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| WASHINGTON
COUNTY INDIANA |
NEWSPAPER
TIDBITS FROM THE PAST! |
EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT!
If you have newspaper tidbits to add to the collection here, please email them to me at washington_co_in@yahoo.com
From Washington Co Indiana, in the 1890's:
1899-11-01 ~ Indiana State Journal
North Salem Vendetta
"More Trouble Expected From The Saturday Night Killing"
North Salem Indiana- October 28-There is out little subsidence of the excitement and consternation engendered by the riot of Saturday night in which one man was killed and another probably fatally wounded, for another conflict of the factions is feared <out> any time. The trouble is the outgrowth for a well developed feud of several weeks pending between a dozen or more Tennessee-an immigrants and as many of the more ???aulent residents of North Salem. The final cause of the trouble was a quarrel over ?aders of the rival factions over a minor Bar ??? but this has been lost sight of in the present bitterness.
???? Tennesseans spent the afternoon to ????ing and jollifying and by night were ???ood trim for any kind of trouble. All were well armed, the weapons ranging from knives to shotguns. Early in the evening, they went to the drug store where William Ragan was working, looking for some of the town crowd, but did not find them. Not liking Ragan's answers to their questions, they became abusive. He took two revolvers for behind the counter and ordered them from the store. Dan Wolfenbarger, one of the crowd, fired at Ragan but missed him, and in an instant a dozen weapons were in use. When the smoke cleared away, William Mackie, a Tennesseean, was dead from two shots in the abdomen, and Ragan was desperately wounded, a ball having taken effect in the right temple.
The coroner's inquest is in session and will last two days. The Tennesseeans testify that they did not shoot until Mackie was killed by a shot fired by Lee Trotter, proprieter of the store. Trotter says he was in the rear of the store when the firing comenced, working on his books. No arrests have been made, and more trouble is feared, as the Southerners go bared to the teeth and the men for whom they were looking at Trotter's store, are inclined to make the shooting of Ragan a cause of their own calling for vengeance.
(article has tears and that makes it difficult to transcribe. dlbr)
1898-06 ~ Indiana Journal, Salem Indiana
25 June - Taylor Hughes, who shot Henry Shoults at Oak Grove on March 7, pleased guilty to murder in the 1st degree, and after examination of 2 witnesses, the judge sentenced him to imprisonment for life in the penitentiary at Michigan City, where he was taken today. Hughes is a peculiar character. He is an old soldier and had completed a term in prison for arson, having been released about 6 months ago. He had been out but a little while when he shot and fatally wounded his brother-in-law, who died 5 weeks later. The cause of the trouble was Shoults refusal to support and keep the family of Hughes any longer while Hughes, who gets a pension, laid around the country idle or hunting. Hughes is a worthless, drinking character, always in trouble and always pleads guilty, as in the house burning case, when he gave himself up and confessed the burning. Hughes's children are in the soldier's orphans home.
1898-07-27 ~ Indiana Journal, Salem Indiana
19 July - Charles Miller, alias Fisher, was arrested in Orleans on Monday and identified as the man who purchased $1,100.00 worth of cattle near Livonia on Wednesday and gave bogus checks. Fisher was held in jail here to await a preliminary hearing next Tuesday. Fisher was brought through from Orleans in a buggy and was followed here by three men from Orleans, who demanded that Miller be released. it is believed that Miller has accomplices near his own in this daring swindle.
20 July - Charles Miller, who is a farmhand at Orleans, and who was identified as the man who run the cattle deal, swindling five farmers out of $1,100.00, stoutly denies that he is the man. Yet all who saw the man calling himself D. D. Fisher, say Miller is the man. Four more charges have been lodged against him, and he will likely remain in jail until the September term of court. The noted Ed McCoy who liked Lum Brooke, of Orleans some two years ago, with others, are taking much interest inn the case on behalf of the prisoner, and this is leading the officers to question whether others are not in the swindling operations. Miller bought the cattle, gave checks on the Orleans Bank, shipped them to Louisville and collected the money. His display of money led to his arrest.
1897-01-13 ~ Salem, Indiana
08 Jan - Sexton and Brown, the Louisville officers who killed John Rippey and were indicted for murder in the first degree, were given a hearing before Judge Voyles today on a motion to make the case a bailable one. Eight witnesses testified and made a strong case against the accused. After carefully going over the evidence, the judge overruled the motion and ordered the prisoners held without bail. There was great applause from a crowd that filled every part of the court room. The sheriff promptly suppressed this. The men will be kept in the Salem Jail. The decision meets with the approbation of the community.
