was
arrested at St. Joseph, Mo., yesterday. Brown was arrested
here on Friday last while at work. According to the
confession of Wyatt, Starkey entered the house while he and
Brown stood guard on the outside. There is general rejoicing
over the news of the capture of these men, as Mr. Gillham
was one of the prominent men in Madison County and Illinois.
***************************************************
GODFREY, BENJAMIN
(CAPT.)
Source: Alton Weekly
Courier, May 13, 1853
The citizens of Alton
have paid an honorable, but most well deserved compliment to
the exertions of Capt. Godfrey, in securing the early
construction of the Alton and Springfield Railroad. It will
gratify every friend of progress and enterprise, that even
this testimonial is made; but it should not stop there. When
men are endowed with the energy and liberality of spirit to
awaken and push forward to an early consummation a great
enterprise of this kind, they are entitled to something more
substantial than a service of plate. The decline of life
should be as calm and free from care as the day has been
useful and beneficial to the community. From the
St. Louis Republican.
************************************************
GOEHL,
GEORGE
Source:
Bridgeport California Chronicle Union 1911-1914
CONCEALED TWO YEARS.
ILLINOIS SLAYER CAPTURED IN HIS CRAMPED QUARTERS.
County's Officers had searched in vain while the fugitive
was hidden in the village—how he was caught.
Through an opening 18 inches square George Goehl of
Collinsville, confessed slayer of Anthony Gallamano,
received his meals and necessaries of life and eluded the
authorities of Madison county. Illinois, two years. He was
arrested in his biding place the other night by a posse
headed by Joseph Long, chief of police of Collinsville.
Goehl, who is a carpenter, has been sought for the killing
of Gallamano at a picnic at Horseshoe Lake. May 29, 1910.
Gallamano was stabbed in the back by Goehl, who disappeared
mysteriously after the cutting and authorities had "been
baffled in their efforts to find him. Gallamano, who was the
proprietor of a soda water factory in Collinsville, lived
only six days after he was injured and in an ante-mortem
statement declared Goehl was his assailant. After the
stabbing, the traction lines from Collinsville to Horseshoe
Lake were watched for Goehl, but no trace was found. The
authorities went to the Goehl home in Fletcher Heights,
which is in the outskirts of Collinsville, but the search
was in vain. Chief Long received information the other day
that Goehl was again in the vicinity of his home and quietly
took a squad of men with him to make the arrest. As a
special precaution, and in order to disarm the suspicion of
Goehl's relatives, a butcher wagon was pressed into service
and a boy drove Chief Long and his aids to the Goehl home.
They remained in hiding in the bed of the wagon as they
passed the house, fearing their approach might be
communicated to the fugitive and he might again escape.
After dark they surrounded the house, while Chief Long and
one of his men approached the front door. They knocked and
were admitted by the parents of the fugitive. The chief and
his men were told the young man was not In the house, but
they insisted that they had come for a search and would make
one. Outbuildings were first inspected and then the house
gone over carefully, but not a sign was found of the young
man. The chief, going through the garret, noticed a curtain
hanging over a small opening in the wall. This led to a
small hole under the eaves. One of the officers, with his
revolver In his hand and armed with an electric searchlight,
entered the bode. His foot struck against a soft object
huddled under the eaves, and, flashing his light, the
officer discovered Goehl. The young man readily surrendered
and told of his flight after the killing and his return to
the protection of his family. He said he was glad the affair
was ended, and that he was ready to stand trial.
*************************************************************
GRACEY, WALTER
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, Friday, March 24, 1899
Walter Gracey is to be released from the penitentiary. In
all probability he was made a free man today and will be
home tomorrow, to join his destitute family. Gracey has
received a pardon, and his wife and family, who are in very
strained circumstances, are rejoicing today over the
prospect of his return. Gracey was convicted at the
September term of the City Court of an assault upon L.
Golike and sentenced to prison. The sentence seemed too
severe for the offense, which was a trivial one, as no one
thought Gracey would receive more than a small fine. Senator
Brenholt, who assisted States' Attorney Staats in
prosecuting the case, offered to compromise, by the prisoner
asserting a fine of $25 and costs. This the defense refused
to agree to and when the case was given to the jury, it
sentenced Gracey to the penitentiary. Gracey had to be taken
from his wife and children, leaving them penniless and
without any means of support. Efforts were at once begun to
have the prisoner pardoned, that he might return home and
care for his family. He had previously borne a good
reputation, the scrape was an unfortunate one, and that he
should have to suffer punishment in the penitentiary seemed
too severe. This morning, Mr. J. P. Bellenger received a
letter from Senator Brenholt stating that the Governor had
interceded in Gracey's behalf and he would be released.
Gracey has served six months in the penitentiary, which is
more than enough punishment for the charge on which he was
convicted.
*********************************************************
GRAVELY, THEODORE
Source: Oswego, New York Daily
Times, May 21, 1918
Theodore Gravely of Alton, Ill.,
who is with the American forces in France has sent to an
Alton friend a battered penny which he says saved his life.
He writes that he was in the front trenches and was carrying
the coin in the pocket of his topcoat when a bullet struck
it and was deflected by it. He writes that the bullet would
have pierced his heart if it had not been for the penny.
***********************************************************
GREENAN, CATHERINE
Source: Oswego, New York Daily
Times, November 2, 1894
Mrs. Catherine Greenan, a
wealthy widow of Collinsville, Ill., was married to Louis
Kreela, a coal miner, last night. Mrs. Greenan has an income
of over R37,000 a year. She is 62 years old, and has buried
two husbands, while her third is only 38 years old.
************************************************************
GROLMES, B. (BERNARD)
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, June 17, 1915
A party of young people of Mitchell and Oldenburg charvaried
Mr. and Mrs. B. Grolmes last evening at their home near
Canal Station. The party went to the Grolmes home on a
hayrack and carrying many noise making instruments which
they used to good advantage in the charivari. The young
people enjoyed a fine evening with Mr. and Mrs. Grolmes and
before leaving for their return trip, enjoyed excellent
refreshments. Those present were the Misses Emma Hoehn,
Katherine Hoehn, Lena Eichacker, Amelia Klug, Anna Hackethal,
Mary Hackethal, Velma Dossey, Bertha Dossey and Dorothy
Marcum, and the Messrs. Ray Adams, Louis Hoehn, John
Eichacker, William Eichacker, James Hackethal, George
Hackethal, Barney P. Tibbit, Dossey, Clinton, Hagard, Frank
Overbeck, Joseph Droppelmann, George Klug, Lewis Hunter,
Edward Hunter, Emil Buehrer and Clarence Eichleberger.
***********************************************************
GROSHEN/GRESHEN, FRED
Source: Utica Morning Herald,
New York, December 10, 1887
In Alton, Illinois a falling
scaffold killed Fred Groshen/Greshen and seriously injured seven
others.
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HAPGOOD, HARRY
Source: Alton Telegraph, September
6, 1877
Master Harry Hapgood, son of Mr. C.
H. Hapgood of the Plow Factory, fell from a hammock at his
father's residence on Prospect street, Sunday, and broke
both bones of his arm. Dr. Garvin was called, and performed
the necessary surgical operations.
***************************************************
HARRIS, GERTRUDE - MAY GET CARNEGIE MEDAL FOR SAVING
GRANDMOTHER'S LIFE
Source: Alton Telegraph, June 26, 1913
A representative of the trustees of the Carnegie Hero Fund
has made two trips to Upper Alton to investigate a claim for
a Carnegie medal made in behalf of Gertrude, the 17 years
old daughter of William Harris, who saved the life of her
grandmother, Mrs. Nathan Harris, two years ago, when Mrs.
Harris was being attacked by a vicious cow. The cow had a
young calf, and was in a frantic state of mind. When Mrs.
Harris went into the cow lot, the cow rushed at her, then
went back to the calf. Every time Mrs. Harris would attempt
to get up after being knocked down, the cow would knock her
down again, and finally fractured the aged woman's hip.
Gertrude Harris ran to her grandmother's assistance, and
armed with a pitchfork which she wielded against the cow,
she kept the cow off while, by degrees, she rolled her
grandmother out of harm's way until other help could be
procured. The aged woman was unable to help herself, her hip
being broken. The girl performed a dangerous feat in
fighting off the cow, which had long sharp horns, and it was
because of this fact the girl was recommended to the
consideration of the Carnegie Hero Commission.
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HARRIS, THOMAS NATHAN - DIVISION OF HARRIS ESTATE
Source: Alton Telegraph, June 26, 1913
Thursday was the time set for the will of the late T. N.
Harris, who died, leaving a valuable estate, for the three
sons to make settlement with the five daughters mentioned in
the will. The three sons, Jesse, John and Samuel Harris,
were required to make payment of $10,000 to be divided
between the five daughters of Mr. Harris, or their heirs,
within one year. The year expired today and the sons made
good on the provision of the will. The three sons take
possession of the 370 acres of fine farming land as their
share of the estate of their father. There are four
daughters living, Mrs. T. P. Dooling, Mrs. Jesse Campbell,
Mrs. Ben Budde, Mrs. William Titchenal, and the daughter of
the fifth, a Miss Prugh, receives her deceased mother's
share. One son was cut out in the will of Mr. Harris.
****************************************************
HARTMANN, JACOB - SEEKS TO COMPLETE CITIZENSHIP IN OLD AGE -
CLASSIFIED AS ALIEN ENEMY
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, September 9, 1920
Jacob Hartmann, for many years a prominent business man,
today called on J. T. Callahan, clerk of the City Court, to
interview him about the chances of completing his process of
becoming an American citizen. Trembling from the exertion of
climbing the city hall stairs today, Mr. Hartmann was almost
pathetic in his statement of his desire to become a citizen.
He loves the country in which he believed he held
citizenship, he was interested in its political affairs, and
he had prospered greatly here. Now, at 74, he wants to
complete his claim to the name of "American" if it is
possible for him to do so. The circumstances of Mr. Hartmann
being in this light of an alien enemy are worth repeating.
He came to America and to Alton when eight years old. His
father was drowned soon after coming here. Never knowing
that his father had not been naturalized, Mr. Hartmann
supposed he had been, and never bothered about getting his
citizenship papers. He went on and voted, he was active in
politics and it was a great surprise to him in recent years
to discover he was no citizen. He happened to sign the
citizenship petition for a friend. In the course of
reviewing the friend's application, the government agents
looked up the status of Mr. Hartmann. No record of his
naturalization could be found, and he then said he supposed
his father was a citizen, but the father manifestly was not.
He had died in too short a time after coming here to have
perfected citizenship title. So Jake Hartmann was an alien,
and when the war came on he was, worst of all, an alien
enemy, but withal still a devoted believer in the cause of
the United States. His chief quarrels were with those who
differed even slightly from the strictest adherence to the
cause of America. Now, past 74 years of age, he wants to
live the remainder of his days and die an American citizen.
"I have seen many a man who made a lot of money here who
wasn't loyal at heart to the United States, and I had many
an argument with them," Hartmann said today to a Telegraph
representative. "I want to get the final papers if possible.
I want most of all to be an American citizen and be really
entitled to claim the protection of the American flag."
There is no camouflage about Hartmann, either. Everyone who
knows him knows his staunch devotion to the United States,
his tolerance with those who would put any other flag or
country ahead of the Stars and Stripes.
*******************************************************
HUDSON,
WILLIAM
Source:
Utica, New York Morning Herald, 1869
Monday,
an old man named William Hudson, near Alton, Ill., was found
lying dead in his cabin, where he lived alone. When found,
his ear and part of his cheek and neck had been gnawed away
by a dog.
****************************************************
HULBERT
Who is William Perry?
Experience of a Fair Illinoisian In Saratoga.
Source: The Daily Observer,
Utica, New York, October 26, 1875
From the Saratogian, Oct. 22. Among the arrivals on the 9:35
A. M. train at the Saratoga railroad depot last Wednesday
morning was a Miss Hulbert, of Alton, Illinois. She was
about eighteen years of age, and of a very modest and
retiring appearance. She had expected to meet her uncle, one
William Perry, and some friends here, who had been
telegraphed to be at the depot on her arrival. Miss Hulbert
left Alton on Friday, Oct. 15 and consequently had been six
days on the route, having been detained on more than one
occasion by trains not making connections. She was
thoroughly exhausted, as she had not rode a single mile in a
sleeping-car during her journey. No one greeting her on
embarking from the train, she took a seat in the depot,
momentarily hoping and expecting the appearance of her
friends. Hours passing away and no one presenting
themselves, the young lady became heart sick and bewildered,
and tears filled her eyes. She attracted the attention of a
large number. The young lady sat in the depot till about
three o'clock in the afternoon, when the company's agent, D.
