Madison County, IL Newspaper Data

THE ALTON DEMOCRAT
July 30, 1880

Grafton

The river has been seventeen feet above low water mark and the low ground on both rivers has been flooded, whilst thousands of acres of grain have been destroyed. The Mississippi backed up the waters of the Illinois thirty miles.

Grafton is getting to be quite a place of resort and it has the finest hotels in Jersey County. It is getting to be quite a place for boat building. Mr. E. D. FLESK, the ship carpenter, has built two large ferry boats, one for Brownville, Neb., and the other for Hannibal, Mo.

Pierron

Red. BALSIGER says it's a boy.

Jonn SCHUMACHER has a claim southwest of here. We trust it is a good one.

The directors of Black Jack school have engaged Miss L. HAEFTER to teach their school next winter.

F. C. RYHINER and J. C. AMMAN, of Highland, and H. HARNISCH?, of Saline, were in town last week.

This morning a man was found near the track just across the line in Bond county in a critical condition. The back of his head was badly bruised and his side pained him terribly. As the man was seen the evening before in an intoxicated state, it is conjectured that it was either a passing train or a quarrel with some one that laid him up so fearfully. Being without funds, Squire KURZ sent him up on the train to Greeville to take quarters in the poor house.

Jerseyville

Last Sunday week several young men went swimming near Ottervile. When through and ready to dress themselves, some of the boys, for sport, undertook to hide each other's clothes. This led to hard words, and finally to blows. Frank CLARIDGE was hit over the head with a stick by Isaac GETTINGS, which knocked him senseless. The wounded man is still in a precarious condition, and it is feared he will not recover. No arrests yet.

Mrs. Geo. ROWDEN, sister-in-law of Mrs. Jas. McKINNEY, of Alton, died three miles west of this city last Saturday with consumption, after painful illness of several months.

Thomas O'DONNELL and Miss Maggie QUINN, step daughter of Patrick HARRIGAN, were joined in holy Wedlock last week by Father HARTY.

S. L. HILL and Horace BELL, lightning rod dealers, leave this week for Eureka Springs, Ark. The latter goes to peddle rods while the former goes to see his invalid wife, who has been recuperating there for several weeks past. James HARTWICK, a farmer, will do likewise soon for the benefit of his wife, who is in very feeble health.

Aunt Annis BROWN, aged 86, and a resident of this county, since 1820, owns and superintends a farm of eighty acres three miles west of this city. she was in town last week peddling fruit and looked rugged enough to last many years more. She is well known to many old citizens of Alton.

A telegram was received from Colorado Springs Monday, that Judge STOECKEL is rapidly sinking.

J. A. BLENNERBASSETT expects to secure a patent on his new metric system of weights and measures at the next session of Congress.

Hon. Anthony L. KNAPP, of Springfield, visited relatives here last week.

W. S. HAWLEY and wife are visiting relatives in Minnesota.

Col. Geo. R. SWALLOW, of Tinidad, Col, is in the city at present.

Col. Ed. BARRY is journeying in the West.

Al. EDEE, clerk of the Jersey House, will visit Nebraska soon.

John A. BLENNERBASSETT is busy surveying.

Morris R. LOCKE attended the M. E. Conference at Piasa this week.

Alhambra and Greencastle

Another of our old citizens has returned from Will county, this State, where he was residing for the last six years.

H. C. BERKEMEIER burned two large stacks of wheat Saturday. They took fire by buring stubble. There was estimated to be between 300 and 400 bushels in the stack. Another lesson for other farmers to be careful when they set stubble on fire.

A. NAGEL was taken in to the tune of $5.00 betting on trotting horses. Strangers had better be careful how they bet money on horses in this vicinity.

Dr. BUCKNELL, the notorious horse trainer, has another bad horse in hand and will soon bring him out all right. So far the horse lays down or gets up whenever it gets ready.

Grandpa LEET? and old FRITZ are again in our town, but don't make a mile yet in 2:40.

Christ LUDWIG and his amiable wife were visiting Squire Bob Sunday.

Jake LEET?, our collector, has his hands full in his blacksmith shop now. He says he could not collect the taxes now, as he has not the time to take in the change for the work that he does.