1896-11-25 ~ Indiana Journal
18 Nov - Three prominent men of Washington County, died within the last two days. Professor S.W. Phillips, a prominent educator and teacher, died at his home, in Salem, Monday, and was buried Tuesday in Livonia.
1896-04-08 ~ Salem Indiana
01 April - The Gayer Knight Mill, an old landmark of Salem, burned at 1 o'clock this morning. It was used as a saw and planting mill by Reister & Kouden. The loss, including dressed lumber, is about $3,500.00, with insurance of $1,000.00.
1893-9-11 ~ The Knoxville Journal, Tennessee
Miss J. Merta Mitchell of Salem, Indiana, was admitted to the bar the day after the Indiana Supreme Court gave its decision thatIndiana women might practice law. She is a recent graduate of the law department of DePauw.
1873-07-01 ~ Boston Morning Journal
"Indiana, a Bold Case O Lynch Law At Salem"
"The Town Police Captured, Jail Forced and a Murderer hung."
Louisville, KY June 26 - Yesterday orning a body of marked men entered Salem Indiana, seized and held prisoners the town patrolman, and proceeding to the jail, demanded the keys of Deputy Sheriff Craycroft, who resides in the building. The Sheriff refused to give up the keys under any peril, when he was seized and confined, and a sledge hammer was procured with which the mob preceeded to force it's way into the cell of Delon Hefferen, who murdered Halstead a few days since. They broke through the outer door and then got at the foot of the stairs leading to the upper story, where Hefferen's cell was situated. The doors were soon burst open. Hefferen had watched the progress of the ???? and had prepared himself as well as he could for a desperate resistance. The mob, knowing the desperate character of the man, procured balls of twine, saturated them with coal oil and turpentine, and threw som of theminto the cell and threw the others forward on the ends of long poles and set them ablze. Having thus lighted up the cell, bringing the ????? late full view, the mob opened ???upon him. B????? twenty shots were fired, one of which entered his breast and another broke his arm. A rock was thrown at him, struck him on the head, knocked him down and before he could recover he was seized, tied, and dragged out of jail. "What are you gonig to do with me?"" he said. He was immediately taken to a covered railroad bridge about thirty feet high, about two squares from the jail, where he asked twin to pray, but the lynchers replied they could not wait. A rope was put around his neck and thrown over the rafters of the bridge. Hefferen was then pushed off. As soon as he was dead the lynchers returned to the jail, gathered up everything they had left that could afford a clue to their identity, released the sheriff and guards, and scattered in every direction. None were recognized and no person knows by what road they entered or left the town.
1825-01 ~ The Portsmouth Journal of Literature and Politics
"Growth of the West"
01 Jan- The town of Salem in Indiana now containes 510 inhabitants: 272 white males, 214 white females and 24 colored persons. In 1820 it contained but 330 souls. The Salem Farmer states that there were exported from that place, within the last twelve months, "100,000 lbs. bacon, 500 barrels of pork, 1000 do. of flour, 300 do. of whiskey, 500 kegs of lard, 1000 live hogs, and two hogsheads of tobacco, besides a considerable quantity of beef, beans, butter, poultry, etc, etc."
1819-06-28 ~ Vermont Journal
17 May- Salem Indiana- A Salt Lick was discovered some years since in a very deep valley on Twi-Creek, about eight miles from Salem. The land was taken up by a Mr. Lee, of this county, who has associated Captain William Rodman and Captain James R Higgins, for the purpose of carrying the object of making salt into effect. They last week commenced boring, and had not penetrated more than four feet thru a solid rock before they struck a vein of salt water, which has been pronounced by men who have been at various salt works, to be superior to any in the western country. This carried into effect, will be of great advantage to our country, by rendering us more independent of the other states who are constantly taxing us for this necessary article.
Transcribed and contributed by Sue Carpenter:
New Albany Gazette - Tuesday 11 June 1839 - p2 c3 - Died at Martinsburg, Washington Co, Indiana on Monday evening the 20th; Ultimato, Mr. Edward Lewis Byram, of this city, aged 24 years 8 months and 10 days.
New Albany Daily Ledger - 3 Jan 1850 p2 c1: Melancholy Accident. A little son of Mr. W. C. DePauw, of Washington Co, aged 3 years, was scalded so severely a few days since, by over turning a kettle of boiling water over his beast, that he died in a few hours.