K. Wilson, interested himself in her case, rendering her
every assistance within his power. She was escorted to the
residence of several families of Perrys here, but they
proved not to be her relatives. Being a total stranger in a
strange place and having been warned by her father, previous
to starting, to be constantly on her guard lest some
accident should befall her, she hardly dared to trust
herself to the protection of some of our most prominent
citizens, who generously interested themselves in her
behalf. Not finding her relatives, she determined t o return
immediately to her Illinois home and it was almost an
impossibility to induce her to accept the hospitalities of
Saratogians and partake of a single meal here. Fatigued by
extended travel and despondent at not meeting those who
should have been on hand, Miss H. was the picture of
despair, and elicited the sympathies of all those who were
endeavoring to assist her. Kindly refusing generous offers
for a further search for her branch of the Perrys the young
lady tendered her heartfelt thanks for what had been done
for her, and lef t , on the evening train for Alton, where
she has probably arrived by this time. She stated that her
father is an invalid, and that her mission here was in
reference to some legal papers which she had in her
possession, and which were of no small importance to her
uncle, Wm. Perry. As she was unaccustomed to travel, she
would not have taken the thousand-mile journey if her parent
had not been an invalid and could not come himself. Should
this meet the observation of the William Perry alluded to,
he will see to what amount of trouble and suffering he put
the fair Illinoisan to by not meeting her or making some
arrangement for her reception on her arrival here. It will
give Miss Hulbert an experience that she will not very soon
forget.
******************************************************
HUNTER, IDA
Movie Thriller Enacted as Girl is Made Captive
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, May 11, 1923
A Granite City girl, with her skull fractured and other
injuries, was the center of a mild sensation because of her
refusal to reveal the name of an Alton young man with whom,
she said, she was spending yesterday in the country when she
was seized by four men, forced into an automobile and
carried away. How she happened to be lying insensible by the
road she could not say, but she was of the opinion she might
have leaped from the automobile, or was thrown from the car,
in a struggle. She was found lying on the road near
Collinsville. The girl is Miss Ida Hunter, aged 19, 1826 D.
street, Granite City. The girl mysteriously refused to talk
about the young man who was with her first. In her hand,
when found, was a note on which was scribbled a melodramatic
note: "Come to my rescue, I am in great danger. Send word to
Carl Warden." It was signed Ida Hunter. Miss Hunter, on last
Tuesday, had a visit from some young man who, she said,
forced his way into her house when she was alone, threatened
her, and when he left, carried away one of her dresses. The
girl was taken to East St. Louis last night for surgical
treatment. She refused to talk to anyone but Chief of Police
Johnson of Granite City. The Collinsville doctor who
attended the girl obtained the name of the Alton young man
who had been with her, but he declined to reveal it,
deepening further the melodramatic aspect of the girl's
experience. According to the story, it would have made a
great movie thriller if a camera man had been near to snap
it as it was going on. Opening with a peaceful pastoral
setting, lad and lass in springtime, out in the great open
spaces, letting the world wag on, regardless. Suddenly the
scene is rudely interrupted by arrival of four heavy
villains in high powered car. Lad seems to fade out here.
What he did is not reported. Maybe he will appear later in
the story. Villains force struggling girl into big car and
dash off. She fights. Finally villains throw her from
speeding car and leave her by roadside to die. Farmer boys
find her, girl revives, refuses to tell important facts in
the case that would lead to discovering the identity of her
escort. but, her story is heightened by story of the Granite
City chief of police who tells of mysterious nocturnal
visitor in her home a few days before, who threatened the
girl and then carried away a dress of the girl.
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ISCH - KREIG NUPTIALS
Source: Alton Telegraph, May 12, 1881/Submitted by Marsha
Ensminger
Mr. Alexander Isch and Miss Louisa Kreig, of Fosterburg,
were married at the home of the bride's mother, May 5th, by
the Rev. M. Shultz, of Upper Alton. After the ceremony was
performed, a large company of friends and relatives sat down
to a table spread with all the delicacies of the season and
beautifully decorated with flowers. Many presents were
received, but, owing to the fact that only a portion of them
were labeled, we mention only a few: An elegant picture of
the bride's father, was the gift of Mr. John Kreig; handsome
glass pitcher, cake stand, fruit dish and towels, Mrs. Jacob
Krieg; silver castor, Thos. Krieg; fruit stand, Mrs.
Shepheard, bread tray, Mrs. Savage; fruit stand, Miss Kate
Savage; ornamental air castle, Miss Linda Newhouse; flower
vases, Mrs. Yerkes: cake stand, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Young;
fruit dish, Miss Lulu Miller; cup, E. B. Young: towels and
tidy, Mrs. Goliko; butter knife, Miss Maria Flager, set of
silver teaspoons, Miss Martha Blanke; set of gilded china
plates and a teapot, Miss Kate Munse; flower vase, Miss
Minnie Penning; castor, Miss Annie Maiden. May a long and
happy life of joy and sunshine be the lot of the newly
wedded pair.
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JAMES, DR. E. O. - RESIDENCE DESTROYED
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, Friday, June 30, 1899
The family of Dr. E. O. James had a fearful awakening this
morning. Their pretty home at Manning and Amelia streets in
Upper Alton was in flames and was soon a heap of charred
wood and ashes. At about 4:30 o'clock Misses Anna and Susie
James awoke to find the room filled with stifling smoke and
to hear the crackling flames beneath them. The whole family
was aroused and escaped with scanty apparel, but later most
of the clothes in the house was saved. The furniture down
stairs were carried out but no effort was made to save that
upstairs. The house was entirely consumed. It was an old
12-room house, recently remodeled and had been the James
home over forty years. It was surrounded by a grove of fine
shade trees which was very badly damaged by the heat and
flames. The origin of the fire is a mystery as no fire had
been made in the stove since noon. It is supposed it was of
incendiary origin or caused by mice eating matches. The
insurance, $2,500, will cover the loss.
*******************************************
JOHNSON, REV. DR. AND MRS. - SILVER WEDDING ANNIVERSARY
CELEBRATION
Source: St. Louis Globe Democrat, October 19, 1875
Yesterday was the twenty-fifth anniversary of the marriage
of Rev. Dr. and Mrs. C. J. Johnson, and their many friends
gathered about them last evening at their beautiful home in
Alton, to do honor to the occasion in a silver wedding. Rev.
Dr. Johnson, who is the Secretary of the Western District of
the American Baptist Publication Society, is widely known
throughout the West by his earnest efforts in the cause of
religion. Though fifty-one years of age, he is the picture
of vigorous manhood, and his every movement bears the mark
of earnest purpose. He was ordained to the ministry in 1843,
at Burlington, Iowa. After occupying the pulpit for twenty
years, he retired there from to become the agent of the
Baptist Publication Society at Burlington. This position was
held until 1848, when Rev. Dr. Johnson came to St. Louis to
take charge of the interest of the society here, and from
that time forward the sphere of its usefulness has been
constantly widening.....After an hour's ride the party
reached its destination, and was soon ushered into the
hospitable mansion, which was the objective point. So large
a delegation was hardly to be expected from a distant point,
but the welcome was in proportion to the size of the
assemblage....The large house had its capacity well tested,
but the arrangements were most excellent, and the spirit of
true hospitality was manifest on every hand. Dr. and Mrs.
Johnson held court in one of the reception rooms, and gave
audience to their guests, if not in royal, in most
acceptable style. In the library were displayed the
handsomest tokens of an esteem born of long acquaintance and
deep friendship. A more beautiful collection or ornamental
and useful articles in silver it would be difficult to
imagine. Apparently every possible want had been
anticipated....[List of the presents]...After the company
had been fairly seated in its surroundings, a thanksgiving
prayer was offered by Rev. Dr. Randolph, following which,
preceded by the bride and groom, the guests preceded to
supper, which proved a sumptuous repast, well worthy the
occasion. It required some time to discuss so liberal a
spread, but when all had been satisfied, a few brief
addresses, most appropriate under the circumstances, were
delivered by Rev. Dr. Burlingham, Rev. Dr. Ford, Hon. N.
Cole, and Rev. Dr. Kenrick. The best of cheer prevailed
throughout, and when, at 9:30 o'clock, the St. Louis guests
were notified to prepare for departure, it seemed a ruthless
curtailment of pleasure to obey. But time and the trains
wait for no man, and at 10 o'clock, all were aboard and
homeward bound, and all having an earnest wish for the
continued welfare of the host and hostess of the evening.
***********************************************
JONES, DAIRL
Source: Alton Weekly Courier, August 17, 1854
A man named Dairl Jones was brought before Justice Pinkard
yesterday on a charge of selling cattle belonging to others.
It appears he had sold four two year olds and one calf to
Mr. Thomas Key, one of our butchers, for which he received
$50. The money was subsequently returned. It was proved on
trial that the cattle were the property of J. B. Lathy,
Esq., of Upper Alton. He was required to give bail in the
sum of $300 for his appearance at the next term of the
Circuit Court. He found difficulty in procuring security and
has probably gone to jail.
**********************************************
JUNETTE, JOSEPH
Source: Fayetteville, New York
Bulletin, 1901
Joseph Junette, who farms one of
the job ranches on the Alton bluffs at Alton, Ill., thinks
he will engage extensively in "duck" farming and educate the
fowls to eat potato bugs at $1 a day per duck. Just now,
Junette is enjoying an income of $15 a day from fifteen
ducks, which he trained to clear potato patches of bugs. He
put the ducks in a pen and fed them on potato bugs
exclusively after starving them until they were glad to get
the bug diet. Junette tried them first on his own patch,
which comprised several acres. The ducks went through the
patch like a neighborhood scandal. After the performance,
Junette shut up the brigade in the bug pen so they would not
acquire a taste for other diet. The ducks are in great
demand on the farms in Junette's neighborhood. Farmers are
glad to pay $1.50 per hour for the services of the brigade.
*********************************************
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KILBY,
KATE
Source:
Utica, New York Daily Observer, September 9, 1873
Kate
Kilbey, of Madison County, Ill., went blind just after
graduating from an eastern seminary, since which time she
has prepared her two brothers for college and fitted her
youngest sister for entrance to the Monticello Seminary.
********************************************
KIRK - WRIGHT
ENGAGEMENT ANNOUNCED/Submitted by Jim Kirk
Source: Alton Evening
Telegraph, August 28, 1919
The engagement of Miss
Ruth Wright to Earl Kirk was announced last evening at a
party given at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Aleto Rilke, at
their home on Broadway. The home was prettily decorated in
red, white and blue. Cupids and hearts were used in the
decorations in the dining room. Games were played during the
evening and refreshments were served, after which the
announcement was made. The couple is to be married on Monday
morning at 9 o'clock. The ceremony will be performed at the
home of Mrs. Rieke. Those who attended the announcement
party last evening were: Misses Beulah Fields, Grace Elliot,
and Herman Schussle, Hugh Ford, Clarence Pelot and Harvell
Embley, of Alton, and Misses Stella and Edith Hunter, Julia
Bauer, Josephine Vanpreter, Ruth Wright and Eunice Rieke,
and Alfred Moore, and Earl Kirk of East Alton.
Source: Alton Evening
Telegraph, August 30, 1919
East Alton - Miss Ruth
Wright and Mr. Earl Kirk, both of this place, will be
quietly married Monday morning at the home of Mr. and Mrs.
Leto Rieke. Last Tuesday several young people of Alton and
East Alton tendered them a linen shower at the Rieke home. A
good time was enjoyed and a nice lunch was served by Mrs.
Rieke. Many presents were received by the bride-to-be. Those
present from Alton were Misses Bulah Fields, Grace Elliott,
Messrs. Hugh Ford, Herman Schussler, Clarence Pelot, Harold
Embrey. Those from East Alton were Misses Julia Bower,
Stella Hunter, Edith Hunter, Eunice Reike, Josephine Van
Preter, Ruth Wright, Messrs. Earl Kirk and Alfred Moore. A
good time was enjoyed by all present.
************************************************
KIRK - WRIGHT NUPTIALS
Source: Alton Evening
Telegraph, September 2, 1919/Submitted by Jim Kirk
Miss Ruth Wright and
Mr. Earl Kirk were quietly married yesterday morning at the
home of her friends, Mr. and Mrs. Leto Reike, on Broadway.
The ceremony was performed by Rev. O. E. Taylor of the
Baptist Church. They will make East Alton their future home
with the best wishes of their many friends. Those who
witnessed the ceremony were Mr. and Mrs. Howard Flack of
Detroit, Mich. and Mr. and Mrs. Leto Reike, Mrs. John Van
Preter and Miss Eva Flack of East Alton.
