Miscellaneous News Articles From the Past
Jefferson County PA
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
May 4 1825
Page 4 - Column 1
The trial of Samuel Fields for the murder of Robert Murphy, a constable of Franklin county, came on at Brookville on the 24th ult. The prisoner on being arraigned plead not guilty. After the examination of witnesses and pleading of counsel, the jury retired, and after the space of about an hour returned with a verdict of Guilty. On the next morning, the Judge pronounced the sentence of the law upon the prisoner. He is to be executed on Friday the 27th of May next. The Editors of the Brookville Enquirer in concluding an account of the trial, remark - "Good God! What must be the spectacle, a man rising eighty five years of age, whose head (comparatively speaking) "rivals in whiteness the driven snow," suspended between the Heavans and the Earth, there to struggle, agonize and die an ignominious death. Lb.
Morning Herald (Titusville, Pennsylvania)
January 21 1868
Lead ore has been found in Jeferson county, Pa., in proximity to a coal bank belonging to Mr. Henry A. Hum, near Brookville. The Brookville Republican says, immediately under the lead ore vein there is about two inches of Kennel or Anthracite coal, and it si generally asserted by miners that iron ore exists either above or below a coal vein. Mr. Hum in all probability has in one mine anthracite or hard coal, bituminous or soft coal, iron and lead ore.
The Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
November 16 1868
Deserter to be Shot - Richard S. Epsy, of Brookville, Jefferson county, has been convicted of desertion by the court martial now in session in Pittsburg, over which Col. D. B. Morris presides. Espy was a Captain in the three month's service, subsequently a Lieutenant in the nine months' service. During the recent Draft he enlisted as a substitute, after which he deserted. After a fair and impartial investigation, he was convicted of the crime charged, and was sentenced to be shot. The papers in the case have been forwarded to Washington for approval, and if approved, the execution will take place at Pittsburg - Exchange.
The Blairsville Press (Blairsville, Pennsylvania)
March 19 1869
Married
Taylor - Kean - On the 11th inst., at the house of Mr. Thomas Estep, near
the intersection, Hon. Philip Taylor of Brookville, and Mrs. D. W. Kean,
of Brownsville, Pa.
The Blairsville Press (Blairsville, Pennsylvania)
July 30 1869
Yankee Robinson's Circus troupe drove into Brookville on Sunday, 18th inst., and put up at the hotels engaged for them. On Monday they ere arrested and fines for breaking the Sabbath by traveling on that day.
Indiana Progress (Indiana, Pennsylvania)
May 12 1870
Drowned - On Wednesday last a son about two yars old of Mr. Deemer, of Winslow township was drowned in the pond of Deemer's Mill on Sandy Lick. It appears that the child was playing about some loose boards and logs and that by some mishap fell into the water and was drowned - Brookville Republican.
Indiana Progress (Indiana, Pennsylvania)
Novmeber 24 1870
Brookville has a brass band, which has just, through the liberality of the citizens, received a first class complement of new instruments.
A Brookville oil company is testing the territory at Lawsonham, Redbank township, Jefferson county. Their first well is down several hundred feet, and the indications are good.
Indiana Progress (Indiana, Pennsylvania)
February 16 1871
On Friday last, Dr. McKnight, of this place, delivered Mrs. Rocky,
of Warsaw tp., this county, of what is called a compound pregnancy She had
been sick about eighteen hours before the Dr. was called and was laboring
under convulsions when he reached the residence. The children consisted of
two little girlgs, full time and fully developed, joined together at the
middle of the breast-bone, and this connection extending down below the navel
- firm and permanent - appearing as if there was but one set of bowels. The
children were dead before the Dr. reached the house, and had to be delivered
immediately with instruments. They weighed fourteeen pounds and were twenty
inches long. Dr. McKnight has had them photographed for the benefit of science.
Mrs. Rockey is a fine women, 17 years of age, and belongs to one of the best
families in this county. She is doing well and will recover. - Brookville
Jefferson.
