Carries His Record on His Back.

Away back in 1874 John R. Lansbery, who resided on a farm about seven miles south of town, found a terrapin and carved his initials and the date found on its shell. Some ten years later he found the same terrapin on the same farm, and he drilled through the edge of its shell ten little round holes, one for each year. John R. Lansbery has been gathered to his father’s some seven or eight years, and his son Vernon Lansbery, now occupies the farm, and Wednesday of last week his little boy found the same old terrapin bearing the date and initials as given above; the ten little round holes are still near the edge of its shell. Mr. Lansbery carved the work “found” on its back and the figures 1915, and then turned Mr. Terrapin loose for another forty years of wandering.

Footnote:

I believe this is from south of Casey in Johnson Twp. According to the census from 1900 and 1930 and the war registrations Vernon Lansbery would be John’s son Wills Vernon Lansbery and that is where they are listed as living.

Unknown what paper the article is from.

From the scrapbook of George W. Orndorff (1854-1934) of Casey & Johnson Twp, Clark County.

Transcribed by S. Barhydt, great-granddaughter (folksandmore@yahoo.com)

Communicated.

Oak Point, ILLs., Jan. 2d, ’74 (1874)

Mr. Editor:

Seeing some communications in your paper from this place and waiting for some time to see if Mr. “Peter Kin” was going to write again, and then coming to the conclusion that he had run ashore, I thought that it would not be out of order to write to you. Mr. “Peter Kin” dealt in jokes, and we think that he must have been bad off for something to write, besides running considerable of a risk of getting his head punched for his trouble. So exit “Peter Kin.”

The Point is looking up of late; there being a subscription in circulation for the purpose of building a frame church on the corner of Mr. Baughman’s land, near E. T. Forrester’s residence. The list now amounts to over $700.00 with no names out of the neighborhood; in the opinion a better location for a church would be on the Casey road near Mr. Bell’s blacksmith shop. It is to be a frame building of convenient size, to have a cupolo and a good bell, to cost about $1,500 and for the use of an orthodox minister. Prominent among the most liberal donors are Mr. Baughman, Mr. J. S. Slusser and E. T. Forrester, each $100; Harrison Roberts, T. J. Slusser, Lewis Forrester, and Damon Finney, $50 each.

There is quite a sensation now agitating the people of Jasper County. Mr. Elias McFadden, the keeper of the paupers for Jasper County, living on Painter Creek, near Granville, has been arrested on the charge of murdering, or causing the death of one of the paupers. The facts, so far as have come to light, are as follows: The pauper, George Mitchell was subject to fits, and was the owner of forty acres of land, and Mr. McFadden had agreed to keep the man as long as long as he lived, for the land, and it seems as if the man was living too long, and hence his death. A post mortem examination revealed that the man’s stomach contained only some raw corn and a small piece of gristle, and that he was compelled to sleep in an out house in a box of straw, without anything to cover with and it is the unanimous opinion that the man came to his death from exposure and starvation.

Just at this time the school teachers are having a lively time. One was fined $5.00 by Esquire Cheesir last Saturday for severely punishing a scholar, and from present indications, other pedagogues would do well to profit by this example.

We have a rumor to the effect that two more saw mills are to be built in this township, one on the Barber land and one near the old Noah Peters mill seat. There is an abundance of timber on the north fork, and some that cannot be excelled in the State. The mill of Lemons & Co., are doing excellent work, and with a reasonable price for lumber, and the dispatch they make in sawing out a bill. They are having a large run of custom. They have recently bought a set of burr stones and are now making as good meal as any mill in the county. Wheat, as a general crop is in a very promising condition, bids fair to yield a fine crop.

Y. B.

Unknown what paper the article is from.

From the scrapbook of George W. Orndorff (1854-1934) of Johnson Twp, Clark County.

Transcribed by S. Barhydt, great-granddaughter (folksandmore@yahoo.com)

From Oak Point

Mr. EDITOR:- After waiting for some time to see if “Hombre” would reply to “Van” and then seeing that “Quis” had taken up the subject in his favor, I come to the conclusion that “Hombre” would let his friend “H. and Quis” take care of Mr. Buskirk.

Corn husking is the order of the day around the “Point”.

Mr. Chas A. Crooker is still slinging paint at the residence of J. S. Slusser. After building a portion, Mr. Slusser is having his residence thoroughly repainted inside and outside.

Mr. James Parashaw is to wield the “hazle” over the juvenile “brickbats” this winter.

OAK POINT ITEMS.

Harvest on hand in full blast this week.

Phillip Floyd is eager to have a G.A.R. Post organized near Mt. Moriah

The milk and creamery business isn’t so lively as its first promises indicated, None is furnished from here.

We learned that Sam Bell intends to locate his black smith shop to another locality.

Our supervisor Lewis Weaver has to attend a regular meeting of the county board on Tuesday next.

Corn generally looks very promising around this place and oats are up to the average.

Most of our farmers can cut their entire crop of wheat in half day. G. W. Orndorff says he can cut, bind and shock all his wheat on the morning of the 4^th, and then get to the picnic before noon.

More rain than is actually necessary ??is locality, as most of the corn ??ing that is plowed is done. ??ground is too wet.

Unknown what paper the article is from.

From the scrapbook of George W. Orndorff (1854-1934) of Casey & Johnson Twp, Clark County.

Transcribed by S. Barhydt, great-granddaughter (folksandmore@yahoo.com)

From Oak Point.

As new is what keep up the existence of a county paper we thought we would contribute “our mite.”

Business is dull at the “Point.” Harvesting is in order yet, hay badly damaged; what wheat is threshed is also damaged.

The expected law suit from this place is settled, we trust, with satisfaction of all concerned.

