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Cairo Index Page |
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Obituaries and Death Notices
The Cairo Citizen
5 Jan 1893-28 Dec 1893
Cairo, Alexander County, Illinois
Transcribed and annotated by Darrel Dexter
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Thursday, 5 Jan 1893:
The coroner’s jury labored
for several days investigating the murder of the colored woman, Annie
Evans, whose mysterious death was told in the Citizen last week.
The brought in a verdict Tuesday, finding from the evidence that one Mack
Durden was probably guilty of the deed and Alex Kneedley was an
accessory. These men are both in the county jail. They came from down in
Tennessee just before Christmas and were on their way to DuQuoin to work in
the mines. Why the deed was committed has not yet developed. Mr. Thomas J. Ent, an old and respected citizen of Cairo, died at his home on Poplar Street, at one o’clock yesterday morning, after a severe illness. Mr. Ent has been purchasing agent for the Singer Manufacturing Co. for a number of years and his duties have taken him out among the lumber camps much of the time, where the exposure was too much for him. He died of pneumonia contracted in this way. Mr. Ent leaves a large circle of friends and relatives. A wife and seven grown children survive him, five of the latter being residents of this city—Mrs. Powell, of the Safford library; Mrs. Frank Spencer, Mrs. Hill and Robert and Louis Ent. Funeral services were held at the family residence this afternoon, and the remains were taken to Beech Grove for interment.
(P. E. Powell married
Lizzie Lee Ent on 3 Oct 1877, in Pulaski Co., Ill.—Darrel Dexter)
Abner Mizell, living
near Metropolis, was stabbed in a drunken quarrel on Christmas Eve and died
on Monday following. Mizell, his brother and three cousins, loaded
up with whiskey and were having a jolly time, but a quarrel arose, knives
were drawn and Abner was stabbed in the stomach by his cousin, Joe Grace.
The brother was also injured about the head. Grace was at large at
last accounts. The parties all bear a good reputation save on account of
this one failing—drink.
Nora Mines, a habitué
of Thirteenth Street, committed suicide today by taking morphine. It is
reported that she came from Cape Girardeau. She was about twenty years of
age.
(Charles Lancaster
married Sarah Hodge on 1 Feb 1865, in Alexander Co., Ill.—Darrel
Dexter) We are pained to learn from the last issue of the Ballard Yeoman of the death of Mr. Calvin Gallup. He died at Oneida, New York, Nov. 28th. If the Yeoman’s dates are correct, he died on the 66th anniversary of his birth. Mr. Gallup had been engaged in the sawmill business at Fort Jefferson for several years. He seemed to have made means sufficient to conduct a large business and yet he worked hard and exposed himself in many ways. Age, exposure, and hard work were visibly telling upon his vital forces. He was a Connecticut man and we believe he looked back to New Haven as his home. He visited there occasionally. Mr. Gallup was a man of rare ability and wonderful intelligence. If he had occupied the seat in the U. S. Senate now occupied by John G. Carlisle, the State of Kentucky would have been quite as ably and much more worthily represented than at present. He was an extensive reader and a correct thinker. He was a man who would make himself felt in any community. Just why he buried himself in the little sawmill down at Fort Jefferson we never knew. He doubtless had deep experiences concerning which he never spoke.
Of the circumstances of his
death we know nothing. Of his family we know nothing. He was a member of
the Wickliffe Masonic Lodge and from the resolutions adopted by the lodge we
learn of his death. During the services at the cemetery, the report came that William McDaniel, a son of the late George McDaniel, had been killed while cutting a tree. His stepfather, Sidney Clapp, and others hurried to the scene as rapidly as possible. The report proved to be only too true. He was killed instantly. Willie was thirteen years of age and had a great many friends. Willie and his brothers were cutting wood and while chopping down a tree, his attention was attracted to his dog as the wind was blowing and the dog was apparently in danger of being crushed by the tree. When the tree began to fall he was somewhat embarrassed in his endeavors to save his dog. The tree fell toward him instead of from him as he expected. A limb struck him first, then the tree came down upon him. His funeral occurred the next day, Jan. 6th at the Hargis Cemetery.
On January 7th, little
Stella Sides, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Sides died
and the remains were interred in the Hulen Cemetery. Rev. W. A. Hargis
officiated at all the funerals. At this writing James Dunning, Jerry
Dunning, Dan Lovett and Mrs. Francis Brown are all
quite ill.
In Johnson County, eight
miles south of Parker City on the Short Line, is the thriving little town of
Simpson. This was the home of one J. M. Jones, who lived happily
with a beautiful wife and two little ones. But the cruel serpent entered
this home, blasting lives and destroying happiness.
Adjoining Mr. Jones’
was the store of J. W. Browning. He too had a family—a wife and four
or five children. But he coveted his neighbor’s wife and finally when their
actions had aroused the suspicions of those around them, these two, Mr.
Browning and Mrs. Jones, eloped one Sunday evening, leaving their
once happy homes and going to Oklahoma. On Tuesday, December 27th , W. A. Rainey, Browning’s chief clerk, received the following telegram: “Miss Vena is dead. Have sent her body to you. Please attend to her funeral. Have her buried at Zion Church—her request. She will be there Thursday night. Please notify her relations. J. W. Browning”
A second dispatch told
Rainey to meet him in St. Louis. Rainey did not go, but notified
Jones, who had in the meantime removed to Metropolis. Jones
found the coffin containing the body of his dead wife in the Union depot,
but Browning had received word and did not appear.
The body was brought to
Simpson for burial, and when the coffin was opened, it was found that she
had been shot in the lower part of the chest, the ball ranging from the
right side into the upper part of the bowels. Letters in the coffin said
that she was shot accidentally on Christmas Eve, while boarding at Mulhall,
Oklahoma, and that she lived 24 hours. Their landlady, while admitting the
shooting to be accidental, said Mrs. Jones told her before she died
that she did not shoot herself. Browning, after being captured, told
two stories, one of which was that Mrs. Jones committed suicide.
Marshal Cox, of
Metropolis, arrested Browning in Murphysboro on Friday and took him
to Metropolis and then in a buggy to Vienna, in order to avoid the angry
Simpsonites. At Metropolis he was visited by his deserted wife and
children, who seemed quite indifferent to his fate. Browning was
very much frightened, when arrested.
A preliminary examination
was held and Browning’s bond was fixed at $100, which was promptly
furnished and the bird has flown. The charge against him was fornication.
Mr. Jones has commenced legal action against Browning for
damages for alienating his wife’s affection, and has confiscated Browning’s
stock.
ANNA, ILL., January 17.—Mrs.
Edith Keller has been brutally murdered at her home on a farm east of
Dongola in this (Union) county, and James McEntire and Francis
Settlemoir are lodged in jail at Jonesboro charged with the crime. The
murder was committed after night. Mrs. Keller and her daughter were
sitting before the fire in such a manner that their shadows were thrown upon
the window curtain, which was lowered. Suddenly and without warning a shot
was heard, and a bullet crashed through the window and curtain, barely
missing the daughter and striking the mother in the head, inflicting a wound
which soon resulted din her death. At the coroner’s inquest, the daughter
testified that McEntire and Settlemoir, who were young men in
the neighborhood, had threatened to kill her if she continued to receive the
attentions of a certain young man. On this evidence the young men were
committed to jail. It is supposed that the bullet which killed Mrs.
Keller was intended for her daughter. The murdered woman was a widow,
aged 52 years.
At one o’clock yesterday
morning, Jesse Woods, shot and killed Al Cheatam (both
colored). The particulars are about as follows: A dance at Wilkerson’s
Hall brought together these two boys—they were only about 19 years of
age—who were avowed enemies. Cheatam, it is claimed, had threatened
to kill Woods. About one o’clock Cheatam and three companions
met Woods in front of Ricks’ church, when trouble occurred and
Woods drew a pistol and shot Cheatam, the ball striking him in
the temple and killing him instantly. Woods made his escape. He has
been a waiter at the Halliday for two years and is of a quiet and peaceable
disposition, which leads to the supposition that the shooting was provoked.
The coroner’s jury are still investigating the matter.
(Francis Mowery
married Martha Jane Smith on 21 Jul 1889, in Pulaski Co., Ill.—Darrel
Dexter)
(G. W. Mowery married
Tryphosia Worthington on 20 May 1885, in Pulaski Co., Ill. Eddie’s
marker in Mt. Pisgah Cemetery near Wetaug reads: Edward T. son of G. W. &
T. Mowery Died Jan. 12, 1893, Aged 6 Yrs., 1 Mo., & 29 Ds.—Darrel
Dexter)
(Herman Hurd married
Mary Dunning on 29 Nov 1841, in Washington Co., Ill.—Darrel Dexter) T. B. Murphy, a young switchman on the Cotton Belt was killed at Bird’s Point Saturday morning. The Charleston Enterprise describes his death as follows: The switch engine had sidetracked a string of cars and failed to push them far enough off of the main track, the cars on the main track and on the switch being only about three inches part. Murphy did notice the cars were so close tougher, and rode a boxcar, on the ladder, down the main track, and of course did not see the danger until it was too late. He was instantly killed.
James Grath, a
switchman on the Illinois Central, was killed at Mounds Sunday evening. He
was sitting on the end of a car when it struck a flat car and he was caught
between the bumpers and was fatally crushed, dying from his injuries at St.
Mary’s Infirmary Monday morning. He was a single man. Uncle John Kelly is dead. The sad even occurred early this morning. He had been very low for some time, and his death was momentarily expected. About a year ago he had the grip, from which he never fully recovered. Then the death of Capt. Murphy, his nephew last May, was a great shock to him. More recently he has been confined to the house, for three months perhaps, and at last paralysis fastened itself upon him and carried him off. John Kelly was born in Portsmouth, Ohio, on October 5th, 1821, which makes him over 71 years of age. His parents died when he was quite young, and he was reared by Capt. Murphy’s sister. He obtained a position on the river at an early age and was captain of a number of boats at different times until the outbreak of the war. Then he settled down in Cairo and engaged in the hotel business. He was married at Metropolis in 1855 and the death of his wife in October 1873, quite unsettled him for business pursuits and since that time he has not been actively employed, except during Capt. Murphy’s term as sheriff when he acted as jailer. Mr. Kelly had three children, only one of whom survive him, his daughter, Miss Carrie. He has a brother and a sister living, neither of whom are able to be present at the funeral. His brother, Rev. N. B. Kelly, resides at Villa Ridge, but is now visiting a son in Niles, N.Y. His sister is Mrs. Watson at Wakenda, Mo. She is 80 years old. A number of relatives are here among them Mr. and Mrs. Cropper and son of Metropolis, Mrs. R. A. Wheatly, of DuQuoin, Mr. Eshleman, of Villa Ridge, and others.
A brief funeral service was
held at the family residence this afternoon and the remains were taken to
Metropolis for interment, accompanied by a number of Cairo friends. Miss
Carrie Kelly will, we understand, remain in Metropolis, making her
home with her aunt, Mrs. Cropper.
To the friends who were so
kind to me during the illness and death of my husband, Capt. John White,
I extend my sincere thanks.
(William J. McCrite
married Georgiana M. Berry on 26 Feb 1885, in Alexander Co.,
Ill.—Darrel Dexter)
(His marker in Hinkle
Cemetery near Dongola reads: James W. Owens Born Dec. 5, 1805 Died
Jan. 19, 1893, Pvt. Co. K, 80 Ind. Vol.—Darrel Dexter)
(William F. Sivia
married Cora Jones on 15 Sep 1885, in Union Co., Ill. Her marker in Anna
Cemetery reads: Cora wife of William F. Sivia 1867-1893.—Darrel
Dexter) Last Thursday afternoon, about five o’clock William Penrod was drunk in Schuler’s Bros.’ grocery, at Mound City and was quite boisterous. Deputy Sheriff Fred Schoenfeldt went into the store to quiet him, and while trying to get Penrod out, Penrod shot Schoenfeldt the ball striking him in the left side. He had his pistol in his left coat pocket and shot through his coat without taking it out. The wounds was a very painful one, and Schoenfeldt thought he was mortally hurt and when Penrod made a motion as though he would shoot again, Schoenfeldt drew his revolver and shot three times, the balls striking Penrod in the breast and killing him almost instantly. Schoenfeldt then surrendered himself to the sheriff, but was exonerated by the coroner’s jury. The ball from Penrod’s pistol merely made a flesh wound in Schoenfeldt’s side.
Penrod
was a good man when sober. He was an old soldier. But he loved whiskey,
and when his pension money came, he always attempted to “blow it in.” When
under the influence of liquor he was very quarrelsome. He served a term in
the penitentiary at one time for the murder of a man. Little Otto Lohr, the three-year-old son of Mr. Andrew Lohr, died early yesterday morning of diphtheria. Little Otto was his parent’s only body, and was the pride of his father. He was a sweet lovable child. This bereavement will fall heavily upon the household where afflictions have been such frequent visitors and the sympathy of the community will be theirs. Funeral services were held today.
(His marker in Cairo City
Cemetery reads: Otto A. Lohr Born July 23, 1889 Died Sept. 8,
1893.—Darrel Dexter)
John Black, employed
in the restaurant of Joe Cook, at Pulaski, was run over and killed at
that place last week, Thursday. Black went down to Mounds to get a
jug of whiskey and returned on the night passenger, No. 22. It is supposed
he visited the jug too often for in getting off the train, he jumped with
his back toward the engine and before it had come to a stand, and falling
under the wheels, was run over and killed.
(Hogan Pickerell
married Piety Stokes on 28 Jul 1871, in Union Co., Ill. Her marker
in Anna City Cemetery reads: Piety wife of Hogan Pickrell Died Feb.
