McKean County Pennsylvania News Items From the Past
Republican Compiler, Gettysburg, PA
October 31, 1821
Bellefonte, Oct. 17
Distressing Accident: Shooting of Judge Forster by Son
On the 8th instant, Judge Forster, of McKean county, was shot accidently by his son. The circumstances relating to this melancholy event are as follows: The son had left home for the purpose of hunting wolves; after he had been gone for some time, the father went out for the same purpose. As is common among hunters, one of them set up an howling, after the manner of a wolf, and was answered by the other. They continued howling in this manner until they approached each other within a very short distance. The father had hid himself behind a log, placing brush upon his back to disguise himself, so that when the wolf (as he supposed) came near enough to shoot, it would not be frightened away.
Having raised himself a little for that purpose, the son observed the motion, fired, taking the object fired at to be a wolf. The ball entered the right side of the neck and passed out at the left hip. The son, on finding what had happened, took off his coat and vest, placed them under his father's head and started home for the purpose of getting aid; but his senses fled before he reached his father's residence, he became deranged and was found in that situation; not knowing, or having power, at the time to relate the dreadful and heart rending tale. - Patriot.
George Livingston Innocent of Attempted Muder
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) April 27, 1825
George A. Livingston, who was committed to the jail of this county, a few weeks since, on suspicion of being the one who attempted the murder of Vincent A. Brogue, has been discharged on a writ of Habeas Corpus. It has appeared from testimony that is thought satisfactory that he is not the man he was supposed to be. - Bradford Settler.
The Bradford Era, Bradford, McKean County PA,
Friday Morning, November 11, 1887
Proposed Baseball League
Steps have already been taken to organize a baseball circuit for Northwestern Pennsylvania. Erie, Bradford, Titusville, Oil City, New Castel, Jamestown, Youngstown and possible Meadville will be included in the league. Correspondence has been begun, and in several of the places mentioned the scheme is being vigorously taken up. It is proposed to organize upon the plan pursued by the Ohio League last season which proved very successful.
The Bradford Era, Bradford, McKean County PA,
Friday Morning, November 11, 1887
Blaze at Kinzua
Kinzua, Pa., Nov. 10
The house occupied by F. M Keene caught fire from gas early this morning, completely gutting the inside of the house, causing considerable damage to the house and furniture. The house was insured, but there was no insurance of the furniture. Luckily the family were absent from town.
The Bradford Era, Bradford, McKean County PA,
Friday Morning, November 11, 1887
Will be Tried at Court
Thomas White was brought into Alderman Wolcott's court-room yesterday charged with wife-beating. His wife accuses him of cruel treatment and he denies the truth of her statemetns. Mr. White waived examination and was held for court in $300. Before leaving the court-room Mr. White became obsteperous and was ordered to leave the room. He did so.
The Bradford Era, Bradford, McKean County PA,
Friday Morning, November 11, 1887
A Bad Dog Killed
R. Fleming , of 21 Summer street, owned a dog yesterday morning, but he does not own one now. The dog attached a child of C. W. Williams in the neighborhood and bit the child rather seriously. Mr. Williams shot the animal but only succeeded in wounding him. Officer Wilson was called to finish the job and did so.
The Bradford Era, Bradford, McKean County PA,
Friday Morning, November 11, 1887
A Railroader Tired of Life
Ed Myers, a freight conductor employed on the W.N.Y.&P. railroad, committed suicide at Irventon on Wednesday by cutting his throat with a razor. He had been ill for several days and became temporarily insane. He leaves a wife and three children.
The Bradford Era, Bradford, McKean County PA,
Friday Morning, November 11, 1887
A Brakeman Injured.
John A. McArthur, employed on the West Branch railroad, was injured yesterday morning while switching cars at Smith's chemical works. While standing on a car he lost his footing and fell to the ground, striking upon his head. He was much shocked by his fall, but no serious effects are anticipated.
The Bradford Era, Bradford, McKean County PA,
Friday Morning, November 11, 1887
James McCabe Hanged at Honesdale Yesterday
Wilkesbarre, Pa., Nov. 10
James McCabe, the Wayne county murderer, was executed at the Honesdale jail at 12:01 p.m. today. About seventy persons witnessed the hanging, which was conducted by Joseph Atkinson, of New York. After hanging eighteen minutes the body was cut down and handed over to his friends. The funeral will take place tomorrow.
Among those who witnessed the execution was James P. Reilly, brother of the murdered man. The wife of the condemned man and her children had a long interview with the unfortunate father this morning. It was a heart-rending scene and the two were with difficulty separated. Mass was celebrated in the doomed man's cell at 6 o'clock. Father O'Mally celebrated mass, assisted by Father Dassel. McCabe received the holy communion for the last time. After mass the condemned man was in better spirits. He said: "Well, all is over now. I am ready to meet my God." He walked to the gallows at 11:45, leaning on the arm of his spiritual adviser, and with a firm step mounted the scaffold. The priest recited the prayers for the dead and McCabe answered in low tones. He kissed the crucifix and shook hands with the sheriff. The black cap was adjusted and at 12:01 he was swung into eternity.
Mrs. Anna Barrackman Killed With An Ice Pick
The Washington Post, December 8, 1904 (Washington, D.C.)
Contributed by Barbara Ziegenmeyer
Body of Woman, Missing Since Thanksgiving; Found in Her Home.
Bradford. Pa., Dec. 7.—Mrs. Anna Barrackman was found dead here this evening; In a sinful cottage, in which she had lived. In the Third ward. Since Thanksgiving Day the woman had not been seen by the neighbors. This evening her nude body, badly decomposed, was found in one of the rooms in the house In a pool of blood. An autopsy held to-night showed that eleven wounds Inflicted, presumably, by an ice pick, had crushed the skull, six of the wounds penetrating the brain.
There is no clew as to the identity of the murderer. Mrs. Barrackman had a large number of valuable jewels, which she was accustomed to wear. These have disappeared. She was a widow about fifty years old, and lived in the house alone.
Times Herald (Olean, New York)
December 14 1937
Shinglehouse Woman, 92, Recalls Lincoln’s Election
Mrs. Alice Harder, Native of Annin Creek, is Daughter of Pioneer Pennsylvania Settlers
Shinglehouse
Preparing to celebrate her ninety-second birthday at the home of her brother, C. H. Holcomb on Pearl Street, Wednesday, Mrs. Alice Harder has only one complaint against life, that her pictures are beginning to look old.
Born at Annin Creek in McKean County, she was one of the nine children of John and Abbie Holcomb, pioneer settlers in Pennsylvania.
Her memories of childhood days are undimmed by the years, and fascinating to old and young are her stories of the Indians that prowled about and demanded butter and meat as the price of peace. She recalls clearly the excitement that ran high at the time of the election of President Lincoln and states that never in current years has interest in presidential elections reached so high a pitch. Her hearing and eyesight are good and she reads two chapters in her Bible daily. Her wit and ready humor are a source of delight to her many friends, to whom she is familiarly known as “Aunt Alice.”
Parts of her life have been spent in Franklinville, Eldred, Bolivar and Port Allegany. A victim of asthma in her youth, she resorted to smoking as a remedy and still continues the habit. Her only birthday request was an order for six clay pipes, which to her friends is encouraging evidence of faith in her tenure of life.
She was first married when seventeen years old to James Wood who fought in the Civil War and was wounded in the battle of the Shenandoah Valley. After his death she was again married to Parker Harder, also a Civil War veteran. She has one son, Frank Wood of Eldred; one granddaughter, Miss Frances Wood, a dental nurse in the Otto Township Schools, and a large number of nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews in New York and Pennsylvania.