In the St. Louis Republic of last Friday appeared a dispatch dated at Alto Pass stating that Alfred Sturge, a printer, had by the death of his father, came into a large fortune.  The dispatch was in the main true.  Mr. Sturge arrived here on the 7th of February last, and obtained employment on Dr. J.I. Hale’s health journal at Anna, making his home at the Sanitarium.  He was here something over twenty years ago and worked on a paper published at that time in Anna by Dr. Hale.  Mr. Sturge’s father, the Rev. Alfred Sturge, of Dartford, England, was a very wealthy man, and died Jan. 26.  The son has been notified that pending the settlement of the estate he will receive an allowance of about $500 a month.
  Alfred Sturge, the son, learned the trade of printer in his native country and has followed it for forty-four years.  He is now about 60 years old.  He has roamed pretty much all over the world, including the greater part of the United States, having passed over thirty years in this country.  He says he will not return to England, but will in all probability locate at Alto Pass and make his home there.  Personally Mr. Sturge is modest and unassuming and takes his sudden rise to affluence as a matter of course.
  Mr. Sturge has left on our table a copy of the West Kent Advertiser of Feb. 2, which devotes over a column to the death of his father, and the column rules are turned in the entire paper, which is a large eight-page sheet.  From it we glean that the Sturge family is a prominent Quaker family of England, being land owners and people of wealth and distinction.  The grandfather of Rev. Alfred Sturge was one of the founders of the British and Foreign Bible Society, and a Mr. George Sturge was noted philanthropist, leaving at his death the vast sum of $2,500,000 for charitable purposes.  Another of the family was one of three members of the Society of Friends who interviewed the Czar of Russia on the eve of the Crimean war in an effort to establish peace.  Rev. Alfred Sturge was a Baptist preacher and in his early years labored as a missionary to India.  He was an eloquent pulpit orator and his services were in frequent demand.  He was popularly designated “the Bishop of the Baptists.”  The family was on terms of intimate friendship with Lord Macauley, the eminent historian and had political and family alliance with the Brights and Peases.  Mr. Sturge was 84 years old at the time of his death.
(Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, 2 Mar 1901)

Last week Harry Ebbs, a married man, eloped from Carbondale with the wife of Fred Steinkopf, who left behind two children.  Mr. Steinkopf announces that although his first wedding was a bitter failure, he is willing and anxious to try again.  He has a distinct antipathy to blonde women, and will not under any circumstances again wed one.  Mr. Steinkopf is serious in his present determination and expects to enter matrimonial state again as soon as a legal separation is procured.  He is still young, only thirty.
(Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, 20 Apr 1901)

    The great alarm occasioned by the apparent failure of the town spring a couple of weeks ago naturally attracted a good deal of attention to the spring, especially among our older citizens who remember it from childhood. In years gone by the spring was simply enclosed in a rude wooden box, but was so deep that a pail full of water could be readily dipped from it.  A fence was also around it to keep stock out.  Sometimes this fence was allowed to become dilapidated and then the town hogs had a delightful time wallowing in the mud around the town spring.  The town boys also played and fought there a good deal.  The earliest recollection of some of our old boys either living here or who have moved away, cluster about the town spring and many a wanderer from home has sighed for a cup of its cooling waters.
    A number of years ago the city officials serving at the time woke up to the value of their property and had the spring dug out and walled up and covered over with stone.  The water flowed through a stone spout and fell musically into a deep pool and thence was bled to a huge trough.  The convenience of the spring then caused it to become quite a resort for the thirsty and there are people in town who rarely allow a day to pass without taking a drink of its waters which they stoutly maintain is the best and sweetest water that ever flowed.  They say it aids digestion and is good for various ailments.  This may be purely imagination, but a healthy imagination is not harmful.
    The occasional vagaries of the spring cause needless alarm.  It is only an effort to break out in a new place in the immediate vicinity, and not as many think a total loss of the water by being attracted to a new outlet miles away.  Our oldest citizens can remember when the spring flowed out of the ground in the southwest corner of Mrs. Hacker’s yard, one hundred feet from where it now is.  This was perhaps not less than sixty years ago.
    Let us hope the town spring is as everlasting as the hills.
(Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, 17 Aug 1901)