2, 1893 Aged 42 Yrs., 7 Mos., 12 Ds.—Darrel Dexter) Michael Houlihan a night watchman on the Illinois Central Bridge, fell off that structure Thursday night about midnight, probably meeting instant death. About this time Houlihan was seen by another watchman, walking along on the Illinois approach, near where the iron and woodwork meet. Nothing more having been seen of him up to Saturday noon, search was made for him, resulting in finding his lifeless body on the ground below nearly covered with the snow that fell Friday. He had fallen from the bridge, a distance of over 60 feet, and his shoulders were broken and his body badly crushed. The deceased was 22 years of age and lived with his parents on Nineteenth Street.
(His marker in Calvary
Cemetery at Villa Ridge reads: Michael Houlihan Jr.
1871-1893.—Darrel Dexter)
(His marker in Cairo City
Cemetery at Villa Ridge reads: James H. Hopson Died Feb. 9, 1893,
Aged 38 Yrs., 7 Mos., & 8 Ds.—Darrel Dexter)
The case of the People vs.
Harvey Ramage for the murder of Policeman Henry Dunker last
September was called Wednesday morning. Nine jurymen were secured before
noon. One more juryman was secured in the afternoon. No progress whatever
was made this forenoon, but we presume that a full jury will be secured
before night. The jurymen so far secured are all from the country. The
defense is conducted by W. C. Mulkey, assisted by Bush and
Warten, of Smithland, Ky. Mrs. Dryer married Mr. Chester Dryer in 1848 and he died in 1892. She has one brother, George Little, Sr., living in Lexington, Neb., one sister, Mrs. Thatcher, in Salem, Oregon. Mrs. Dryer had lived in Lowell for many years and was loved and respected by all. She has visited at Dongola with the family of her brother, J. R. Little, several times. She had been a church member many years, having joined the Congregational church in her native home at Compton, N.H. (Dongola)
(Cheser Dryer married
Mary Little on 8 Mar 1842, in LaSalle Co., Ill.—Darrel Dexter)
(Henry C. Lentz
married Barbara E. Heddinger on 19 Mar 1872, in Union Co., Ill.
Frank Riemer married Mrs. Emeline Barbara Lentz on 29 Oct
1889, in Union Co., Ill. A marker in Mt. Pisgah Cemetery near Wetaug
reads: Barbara E. wife of Frank Riemer Born May 18, 1855 Died Feb.
9, 1893.—Darrel Dexter) Julia A. McCartney, wife of William B. McCartney, who departed this life on the 11 of February, in Wetaug, Illinois, was born in Richland County, Ohio, on the 2nd of April, 1839. She was the second daughter of Cyrus Henry, one of the early settlers of that region, well known in his own and adjacent counties, who spent a long and respected life on the farm he had cleared from the primitive forest. Her mother, Adaline Ensign Henry, was the daughter of the widely known Mr. Ensign, of Morrow County. Their daughter, Julia was united in matrimony with William B. McCartney, on the 17th of April 1859, by the Rev. Mr. Kellum of the M. E. Church. The young couple spent two years in the village of West Salem, now called Shiloh, two miles from the early home of the bride, whence they removed to the old regions of western New York and Pennsylvania. They have subsequently lived in Michigan City, Indiana, in Kansas City and Ness City, Kansas. In 1890 they removed from the latter place to Wetaug, where they proposed to spend the remainder of their lives. But she was not permitted long to enjoy the home here provided for her. In all her varied surroundings her inexhaustible good humor and contagious cheerfulness, added to her many excellent traits of character, attracted to her a wide circle of friends. “None knew her but to love her.” Although she had been a great sufferer and her life had several times been despaired of, her last illness was brief, and the news of her death was a surprise to all beyond the immediate family, the fatal disease, pneumonia, running its course in seven days. With her husband, she was a member of the Congregational church, but since their removal to Illinois, there being no church of their denomination near them, she had worshipped with the congregations most convenient to her residence. Her last words were the loving messenger to her absent children and friends. “Tell them all to meet me in Heaven.” Her funeral services were conducted by the Rev. E. G. Trover, pastor of the Lutheran church, assisted by Rev. Wolbach, pastor of the Reformed church. The funeral sermon was from Rev. XIV, 13:—”Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord.” The hymns sung were selected from among those which were her favorites in life.
She leaves a husband, two
sons and two daughters and a large circle of relatives and friends to mourn
her loss. But they mourn not as those without hope. While they will miss
her here, they rejoice that hers is that incorruptible inheritance,
purchased by the Blood of the Lamb, eternal in the Heavens.
We desire to express our
gratitude to the numerous friends and neighbors who in various ways tendered
us their assistance during the recent illness of our lamented wife and
mother, Mrs. Julia A. McCartney, and who by their attendance upon the
occasion of her funeral on Sabbath, the 12th of February, attested their
sympathy for us in our sore bereavement.
Thursday, 23 Feb 1893: The trial of Harvey Ramage for the murder of Policeman Henry Dunker was the principal event in circuit court last week. The case was called Wednesday morning and after a hard fought battle extending over three full days it was given to the jury late Friday night. After considering the matter all night they brought in a verdict Saturday morning of “Guilty of Murder,” and fixed the penalty at imprisonment for life in the penitentiary.
This murder was exceedingly
atrocious and we do not know of anyone who thinks the punishment too severe,
though a great many think that the death penalty should have been inflicted. By mistake Dunker arrested Fox instead of Ramage, and started off with him. Someone called to him and told him he had got the wrong man. He turned around when this would be cock of the loft, swearing that no Cairo cop should arrest his pard, pulled his pistol and blazed away. He shot Dunker in the neck from the effects of which he died the next day. Mr. Dunker was a very quiet peaceable officer, never ran, but always faithful in the performance of duty. Ramage then attempted to get away. He was found an hour or two later in top of a freight car in the Illinois Central yards and arrested. The next day when it was known that Dunker was dead the excitement became very intense and the sheriff fearing an attack on the jail hustled the bloody banded murder off to Vienna. It was Sunday afternoon and a great many people on the street. Not deeming it quite prudent to take him down to the depot he took him hastily to Mound City in a hack and took the train there for Vienna. After spending some three weeks there he was brought back to Cairo. At the last November term of court his attorneys tried very hard to get a change of venue. They presented affidavit after affidavit to the effect that he could not get a fair trial here. But Mr. Butler staid with them and convinced the court by counter affidavit that he could get a fair and impartial trial by an Alexander County jury. As stated above, the case came on for trial Wednesday morning. Attorneys Bush and Warton, of Smithland, Ky., conducted the defense assisted by Mr. W. C. Mulkey in selecting a jury. State’s Attorney Butler was assisted by his partner, W. H. Boyer, in the prosecution. Among the twenty-four jurymen selected for the first two weeks of court were three or four colored men, but our Kentucky friends did not want any of them on the jury which was to try their client. We suppose they feared that colored jurymen might remember the lynching of a colored man at Paducah a few months ago, who was returned from Cairo on a requisition and who was murdered for a crime what he probably never committed. But a jury of twelve good and true men from the county were finally selected to try the case, namely: Warren S. Craig, John Abernathie, David Hessian, Thomas Hobbs, George W. Thompson, James Belcher, Benjamin McRaven, F. M. Hargis, Edward Allen, Lewis F. Turner, George Gerst and David Brown. The evidence was heard. The women from 13th Street were placed upon the witness stand, Ramage himself took the stand in his own defense. It very soon became apparent that the prosecution was terribly in earnest; the defense soon found themselves in a life and death struggle to save the fellow’s neck.
The attorneys for the
defense tried to make it appear that Ramage shot the officer in
self-defense but such stuff had little influence upon the jury. Messr.
Bush and Warren are able lawyers and made a brilliant defense but
they were on the wrong side. Mr. Boyer in his opening speech traced
the course of Ramage from the time he landed from the ferryboat on
his pleasure trip until he found himself in the grip of the law. In his
closing speech Mr. Butler is said to have made the supreme effort of
his life.
Mrs. Lucy A. Leftcovtich
died at St. Mary’s Infirmary in this city Monday night and was buried
yesterday. She was eighty-five years of age. She had lived in Cairo about
fifty-five years and was probably the oldest resident of the city. She was
one of the ten original members of the Presbyterian church which was
organized in 1857. She was born in Wilmington, North Carolina, in 1808.
She leaves two children, a son, M. S. Leftcovitch, who is a
well-known travelling man in Southern Illinois, and a daughter, wife of John
Oswald, who lives in Chicago.
Dr. H. N. Sams, of
Wheatland, was in the city Tuesday. He has been in Tamaroa for the past
three weeks where his uncle, Dr. T. N. Sams, recently died. He is
now on his way home to Wheatland. The trial of Kitty May Sams for killing Ransom S. Simpson on the 25 day of last November was the sensation of last week in our circuit court. We gave the names of the jury in our issue of last Thursday. The evidence was heard on both sides, the arguments made and the case given to the jury a little before midnight Friday night. About ten o’clock Saturday morning the jury came into court and rendered their verdict of Not Guilty. The evidence showed that the defendant had a very sensitive nervous organization. That when about thirteen years of age she had St. Vitus Dance for about a year; that she married at the age of eighteen and on the birth of her first child she had it again for about a month; that again she was badly troubled with it after the birth of her second child; that she suffered terribly. She deserted her husband in 1887 and returned to her mother’s home. She came to Cairo in August, 1889, and formed the acquaintance of Sampson about one month later. Both she and Sampson were divorced in 1890. They were intimate from their first acquaintance; probably criminally intimate. On the 30th of October 1892, Sampson went with her to her mother’s home in Jonesboro, where they spent three days together. Sampson told her mother that they were married. They occupied the same bed. They went there Sunday evening and he remained until Wednesday. Then he left saying that he must go to St. Louis, but must go to Cairo first! That he would surely be back there the next day. He kissed her good bye and gave her a ten-dollar bill. He failed to come back as he had promised and she was very nervous and anxious. She returned to Cairo Friday, Nov. 4th. She went direct to Mr. Joseph Stegala’s place where she was always at home, and where Sampson frequently visited her. There she found a letter, which Sampson had left, for her, couched in these words: “Dear May:--When you read thi8s Il will be on my way to California. Little did you think when I kissed you good-bye it was forever. Forget me. I will get out of your sight and you will soon forget me and think no more of me. I have a letter for you in the room in your bank book.” Instead of starting for California, Sampson went down the river to Hickman to get married. He married Nov. 16, and returned to Cairo with his bride on the morning of Nov. 25, exactly three weeks after the return of May Sams to Cairo. These were there weeks of terrible suffering for her. She was enceinte by Sampson and in a frenzied condition. She had been most outrageously deceived by him. Early on the morning of Nov. 25th she heard that Sampson had returned to Cairo with a bride. She went to the store of John McNulty and bought a 38 caliber Colt’s revolver and had it loaded. Finally she called at the Planters House where Sampson and his bride were stopping. She inquired for them, Sampson was out but she went up to their room and was admitted by Mrs. Sampson. She told Mrs. S. something of her relation to MR. Sampson. After waiting awhile Mrs. Sampson went below to inquire for her husband. While she was absent, May Sams took off her wrap and laid it on the bed and pulled the pistol out of her stocking and laid it on the bed under her wrap. Mrs. Sampson returned and after a while Sampson himself came in. The old maxim “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned,” now proved to be true. There was a war of words. The result is well known. Mrs. Sampson said in her testimony on the stand that she herself was shot first. She said, “She shot me first then Rans then me then herself.” May Sams said that she shot Rans and did not remember anything more. Ransom Sampson died immediately. His bride and May Sams under the most careful treatment by Dr. Stevenson both recovered. The question for the jury to decide was this: “Was May Sams responsible for her acts on the morning of November 25th when she killed Sampson? Was she sane or was she insane?” The jury decided that she was not responsible and therefore Not Guilty. She was most ably defended by Messrs. Lansden & Leek. Mr. Lansden argument and plea in her behalf is spoken of as a most powerful effort, a most pathetic appeal. Mr. Leek dwelt upon the question of insanity and the peculiar features of emotional insanity. Mr. Butler prosecuted the case fairly but with intelligence and ability. The opinions of the public with respect to the verdict are very conflicting. Virtuous women generally consider it outrageous we believe. Lewd men all agree that the verdict was an outrage. Men of upright, pure lives are not inclined to find fault with the verdict. They consider that the wrong which May Sams suffered at the hands of Sampson were unpardonable and could never be condoned, that so far as he was concerned he simply got his deserts.
An indictment for assaulting Mrs. Sampson with intent to kill her is still hanging over May Sams. Whether the case will ever be tried is uncertain. If she was insane when she shot Sampson she was insane when she shot his wife.
Mr. William Ireland
died at Unity about ten days ago. He had lived in Alexander County more
than forty-three years and was one of the oldest citizens of the county. He
was seventy-seven years of age last April. He was born in West Virginia,
April 15th, 1815. He came to Alexander County in 1849 and soon settled in
Santa Fe, where he lived until 1877, when he removed to Hodges Park. He was
by trade a carpenter. He married Minnie Hutton, in Guernsey, Ohio,
in 1835, by whom he had ten children, eight of whom grew up to maturity and
six or seven of them are still living. His sons, Jessie M., John F., and W.
W. Ireland reside in Alexander County and Alonzo Ireland lives
in Commerce, Mo. He has several married daughters still living. Mr.