Mr. George Orndorff found his “better Half” and took her for “weal or woe.” We will omit the old stock expression of “much joy, etc.” and hope he got a start on life’s journey from the juvenile inhabitants in the way of good sound “belling.” (Believe this maybe a nephew to G. W. Orndorff)

Bro. uaundoe’s (spelling is exact from article) church is rapidly approaching completion.

Moonshine tried to work up a marriage, but made a grand failure, when that young “Buck” wishes to get married let him first get the girl to consent and then he wont be out the price of a license instead of a belling.

OLD LOGAN

SPELLING IS PER THE PRINTED ARTICLE

Unknown what paper the article is from.

From the scrapbook of George W. Orndorff (1854-1934) of Casey & Johnson Twp, Clark County.

Transcribed by S. Barhydt, great-granddaughter (folksandmore@yahoo.com)

From Oak Point, Ill.

Dec. 9, 1873

Mr. Editor: Thinking that the news from the capital of Johnson township , would be of some interest to the many readers of your valuable paper, I will try and give you some of the latest.

Business is brisk at the “Point,” hogs coming in lively, four cents per lb, being the price. The farmers that have not sold, are now driving in lively. Over fifty head left here for Casey on Monday last to Wash Sanford.

The creeks are out on a “bust” in consequence of the recent heavy rains, but not of the same nature of the “bust” that one of our saw mill men took. We learn that he had a barrel of the “tanglefoot,” brought home in the hog drover’s wagon. How lofty is that for high.

Madam rumor says that one of the Bell Air hucksters, has absconded, taking along his neighbor Pitcher’s wife, and left his wife and family as a compensation. Good Bye, Mr. Huckster, next time you take a neighbor’s “Pitcher” try and take all the little Pitchers along with you.

The Circuit rider of the M. E. Church has been carrying on a revival at the new log church near Mr. Isaac Gross’s and has succeeded in getting several members.

You stated some time ago that the “New Lights” were building a church two miles south of Joseph Howe’s, which is not the case. The church was built by no denomination in particular but was built by the neighbors generally, for the accommodation of any orthodox minister; there is a prosperous Sabbath School going on at the church now that bids fair to continue all winter. Success to it, for Johnson Township needs it. More anon.

PETER KIN.

Unknown what paper the article is from.

From the scrapbook of George W. Orndorff (1854-1934) of Casey & Johnson Twp, Clark County.

Transcribed by S. Barhydt, great-granddaughter (folksandmore@yahoo.com)

OAK POINT ITEMS

The weather isn’t out of joint any longer

About time for Wm. Holmes to get up another “singin’ skule.”

“Majah” Clapp says he has replied for a re-increase of tension.

John and Hanan Shadley, with their cousin, Clara Flint, are on a visit to relatives in Shelby County, Ind.

Mr. Hamen Finny has pulled down his old barn and began to erect a new one.

J. Brewer and Wm. Howe have been appointed to fill the vacancies in the offices of road commissioners.

A proposition will be submitted to the voters of Johnson Township, as to whether we shall erect an iron bridge over the North Fork at the Peters Bridge.

The wife of John V. Smith, of Bell Air, died at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Addie Weaver, on the 23^rd of Dec. and was buried in the Baughman grave yard, the high waters preventing her relatives from getting her remains across the creek. After the water subsided she was disinterred and conveyed to the family grave yard.

The citizens have began to erect a new plank fence around the Slusser grave yard. E. T. Forrester, W. D. Hill and Wm. Shadley were elected trustees.

One by one the old war widows get married and relieve Uncle Sam of the responsibility of maintaining them. Mrs. Sallie Gore, of Hazel Dell, being the last victim to the fatal aim of cupid.

Oh, the many mistakes of a comical kind,

Committed by the young and old:

Is the fault of him who gets into a scrape,

So blame yourself if you are sold.

Mrs. Annie Baughman, nee Albright, is visiting relatives in this vicinity.

Well, now! Richard Fears and Laura Short have “done gone and got married.”

Needles and pins, needles and pins,

When a man marries his troubles begin.

The once boastfull Greenback party of Johnson township has dwindled down to about two, and one of them is considered doubtful; in fact we think that he will sell out his vote. If he don’t now, starvation will compel him to before “garden sass” grows again.

There is talk in this county of reporting the road commissioners of Granville, Jasper County, to the grand jury, if they don’t cause the road north of George Leamon’s repaired. As it is now, it resembles a lake filled with rails, poles and brush, through which the horses have to flounder in mud axle deep for one fourth of a mile.

We know a woman in this neighborhood that keeps her husband’s nose to the grindstone year in and year out, and the worst of it all is, the old fool does all his own turning.

Unknown what paper the article is from.

From the scrapbook of George W. Orndorff (1854-1934) of Casey & Johnson Twp, Clark County.

Transcribed by S. Barhydt, great-granddaughter (folksandmore@yahoo.com)

Olive Chapel.

Born to Mr. and Mrs. Otis Roberts, a boy.

Thos. Bell raised his new barn this week.

Albert Grubs of Moriah who has been teaching school near Paris stopped on his way home Sunday to take dinner with C. Slusser.

Mrs. May Nale, who has been visiting her parents Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Orndorff, returned to her home ten miles north of Marshall Saturday.

It seems that some of our town office seekers are unstable in their minds in regard to political issues. They sold their birth rights a few years ago to the Pops but are glad to get back to the republicans.

A. J. Hight, township Sunday school superintendent who visited our school last Sabbath, announced that there would be a quarterly S. S. convention at Oak church, the 30^th at 10 a.m. and 1 p. m. All invited.
 

Unknown what paper the article is from.

From the scrapbook of George W. Orndorff (1854-1934) of Casey & Johnson Twp, Clark County.

Transcribed by S. Barhydt, great-granddaughter (folksandmore@yahoo.com)