************************************************
KIRK, EARL
Source: Alton Evening
Telegraph/Submitted by Jim Kirk
January 24, 1921 - -
Earl Kirk is confined to his home on Bowman Ave. by an
attack of influenza.
January 27, 1921 - -
Earl Kirk is now able to be up after being confined to his
bed for several days with the influenza.
April 30, 1921 - -
Mrs. Earl Kirk and little son were Alton visitors yesterday.
August 9, 1923 - - Mr.
and Mrs. Earl Kirk and son, have returned from a visit with
relatives in Wellsville [Mo.].
September 20, 1923 - -
Mr. and Mrs. Earl Kirk and son, Earl Jr., have returned to
their home here [East Alton] after a few days visit with
relatives in Benton. Ill.
October 5, 1923 - -
Mr. and Mrs. Earl Kirk are entertaining the latter's mother
and sister from Wellsville, Mo., for a while at their home
on Belle street.
************************************************
KIRK, MRS. JAMES
Source: Alton Evening
Telegraph, July 12, 1920/Submitted by Jim Kirk
Mrs. James Kirk
suffered a paralytic stroke yesterday morning at the home of
her son, Earl Kirk. Mrs. Kirk was said to be slightly
improved this morning.
************************************************
KNICKER,
WILLIAM
Source:
Syracuse, New York Daily Journal, October 1, 1894
William
Knlcker, manager of a store and saloon at Edwardsville
crossing, six miles below Alton, was wounded by unknown
highwaymen Friday night and died Saturday afternoon.
***********************************************
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LANGLEY, WALTER - Murdered
Source: Alton Telegraph,
November 24, 1913
Mysterious Killing in Betts Saloon Sunday.
Dragged to Sidewalk.
Participants refused to talk for publication, and deep
mystery surrounds the killing.
Walter Langley was killed Sunday night in the saloon of
James Betts at Second and State Streets. The facts
concerning the killing were exceedingly hard to find. The
indications were that after Langley was fatally injured he
was dragged out to the sidewalk and left there, where he was
found by Officer Scoville who had the ambulance called and
conveyed him to police headquarters. When taken in there a
doctor was called who decided that Langley was dead. He had
probably been dead for some time, and was undoubtedly dead
when the policeman found him. The indications are that the
one blow struck Langley by Betts, according the Betts'
admission, was enough to kill the man. If Betts' story is
true this is the second instance in that immediate vicinity
of a man being killed by a blow of a fist. At police
headquarters all information was refused by Betts who said
he had nothing to say until he told his story to the
coroner's jury.
According to the story gleaned from hear-say reports and
some statements which Betts made early to the police, he
claimed that Langley went into the Betts saloon and carried
out a quart jar, which had been on the bar. He returned to
the saloon and when the jar was demanded trouble was
started. Betts told that he was struck by Langley and that
in defense he struck Langley back. He claimed he hit but one
blow, and that with his fist, and that he had no idea that
Langley had been killed by the blow.
After the killing an order was given to close up the Betts
saloon and to arrest everybody in it. Five men including
Betts, were held. Betts and one witness being behind the
unlocked door of the detention room which opens off the
central police office. The saloon was re-opened this morning
and doing a good business.
Owing to the dense mystery which seemed to surround the
killing of Langley, and the silence maintained by the
principal, Betts, and his witnesses, it is believed that
there is more to the story then filtered out.
Coroner J. M. Sims was called and arrived this afternoon for
the purpose of impaneling a jury and holding inquest. Five
witnesses of the tragedy were detained in jail until after
the coroner's inquest.
An autopsy performed this afternoon in the Jacoby
undertaking establishment by Dr. J. M. Sims, county coroner,
establishes the fact, as far as the autopsy had proceeded at
3 o'clock that Walter ("Buck") Langley was murdered. No
responsibility for the murder can be fixed, but four men are
locked up, charged with knowing something about the affray
in the James Betts' saloon at Second and State streets in
which Langley got worster and was thrown out on the
sidewalk.
At 3 o'clock the inquest was set to be held in the city hall
and a number of witnesses were brought in by Deput Sheriff
Fitzgerald, but the inquest had to be deferred an hour or so
because the coroner was busy with the autopsy.
The autopsy reveals that the man had been struck in the back
of the head with some blunt instrument, which could easily
have caused his death. There are also several bad bruises on
his face but these could have been caused by falling as he
was thrown out of the saloon.
Betts refused to confirm or deny the report current on the
streets that he had struck the man. He said that he wanted
to be a George Washington and would not say anything except
the truth and that before the coroner's jury.
The three men in jail refused to say anything on being
prompted by outsiders. One of the men started to give a
story which he said he told the night captain last night,
when an outsider cautioned him to keep quiet. Coroner's
undertaker, Berner, had similar trouble in finding out
anything about the matter this morning and had several
arguments with men who wanted to stop his investigation in
the matter.
Deputy Sheriff Peter Fitzgerald, who happened to enter an
east end saloon, learned that a man had just been in there
detailing an account of the killing, of which he said he was
an eye witness. Fitzgerald went on the trail, caught the man
in the Moose saloon and arrested him and held him as a
witness for the coroner's inquest. The man declared even
after he was arrested as a witness that Langley was struck
without provocation and that he was killed with a club.
Langley is 40 years of age and lives with his mother and
brother, Wesley, at 408 Lockyer addition. He worked as
section boss of the C.P. and St. L. [railroads] several
times, and was once section boss at Lockhaven, where he
formerly resided. He is single. He leaves beside his mother,
three brothers and three sisters.
**************************************************
LAWLER, JOHN - Man Caught in Steel Rolls at Steel Plant
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, November 23, 1921
John Lawler, employed at the plant of the Laclede Steel
Company, lost his left arm at the elbow as the result of a
bad accident that occurred this morning at the steel plant.
Lawler was working about one of ____ rolling machines when
he became caught in the rolls. The machine at the time was
rolling out reinforcing iron. Lawler was being drawn into
the rolls and probably would have followed the bar of
reinforcing iron on through the rolls and would have been
mashed to a pulp, but for the fact that his predicament was
discovered in time to admit of the mill being shut down and
the unfortunate man released. When Lawler was taken from the
machine his arm had been crushed to his elbow, and the
surgeons who attended him after he had been rushed to St.
Joseph's Hospital found that amputation at the elbow would
be necessary. It was said that it was probable that Lawler
would recover, as he is believed to have suffered no other
injuries. The temperature of the iron rolls in which the
bars of iron are rolled is high, and the injured man not
only suffered a crushing, but a bad burning of the injured
arm. The victim of the accident was formerly on the Alton
fire department. It was said this afternoon that the victim
owed his life to the fact that the mill was turning slower
than usual, the power having been pulled so a ______ could
be made, and Lawler stuck his hand in a dangerous place to
shut off the water, whereupon his hand became caught. The
rolls made only a few turns after Lawler's hand became _____
in the rolls.
*******************************************************
LOTI, SAMUEL - One of the "Pathfinders" Celebrates 79th
Birthday
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, November 15, 1905
Samuel Loti, one of John C. Freemont's "Pathfinders," and a
member of the memorable expedition he made from St. Louis to
the Pacific coast in 1847, was celebrating his seventy-ninth
birthday today. Loti is still in good health, and is very
much alive on topics of current interest. Notwithstanding
the hardships he underwent in his early days, he is feeling
very well on the beginning of his eightieth year of his
life. He was born at Burlington, Vt., and lived there until
he was nearly 18 years of age. He enlisted with Fremont for
the western trip of exploration, immediately after he
arrived from a western trip, the Pathinder trip being Loti's
second into the wilds. He accompanied Fremont to the mouth
of the Feather river, near Sacramento. Alton has another old
resident who was in the expedition, Henry Mayo, who was
Fremont's camp cook.
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McMICHAEL, BARNEY
Source: Edwardsville
Intelligencer, May 25, 1892/Submitted by Marjorie Adams
(great-great grandaughter)
Barney McMichael, of Alhambra,
was the subject of a special from Decatur, published in the
St. Louis Globe Democrat, Sunday. Under the head "Led a
Remarkable Life," appeared the following:
A remarkable character in this
section is J. B. McMichael, a native of Scotland, who will
be 98 in January. He has never taken a dose of medicine nor
called on a physician for treatment. He is well preserved,
and the other day walked twenty-six miles from Vandalia to
Herrick. He settled in Madison county, Ill., in 1820, read
law under Abraham Lincoln and graduated with Dick Yates. He
was sheriff of Madison county twelve years and was
postmaster sixteen years. He has seen every president from
John Adams to Ben Harrison, served in the Black Hawk was
under Lincoln, and with Jeff Davis, helped to organize the
republican party, voted for Fillmore and went to the
Philadelphia convention as a delegate. He was a personal
friend of Lincoln's, saw him breathe his last, and was
accidentally at the depot when Guiteau shot Garfield. He saw
Mrs. Suratt hung, saw the ashes of the barn where Boston
Corbett shot Booth, has seen fifty-four men hung and four
women executed, but is not in favor of capital punishment.
He saw Lovejoy murdered at Alton on November 9, 1837, and he
himself came near having both legs shot off for being a
black abolitionist. He carries bullet marks on his head and
limbs. In his lifetime McMichael has lost a fortune, but now
has a competency acquired in tree culture and fruit raising. Mr. McMichael was in
Edwardsville this morning, and on being interrogated stated
that he was born in 1815 and is hence 77 years old. He came
to the county in 1827, was married here in 1846, was deputy
sheriff three terms, from 1856 to 1862, and was treasurer
two terms, from 1863 to 1867.
*********************************************************
MACREADY, MRS.
Source: Skaneateles Democrat,
New York, April 16, 1857
Mrs. Macready, the well-known
dramatic reader, was seriously injured at Alton, Illinois a
few days since by stepping into a hole on the levee in the
night.
**********************************************************
MACREADY, MRS.
Source: New York, NY Harpers
Weekly, July 17, 1858
The case of Mrs. Macready, the
reader of Shakespeare, against the City of Alton, Ill., for
injuries received in the Spring of 1857, by falling off a
side-walk, for which she claimed $20,000 damages, was
brought to a close on Wednesday. She obtained a verdict for
$300.
********************************************************
MAGUIRE, FRANCES
Source: Oswego, New York
Palladium, March 17, 1906
Fear that her home was burning
caused Mrs. Frances Maguire of Alton, Ill., a deaf mute, to
speak for the first time in her life yesterday afternoon.
She ran down the street crying "fire" as if she had heard
and said the word from childhood. When the fire department
arrived, it found the fire was a bonfire outside the house
and the smoke filled Mrs. Maguire's house and frightened
her. She has not been able to speak since.
*********************************************************
MAHONY, MRS. ELLEN
Source: Syracuse, New York Daily
Standard, March 29, 1898
Alton Woman Looking for Brother
and Sisters
Chief of Police Charles R.
Wright has received the following letter: Dear Sir - I
ask for information concerning the whereabouts of my
brother, Michael Howard, and sisters, Mary Callagan and
Hannah Howard. My sister, Mary Callagan's husband's name was
Connor Callagan. He was a farmer and died in Ireland. His
widow and family came to this country 40 or 50 years ago and
settled in Syracuse. My sister, Hannah Howard, married a man
by the name of Maddigan. When last heard from they were in
Canada. My brother, Michael Howard, kept a boarding home
about three miles from Syracuse. He worked on a railroad. My
mother and father died in Ireland. My brother and sisters
came from County Clare, Ireland. I wish to learn
particularly about Michael Howard, to find him if living, or
to learn about his children if he is dead. Yours truly, Mrs.
Helen Mahony, Monroe Street, Alton, Ill.
******************************************************
MARSHALL, JOSEPH
Source: The Daily Journal,
Syracuse, New York, December 13, 1867
Joseph Marshall, a mulatto has
been arrested on suspicion of being one of the parties who
murdered the Pepy family near Alton, Illinois last Monday.
*********************************************************
MAYER, LOTTIE - SWIM FROM ALTON TO ST. LOUIS IN 5 HOURS AND
18 MINUTES
Source: The New York Times, July 13, 1908
Miss Lottie Mayer swam twenty-six miles, from Alton to St.
Louis, yesterday in 5 hours and 18 minutes. Nine years ago,
John C. Meyers, floating much of the way on his back,
covered the distance in 7 hours. Miss Mayer did not stop
once to rest, and her feat is declared to break the world's
record. Miss Mayer and her party left Fluent dock at Alton
in the launch Columbia, and in the presence of a throng of
several hundred, she jumped into midstream, attired in black
trunks, promptly at 2:20 p.m. From the first, Miss Mayer's
stroke was strong and regular. She hugged the Illinois shore
until she had passed the mouth of the Missouri River, to get
the full benefit of the current; then she swung across to
the channel along the Missouri shore. Practically throughout
the remarkable trip, Miss Mayer swam overhand. Occasionally
she shifted to the side stroke for variation. At no time did
she float on her back.