The Rev. H.S. Lindsey in Jail

Used His Cane on an Abusive Barber

Transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter 

            H.S. Lindsey, who a few years ago was pastor of the Baptist church at Jonesboro, arrived in Anna a few days before the circus and conducted a “molly-board” on the streets near the post office until Saturday night.  He intended to go to Carbondale Sunday and was on his way to a restaurant to get a couple of bundles he had left there when he was stopped by one Williams, an Anna barber, who at once proceeded to tell Lindsey what he thought of him.  Lindsey is ready to acknowledge the fact that he is not so many as he used to be and has no doubt been called down more than once for his actions.  He admits that his appetite for drink is stronger than his will power, and that he is doing good work for Satan.  There is no doubt he is really smart, but he is one of the unfortunate who have an uncontrollable appetite for drink.  Because he was once a preacher—trying perhaps to reform and urge others to do so—makes him appear in the eyes of a great many a bigger hypocrite than he really is.  He has dropped many notches in the last few years—in fact he hasn’t but a few notches left if he intends to keep on the decline, but as we said before he don’t claim to be anything but what he really is—he realizes his condition.  He stood and listened to Williams as though he was used to such “calling downs” until Williams applied a vile epithet to him.  It is said that Lindsey asked Williams if he really meant what he had just said, and when Williams replied in the affirmative, Lindsey wielded his cane on his head and knocked him off of the walk out into the street.  Williams was immediately taken to Drs. Hale and Martin where his wound was dressed.  It is not dangerous if no complications set in.  Lindsey got his bundle and went to catch the train, which was about due.  The city marshal had just gone to dinner and it fell to Mayor Eddleman to go to the depot and arrest Lindsey, which he did just as though he was an old officer.  Lindsey was fined $3.00 and costs, but could not pay it and was sent to the city jail where he still remained up to this writing—Tuesday night.  A warrant was also issued for Williams’ arrest.

(Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Saturday, 15 Aug 1903)
 

  Tried to Steal His Ex-wife

 Transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter

            Last Friday, circus day, there was more or less excitement all day, but the most amusing incident occurred late in the afternoon near the residence of C.E. Kirkpatrick on the east side.  A Mrs. McCabe, an attendant at the Hospital, and a male employee at the same place, were on their way to the circus.  When they were near the above named residence, Mr. McCabe, the divorced husband of Mrs. McCabe, deliberately walked up and took her in his arms and started away with her.  She began to scream while her male companion stood in bewilderment.  The lady’s screams brought other screams and it is said that many at a distance thought the steam calliope was parading on the east side.  The fellow finally became scared or tired and turned the woman loose and lit out down Chestnut street and has not been seen since.  It is not known what his object was in picking her up, but it might have been that he wanted to remind her companion that he should have “jarred loose” the price of a livery stable horse and buggy or a hack fare.  A large crowd soon assembled, including Sheriff Hess and other officers, but the fellow was gone, and after learning the facts from Mrs. McCabe they did not take up the chase.

(Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Saturday, 15 Aug 1903)

In the Old Days

 Transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter

            Ex-Mayor John Grear will be 80 years old next spring, and harking back 70 years from that time he and John N. and Paul Misenhimer put in a big corn crop.  There is nothing remarkable in this statement except the fact that all three are still living.  Mr. Grear being the youngest at the age stated above, John N. Misenhimer the oldest at 85 past and Uncle Paul coming in between at 83 past.

            The ex-mayor was in a reminiscent mood the other day and said they raised a big crop of pumpkins with that corn crop.  The pumpkins were largely used for stock food as well as family consumption.  Groundhogs got after the pumpkins and bid fair to destroy the whole crop.  Uncle Jake Misenhimer, the father of John and Paul, was called away on a journey.  He was accompanied by his son John and they were to be gone a week.  He enjoined upon the two remaining boys, his son Paul, and John Grear, that they were to spend that entire week exterminating those groundhogs.  This job pleased the boys greatly and they worked diligently with dogs and digging implements and had the satisfaction of killing ten of the pests.