Indiana Progress (Indiana, Pennsylvania)
May 18 1871
Shocking Murder
Last Monday this community was started with the intelligence of one of th most horrible affiars that we have ever had occasion to chronicle in the columns of the Plaindealer. The particulars, as near as we could get them are as follows: Mr. Samuel Jordan, residing in Oliver township, this county, has been in a melancholy state of mind for some time, and, although he had made threats of doing harm at various times, no one ever thought of him putting them into execution. On Monday morning last Mrs. Jordan went to the barn for the purpose of milking, or to see if the cows were about, when she was followed by her husband, who did not appear to be any worse than usual. On their return, Jordan, who had preceded his wife across a fence, separating the lane from the yard, picked up a double-bitted axe, which was lying at the wood pile, and as she crossed over the fence, he struck her on the shoulder with the axe. Her screams attracted the attention of a young man, Jordan's brother, who was working in a field not far distant. He started at once to alarm the neighbors, and when they arrived at the scene of the terrible tragedy, they found Jordan sitting on the ground beside the body of his murdered wife, whose head was almost separated from the body. It is supposed from evidence obtained at the inquest, held Monday afternoon, that he had struck her four or five times. After he had finished this dreadful deed he attempted to destroy his own life, but failed. He inflicted several severe wounds about his head and neck with the axe, and in all probability, with a knife he would have succeeded in killing himself. He was taken to the Brookville jail on Tuesday, where he will remain until his trial at Court.
Mrs. Jordan was a daughter of David Henry, Esq., of Perrry township, and had been married about three years. We have been informed that on Sunday and again on Sunday night, Jordan caught his wife by the throat ant attempted to choke her to death. Her sad fate is deeply regretted by all - Punxsutawney Plaindealer.
Indiana Progress (Indiana, Pennsylvania)
September 28 1871
Samuel Jordan, was tried for the murder of his wife, in Brookville, during this term of Court. He was found guilty of murder in the second degree, and was sentenced to three years imprisonment in the Penitentiary. An acount of the murder was published last may, at the time the crime was commiteed.
The Indiana Democrat (Indiana, Pennsylvania)
May 25 1871
Jefferson County
Butter at Punxsutawney is selling at 10 cents per pound.
A new Methodist Episcopal Church will be erected at Big Run, during the coming summer.
The recent rains did not raise Mahoning to a rafting stage, but the lumbermen took advantage of the swell and cut a bracket which enabled a large number of rafts to reach the river. The lumbermen on Mahoning have not had a good run of lumber this season, and as a consequence times are rather dull in the southern part of the county.
Chas. M. Brewer, Esq., has associated himself in the practice of law, with Capt. John Hastings.
Indiana Progress (Indiana, Pennsylvania)
August 3 1871
Capt. George of Brookville Jeffersonian has been presented with a new hat by several of his Brookville friends. He is not a bit proud about it.
Indiana Progress (Indiana, Pennsylvania)
September 7 1871
The Lightfoot base ball club, of Brookville, have challenged the Senecas, of Oil City for the championship of Western Pennsylvania. Bettery try the Magentas, of this place (Indiana, PA). The Brookville boys may be light footed, but a few hours with our boys will make them heavy hearted, or we are mistaken.
Indiana Progress (Indiana, Pennsylvania)
November 9 1871
Great Fire in Brookville
A Whole Square Destroyed
Loss Seventy Thousand Dollars
Buildings Blown Up to Check the Spread of the Flames
Brookville, Pa., Nov. 6, 1871
On entire square of buildings was destroyed by fire last night. The loss is over seventy thousand dollars. The Clements House, owned by Robert Clements, was totally destroyed; loss twenty thousand dollars, no insurance. Barr & Mason, lessees of the Clements House, loss about five thousand dollars, no insurance. McKnight & Bro., druggists, loss five thousand dollars, no insurance; Craig & Son, grocers, loss three thousand, insured for two thousand; M. Best & Co., salt, loss one thousand, no insurance; G. F. Dodd, butcher about three hundred, no insurance; Benjamin McCreight's barn, loss about one thousand, no insurance; Glenn & Smith, shoemakers, two hundred and fifty dollars, no insurance; J. M. Steck dwelling house, loss two thousand, insured for twelve hundred dollars; Gordon & Bro., attorneys, saved their law library, but lost the building; loss one thousand, insured for four hundred; G. Vasbinder, merchant, fifteen hundred dollars, no insurance; Moore & Davis, provision dealers; loss five hundred dollars, no insurance; Thos. L. Brown, butcher, lost everything, no insurance; John Dougherty lost four buildings and one large barn, loss ten thousand, no insurance, Wm. Depp, loss in furniture three hundred, no insurance; J. S. Barr lost household furniture valued at fifteen hundred dollars, insured for seven hundred; Barr also loses his livery stable, with a large amount of hay, grain &c., loss fifteen hundred dollars, fully insured. The loss on buildins surrounding the square is about ten thousand dollars. The American House damaged by fire and water to the extent of five thousand dollars, fully insured.