******************************************************
MERRILL, PETER
Source: The Evening Journal,
Albany, New York, May 1, 1847
The body of Mr. Peter Merrill,
late Postmaster at Alton, Illinois, was found among some
driftwood, about twenty yards from the bank of the
Mississippi river. The deceased, who manifested
strong symptoms of mental derangement about the first of
this month, disappeared suddenly on the evening of the 2nd.
*********************************************************
MILLER-STEIZEL MARRIAGE
Source: The Alton Evening Telegraph, Wednesday, April 19,
1899
The marriage of Mr. William Miller to Miss Lillie Steizel,
daughter of Mr. Charles Steizel, Sr., of North Alton, was
solemnized at four o'clock Tuesday afternoon at the home of
the bride. The wedding was a very quiet one and only a few
friends of the contracting parties besides the relatives
were present. The ceremony was performed by Rev. W. H.
Bradley in the parlors of the Steizel home. A dainty wedding
supper was served after the ceremony, and Mr. and Mrs.
Miller left on a wedding trip to St. Louis and from there
will go to Chicago. The groom of this happy marriage is the
well known young carriage manufacturer. He has a large
circle of friends who will extend congratulations. The bride
is a charming young lady and much admired. Mr. and Mrs.
Miller will be at home on Twelfth street at the residence of
Mr. Daniel Miller.
***************************************************
MILLS-ROOT MARRIAGE
Source: The Alton Evening Telegraph, Friday, June 16, 1899
One of the most brilliant society weddings of the year was
that last evening, when Mr. and Mrs. A. K. Root gave in
marriage their daughter, Miss Harriet H. Root, to Archibald
C. Mills. The wedding is of more than ordinary interest
because of the social prominence of the two young people,
whose lives were united, also of the two families, both
being among the best known in business and social circles in
Alton and St. Louis. The wedding was elaborate in detail and
very pretty in effect. The house decorations were elegant in
every particular. The decorations were in white and green,
in keeping with the college colors of the groom. The
beautiful parlors were banked with palms, ferns and June
lilies. The ceremony took place in the spacious parlors of
the Root mansion at 6 o'clock. Rev. George R. Gebauer of the
Unitarian church performed the ceremony. The bridal party
consisting of Miss Edith Kimball, of Chicago, and Miss
Louise Sader, of Chicago, and Miss Louise Sauer, of Chicago,
who were the ribbon-maids, and Miss Alice Gray of Evanston,
who was bridesmaid, the bride, Miss Harriet H. Root, and the
groom with his best man, Ralph Root, descended the stairs,
while Mrs. C. B. Rohland played the wedding march from
Lohengrin. The party took its place in the parlors before
the officiating minister and the marriage ceremony was said.
The bride in this happy wedding is the youngest daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. A. K. Root, and has a high social position. She
was a student at Monticello and would have graduated next
year. She is a young woman whose many good qualities and her
happy disposition have endeared her to her circle of
intimate friends and made her a great favorite. The groom is
the son of Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Mills, of Upper Alton, and he
also is prominent in society. He graduated from Dartmouth
College several years ago and has been engaged in business
with the firm of Mills and Averill in St. Louis since. The
ceremony was witnessed by about forty-five invited guests,
relatives and very intimate friends of the family. After the
ceremony an elegant wedding supper was served. Mr. and Mrs.
Archie Mills left last night for Chicago, and from there
will go to Chelsea, Vt., Mr. A. E. Mills' summer home, where
they will spend the summer months. They will return in
September and will reside in Alton for a while. Among the
guests from out of the city were Mr. and Mrs. Averill and
sons, Alexander and Walter, of St. Louis; Mrs. J. Linabarger,
Eureka Springs, Ark.; Miss Louise Sauer, Miss Alice Gray,
Mr. Howard A. Gray, Miss Edith Kimball of Chicago; Mrs.
Jones of Kansas City; Miss Hattie Eaton of Shipman, and Mrs.
Haughton of St. Louis.
*******************************************************
MINOR, EMMANUEL - DIES AT THE SIGHT OF HIS MOTHER
Source: The Hartford Republican (Kentucky), Friday,
September 16, 1904
Joy at greeting his mother after a separation of seven years
caused so great a shock to Emmanuel Minor, of Wichita,
Kansas, at Alton, that he had hardly spoken ten words to her
before he sank in a chair and expired before a physician
could reach him. As a result of her son's sudden death, Mrs.
Minor is overcome with grief, and tears are entertained that
she will not withstand the shock. Seven years ago Minor left
Alton and went to Kansas for his health, settling at
Wichita. As he expected, he regained his strength and
continued to remain there. For the past few years he has
written his mother that he intended visiting her during the
World's Fair and recently she has been counting the days
until he should arrive. Minor reached Alton and at once
hurried to his mother's house at the center of Ninth and
Belle Streets. They greeted each other affectionately. The
son appeared to be unusually excited, and when his mother
offered him a chair, he sat down, apparently in a state of
collapse. Mrs. Minor called a physician, but before he could
reach the house the young man was dead. He was 22 years old.
*********************************************************
MOORE, CHARLES W.
Source: Oswego, New York
Palladium, November 21, 1893
Charles W. Moore, of this city,
an Alton fire man, died last night from typhoid fever. Moore
was a young married man. His parents are of the Christian
science faiths and they took charge of the patient and gave
him Christian science treatment. The patient gradually grew
worse but was given no medicine, and after he had become
delirious he was taken out of bed by his Christian science
friends, and walked about the room they endeavoring to
convince him that he was not sick, but that he only thought
he was. Moore's wife, who protested all along at the
Christian science treatment, a week ago called in the police
and drove the scientists from the house and summoned a
doctor. The physician, however, was called too late, and
death ended his sufferings last night.
******************************************************
MOORE, ISAAC (DOCTOR)/Source: Alton Telegraph, September 11,
1913
Dr. Isaac Moore, a well-known physician of Alton, was
stricken with paralysis of his right side Tuesday at his
home. Though in no condition to come downtown, the doctor is
not of the kind that gives up easily and he refused to stay
at home. He insisted so strongly on making his regular trip
to his office that at last Mrs. Moore acquiesced in his
determination and he came downtown yesterday morning. It was
with the greatest difficulty that the paralyzed man could
get to the street car and afterward get off the car and go
to his office. Mrs. Moore attended him all the way, and had
other assistance. Dr. Moore, in attempting to get up the
stairs to his office on the second floor of a building on
City Hall Square, fell and nearly collapsed. He was assisted
to the office and there he was given attention by a doctor
who had called to look after him. Dr. Moore's condition is
very grave. He fully realizes what has happened to him, and
he desired to continue about his usual activities,
notwithstanding the fact that he was almost completely
helpless and his exertions might cause a second stroke that
would prove fatal. He is a son of the late Major Moore of
Upper Alton, one of the sturdiest sons Alton ever sent forth
to the adventures of battle, and Dr. Moore himself inherited
the qualities of his father and is possessed of a grim
determination not to yield to the paralysis, but to keep
going until he is completely disabled, if such should be the
consequences.
****************************************************
MORGAN, CAPT. AND MRS. HENRY/Source: Alton Evening
Telegraph, April 28, 1920
Observe 64th Wedding Anniversary
Capt. and Mrs. Henry A. Morgan of Washington Avenue, Upper
Alton, today observed the 64th anniversary of their
marriage. They are the oldest married couple of the city.
They were married 64 years ago in the McKinney place at the
corner of Grove street and Central avenue. Capt. Morgan said
that the house that stands there now was quite new when he
and his bride were made husband and wife in it, sixty four
years ago. The date of their marriage was April 15, and the
64th anniversary passed by last month, but because of the
fact that their granddaughter, Mrs. Harry Terry, of Grafton,
was ill and could not be with them, they gave no notice to
their anniversary. Today Mrs. Terry came to Alton and spent
the day with Capt. and Mrs. Morgan, and the observance of
the wedding anniversary followed. Capt. Morgan is 93 years
old, and his bride of sixty-four years ago is 84. They have
been a spry old couple up to a few months ago, when Capt.
Morgan fell in the house and the shock of the fall caused
him to lose the use of his legs. He is obliged in
consequence to sit in his chair all the time. Otherwise he
is feeling fine, has a good appetite, and enjoys himself
every day. Mrs. Morgan is very spry and attends to her
housework herself. Both have maintained their faculties
wonderfully, and neither of them has the least difficulty in
hearing, but in face they hear better than many people much
younger. It was a happy day for the old couple to look back
over the long years of their married lives, and to think
that they have survived so many years. Their friends
congratulate them upon their 64th anniversary, and they wish
that they may spend many more happy anniversaries as they
did today.
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MORLEY, ANN - DELICATE SURGERY PERFORMED UPON
Source: Alton Weekly Courier, December 24, 1857
About four weeks since, Dr. George T. Allen was called to
perform a surgical operation upon a little girl about seven
years of age, named Ann Morley, the daughter of a widow lady
residing in the eastern portion of our city, known as
Hunterstown. At the age of ten months the child was
fearfully burned by falling upon a red-hot stove. The left
side of the face and neck were so affected that a very
serious contraction of the integuments, fascia and muscles
was the result, by which the head was drawn forward and
sidewise, and the chin greatly depressed, so that the
features were fearfully disfigured. The child was placed
under the full influence of chloroform, and the skin,
fascia, and the contracted muscles of the throat were
severed; and when the head was raised to a natural position,
an orifice was found nearly three inches wide, and seven or
eight inches long. A portion of the skin of the lower neck
and left shoulder of sufficient size was detached, excepting
a breadth of about one half inch at the base, and turned so
as to cover the orifice, and was made fast by sutures and
adhesive plaster. The little patient was entirely
unconscious of the operation, and could hardly be persuaded
that it had been performed. The wounds are now rapidly
healing; the substituted skin has smoothly united with that
at the edges of the orifice, and a new skin has formed over
those portions of the neck and shoulder whence the
substitute skin was removed. The child can be seen at the
residence of her mother in the lower part of Hunterstown.
This is the first operation of this nature that has come
under our observation. The skillful manner of its execution
reflects the highest credit upon the operator. Dr. Allen has
performed many difficult surgical operations since he
commenced practice in our city, and this masterly
professional stroke is another satisfactory evidence of his
title to his wide reputation as a surgeon.
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MULLER, HENRY
Source: Utica New York Daily
Observer, November 11, 1869
About seven years ago, Henry
Muller, a farmer of Madison county, Illinois, who lives only
three miles from St. Louis, returned home, from the fields,
when he was informed that his son, a, boy scarcely eight
years, could not be found about the premises. Mr. Muller
made diligent researches for the discovery of his lost boy,
but they were in vain. His house being on the road he
fancied that movers from the interior had stolen the boy and
taken him away across the river, perhaps to a great distance
from his home. Day before yesterday, more than seven years
after the child was lost, he found him, now fifteen years
old, in good health and in excellent spirits, at the
Orphans' Home, on Eleventh street, between Monroe and Market
streets, in this city, and was permitted by the lady
patronesses of the institution to take him home, after
having proved to their satisfaction that he was the boy's
father. A former neighbor of Muller, a farmer by the name of
A. B. Evans, who now lives six miles south of Columbia, had
discovered him. He passed about three years ago by the
Orphans' Home, when he saw amongst the children playing on
the Street a boy whom he recognized at once as Muller's son.
Evans had left his old place some time before the child was
missing, and thought that Muller himself might have brought
him to the asylum. Accordingly time passed on without his
advising his friend. Last week, however, three years after
he had first discovered little Henry, he met the father here
in the city, where both farmers had come to sell their
products. Evans desired to know everything that had happened
since his removal from Madison county, and when Muller told
him that his boy was stolen, Evans expressed his belief that
he knew where the child was. They went together to the
asylum. All the children were called into the parlor, and
the father at once recognized the boy by his great
resemblance to his mother, who had died. The boy, however,
did not recognize his father, though he showed great
satisfaction at finding that he was not an orphan. His
father described the size and location of a mole on the
boy's body's which, together with a comparison of the dates,
and especially the unmistakable paternal sentiment of
Muller, completely convinced the a ladies of his claims. The
child, it appears, was brought to, the asylum by an old
woman, who found him in the street, sometime in 1862, and
was recorded in the books of the asylum as Henry Wisten. The
father may feel exceedingly happy that his child fell in
such good hands. For though the boy is not very advanced in
literary studies, he received a simple but good moral
education, and was regarded as one of the most honest,
faithful and laborious boys in the asylum. It seems,
however, that the father must have been exceedingly
negligent at the commencement, in seeking after his lost
child, and the institution had not done much to discover his
parents. If the facts of such a child having been brought to
the asylum had been published in the newspapers of the city,
at the time, it is almost certain that the father would not
have searched for his boy in vain for so many years.