Ireland was very steadfast and consistent member of the Methodist church
and, we believe, a local preacher. He was during the later years of his
life a Justice of the Peace. He was a constant student of his Bible and
conformed his life to its teachings. He has gone to his reward. The terrible news was circulated last Saturday evening that Walter Ladd, the 16-year-old son of Mr. J. D. Ladd, freight agent of the Illinois Central, had been drowned in the Ohio River, and later reports confirmed the fact. Walter was very fond of all outdoor sports, especially hunting. Saturday morning he started out on a hunting expedition in a little boat. He was last seen by persons on the transfer boat Duncan near the lower incline. When he did not return at night as was expected, fears as to his safety were aroused, and search made. Nothing was revealed except the discovery of the little boat, which was found bottom upwards down near Norfolk, some four miles below the city. This only confirmed the belief that the boat had capsized and he was drowned. There was little chance of his being able to swim in the swift flowing icy water, loaded down as he was with his hunting outfit and rubber boots. Search for his body was commenced but all has been in vain. Tugs were employed to scour the river, divers were sent down at the incline, dynamite was exploded in the hope of raising the body, and towns along the river below were advised to be on the lookout.
The terrible suspense as to
the fate of their son and then the more terrible conviction that he was
snatched from them were almost more than his parents could bear, and Mr. and
Mrs. Ladd are prostrated with grief. They have the sympathy of
everyone and everyone mourns the loss of Walter Ladd, for he was
universally liked.
(David J. Anderson
married Ida A. Lee on 27 May 1883, in Union Co., Ill. Her marker in
Anna City Cemetery reads: Ida A. wife of David J. Anderson Born Aug.
25, 1864 Died Feb. 22, 1893.—Darrel Dexter)
Tuesday morning the
cartridge belt of Walter Ladd was found near the Big Four incline,
about where the unfortunate boy was supposed to be drowned. It is learned
that he did not have the belt on when he left the wharf boat, but carried it
in his boat. Mr. Ladd will send men in skiffs to scour both banks of
the river between here and Memphis, in search of the body.
Mr. J. H. Searing,
mayor of Carbondale, died at Tucson, Arizona, Feb. 28th. He went to Arizona
hoping that the climate would restore him to health again, but he went too
late. He was only 47 years of age. Valentine Reisser, an old citizen of Cairo, died last Friday evening at 7 o’clock. For the past seven years he has suffered from frequent strokes of paralysis, which have compelled him to abandon all business pursuit and which at times have even threatened his life.
Mr. Reisser was a
native of Germany, where he was born in 1826. He came to Cairo before the
war, and during his long residence here accumulated considerable property.
He leaves a wife and six children, all grown. Funeral services were held
Sunday at St. Patrick’s Church and attended by the Arab Fire Company, of
which the deceased was a member.
Mr. William McAdam,
of Chester, Illinois, died in that city March 6th, in the 71st
year of his age. He was one of the grandest men in the community and was
well known throughout the 20th Congressional District. He passed away
“sustained and soothed by an unfaltering trust like one who wraps the
drapery of his couch about him and lies down to pleasant dreams.”
In Thebes, Ill., on Tuesday,
March 14th, at 8:30 o’clock, a.m., of heart failure, Marinda Marchildon,
wife of the late Judge Severe Marchildon, aged 66 years, 1 month and
13 days. Funeral from residence Thursday March 16th, 1893 at 10 o’clock
a.m. Another Landmark Gone Early Tuesday morning, Wilkerson’s opera house, near the corner of Fifteenth and Walnut streets, was discovered to be on fire, and in spite of the efforts of the firemen, it was entirely consumed. A strong wind blew burning brands upon the roof of neighboring houses, and only prompt and constant work prevented further damage. Wilkerson’s opera house was formerly the Methodist church, and stood at the corner of Eighth and Walnut streets. When they built their new church, the have the old building to Wilkerson on condition that he remove it. He moved it up to Fifteenth Street and made it into an opera house and hall for colored people. Last year he rented it very frequently and derived a large revenue from it, but this season has not done much with it. A ball held in it on January 17th ended in the death of a colored boy, and since that time the colored people have been afraid of the place. At leas there has been no entertainment in the hall since that date. The building was evidently set afire, but by whom it is not known. Wilkerson valued it at $3,000 and carried at $1,500 insurance on the building and $35 on the furniture. He expects to put up some cottages on the site of the burned building. (Al Cheatam was the man killed on 17 Jan 1893, at a ball held in Wilkerson’s opera house.—Darrel Dexter)
Mrs. Susan Hesser,
who lived at the corner of Commercial Avenue and Thirty-fourth Street, died
Monday evening of typhoid fever, after an illness of four weeks. She was 61
years old. Funeral services were held Tuesday evening and the remains were
taken to Walter Valley, Ky., for interment.
Mr. Charles A. Goodin,
Sheriff of Mississippi County, Mo., died at his home in Charleston, Tuesday
evening after an illness of nineteen days with pneumonia. He was only 38
years of age. He leaves a wife and three children and a large circle of
friends.
SIKESTON, MO., Mar. 21.—An
unknown man was found dead a half mile west of Morehouse last Sunday
evening. His skull was crushed in and it is supposed that he was murdered.
Papers on his person seemed to indicate that his name was C. Webster,
of Morganfield, Ky. From appearances he had been dead about two weeks. His
body had been badly mutilated by hogs. About two weeks ago during the cold
weather two tramps were camped on the east bank of the river. This man
resembles one of them. Mr. Hugh Callahan, an old citizen of Cairo, died Monday night was buried yesterday. He died of pneumonia after an illness of about a week. He was probably about 66 years of age. For a great many years he had charge of the coal fleet of W. H. Brown of Pittsburg. For some three or four years past he has been somewhat infirm and has kept rather quiet attending to his own real estate. He was a member of the Hibernian Fire Company and was buried from the Catholic Church under the auspices of the Fire Company.
(His marker in Calvary
Cemetery at Villa Ridge reads: Hugh Callahan Native of the Parish of
Fannett, County Donegal, Ireland, Died March 26, 1893, Aged 65 Yrs.—Darrel
Dexter)
(John Miller married
Harriet L. Bourlen on 14 Feb 1878, in Pulaski Co., Ill. A marker in
Mt. Pisgah Cemetery near Wetaug reads: Grover son of J. & H. Miller
Born May 14, 1885 Died March 23, 1893 Aged 7 Yrs., 10 Mos., 9 Ds.—Darrel
Dexter)
Thursday, 6 Apr 1893: Monday was an evil day in Cairo. Perhaps it was because Sunday, being Easter was a good day, and the equilibrium had to be maintained. But at any rate, it was an evil day. A man fell dead in an uptown saloon. A horse ran away wrecking a buggy and throwing out its owner, a prominent citizen. A mad dog scare prevailed and several canines were executed. These occurrences, coupled with the very sultry atmosphere, made the day one of concern.
Peter Haley, a
steamboat fireman, entered the Bank saloon, near the corner of Eighth and
Commercial, about seven o’clock in the morning and complaining of being
sick, asked to be allowed to lie down. He started for the back end of the
room, but sank to the floor and expired. He was about forty years old and
his home is in Iowa. He died of dropsy of the heart.
Major George W. Carleton
died at his home in Gayose, Pemiscott County, Mo., March 31st, 1893, at 10
o’clock. For years Major Carleton has held several offices of honor
and trust. Up to the convening of the last legislature the major
represented his district in the state senate. He was some 70 years of age.
Major Carleton was an enthusiastic temperance advocator and was among
the leading lawyers of Southeast Missouri.—Charleston Enterprise The death of Mrs. Marinda Marchildon, on Tuesday, March 14, deserves more than a passing notice. Born in Kentucky about the first of February, 1827, she came to Thebes in this county, in 1848 or 1849 and lived there until her death, a period of more than forty-three years. She was the eldest daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth Dexter. They had a large family of children and Marinda came here to live with her uncle, Silas Dexter. She spent her time in spinning, weaving and anything that she could find to do. Silas was a man of great prominence in Alexander County at that time and in his family she was brought into contact with the most prominent people of the county. On the 24th day of October, 1849, she married Mr. A. W. Anderson. He was a merchant at Thebes and had held important official positions in the county. He was a widower and had one little child. At the time of her marriage she had twenty-five dollars of her own earnings. She had one child, a son name Alva, by Mr. Anderson, but he soon died. Mr. Anderson himself died of consumption May 15, 1825, and the little child by his first wife die not survive long. By his will Mr. Anderson gave his property to his wife and child and made his friend, William C. Massey his executor. Mr. Massey was also a widower and boarded in the family of Mr. Anderson previous to his death. In a few months after the death of Mr. Anderson she married William C. Massey. He had a grown daughter who married William Dexter, a brother of his wife, Marinda. Mr. Massey held the position of county surveyor and, we believe, other county offices and was a prominent man in the community. By him she had one son, Eddie, who lived to be four or five years old and then died. William C. Massey died June 1, 1861, in Ohio County, Ky. Just previous to his death he made a will, giving his property to his wife and his married daughter and making his wife and Nicholas Hunsaker his executors. From the estate of these two husbands, Anderson and Massey, she received considerable property, which she managed with great prudence. On the 2nd of October, 1862, she married Severe Marchildon of Thebes. He was also a widower and had several grown children. Thus within a period of thirteen years she was three times married and twice left a widow. Her husbands were all widowers and all prominent in county affairs. Judge Marchildon will be remembered by most of our readers. He was a member of our county board for several years and was an active public-spirited man. With him she lived for about twenty years until his death. Mrs. Marchildon was much more than an ordinary woman. Without the advantages of a thorough education, she took a lively interest in the welfare of the community in which she lived. She was a consistent member of the Methodist church and took great interest in its prosperity. She was a staunch temperance woman, for she saw that strong drink is the bane of any community. She was a prudent, wise counselor and avoided everything like ostentation and display. She was an expert financier. Her land was made productive and brought in a revenue. Her resources were carefully nursed and wisely invested. At the time of her death she owned several thousand acres of land, much of it very choice land. She left an estate worth probably $30,000. She left three brothers, two sisters, and nephews and nieces, the children of deceased brothers and sisters. Her mother has been in poor health for some years and was buried March 23d, just nine days after her own death at the old Kentucky home in Centretown, Ohio County. The life of Mrs. Marchildon in Alexander County extends over most of the history of the county. For more than forty years she was thoroughly familiar with and took a lively interest in everything, which concerned the welfare of the county.
She was seriously ill but a
few days. Her mind was not in its normal condition and finally she simply
“slept her life away.” Her death is a serious loss to the community at
Thebes. After along illness Mr. Thomas W. Halliday, Jr., passed away at the family residence in this city Saturday night April 8th, at midnight. The funeral services were held in the Church of the Redeemer, Monday afternoon. The remains were interred in Beech Grove Cemetery beside the grave of his father.
Thomas Wyatt Halliday,
Jr., was born in this city Feb. 5, 1867. He was the eldest son of the late
Hon. Thomas W. Halliday, who died last September. He was reared and
educated among us. On the ninth of July, 1891, he married Miss Blanche Smith, of Zanesville, Ohio. He immediately returned to Cairo and took his old position in the bank. But a serious lung trouble soon developed itself and demanded attention. About one year ago, under the advice of physicians, he went to Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was there in September when his father died, but did not think it best to come home to attend the funeral. For a while he seemed to improve in health somewhat, but there was no permanent improvement. Some two or three months ago he went on to Los Angeles, California. After remaining there a short time his physicians advised him to return home to the Mississippi Valley. But he did not remain there long. He left and went to Hot Springs, Arkansas. Nothing, however, could afford any permanent relief. He returned to Cairo last Friday morning. He conversed with old friends and told them that he would be downtown in a few days. He was very weak, but could walk about a little. But, like a thief in the night, the fell destroyer came, and at midnight Saturday night, he breathed his last.
Everything could be done for
him was done, but all of no avail. No medical skill, no change of climate
could save him. He leaves a young wife, a widowed mother and a host of
relatives and friends to mourn his untimely death. Last Sunday the Knights Templar of Chicago held memorial services in honor of James H. Hopson, who was Chief Grand Mentor of the order at his death, Feb. 9th, 1893. Said one, “I had the pleasure of knowing him from infancy.” She said, “He was always faithful in the discharge of his duties. He was a respected Mason, and held the position of secretary of Ionic Lodge, A. F. & A. M. and was a Most Worthy Patron of the Order of the Eastern Star. He was highly respected by all who knew him. As our Chief Mentor, his place can never be filled.”
“Jimmie” was a favorite with
all who knew him.
Dr. W. T. Davisson
died at the home of his brother, Andrew Davisson, near Metropolis,
last Saturday morning of consumption. He leaves a widow and one little
child, a daughter. The doctor had many friends in Alexander County who will
greatly regret to hear of his death. He was only thirty-five years of age.
(Her marker in I. O. O. F.
Cemetery at Dongola reads: Dicy Braden Born Dec. 20, 1821 Died April
11, 1893.—Darrel Dexter)
In our issue of March 30th
we mentioned the serious illness of Mr. Washington McRaven of
Wheatland. He died April 3rd. Mr. McRaven was one of the oldest
citizens of Alexander County and must have been about seventy years of age.
He left a widow and one child, the wife of George W. Childress and
several grandchildren, whose parents have died. He was a good citizen and
his death was a loss to the community in which he lived.
