Madison County, IL Newspaper Data

THE ALTON DEMOCRAT
16 July, 1880

Alhambra and Greencastle

Capt. John THOMBURGH has returned from Missouri, and is spending the summer with our efficient assessor. He looks hale and hearty as ever.

John FEGETHOFF has a new overseer on his farm. He looks rather cloudy sometimes, and says he will support Garfield.

Pierron

I. KNOBEL is paying 83 cents for wheat

Jacob KURTZ will have a sale of his personal property next Saturday, July 17.

Mrs. Ex-Judge SUPPIGER and Mrs. J. C. AMMANN made a call on their friends here Friday.

Ang. PIERRON, P. M. here received a complimentary ticket to the show in Alton

Not a little excitement was raised over the report that a man had been found dead on the railroad track about 200 yards from town, by the east bound mail train Sunday morning. The man was taken to Pocahontas where an inquest was held. His name was MANHARDT, and he had been in the employ of E. CHIPRON, Highland. $11.60 was found on his person. It is supposed that being tired from walking, he sat down to rest, when he fell asleep, and was run over by the cars, while in that condition. Appearances seem to favor that theory, at least.

Jerseyville

Friday afternoon, during the terrific thunderstorm, the new barn of Dr. C. W. ENOS, in this city, was struck by lightning. The igniferous matter ignited, and the barn was soon wrapped in flames, and before proper assistance could be secured the building was in ruins. Jack SUMMERVILLE, a negro, was in the barn when the storm commenced, and concluded to remain till it was over. At that moment, a rooster appeared and crowed, which so frightened the superstitious negro that he started to evacuate the premises and was leaving the door when the lightning struck the building, which gave him a shock and for a while his life was despaired of. He has recovered, and is more devout that ever in his superstitious faith.

Haunted House...It is unwise for the press to encourage superstitious minds by giving prominence to such theories very often, but the particulars of this instance are of interest and deserve investigation. Richard DOWNS, a colored barber, died recently in this city, and since then his wife says he appears every night, walks the floor for a while, then vanishes. Mrs. DOWNS, by the way, is nearly white, possessing one sixth African blood in a woman of education and refinement, and is well respected among both white and black, for her noble traits of character. She could not be persuaded to remain, and has left the house. Other colored people say they witnessed the strange phenomenon and vouch for the statement of Mrs. DOWNS. The mystery will be investigated, and the results that develop will be given to you readers hereafter.

Phin. DOTEY, formerly of this city, died recently at Leadville, with consumption.

A new Repulican paper is talked of at Carrollton, to be edited by Ed. MINER and edited by John WALKER.

Capt. A. GOODRICH visited Springfield recently.

Robert MORTIMER was "son"-struck Friday. The weight of the pressure was 11 pounds in the shade.

H. A. ALLEN has superceded L. M. CUTTING, as fighting editor of the Republican.

Rumor says that W. H. EDGAR and the widow D---(this is how it appears in the paper) will be spliced before long. Soon as the ceremonies are to be performed, it is hoped he will not "seize his hat and run away" like he did at a dance last winter.

Dick FAIN and wife leave for Tennessee this week on a visit.

Ed GRAY and his "darling" weigh their love by the "ton".

John LOWE, of this county, and an estimable young lady of this city are to be married soon.

Hank McFAIN is absent from the city on a white washing pilgrimadge.

A Tecumseh, Neb., lawyer will probably send for his Laura soon.

Peter DOLAN is mentioned as Greenback candidate for Sheriff.

Dr. H. Z. GILL has a ten pound son.

Rev. J. A. BLUNDERBUSS will teach at British College next winter

Bethalto

Mrs. John MALONEY, of Montgomery City, Mo., spent a short time here visiting her brother, J. H. HICKERSON, Esq. Mrs. HICKERSON returned with her to Missouri with the intention of remianing there some time visiting friends in that section.

Miss Lillie ZELGER, of St. Louis, is here on a visit to her parents, Mr. and Mrs. N. ZEIGER.

T. W. STOUTENBERG, Esq., spent Sunday in town. Report says he will soon resume his old place in the big mill.

N. B. RICHARDS, Jr., who has been residing in Texas for he last three years, returned to this place on last Tuesday, and will tarry her here for the time being.

