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NEWS ARTICLES
Union County Illinois Genealogy Trails  1920-1929 NEWS Information Wanted, March 26, 1920 About Soils and Fruits, May 7, 1920 A Chapter of Accidents, July 23, 1920 Old Camp Ground, Aug 13, 1920 100 Year Old Apple Tree, March 11, 1921 School Teacher Attacked, Dec 23, 1921 and Jan 6, 1922 Against Hopping Trains, Jan 1922 Big Annual Birthday Dinner, May 12, 1922 Headstones for Soldiers, Sept 15, 1922 Biles Return from Trip, Nov 2, 1923 Old Building Removed, Nov 16, 1923 Historic Corner Razed, Apr 10, 1925 Christmas Memories, Dec 25, 1925 Guardianship Notice, March 5, 1926 Hale-Willard Memorial Hospital Opens, Mar 26, 1926 Birthday Celebrated, April 9, 1926 Jonesboro Boy A Singer, June 4, 1926 An Ancient Document, June 6, 1926 Moleboard Plow, Sept 3, 1926 Ninety Years Old, Dec 31, 1926 Birthday Surprise, Jan 7, 1927 Sale of Bill of 1858, Feb 4, 1927 Notice of Guardianship, April 1, 1927 Prizes Ancient Bureau, Sept 2, 1927 Thought Mother Dead, Oct 14, 1927 Fire Destroys Barn, Nov 18, 1927 Ellis-Rendleman House, Dec 23, 1927 Passes 80th Milestone, Dec 23, 1927 Storm's "Bobby Thatcher," Apr 27, 1928 The Old Time School, Aug 24, 1928 Sheriff After the Liquor, Jan 18, 1929 Attorney Arlie O. Boswell, Feb 1, 1929 Ancient House, Apr 5, 1929 John Adams Killed, July 22, 1929 Information Wanted Transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter A young woman Flossie Stevenson is seeking information concerning her parents, Harvey Lewis Stevenson and Fannie Cauble Stevenson, who lived at or near Jonesboro, Union County, Illinois, about 25 years ago. Would like any information whatever concerning this couple. Will pay reward for locating them. Send information to Miss Flossie Stevenson, care of Billboard, Cincinnati, Ohio. (Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Friday, 26 Mar 1920) Transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter Pittsburg, Pa.—Editor Gazette—I see considerable interest manifested in the chemical analysis of soils in Illinois. Pennsylvania has passed that analysis many times and Lancaster County in Pennsylvania and Cecil County in Maryland are called the best farming communities in the United States. The Cumberland Valley from Harrisburg, Pa., to Hagerstown, Md., is another rich country. These are lime and sandstone soils, similar to that of Union County, Illinois. Lime is used to sweeten the acid of the bacteria and destroy all injurious bacteria. The lime is burned in the fields. They first dig a pit 12 by 14 feet, two feet or more in depth, in which is placed dry wood with a layer of coal six inches thick. On this is placed broken lumps of limestone six to eight inches square some two and a half feet high, then another layer of coal and limestone until the pile is ten to twelve feet high. This is covered with dirt some two feet in depth all around the kiln. Some place thick sod around the outside of the pile which is the best heat retainer, others cover with limestone which is used for lime later. The vest farmers in Lancaster and other counties build a wall around their barns and make a cement floor where the manure is stored, even build sheds as about 50 percent of it is washed away by rain and water. In 1866 my father moved to his farm northeast of and adjoining Cobden, and on the old Hartline farm across the road north was Indian peaches. They may have come from India, but the name peach is from a Latin word meaning “the Persian fruit.” This Indian peach was a deep red clingstone, coarse grained and not so sweet or delicate as the budded fruit introduced from New York by Col. Bainbridge, Parker Earle, E. N. Clark, Dave Gow, Capt. Sperry, T. A. E. Holcomb, John Reese, J. S. Lawver, and others. There was the remains of a small peach nursery on my father’s place in 1866 which a neighbor had taken the privilege of planting there. No budded trees were left, but my father let the seedlings remain, ten feet apart, and when they bore fruit they were the most wonderful varieties, which showed that they were the “grandchildren” of the Indian peach, having been produced from budded fruit engrafted on the Indian peach. Of these variegated peaches some were free, others clingstone and all mixed color, pink and red spotted, yellow with purple and white, some half pink and the other side purple and white. I noticed that the fruit of these half breeds was less juicy and less sweet and that the curculio did not attack them as much as the budded peach. One peach of that day, Hale’s Early, the sweetest, was the greatest victim to the curculio, borer, etc. The Persian peach was a clingstone, and the great grape and peach authority, Sylvester Johnson, of Indianapolis said the clingstone is the most hardy. One day he took me out into his yard (he laid out Irvington, the restricted addition to Indianapolis) and showed me some seedling yellow, white and pink clingstones, peaches from Lemon clingstones budded into the White Heath clingstone and said, “Can we bear that fruit?” Then picking off of a grape vine (a seedling from the seed of some Concord grape, I forget the number) a paper bag containing a great bunch of grapes, he said, “I have just returned from the St. Louis World’s Exposition where I have posed as an authority on grapes, and this bunch of grapes proves that I know very little about grapes after fifty odd years of investigation and experience. That grape in your paper bag has more juice, less pulp and a more sweet and exquisite flavor than any grape I ever saw or tasted, and it is only a seedling.” Going back to the early schools of Cobden and Anna, Professor Samson, George Reeves, T. A. E. Holcomb and his wife, Professor Forbes and Professor Hubbel taught the correct observation of good principles, the etymology of words and their derivation. A class of Holcomb, Forves, or Hubbel at Cobden understood their teaching of Latin and Greek roots, algebra and geometry, as they gave practical illustrations, did not use Green and Latin words, look wise and let the pupil flounder in his ignorance. A great educator and old professor of Harvard said, “College graduates have only been exposed to education,” adding that “Education without practical illustration was of little value to the graduate after he left college.” Colleges of all kinds have extended the time, give less and charge the pupil more. For what? The profit. The present generation are being forced into a deceptive and degrading as well as enslaving monopoly. Too late they will realize this. “I have spoken.” Long live the valuable and instructive Jonesboro Gazette, which costs less than three cents a week. Yours truly and respectfully, F. M. Sperry (Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Friday, 7 May 1920) Transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter Among a number of injuries due to accidents that Dr. A. J. Lyerly has been called to treat recently that of a seven year old boy named Troy Robinson, son of William Robinson, who lives up towards Wolf Lake, was the most peculiar. The boy was fooling around a hay carrier in the process of unloading hay into the barn and his right thumb got caught in a pulley near the ground and was pulled in two between the first and second joints, the skin breaking above the second joint and leaving the stump of his thumb bare. The boy picked up his piece of thumb and when the doctor came wanted him to stick it back on, but the doctor chloroformed him instead and amputated the rest of his thumb. Troy said it hurt quite a bit, but he is getting along all right. However he is permanently handicapped in playing “Simon says thumbs up.” Last Friday Mrs. Laura Griffith, who lives at Ware, was canning