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NIENHAUS, BERNARD
Source:
Poughkeepsie, New York Daily Eagle
Bernard
Nienhaus, of Alton Junction, is the twenty-sixth victim of
the Wann catastrophe (oil explosion), his death occurring at
noon yesterday. The death of three more is expected.
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NOONAN, EDMUND
Source: The New York
Times, February 8, 1890
Edmund Noonan, late
Clerk of the City Court of Alton, Ill.; Frederick Valbracht,
late Deputy Sheriff, and J. P. Thornton, late Deputy Clerk
of the same court, were arrested in Alton last night by
United States Deputy Marshal Hobart, having been indicted by
the United States Grand Jury at Springfield, for issuing
illegal naturalization papers.
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PACK,
JAMES P.
Source:
Amenia, New York Harlem Valley Times, February 19, 1916
Back in 1859, James P. Pack, now
seventy-three years old, of Alton, Ill., gave Miss Mary
Smith, then seventeen years of age, two shirts to wash for
him. Recently Pack announced publicly that he had squared
the debt and exhibited a receipt for 20 cents plus interest
for fifty-six years, totaling 76 cents. Only Mary Smith's
signature read Mrs. Mary Pack. Pack, a former Alton
policeman, an old soldier and champion fiddler, always
contended that when he married the girls years ago who
washed shirts, the debt was cancelled. But Mrs. Pack thought
otherwise. She always maintained that she was entitled to
the money because it was an obligation incurred before they
began life on the single entry bookkeeping plan. While Mrs.
Pack declares she has washed hundreds of her husband's
shirts since, the work extended upon the two garments in her
girlhood days remains most vividly in her memory. Therefore,
Mrs. Pack has been trying for fifty-six years to collect the
debt. But every time Mrs. Pack mentioned the shirts, Pack
looked the other way and began to talk about the weather.
Finally, however, Mrs. Pack's persistence won. She convinced
her husband that a man's wife who is kind enough to wash his
shirts before marriage is entitled to pay after the wedding
bells have sounded. Incidentally, Alton has been planning a
pay up week, when every Altonite is to settle up with his or
her neighbors.
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PADDOCK, GAIUS
Master of Old Historic Home Celebrates Birthday by
Entertaining County Historical Society
Source: Alton Evening
Telegraph, May 21, 1923
On the event of his
87th birthday anniversary Saturday, Gaius Paddock was host
to the members of the Madison County Historical Society, at
his beautiful and historic old home in Fort Russell
Township. Mr. Paddock entertained his guests in a summer
pavilion, covered with wisteria vines and with the beautiful
purple flowers just in their prime. The Paddock home has
been there for over a hundred years. It is filled with old
books and valuable heirlooms that tell of another day.
Paddock pointed out to his guests an apple tree which his
father planted one hundred years ago, and it had during all
of the life time of Mr. Paddock, borne fruit, and is now
starting into its second century. The guests came with
basket lunches, and on a spacious lawn and among the
blooming spirea ate their lunches and enjoyed the hospitable
atmosphere of the old historic Paddock home. W. D.
Armstrong, President of the society, presided, and first
called upon the host, Gaius Paddock. Mr. Paddock, in a short
but fitting talk, welcomed his guests to his home. He said,
"I count myself
most happy for the pleasure it gives me to welcome you
to this old homestead which has given shelter to many
during the past century, and this occasion is rendered
doubly enjoyable by the event which has brought us
together, the laudable object of this historical
society, that is endeavoring to record important events
of the early state history and of this county of
Madison, which was particularly prominent in the
formation of the state, and led the way to make it one
of the most important in this country. These men of
Madison county, who were noted for their wisdom and
vision of the future, were not blinded by existing
conditions, prejudice and party passions, and who
believed that a difference of opinion was not a
difference of principal. I refer especially to Governor
Cole and his associates, who kept alive, developed and
put into practice the great fundamental principles of a
government for the people, by the people, as taught and
put into practice effectively by the immortal Abraham
Lincoln, which resulted in fixing the destiny of this
government for many generations to come, and which has
given the great blessings to all man kind which the
world has ever know."
Mr. Paddock then
talked of the Paddock cemetery, where his ancestors are
buried. The cemetery was in sight of the pavilion where the
visitors were sitting. Mr. Paddock's grandfather and his
father are buried in this little cemetery. Mr. Paddock said,
"We are now
sitting in sight of these monuments beneath which rest
the dust of these ancestors whose earthly lives are an
inspiration to their descendants, these grandsons and
granddaughters, who are here today to welcome you."
Mr. Paddock concluded
by saying that here within sight were the dearest
associations of his life, and ended with the words of the
post:
"How dear to my
heart, are the scenes of my childhood,
When fond
recollection, presents them to view.
The orchard,
the meadow, the deep tangled wildwood,
And every loved
spot which my infancy knew."
With this, Mr. Paddock
bid his guests welcome to this old historic home and thanked
them for coming. President W. D. Armstrong told of the
Illinois Centennial held in Alton and of the interest of
Madison county in it. Mrs. C. H. Burton of Edwardsville, the
historian of the Madison County Hospital Society, read a
paper which told of the organization of the society in
Edwardsville in October 1921. Dr. Trovillion of the State
Hospital at Alton, told of old Fort Massac at Metropolis,
Ill. Dr. Trovillion lived there as a boy and told an
interesting story of what the fort was and the part it
played in the settlement of the great northwest. A massacre
by the Indians caused the fort to get it's name, Fort
Massac. H. P. S. Smith, of Fort Russell, told of the fort at
that point in Madison county, and told how his father saw
the remaining timbers of the stockade when he was a boy. Mr.
Smith said the Alton Telegraph had been in his home for
almost the life of the paper, and that he lately found a
copy of the Telegraph of 1865 telling the story of Lincoln's
assassination. The house Mr. Smith lives in was built of
brocks made by the Whyers brick yard at Fosterburg, and the
sand, 176 loads of it, came from Paddock's creek. Mrs. Henry
M. Needles of Granite City, President of the Women's
Federated Clubs of this congressional district, made a most
interesting talk of the early history of this and St. Clair
county, and told of a massacre in which only a little red
haired girl was saved, because the Indians would not kill a
person with red hair. The child, taken away by the Indians,
lived with them for three years when French hunters took her
away from the Indians to Quebec, and she was later returned
to Virginia to her relatives, six years after her capture by
the Indians. Senator Giberson talked on Lovejoy, Hon. N. G.
Flagg talked on legislation affecting historical matters,
Rev. S. D. McKenney talked on Alton and it's splendid
democratic spirit, J. D. McAdams talked on Monks mound and
why we should keep the mounds. W. T. Norton talked on "The
Old Home We Are Visiting," telling of the Paddock home and
reciting that besides Mr. Paddock's ancestors, other noted
men, among them Willard Flagg and his wife, the parents of
Hon. N. G. Flagg, are buried in the little cemetery that is
in the Paddock yard. Gilson Brown told of the establishment
of the First Methodist church in this county in Upper Alton
in 1818. The visitors then walked back into the Paddock
pasture and viewed "the deep tangled wildwood" which is
still so dear to the heart of the master of the old Paddock
farm. It was agreed at the meeting yesterday that a movement
shall be attempted to get the State Superintendent of
Instruction to have county history be a part of the school
curriculum one month of the year in the State schools, each
vicinity to study its own county history. Miss Lanterman
reported that a room has been set apart for the use of the
Madison County Historical Society in the County Court House
and that the Probate Judge has been made custodian of
properties put there. Many rare old books and other valuable
records are in homes where they are liable to destruction
and which the owners want the county to own.
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PALMER,
JOHN McAULEY
Active
Career of the Head of the Indianapolis Ticket
Source:
Evening Herald, Syracuse, New York 1896
John McAuley Palmer is a native
of Kentucky. Ho was born In Scott county on September 18,
1817. When he was 14 years old the family moved to
Madison County, Illinois. He entered Alton (now
Shurtleff) college in 1835, but owing to lack of funds, was
never graduated. Afterward he taught school to support
himself, and in 1839 was admitted to the bar. He was elected
Probate Judge of Macoupin county in 1843 and re-elected in
1848. He went to the State Senate in 1852 and again in 1854.
He was a delegate to the first Republican State convention
in Illinois in 1856 and presided over it. The same year he
was a delegate to the convention in Philadelphia, which
nominated John C. Fremont for President. In 1860 he was one
of the electors-at-large on the Lincoln ticket, and the
following year attended the peace conference at Washington.
He was elected Colonel of the Fourteenth regiment of
Illinois infantry May 9th, 1861, and in the following
November was made Brigadier General of Volunteers. He led a
division in Pope's operations against New Madrid and Island
No. 10 in March and April, 1862, and later took part in the
operations against Corinth. He took part in the battle of
Murfreesboro in December 1862, after which he was promoted
to be Major General of Volunteers. At Chickamauga, Palma
commanded a division, and in October, 1863, he was assigned
to the command of the Fourteenth Army corps. He
distinguished himself at Lookout Mountain and Missionary
Ridge. General Palmer was elected Governor of Illinois as a
Republican in 1868. Afterward, not being in harmony with his
party on the issue of protection, he left it. As a Democrat,
he was defeated for Governor in 1888. Two years later he was
elected United States Senator by a Democratic Legislature.
Of silver, Senator Palmer has said: "I am in favor of the
free coinage of silver when, and only when, it is of the
same value with gold." He opposed the Bland bill; he fought
mightily for the repeal of the silver purchasing clause of
the Sherman law. During the strike at Homestead, Senator
Palmer strongly defended the rights of the workmen. As far
back as 1888, in accepting the nomination for Governor of
Illinois, he made a speech that was everywhere quoted. In
it, he denounced the practice of employing private
detectives, armed agents to suppress strikes. After a half
century of politics, Senator Palmer is a poor man. His first
wife died in 1886. In 1888 Senator Palmer married Mrs.
Hannah L. Kimball of Springfield. She is a cultured, refined
and helpful woman, for whose opinions the Senator has the
deepest respect. She is much younger than her husband. He
has a modest homestead at Springfield and owns a farm at
Carlinville. In Washington, his life is of the simplest. His
oldest son, John Mayo Palmer, is his law partner.
********************************************************
PIERCE, JOSEPH - Young
Man Squeezed in Hot Mold - In Horrible Plight
Source: Alton
Telegraph, March 6, 1913
Joseph Pierce, 1124
Staunton street, is at St. Joseph's hospital suffering from
a horrible burn on his left arm which may cause the loss of
the arm. He is 19 years of age. The accident occurred at
3:45 a.m. Tuesday, and is one of the most horrible that has
happened in Alton. Held with his arm tight in a red hot
vise-like arrangement on one of the automatic glassblowing
machines, the young man could not be liberated for some time
owing to the fact that his fellow workers had stopped the
revolutions of the machine that held him. The part that
caught his arm was the blank molds and the bottle molds,
which come together after the blank mold has sucked up the
molten glass and has passed from over the trough of glass,
and has blown the blank. A knife that cuts smooth the end of
the molten glass string that will drag after the blank mold,
needed to be replaced and with the machine still in
operation, Pierce was making the change. In some way that
has not been explained, Pierce does not know exactly how his
arm became caught between the blank mold and the bottle
mold. These molds must be kept red hot to make the bottles
smooth, and it was while held in this heated vise the young
man was maimed. His fellow workers stopped the machine
without thinking that Pierce's only way of escape was to
allow the machine to turn around to the point where the
upper and lower molds part company. They started the machine
up again, after some delay, and Pierce, who had to step
backward as the machine turned, had to walk half way around
with the machine before he could effect his release from the
hot molds. He was rushed to the hospital and there it was
found that his arm might have to be amputated. The bone was
not crushed, but the flesh was burned completely off. The
statement was made today that while it is customary to make
the changes of knives while the machine is in operation, the
change is effected in a manner different from that employed
by Pierce when the accident occurred. E. B. Pierce, the
father of Joseph Pierce, said today that he has hope that
his boy's left arm may be saved. The boy's arm was burned
almost to a crisp by being caught in a red hot mold of an
automatic glassblowing machine, yesterday morning. The
attending surgeon is not sure that it will be possible to
save the arm, but every effort to do so is being made.
Alton Telegraph, March
13, 1913
Three surgeons
operated upon Joseph Pierce last night and amputated the
left arm, which was burned and crushed in the red hot molds
of an automatic glassblowing machine last week. The young
man has been in the hospital ever since the accident,
suffering intense pain. Hemorrhages from the charred ends of
the arteries and veins in the arm caused loss of so much
blood that it became apparent that an operation to remove
the arm about six inches below the shoulder would be
necessary.