Messrs. S. L. MILLER, Jr. and John BAHER left on Monday evening last for Denver, Col, whither they go in quest of health and fortune. May their brightest anticipation be more than fully realized. They will, no doubt, call on C. Eugene DAY and John W. LUMAN, Esqs., who have been for some time adjourning in those mountain regions.

Godfrey

CENSUS - Mr. Frank SQUIRE, has completed his labors as such, and finds 2,375 in this township, a gain of 225 in ten years.

The "WAGGONER Normal" has begun with twenty scholars (one half of which are members of the WAGGONER family) at the Mason school, under charge of Mr. E. WAGGONER.

Troy

Mr. JORDAN & Co. are pushing along the coal shaft; run day and night three sets of hans, eight hours each.

Census...Mr. M. W. POWELL, the enumerator for Jarvis Township, has completed his work as far as he can till the time elapses for corrections. Total population, 2,147; farms, 175; deaths from June 1st, 1879, to present date, 25; manufacturing establishments, 20; population village of Troy, 700; Brookside, 65; vacant houses, 2 in Troy, 1 in Brookside. The death rate is very low, being little more than 1 in about 860. There is in the township of Jarvis eight persons who have attained four-score years.

Elsah

Our citizens have had another brush with the cyclone, this time attended with greater loss of property than before. Mill Creek, which takes its course in a southeasterly direction, and runs nearly parallel with the Mississippi at this point, fairly outdid itself in deeds of devastation to the farmers whose possessions lay in its course. Fences, cornfields, wheat in the shock, and crops of all kinds, were swept away like chaff. Among the heaviest losers we will mention: Sebastian FESSLER, John WHIPPLE, William JOHNSON, Parker GARROL, Charles KELLY, Wesley GILLHAM, Ed LOCKE, E. M. FULLER, James FULLER, John GRELAN, James MATHEWS, Paul BAKER and many others whose loss was not so heavy. The roads are in a terrible condition, owing to the great rush of water. In some places completely obliterated all traces of them.

George E. McMAHON threshed 920 bushels of wheat for Dr. BRIGGS on Monday last. George knows how.

Other News

The case against MURPHY agains Officer SHELLY for assault and battery was tried before Squire QUARTON Saturday afternoon. Several witnesses were examined, but the evidence was not sufficient to prove that the officer had exceeded his authority or abused his power. The officer was accordinly acquitted.

Mr. HARPER, boat builder of Cincinnati, has been in the city two or three days past in consultation with Capt. HILL and others in regard to a new boat which the Eagle Packet Company proposes to build and place in the Alton and Grafton trade in place of the Spread Eagle.

It seems, as was intimated in this paper some time ago, that there is no hope for the arrest of the villainous tramps who murdered poor old man CRAWFORD between here and Godfrey. There is not, at this time, the slightest clue pointing to the subjects of the search. There was, at one time in the custody of the law, immediately succeeding the perpetration of the crime, a negro who knew the parties, their names and descriptions, but he was released before the old man died, and his whereabouts is not now known. So it seems impossible to work out the ends of justice, and this great crime will probably go unpunished.

Word reached the city by telegraph this afternoon that Mr. Ben SAWYER had been seriously injured while working with a steam thresher near the Alton Junction. The nature of the injury was not stated. Dr. DAVIS went out in response to a summons to attend the injured man.

Blood was flowing from a large wound near the right temple. The right hand held a revolver. Groans were heard from the hallway of the house, and an old woman was found lying in a pool of blood at the foot of the stairs. The dead body was that of Jacob KUNTZ, a native of Bavaria, and the wounded woman was Mrs. Ann Maria KUNTZ, his wife. The house where the tradgedy occurred was formerly used as a lager beer garden, and takes its name from its former proprietor. It is a frame building, two stories and a half in height, with an old dancing pavilion on the south side. John Henry KUNTZ, the eldest son of the dead man, occupies several rooms on the second floor. during the two months his mother, who had separated from her husband, had lived with him. The old lady intended going to a picnic of St. John's Lutheran Church, of Union Hill, Wednesday, and arose at an early hour to prepare breakfast. Just after she went downstairs, the son and his wife heard a loud report. They ran to the window and saw the elder KUNTZ standing in the yard with a revolver in his hand. The next moment he placed the barrel of the weapon to his mouth, pulled the trigger, and fell back dead on the grass.