blackberries, using glass jars. In screwing the top of a jar it broke and a jagged end of glass cut a deep wound in the palm of her hand, near the thumb. Dr. Gunter of Ware was absent and could not be reached and Mrs. Griffith nearly bled to death before Dr. Lyerly who was called by telephone instructed the attendants to bind her arm. He then hastened to Ware and dressed the wound and the patient was well over the effects of the loss of blood in a few days. Monday afternoon the fourteen year old daughter of Jeff Brown, west of Jonesboro, was bitten by a rattlesnake while picking blackberries. The snake struck her on the right thumb, leaving one of its fangs in the wound. The plucky girl first killed the snake and then went to the house and pulled the fang out of her thumb. When Dr. Lyerly got there Miss Brown’s arm was paining her a good deal but was not swollen much. He administered the approved remedies for snake bite and the girl is getting along all right. The rattler was a youngster, about a foot and a half long, and its rattles had not yet developed. A fourteen year old boy named Roy McMillan swung off of a motor truck on West Broad street, near the square, Wednesday afternoon about 6:30, but did not swing clear of the machine. A rear wheel caught him and pushed him along over the rough gravel until it pushed him out of the way or the car was stopped. Roy was carried up to Dr. Lence’s office where an examination disclosed that aside from a bruised leg he was not severely hurt and he was sent home in Blue Jay’s taxi. (Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Friday, 23 Jul 1920) Transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter Ten years ago, maybe it was fifteen, there was a fine growth of timber on the old Camp Ground at the western edge of Jonesboro, so called because a regiment of soldiers were in camp there for a while during the civil war. The timber was mostly poplar, and where poplar grows it is said the soil is of superior quality. It is sometimes called limestone soil, and blue grass and clover have a partiality for it. As long as these grow luxuriously, the owner of the land need not worry about fertilizers. There are about ten acres in this tract, and today W. F. Ferrell has a young peach orchard there, about a thousand trees. Last year the orchard yielded a fairly good crop and Mr. Ferrell sold it on the trees for something over $2,000. This year it produced only one-third of a crop, but they are mighty fine peaches, Elbertas. He has also sold this crop on the trees. All of Mr. Ferrell’s farm, and in fact all of the adjoining farms, is this limestone soil where lordly poplars and white oaks once grew. Most of it is in a high state of cultivation now, and the owners are getting more and more acquainted with its wonderful possibilities if intelligently treated. For orcharding it is unsurpassed, but for any branch of horticulture or agriculture one may fancy this land will yield rich and sure returns. (Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Friday, 13 Aug 1920) 100 YEAR OLD APPLE TREE Transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter Calvin A. Smith has an apple tree on his place up on Hudgeon’s Creek that is over 100 years old. It was planted about the year 1818. It now has an enormous girth for an apple tree, but is sadly decayed and must soon perish, although last year the brave old tree yielded two or three bushels of good fruit. The earliest comers to Union County during the first quarter of the nineteenth century brought from their distant homes seeds of various fruits which they planted and tended with anxious care, for they felt that the wilderness would never seem like home until the fruit they were accustomed to grew again at their doors. The soil and climate proved friendly, and in a few years from these seeds developed new and strange varieties of apples and peaches, most of them being now extinct. There were no insect or other enemies, and the tree bore their delicious burden year after year while failure was unknown. Mr. Smith’s recollection goes back to the time when in nearly every fence corner there was a peach tree, that being a favorite place to set them out or plant a seed. Before the days of the railroad, there was no market for the surplus fruit and much of it was made into brandy, both apple and peach. This was sold in the neighborhood and even the St. Louis market. Mr. Smith says he often as a boy drove the horse around and around that furnished the power to crush the peaches in the manufacture of brandy. The farm hogs always thronged around to eat the refuse, and sometimes the tubs containing the finished product—good ole peach brandy, ole boy!—would leak and form in puddles and pools on the ground. The hogs would drink it greedily and become intoxicated, and Mr. Smith says acted much like men do in a similar state. Some of them got in the gayest of humor and frisked and played with comical abandon, others fought viciously until completely exhausted, while still others staggered about until they tumbled over in a drunken stupor. It is doubtful if there is even in the White House cellars any nectar to compare with the peach brandy that used to be made in Union County and the common herd nowadays drinks ghastly names as “white mule” and “hootch.” But a hog wouldn’t. (Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Friday, 11 Mar 1921) SCHOOL TEACHER ATTACKED Transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter There were prodigious excitement and indignation in the Darktown section of Cobden Monday night over the attempted assassination of Katie Murray, a colored school teacher. Miss Murray boards with a colored woman named Jones. At about 6 o’clock Monday evening some one fired twice at her through a window, sprinkling her with small shot from head to foot. However she was not seriously hurt. Up to a month or so ago the school teacher boarded with the family of John Fowler, colored. While there she claims to have been robbed of $30 one night, and her empty purse was found the next day in the yard. Strangely enough the Fowlers also claimed to have been robbed the same night, and their empty purse was found in the yard. There was mutual recrimination, and the school teacher changed her boarding place. She has a lively suspicion as to the identity of her assailant Monday night. Sheriff Hurst and Deputy Sheriff Hileman went to Cobden Monday night immediately after the shooting but made no arrests. Wednesday afternoon the sheriff and State’s Attorney Karraker went to Cobden and the result of this trip was that John Fowler was arrested and brought to Jonesboro and lodged in jail. Fowler is a burly Negro 40 to 45 years old. He is employed at the DuBois box mill, where he was at work when arrested. He stoutly maintains that he did not shoot the school teacher. He owns a double barreled shotgun which he readily surrendered to the sheriff at his home, pulling it out from under the bed. It was loaded. Katie Murry is about 38
years old. She is married but has not been living with her husband
for some time. She taught school at Cobden about six years ago,
and is said to bear a good reputation. She claims that after the
mystery of the pocketbooks while she was boarding at Fowler’s the
Fowlers, husband and wife, subjected her to a search and forcibly took
from her about $50 which she had concealed on her person. Why she
never took steps to recover it is not clear. (Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro,
Illinois, Friday, 23 Dec 1921) Katie Murray, the colored school teacher who was
shot about three weeks ago, was not able to appear in court Wednesday so the
preliminary hearing of John Fowler,
colored, was postponed.
(Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro,
Illinois, Friday, 6 Jan 1922)
AGAINST "HOPPING TRAINS" Transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter Cobden Marshal Ordered to Arrest Every Offender Caught in That City Some of the
Anna boys who have made a practice of hopping trains and going to
Cobden most every afternoon will have to watch the Cobden marshal
hereafter. It seems a very good plan to save the boys’
lives against their will.
The following article we clipped from this week’s issue of the Cobden Sentinel. It may save some of you boys a fine. You may actually care more for a dollar than a climb. The Town Board
has decided that they will do all in their power to preserve the lives
and limbs of the coming generation by taking all the necessary steps
toward the elimination of one of the greatest evils of the present time
in Southern Illinois. M. A. Lowry, the Marshall has been
instructed to arrest every person he sees, or has proof of, of jumping
on or off trains. We are strongly in favor of this movement and
we hope that the public, whether they have children who are apt to be
killed or crippled for life, will assist in every way they can toward
the abatement of this practice. Tell the proper authorities when
you see any of the boys jumping on the trains, and also if it is your
child, see that you make him understand that if he does these things
that he must stand punishment for them the same as some other
boy. Let’s all work and do what we can to stop this train
jumping before the boys get killed or injured. You know the old
saying about an ounce of prevention.
Last Sunday Mr. Lowry picked up three boys from Carbondale and three from Makanda for jumping off trains in Cobden and has already arrested five Cobden boys and one from Mounds.—Cobden Sentinel. (Illinois Central Magazine, January 1922, page 25) BIG ANNUAL BIRTHDAY DINNER Transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter Grandma Mariah
Brown was 94 years old April 18, but the first Sunday in May is the day
set apart to celebrate her birthday as the weather is most generally
better for the occasion, and last Sunday was about as perfect a day as
could be asked for. So about all the kinfolk as well as many
others journeyed down to her son, John Brown’s, home to do her
homage and help to cheer her along life’s pathway. More
than 100 people of all sizes and ages were present to enjoy the
festivities, and such a dinner as was spread for the occasion is seldom
seen. A table sixty feet long and three feet wide was fairly
groaning under its weight of good things to eat. To describe it
would be impossible, but we will say that there was chicken, oodles of
it, with dumplings and dressing, cakes piled high, pies of all kinds,
barrels of them, eggs deviled and pickled, and many other things
indescribable by the untrained eye.
To see all these good things being piled upon the table provoked such an appetite that a large part of them soon disappeared. Grandma, whose wrinkled brow betokened that the weight of years is upon her, is yet cheerful and looks good for many happy returns of her birthday. She sat at the head of the table where she could look down the long lines of hungry relatives and friends who had gathered to help her enjoy the occasion, and John, who has an appellation by which he is familiarly known in distinction from other John Browns, was all smiles and very happy, as well as the whole family who took special pains to make everybody welcome. Grandma Brown has been a Mexican war pensioner for about fifty years. A few years ago she fell and broke her hip, but has recovered so that she gets around about as well as most people half her age. Everybody departed feeling that the day had been well spent, and all were asked to come back next year on the first Sunday in May when there will be a repetition of the festivities of last Sunday, provided of course the grim reaper does not interfere. J. D. R. Brown, who is sojourning in Louisiana, was the only member of the immediate family who was not present. (Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Friday, May 12, 1922) HEADSTONES FOR SOLDIERS Transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter To the Relatives and Friends of the Soldiers Buried in the County:
E. R. Lewis, superintendent of the burial places, Chicago, has asked the county commissioners to assist in getting a record of the number of soldiers buried in Union County, the name of the cemetery, the township, and the person or organization having charge of the cemetery. The Illinois assembly passed an act to locate, mark, and mark a record of the graves of all soldiers buried in this state. The federal government will cooperate in this matter by furnishing upon proper evidence, the headstones required. The law referred to makes no provision for any compensation to carry on this work, hence all assistance locally in securing this information must be voluntary. In order to present this to the different parts of Union County where burial grounds are located, the county board has asked the different county newspapers to publish this without pay. Those who may or will assist in this work please make a list (not names, just the number), of all soldiers, the name of the cemetery, township, and person or organization having charge of cemetery, and sent to Thomas Rixleben, County Commissioner, Jonesboro. (Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Friday, 15 Sep 1922) BILES RETURN FROM TRIP Transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Biles arrived
home Thursday last week from their trip to North Carolina. Biles
met three old comrades who served with him in the Confederate Army.
(Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Friday, 2 Nov 1923) OLD BUILDINGS REMOVED Transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter E. Englemart
has demolished the
old building he used as a stable on Market street. It had become pretty
dilapidated. More than 50 years ago Alex. Cruse had a blacksmith
shop there and ran if for years. He made it a two-story building and it
was a wagon as well as blacksmith shop. W. W. Stokes, who founded
the company of that name at Anna and became quite wealthy, got his
start there. He died several years ago, but his uncle, Alex.
Cruse, a much older man, is still living at Murphysboro. With the
removal of this old building Market street becomes a residence street
without an objectionable feature. J. C. Crawford is moving the
stable on West Broad street to the back part of the lot, making a great
improvement there. This old stable was also originally a
blacksmith shop run by John L. Blinn more than 50 years ago.