******************************************************
PINCKARD, W. G.
Source: Alton
Telegraph, December 23, 1864
We have understood
that it had been intended by our esteemed friend, W. G.
Pinckard, Esq., to have celebrated the fiftieth anniversary
of his wedding day, yesterday, but owing to his late sudden
and severe illness, it did not take place. Mr. Pinckard was
married on the 15th of December, 1814, in Ohio, and came to
Alton in 1818, and consequently has been a resident of Alton
for the past forty-six years, and is now the oldest citizen
in the place. He is 71 years of age, and his worthy consort
and companion is aged 68. They have had 14 children - of
whom only three sons and three daughters are now living. Mr.
P. has been remarkably healthy and robust all his life, and
up to a few days since was as active and energetic as a man
of thirty years. He was then taken down with a spell of
sickness, but we are happy to learn that he is fast
recovering and will probably be able to be out again in a
few days. His lady has always - since we have known her -
which has been nearly thirty years - been feeble and
afflicted, but still she is yet exceedingly active both in
body and mind. We have said this much of this worthy pair,
as there are not many couples in the west who have arrived
at the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage day.
******************************************************
PRAGER, ROBERT P. - LYNCHED BY AN ILLINOIS MOB
Source: The New York Times, April 5, 1918
Robert P. Prager, a German born Socialist, was dragged from
the basement of the Collinsville, Ill., City Hall, twelve
miles from St. Louis, tonight by leaders of a mob of from
three to four hundred men, marched barefooted to a point
one-half mile outside of the Collinsville limits and
lynched. He was accused of having made disloyal remarks to
Maryville, Ill. miners. His capture by the mob and lynching
came after he had been hidden by the Collinsville police
among a lot of tiling in the basement of the City Hall while
Mayor Siegel made a speech to the mob from the steps of the
City Hall, pleading with his hearers to give the prisoner
the right of trial. The police previously had rushed the job
and captured Prager while he was being marched through the
main street of the city with an American flag tied about
him. Twice before the mob wreaked its vengeance on the man
it appeared that he would have escaped from it - once when
he fled from Maryville to Collinsville, a distance of four
miles, and again when the police, after hiding their
prisoner, told the job he had been spirited out of the city.
But the mob leaders each time took up the search for their
victim, and stayed with it until they found him. The
lynching took place on the old National Road, leading toward
St. Louis. While police were rushing toward the scene in an
automobile from East St. Louis, Prager, who was a baker and
miner, 32 years old, was strung up to a tree. The lynching
took place about 12:30 o'clock Friday morning. The body was
found a few minutes later and the Coroner of Edwardsville,
Madison County, notified. The trouble started at Maryville.
Prager was employed there in the Bruno Bakery. Recently he
made application to join the Miners' Union, and sought work
in the coal mines. He said he had worked as a miner in
Germany. While his application for membership in the union
was pending, Prager is said to have harrangued some of the
miners on socialism. In the course of his remarks he made
statements they interpreted as disloyal and pro-German. When
a recent wave of patriotism swept over many Illinois towns
the miners and others at Maryville organized a committee to
deal with Prager. The committee was to have taken him in
custody yesterday afternoon. Prager heard of it, and fled to
Maryville. The committee followed and searched for him. He
was found in a house here in which he formerly resided, and
dragged into the street. His shoes were stripped off, and
members of the mob began pulling off his clothes when some
one produced an American flag. It was wrapped about him and
tied. With the prisoner bareheaded and stumbling every few
steps, a parade was started up the main street of the city.
It had proceeded several blocks when a policeman led a squad
of other officers in a dash into the crowd. They captured
the prisoner. He was hurried to the police station, members
of the mob following. Later he was retaken by the mob.
********************************************************
PRITCHETT, HARVEY
Source: The New York
Times, July 21, 1852
While Harvey
Pritchett, son of James Pritchett, living in Looking-Glass
Prairie, Madison County, Illinois, was engaged in cutting
wheat with a reaping machine, his horses took fright and
started to run. Springing from his seat to stop them, he
fell in front of the reaper, which caught him and dragged
him along some distance, severing one of his thighs almost
entirely from his body, and otherwise wounding him so
severely that he died in about six hours after the accident
occurred.
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RAIN, JOHN - SERIOUSLY
WOUNDED IN DUEL
Source: Alton
Telegraph, September 4, 1913
John Rain, former
North [Alton] Side business man, was dangerously wounded by
Bert Morrison, a Fieldon bartender, after Rain had first
shot Morrison with a rifle in the abdomen. Morrison shot
Rain with two barrels of a shot gun, the shot lodging in
Rain's left shoulder as Rain had turned to run away after he
had wounded Morrison. The double shooting occurred Tuesday
afternoon at the mouth of Otter Creek on the Illinois River.
Rain was sought in Alton on a warrant for committing an
assault upon Mrs. John Shelton at Hop Hollow last Saturday
night. At the same time, Chris Rain assaulted Mr. Shelton.
In making his escape, John Rain took a little motor boat he
had been using and went up the Illinois River to resume
"shelling," and Tuesday afternoon he met two Jersey County
men, Bert Morrison, a Fieldon bartender, and Charles Powers
of Jerseyville. The trio had been drinking and a quarrel
followed during which Rain shot Morrison in the abdomen with
a rifle, the ball making a wound that looked to be very
dangerous. Immediately when he was shot, Morrison, so the
earliest story went, seized a double-barreled shotgun and he
fire as Rain turned to run, and the shot lodged in Rain's
left shoulder, making a very ugly wound. Surgical help was
procured at once and Morrison was taken to his home at
Fieldon. There was no place to keep John Rain except in the
steamboat warehouse at the mouth of Otter Creek. He was
given such surgical attention as was possible, and suffered
intense pain. It was decided to bring him to Alton in a
yacht, but as there was none nearer than Grafton, there was
considerable delay in getting the wounded man to Alton. The
long delay, it was believed, might result in blood poisoning
setting in. The surgeon attending Rain estimated there were
about 170 shot lodged in his shoulder, and the flesh was
badly torn. Morrison, the man whom Rain shot, is 36 years of
age and has a family at Fieldon. Rain arrived at Alton this
morning and was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital. He was
stronger than could have been expected, after the long
suffering and lack of proper treatment, and while he might
recover under ordinary circumstances, there was considerable
doubt as to the outcome of his wounds. There seems to be
some doubt as to how the shooting really occurred, as all
the parties are silent. Mrs. Joseph Rain, mother of the
wounded young man, went up the river to meet the boat
conveying her son to Alton and took charge of him. Deputy
Sheriff Peter Fitzgerald has two warrants for the arrest of
John Rain, one of them charging him with the larceny of a
motor boat belonging, it is claimed, to Charles Burgess, and
the other charges him with assaulting Mrs. John Shelton last
Saturday night. Sheriff Ross Chappell of Jerseyville was
down today for the purpose of arresting John Rain and taking
him to Jerseyville. Chappell said that he wants Rain on a
charge of shooting Morrison, and he will maintain a guard at
the hospital to see that the wounded man does not escape.
The Madison County authorities are inclined to waive their
charges against Rain in favor of the Jersey County
authorities who are very desirous of getting hold of Rain to
prosecute him. Chappell does not believe that Rain was shot
by Morrison, as he says the range was so close that if
Morrison had fired the gun the shot would have bored a hole
clear through Rain and he would probably have been instantly
killed.
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RANDLE,
JUDGE IRVIN B.
Source:
Albany, New York Evening Journal, September 30, 1893
Alton - Judge Irvin B. Randle,
one of the oldest and most prominent citizens of this
county, died yesterday, aged [unreadable]. He was a personal
friend of Abraham Lincoln and was first to carry him the
news of his nomination in 1861.
*********************************************************
REAGEN, JOHN F. - THE
SHOOTING OF
Source: Alton
Telegraph, Thursday, May 18, 1893
The following letter
from the assistant prosecuting attorney of Redkey, Indiana,
the place where John F. Reagen, of this city, was shot by a
woman of ill-repute, explains itself. It is addressed to the
wounded man's brother in this city [Alton], and in justice
to him and his friends here it is published: "Redkey,
Indiana., May 13, 1893. Charles Reagen, 1312 East Third St.,
Alton, Ill.: Dear Sir, Your brother, John F. Reagen,
was shot here at this place on the night of May 11th, by one
Leota Curtis Vernon, a woman of bad repute. The woman is at
present in jail waiting the action of the Grand Jury. I will
say on behalf of your brother, from the best information I
can get, that he is in no way to blame, and that he was
cruelly shot by a heartless woman. Since he has been
stopping at this place, he has in every way conducted
himself as a gentleman, and has the respect of all who know
him. The citizens are very indignant over the occurrence,
and in justice to your brother and friends I felt it my duty
to inform you of the fact that he is in no way considered
responsible for his being shot. I hope that he may get along
all right and I desire that you write me occasionally,
informing me of his condition, and should his wound prove
fatal, I should like very much to know, so that justice may
be meted out to the party that shot him. Hoping to receive
an early reply, I am very truly, Dell Dragoo, Deputy
Prosecuting Attorney." J. F. Reagen is lying at
the Sisters' hospital in this city in a dangerous condition,
and unless the physicians succeed in removing the bullet
that is lodged in his head, there is but little hope of
recovery. The bullet is lodged between the eyes and an
operation will have to be performed before it can be
extracted.
****************************************************
REID, MRS. MARY - A
BRAVE WOMAN
Source: Alton
Telegraph, May 25, 1893
About five o'clock
Tuesday evening two ruffians went to the home of Mrs. Mary
Reid, on Common street, just beyond Washington school. They
asked if her husband was home and when told that he was not,
they enquired when he would get back from work. She told
them that he would be back after six o'clock. One of the men
then forced his way into the room and grappled with Mrs.
Reid, locking the door after him. He choked her, but she
loosened his hold and grabbed a hatchet nearby and turned on
him. The brute did not attack her again. The second man
forced the door in and Mrs. Reid, still holding the hatched,
told them that she would kill the first one that touched
her. She piled several chairs in front of her, all the time
crying bitterly. The men after helping themselves to
everything eatable in the house left. They mounted horses,
which were left tied outside, and rode away. Mrs. Reid is a
woman 45 years of age and has been sickly. She describes the
one man as being tall with a black moustache and wearing a
black Derby hat. She would recognize him should she see him
again.
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RICHARDSON, B. C.
Source: Syracuse, New York Daily
Standard, 1897
B. C. Richardson of Alton, Ill.,
a graduate of Syracuse University and now a teacher in Alton
high school, is spending a few days in town. He is an
interesting talker because of being a close observer. Alton
is an old town on the Mississippi, famous in its day as a
shipping point for western Illinois. It was famous also as
an abolition headquarters and the scene of Lovejoy's murder.
Lovejoy is remembered by the older generation, but the
youngsters will do well to look him up, for his work on the
press and his inking off in the fight for the freedom of the
slaves was important. Alton is a very old town for the West.
Mr. Richardson knows an old riverboat captain who says that
many a package of express matter carried on his boat has
been directed "St. Louis - near Alton."
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RIGGIN,
IGNATIUS
Source:
Warwick Dispatch, March 16, 1887, Warwick, Orange County,
New York the four daughters of Ignatius
Riggin, of Madison County, Illinois, not only make their own
dresses and other clothing, but spin and weave the cloth of
which are made from raw cotton and wool. Mr. Riggin is a
rich man, rated worth $230,000, and his daughters are
pretty, intelligent, and accomplished. They live luxuriously
in a handsome house, expensively and tastefully furnished.
Home-made clothing is the father's hobby, and the girls
sensibly indulge him in it.
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ROBBIN,
WILLIAM
Source:
Syracuse, New York Daily Courier, 1870
In
Alton, Ill. Monday night, William Robin, while burglariously
entering the house of W. W. Martin, was shot and killed by
the latter.
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SCHEMMERHORN, JOHN
Source:
The Daily Observer, Utica, New York, August 12, 1872
John
Schemmerhorn of Alton, Illinois thought one of his cows was
afflicted with the hollow horn last week. To satisfy
himself, he caught the beast and held her by the tail while
his wife rapped on the horn with a tack hammer. A moment
later, a barnyard tableaux was seen, as Schemmerhorn soared
over a ten-foot board fence, and his wife had an aperture in
her Dolly Varden that a week's constant labor with a sewing
machine will hardly repair.
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SCHUTZ, CHRIS
Source: Alton Evening
Telegraph, July 7, 1922
Chris Schutz, a 75
year old man who has been a well known character in Godfrey
township for many years, has suffered the loss of all his
worldly possessions - $44 - which he lost in a pocketbook.