A young man named Joseph STATES, residing in the north part of Centralia, Ill., who was married over ninetten days since, was shot dead in his yard by some unknown person. There is no clue to the murderer. The dreadful deed is supposed to have been committed by some of his previous rivals in the suit for the hand of his bride. Some suppose it to be a case of suicide, caused by the fact that he was destitute of funds. He was shot through the heart. His wife went out and found him just dying.

Godfrey

The late residence of A. W. COREY was sold to Al. WADE, of Alton, for $2,500.

Miss Clara MARTIN and Rev. J. S. WHEELER were married last week.

I hear that Sen. CRAWFORD has gone to Salt City, Kansas, to invest his fortune.

Mr. HANCOCK, son in law of Mr. John MASON, has returned from Kansas, and lives on the old MASON home with his family.

Elsah

John KEYSER, our efficient street commissioner, is busy repairing roads.

Mr. Robt. LEAK and wife lost their only child last week. It's death was caused by diptheria.

Supervisor B. F. KELLY, of Elsah township, was in Jerseyville last week looking after the interests of his township.

Toney BROCK is the coming postmaster of Elsah.

Henry MASSY, Democratic candidate for Sheriff, J. I. McGREADY, candidate for Circuit Clerk, and Col. J. N. ENGLISH, candidate for Representative, are preparing to roll out their bar'l in anticipation of the coming campaign.

St. Jacobs

St Jacobs is still improving. Mr. LAENGLE is building a large hotel on the corner of Fourth and Douglas streets, which will be quite a credit to the place.

Miss Carrie PEERS, of Collinsville, and Miss YOUNG, of Missouri, were here visiting friends last week.

Mr. J. G. ANDERSON and family, accompanied by his sisters in law, the Misses ROBINSON, will start on a northern tour tomorrow. They will probably stop at Clear Lake, Iowa. Friends wishing them a pleasant trip and a safe return.

Mr. Harry WOODS had a social gathering at his residence Saturday evening. The time passed very pleasantly with music, singing, etc. A good time may always be expected at the residence of so pleasant people as Mr. and Mrs. WOODS.

Mr. REICHENBERCHER is recovering from the sad accident which befell him some time since. He is again at his furniture store overseeing his business. Owing to the great attention given him by his family and doctor his life was luckily spared.

Troy

A very serious accident occurred at Mr. John WIDICUS' place south of Troy on Monday morning, to one of our citizens, one well known to the readers of the Alton Democrat and Edwardsville Republican. In cleaning up after threshing oats Mr. G. W. HASSINGER stood at the cylinder pushing what came down the elvator into the cylinder, when his glove was caught in the cylinder, pulling in his right hand, which was so terribly mangled that there was no hope of saving it, hence Drs. SABIN and ZANDERS performed the operation of amputation just above the wrist. This leaves Mr. HASSINGER almost helpless. About one year ago Mr. H. had a cararrh on his left hand which left it in a very bad condition. Mr. H. is getting along as well as could be expected, and we hope soon to chronicle his recovery.

Gen. W. T. SHERMAN was in town on Monday, the guest of W. W. JARVIS. The General purchased what is known here as the METZGER farm from the Sherman Park Co., and came out to take a look at purchase. The General returned to St. Louis on the 8:15 p.m. express.

Mr. WISE, conductor of the Vandalia R. R., of St. Jacobs, and Chas. BOESCHENSTEIN, Esq., of Highland, paid our town a flying visit. They came on the 4:17 p.m., and left on the 7:10 p.m. train for their respective homes. We hope these visitors may find it to their interest to return sometime.

Messrs. John F. and Wm. W. JARVIS, and Miss Fannie BARNSBACK go to Storm Lake, Ia., this evening on the 4:17 p.m. train, business and pleasure combined. Messrs. JARVIS own a large tract of land in the vicinity of Storm Lake.

There was a moonlight picnic at Mr. DONOHOO's residence,asmission, 10 cents, in the interest of the Royal Purple Association.

Other News

Mr. Willie LONG, living out on the Grafton road killed a rattlesnake Saturday last, measuring four feet in length and five inches in circumference. It had the rattles. It has been turned over to Mr. G. F. BARTH, the North Alton druggist, who will have it stuffed and on exhibition. The woods are full of rattlesnakes now.

