Thursday, 21 Feb 1861

Patrick Dwyer was killed Saturday last (16 Feb 1861) at Driver’s sawmill two miles from Mound City junction by circular saw.  The saw struck him about the hip and mangled his body shockingly, producing death in a short time.

Thursday, 21 Mar 1861

Last Tuesday week as the evening train of the Illinois Central was a short distance above Anna, a man in attempting to cross the track in advance of the train was run over and together with one of his horses was killed.  The cars were going at the rate of 25 miles an hour and the concussion was so great the wagon was torn into fragments in an instant and scattered along the road for upwards of 200 yards.  The man when taken from the frame in front of the engine on which he lodged, presented no external marks of injury, the shock having deranged the internal functions of life.  The body was taken back to Anna, where it was properly cared for by the company.  The deceased leaves a wife and nine children at the mercy of the world to mourn his untimely fate.  This is another example of that neglect and carelessness the fatal results of which we are so often called upon to record.  Will not the multitudes of accidents for this cause teach men to use proper caution in this respect?

Thursday, 4 Apr 1861

Alexander Lodge 224, I. O. O. F.

Whereas it has pleased an all wise Providence to remove from our midst our late brother, Charles Schmetzstorff, who has been called hence and who goes to undiscovered country from whose no travelers and where the grand master of the universe governs and controls.

Resolved by the members of Alexander Lodge No. 224 I. O. O. F. that in the death of Brother C. Schmetzstorff this lodge has lost an exemplary member, a good brother, and an honest man and his wife deprived of a kind husband.

Resolved that we sincerely sympathize with the bereaved wife of our departed brother in her irreparable loss and commend her and her children to the kind mercies of Him who tempereth the winds to the shorn lamb and is eternal in heaven.

Resolved that the secretary furnish the family of the deceased with a written copy of these proceedings and the same be spread on the records of the Lodge and be published in the Cairo City Gazette.

Resolved that the thanks of the lodge are hereby tendered to S.S. Taylor Esq. for his kindness in furnishing a conveyance to the family and friends of our departed deceased brother on the occasion of the funeral.                                                                                                        J.B. Humphrey, Secretary

Thursday, 25 Apr 1861

We were surprised and pained to learn that Judge William K. Parrish died at Benton on Monday morning.  The news of his death will cause heartfelt grief to nearly every man in southern Illinois for everyone knew and respected him.  As a lawyer, at the bar and on the bench, he was surpassed by few in the state and in his private life and social relations he was a man eminently worthy to be loved and praised.  Death certainly chose a shining mark when he struck down William K. Parrish.  His last words were allegedly “Stand by your country—uphold the Constitution.”  (See also the 13 Jun 1861, issue.)

Thursday, 23 May 1861

John Ward of Cairo was accidentally shot while confined in the guardhouse in Cairo for overindulgence in intoxicating liquor and died Tuesday (20 May 1861) and was buried in the Catholic Cemetery.  He left a wife and two children who were visiting in Whitall, Wisconsin.  He was foreign by birth and a soldier in the Crimean War.

Jerry Sullivan of Cairo was shot and killed Tuesday (20 May 1861) in his own yard by Richard Tucker of Decatur’s Co. B, 8^th Regiment.  The soldier was arrested by Policeman Hunsaker and then removed to camp by the military.  Tucker was returned to jail to be tried by civil authorities.  (See also the 30 May 1861, issue.)

Thursday, 30 May 1861

Martin Meborth died yesterday of congestion of the lungs according to a coroner’s inquest. 

Thursday, 13 Jun 1861

George Jacobs, private Co. H, 7^th Regiment, drowned in the Ohio River last Friday while bathing.  A number of cannon were discharged shortly after the occurrence with the hope of raising the body, but without success.  The body appeared at the surface last Sunday, however, and was rescued.

Thursday, 4 Jul 1861

Died—Mary Lansden, youngest child of Tom G. Lansden, proprietor of the St. Charles Hotel in this city.  She expired on Saturday last (29 Jun 1861) after a short illness and the remains were conveyed to Springfield for interment.  Little Mary was a most interesting and promising child and her loss will be severely felt by her fond parents who we are confident have the warmest sympathies of this community.

Thursday, 3 Oct 1861

Died in Cairo 18 Sep 1861, Harry, the youngest son of John H. and Clara A. Brown, aged 2 years, 4 months, 3 days.

Died 2 Oct 1861, Edward Marinus Willett, infant son of Edward and Isora Willett, aged 7 months, 23 days.

Thursday, 28 Nov 1861

John Milliken, secessionist and late postmaster in Paducah, Ky., was killed at Mayfield, Ky., by Conners, a Union man.  Conners was arrested, but two of Milliken’s brothers and H. Clay King took him from jail and shot him and pinned him to the earth with a bayonet.

Thursday, 5 Dec 1861

Of the Williamson County men now in the Rebel company, Pvt. Shields and Pvt. Sherretz were killed at the Battle of Belmont. 

Thursday, 12 Dec 1861

Died in Cairo, 10 Dec 1861, Herbert C. Pardey, aged 22 years, of Providence, R.I.