There is a ramshackle old building two or three hundred feet to the
east of it built by Mr. Blinn for a paint shop, which should also be
torn away. Way back in the 60s and 70s that was quite an
industrial section of Jonesboro. In addition to the paint shop
and the blacksmith shop, there were D. S. Nusbaum’s wagon shop,
where John Foster’s house now is and a little to the west of it
Squire Jacob Grear’s cooper shop. Times does bring changes.
(Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Friday, 16 Nov 1923)
HISTORIC CORNER RAZED
Transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter The work of
demolition of the corner room in the Reynolds block on the west side of
the square in Jonesboro was begun Tuesday. The site will be
occupied by a filling station.
The Reynolds block was originally known as the Dishon block. It was built up long before the Civil War, presumably by Henri Dishon, one of the wealthy merchants of Jonesboro in those days. One of his descendants still living in Jonesboro is Mrs. Kittie Hacker Kelley, a granddaughter. The Dishon family lived for many years at the west end of the block. After Henri Dishon’s day James Evans had a store there and amassed a sizable fortune. That was after the Civil War. He died in 1874, and the next occupant at the corner was Charles Barringer with his grocery store. After a few years he moved into the brick building at the south end of the block across West Broad street and the Fulenwider brothers, Monroe and Bert, succeeded him with a grocery store at the Dishon corner. As originally erected the building had a projecting roof on the east and south sides, narrowing the floor space of the store seven or eight feet. This roof was supported by massive round wooden columns which gave it the name of column corner. The property later passed into the hands of Robert S. Reynolds, and for a time W. Scott Day was a joint owner with him. The latter had the corner remodeled about 1880, doing away with the famous columns and the overhanging roof. Day finally disposed of his interest in the building to Mr. Reynolds and it passed by inheritance to the latter’s sons, W. R.W. and James G. Reynolds, the present owners, and has since been occupied by many different renters with dry goods, clothing, and grocery stores, restaurant, saloon, barber shop and what not. (Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Friday, April 10, 1925)
In the language of the children’s story books,
“as Christmas is a coming,” old memories tug at my
heartstrings; and sitting alone at the fireside I open the doors of
memory and let them troop out. To most everybody Christmas brings
happy anticipations and eager expectations of reunions of family and
friends. But not so with me. My family has grown to less
proportions with the passing of years, and of the few of us who yet
remain, long distances divide us and years grow many between our
meetings. So all that’s left to bear me companionship on
Christmas Eve are the memories of the past.
I think so often of the first Christmas Eve I spent in our dear old town of Jonesboro. I was a stranger in your midst then, having been there but six months, but I was a young girl in my early teens, full of dreams and eager anticipations, as well as a warm heart full of longing for the friendliness of those I met and associated with. Well, when Christmas came, David Brooks took me to the old town hall where there was a Christmas tree, a public one, upon which anyone could put a present for anyone. Of course the place was crowded, and as is usually so at such a tree some favorite girl was over laden with gifts while others had less gifts and more heartburning. But all and each received some but poor, shy, sensitive me. I saw the tree stripped and heard the happy laughter and joined in because I truly was enjoying with the recipients all their pleasures, while at the same time there was the tugging ache of loneliness at being forgotten, that pride helped me from showing. My parents had been ill and fall and not able to get out, and dad had not yet began to make money, being so recently established there, so there was no Christmas at home either. Just as the crowd began to move out of the hall, some one called my name and held up a package they said had been overlooked. I bless to this day the unknown person whose heart had felt the loneliness of mine and gave me of their own gifts. The gift was but a box of garish writing paper (big broad pink and green checks), but it brought a warm glow to the stranger child who had come to live in the little town. How often since then have I watched the faces of eager children at the church trees and seen them express the sick loneliness of forgetfulness. I am glad that in these times there is never anyone forgotten or overlooked and that the presenting of gifts has been relegated to the home circles or mails, for therein can be no hurt or lonely feelings. I tell this but to illustrate how lonely one can feel in the midst of good cheer and a crowd if they are strangers. Christmas cheer and good spirits should take in the stranger within the gates. ‘Tis the time when all hearts expand and thrill and long for home, friends and kindred and so often there are strangers who are not included in the warming glow of friendliness. How easy to open our doors to the “far from home” young folks or the old man or woman bereft of dear ones, if we only thought to do it. And soon now another Christmas will dawn and I hope no boy or girl or man or woman in the dear old town will feel the lonely, left-out feeling of the girl of the long ago in your midst—1874—years and years ago counted by time but by thought ‘tis but a season ago. The gray, old woman sitting by the fire tonight sees only the bright faces and hears the gay laughter of merry maids and lads. How they throng past: John, Sidney, Walter, and Harry Grear, Jack Davis, Jack Finley, Sam Davie, the Rich boys, the Gattingers, Charlie Otrich, Henry Cozby, George Barringer, Harvey Bouton, and hosts of others. And the girls, Libby Davie, Emma Davie, Kit Hacker, Idy (Dutch) Williams, Betty Bybee, Belle Olmsted, Minnie Finley. Onery, mad-cap, can’t you see that broad smile? Eliza McClure, Fannie Willard, the Simmons sisters, Alice Alden, Phena Barringer, Belle Hunsaker, Helen Frick, and Laura, and so I could keep on for hours and still not name them all. But it brings a sadness to recall “how few remain of that old time” some fifty years ago. Of that bright crowd, there yet remain three gray old girls “way out here in the west” whose hearts will ache with memories that will not down of Christmas Eve. Dear Idy May of Los Angeles, Minnie Finley in San Diego, and Eddie Walker in Arizona—so far apart and yet together. We used to be called the village mad-caps. I wonder if any in the old town will send us a friendly memory thought at that blessed anniversary. To each and all who are left of that old time my heart sends love and greeting and none but happy memories. I wish you could sit and watch with me the Christmas stars come out. There is never a place where the stars shine so clear, so big, and scintillate as they do here in this rarified atmosphere. Just now there is one wonderful star that looks as must have looked the Star of Bethlehem when it came and led the wise men. So much of beauty surrounds us here at the foot of the everlasting hills one cannot help but feel uplifted. Some day (always we hope for “some day”) it would be such a pleasure to have you here to enjoy our sunshine. Think of it, when your thermometer is flirting around zero and below and the snow all depths. Our spring jonquils and violets are now in bloom and sunshine every day. Why go to Florida? That’s an old crowded trail. Come West, me boy, ‘twill surprise ye. Our town is rather sleepy yet, but how we will flourish when the Boulder Canyon Dam is started. I send to you each and all a hearty Christmas wish of peace, joy, and continuance of God’s blessing to you and thine. I am truly the same. EDDIE (WALKER) AYERS Kingman, Ariz. Dec. 7, 1925 (Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Friday, Dec. 25, 1925) GUARDIANSHIP NOTICE Transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter To James Green and Mrs. Bessie Green:
Take notice that on the 15th day of October, A. D. 1925, a petition was filed by W. J. Harrison in the county court of Union County, Illinois, to have a certain child named James Green declared a dependent and to take from the said William J. Harrison and you the guardianship and custody of the said child, and to give the said child out for adoption. Now unless you appear within twenty days after the date of this notice and show cause against such application, the petition shall be taken for confessed and a decree entered accordingly. Ed. T. Woodworth County Clerk Dated March 5, 1926 (Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Friday, 5 March 1926) JONESBORO BOY A SINGER Transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter Charles A.