Thursday, 27 Apr 1893:
Daisy Brand, a little
colored girl living at 422 Twelfth Street, was severely burned Friday
afternoon and may not recover. Her clothing caught fire in some way and the
flames spread, setting the house on fire. The child rushed and jumped into
the sipe water, extinguishing the blaze, and her screams attracted others
who put out the flames in the house. The child was burned about the face
shoulders and breast—In fact from her waist up, and the doctor has very
little hopes of her recovery. Died at Anna, Monday, April 24th, at 10 o’clock p.m., of typho malarial fever. Mrs. Edith M. Gibbs, wife of Harry W. Gibbs, aged twenty-five years. The announcement of the death of Mrs. Gibbs came to us like a thunderclap from a clear sky. We had seen her only about two weeks before her death looking bright, healthy and very happy. She had been seriously ill but one week. A week before her death she had been in her husband’s store. By a slight exposure she contracted a cold resulting in fever which could not be broken up. And so in the prime of life buoyant with youthful hope and courage she was carried to her grave. Funeral services were held in the Baptist church at Anna yesterday morning and a little mound in the Anna Cemetery marks her resting place. Mrs. Gibbs was well known in Alexander County as Miss Edith Asher. The family had lived at Thebes for many years. She had grown up there and was universally beloved and respected. For several years she had been a very successful teach, both in the county and in Cairo. She was an intimate companion of Miss Lillie Lightner who married Dr. C. P. Spann and who preceded her to the spirit land some fifteen months ago. About two years ago she married Harry W. Gibbs, the only son of Dr. J. A. M. Gibbs. They lived at Unity, in this county, until about the first of April of this year when they removed to Anna. There Mr. Gibbs opened a store and had settled down hoping to establish a permanent business and a home. But the dread destroyer who always loves a shining mark, tore her away from loved ones. She leaves her husband, a mother, several sisters and a host of loving friends to mourn her untimely death. But they mourn not as those who have no hope.
(Henry W. Gibbs
married Edith M. Asher on 6 Aug 1890, in Alexander Co., Ill.—Darrel
Dexter)
Thursday, 4 May 1893: John Baker, the 19-year-old son of Lawson Baker, the colored grocer, was run over by a train last Saturday forenoon and died from the effects of his injures. He was crossing the Illinois Central tracks near Eighteenth Street and tried to pass between two cars of a freight train which stood in his way when the train was set in motion and he fell under the wheels. His limbs were badly crushed and he was carried to St. Mary’s Infirmary where they were amputated, but he died at two o’clock. The funeral was held Sunday and was largely attended.
(His marker in Cairo City
Cemetery reads: Lawson son of Mr. and Mrs. L. W. Baker Born Nov. 28,
1870, Died Nov. 1, 1899.—Darrel Dexter) The case is exciting great interest. A very large number of witnesses will probably testify. The testimony of Milford, who plead guilty, is awaited with a great deal of interest. The history of the case is familiar to nearly all who like in Pulaski County. On August 23rd last, William Napier was shot from ambush and killed. The murder grew out of a quarrel about the location of a road. The road ran across Napier’s land, and he moved it to another place. The new road was perhaps not as good as the old, but he worked it and made a good road out of it. This was repeatedly torn up and the fence destroyed which crossed the old road. Napier as often repaired the damage. On the evening in question he was fixing up the fence that had been torn down when someone called to him to stop, shooting and hitting his feet or legs. He raised his gun and fired, the hidden enemy doing the same. Napier fell mortally wounded and died soon. A son of DR. Waite was with him at the time. The murder was committed on the road between Pulaski and Olmsted. We understand that Scruggs was the only one directly interested in the road. He is a hard looking man, has a bad eye. Prior has a more pleasant look, but was quite pale. This may have been due to confinement in jail. Both manifest great interest in the proceedings, but did not seem at all nervous. The latest report from Mound City is that the eleventh juror was secured this morning, and they are still trying to complete the number.
Dr. L. F. Walker, of
Grantsburg, Johnson County, died last week after an illness extending over
two or three years. The doctor was a good physician and a good citizen. He
was taken off in the prime of life by a complication of diseases which
seemed to be entirely beyond the reach of medicine.
Thursday, 11 May 1893: The most terrible accident that ever happened in the vicinity of Cairo occurred last Sunday morning, bringing horrible suffering and death to a score of men. The steamer Ohio, belonging to the Cincinnati and Memphis Packet Company, collapsed a flue of one of her boilers about 7:30 Sunday morning while opposite Wolf Island, 30 miles below Cairo, and instantly a great volume of steam shot out, enveloping everything before it. The crews were just changing watches and a number were standing in the passageway just in the range of this discharge. The scalding steam filled every aperture of this space, covering the men and in many cases literally roasting their flesh so that the skin came off at the ouch. Their agonizing screams and the noise of the exl0lsion caused a panic on the boat. The Ohio was under sufficient headway to reach the bank where she was tied up, and then, seeing no further danger, the passengers regained their presence of mind and went to work assisting the officers of the boat in caring for the injured. A physician was among the passengers, Dr. S. S. Woodbourn, of Pittsburg, and he directed the work of relieving the sufferings of the men. The steamer Aegeus, passing down the river, was hailed by the Ohio at 10 o’clock, and immediately came to the rescue. The dead and dying were placed upon her and brought up to Cairo, where everything was found in readiness for them. Dr. A. H. Glennon of the U. S. Marine Hospital having been appraised of the disaster by telegram. The boat arrived at 2:30 p.m. and the victims were tenderly conveyed to Marine Hospital, where a number of local physicians assisted the hospital force in the care for the men. All night the work was kept, and in spire of every effort, one after another died from their injures until Monday afternoon, 13 of the 22 that had been brought up were numbered among the dead. Of this 22, all were colored but six, and only one white man was among the thirteen who died. The negroes were nearer the boilers and inhaled the steam into their lungs, which accounts for the great fatality among the The following are among the dead: Tom Robinson, Evan Freeman, Holden Tate, Hampton Collins, George Washington, R. W. Crews, Jim Howard, Albert Robinson, William Hushman, Fred Neal, William Henry, Eugene Moody, Charles Jackson. Crews was a white man and was stealing a ride. Two those among this list were deck passengers, but all the rest belonged to the crew. The list of wounded is: John Ralph, C. J. Patterson, Aaron Johnson, Aziah Maise, Gilbert Childers, Charles Thomas, Eli Hancock, D. J. Randolph, William H. Roe, Ralph Patterson. Johnson Randolph and Rose are all white men. The others are colored. Everything is being done for these men at the hospital, and some if not all will recover. Cyrus Meyers, second mate, was blown or thrown overboard and has not been seen since. He probably was drowned.
The Ohio was brought
up to Cairo Sunday night where it is undergoing repairs. Her passengers
went on by rail from here.
A shooting scrape occurred
in Johnson County, three miles west of Vienna, last week, and as a result a
young woman named Jodie Hopson is dangerously wounded and Frank
Gore is hiding from the sheriff. The Hopson woman ran off about
a year ago with Gore, leaving her husband. Recently they returned
and William Hartzell aroused Gore’s jealousy by his actions.
Monday of last week Gore visited the woman and got into a quarrel
with her, shooting three times. Two shots took effect, one in her neck and
one in hand. Gore then skilled out and the woman may not recover.
(His marker in Calvary
Cemetery at Villa Ridge reads: Rev. Thomas Walsh Died March 15,
1863. Rest in Peace.—Darrel Dexter) Died May 6th, 1893, at the old home two miles west of Dongola, Rev. Valentine G. Kimber, aged 76 years, and 8 months.
Mr. Kimber was born
in Pennsylvania, Fayette County; in early childhood he moved with his
parents to Ohio. At the age of 17 years he went to St. Louis and learned
the cabinet trade, and while there became a Christian, uniting with the M.
E. Church. He soon entered the ministry and joining the Southern Illinois
Conference was sent to Jonesboro as pastor of that circuit. His principal
labors in the ministry were in Union County and those immediately
surrounding, especially Johnson and Alexander. In character Father Kimber was unique and showed the stalwart New England blood that flowed in his veins. He was a man of clear-cut convictions, and made no concessions or compromise with what he thought to be error. With an extensive library kept well replenished, he was well versed on all themes of interest to himself and country. His unyielding constancy was never more conspicuous than in his firm stand for the Union and his determined oppositions to slavery, in those days when, in this community, it took courage to stand by these convictions. His views on temperance were not less decided, through all his years, and even though prostrated and apparently at death’s door at the time of our spring elections on the license questions, his whole soul was full of interest in the result. But though always constant to his convictions, even to combativeness, he was still generous and recognized true, manhood wherever found. He believed in character, not in show and he would stand by character and principle, though he must stand-alone. The same strength and energy that marked every phase of his public life bore fruit, also in his private life, for while doing battle in the field of public thought and action, he did not neglect his home, the training of his beloved children, and ample provision for the wants of his family. And now he is gone, there is much in consolation for those who mourn his death. He lived to see the triumph of many of those principle for which he contended, and he left to his family and to his neighbors a record of a life devoted to God and to the highest interests of humanity and when such leave us we always have the full assurance that they have gone to a great reward. The sympathies of a wide circle are extended to the bereaved widow and children. The funeral services were held at the family residence, a large concourse of people being in attendance. A sermon was preached by Rev. J. B. Green, pastor of Dongola Congregational church. The remains were interred in Jonesboro Cemetery on last Monday. (V. G. Kimber married E. J. Cooper on 8 Sep 1837, in Pike Co., Ill. V. G. Kimber married Elizabeth Davidson on 26 Oct 1848, in Union Co., Ill. His marker in Jonesboro Cemetery reads: Valentine G. Kimber Born in Fayette Co., Pa., Sept. 6, 1816, Died May 6, 1893, Age 76 Yrs., 8 Mos.—Darrel Dexter)
Died, at his residence in Anna Sunday, May 7th, at 1:30 p.m., O. Alden, aged 65 years and nine months. Mr. Alden had been in failing heath for years and very feeble for several weeks. In his death Union County has lost one of her oldest, best known and most respected citizens, and the extent of his acquaintance and the esteem in which he was held was apparent on Tuesday afternoon when business houses in the city closed and the residents of town and surrounding country attended his funeral en masse. Mr. Alden was a native of Massachusetts, but settled in Union County in his early manhood, and from very humble beginnings wrought out his own fortunes here. His business judgment was almost unerring and the Alden Store Company, with its large business is a monument to his financial ability. He was vice president of the First National Bank and a man of wealth and varied interests. The business enterprises which he built up are so arranged that they will proceed without interruption. He leaves a widow and the children. Mr. Alden was an example of true manliness and his life is a worthy model for all young men.
(Oliver Alden married
Sarah C. Tripp on 8 Dec 1853, in Union Co., Ill. His marker in Anna
City Cemetery reads: Oliver Alden Born Aug. 7, 1828, Died May 7,
1893.—Darrel Dexter)
We went to press last week just before the last juryman had been secured. The panel was completed Thursday evening and the examination of witnessed occupied the whole of Friday, Saturday, and Monday. Tuesday the arguments of the lawyers were made. Each side had four hours in which to speak. State’s Attorney Bradley opened, and was followed by Wall, Leek and Spann for the defense, and then Courtney closed. Mr. Courtney made a fine argument—probably the most telling speech of all. The case went to the jury at four o’clock Tuesday afternoon and they were out six hours bringing in their verdict about ten o’clock. Several members were for hanging at first, but they finally agreed upon the verdict as given above. The attorneys for the dense immediately entered a motion for a new trial, which was overruled, also a motion in arrest of judgment, which was also overruled. The defendants stoutly declared their innocence to the last, Scruggs saying when questioned, “I knew nothing of the death of this man until after he was killed” and Prior testifying the same. The evidence agrees with the account given in The Citizen last August, at the time of the murder. Prior fired the first shot, one gun being loaded with birdshot. Milford then fired and killed Napier, the charge in his gun being buckshot. Scruggs had planned the whole affair and induced the others to enter into it. He was at the home at the time of the shooting. One of the coolest witnesses was Dr. Waite’s son, who witnessed the murder. Although only ten years old, he related perfectly everything that happened. He showed that he was not only wonderfully cool at the time the crime was committed, when most persons would be very much excited, but that he also had a wonderful memory.
The prisoners were brought
to Cairo this morning and taken to Chester this noon by Sheriff
Wehrenberg. Mounds was the scene of a murder Sunday evening about 6 o'clock. Frank Davis, an Illinois Central brakeman, was killed by Sam Turner, a notoriously bad negro from Pulaski. Davis and another brakeman named Parks, whose home is at Anna, were in company with two negro women and this man Turner, down at the lower end of the old town. Turner had a bottle of whisky, which Davis took away from him. Davis then commenced abusing and slapping him. Parks was holding Turner while he was receiving this punishment. Turner begged to be turned loose and promised to go off and leave them. They then turned him loose, and stepping back, he fired three shots. One struck Davis in the abdomen from the effects of which he died in a very short time. Another shot hit Parks, passing through an account book he had in his pocket, and making only a flesh wound. The other shot missed fire. Turner claims only to have shot at Davis, and thought all three shots hit him. Turner immediately started to escape, but was seen in a wheat field by a man who told him that 150 railroad boys were hunting him and promised to take him in safety to the sheriff. They started for Mound City, but not by the road, for that would have surely resulted in a lynching. They struck out through the woods, coming out on the Big Four track above town, and reached the sheriff's house late. The prisoner was taken to Deputy Obermart's office where the night was spent. Several times during the night men came and pounded upon the door, demanding admission, but no sounds was made by those inside. It was evident they learned in some way of Turner's whereabouts and were after him. When morning came the prisoner was taken to a place of safety. It was only by the tact of Sheriff Wehrenberg and Deputy Ohmart that a lynching was avoided.
Turner
has a very bad reputation. Not very long ago he held up a party crossing
over on the mule road, and pointing a pistol at them demanded their money.
A cool head and a deft hand saved them. By a sudden move the pistol in
Turner's hand was turned upon himself, and with an attempt to laugh he
said was only fooling. The whole family from which Turner comes is
thoroughly bad.