            There were Indians if not giants in the land in those days.  An Indian was not looked upon with curiosity.  Uncle Jake Misenhimer raised two, belonging to some native Illinois tribe.  They were brother and sister and were known as Frank and Lottie Costley.  They went to school with the white children, said ex-Mayor Grear, and Lottie was very bright and intelligent and learned rapidly while Frank could scarcely be coaxed or driven to acquire knowledge.  Lottie married and moved to Memphis, Tenn., where her husband grew to be wealthy.  She was back here on a visit in 1873.  Frank also married and raised a family, and some of his descendants are still living in Southern Illinois.  Some years after the period of which we write the Creek and Cherokee passed through this country to the Indian Territory.  They were five years going through and sometimes hundreds of them would be camped near Jonesboro for months.  All the younger men spoke good English and took an active part in the games and sports of the young white men of the country.

            The first steam flouring mill was built in Jonesboro during Mr. Grear's boyhood.  He said that after it was completed his mother told him and his brother Hake that if they would work right good all week they might go to town on Saturday and see the steam mill.  They fulfilled the compact and on Saturday started gaily townward.  Arriving at a point on South Main Street, the earth trembled and a hoarse, rumbling noise was heard.  The boys thought it was the steam mill going into action and lit out as hard as they could run to see it.  When they reached the square they found all the people out in great excitement, talking about an earthquake that had toppled chimneys over and shaken things up generally.  Mr. Grear says the term earthquake bothered him a good deal and it was some time before he understood what it meant.  They were remarkably frequent at that period and the people generally called them "shakes."

            The old days when life was young in Union County!  How few are left that can call them back.

(Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Saturday, 17 Oct 1903)

Young Woman Screamed

When She Caught Bold Burglar by the Foot

Dropped Fifty Cents in His Flight

Transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter 

            A house breaker entered the residence of Mrs. J.M. Grieb last Sunday night at midnight, gaining entrance through a window into the room occupied by Mrs. Grieb and her niece, Miss Alma Grieb.  The burglar passed from there through an open door into the parlor, where he turned off the electric light and then returned to ransack the bedroom.  Miss Grieb heard him moving about and spoke to her aunt, who between sleeping and waking paid little attention.  The young lady kept insisting that someone was in the room and finally put her hand out of the bed and square on the foot of the prowler.  She emitted a scream that awakened her cousin, Charley Grieb, who was sleeping in another room on the same floor and at the sound of his voice the burglar, who had crept under Miss Grieb’s bed at the first alarm, crawled forth and made a dash for the window.  The young woman pursued him, but he turned on her threateningly and she dodged behind a bureau.  The burglar leaped headlong through the open window, which was evidently securely fastened and fell with a crash, just as Charley Grieb appeared on the scene with a gun in his hands, too late for even a snap shot. 
            An investigation the next morning showed the flower beds under two north windows trampled as though the burglar was some time making up his mind which to enter, and also showed that in making his get away he had dropped two silver quarters which he can recover by claiming and proving ownership.  Careful investigation failed to reveal anything missing in the house.

(Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Saturday, 6 Aug 1904)

 

  Wife Shoots Husband

  Transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter

        Mack Burns, well known at Mill Creek, and to some extent here, was slightly wounded by his wife last Tuesday (9 Aug 1904).  The couple had been separated for some time and Burns was working at Gray’s Point, Mo., opposite Thebes.   They had two children, who were a source of contention.  It is supposed that during a quarrel over the children, Mrs. Burns drew a pistol and shot her husband.  The woman is a daughter of Mr. John Morris.  She was not arrested and came up here with her children Wednesday.  She states that she had joined her husband at Gray’s Point, but that he continually beat and abused her, and threatened to cut her throat at the time she shot him.
        Burns is in a hospital at Cape Girardeau.  He shot and slightly wounded Marshal Bankston at Mill Creek about a year ago.  That shooting was inspired by jealousy.

(Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Saturday, 13 Aug 1904)

 

  Preacher Egged

Transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter

            Rev. Mr. Shemwell, who assisted in a revival meeting last week at Wolf Lake, got his dander up at one of the meetings and poured forth the following statement:  “Any young woman who will stick her feet under a table to entertain a young man at cards, is not decent.”  This made the Wolf Lake people bile and they were good and mad.  Later on he made the assertion that people who attended the picnic of Wolf Lake were nothing by the scum of the earth.  Of course this made them madder than ever and there was a plot immediately on foot to egg the preacher out of town.  When the time came for action a great many had backed down, but a few eggs were tossed at the preacher by some of the braver ones.  When we say tossed, we mean they were not handed.  The preacher has departed and the church is shy a few members.

(Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Saturday, 20 Aug 1904)

 

 
A Child of Contention

 Transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter

            An interesting habeas corpus suit was tried before Judge Duncan here last Friday and Saturday.  The suit was between parents for the possession of a little girl of nine or ten summers, who is at present with the mother.  Judge Duncan heard the evidence and argument of counsel and took the case under advisement, but a decision is expected at an early date.
            The parties to the suit are William P. Hendrix v. Rebecca H. Lokey and Robert Lokey.  Hendrix and Mrs. Lokey were man and wife at one time.  The child is the fruit of their marriage.  Eventually the wife brought suit against the husband for divorce.  This was in Morton County, Missouri.  The suit was tried in the circuit court there and the wife was granted a divorce, alimony and custody of the child.  Mrs. Hendrix understanding that she was to do as her heart and inclination prompted her was married soon after securing the divorce to Robert Lokey an old admirer and together they came to Illinois.  But unknown to her a motion for a new trial was pending in the Missouri court and her hasty marriage was construed as contempt.  The indignant judge modified his previous order.  The divorce was allowed to stand, but the alimony was reduced one half and the child awarded to the custody of its paternal grandfather, and an attachment ordered for the mother for contempt of court.  Mrs. Lokey went before the court last January and was purged of contempt, explaining that she was assured by her lawyer that she was free to do as she pleased, the lawyer of course not understanding that she contemplated remarriage.  The child she kept by right of possession, and the decision of this court is awaited with interest.  Mrs. Lokey and her child and husband have lived at Anna since last spring.
Hendrix’s attorneys were Ray of Marion, James P. Boyd of Missouri, and Taylor Dodd.  Mrs. Lokey was represented by James Lingle and A. Ney Sessions.

(Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Saturday, 17 Sep 1904)

(Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Saturday, 15 Oct 1904)

Let’s Me and You Go and Take a Drink

Transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter 

            Fifty or more years ago there lived in Jonesboro a lawyer named Anderson P. Corder, who was in the habit of getting drunk occasionally.  At the same time an old justice of the peace, whose name has escaped us, and who also had a partiality for good red liquor, resided here and dispersed justice.  On one occasion that Mr. Corder got drunk, he was arrested and when duly sober was arraigned before the justice for trial.  It was a plain case, but the lawyer made a strong plea in defense and extenuation, closing with the following words:  “And now, your honor, when in this great and glorious country of ours—the land of the free and the home of the brave—it shall come to pass that I, Anderson P. Corder, cannot, when feeling so inclined, and having the money to pay for my liquor, get drunk whenever I please, then I say farewell, home! Farewell, country! Farewell, liberty! Farewell, everything!”  The old squire had listened eagerly and attentively to Mr. Corder’s eloquent speech and at its close brought his fist down on the table with a tremendous thump and said:  “That’s what I say, Anderson, and I discharge you.  Let’s me and you go and take a drink.”

(Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Saturday, 14 Jan 1905)

Mad Dog Excitement

Two Children Bitten and Taken to Pasteur Institute

 Transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter

            Two little girls, one a daughter of John Ferrell and the other a daughter of Ed Hawk, were bitten by a dog supposed to be mad last Tuesday.  The first named had her face lacerated by the brute and the other child was bitten on the calf of the leg.  The county commissioners ordered the children taken to the Pasteur institute in St. Louis for treatment, and they went to that city Thursday morning accompanied by Mr. Ferrell and Mr. Hawk, and also by County Clerk Laws.
            A boy named Casper, north of Anna, was bitten Thursday morning while on the way to school, probably by the same dog.  He was taken to the Pasteur institute Thursday afternoon. 
            The dog that has caused all this excitement and anxiety belongs to County Clerk J. Will Laws' little boys, and was a general play fellow of all the children of the neighborhood.  It is a medium sized cur of the sort a boy usually takes on with.  It was pursued and shot at a few times, but escaped and fled into the country north of town.  Several men who saw it declare that it was unmistakably suffering with hydrophobia, although many are inclined to be doubtful on this point.  The dog was finally run down and shot here in town Thursday morning.
            There was great excitement and alarm among the school children when they learned there was a mad dog in that vicinity.  The excitement prevailed among others also and two or three canines were sacrificed on general principles.  Mayor Rixleben on Wednesday issued a proclamation calling upon all dog owners to keep their pets confined for 30 days and if there was any likelihood of it having hydrophobia suggesting that it be shot.  It is said that several other dogs were bitten.
            The Pasteur treatment so called after the great French physician who discovered the remedy, has proved to be nearly always efficacious, and there is every reason to believe that it will be in the case of these children as the treatment was promptly undertaken.  While it is hoped that the dog did not really have rabies, it is well to apply the remedy.
            There are Pasteur institutes in several of the larger cities of this country, that at St. Louis having been established within the past few years.

(Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Saturday, 4 Feb 1905)

 
            The mad dog scare last week has resulted in the sudden death of perhaps a dozen dogs of more or less value, or no value at all.  Dog owners are generally quite willing to acquiesce in the slaughter of their pets if there is any suspicion of their having felt the fangs of the original mad dog.
            The children who were sent to the Pasteur Institute at 2312 Pine Street, St. Louis, are still there and the physician in charge, Dr. C. Fisch, writes favorably concerning them.  Dr. Fisch requested that the carcass of the dog that bit the children be sent to him, and it was disinterred and expressed to St. Louis last Friday.  Presumably the physician wishes to satisfy himself beyond doubt that the dog was suffering from hydrophobia.
            Dr. J.J. Lence received a communication from Dr. Fisch Thursday in which he stated that while the children were all doing well it was too early to make any positive statements.  The treatment requires about 21 days.  Dr. Fisch also stated that an examination of the carcass of the dog leaves no question that it was afflicted with hydrophobia.

(Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Saturday, 11 Feb 1905)

  

 Eloped with Cousin

 Transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter

        Cape Girardeau, Mo., Aug. 25.--William D. Pool, who lives near Jonesboro, Ill., was arrested in this city yesterday in company with a 14-year-old girl named Maude E. Pool, who said she was his cousin.
        They were on their way to Arkansas where they said they could be married and registered at St. Charles Monday as man and wife.
        Immediately after the arrest of the man, the girl's grandfather arrived and took the girl home with him.  The man is still in jail here, awaiting the Illinois officers who will take him back on a charge of abduction.

(Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Saturday, 1 Sep 1905)

           

Without Children, Money, or Home

Transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter 

            George E. Wilson and Attorney Fred Bieter of Murphysboro were here on Thursday of last week and made arrangements whereby Wilson could take the two children of Dow Massey to his home near Murphysboro and they are now at that place.  Their mother died several years ago, and since then they have been under the care of Massey's housekeeper until recently when she left.  It is said they were not treated as they should have been and their removal was the result.  The children, a girl 11 years old and a boy of 8, own a good farm near Murphysboro which was left to them by their mother.  Since the above took place Massey sold his house on Asylum avenue and after paying a mortgage had something over $400 left.  On Monday he became more or less intoxicated and was taken to the city jail.  He was searched and the $400 was missing.  According to reports he was robbed in a saloon by parties unknown, at least no arrests have been made.  Massey is a hard working man and is very agreeable when sober, but he seems to have an uncontrollable appetite for liquor which he no doubt will admit has brought about his present predicament, without children, money or home.  It is a sad case and he is to be pitied.

Recommended as a "Mighty Fine Man"

Transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter 

            Under date of March 30, our old friend, James T. Stafford, writes us from Castle, N.C., where he now lives and where he expects to make his home permanently.  Mr. Stafford left Cobden for his new home some weeks ago.  He was a good citizen of Cobden before that or Rich Precinct.  His neighbors always liked to have him serve as police magistrate and in 12 years of service he only had two cases appealed and then his decisions were sustained.  He was also a notary public 28 years.  Mr. Stafford writes entertainingly of his new home, and says he likes the country fine.  He has 500 cabbage plants out, one acre of Irish potatoes coming up and cucumbers, squash, cantaloupe, and several other things planted by this time.  His old friends in this county wish him abundant prosperity in his new home and can assure his North Carolina neighbors that they will find Jim Stafford to be a mighty fine man.