McLain, grandson of the late Maria J. McLain, who for many years kept
hotels in Anna and Jonesboro, is gaining fame in New York as a
singer. Mr. McLain spent his boyhood days in Jonesboro and his
many friends here will be pleased to learn of the young man’s
success.
For the past several years Mr. McLain has made his home in Butte, Montana, where his beautiful voice was discovered. Prominent Montana people who heard him sing were attracted by the large possibilities of his voice and urged him to go either to New York or abroad for further voice training. Out in the Mining Metropolis he is affectionately called “Butte’s own” and is known as the Caruso of the West. The astonishing feature of Mr. McLain’s voice is his unusual range. He sings over three full octaves and takes a perfect F above high C. According to all available records it is the highest note ever sung in the history of vocal art. And now word comes from New York City that the young man is gradually taking his place among the artists of the Music World. Recently he had an audition with Salvatore Avitabile, conductor of opera and coach at the Metropolitan Opera House Studios, and the famous Maestro was so impressed with his voice that he agreed to train him for an operatic career. Mr. Avitabile is also the teacher of Marion Talley, the 19-year-old Kansas City girl who created a sensation by appearing in grand opera. Since going to New York Mr. McLain has had many public appearances. He has sung in Concert in Carnegie Hall and also with the Philharmonic Orchestra under such renowned conductors as Kurt Schindler, William Mengelberg and William Von Hoogstraten. His is a member of the Shola Cantorum and soloist at one of the large churches there. America is fast becoming the center of the Music World and it is no longer considered necessary to study abroad, as has been proven in the cases of Marion Talley, Mary Lewis and Lawrence Tibbetts, native Americans, who were trained here and made their bows to operatic audiences the past season. And Butte, Montana, not to be outdone by Kansas City, who packed up and went to New York to hear Miss Talley in opera, is planning on sending a large delegation when Mr. McLain makes his debut. (Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Friday, 4 June 1926) AN ANCIENT DOCUMENT Transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter Thomas
Rixleben, of Jonesboro, recently ran across the following among old
family papers. It is yellowed and stained with age, and is the
first naturalization paper taken out by his grandfather, August
Rixleben. It reads:
Among the records of the court of common pleas in and for Berks county it is thus contained The subscriber being a subject of the King of Saxony and having resided in the town of Zena in the Kingdom of Saxony, and having arrived at the City of New York on the first of June A. D. one thousand eight hundred and nineteen and it being my intention to become a citizen of the United States do hereby report myself. August Rixleben Reading, November the 5th A. D. 1819. To John Addams, Esq. Prothonotary of the court of common pleas of the county of Berks Filed Novr. 5th, 1819 Then follows the certificate of the prothonotary dated Nov. 16, 1819, with the seal of the court. Somewhat singularly the name of the state, Pennsylvania, did not appear on the seal nor was it mentioned in the writing. (Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Friday, 6 June 1926) HALE-WILLARD MEMORIAL HOSPITAL OPENS Transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter The Hale-Willard Memorial Hospital
(at Anna) will be opened April 1 to the public. Four rooms have
been engaged for that date and it is expected the hospital was be
pretty well filled within two or three weeks. There are yet four
rooms to be furnished. A number have been furnished by different
organizations and the trustees would be glad to receive applications
from anyone who would be willing to furnish a memorial room.
(Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Friday, March 26, 1926)
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATED Transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter Peter Bernhard
celebrated his 75th birthday anniversary last Sunday at his home in
Jonesboro. His birthday was really on Monday, April 5, but as it
was more convenient for most of his children to be present on Sunday,
the celebration was held on that date.
All of the six sons of Mr. and Mrs. Bernhard were present except one, Albert, who lives at Coal City, Ill., and of course like the rest of the people in northern Illinois was snowed up, the five present being August, of Cairo; Peter J., of Jonesboro; Stephen J., wife and three children, Junior, Mary Louise and Teddy, of West Frankfort; Paul N., wife and two children, Paul Junior and Billy, of Jonesboro. The daughters, Lona, at home, Mrs. James Lingle and Mrs. Elmer Weaver. Mr. Weaver and their two children, John and Carl, were also present. Other guests were Mr. Bernhard’s brother, Adam Bernhard, his wife and their son John, Rev. and Mrs. F. A. Millhouse and little daughter Ardyth, and A. S. Tibbets. A splendid dinner was served at noon, a monster birthday cake being conspicuously placed on the table, and the company enjoyed the occasion to the fullest extent. However when a departing guest expressed the hope that Mr. Bernhard might be here 75 more years he entered an emphatic negative. Peter Bernhard and his brother, Adam, who is two years older, were born in the old country and came to America when the former was about ten years old. They have both lived industrious, useful lives, as good farmers. Peter’s six sons are all handsome, stalwart young men. He and his good wife are in fairly good health, and while not as active as they used to be still find life enjoyable. Their many friends wish for them many years yet of happiness among their children and grandchildren. (Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Friday, 9 Apr 1926) MOLEBOARD PLOW Transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter Sam S. Stokes
has an old wooden moleboard plow handed down in the family for several
generations which was sent to the state fair at Springfield last week
and will be placed in the museum at Springfield. The plow was
made and used in North Carolina about 200 years ago. It first
belonged to and was used by Mr. Stokes’ grandmother’s
great-great-grandfather. Mr. Stokes received the plow from his
brother, the late W. W. Stokes. Dr. C. E. Trovillion,
superintendent of the hospital, saw the relic and requested that he be
allowed to send it to Springfield to be placed among the other exhibits
of primitive farm tools and household utensils in the state fair museum
and the request was granted. Mr. Stokes has had several chances
to sell the relic at a good price, but has refused to part with it for
sentimental reasons.
(Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Friday, Sept. 3, 1926) NINETY YEARS OLD Transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter M. V. Powell,
Jonesboro’s oldest citizen, quietly celebrated his ninetieth
birthday at his home on Heacock street Monday, Dec. 27. Although
somewhat bowed by the weight of his years, he still retains fairly good
health. His sight and hearing remain remarkably good. He is
able to read without the aid of glasses, or to file a saw that some
neighbor thinks can’t be done just right by anybody else.
Scores of congratulations marked the day for the old
gentleman. They were delivered personally and came by mail and
telegraph.
Mr. Powell was born in this country, a few miles south of Jonesboro. For sixty-five years he has lived in the house he builded with his own hands and where he reared his family. And for over fifty years he was a builder of homes in Jonesboro, Anna, and elsewhere in the county. When not thus employed each day found him busy in his shop near his home. He has lived long and usefully, and is honored and respected by all as he deserves to be. Since the death of his wife many years ago, Mr. Powell’s widowed daughter, Mrs. Nettie Williford, has looked after his home and comfort, and another daughter, Mrs. O. F. Jones, lives nearby. (Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Friday, 31 Dec 1926) BIRTHDAY SURPRISE Transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter A birthday
surprise dinner was given in honor of George Barringer last Saturday
evening at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Geo. Edwin Parks, in
Anna. The dinner was served at 6 o’clock and was a triumph
of the culinary skill of Mrs. Barringer and her daughters, Mrs. Parks,
Mrs. Harry Woods, Mrs. Ralph Sitter, and Mrs. Paul Barringer.
About a dozen of the men friends of Mr. Barringer were seated at the board and after all had feasted to repletion he was presented with two very handsome and useful articles as a memento of the occasion. In his presentation talk the spokesman alluded to his earliest recollection of Mr. Barringer which was a member of the Jonesboro Brass Band in 1868 and the Jonesboro Band was then and always afterward believed by its loyal admirers to be “the best country band in the state.” Incidentally, of the fourteen members of the band in 1868, Mr. Barringer is the only now living. Some passed on comparatively young, others lived to old age, and on Sunday, January 2, 1927, Mr. Barringer himself reached the 78th milestone on life’s journey. The speaker also alluded to Mr. Barringer’s long service in public life. He served his county as sheriff, as county superintendent of schools several terms and in various other capacities, and in short he has lived a notably active and useful life. He has not permitted himself to grow old, enjoys fairly good health and takes a keen interest and keeps well posted on the affairs of the day both local and general. The affair was all a complete surprise to Mr. Barringer but he responded in words, which voiced his sincere appreciation of the friendship evidenced. The gloves he declared a perfect fit, the pencil at the service of any friend except to write a letter of introduction for Cousin George Hileman. A couple of hours at pinochle and the company departed wishing their old friend many happy returns and thanking Mrs. Barringer and her daughters for an uncommonly pleasant evening. (Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Friday, 7 Jan 1927) SALE BILL OF 1858 Transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter Rev. Thomas D.
Spruce, pastor of the Methodist church at Huttig, Ark., has sent us a
copy of a sale bill dated March 20, 1858. The sale was for his
grandfather, George Spruce, who had lived in this county but had moved
to Tennessee. The property was left in the hands of one Abner Cox
to sell on nine months credit.
Among the items listed a coffee mill sold for 40 cents, a pair of candle molds and strainer for 5 cents, a handsaw for $1.10, a pair of balances for 10 cents, a rifle gun for $5, two bed ticks for 55 cents, an umbrella for 20 cents, bed quilts from 10 cents to 55 cents and a bedstead for 10 cents, a tar bucket for 5 cents and a bottle of castor oil for 5 cents. A man’s saddle brought $3 and a side saddle $6.05. A wagon sold for $37 and a mare for $40.50. Some corn sold for 25 cents a bushel and potatoes brought 12 ½ cents. The total amount realized was $125.91. Meredith M. Spence acted as clerk of the sale, and among the bidders appear the names in the east part of the county of Pickrell, Miles, Stokes, Spence, Toler, Holmes, Jean, McGinnis, Bishop, and Halterman. In making a report of this sale to Spruce, Abner Cox included he following bit of intimate personal news: “Ezekiel Bishop has gone this evening to Lark Toler’s to get married and we are all invited to his infair tomorrow, that’s the way things is going in this county.” [Ezekiel Bishop married on 25 Mar 1858, in Union Co., Ill., Martha J. Toler.] Rev. Mr. Spruce would be grateful for information as to the burial place of his grandmother, Mrs. George Spruce, somewhere in this county, probably the east part. He thinks she might have been related to the Musgrave family. Rev. Spruce’s father was named Monroe Spruce. (Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Friday, 4 Feb 1927) NOTICE OF GUARDIANSHIP Transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter To Silas Stilley:
Take notice that on the 26th day of March, A. D. 1927, a petition was filed by Ed Boyer in the county court of Union county, Illinois, to have Ralph E. Stilley and Esther A. Stilley declared dependent and to take from you the custody and guardianship of said children and praying for the appointment of a guardian with power to confess to the adoption of said children. Now unless you appear within twenty (20) days after the date of this notice and show cause against such application the petition shall be taken for confessed and a decree entered. Paul H. Ellis, County Clerk Dated the 1st day of April, A. D. 1927 (Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Friday, 1 April 1927) PRIZES ANCIENT BUREAU Mrs. E. B. Hunter, well known farm lady living north of Murphysboro, in the Halliday school settlement, is the proud possessor of a bureau made by Joshua Roberts, father of A. H. Roberts, of Murphysboro, at Jonesboro, Ill., in 1844, and sold that year to Mrs. John Baltzell. Years later Mrs. Baltzell died and about the year 1856, John Baltzell lived with his sister, Mrs. Priscilla Cauble, until his death. He gave the bureau to his daughter. During this time, Priscilla Cauble and William Gentry married. Priscilla later broke up housekeeping and went to live with her children. She gave the bureau to her daughter, Mrs. Catherine Biggs. This was about the year 1888. In the year 1924 Catherine Biggs gave the bureau to her sister, Mrs. E. B. Hunter. After Mrs. Hunter’s death, the bureau will go to her daughter, Mrs. M. B. Horstman, of East St. Louis. The top of the bureau is 22 inches wide and 44 inches long. Mr. Hunter, in writing of the bureau, have a description of the construction of its compartments. It is a valuable family relic, which the Hunters say could not be bought for love or money.