A man named John BUSSE, who says he lives in Marine, Ill., called at Captain LEE's office in the Four Courts Monday and told a very strange story. He said he had been robbed of $20 on the corner of Seventh and Poplar streets at 6 o'clock the evening before, and then explained how it was done. He was in the office at the Union depot, purchasing a ticket to go home, when he was addressed in a familiar way by a man who was an utter stranger to him. The man was going on the same train and proposed to take a short walk before train time. BUSSE and his new found acquintance walked as far as Seventh and Poplar streets, where they were met by a man who appeared to be a locomotive fireman. The two men exchanged a few words when suddenly and without a word of warning No. 1 poked a pistol in BUSSE's face and commanded him to keep his mouth shut. He obeyed and No. 2 went through him, taking his pocketbook which contained $150 from his pants pocket. BUSSE says he begged so hard that the robbers returned all but $20 of the money.

Lizzie WHEELER, a young woman of mixed parentage, was arraigned in the Police Court today on the charge of generral lewdness. It seems that she has been making Hop Hollow and vicinity her home and has been receiving callers there quite regularly. Arraigned before the Big Terror, she said that she was eighteen years old, and therefore she could not be sent to the Reform School. His Honor took the same view of the case, and so sent her below, there to remain until the fine of $20 and costs is obliterated off the smooth surface of the slate. After she had gone below His Honor came out in the street, mounted a dry goods box, and in a quarter of an hour's speech pledged his life, fortune, sacred honor and old boots to the suppression of social evil in our midst. He was cheered to the echo, and will be serenaded next Christmas.

The examination of the colored boy, DENNISON, for shooting another colored boy, THOMPSON, is in progress this afternoon before Justice QUARTON, DENNISON having almost entirely recovered from his wounds. It is believed that THOMPSON will be bound over on the charge of malicious shooting.

A house between State and Monroe and Jefferson and Madison streets, up above Cathedral was burned to the ground about 11 o'clock today. The furniture in the house was all saved. The building was a story and a half frame, containing five rooms, and owned by Mr. John DWYER, but occupied by Pat BARRY and family. The fire originated in a defective kitchen flue. No alarm was turned on, strange to say, but the building was allowed to burn almost without interruption.

List of Letters - The following letters remain uncalled for in the Postoffice of Alton, Madison county, Illinois, for the week ending July 24, 1880:

Mrs. Libbie ALENT,
Mairon ATKINSON,
Jacob ALDER,
Gustave BEVENUE,
Thomas BAGLEY,
Henry BDOY,
Anson BARNES,
Mary A. COOLEY,
Elizabeth CAPOOT, David E. EVANS,
W. H. ELSWORTH,
Charlotte GREEN,
Fred GREEN,
W. G. GANO,
Mrs. Janey HARTMAN,
Mrs. Annie JENARD,
John JENKINS,
J. J. KELLY,
Michael KOEGH,
Miss Annie MOTLEY,
James MORGAN,
Miss Dora McNEALY,
Dr. MAXWELL,
Philip MAUER,
Miss Victory NORRIS,
Patrick NASH,
Mrs. Minerva PATTERSON,
Albert TAYLOR,
Chas. VIRDEN,
C. A. WADE,
Michael WELCH,
John YANK,
Isaac ZEMANSKY

County Court Items

On petition of the adminstrator of H. H. WINTER, of Nameoki, showng that personal estate is insufficient to pay the debts. Order is entered for sale of the real estate.

In the matter of estate of Valentine MAY, of Pin Oak, final settlement is fixed for August 20.

The will of Colonel George W. LONG, of Monticello, is proved by the subscribing witnesses, and is admitted to record.

John C. BLACKFORD, a mior over 14, of Pin Oak, makes choice of Henry C. BAIRD as guardian.

On motion August 30 is fixed for final settlement of estate of Jesse B. WEST. Notice to be given to the heirs.

August JOHANNIGMEIER, a native of Germany, makes the necessary proof, and receives certificate of naturalization.

The executrix of Joseph BURNAP, of Upper Alton, having advertised for final settlement, makes her report.

The personal estate of Henry ALBRECHT, of Moro, is appraised at $765.75 and the widow's award at $663.00.

Andrew SILZIE having given notice that he would make final settlement of estate of Carl KING, of Edwardsville, present his final account as executor.

Report is presented of the administratrix of Andrew BOHNENSTIEL, of Jarvis.

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