Jackson County Era
Nov. 1, 1873
Vol. 1
No. 26
Donated by Shauna Williams
DENY IT
When it is said that there is a revolution going on in favor of JOHNSON in Carbondale, deny it. JOHNSON will get
no more votes there then BRADLEY or YOST while in Makanda he will be the hindmost man on the opposition ticket.
The "boy Ben" has not turned the political world upside down by a long shot. Then the returns are counted
it will be found the people of Jackson county have kindly voted him ample time to finish his law studies. MURPHY
will be our next county clerk.
NO DEMOCRATIC TICKET
Heretofore we have fought the old Democratic party-sometimes getting gently drubbed, and sometimes coming out
a trifle ahead. Now, however, no Democratic ticket is in the field. We see none of the old party leaders. LEMMA
remains quiet at home. Tom LOGAN says nothing nor cares nothing about the election. O’HARA is disgusted and swears
the whole thing is a fraud. Mart. EVANS says the funeral is none of his. In fact, all the old Democratic leaders
are attending to their legitimate business with a vigor that has not time just now to waste on the mongrel-neither-fish-flesh-nor-fowl
ticket. Are we to bid farewell to the old party forever, or are the old Democratic leaders waiting until the mongrels
are swept out of sight, just as they have been in Ohio? We shall see.
MAKANDA LETTER
Makanda, Illinois,
Oct. 29, 1873
Editor Era:--Makanda has at last discovered that there is soon to be an election held. Early Monday morning we
saw Charles LAYMAN and Wm. S. MURPHY, candidates for Judge and Clerk. We soon learned that they were on business,
hunting witnesses to disprove the slander that somebody had started on Mr. MURPHY. Curiously enough, we, of Makanda,
had never heard the report before, although the circumstances are said to have occurred here. Our fruit men were
glad to testify that they had never been swindled by Mr. MURPHY.
Monday evening came to Ben JOHNSON and Mr. DISHON, of the "Independent." Their business was to hunt
up proof of the report referred to; at least, they gave that as their business. We think they failed.
Now a few thoughts in regard to the report itself. It is said that that while Mr. MURPHY was in the commission
business in Chicago, he sold fruit for different parties, and failed to pay them the money; and the public are
referred to Makanda for proof of this. We, of Makanda, would like to know first: if the charge was thought to be
true, why no copies of the "Independent," (the paper in which it was published,) were sent here, that
we, the aggrieved parties, might see the record of the man the "Independent" didn’t wish us to vote for?
No copies of that paper have been received here, and we think they didn’t want us to see the charge.
Secondly, why, if M- JOHNSON is innocent of repeating the charge, even if he did not start it in the first place,
he should take the trouble to ride here on such a day as Monday, to try to find proof of the charge? Why should
he come here for that purpose, (he gave that himself, as his business), unless he had circulated the report, and
now, finding himself in a tight place, wished to see if he couldn’t find some foundation for it, that he might
justify his conduct in circulating it?
These pertinent questions, and questions that we, of Makanda, must have answered satisfactorily, before we can
consent to vote for Mr. JOHNSON for Clerk. We are afraid Mr. JOHNSON has been a little hasty, to say the least,
in this matter.
Tuesday, we were visited by Mr. Samuel SMITH, candidate for county superintendent. He says the office is hardly
worth working for, yet he is at work. There are tickets here purporting to be Republican tickets, with his name
instead of Miss DUNCAN’S. Is this the way he works? When was he nominated by the Republicans? are some of the
questions we hear in regard to them. Does he think to swindle Miss DUNCAN, because she is a woman, out of enough
votes to float him into a worthless office?
Why, if the office is worthless, does he not work squarely for it? We don’t say that he left said tickets here,
but they are here now, and had not been seen before he came.
Hiram SCHWARTZ was here one day last week, also. He seemed afraid that Gil. J. BURR would run right away from
him. So think all of us.
The Makanda correspondent of the "Observer," in his last letter, said they had suspended work at the
quarry just below here. Perhaps he’ll change his mind, if he will step on the quarry-train and take a visit down
there. He will find from fifty to sixty men there suspending work. The gentlemanly conductor of the train. Frank
MERRIWEATHER, can tell him that they load from twenty-to forty cars per day with stone for Cairo. That is suspension
of the right kind.
The weather is fine. Cool and healthful. Health is improving.
BERT
MARRIED
At the M.E. Parsonage, in Murphysboro, Ill., by the Rev. C. J. HOUTS, Oct. 30, 1873, Mr. Charles C. THOMAS to Miss
Mary I. MAYHEW, both of Carbondale, Ill.
On the 29th instant, at the St. Andrews Church, in this city, by Rev. Father JUNGMAN, Mr. William RUSSELL, of Bellville,
Ill., to Miss Marie VAN CLUSTER, of Jackson county.
Perhaps we have never had, in this part of the country a more brilliant wedding or a more interesting occasion.
A very large assemblage were present, and the happy throng celebrated the event in magnificent style. The Era
was remembered, which is an acknowledgment that nothing was done by halves. For the mountain of delicious cake,
we return thanks and good wishes.
CARBONDALE ITEMS
Dr. L.H. SPENCER, of Grand Tower, paid us a flying visit on Thursday. He was warmly greeted by his hundreds of
old friends. The doctor has built up an extensive practice, although his location at Grand Tower has been but a
few months. He is a skillful practitioner, and ever attentive to his profession. Personally, Dr. SPENCER is one
of the best fellows in the country. No man is quicker to do a favor then he. Both as a physician and gentleman,
he is fully appreciated by the people.
MARRIED-On the 25th instant, Mr. Jeriah BONHAM, of Chicago, to Mrs. Catharine SYKES, residing two miles west of
this place. Mr. BONHAM will be recollected as the former publisher of "Bonham's Rural Messenger." We
understand he will shortly make his home among us.
AT HOME--Lieut. D.H. BRUSH, U.S.A., is visiting his friends here. Dan. comes back with a laurel on his brow, fairly
won by bravery and hard fighting with the scalpers on the plains, and for which be received favorable mention in
the reports of Gen. SHERIDAN. We hear it surmised that he will, on his return to duty, take with him on of Carbondale’s
fairest daughters. How long he will remain among us, we have not learned, but we hope his visit will be rendered
pleasant. Lieut. BRUSH is a gallant young officer, of whom the people of Jackson county are justly proud.