Courtney, the little
three-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Gholson, fell into the
sipe water Tuesday afternoon and was drowned. The little fellow was missed
early in the afternoon and it was supposed he had wandered away from his
home on sixteenth Street, as he was quite active. Search was made and the
body was finally found in the sipe water about four o’clock, only a few feet
from the door of his home by Joe Hamilton, who works in Mr. J. S.
Smith’s wagon shop. The little fellow had evidently fallen in while at
play, and as the water was about four feet deep was drowned. The terrible
news was an awful blow to the mother but she bore it with great Christian
fortitude. The sympathies of the entire community are with the parents in
their sore affliction. Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon.
The nine remaining victims
of the Ohio disaster, who were taken to the Marine Hospital here, are
all doing well. Hancock, one of the colored men, was discharged lat
Saturday, The sufferers require a great deal of care and keep Dr.
Glennon and his assistants very busy.
The regular passenger train
on the St. Louis Southwestern Railway, which leaves Cairo at 2 o’clock p.m.,
was wrecked near Smithton, Mo., six miles below Bird’s Point, last Friday
and the engineer and fireman were instantly killed. A flange on one of the
engine wheels broke out and the engine as precipitated down an embankment
dragging the tender and mail car after it. The passenger cars did not leave
the track. Engineer Charles King and Fireman Thomas Smith
were crushed to death. No one else was seriously wounded. King’s
home was in Vincennes, Ind., and Smith lived at Bird’s Point.
Kurzdorfer
& Co. have recently made a beautiful monument to mark the grave of Mrs.
Lillian L. Spann (Lillie Lightner) at Thebes. The monument is
wholly of fine white Italian marble standing upon a limestone sub base. It
is abaste in design and the workmanship is of the highest order. The
monument stands about seven feet high. The name Spann is carved in
raised letters upon the marble base. A cluster of lilies, consisting of
calls, and lilies of the valley grasped in a closed hand are carved upon the
main shaft. A finely carved urn rests upon the top of the monument and
makes the design complete. It is beautiful monument and confers a great
credit upon the establishment.
(Robert Rendleman
married Cora Renfro on 3 Jul 1891, in Union Co., Ill. A marker in
Cobden Cemetery reads: Robbie Ray son of Robert & Cora Rendleman
Died May 15, 1893 Aged 11 Mos., & 29 Ds.—Darrel Dexter) (His marker in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Cobden reads: Joseph Metz Born April 15, 1829 Died May 13, 1893.—Darrel Dexter)
Early last Friday morning Ex-Mayor Henry Winter quietly joined the silent majority. For some years his health has been failing. He has struggled hard against the insidious attack of disease. He had spent considerable time at Dawson Springs and always seemed to derive some benefit from the use of the water. But the progress of disease was like the movement of a glacier, slow but irresistible. He was formerly quite fleshy, but of late has been greatly emaciated. His death was not a surprise to his friends, for they felt that he could not hold out long. Early last Friday morning the pale messenger came and bore his spirit away. The funeral was largely attended Saturday afternoon. Rev. W. B. Morris, of the Baptist church officiating. The various fire companies of the city and the Old Settlers Association attended the funeral as organizations. The following named gentleman served as honorary pall bearers, viz: Col. C. O. Patier, Judge F. Bross, R. H. Cunnningham, C. W. Henderson, Wood Rittenhouse, William Kluge, John McNulty, R. H. Baird, M. Bambrick and Charles Gayer. The procession from the house to the train considered of the city council, police force, the entire fire department and a large concourse of citizens escorted by a band of music playing a funeral dirge. The casket was literally covered with flowers. The body was conveyed by funeral train to Villa Ridge for burial. Mr. Winter was born in Portsmouth, England, August 15, 1826. He was the thirteenth in a family of sixteen children. His mother, “Lady Hilliard,” was a charming beautiful woman of noble birth. His father was a fine connoisseur in, and lover of art, and was something of an artist himself. He painted a large panorama with which he traveled with success in this country assisted by his oldest sons, Charles, Robert and William. The family emigrated to the United States in 1837 and settled in Cincinnati. There his mother died, and there he learned the trade of tinner. He married Miss Margaret Murdock, of New York, August 13, 1851. After a checkered business experience of some years, he came to Cairo in 1856 and started a tin ship. He soon established a large business. His brother, William, Thomas, and George also came here. William inherited his father’s love of art, and will be remembered as an artist of a very high order. Henry Winter soon took a very prominent position in the business circles of our city. He was for many years a member of our city council. He served two or three terms as mayor. He and his brother, William, erected several large business houses in the city. They also helped to build up the city of Omaha, Nebraska.
Bur reverses came and they
suffered heavy losses. William was attacked by consumption and after a
terrible struggle for life, died Sept. 27, 1885. And now the old reaper has
taken Henry Winter off. He was a man of the people, and always had a
large number of devoted followers. He was a man who would make himself felt
in any community. He leaves a widow and nine children all residing in this
city.
(Peter Ehs married
Dorothea Rees on 23 Aug 1858, in Alexander Co., Ill. His marker in
Cairo City Cemetery at Villa Ridge reads: Peter Ehs Died May 21,m
1893, Aged 66 Yrs., 11 Mos., & 15 Ds.—Darrel Dexter)
Willie Kutz, the
nine-year-old son of Officer George Kutz of the Chester penitentiary,
while playing along the bank of the Mississippi River just above the prison
last week Monday fell into the river and was drowned. A reward of $25 is
offered for the recovery of the body. The boy had grey eyes, brown hair,
was badly freckled, had on a blue striped waist and brown knee pants and was
barefooted.
Warren Waggoner, of
Crainville, shot and killed his wife last week. It was the final act in a
difficulty which commenced last February when he deserted his wife leaving
her in destitute circumstances. She afterwards sued for a divorce and
secured it for extreme and repeated cruelty. He then shot her and took
poison himself but a meddlesome doctor gave him an emetic and saved his
miserable life for the time being.
Mrs. Lucinda Bigelow
Tuthill, widow of Cephas Tuthill, an early settler of
Illinois, died at the residence of her only daughter, Mrs. Egbert E.
Walbridge, No. 332 Marshfield Avenue, yesterday at the age of 91 years,
and 11 months. Mrs. Tuthill was born at Peru, Vt., June 9, 1801.
Her father, Reuben Bigelow, was for many years justice of the peace,
and served several terms as member of the state legislature. he was the
proprietor of a famous tavern at Peru, on the Green Mountains, where, in the
latter portion of the last century and the first of this, the states from
Manchester to Chester stopped for dinner, and was widely known and
universally esteemed. The beautiful daughter of “Squire” Bigelow was
married to Cephas Tuthill, the son of a neighbor in 1826 and a few
years after came with him and their one child in a covered wagon all the way
from Vermont to Illinois. Mrs. Tuthill often spoke of this trip,
which lasted for two months, as for the most part highly enjoyable, the only
feature which she did not relish being her fear of wild animals, whose cries
they could hear at night while passing through the then almost untrodden
wilds of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. She distinctly remembered the
principal events of the War of 1812 and often heard the war of the
revolution talked about by member of her family and others who had served in
the Patriot army under Washington. Cephas Tuthill and his
bride joined his brothers, Daniel B. Tuthill (the father of Judge
Richard S. Tuthill and Mrs. General R. N. Pearson), Russell
Tuthill and John Tuthill, on a beautiful prairie in Jackson
County, which still bears their name, and with other Vermont and
Massachusetts families formed what became known among the people from the
South, who for the most part settled in Southern Illinois as “The Yankee
Settlement,” which also became known widely as the first station of the
“underground railroad” whereon many a runaway slave from Kentucky and
Missouri made his escape from bondage. Here was established a good school,
and here also in the schoolhouse were held regularly on each Sunday
religious services, by itinerant ministers mostly. Later a preacher of the
Presbyterian church, Rev. Mr. Bird, father of Abram Bird,
general manager of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul railway preached here
for several years. Mrs. Tuthill was herself for more than sixty
years, a consistent member of the Methodist church. The residence of Cephas
Tuthill, like that of his brothers, became a center of intelligence
and unstinted hospitality and was known as such by all who resided in or
passed through that part of the country. The late Mrs. Dr. Loren Whiting,
of Chester, Vt., who died at the age of 92; Mrs. Susan Burton, of
Manchester, Vt., Mrs. Deborah Shearer, of Lansing, Mich.; Mrs.
Dametta P. Tuthill, of DuQuoin, Ill.; Mrs. Laura Fairchild, of
Mariette, Wis.; Mrs. Orilla Nicholas, of Richmond, Va., the later
four still living at the ages, respectively of 90, 88, 83, and 78, and Mrs.
Caroline Nicholas of Buckingham County, Va., were sisters of Mrs.
Tuthill. Her three brothers—Dr. Miles Bigelow, of Michigan; Dr.
Orlando Bigelow, of Illinois, and Dr. Asa Bigelow, of
Ohio—were during their lives well known and respected members of the medical
profession.
Another fine monument is for
the grave of Mr. Herman Schmetzstorff, standing 7 1/2 feet high, made
of the Blue marble. Mr. Kurzdorfer deserves great credit for the
energy displayed in his business and richly deserves the liberal patronage
of our people here at his home for his work compares favorably with the work
turned out anywhere and those who go elsewhere for their work only go
farther to fare worse.
Mrs. Charles Hunze,
head bookkeeper at Planters Mills at Cape Girardeau committed suicide last
Sunday by hanging. He attempted to kill himself with chloroform a few days
ago and had been almost constantly watched, but slipped out of the house and
in a few minutes was found dead.
Mr. George B. Young,
of Golconda, died last week from the effects of an overdose of chloral. He
was troubled with insomnia and took opiates for the purpose of inducing
sleep but without effect. Finally he took a very large dose of chloral and
it brought on the sleep which knows no waking. Everything was done, which
could be done, to neutralize the effect of the drug as soon as it was known
that his condition was dangerous, but all without avail. He died in about
twenty-four hours from the time of taking the medicine.
The sudden death of Hon.
Logan H. Roots at Little Rock Tuesday was a surprise and a shock to
all his friends in Southern Illinois. Mr. Roots was a son of the
late B. G. Roots, of Tamaroa, Ill. He was born and reared in
Illinois, went into the army from Illinois and was in all respects a son of
Illinois. He has lived in Little Rock since the war where he acquired a
competence of this world’s goods and attained a name and reputation among
the most prominent citizens of the City of Roses. Once more under strong and vigorous protest the large number of witnesses in the Shelby-Moore murder case are trying to get in shape to appear in Bardwell on the first Monday in June. The people are not only disgusted at the shameful bickering and shystering that has appeared from time to time in the case, but are indignant that they should be made to appear when there is no disposition to dispose of the case. They claim that it is simply ruinous to them.—Yeoman.
Until our friends across the
river have more evidence than they have ever had heretofore they should let
this matter rest. We have had a very full conversation with a man who
probably know as much about the matter as any man living except the murderer
himself, and he believes that Shelby’s innocent. One of them has
already been murdered by a mob and the matter should now rest until positive
evidence is discovered.,
Thursday, 15 Jun 1893:
Circuit court has been in
session during the past two weeks with Judge Roberts upon the bench.
A celebrated case was tried last week and a verdict tendered last Friday
morning. This was the case of James W. Jones v. James M.
Browning, both of Simpson, Ill. They were both formerly merchants
and both had families living side by side in Simpson. Browning
became infatuated with Jones’ wife and finally his attentions became
so marked that the suspicions of the neighbors were aroused. Last December
they eloped, Browning leaving his wife and children and Mrs. Jones
leaving her husband and children. In about a week Browning’s clerk
at Simpson received a dispatch from Browning in Oklahoma stating that
Mrs. Jones was dead; that her body would be sent back and giving
directions how and where it should be buried. Jones went to St.
Louis and met the body of his wife, but saw nothing of Browning.
Browning was there, however, and got a glimpse of Jones and
carefully kept out of the way. Mrs. Jones was fooling with a pistol
in a hotel in Oklahoma and either accidentally or intentionally shot
herself. Browning soon returned to his family, however and again
lived with his own wife. Mr. Jones brought suit against Browning
in case for crim con in the sum of five thousand dollars. The case was
called for trial last week Tuesday and a verdict was reached Friday
morning. The jury awarded Mr. Jones damages in the amount of two
thousand dollars. Every possible effort was made by the defense to be
smirch the character both of Mrs. Jones, the woman whom Browning
professed to do deeply love and of Jones, the man whom Browning
had so terribly wronged. The prosecution was conducted by Hon. W. S.
Morris, of Golconda, J. F. McCartney, of Metropolis, and
Whitnell & Gillespie of Vienna. The defense was conducted by
Judge Youngblood, of Carbondale, Judge Duncan of Marion and
Spann & Sheridan of Vienna. The attorneys for the defense talk
of carrying the case up to a higher court if they fail to get a new trial.
But we don’t think they will do it. They should remember that if the law
fails to afford Mr. Jones a complete and adequate remedy, the
community will fully justify Mr. Jones in taking satisfaction with
its own hand. Let the law afford the remedy. Mr. Jones had been
married about two years and had three children—two now living.
One of the prettiest
monuments that we have seen of late has just been completed by Kurzdorfer
& Co., to mark the grave of Mrs. Flora M. Herman, wife of Mr. M. H.
Herman, of this city. The monument will be placed at the grave in
Beech Grove Cemetery today. It consists of three pieces. First a limestone
base, next a carved marble base upon which the name Herman is carved
in raised letters. Above this is a marble shaft about forty inches high and
ten inches square with proper carving at the top. The entire monument is a
little over five feet high. It is made of fine Italian marble, is highly
finished, and while it is plain, it is chaste and ornate. It is a credit to
Kurzdorfer & Co.