—Murphysboro Independent. (Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Friday, 2 Sep 1927) THOUGHT MOTHER DEAD People of the name of Forehand lived in Jonesboro a good many years ago, also at Anna and in the country. The following specialty in the St. Louis Post Dispatch of October 5 is of curious interest. Pana, Ill., Oct. 4—Legally adopted and given his foster parents’ name of Donnell in the Shelby County court in 1900 and for more than 30 years under the belief that his mother, Mrs. Nancy Forehand, was dead, Benjamin Donnell, of near Findley, northeast of Pana, has just located his aged mother alive and in good health on a farm, near Jonesboro, Ill. Donnell’s search of more than six years for near relatives has extended throughout Illinois. In 1897 the four Forehand boys, John, 6 years old, Ben, 3, and Jesse and William, aged 18 months, twins, were placed in an orphans’ institution at Cairo, Ill. Those in charge of the institution were informed that the parents of the four lads were dead. Later the four charges were transferred to the Baptist Orphans’ Home at Duquoin, Ill., and in the latter part of that year again were transferred, this time to the Orphans’ Home at Shelbyville. Later the boys were adopted into different families in this section of the state, Ben being taken over under court procedure by Mr. and Mrs. Henry Donnell, well to do farmers. Today he is a farmer on his own account. It was six years ago that Ben Donnell instituted a systematic investigation of institutions for orphans throughout Illinois in the hope of getting some trace of his relatives. He first corresponded with the county clerk of Alexander County at Cairo, relatives to court records concerning the Forehands, that being the county of their early residence. He was referred to the Children’s Aid Society of Chicago, which had placed some of Donnell’s brothers and sisters in their institutions. The society gave him the address of his brother, John Forehand, as Canton, Ill., and the addresses of two of his cousins in Union County. The cousins in Union County were found to be dead, but a daughter of one of them replied to Donnell’s inquiry and informed him that his aged mother, Nancy Forehand, widow of Jesse Forehand, his father, was living on a farm near Jonesboro. His father, she wrote, had died four years ago. Donnell later learned that his brother, Jesse, left an orphan with him in the Shelbyville institution was in childhood adopted by a family by the name of Sledger and he was successful in locating him a few weeks ago at Swanwick, Ill., 60 miles from Jonesboro. The past week, Jesse Sledger went to the farm of Ben Donnell, his brother, and the two went to Jonesboro and there, on a dairy farm, happy and in good health, although in her late eighties, they found their mother. The Forehand brothers also located four additional brothers near Jonesboro, all born after they had been placed in the Orphan’s Home at Shelbyville. They learned that William, one of the twins, left in the Shelbyville institution with them, was drowned in the Mississippi River at St. Louis in 1913. The brothers located by Ben Donnell and Jesse Sledger near Jonesboro were Sherman and Andrew, twins, Arthur and Bertie. There had been 11 children in the family and the parents, in very _______ had consented in 1897 to four of the boys, among the first born, being placed in charitable institutions where they could receive proper care and be subject to legal adoption by good families. Three of the 11 of the Forehand boys are married. There are Ben Donnel, of near Findlay, Jesse Sledger, of Swanwick, and Arthur Forehand, of Jonesboro, Union County. (Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Friday, 14 Oct 1927; transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter.) FIRE DESTROYS BARN A large barn belonging to Charles and Thomas Cruse was destroyed by fire early Monday morning. Mr. Cruse discovering the fire at about 4 o’clock. He rushed out and opened doors for the stock to get out but the fire had gained such a start before he saw it that four cows, a mule and a horse failed to get out and were destroyed along with a great many farm tools, wagons, harness, feeds of various kind, baled straw, and other things stored in the barn. The loss was estimated at $6,500. There was some insurance. It is not known as to what caused the fire. The Cruse Brothers live about three and a half miles south of Jonesboro near the Mobile and Ohio railroad line. (Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Friday, 18 Nov 1927; transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter.) ELLIS-RENDLEMAN HOUSE The house that D. H. Rendleman has lived in all his life and which is just north of Jonesboro was the abode of his ancestors long prior to his birth, although it has been added to and remodeled to some extent. His maternal great-grandfather Ellis died there at a very old age. His mother was born and raised in the house that was old at her birth and she and her husband both died there. Mr. Rendleman himself will be 87 years old the 10th day of next January. (Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Friday, 23 Dec 1927; transcribed and contributed by Darrel Dexter) PASSES 80th MILESTONE Thomas C. Cozby was 80 years old on Tuesday, Dec. 10, and is in fairly good health and vigor for his age. His children planned to celebrate the day, but owing to the fact that some of them could not be here on that date Sunday was substituted and on that day 27 guests sat at table at the home of his daughter, Mrs. P. B. Turner, where two wild geese were the principal feature of the viands served. Those present were Mr. and Mrs. C. D. English, daughter and granddaughter of Columbia, Mo.; Mr. and Mrs. Fred Williford and children of East St. Louis; Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Eddleman and children of Anna; Mr. and Mrs. Ray Coleman and children and Mr. and Mrs. Virgil Smith and children of Jonesboro; and Mrs. Myrtle Craiglow, of Anna. Among the children were eight great-grandchildren. Fred Williford shipped down a radio from East St. Louis and it was in good working order when Mr. and Mrs. Cozby returned from dinner. It was the united gift of the children, and will be a source of great pleasure to the old folks. The neighbors and friends of Mr. Cozby extend congratulations and good wishes and hope to greet him on many birthdays to come. (Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Friday, 23 Dec 1927; transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter.) STORM’S “BOBBY THATCHER” The Daily World
of Tulsa, Okla., is now numbered among the city newspapers carrying
George Storm’s popular cartoon, “Bobby
Thatcher.” Literally millions of people are following with
eager interest the varying fortunes of Bobby Thatcher for this comic
strip is carried in such papers as the New York World, the Washington
Star, the Detroit News, the San Francisco Bulletin, the Boston
Traveler, the New Orleans Times-Picayune, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch,
the Chicago Daily News, the Minneapolis Journal, the Denver News, the
Philadelphia Bulletin, the Pittsburgh Gazette, and others.