Befriended by a Stranger

Transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter 

            A man named Dickinson was here recently perfecting his title to 120 acres of land two and a half miles west of Mountain Glen.  To Squire A. V. Cook, who transacted the business for him, he told quite a remarkable story in connection with his ownership of the land.  Dickinson, according to his story, was born in England, but has drifted around in various parts of the world.  He went from England to Africa, from Africa to New Zealand, and from there to Australia.  While in the latter country he met a man named Rawlings, to whom he showed some kindness and was of some service, giving him money finally to return to this country, which was his home.  Dickinson himself took a notion to visit the St. Louis world�s fair in 1903, and afterwards remained, working some at his trade of brick laying and going from place to place as the impulse seized him.  In Los Angeles, Cal., he accidentally ran across a newspaper advertisement making inquiry for him and using the name of Rawlings.  He answered the advertisement in person at St. Louis, the home of Rawlings, where he learned from the widow that his acquaintance and the man he had befriended in Australia had died leaving him the land above alluded to.  It is worth several hundred dollars, being wild, uncultivated land.

(Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Saturday, 26 Oct 1906)

Old Williams Hotel

Transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter 

The old Williams House, which E. Engelhart is transforming into a business house, was built as a hotel along in the �40s by Gabriel Williams.  It contained a dozen or more bedrooms and after the decline of the swell Union House was the Waldorf Astoria of Jonesboro for a good many years.  Grandma Williams, who was a shrewd, energetic, kindly soul, ran it for many years after her husband�s death.  It housed many regular boarders at times and the dress coat rules of the Waldorf Astoria did not maintain.  The professional man in the invariable black frock, the dapper clerk, and the sweaty workman all fed amicably at the same long table.  A discordant bell hung on the front porch and its noisy clangor called the boarders to their meals from near and far.  The building has been used as a sort of tenement house of late years, sometimes being occupied by a dozen families, more or less, and materially it fell into more or less disrepair.  Ichabod was written on the weather beaten front long ago.

(Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Saturday, 1 Mar 1907)

 

Old Italian Violin For Sale

Transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter 

            Oldest violin in the world.  This violin is 302 years old.  Made by Giovan Paolo Maggini in Brefcia in 1605.  This instrument has a beautiful figure and the tone is very sweet, smooth, and even.  It has a great depth and power and very easy to note.  This violin is in my possession and I will show it to anyone that may be interested.  Will answer letters to parties who wish to buy.  Address H.W. Reed, Jonesboro, Ill., R.F.D. No. 2, box 85.

A Close Call for Stephen R. Rhymer

Transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter 

S.R. Rhymer of Dongola tried to commit suicide Wednesday afternoon by shooting himself.  He was adjudged insane a shot time ago, but his wife preferred to keep him at home rather that confine him in an asylum.  While she was in the kitchen he stepped into the room where the revolver was kept and fired the shot.  The bullet entered the left side, struck a bib and glanced.  He will recover unless blood poisoning sets in.

(Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Saturday, 19 Jul 1907)

  

Peculiar Case of Insanity

Transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter 

Jailor White had a peculiar kind of a patient in jail last Friday night.  When he took his supper in to the fellow he was politely informed that he never ate anything that had been prepared over a fire.  He said that unless he could get a couple of pieces of bacon and an ear or two of corn he preferred not to eat anything.  Mr. White provided the articles of diet called for and watched his patient devour them with the greatest relish.  Mr. White was curious as to what the man would order for his breakfast the next morning, but it was simply a couple of small beef steaks and two apples.  He ate the raw steaks with evident relish and took the taste out of his mouth with the apples.  The man was James V. Horrell, who had escaped from the asylum at Anna.  He started for his old home near Ruma and had walked as far as Prairie du Rocher, when his identity was discovered and he was arrested.  Sheriff Burns was notified and went after him, lodging him in jail over night before starting to Anna with him Saturday morning.  The patient has been an inmate of the asylum for about three years, having been sent from this county.  He has an hallucination that the Lord has willed for him that he must eat nothing that has been cooked or contains cooked ingredients.  He would starve rather than eat anything prepared over a fire.--Chester Tribune.

(Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Saturday, 26 Jul 1907)

Treasured Family Mementoes of Pioneer Days

Transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter 

Jacob Artz of Carbondale writes that he and his wife will be at the Home Coming if the Lord spares them.  Mrs. Artz has a counterpane spun by her grandmother which is 70 years old.  It has never been washed, and the date and pictures of birds and flowers are woven in the fabric.  They will probably bring it along and exhibit it at the fair.  There are doubtless many old relics in the county, treasured mementoes of pioneer days, that would be interesting in the eyes of twentieth century folk, and by all means a spinning wheel must be dug out of the rubbish in some attic and put on exhibition that the maids and matrons of today may see how their grandmothers used to fashion the fabrics of household use and personal adornment long ago.

(Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Saturday, 23 Aug 1907) 

Mrs. James R. Slaughter has a set of six hammered silver teaspoons that are at least 150 years old.  They were given to Mrs. Slaughter by her father who received them from his father beyond which time their history is not known.  They are still quite heavy and the stamp of the maker T. Emond appears plainly in some of them.

(Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Saturday, 13 Sep 1907)

Old '49er Returns to California

 Transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter

Bruno Rixleben left last Sunday for Sacramento, Calif., where he will spend the winter.  Mr. Rixleben went to California in 1849, crossing the Plains with a wagon train and also made a visit there 20 years ago.
 

(Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Saturday, 13 Dec 1907)

Uncle Phil Cruse

Transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter 

            Uncle Phil Cruse came to town from his home six miles east of Marion Friday morning.  He is hale and hearty.  He will be 85 years old his next birthday and his wife will be 83 years her next birthday.  They will have been married 65 years next August 1.  Uncle Phil was born in Jonesboro and Mrs. Cruse near the same place.  They are both in good health, except a little rheumatic.  Uncle Phil has followed blacksmithing since he was 27 years old and works yet in his shop in a small way.  He says he can make a plow yet.  He has always voted the Democratic ticket, except once, when he voted for Lincoln in 1864.  He is a member of the Christian church.--Marion Post.

(Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Saturday, 20 Mar 1908)

 

  Trip to Hudgeon's Creek

Transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter 

            Last Monday being a beautiful spring like morning, I, in company with W.F. Ferrell, made a trip to the Hudgeon's Creek country and it being my first visit to that historic part of Union County, I feel like putting my ideas into print.  I don't know and never thought to ask why it is called "Hudgeon's Creek," but I suppose that away back in the dim past it was named after somebody by that name.  But I believe that time and circumstances should change names to more modern and important surroundings, and if I should be called to change the name everyone in Union County would at once suggest the name Hunsaker, for two reasons:  First, that the Hunsaker family is among the oldest and first settlers of Union County, and second, that noble old patriarch, Montgomery Hunsaker, lives and has lived for the past 55 years on the bank of that beautiful sky blue stream.  And while on that subject, I will remark that I cannot see why some railroad don't build a track up Hudgeon's Creek and remove millions of loads of fine white gravel living there.  It would make the finest of roads, or for ballast it seems that it is unsurpassed.  Besides, a right-of-way would no doubt be granted in order to deepen the stream and prevent overflowing the fertile bottoms along its sides.

            But now to get down to the gist of this article.  Everyone who journeys that way must surely stop at the hospitable home of Montgomery Hunsaker, now white-haired and in his 81^st year, sitting in his easy rocker on the broad veranda of his home built there 72 years, the first on the creek, surrounded by blue bushes, pines, cedars, and old Buckingham apples trees planted  by his own hands and has lived there for over half a century and has seen them there from infancy grown to giants.  To sit and listen to the facts and reminiscences as Mr. Hunsaker tells them makes one wish that one could live the life he has lived, with game of all kinds as plentiful that he could shoulder his old flintlock rifle and step across the creek into the hills and many a time he says he has killed two deer in one day and once he killed three and turkeys were no object, he often passed them by when in quest of deer.  Mr. Hunsaker killed a large black bear about a mile from his home many years ago and it is thrilling to hear him relate the circumstances surrounding the killing and manner of getting it home over those high hills.