Thursday, 29 Jun 1893: Rev. J. S. Manning died in this city last Sunday morning about four o’clock after an illness of four days. Mr. Manning was eighty years of age on the third day of last April. He was born in Washington County, New York, near Whitehall. He was a very devoted minister of the gospel, connected with the Free Will Baptists and had labored in Pennsylvania and Michigan. Immediately after the close of the war the Free Will Baptist Home Missionary Society commenced missionary work among the Freedmen, and Mr. Manning was placed in charge of the work. They established a school in Cairo and placed Mr. P. C. Tolford in charge. Mr. Tolford will be kindly remembered by a great many of our people. Local churches were organized, encouraged and assisted by the Missionary Society. A large number of churches was thus organized in the vicinity. Mr. Manning lived at Hillsdale, Michigan, but had a general oversight of the churches here and spent considerable time with them. As the years rolled by he was made conscious that his work was drawing to a close and a younger man was installed in his place. But he was not adapted to his work and left it. Mr. Manning then assumed the burden again to the extent of his ability. He came to Cairo some two or three weeks ago for the purpose of establishing a Collegiate Institute for the colored people. The work of securing a charter under out general laws was in progress. The general plan was to locate the institute at Olmstead. Last Wednesday morning quite early he had a very severe attack of cholera morbus. He was stopping at the house of Mr. Randall Williams, 1110 Walnut St. A physician was called and everything done that could be done for him. His age was against him. He was quite infirm and felt that heat severely. Nothing could stay the progress of his disease. On Saturday his friends became alarmed and telegraphed his aged wife at Hillsdale, Mich. She started by first train hoping to see him alive. He died about four o’clock Sunday morning and his wife arrived at one o’clock a.m. Monday morning. She is an old lady seventy-one years of age. She came alone. She would not have come herself but she fondly hoped to find him alive. The body had been embalmed and looked very natural. She left with the mortal remains of her aged husband and companion with whom she had lived for more than forty-nine years Monday evening for her home in Michigan. She seemed Monday to endure the journey and her severe trial with very great fortitude. They have three grown children all settled in life. One daughter, in Hillsdale, Mich., and a son and a daughter in Denver, Col. A prophet has been translated but upon whose shoulders shall his mantle fall?
Of the project for a
Collegiate Institute we cannot now speak. We hope that other hands will
take it up and carry it on to complete success.
Kurzdorfer
& Co., are making a monument to mark the grave of Officer Henry Dunker,
who lost his life in the performance of his duty last September. The
monument will be eight feet high and made of New York granite. It will be
completed in ninety days. Over 65,000 persons, men, women and children were employed in building the White City, as the Expositions building are called. At the busiest time during the construction period, 32,000 mechanics, carpenters, painters, riggers, roofers, iron works and other artisans were at work every day.
During the entire building
period prior to May 1st 38 persons were accidentally killed. Since May 1st
8 persons have been accidentally killed and two died from natural causes,
making only forty-one persons all told to date who have lost their lives by
accident in this enormous work. The Grand Jury finished their work at Decatur last Thursday and wished to be discharged, but the judge refused to discharge them because they had failed to find ills of indictment against the parties who lynched the negro Sam Bush. Twenty of the twenty-three members of the grand jury had voted to ____.
Judge said to them:
“Remember that the Macon County Circuit Court is not a plaything, and that
it is your sworn duty to find bills against the parties whom committed the
murder in this county.”
(Her marker in Cobden
Cemetery reads: Ellen Kelso Lewis Born Nov. 29, 1821 Died June 6,
1893.—Darrel Dexter) Walker Wilkerson, one of the most prominent and well-to-do colored citizens of Cairo, died at his home at Fourteenth and Commercial Sunday morning at 10 o’clock. He had been in poor health for several months, but the immediate cause of his death was dysentery, and for two weeks past he has been under the care of physicians. Dr. Holly was first called in and later Drs. Rendleman and Grinstead were called in consultation, but their efforts to save his life were futile. Walker Wilkerson was born in New Castle, Ky. He came to Cairo in January 1874, and has remained here ever since. He acquitted considerable property during his seventeen years residence among which are over forty city lots and thirteen rented houses. The deceased was fifty years old. He was a member of the Ionic Masonic lodge, and the Fireman’s Union and a trustee of the A. M. E. church. He leaves a wife and five grandchildren, besides one sister who came to his bedside from her home in Louisville, Ky., and three brothers, two of whom live in Louisville and the other in Danville, Ky.
The funeral was held Tuesday
under the direction of the ledge and the remains were interred at Villa
Ridge. Ballard County, Ky., was the scene of a terrible crime yesterday morning about nine o’clock. Two daughters of John Ray, living on the Illinois Central railroad three miles below Wickliffe, aged 17 and 10 years were out picking blackberries at short distance from the house when they were assaulted and murdered. Their mother made the discovery soon aft the dreadful crime was committed and summoned help, and soon the country was up in arms searching for the perpetrator. The news was sent out in all directions and bloodhounds were secured, and if the fiend is caught he will be speedily lynched. Who he is and what his motives were are questions yet to be determined.
The Mobile & Ohio train this
noon brought the news that a man who is supposed to be the one wanted had
escaped across the river into Missouri yesterday afternoon and that a posse
with bloodhounds were hard on his trail.
Died at his home in Elco
Precinct this county on the evening of July 4th, Mr. Mark Provo. Mr.
Provo was one of the oldest citizens of the county. He died, as we
understand, or paralysis. We have not been able to learn very much
concerning his last illness and death. The terrible tragedy of last Wednesday, when Mary and Ruby Ray met their death at the hands of a murderer and ravisher, had its sequel in equally as terrible an event which occurred at Bardwell last Friday afternoon when a negro accused of the crime but not proven guilty, was hung and his body maltreated and burned by an enraged mob. Last week we told the story of how John W. Ray, living four miles below Wickliffe, Ky., lost his two daughters, Mary and Ruby, aged 18 and 9 years respectively, how their dead bodies were found in a blackberry patch only a short distance from the house, and how the discovery was made that the oldest daughter had been ravished. Search was immediately made for the perpetrator of the deed, the whole county assisting, and at last a trial was struck which lead across the river into Missouri. This was followed and telegrams were sent ahead and as a result a suspicious negro was arrested at Sikeston, Mo. The only grounds for connecting him with the crime were that he had a bloody razor and his clothing was bloody. A party of Kentuckians went after him, and he was brought to Bird’s Point by a special train, arriving there about three o’clock Friday morning. He was then taken to Wickliffe on the ferryboat Three States, where he arrived about five o’clock. He was closely guarded by a number of armed men, beside being handcuffed and chained.
At Wickliffe the party went
to the courthouse and subjected him to a thorough examination. He said his
name was Seay J. Miller and that his home was at No. 716 North Second
Street, Springfield, Ill., where his wife lived. This was afterward shown
to be correct. He said he left Springfield Saturday morning, July 1st,
arriving at Alton that evening; that he went to St. Louis the next day,
thence to Jefferson Barracks, then down the Iron Mountain road to Bismarck,
Piedmont, and Poplar Bluff, Mo., Hoxie and Jonesboro, Ark., and back to
Bird’s Point and Charleston and to Sikeston, where he was arrested. The
story that his clothes were bloody is claimed by some to be true and denied
by others. So is in fact almost every circumstance against him. The
condition of affairs made the Wickliffe people very much in doubt and they
decided to take him to Bardwell, the county seat of the county (Carlisle)
where the crime was committed, and again subject him to a thorough
examination.
Miller
was taken back to jail, and every effort was made to make him confess, but
he again and again protested his innocence. Chief Mahoney of this
city was closeted with him a long time but could get no confession.
Finally, when the hour named arrived the mob came to the jail, forcibly took
the negro, stripped him of his clothing, and took him to one of the
principal streets of Bardwell.
But after it is all over the
questions still remains unanswered, was Miller guilty? If he was,
the evidence was not conclusive enough to prove it, and he should have been
given the benefit of the doubt. If he was innocent, the fact that he could
not tell a straight story proved fatal for him and in his death a terrible
crime has been committed, equally as terrible as the one of which he was
accused.
Jacob Walter, the
Eighth Street butcher, died in a hospital at St. Louis Tuesday evening of
dropsy. The deceased left considerable property. Besides his Eighth Street property, he owned about forty town lots and a number of houses, also an 80-acre farm in the county. None of this is encumbered, and is valued at $30,000 to $40,000.
(Jacob Walter married
Wilhelmina Lemm on 30 Nov 1868, in Alexander Co., Ill.—Darrel
Dexter) The laws of this country are not made and imposed upon us by a tyrant or a czar. We the people make and unmake our own laws and there can consequently be no excuse for ignoring them. Laws are made or supposed to be made, to fix and punish every crime. The lynching at Bardwell last Friday cannot be justified in any aspect of the case. A most foul crime had been committed, but who committed it? That is the question. Seay J. Miller was caught as a suspect and ignominious\sly hanged and then his body was mutilated and burned. It would not be strange if the real murderer of the Ray girls was one of those most clamorous for the lynching of Miller. This man Seay J. Miller may have been the murderer, but there is no proof of it, whatever, and consequently the lynching was a murder most foul. If Miller had been a citizen of Great Britain instead of the proud state of Illinois, the matter would not rest an instant. Reparation and the punishment of the lynchers would be demanded of the United States government, and reparation would be made. There is a weak point in our government in such cases, as was demonstrated in the cases of the Mafia in New Orleans. But one thing is certain. It is high time that such lawlessness was stopped and we are certain that the state of Illinois can find a way to stop the murder of her citizens by mobs in any state and anywhere.
When the murderer of the
Ray girls is found and his guilt established beyond a reasonable doubt,
the laws of Kentucky provide a proper penalty. Let the law prevail.
(Jerome D. Hileman
married Helena J. Lingle on 9 Jan 1877, in Union Co., Ill.—Darrel
Dexter)
(S. O. field married
Flora B. Tarr on 16 Oct 1888, in Pulaski Co., Ill.—Darrel Dexter)
A bad cutting affray
occurred on the farm of Caleb Miller, near Jonesboro, last Saturday
afternoon, and as a result Henry Hammock, a farm hand is very
seriously and perhaps fatally wounded and Harry Moss is being held to
await the result of Hammock’s injuries. Hard feelings have been
entertained by Miller and Moss against each other and
Saturday, when Moss and Robert McGahey, two Anna boys, drove
out to Miller’s place, where he was threshing wheat the latter
ordered them off. A fight ensued between Miller and Moss, and
Hammock came to the rescue of his employer. Moss then drew a
knife and cut him a number of times inflicting serious wounds. Miller
then drove the young man off his place, but not before he too had received a
cut across the forehead. The young men then made their escape driving to
Cairo, where he was arrested Monday afternoon. Another old soldier has answered the last roll call. Mr. Charles K. Slack died at his home in this city about 9 o’clock Tuesday night, from the effects of a cancer in the throat. He had been in his usual health and engaged in his customary business until within about one month. But the disease was gnawing at his vitals and he succumbed very quickly at last. Mr. Slack is a son of Mrs. Rachel K. Slack, who until quite recently occupied a position at the hospital at Anna. He was a native of Pennsylvania, and was 51 years of age. At the outbreak of the war he enlisted at Pana, Ill., as a private in Co. G, Fifth Ill., Cavalry. On the first of January, 1864, he re-enlisted as a veteran and in October 1865, he was commissioned as captain of Co. B, of the same regiment. He was mustered out of the service October 27th, 1865. Early in 1866 he came to Cairo and took a position in the Vulcan Iron Works of Mrs. John T. Rennie, and was soon made foreman of the establishment. In January 1867, he married Miss Ella M. Rennie, the oldest daughter of his employer. He held his position as superintendent of the growing business of Mr. Rennie until his death. He leaves a widow and two daughters Miss Maggie R. Slack and Mrs. Orpha M. Downey, wife of L. S. Downey. He was a member of Alexander Lodge I. O. O. F. The funeral occurs this afternoon, Rev. C. T. Phillips officiating. Burial at Villa Ridge. Mr. Slack was a good citizen, respected by all who knew him. He has been snatched away at the age of only 51 years. To his family, his death is an irreparable loss. May the kind Father sustain and comfort he fatherless and the widow in their sorrow and bereavement.