The old man had been staying, rent free, on the place of
Mrs. Luella G. Paddock of Godfrey, and Mrs. Paddock has
interested herself in helping the aged man recover his
money. She said that he had been saving the money little by
little to have something to keep him next winter. He is not
able to do a great deal of work, but is willing to do all he
can. It took a long time to save the $44, and it is as much
a loss to Schultz as millions would be to some people
frequent as it may be for losers of in the world. For this
reason, ... money to find it, the hope is expressed that old
man Schultz's money will be given back to him by whoever may
have found it and does not know who owns it. For this reason
the conspicuous publicity is being to the announcement
because it appears to have more than ordinary merit in it.
The lost money is everything the old man had.
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SEIBOLD, CHARLES
Source: Alton Daily
Telegraph, Tuesday, May 2, 1893
Mr. Charles Seibold,
yesterday, found it necessary to have a delicate operation
performed on one of his fine black hearse horses. The horse
had become a "roarer" and it was found necessary to insert a
tube in his throat. Dr. J. C. Booker yesterday inserted the
silver tube and the operation proved very successful, as the
horse uses his new wind pipe with perfect ease.
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SHEPHERD, ELBERT
Source: Alton Telegraph, February 25, 1913
Elbert Shepherd went to East Alton yesterday to attend the
meeting of the Liquor Dealer's Protective Association.
A marriage license was granted today to Elbert Sheppard and
Mrs. Mabel Stierley [Sterling], both of Wood River. The
groom is a saloon proprietor at Wood River, and the bride
has been a school teacher there. The couple's engagement had
become known, but they kept the time of the marriage secret
and there has been considerable guessing among the couple's
friends. The ceremony took place in Alton today.
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SHEPHERD, ELBERT
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, April 3, 1913
Mr. and Mrs. Elbert Shepherd will take charge of the
telephone home tomorrow and will take charge of the Star
telephone work.
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SHEPHERD AND STERLING WEDDING
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, February 26, 1913
Elbert Shepherd, one of the popular young men of Wood River,
in business with Henry Carstens, Jr., in Benbow City, was
married last night at 7:30 at the home of the Rev. S. D.
McKenny in Alton. They returned after the marriage and will
reside in Wood River. Mrs. Sterling is a teacher in the Wood
River school, having taught for several years and will
remain at her position until the close of the term when she
will resign. Both young people have many friends in Wood
River. The engagement was announced for some time, but the
exact date of the wedding was not known to their friends.
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, February 27, 1913
Mr. and Mrs. Elbert Shepherd who were married Tuesday night
were given a rousing charivari last night at their home by
their friends, Mr. Shepherd had everything in readiness for
the occasion, which he had been warned of in advance, and
ordered the crowd to go to his saloon where several kegs of
beer were opened and the crowd was given a treat. The noise
of the charivari was stopped when the crowd were informed of
their treat.
****************************************************
SHORT - GODFREY MARRIAGE
Source: Alton Daily Telegraph, October 5, 1893
Last evening at seven o'clock at the residence of Capt. J.
A. Bruner on State street, Mr. William Harry Short, of this
city [Alton], and Miss Julia Godfrey, were united in
marriage. Rev. G. W. Smith of the Presbyterian church
officiated. The attendants of the bride were Miss May
Armstrong and Miss Lizzie Bland. The groom is a well known
and popular mail carrier, and the bride is one of the
society leaders of Godfrey and a granddaughter of Capt.
Benjamin Godfrey. The happy bride and groom left on the late
train for Chicago where they will spend their honeymoon.
Among the attendants from abroad were Miss H. N. Haskell and
Miss Armstrong, of Monticello Seminary; Miss Stella Hilliard
of Brighton, Miss Florence Paillon of St. Louis, and Mr.
Charles Short, of East St. Louis, beside a large number of
Godfrey and Alton friends. The presents attesting the
respect in which both bride and groom are held were both
numerous and handsome. A large number of the friends of the
young people gathered at the depot to bid them God-speed.
They were showered with rice, and the traditional "old shoe"
was attached to either end of a trunk belonging to them.
There was much merriment and joyous congratulations all
round.
************************************************************
SINCLAIR, W. B.
Maniac Loose on the Sinclair Place
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, June 22, 1922
Without a stitch of clothing on him, and nothing to conceal
any part of his anatomy except a red necktie for a belt and
a handkerchief bound round his head, a patient form the
Alton State Hospital today caused considerable loss to W. B.
Sinclair, who lives on the Spinner place between the C. &
A., and the Burlington railroads, east of Upper Alton. The
insane man was having the time of his life, clad in his
"birthday" clothes, but before he got through he decided to
disguise himself in a pair of trousers belonging to Mr.
Sinclair and a little shirt that was far too short for him.
He was wearing this when captured. During his raid on the
Sinclair place, which began about 10 a.m. today, the maniac
killed 52 capons, fifty young chickens, punched about twenty
holes with a pitch fork in the legs of a horse he tried to
hitch to a wagon, took apart every section of two sets of
harness and carried a great pile of articles, including
empty sacks, a roll of tar paper, harness, horse blankets,
to the railroad track where he piled them in a heap. Mrs.
Sinclair happened to notice the naked man running about the
place and she was terrified. She telephoned to the state
hospital and about an hour later she said, the man was sent
after and was taken back to the hospital. Mr. Sinclair told
the Telegraph that the man got into an outbuilding where
there was a large quantity of supplies for the farm stored,
and he overthrew everything, pulling apart some things and
tossing others in a heap. It would take him weeks, Mr.
Sinclair said, to straighten up after the visit of the
maniac at his place. The capons, which Mr. Sinclair says are
missing, weighed about two pounds each. They had recently
been caponized and were being kept in a pen so they would
grow fast and fatten quickly. The little chickens were
younger than the capons and were being kept penned up, ready
to be turned into capons too. Mr. Sinclair planning to do
the work in the next few days. The capons he said are worth
about $2 each. Some of the dead ones were found in a sack
which the insane man had with him, but the others are still
missing and what he did with them the owner is unable to
say. Mr. Sinclair thought that the pranks of the state
hospital visitor were much like Halloween pranks by boys.
The patient seemed to be having a bully good time of it. He
seemed to be searching for something and was having a hard
time to find what he wanted. This is the first instance in a
long time of a patient at the hospital getting out on such a
rampage. Speaking of the man's nakedness, Mr. Sinclair said
that the fellow found an old pair of trousers in the shed he
was rummaging, and put them on, and he also found a short
shirt which came about eight inches from meeting the top of
his trousers. Describing the injuries to his horse, Mr.
Sinclair said that the patient found the horse in the lot,
and undertook to hitch him to a wagon. The horse was not
agreeable to the project of the maniac, and the crazy man
seized a pitchfork and kept jabbing the horse until the
animal was bleeding from fully twenty holes in his legs.
*************************************************************
SMITH,
REV. ARNOLD
Source:
The Genoa Tribune, New York, April 30, 1920
Dryden Pastor Resigns.
After serving three years as pastor of the Presbyterian
church of Dryden. Rev. Arnold Smith has presented his
resignation. The Presbyterian church of Edwardsville,
Illinois, which extended him a unanimous call has a
membership of 375. The city to which he goes has a
population approximating 8,000 and is the seat of Madison
county. Illinois. Mr. Smith will be within twelve miles of
the village church which his father, also a Presbyterian
minister, supplied many years ago. He hopes to begin his
work on his new field May 16.
***********************************************************
SMITH, DR. C. M.
Source: Alton Telegraph, September 6, 1877
Saturday evening, about 9 o'clock, as Dr. C. M. Smith was
riding down Belle street in his buggy on his return home
from making some professional calls, he met, near Clifford's
grocery store, a buggy driven by Frank Charless of Godfrey,
who was accompanied by two other young men. The horses
driven by Carless were going quite rapidly, and Dr. Smith
tried, in the intense darkness, to turn out of the way, but
in vain; his buggy collided with the other, threw him out
and inflicted such severe injuries that he was taken home in
a semi-unconscious condition, in which state he still
remains. Dr. Davis was called, and did all that was possible
to relieve the sufferer. It is feared that internal injuries
were received, but hopes are entertained of his ultimate
recovery. Frank Charless was thrown out of his wagon and
dragged some distance, but succeeded in stopping his team
without receiving any serious hurt, but one of the men with
him was badly bruised by the concussion. The third occupant
escaped uninjured. Both buggies were badly broken. Dr.
Smith's condition shows some improvement this afternoon, we
are glad to state, and his friends are correspondingly
encouraged.
********************************************************
STAISHIM, ZIVA
Source: The New York Times, February 6, 1910
Ziva Staishim, owner of a hotel here [Madison], became so
joyful when he got a divorce at Edwardsville that he at once
spent $23,000 to show his feeling in the matter. Of the
amount $20,000 was given to his three children, who are now
in Austria with their mother. He then sent out couriers from
Edwardsville to gather his friends at Madison and Granite
City and started homeward, lavishing money as he went. At
Madison, he celebrated with hundreds of friends and
acquaintances and then sent to Granite City to get others.
Gathering as many as his hotel would hold, he spent the
remainder of the evening showing them how happy he was to be
free. Mrs. Staishim recently returned to Austria with her
children, and Staishim, who is 35 years old, charged that
she deserted him. When Judge Hadley today handed down his
decree along with sixteen others, he immediately got beside
himself with joy.
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TELGMAN - LAUGHLIN WEDDING
Source: Alton Telegraph, October 15, 1891
Tuesday evening at 7 o'clock, at the residence of the
bride's father, 120 West Fourth street, occurred the
wedding of Mr. William Telgman and Miss Emilie J.
Laughlin. The groom is a prosperous young business man
of Chicago, formerly of Godfrey, and the bride is a
daughter of Mr. Thompson Laughlin. The ceremony was
performed by Rev. Mr. Scawthon, of the Methodist church,
in the presence of a large number of relatives and
friends. After the ceremony an elegant wedding supper
was served. Mr. and Mrs. Telgman received many handsome
presents. After the congratulations and good wishes of
their many friends, they left for Chicago.
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TITCHENAL, VAN - - - LOOSES ARM IN ACCIDENT
Source: The Alton Telegraph, Thursday, June 12, 1913
Van Titchenal met with a serious accident Tuesday noon
at the P. H. Neuhaus farm where he had been sawing
lumber. They had just finished the lumber and had set
the wood saw to cut stove wood. The driving belt had
slipped from the engine flywheel several times and
started to wrap around the pulley on the saw shaft. The
shaft also has a heavy balance wheel on it, and when
speeded up will run for some time. Titchenal grabbed the
belt to stop the speed and in some way was drawn against
the pulley with great force. His right arm was crushed
to a pulp between the wrist and elbow and some of the
bones of the right side of the face were also injured,
causing blood to flow from the mouth and nose. Charles
Harrison and William Challengsworth who were working
with him, released him and he was taken to his home at
Fosterburg. Dr. Moore was called and after viewing the
injury called for Dr. Shaff of Alton. They decided that
there was no possibility of saving the injured arm and
it was amputated a short distance below the elbow.
Titchenal showed remarkable nerve from the time of the
accident until the operation. He did not faint or groan,
although he could see blood and pieces of his flesh on
the belt, and about four inches of the bone in his arm
was protruding through the flesh. One piece of bone was
picked up from the ground after the accident. The
doctors wanted to carry him from the bed on which he was
resting to the operating table, but he told them he
could walk himself and walked from the bed to the table
and lay down. The accident is a great misfortune to Mr.
Titchenal. He is an industrious hard-working young man
and a most skillful sawyer, always taking great pride in
his work. He is also an inventive genius and at one time
had a perpetual motion machine which he built himself.
He is afflicted with asthma and is often compelled to
sleep out of doors in order to be able to breathe, which
will be very hard on him while recovering from the
accident. He came out from the effects of the operation
in good shape.
***************************************************
TRAVOUS, CHARLES N. & GILLIAN LUSK
Source: Edwardsville Intelligencer, October 6, 1886/Submitted
by Jane Denny
At 7:30 o'clock, this evening, Mr. C. N. Travous and
Miss Gillian L. Torrence will be united in marriage , at
St. John's M.E. Church. Rev. E. M. West will officiate,
and Mr. Jas. B. Dale and Dr. C. C. Corbett will act as
ushers. Immediately after the ceremony the couple will
be entertained at the residence of Dr. Pogue, by the
directors of the public library. This is to be a
surprise to the couple. None but the directors and
their families, the young attorneys and their best
girls, the ushers and relatives will be invited. During
the evening the celebrated Enterprise band will serenade
the happy twain. On tomorrow evening Mr. and Mrs.