The City Clerk has the census statistics of Alton officially certified to him from the County Clerk's office. It gives the population at a little over 8,900.

About nine o'clock Saturday a stranger fell down on the pavement on the east side of Piasa street, just above Second, in an epileptic fit. In falling, his head struck the pavement violently and bled freely. He was attended to by Officer BROWNING, and soon recoverd, but suffered another attack.

An Old Soldier and Citizen Gone...Thursday night at ten o'clock at his residence on the Grafton road died Major Geo. W. LONG, in the eighty-first year of his age. He was born at Hopkinton, New Hampshire, in November, 1799. At an early age he was appointed to a cadetship at the United States Military Academy and graduated there in 1824 when about twenty-five years of age. He was appointed Second Lieutenant of Fourth Artillery July 1st, 1824. He became an instructor of the mathematical school for practice at Fortress Monroe a year or two later, acting as Assistant Professor of Experimental Philosophy. He was soon promoted to a First Lieutenancy, but resigned his position in the regular army in 1835 and became Chief Engineer of Louisiana which position he retained until 1838. He was then appointed Superintendent of the building of Marine hospitals at Paducah, Ky., and Natchez, Miss. In 1843, in company with Gen. Robt. E. LEE, he made a survey of the harbor of St. Louis. He had charge of the improvements on the Illinois river during 1853/54/55. He was also engaged in other important public works at various times and places. It will thus be seen that his life was not only a very long one, but a very active one. For years past he has lived a rather retired life in his quiet home, owing to old age and failing health, but he was nevertheless well-known and his death will cause general regret. His aged wife died about a year and a half ago, and he now quickly follows her to the grave. He leaves three sons. The funeral will take place at ten o'clock to-morrow from his late residence. The friends and acquaintances of the family are invited to attend.

The funeral of Mrs. Marian JOHNSTON took place from the family residence on George street yesterday afternoon at three o'clock, and was attended by friends and relatives of the family from this city and other places. Among those present from abroad were: Mr. and Mrs. D. NICHOLSON, Mr. and Mrs. John H. TRACEY, Mrs. B. HOOD and Mrs. LODER, Miss Jennie CRAIG and Rev. Dr. FORD and wife, of St. Louis, and Mrs. Thomas HOOD and daughter, of Bunker Hill. Rev. Dr. FORD preached the funeral service. The apll-bearers were Messrs. J. P. BURTON, Thomas HOOD, Edward WADE, James MILLEN, W. HILDEBRAND.

Probate Court Notes

Franz Christopher TROST, deceased. Proof of death; widow waives right to administer; administration to John D. HEI***.

The case of John M. AHRENS against estate of John H. WEIR for $145.70, for lumber bought by one John ARKEBAUER. It was contended that ARKEBAUER put the lumber into a building on the land of WEIR, that WEIR thus got the benefit of the purchase and thereafter promised to pay. Claims of plaintiff not sufficiently established and claim disallowed. Case argued at length by GILLESPIE for plaintiff and BRADSHAW for defendant.

The claim of Ann ROTH against estate of Christian BURGDORF...Counter claim filed; evidence heard and case submitted as written briefs, argued by HAM*Y for claimant and POTTINGILL for defendant, claim allowed to amount of $91.

Harry H. GRUVER and others, minors. On petition of the mother, C. C. HOXSEY of Olive, gives bond, and receives letters as guardian.

George FORMHALS, of Alton appraisement bill of personal estate amounts to $4,607.69; award to widow is $1,349

William and Kate TOLLE, minors. Caleb J. F. TOLLE, the father, presents bond which is approved and receives guardian letters.

Caroline, Mary and William BAUER, minors. Martin BAUER makes settlement; in his hands as guardian for Caroline, $1,292.45; for Mary, $1,306.59; for William, $1,312.98

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