(Charles K. Slack
married Ellen M. Rennie on 3 Jan 1867, in Alexander Co., Ill.—Darrel
Dexter) METROPOLIS, ILL., July 24.—Never before have the citizens of this city been called upon to witness the result of such hellish designs and atrocious acts as were perpetrated by one W. R. Shoemaker last Friday evening as the shadows were gathering, apparently as if to cover up the dark and heinous tragedy just presented to a horrified people. Shoemaker, upon whose hands and soul rest the blood of not only two other fellow creatures, but that of his own, seemed to be a man of ill-fated illusive character, not a debauch, but severely lacking in the various attributes of a worthy citizen. Fifteen years ago, or more, he came to Metropolis, wooed and wed the widow Basil Jones, a most estimable lady with two bright little daughter, and a handsome legacy left her by her former husband. Shoemaker secured the guardianship for the two little girls. Years rolled by and the diminution of the valuable estate left in his keeping was the subject of severe criticism by all acquainted and interested in the family. By whatever process of law, the estate dwindled to nothing, and it seems that the day of reckoning was near at hand. In the meantime one of the girls, Miss Lillian Jones, had married Mr. W. R. Lukens, Jr., a young man of exemplary habits and a mechanic of recognized skill. Shoemaker entered a protest against the union of his stepdaughter and Lukens, but it was consummated, however, and Shoemaker’s aversion for his step-son-in-law grew into hatred and disdain; and when he conceived the idea that Mr. Lukens was interesting himself in behalf of his wife’s property which he (Shoemaker) had disposed of, his wrath became transformed into a murderous and suicidal intents. The sequel to the foregoing fell like a pall over the community last Friday evening. Shoemaker secured the loan of two revolvers, repaired to the neighborhood of his step-son-in-law, W. R. Lukens, and when the Lukens brothers came home he approached three residence, entered the yard and shot his son-in-law (who had his few months old babe in his arms) off the front door step, set the child to one side on the grass and shot his victim again though the head; just at this time the elder brother, George A. Lukens appeared on the scene and Shoemaker opened fire on him. They grappled and Mr. Lukens had the assassin by the throat and Mrs. Lukens the wife of the man he had just murdered, had hold of him also, but Shoemaker managed to get the use of one hand and shot Lukens through the body. The latter weakened, loosed his hold and his determined murderer sent another bullet crashing though his brain. Shoemaker thereafter set upon the father of the Lukens brothers, fired three shots at him and the old gentleman fell. Shoemaker thought he had killed him no doubt and left him, but fortunately the old gentleman received buy a very slight wound. He also fired on shot at his stepdaughter but missed his aim. Shoemaker then left he premises at a rapid rate, but when about two squares away from the place where he committed the awful crime, he discovered that he was headed off., that his cartridges were nearly all gone and that his capture was inevitable so he ended the tragedy by deliberately shooting himself, the ball entering the bowels about the navel and passing through the spinal column. Among all the scenes that have come under the observation of the writer for these nearly 50 years, there were none more heart trending than the sad ordeal through which the poor widows and little orphans of the murdered men passed last Friday night. Shoemaker leaves a wife and two little girls to mourn his unwarrantable end. His funeral took place last Saturday afternoon. The Lukens brothers’ funeral took place last Sunday at 2 o’clock p.m., and was attended by the largest procession of mourners and sympathizing friends ever before witnessed in this city.
(J. R. Lukins married
Lillian Jones on 9 Apr 1890, in Massac Co., Ill.—Darrel Dexter)
Nearly the last vestige of
the historic old building once owned and occupied by the renowned Indian
chief of DuQuoin has disappeared, carried away by the Mississippi River.
Nothing now remains but a torn fragment of the study old stonewalls that
have withstood the elements for nearly a century and a half. The last
descendant of this celebrated Indian chief was a woman named Frances
DuQuoin, who died at Kaskaskia, November 9th, 1848. The church records
states that this woman was the last representative of the tribe of Illinois
Indians. Her remains now occupy a place in the new cemetery. The last
owner and occupant of the place is Mrs. Catherine Kleinberg, who has
lived in it since 1870. A picture of this old home is on exhibition in the
Kaskaskia exhibit at the World’s Fair.
Mrs. R. W. Townshend
died at the residence of her daughter in Springfield, Mass., a few days
ago. Mrs. Townshend was the widow of the late Congressman
Townshend, who long and ably represented the 19th District of Illinois
in Congress. Their home was in Shawneetown. The feud at Simpson between the friends of Browning and J. M. Jones respectively seems to be kept very much alive. Browning first debauched Jones’ wife then ran away to Oklahoma with her, the sent back her dead body for burial at her old home. She was probably killed by accident. He then returned. Jones sued him and recovered judgment for $2,000. In the trial Browning did everything in his power to besmirch the character of Mrs. Jones and Jones himself.
Recently a man named Henry
Seibert who had been a very active witness against Jones in
trial, shot him. The wound was believed at the time to be fatal but
fortunately, Mr. Jones seems to be recovering. It is a long lane
that has no turning, and we sincerely hope that in Browning’s case a
turn may soon be reached.
Thursday, 10 Aug 1893:
Mr. T. J. Moss the
man who has done more business in railroad ties in Southern Illinois and
Southeast Missouri during the past seven years than any other ten men died
last Thursday night. He was only 41 years of age and died as we understand
from the effects of a surgical operation. His contracts involved millions
of dollars and gave employment to thousands of men. The death of such a man
is a public calamity.
Mrs. F. M. Williamson,
living on Twenty-seventh Street, died very suddenly last Monday evening, of
apoplexy. She leaves a husband, who is a mechanic, and two small children.
(His marker in I. O. O. F.
Cemetery at Dongola reads: Fred Ong passed Aug. 4, 1893. After
night, eternal morn.—Darrel Dexter)
Thursday, 17 Aug 1893: Died, Aug. 10, 1893, at the family residence in Villa Ridge, after a long and painful illness, Miss Maud Miller. The death of Miss Miller is an uncommon loss and has produced uncommon grief in a wide circle. She was devotedly loved by her relatives and more intimate friends, and her sterling character could not but be admired by all who knew her. Her ideas of life were exalted and to equip herself for usefulness as well as to gratify her own ardent taste in that direction, she had eagerly sought and attained proficiency as a teacher of music, having recently received a teacher’s certificate from the Chicago Musical College. But Miss Miller had yet a higher and purer ambition, and that was to develop her own personal Christian character. A member of the Villa Ridge Congregational Church and a devout Christian, she felt that the ideal of the Christian should be to conform the whole life to the spirit of Christ; and that she sought for wisdom at the unfailing source her well-marked Bible clearly shows. Her triumph in the hours of death was complete. She was anxious to go, for eternal joy was near at hand. After an affectionate farewell to her dear mother, a dying blessing on her only and much-loved brother, and a loving kiss to each of the dear ones who stood around, she greeted death with a smile and passed out of the fond circle. On the following day the remains were taken to the Congregational church where Rev. J. B. Green of Dongola preached a funeral discourse, after which the remains were laid to rest in the Villa Ridge Cemetery.
“Asleep in Jesus blessed
sleep.” Mr. John Britton, of Pulaski, Illinois, died last Wednesday morning and was buried at Villa Ridge Thursday. Mr. Britton was born in Barnstable, England, in 1820. He came to America in 1851 and settled in Knox Co., Ohio. In 1854 he married Miss Harriett Beeney. He moved to Effingham Co., Ill., in 1862 and to Pulaski County in 1883. He was the father of eight children seven of whom survive him. The funeral was conducted by Rev. Elligood of the Methodist church.
(His marker in Cairo City
Cemetery at Villa Ridge reads: John Britton Born July 2, 1826 Died
Aug. 9, 1893.—Darrel Dexter)
A very unpleasant affair
occurred near Shiloh Church west of Villa Ridge last Sunday in which a young
man named Phillip Holman was shot and killed by Lieut. J. F.
Parker, acting in self defense. One night last week we are informed that there was trouble at the house of a neighbor and Mrs. Parker was requested to go up there to preserve the peace. He objected but finally he and his wife both went. There were two or three young men there evidently under the influence of liquor and among them was Phillip Holman. They were very disorderly and Parker admonished them. Afterward he met Holman who was very insulting and abusive. Holman charged him with interfering with other people’s business and made threats. On Sunday the Baptist Association was holding its annual meeting at Shiloh Church. There was to be a basket dinner on the grounds near the church.
Mr. Parker and his
family drove over to the church a little before noon, taking well-filled
baskets. They went aside where Parker thinks they fortified with a drink of whisky. Then they came back and Holman borrowed a long bladed knife from his companion. He approached the wagon knife in hand and with curses and abuse attempted to reach Parker, but Parker easily parried every move with his pistol. The fellow could not get close enough to close in for a death blow. After making two or three attempts to reach Parker from the ground he went to the rear of the wagon and attempted to climb in. Parker knew that if he got into the agony it meant a struggle for life. He then fired, the ball entering Holman’s head and he fell. He fired again and the ball hit his arm. Holman died in a few minutes. There were many witnesses present who saw the whole affair. A coroner’s jury was empanelled and an investigation made. It was shown to be a clear case of self-defense and Parker was not arrested.
A prominent member of Shiloh
Church on hearing that Holman was dead said it was the best thing
that ever happened to the church, as Holman was at the time under
indictment for throwing a dog through the window. It was an affair very
much to be regretted but apparently unavoidable.
METROPOLIS, ILL., Aug. 13,
1893 The writer feels loath to conclude without saying a word of commendation of the services of Deputy Sheriff J. W. Evers. Only for his acute watchfulness and alertness, perhaps this criminal would never have been brought to justice. He merits all that an appreciative community can bestow on him. He is always zealous in the work set before him, and it becomes all law-abiding citizens to encourage and assist in the enforcement of the laws for the better government of our people. The writer heretofore was of the opinion that the perfidity of man was unparalleled in all that debases a human creature, but an instance of unwonted cruelty and debauchery presented itself to Metropolis public last Thursday morning which evidenced the fact that there is no depth to the meanness of human beings, male and female, when they seek a level with harlots and libertines. Hell with its outer darkness its lake of fire and brimstone and all its other concomitants can hardly mete out a sufficient punishment for some live devils, who infest this mundane sphere.
At Thursday morning about 10
o’clock a Mr. Maddox, an employee at the stave factory, pulled a
little babe out of the Ohio River. It was a white male child wrapped in an
old blouse and apron. The apron strings had been doubled around its neck
and drawn and tied in such a hard knot that its head was almost severed from
its shoulders when found. Moreover one side of its head and face was
crushed in, developing the fact that it had received a blow with something
by an unmerciful hand. The conclusion arrived at was that it was placed in
the river the night before, soon as it was born, and killed. It was a
well-developed child, but there was proof positive that it received no care
after its birth. The inquest was held by Police Magistrate Thomas
Leggett, and the babe was interred in what is known as the “Kid
graveyard.”
(J. J. Moyers married
Mary H. Spence on 3 May 1891, in Pulaski Co., Ill. A marker in
German Reformed Cemetery at Wetaug reads: Francis Orman son of J. J. & Mary
H. Moyers Born Mar. 30, 1892 Died Aug. 18, 1893 Aged 1 Year, 4 Mos.,
& 18 Ds.—Darrel Dexter)
(George Steinhousen
married Rosa Gerst on 4 Feb 1864, in Alexander Co., Ill. His marker
in Calvary Cemetery at Villa Ridge reads: J. George Steinhouse
1838-1893 Father.—Darrel Dexter) Mrs. Deborah Ruth McRaven, wife of Dr. P. H. McRaven, of Wheatland, died last week Wednesday and was buried Thursday. We received the announcement of her death last Thursday after we had gone to press. Mrs. McRaven had been ill for some six or eight weeks with something like dysentery. On the 10th day of August she gave birth to a little daughter. From that time forward she was much worse, the disease assuming the form of enteritis with complications involving the liver. She died from exhaustion. Mrs. McRaven was born at Thebes in this county Sept. 16th, 1857, and was consequently in her 36th year. She was the daughter of William Bracken, one of the old pioneers of the county. He was a minister of the gospel and strongly attached to the Baptist church. Deborah Ruth Bracken married Dr. P. H. McRaven March 30th 1879. She leaves her husband and four small children, the youngest only thirteen days old at the time of its mother’s death. For the doctor and the little one it is a sad bereavement and they will receive the sincere sympathy of friends everywhere.
(Patrick McRaven
married Debbie R. Bracken on 30 Mar 1879, in Alexander Co.,
Ill.—Darrel Dexter)
Died, Monday Sept. 4th, at
his home near Wheatland, Mr. Samuel Clutts, of pneumonia, aged 78
years. Mr. Clutts was one of the oldest citizens of Alexander County
and commanded the highest respect for his personal worth and high character
from all who knew him. He was a member of the Methodist Church and lived
and died a sincere Christian. He was ill about one week.
We are pained to learn
that Mr. S. A. Warde died Aug. 23rd at Loretta, Penn., of
heart trouble. A great many people in and around Wetaug will remember young
Silvia kindly. He was a nephew we believe of Capt. W. A. Hight and
lived in his family for several years. He returned to Pittsburg a few years
ago and now we learn that he is dead. He was a young man of excellent
character and habits and was respected and beloved wherever he was known.
Of Clarence we wish to
say:
For earth too fair,
To blossom there. Col. John Wood died at the residence of his son, John H. Wood, in Chicago, at 9:20 Tuesday morning of pneumonia, aged 60 years. Col. Wood left Cairo in his usual health Saturday afternoon, Sept. 2nd, for Chicago, where he arrived the next morning. His three oldest children reside there and Mrs. Wood had been there some weeks. After spending Sunday in Chicago, he went down to Indianapolis Monday, Sept. 4th, to attend the National Encampment of the G. A. R. He participated in the exercises there and did not return to Chicago until Thursday. He took a severe cold on this return journey and had a slight chill after arriving in Chicago, but nothing serious was anticipated. But the grip of the fell destroyer was not to be shaken off. On Sunday his condition became alarming, and the children in Cairo were informed of the facts. The suspense from Sunday to Tuesday morning, while life seemed poised in the balance, was terrible. Meanwhile that dreadful disease, pneumonia, was doing its fatal work upon his lungs. Finally at 9:20 Tuesday morning death claimed its victim. All that science and skill could do, was done, but without avail. On Tuesday night Mrs. Wood with her sons John H. and Campbell and her daughter, Lizzie, and her daughter in -law, Mrs. John H. Wood, started on their sad journey to Cairo bringing the remains of the husband and father, whose voice is not hushed forever and who has entered upon that sleep that know no waking. Col. John Wood was born in Scotland January 8th, 1833. He came to the United States in 1850 when seventeen years of age, and located in Milwaukee. There he learned the trade of bricklayer working at the business two years. In 1852 he went to Chicago where he spent ten years as a contractor and builder. Early in 1862 the 65 Regt. Illinois Volunteers, known as the “Scotch Regiment,” was organized at Camp Douglas, near Chicago, by Col. Daniel Cameron, Jr. Col. Wood enlisted in this regiment and was mustered as captain of Co. “A” March 1st, 1862. Before the regiment left the camp he was promoted to the position of major and was muste4ed into the service of the United States as major of the regiment, May 1st, 1862. The regiment was ordered to the field and sent to North Virginia. This regiment was a part of the unfortunate garrison of Harper’s Ferry, which was treacherously and ignominiously surrendered to the enemy as prisoners of war, Sept. 15th, 1862, by Gen. Miles. They were paroled as prisoners of war and sent home until they were exchanged in April 1863.
