Madison County News 1839

Madison County, IL Newspaper Data

Fire and Robbery at Alton, Illinois.—We learn from a paragraph in the St. Louis Republican that a destructive fire broke out in Alton, (III.) on the night of the 3d instant. It originated in the store of Mr. Buffum, corner of Third and State streets, and extending thence to the store of Messrs. Waples, destroyed, in all, some ten or twelve buildings, including the office of the Temperance Herald. Mr. Buffum's stock of goods was estimated at $10,000; and it is thought that these were first stolen, and the house then set on fire. The Alton Telegraph estimates the loss by this fire at $20,000 and apportions it as follows; J. W. Buffum's, goods (first cost), $5,100 do do building, say $2,000, I I Foster Livery Stable, & c $2,500. W A Wentworth building, $2,000, T & T L Waples, do $,1200, W S Gilman, do $1,000, L H Aldrich, do $1,000, American and Illinois Bible Society, American Tract Society, Illinois Sunday School Union, and Illinois Temperance Society, (books) $2,000, Fesenden and Co, books, 500, Of the buildings consumed those of Messrs Waples were insured nearly to their full value. The others, were wholly uninsured and the loss to their owners is therefore total. Date: 1839-10-18; Paper: Southern Patriot

A village called Milton, a few miles below [Alton] in Illinois and which formerly contained some five hundred inhabitants, has now only a single family. The cause of this falling off may be seen in the grave yard. Date: 1839-02-15; Paper: Vermont Phoenix

Mrs Trumbell,, the wife of a respectable merchant of Alton, Illinois, and her son about six years of age, lost their lives by their clothes catching fire on the 29th ult, while no one was at home but themselves. Mm. T. expired almost immediately, and the child survived her only a few hour». It is supposed that this melancholy event was occasioned by the clothes of one or the other becoming ignited, and, in endeavoring to extinguish the flames, both shared the same fate. Date: 1839-01-16; Paper: Daily National Intelligencer

Disgraceful,—A young man named Henry Switzer, came to the city about a week ago, in company with his father, from Alton, Illinois and shortly after his arrival lost all his money. ($275,) by gambling. He then stole $50 from his father and shortly lost that also. By some means or other, his father was apprised of his various transactions, and remonstrated with him, but to no purpose On Tuesday young Switzer came to his father and said he must have $25. The father refused ;when, they being alone in their flat boat, the young man seized a stick of wood and with it beat his fuller most unmercifully, so much so, that he fell down senseless — He then robbed his father of $218, and on yesterday morning started for Mobile. —N. O. Times Date: 1839-02-27;

At Alton, Illinois on the 20th January last, Mr. Richard A. Shipley, in his 68th year, for many years a resident of this city, after a protracted illness. Date: 1839-02-22; Paper: Sun