New Albany Daily Ledger= 19 September 1862 p2 c4 Married; Also, in this city on the 18th inst., at the residence of the brides father, by Elder B Crisler, Mr. William S Walker of Washington Co to Miss Nancy M Robertson.
New Albany Daily Ledger 13 Nov 1852 p2 c2: Sad Accident. At the celebration of the nuptials of Mr. Wm. Hartley and Miss Julia Girsham, in Howard Township, Washington Co, on Thursday night last, at the home of the bride's father, Wm. Hunter was killed by the discharge of a gun in the hands of one of the parties engaged in the charivari. It is to be hoped that this will put an end to this relic of barbarism. The shooting was accidental.
New Albany Daily Ledger 17 Dec 1862 p2 c6: Obituary. Died at Bridgeton, New Jersey, on the 3rd of September, 1862, Mrs. Lydia Rice Williamson, relict of the late Rev. Alexander Williamson of Corydon, Indiana, aged 64 years, 7 months, and 22 days. The deceased was a native of Washington Co., and the second daughter of Henry Rice, Esq Early in the present century her parents removed with her to Indiana, and settled at Corydon, then the capital and center of social and political influence. In 1826 she was joined in marriage with Rev. Alexander Williamson. Mr Williamson was released from his toils and entered his rest in 1849. Matron of the Theological Seminary at New Albany, Indiana., Here she remained for eight years. In 1859 Mrs. W was chose Matron of the est Jersey Presbyterial acaemy at Bridgeton, N.J. Her precious remains sleep quietly in the shadow of the Old Presbyterian Church, at Cold Spring, Capt May, N.J. Corydon Democrat, please copy.
New Albany Daily Ledger 18 Dec 1862 p2 c2: Another Pioneer Gone. Mrs Malinda P Mallott, of Salem Indiana, died in that town on the 14th of inst., in the 68th year of her age. Mrs Mallott was one of the pioneer settlers of Washington Co, and a lady of great energy of character and many excellent qualities of heart. One by one the old pioneers are passing away.
New Albany Daily Ledger 27 Jan 1863 p2 c1: Shocking Tragedy at Saltillo. Two Men Killed. A shocking tragedy occurred at Saltillo, Washington Co, on the line of Louisville, New Albany, and Chicago Railroad, on Saturday evening last, about 7 o'clock, resulting in the death of two cousins named Ballou, at the hands of a man named Wilfong and his son, 10 years of age.
New Albany Daily Ledger 11 June 1863 p2 c3 Murder in Washington Co. A.P. Hopper, an old citizen of washington Co was murdered o the 4th instant by some unknown person, while ploughing the field. The Salem Democrat gives particulars.
New Albany Daily Ledger 30 June 1862 p2 c4 Married, On Sunday June 28 by the Rev. H.R. Naylor, Mr. J.R. Porter, Jr., of Greenville, Floyd Co Indiana and Miss Lizzie A Hiestand of Martinsburg, Washington Co, Indiana.
New Albany Daily Ledger - 5 Nov 1863 p2 c1: Elopements in Washington County. The Salem Democrat states that Elisha Hamilton, a married man,41 years old, eloped with a young Miss Bowers last Saturday week. The parties resided near Pekin, in that county. Hamilton procurred a hundred dollars of Mr. Leonard Graves in rather a novel manner. He wrote his own name on a blank piece of paper, and got Jacob Rush to sign his name under it; then filled up the blank as a one hundred dollar promissory note. Upon this he borrowed the money of Mr. Graves. Hamilton has a daughter married. Another case of elopement in teh same county was that of Joseph Harned of Canton, who eloped with Mrs. Riggins of the same place, one night last week. Harned leaves a wife and family behind him. Mrs. Riggins leaves a husband and several little chaps to mourn her absence.
New Albany Daily Ledger 8 October 1863 p2 c1: Homicide- An unfortunate difficulty occurred yesterday in Salem, Washington Co, resulting in the death of one of the parties. It seems that John Redman, one of the railroad employees, was in a crowd defaming one of the daughters of James F Persise, Esq., of that place. One of the brothers of the young lady assailed Mr James Persise, coming up at the time, overheard the remarks of Redman, and immediately resented the the isult--striking him over the head with a club. Redman fell, his head striking the curbing, causing a severe wound, of which he died in about two hours. Persise, we learn, left immediately. He is a young man, about 21 years of age, of good habits, industrious, and upright. It was not his intention, so our informat stes, to injure Redman, more than to severely punish him for his insulting language, and those who are conversant with all the facts attach but little blame to Persise.