            While waiting for Mr. Ferrell to look at some timber land I dug some bait and fished in Hudgeon's Creek.  The water was high and I caught nothing, but I may never have the opportunity again, so I availed myself of it then.  Back again to Mr. Hunsaker, as he is a hard man to leave, both in person and remembrance when once you meet him.  He informed me that he has raised a family of nine children, all grown to manhood and womanhood, and his dear wife, the companion of all his life, was the first break of death in the family.  Neither he nor none of his family ever used tobacco in any form.  Mr. Hunsaker looks good for many years to come and we all hope that as he expressed it, he would live to see Bryan elected president.

            There are many more things of interest which might be said concerning this trip, but not being in the proper mood and writing this entirely from memory, I will not take up the reader's time any further.

            A.V. Cook

(Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Saturday, 10 Apr 1908)

(Note:  For a biography of Hunsaker, click here.)

Enlisted in U.S. Army

Transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter 

Mr. Clarence Reeves of Dongola, Ill., enlisted in the U.S. Army at the U.S. Army recruiting office in Cairo on May 2, 1908.  He enlisted as telegraph operator in the Signal Corps and was sent immediately to Jefferson Barracks, Mo., for preliminary training.  Many young men are joining the army now because of the good prospect of getting an increase in pay at this session of Congress. 

Henry Berkman, of Anna, enlisted for coast artillery branch of the service.  Joseph F. Cooley, of Dongola, also enlisted.

Amos M. Glasco, of Alto Pass, joined the U.S. Army

 (Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Saturday, 8 May 1908, 28 May 1908, and 4 Dec 1908)

Nurses Graduate

Transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter 

            The Hospital Training School for Nurses will graduate a class this evening.  It is the first class to graduate from the school and commencement exercise will be held in the chapel of the hospital.  Judge W.N. Butler will address the class, Pres. H.H. Kohn present the diplomas, and Dr. Eugene Cohn the class medals.  There will be music by Mrs. A.W. Thorne and the hospital orchestra, and following the exercise a reception and hop will be given for the graduates.

            The members of the class are Lela M. Harris, Cora M. Robinson, Ardena Upchurch, Cora J. Mackey, Katherine Fitzgerald, and Florence E. Gillibrand.

Surprised Birthday for Mrs. Henry Douglas 

Transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter 

            Thursday, Feb. 11, was a notable day in the history of Mrs. Henry Douglas at her home in the country, south of Jonesboro.  Her granddaughter, Miss Mattie Misenhimer, had some days before decided to surprise her grandmother, and taking into her confidence some of the neighboring ladies they worked the thing successfully.  The neighbors and relatives met at the home of John Weaver at about 11 o'clock and from there drove to the home of Mrs. Douglas and completely surprised her.  She soon went to the kitchen hospitality intent and wondering what she would cook for all the people, but the ladies told her not to worry, that they had come amply provisioned, and soon the table was spread with a bountiful dinner.  Mrs. Douglas had not the least hint of the invasion but surrendered gracefully and made her guests welcome.  There were 30 or more present and they had a royal good time.  After dinner Mr. Douglas entertained the guests by playing his violin.  He is at the age of 79 years, and it was the 67^th birthday anniversary of Mrs. Douglas.  All of the guests enjoyed it immensely, but none more than she and Uncle Henry.  Wishing Mrs. Douglas many happy returns of the day the guests departed.

(Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Friday, 8 Jan 1909)

The Lincoln Penny Designer?

Transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter 

            A Springfield paper states that Jerome Sivia of that city suggested to Pres. Roosevelt the design for the new Lincoln penny.  Mr. Sivia formerly lived at Dongola and later at Cairo.

(Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Friday, 3 Sep 1909)

DuQuoin Children's Home

Transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter 

            Mrs. L.Y. Avery of the DuQuoin Children's Home was here Monday.  Nine orphan children were sent to the home from this county this week.  The Illinois Children's Home and Aid Society is a noble institution.  It has four homes in different parts of the state.  Mrs. Avery is the superintendent for this district.  The county board gave her $100 on this visit, which was right and just as the home takes many children that would otherwise become public charges and does a great deal better by them than the county would or could.  Prior to 1909, 68 children were sent to the home from this county, 101 from Alexander, 86 from Jackson, 31 from Pulaski, 11 from Johnson, and so on.

(Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Friday, 24 Sep 1909)