“Bobby Thatcher” is a story of such peculiar and gripping
interest that it proved popular from the start.
George Storm is the only son and heir of O. J. and Flora (Rymer) Storm, of Enid, Okla., and he and his wife are now also living and working at Enid. The story goes that a friend of the cartoonist asked of another friend, “What is Mary Storm interested in ?” “George,” was the reply. George Storm has worked in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and other cities. His father, O. J. Storm, has lived for many years at Enid, Okla., where he is train dispatcher for the Frisco railroad company. he and his wife both hail from Jonesboro, and George used to frequently accompany his parents on their visits “back home” to his aunts, Misses Mary and Hattie Rymer and Mrs. Susan (Storm) Walton. (Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Friday, 27 Apr 1928; transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter)
At the Rotary Club last Friday night Prof. M. M.
Pickles, who has taught school in the county for over 50 years, in a
“Way Back When” talk told about his early school
days. The first school he attended, Mr. Pickles said, was in a
one-room log building with a huge fireplace, big enough to burn
cordwood. There was only one window, two or three feet of a log
being cut out and window lights inserted: The only book used was
the old blue back spelling book, rarely seen now days. One boy
brought arithmetic to school one day, said Mr. Pickles, and the teacher
after examining it told the boy to take that “thing” home
and never bring it back again. When Mr. Pickles was about 19
years old he applied to Joseph H. Samson, then county superintendent of
schools, for a certificate to teach school. He was so confused
and embarrassed that he failed to answer correctly a single question
put to him, which mortified him exceedingly as a young lady who was
also taking the examination answered correctly all the questions.
However, to his surprise, Mr. Samson gave him a certificate along with
wise counsel as to hard study on his part and the maintaining of
discipline in the schoolroom, saying that without the latter success
would be impossible. The result was that Mr. Pickles acquired a
liberal education and also a reputation for maintaining discipline in
the schoolroom. In the years since he has been recognized as one
of the most successful educators in this county. Mr. Pickles
closed by saying if they were encouraged to study at home as well as in
school by parents, the boys and girls would never voluntarily quit
school.
Oliver Alden was a guest at this meeting and was accompanied by his son, Oliver Jr. The latter is recently from Cuba, where he has been for three years in the employ of the United States Rubber Co. He made a very interesting talk to the club about life and customs in Cuba, especially from a business viewpoint. (Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Friday, 24 Aug 1928; transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter.)
SHERIFF AFTER THE LIQUOR Sheriff Lyerly
and Deputy Sheriff Grammer with the necessary force and a search
warrant, entered the store and restaurant of E. I. Sheffer at Mill
Creek on Saturday night, Jan. 5, finding a quantity of liquor.
Sheffer was arrested and is now in the county jail at Jonesboro.
On January 9 the sheriff with his deputies and armed with the necessary search warrant entered the residence on the old Frank Grear farm near Running Lake and found same was being used by Cecil Crabtree of Thebes and Clarence Jacobs of McClure, as a distillery. The sheriff found the complete still and eight barrels of mash all ready for business, but found no one there. After waiting all night Jacobs appeared the next morning and was arrested and brought to Jonesboro. Crabtree was arrested in Thebes that afternoon and both are now in the county jail at Jonesboro. (Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Friday, 18 Jan 1929; transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter.)
ATTORNEY ARLIE O. BOSWELL Arlie O. Boswell, former state’s attorney of Williamson County, was convicted of conspiracy to violate the liquor laws while holding that office. He was implicated with the notorious Charlie Birger afterwards hanged for murder. (Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Friday, 1 Feb 1929; transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter.) Attorney Arlie O. Boswell, of Marion spent the weekend here with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Boswell, east of Anna. (Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Friday, 1 Feb 1929; transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter.) ANCIENT HOUSE The Mermod,
Jaccard & King Jewelry Company of St. Louis celebrated its 100th
anniversary this week. It is said to be the oldest jewelry house
in the country.
(Jonesboro Gazette, Jonesboro, Illinois, Friday, 5 Apr 1929; transcribed and submitted by Darrel Dexter)A Jaccard was in the jewelry business in Jonesboro nearly or quite a century ago. He went from here to St. Louis to become identified with the St. Louis house. Willis Willard, Jonesboro merchant prince in antebellum days, was in St. Louis one day and stepped into the Jaccard store to buy a pair of spectacles. The Mr. Jaccard of the time waited upon him in person, probably was acquainted with him. He showed Mr. Willard goods of the cheaper grades but the latter expressed a desire to inspect some others on display. “Oh, but those are gold!” exclaimed Mr. Jaccard. The incident amused Mr. Willard, as the house of Willard & Co. in Jonesboro was then probably as wealthy as the house of Jaccard & Co. of St. Louis. KILLED WHEN WRENCH TOUCHES 33,000-VOLT ELECTRIC WIRE
John Adams of DuQuoin Falls 30 feet from pole in Belleville, fracturing
skull.
Contributed by Virginia Adams Pierce
John Adams, 35 years old, Duquoin electrician, was killed at 12:15 a.
m.
today (July 22, 1929) when he came in contact with a high tension wire of the Illinois
Power
& Light Co., at Sixth and West Main streets, Belleville. (Note by descendent Virginia Adams Pierce: He
was an electrician and was only in Belleville for two days. The article
fails to mention that John Q. was under pressure to finish a job he was
doing
as it was 12 midnight. The power to the lines had been turned off while
he
was working on them. Someone, accidentally and in a hurry to go home,
switched
the power back on while John Q. had a tool on the line.)
--Mr. Adams was originally from Dongola. See Death Certificate.
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