New Albany Daily Ledger 20 Oct 1863 p3 c3: Died at Vicksburg, on the 19th day of June, 1863, of wounds received while in the performance of his duties as a soldier, James H., son of J.C. and Jane M Wible. The deceased was born in Livonia, Washington Co, Indiana, november the 13th 1836. He joied the Presbyterian Church in teh eyar 1857 and the Masons in 1858, and even afterward lived a worthy, faithful, and consistent member of both. He enlisted as a private soldier in Company G., Twenty-Third Regiment Indiana Volunteers, July the 12th, 1961, and was in a number of hard fought battles, in all of which he proved to be a brave and valliant soldier. He was wounded at Vicksburg June the 18th, and died on teh 19th. The following resolutions were adopted by Livonia Lodge, A.V.M. Rsolved. That the Secretary shall forward a copy of these resolutions in the New Albany Ledger for publication, and furnish a copy of the same to the father, brothers, and sister of the deceased. John H. Lester, Master. James McPherson, Secretary.
New Albany Daily Ledger 23 October 1863 p2 c3 Died on Monday, the 19th day of October, 1863, Wm. M Cutshaw, of Washington Co, Indiana, aged 21 years one month and 4 days.
New Albany Daily Ledger 26 Dec 1863 p2 c1: Dennis Plunket shot and killed George McNamera, formerly of Washington Co, Indiana, at Nebraska City, Nebraska, week before last. The murderer was arrested and bound over to take his trial for murder in the first degree.
New Albany Daily Ledger 4 May 1864 p2 c4: Married near Livonia, Washington Co, on the 3rd instant at the residence of the brides parents, by Rev. Wm P. Armstrong, Mr. B. F. Stout of Albany to Miss Amanda M. Hardin of Washington Co.
New Albany Daily Ledger- Friday 27 May 1864 p2 c4: Died John McPheeters, an old and highly esteemed citizen of Washington Co, living near Livonia, was killed yesterday evening, near Mooresville in this county, a by a kick from a horse. He lived but a few hours after receiving the kick.
New Albany Daily Ledger 18 Nov 1864 p2 c5: Elizabeth Davis, wife of Rev A L Davis, and youngest daughter of George and Sarah Lidikay, formerly of Floyd County Ind., departed this life at her home in DeSoto Jackson Co, Illinois, on Friday teh 11th inst., at a quarter past 2 o'clock p.m. She was born in Hawkins Co, East Tennessee, on the 3d day of August A D 1816. her parents removed to Indiana in her infancy settled some six miles north west of New Albany, where they raised their family. Deceased was married to A. L. Davis on teh 6th of November A.D. 1834 and settled with her family in Washington Co Ind., whre they lived 12 years. Removed from there to Texas in teh spring of 1846 and revoved from Texas to Illinois in the summer of 1859. She was confined to the bed of affliction for six weeks, made a profession of religion in teh year 1842. She called her children (four sons) to her....written by HD Banta.
New Albany Daily Ledger 18 May 1865 p2 c3: Married, on teh evening of the 17th inst., by Rev. N. P. Heath, Mr. James W Spence of this city, to Miss Zerelda C Sinex, daughter of Thomas Sinex, Esq., of Washington Co, formerly of New Albany.
New Albany Daily Ledger 4 June 1870, Saturday, p2 c2: Death of another Old Citizen. We are called upon today to record the death of another old pioneer of our city, Mr. Thomas Sinex Sr., who died this morning at 8 o'clock. He was born in the state of Delaware in 1793, consequently at the time of his death he had ore than passed the allotted three score years and ten. He emigated to Indiana in 1816, and settled in this city, then a very unpretending village, and in the following year was married to the daughter of one of the then most prominent citizens of the county. In the year 1818 he joined the Methoist Episcopal church...serving one time as Associate Judge of the Circuit Court. For the last few years he had retired from teh active pursuits of city life, to a farm in Washington County, and a few months since came back to the city that he might receive that medican attention that his failing health demanded...His funeral will take place from Centenary Church tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock and will doubtless be attended by a large number of our old citizens who had learned to love, honor and respect Uncle Tommy Sinex.
New Albany Ledger Standard 3 October 1872 p4 c1: The following marriage licenses have been issued in Washington County during the past week Walter V Wright and Jessie J Holmes. James L Andersonn and M. J. Gardner. Henry M. Morgan and Emeline Tatlock. Daniel B. Beard and Emma C Standiford. Joseph B McClelland and M. Dickson.
New Albany Daily Ledger, Wednesday 25 January 1882 p5 c1: "Uncle Jesse Lukenbill," a good old soul, who lived at Greenville many years, died a few days ago at Fredericksburg, Washington County.