Cyrus Happy will tender them a reception, to which their
numerous friends have been invited. The bride is the
only daughter of Mrs. S. J. Torrence, and an
accomplished young lady, well known in Edwardsville
society. The groom is a prominent young attorney,
associated with Cyrus Happy in the practice of his
profession. Charlie has plead his suite well in this
case and won it without judge or jury. The
INTELLIGENCER joins their host of friends in
congratulations, and wishes them ought else but a
pleasant and prosperous journey through life.
Source: Edwardsville Intelligencer, October 13, 1886/Submitted
by Jane Denny
Last Thursday evening Mr. and Mrs. Cyrus Happy tendered
a reception to Mr. and Mrs. C. N Travous. About two
hundred invitations were issued, the major portion
responding. At 8 o'clock the several rooms were filled
with guests eager to extend their congratulations and
best wishes to the happy twain, who were stationed near
the center of the parlor, which had previous been
handsomely decorated with flowers. Immediately above
them hung a huge bell, labeled "chestnut," but
nevertheless it was not rung every often. At about 11
o'clock a delicious supper was served by the hostess,
after which the young people indulged in dancing. The
orchestra, composed of Messrs. William and George
Schwarz, Ed. Randle, E. O. Crane and F. W. Tunnell, were
stationed in the hall and discoursed delightful music at
intervals during the evening. The occasion was a most
pleasant one and will long be remembered by Charles and
his fair bride.
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UHL, ADALINE
Source: Edwardsville
Intelligencer, April 13, 1909/Submitted by
Robert C. Snyder
Mrs. Adaline Uhl and grandson,
William Shea, of
Poag, returned home this morning from Highland,
where they spent the Easter holidays with Mrs. Adam
Huber and family.
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WARD, JOHN
A. & MINNIE
Source: The
Register, 1902/Submitted by Steven Ward
The case of
Minnie Ward, administratrix of the estate of John A. Ward,
vs. American Car & Foundry Co., of Madison, Ill., brought to
the October term of the Madison County Circuit Court, has
been removed by the defendants to the Federal court on the
ground that it is a foreign corporation. The case will stand
for trial at the January term at Springfield. The
Register readers will remember that Mr. Ward was
employed as a switchman in the yards of the American Car &
Foundry Co., and that he was injured while a car was being
backed into a paint shop. In some manner he was caught
between some scaffolding at the entrance to the shop and the
facing of the car door and was fatally injured, dying the
next day. Mr. Ward lived in Mount Vernon the greater part of
his life.
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WARNOCK - BURROUGHS WEDDING
Source: Edwardsville Intelligencer, June 26, 1896/Submitted
by Jane Denny
One of the most notable weddings of the month of June took
place Wednesday evening at the pleasant home of Judge and
Mrs. B. R. Burroughs. The contracting parties were their
daughter, Miss Maude, and Master-in Chancery Wilbur M.
Warnock. The floral decorations and other preparations were
on an elaborate scale. It was a pink and white wedding, and
in every room the predominating colors were agreeably
blended. The spacious double parlors had received special
attention. To the front was arranged a canopy of smilax and
ferns and an embankment of palms. Festoons of smilax, in
graceful loops, were suspended from the center of the
ceiling to the four corners. This latter formed part of the
adornment in almost every room. Here and there the eye was
attracted by roses of pink and white. Promptly at seven
o'clock Schwarz's orchestra, which was stationed in the
upper hall, played Lohengrin's wedding march, and the bridal
party proceeded through the back parlor and took position
underneath the canopy of smilax and ferns. First came the
groom accompanied by the groomsman, Mr. John L. Stanley,
followed by Miss Nora Burroughs, the maid of honor, and the
bride leaning on the arm of her father. The pretty ring
ceremony was performed by Presiding Elder W. E. Ravenscroft,
in the presence of sixty guests, relatives and intimate
friends. Following the ceremony the couple received the
hearty congratulations and well wishes of the assembled
guests. From half-past-seven until nine o'clock they were
tendered a reception, and upwards of two hundred responded
to invitations. Dainty refreshments, in pink and white,
prepared by St. Louis caterers, were served. Music was
rendered by the orchestra. At nine the guests began to
depart. Half an hour later the couple were driven to the
lower depot, and boarded the Wabash train for St. Lois. They
will make a two weeks' tour of the West. The bride was
costumed in ivory white satin, lined with coral taffeta,
trimmed in duchesse lace; a white tulle veil was confined to
the hair with a sunburst of diamonds; she carried a bouquet
of white bridal roses, fringed with lilies of the valley.
Her going-away gown was of covert cloth, tailor-made, with
hat and gloves to match. Miss Nora Burroughs, maid of honor,
wore a girlish gown of white, lace-trimmed organdie over
coral taffeta, and carried a bouquet of La France roses.
Mrs. Burroughs, mother of the bridge, was attired in black
peu de sol silk, trimmed in Persian silk and cut jet. Mrs.
L. Warnock, of Columbia, mother of the groom, wore black
satin, trimmed in real lace. The bride is the eldest
daughter of Judge and Mrs. B. R. Burroughs, a gracious and
accomplished young lady. She is a leader in society circles,
and is highly esteemed by all. The groom is a well-known
lawyer, a member of the firm Travous & Warnock, and stands
well in the front of the profession. He studied law under
Judge Burroughs, was associated with him in the practice,
and was afterwards appointed master-in-chancery and is now
filling his fourth term. He occupies a prominent position in
business and social affairs. The legion of friends of the
happy couple join in wishing them an abundance of success
and happiness.
************************************************************
WATERS, WILLIAM - HAS FINE COLLECTION OF INDIAN RELICS
Source: The Alton Telegraph, Thursday, September 4, 1913
William Waters of Godfrey, who lives in the old stone
mansion built by Benjamin Godfrey and is known as one of the
most progressive and prosperous farmers of Godfrey township,
has finished cataloguing about 7,000 articles in a
collection of Indian relics. He has some that are very fine
and highly valued by collectors. Mr. Waters has been engaged
for many years on his collection and is one of the best
posted men and an authority on this subject. He recently
acquired most of the fine collection which E. M. Bowman had,
and has included them in his collection.
**************************************************************
WICKENHAUSER - ENJOYABLE DANCE GIVEN
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, February 21, 1919
A most enjoyable party was given last evening at the home of
Mr. and Mrs. William Wickenhauser, the sprightly and lovely
young ladies of the family and the amusement were so good
and varied that the guests found it impossible to break away
for home until a late or rather early hour. The house was
decorated in red, white and blue colors, with Washington
hatchets scattered around in convenient places, and the
amusements consisted of dancing, cards, other games and
music, vocal and instrumental. Music was furnished by Irvin
Dinges and the young ladies of the home, and the
refreshments served amounted to a banquet - and a good one
at that. Among the guests were: Misses Mary Shields, Grace
Murphy, Alice Smith, Eva Murrell, Ida Miller, Katheryn
Winger, Mary Winger, Mary Kendal, Mabel and Bertha
Fulkerson, Jewel Schelle, Ida Yager, Lillian Walker; Messrs.
Glenn Moore, Irvin Dinges, Victor Henkhaus, Albert Pelot,
Victor Ursch, George, Herbert, William, Ed and Albert
Wickenhauser, and George Seeger. The guests agree that it
was the most enjoyable social affair given this winter in
that locality, and are anxious for an encore.
**********************************************************
WILSON, GRACE A. (nee LOGAN)
Source:
Rochester, New York Democrat and Chronicle, December 10,
1899
She Is a
Business Woman. One of Her Feats Was to Own and Sell a
Railroad Franchise.
Mrs.
Grace A. Wilson, of Collinsville, Ill., who was married
yesterday at the Planters' hotel to Captain Henry of
Indianapolis, is a most remarkable woman. Judging by the
statements of her friends in this city. She is perhaps the
only woman in this part of the United States who has
originated the plans for a new railroad, secured the options
on the right of way and made all the arrangements whereby
the road may be built at any time. In addition to this, she
owns a large coal field which this railroad will put in
touch with the market, owns and operates a bell foundry and
has charge of large real estate interests. The wisdom which
Mrs. Henry has shown in her conduct of business is perhaps
the result of self-reliance which was developed very
early in life. She is a St. Louis girl, her maiden name
being Grace A. Logan. Her father was a well-known insurance
man, who died nearly a quarter of a century ago, when she
was 15 years of age. The daughter soon afterward married the
late O. B. Wilson, a prominent business man of Collinsville,
Ill. He spent a great deal of time in this city. Two
daughters were born to Mr. and Mrs., Wilson, both being now
grown. Mrs. Henry's business career dates from the time when
her first husband became a confirmed invalid, about six
years ago. He was the owner of a bell foundry in
Collinsville. The business was an exacting one and although
it was established the care which devolved upon the wife of
the invalid was one which many a man of mature business
judgment would have assumed with some doubts. From the first
then Mrs. Wilson met with success and the business of the
factory grew under her management Four years ago Mr. Wilson
died. Her two years experience stood Mrs. Wilson in good
stead. She invested surplus capital in real estate at
Collinsville. Then she learned of the coal fields near
Madison and she put her money into them, until she
controlled as much of the coal land as any of the
capitalists in that district. The result is that at the
present day she owns a large part of the Madison coal
fields. Mrs. Wilson thought that she ought to have better
transportation facilities. Then she did a most remarkable
thing. She projected a railroad to connect with the Illinois
Central at Collinsville. More than that, she incorporated
the company, securing outside capital. The name of the
newly-incorporated company in the charter was given as the
"St. Louis and Eastern." Then she went to work to secure a
right of way. This is usually considered one of the hardest
propositions in railroad building, but she did not hesitate.
She personally laid out the route which she wanted the road
to take. The whole length of the road, as she projected it,
is about seventy-five miles. To secure the options she
undertook to visit the owners of the land for about
one-third of the entire distance. It took time and
perseverance. She succeeded and held to tike options. Then
she did another remarkable thing. She announced that she did
not care to go any further with the road, but if any
capitalists wanted to syndicate and buy her out, they might
do so. She named her price and got it. What that price is
none of her friends claim to
know,
though it is said that she mentioned the fact one day that
she had not made quite as much out of it as she ought to
have done. Since she sold out the road, which was not so
very long ago, she has attended to her bell foundry. She
still owns the coal mines at the end of the proposed road,
besides her real estate interests in Collinsville.
*************************************************************
WINCHELL, IRA
Six Gallons of Booze is Taken in Still Raid
(Prohibition Era)
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, March 6, 1922
A raid was conducted this morning on the home of Ira A.
Winchell on Hillcrest avenue, by Officers McReynolds and
Hudnut, which resulted in seizure of a very well made still,
about six gallons of booze and some other stuff. There was
no mash found. Winchell had the knowledge to color the
moonshine he was making and it would have passed for regular
whisky. It appeared that he had been taught to make whisky
by someone who knew his business. The officers who made the
raid said that Winchell denied owning the still. It was in
the cellar of his home and had been used there. The worm was
kept hidden in a sort of a sub cellar excavation that was
always covered. Mrs. Winchell, the officers believe, did not
know what was going on. She said that her husband worked
every day at the Federal Lead plant, that he had nearly
finished paying for his house and she regretted exceedingly
that their happy home would be endangered by the discovery
of the still there.
*********************************************************
WINKLER, JOSEPH
Source: The New York Times, October 9, 1914
Alton, Ill., Oct. 8 - A negro burglar was choked to death
here today by Joseph Winkler, after the negro had cut
Winkler, his wife, and son with a razor. Winkler's son,
Frederick, 18 years of age, awoke to see the negro leaning
over his bed. A struggle began and the rest of the family
were awakened, hurrying to the aid of the son. The elder
Winkler seized the burglar and began to choke him while
Frederick went for a rope with which the negro was bound.
The police were notified, but when they arrived the man was
dead.
**************************************************************
WRIGHT, MARY
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, October 15, 1923
East Alton - Mrs. Mary Wright and daughter, who have been
visiting the former's daughter, Mrs. Earl Kirk and family
for a while, have returned to their home in Wellsville, Mo.
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ZIRGES, LOUISE
Source: Alton
Evening Telegraph, May 15, 1920
Wife Tells of Slavery On Home Farm
Out of the 89
suits filed for the May term of the Circuit court, 32 are
for divorce and one of the most remarkable claims for
divorce is that of Mrs. Louise Zirges of Prairietown, who
seeks separation from G. W. Zirges. She had reared a family
of nine, all of whom are of age except her son, Arthur, who
is fourteen. Mrs. Zirges declares that her treatment is such
she cannot endure it any longer. She avers she served as a
hired hand on the farm as well as doing housework, cooking,
washing, and sewing. In addition to that, she sa | |