The fire originated in the stable of the Clements House, and it supposed to have been the work of an incendiary. The flames spread so rapidly that a great many had barely time to escape from the burning buildings. The telegraph poles in the vicinity of the fire were burned, and the wire broken in several places. The excitement was intense, horses being turned loose, and buildings blown up to save those remaining.
Indiana Progress (Indiana, Pennsylvania)
April 30 1874
Brookville has a prospect of being lighted by gass; a company for that purpose having been formed.
The Indiana Messenger (Indiana, Pennsylvania)
June 24 1874
The new boom of Carrier & Nicholson, on Redbank, below Brookville, broke on Wednesday night of last week, and hundreds of logs, several rafts, and much timber, was carried away, as the flood swept down the creek. Very little of the timber, and few logs were caught. The rafts were nearly a total loss.
Indiana Progress (Indiana, Pennsylvania)
July 30 1874
Brookville Pa., July 22, 1874
On last Wednesday evening a murder was committed in Snyder township this county. Ammi Sibley and Henry Perry, farmer neighbors, had not been good friends for some time. Sibley stopped at Perry's house. Perry ordered him away, when Sibley drew a revolver and shot Perry in the bowels. The wound was not immediately fatal, the wounded man living until Sunday morning. On Sunday, J. W. Green, Esq., summoned Drs. Sweeny and McKnight of Brookville, who made a post moricm examination of the body, in the presence of the jury. Sibley is still at large, and is said to be a desperado.
Indiana Progress (Indiana, Pennsylvania)
August 6 1874
Fire at Brookville, Pa.
At nine-thirty on Thursday evening, the 30th ult., a fire was discovered in Brown, Son & Co.'s foundry, which, had it not been for the almost superhuman efforts of our citizens, would have consumed the whole lower portion of our town. The flames were not checked until they had entirely destroyed the extensive foundry and machine shops of Brown, Son & Co., whose loss will exceed fifty thousand dollars. The insurance is fifteen thousand dollars. In addition to the above, A. Stefle, proprietor of the Brookville House, will lose two thousand dollars; no insurance. Sheriff John S. Barr, loses one hundred dollars; no insurance. The thanks of the citizens are due W. M. Philips, Superintendent of the Low Grade Division, who immediately on the extent of the conflagration being made known, telegraphed to Renova, Pa., to have a steam fire engine in readiness to be moved here at a moment's notice. This fire will prove a serious loss to Brookville. A large number of hands will be thrown out of employment, and it will probably, under the present scarcity of money, be a long time before the shops will be rebuilt.
The Indiana Messenger (Indiana, Pennsylvania)
Novmeber 4 1874
Fatal Accident
On Friday last, Messrs. Louis A. Brady and W. S. Robinson, both young men of this place (Brookville), took their guns and went to the woods east of town to hunt. In the vicinity of Geer's school house, they sat down on a log to rest and east some chestnuts. Mr. Brady getting up and starting first, had not proceeded far when he heard the report of Robinson's gun, and turning around saw him still setting on the log in an inclining position. He turned about and went to him, when he discovered that he was shot and quite insensible.
Two little girls were near gathering chestnuts, and he called them to him and soon two women also came up, when Mr. B. left the injured man with them and hurried to a neighbors to send word to his friends and summon a physician. He lived about two hours after the accident, his brother Albert being able to reach him before his death. It appears that in raising his gun before starting the hammer struck on the log, exploding the cap, the entire charge of shot entering his head above the right eye, inflicting a terrible wound. His body was brought home and from thence was followed to his grave at Troy on Sunday morning, by one of the largest funerals that we have witnessed in Brookville.
Mr. Robinson was an estimable young man, and his sudden death is a great sorrow to his bereaved brothers and sisters. - Brookville Republican