New Albany Daily Ledger 6 May 1885 p4 c3: Death of John Briggs, an old and widely known business man. One amont the best known citizens of Floyd County, died at his residence at the southeast corner of Spring and East Third streets, aged 70 years. He had been confined to his home for five months preceding his death, but had been in ill health for more than a year. His disease was derangement of the liver and digestive organs, with dropsical results, to which was added a tumor in the side. The career of John Briggs as a businessman...conducted a store in Fredericksburg,Washington Co, spending one winter in that town. In 1850 he returned to New Albany...born in England and came to America at 12 years of age, first settling in Pennsylvania....leaves a wife and five children John S. Briggs, William Briggs, Benjamin A Briggs, Mrs. Mary F Spence and Mrs Sarah J Rice. Three of his children preceded him to the grave. The funeral services will be conducted at the residence by Rev. Walter Scott, Rector of St. Paul's Episcopal church. ....
New Albany Daily Ledger 9 Mar 1887 p4 c4: Recent marriages in Washington County: John W Baker and Mary A Rudder, Geo S Hancock and Larura L...Nail, Alex Jones and Martha Louden, William Hall and Lucy E McKinney, James Aps. Adams and Martha J Teagarden, Thaddeus Blankenbaker and Samantha Ballentine, Jay H McIntosh and Laura A Black.
New Albany Ledger 28 April 1888 p4 c3: Death on April 27th of Mrs. Jane Briggs, One of the old residents of New Albany. Jane Akins Briggs was born on historic Ground at Valle Forge, N.Y.....became Jane Briggs by her marriage on December 4, 1837, to the late John Briggs....who preceded her to teh grave on teh 5th of Ma 1886. She was born September 30 1814. Mrs. Briggs came to New Albany with her husband from Norristown, PA, where they were married in 1838. From this cit she and her husband went to Galena, where he engaged in business, and his business ventures caused them also to reside for a short time at Vallene, Orange county, and Fredericksburg Washington Co. In 1850, they again took up their residence in new Albany, and from that home both have departed to eternal rest. Mrs. Briggs was a devoted wife....surviving children are: Mrs. Thaddeus F. Spence, Mrs. Sarah J. Hice, John S. Briggs, William Briggs and Benjamin A Briggs. three children preceded her to the grave---Charles A., Robert and Elizabeth Briggs. A number of grandchildren and great grand children are among her survivors...she would have been 74 years old on teh 13th of next September...During the war her husband and herself were passengers on teh Stemer Sunny Side between Memphis and Cairo when the boat took fire and burned to the waters edge. A large number of lives were lost. Mrs. Briggs, after floating over two miles down this river was finally rescued, but when taken from the water was thought to be dead. She was resuscitated, however, as was her husband, who was also very nearly dead.
New Alban Daily Ledger 8 Jan 1894 p5 c3: Elijah Stanley, a pioneer of Washington Co, died at the residence of his son-in-law, Elisha Hobbs, in Jefferson township, on teh 5th, aged 92 years. He had been a resident of Wshington County for seventy six years.
New Albany Daily Ledger Saturday, 15 Sep 1923 p4 c2: Married, Clabe M Graves, twenty-two, of Salem and Miss Allie Dean, nineteen, of Washington Co, were married Saturday morning by Magistrate William S Shea at the office of County Clerk Edward H Meyer.
Salem Indiana Dec 5, 1899 - The Salem Public School building was burned at 10 o'clock tonite, entailing a loss of $18,000. The cause of the fire is supposed to be an overheated furnace. the los is total. The water works and engine both played on the flames for 2 hours. the insurance is about $10,ooo and is in several companies. The building was erected in 1875 and was occupied this year by the first seven grades, with 400 pupils and 9 teachers, under Prof. N.B. Wilson, superintendent, and these will be without school facilities, as teh high school building is already over crowded. The trustees will endeavor to establish the schools, if rooms can be obtained, after the Christmas Holidays.
Salem, Indiana, October 10, 1897. Thieves broke into Martin Brothers' meat store last night and carried off a quantity of pork, steaks and buckets of what they must have thought to be lard, but really was only thick flour paste, and the change in a drawer, amounting to 40 cents. The bloodhounds were brought through from Orleans in a buggy, arriving here at 9:30 o'clock. They were put on the track, but failed to locate the thieves. The matter created a great deal of excitement for a time.
*submitted by Barb Ziegenmeyer*
unless otherwise noted
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