In May 1864, Col.
Wood resigned his commission and soon afterward came to Cairo where for
the past 29 years he was resided. Here for four years he was a member of
the firm of Rankin & Wood, engaged in mercantile business and
alone in contracting and building. For four years more he pursued the work
of a contract and builder. He was for a time superintendent of the erection
of the Cairo customhouse while the brick and stonework was going up. He was
one of the state commissioners charged with the erection of the first
hospital at Anna and the Normal University at Carbondale. Col. Wood was a man of great force of character who would make himself felt in any community. He was elected mayor of the City of Cairo in 1873, and held the position two years. He has served as alderman form his ward in the city council for a great many terms. He was president of the board of education in the City of Cairo for a year or two. In July 1889 he was appointed postmaster of this city by President Harrison, and still occupied the position at the time of his death. He has been before the people of Cairo in some public capacity almost constantly for the past 25 years and has never failed to command their confidence. Fidelity and efficiency have been his most prominent characteristics in every public position. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church in this city. He leaves a widow and six grown children. His loss will be severely felt in the community and in the church, but to his family it is irreparable. The funeral occurs this afternoon at the family residence and the remains will be interred at Villa Ridge. The funeral will be conducted by Cairo Lodge A. F. & A. M., of which Col. Wood was a member, and of which he had been Master.
(His marker in Cairo
City Cemetery reads: John Wood born Jan. 8, 1833 Died Sept. 12,
1893.—Darrel Dexter) We are pained to chronicle the sudden death of Mr. William Eichhoff. He was engaged last Friday afternoon at this place of business in handling some moulding. He stood upon the top of a stepladder ten feet high and was reaching up to put the moulding in place. In some way he lost his balance and fell to the floor. There was no one present except his little three year-old boy who ran to the house, crying and said that his papa had fallen and almost fell on him. Mr. Eichhoff’s oldest son was in the building and heard the nose made by the fall. He hurried to the spot and found his father lying upon the floor unconscious. He was removed to the house a few steps away and medical aid summoned. A few small bruises were found upon or near the head, but there was no external evidence of severe injury. But he never fully regained consciousness and it seemed that nothing could be done for him. He lingered until late Sunday evening when he died. The funeral was observed Tuesday afternoon, and was participated in Cairo Lodge A. F. & A. M., of which body Mr. Eichhoff was a member. The remains were buried at Villa Ridge. William Eichhoff was born in Westphalia, Prussia, June 19, 1835, and was consequently 58 years of age at the time of his death. He came to the United States with his brother Charles in 1854 and located in Cairo, and worked at his trade of carpenter and cabinetmaker. He went to Dongola in 1856 and made that place his home until 1865, when he returned to Cairo. He established a planing mill on Eighteenth Street, which he operated for a time, but afterwards removed the machinery to a large building, which he erected for a furniture factory at the corner of Seventeenth Street and Washington Avenue. Here he carried on business until his death. He abandoned the manufacture of furniture, however and devoted himself to the business of a furniture dealer, at which he was quite successful. Mr. Eichhoff married three times. He first married Miss Lavina Casper, in Union County. She died April 3rd, 1863, in Dongola. On the 3rd of February, 1870, he married Miss Rachael Fleshman, by whom he had two children, a son and a daughter. His second wife died April 12th, 1873, and his daughter, June 20th, of the same year at the age of only four months. On the sixth day of December, 1885, he married Mrs. Mary Barnes, who is now left a widow with one little boy three years old; these with his son, Walter Ellsworth Eichhoff, now 22 years of age, now constitute the family which is now left to mourn the loss of husband and father.
William Eichhoff
was an enterprising, hard-working man. He had fully his share of life’s
hardships and trials, but he yielded to no adversity and succumbed to no
trial. By his energy and sagacity he surmounted all difficulties. He
acquired a fair competence, which he leaves to his wife and children.
Thursday, 21 Sep 1893:
Died—In this city about 1 o’clock this morning, Mr. Robert H. Baird, of kidney trouble, aged 67 years. Mr. Baird was gone in Philadelphia, June 5, 1826. He learned the trade of ship carpenter and came to Cairo about the year 1840 to work at his trade and remained here. He has consequently resided here about 53 years, and was the oldest male resident of Cairo. Mrs. Miles W. Parker is the only person in the city who has lived here longer than he has. He has occupied positions or responsibility in the city and always with credit to himself. He was at one time owner and master of a steamboat and during the war was in the employ of government, transporting troops and provisions. Of late years he had been engaged in raising and moving houses and was expert at the business. He has been ill many months and at last has succumbed to the fell destroyer. He married Miss Francina Tanner in the autumn of 1858, who now survives him. He leaves three grown children, all settled in life and all doing well. They are Henry Baird, manager of the Western Union Telegraph Co., in this city; Robert Baird, who is employed on one of the transfer steamboats in our harbor; and Mrs. Minnie Baird Carkuff, who was married a few months ago and resides in St. Louis. Mr. Baird was a member of Cairo Lodge A. F. & A. M. and of the Old Settlers Club.
(Ed A. Carkuff
married Minnie Baird on 21 Jun 1893, in Alexander Co., Ill.—Darrel
Dexter)
In our issue of August
17 we gave an account of the arrest of Charles Roberts in Metropolis
by Deputy Sheriff Evers and Marshall Cox for the unprovoked
murder of his 15-year-old wife in Craighead County, Ark. He was taken back
to Arkansas, tried for the murder, found guilty and sentenced to be hanged.
“The way of the transgressor is hard.”
Kena Mitchell,
aged 19 years, committed suicide at the Gibson House Friday morning. It was
a case of unrequited love. She shot herself in the hearth with a 41-caliber
revolver, dying instantly.
The body of a man (or
the bones and clothes of a man) were found Tuesday Oct. 3rd, 1893, by E. N.
Winn and his wife while squirrel hunting in the woods about ¼ mile
from the Sandusky Road and about 300 yards east of the west side of Peter M.
Jones’ farm on the land known as Smith Bros. land in quite a
dense forest. This man is supposed to have died there some 3 or 4 months
ago, as his bones were scattered quite a distance from each other; his
clothes were not soiled very much, but owing to time he’d been there were
scattered; pieces at different places. He had a pocketknife, a money purse,
a brass lined foot rule, also a daybook and a small padlock in his pants and
vest pockets. No coat was found, his hat was a straw hat and was branded or
marked on the inside Herman Hatter Co., Corner, Sixth St., and Commercial
Ave., Cairo, Ill. His hat was by the side of a log and his pocketknife was
under it. The No. of hat was 7 1/8; his shoes were new and were about a No.
8. In his pocket book were found two small locks of hair and a substance
looking like a tooth of some animal petrified, wrapped up in red flannel
cloth, also another piece of mineral wrapped in red flannel. His daybook
was a small memoranda book of Wakefield Medicine Co. In his book was found
the names of A. Gilbert, Harry Purcel, or Harry Rosel,
and Smith or A. Mith; his writing was bad and very difficult
to read. The coroner was summoned to attend and inspect the bones and
clothes of this lost man. He may have been killed and robbed, he may have
dropped dead while passing or he may have been very sick and lay down there
for rest and died there in that lonely spot, no one but God knows. He
seemed to have been a middle-aged man and may have relatives to mourn after
him, who know nothing of his death. On last Tuesday evening, while Mr. Joe Bunch was absent from home, his wife stepped from the house into the garden, leaving their little 4-year-old daughter, Blanche, by the cook stove. During the mother’s absence her clothes became ignited. Her mother on hearing her screams rushed to her rescue, but before the flames could be extinguished she was so badly burned that she died from the effects. Blanche was a sweet little girl, dearly loved by all who knew her. The family have the heartfelt sympathy of the entire community in their sad bereavement.
(Joseph Bunch
married Nellie McRaven on 10 Nov 1887, in Alexander Co., Ill.—Darrel
Dexter) Capt. James Johnson fell and almost immediately expired at the Short Line Depot in Murphysboro at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday afternoon. He was the traveling passenger agent of the Cairo Short Line and Illinois Central R. R. Capt. Johnson was well known by all of our old citizens. He was agent of the Illinois Central R. R. in this city for a great many years during and after the war. He left Cairo probably about the year 1880 and removed to Murphysboro where he engaged in trade. But he was not a merchant; he was a railroad man. His life had been devoted to railroad business and he was too old to change. He soon engaged in business again for the Cairo Short Line and the Illinois Central R. R. His family consisting of a wife and one unmarried daughter now reside in Belleville, and the remains were taken there upon the identical train upon which he intended to go. The remains will be interred at Villa Ridge tomorrow. Mr. M. P. Walsh of this city, married a daughter of Mr. Johnson, but she died some years ago. The family of Mr. Johnson was highly esteemed in Cairo.
(Matthew P. Walsh,
Jr., married Sylvia Johnson on 2 Jun 1874, in Alexander Co., Ill. A
marker in Cairo City Cemetery at Villa Ridge reads: James Johnson
Born Mar. 21, 1826 Died Oct. 3, 1893—Darrel Dexter)
Thursday, 12 Oct 1893: Died, near New Hope, Pulaski County, on Friday, Oct. 6th, Paul A. Lentz, Jr. The deceased was born Nov. 29th, 1877, and was therefore 15 years, 10 months and 7 days old at his death. He leaves one sister and a host of friends who were greatly shocked at his sudden death. He was a consistent Christian, having accepted the faith at the early age of ten years. He has gone to join his father and mother and brothers and sisters who, like himself, remembered their Creator in the days of their youth.
(Jeremiah Luther
Lentz married Julia Emeline Mowery on 27 Apr 1871, in Union Co.,
Ill. Paul’s marker in New Hope Cemetery near Ullin reads: Paul A. son of
J. L. & J. E. Lentz, Born Nov. 29, 1877, Died Oct. 6, 1893, Aged 15
Yrs., 10 Mos., 7 Ds.—Darrel Dexter)
Mr. Louis A. Duckert,
at one time steward of the U. S. Marine Hospital here, was lost in the great
storm on the Gulf Coast last week. Mr. Duckert was stationed at the
quarantine station at Chandaleur Island, off the coast where the storm
struck with all its violence and was attended by a great damage of property
and loss of life. During his residence here Mr. Duckert made many
warm friends.
The funeral of Col.
James Johnson, traveling passenger agent of the Cairo Short Line,
occurred last Friday at Villa Ridge cemetery, the service being conducted by
the Cairo Lodge A. F. & A. M., of which he was a member. Beautiful floral
tributes were numerous, one of the most elaborate coming from the employees
of the Cairo Short Line. A railroad track was represented with an
obstruction in the shape of a cross across it. A passenger coach had
apparently struck this obstruction and had ditched just after it has passed
the 65th milepost. A more appropriate design could not have been conceived.
(Philip Hamer
married Ida Sanders on 25 Dec 1884, in Alexander Co., Ill.—Darrel
Dexter)
(Norwood Cruse
married Hattie Hase on 8 Oct 1891, in Union Co., Ill. A marker in
St. John’s Cemetery is only partially legible and reads: Olive Mary
daughter of N. & H. A. Cruse Born Sept. 1, 1892 Died ____ __,
1893.—Darrel Dexter) Died at his residence in Wetaug, Sunday evening at 4 o’clock, William Brown McCartney, aged 55 years, 10 months and 28 days. His death was not unexpected as he had been suffering from jaundice since early last spring and had during the summer visited the cities of St. Louis and Chicago for treatment and tried every known remedy without relief. His disease was no doubt caused by the breaking down of the nervous system, the sequel of a life of incessant physical and mental labor. Life departing as a lamp goes out when the oil in the retainer is exhausted. He was conscious up to the last moment and spoke of the happy reunion in store for him with the dear wife and little children already gone before. The remains were interred in the Wetaug Cemetery Tuesday at 2 o’clock p.m. The funeral obsequies were conducted by the Rev. R. W. Purdie of the Congregational Church, of which he was a consistent member, and by the Douglas lodge, I. O. O. F., he being a brother of a lodge at Michigan City, Ind. W. B. McCartney was the son of John and Jean McCartney and was reared by his parents on a farm in Trumbull Co., Ohio, until he was 16 years of age, when he entered as an apprentice to a carriage maker and became a good mechanic. He was married in Richland Co., Ohio, April 14th, 1859, to Julia A. Henry, who died early last spring. Their union was a happy one and was blessed by five children, four of whom survive, two sons and two daughters. Most of his life was spent in Ohio, New York and Michigan City, Ind. After leaving Indiana he purchased a body of land at Ness City, Kan., and lived there a couple of years. In the year 1889 he purchased from W. A. Hight the flouring mill here and put in new machinery, remodeled it and has since been extensively engaged in the manufacture of flour and meal, the products having under his management acquired quite a reputation and the sales are large and increasing. He has had charge of large business enterprises and has given employment to a vast number of men and has been a public benefactor in many ways. His life was a busy, active one. He was full of energy and grit, firm in his convictions of what he considered right and just. It may be said of him that he was charitable to a fault, tender hearted as a child and the better you knew him the more you esteemed hand respected him. He was a brother of Capt. J. F. and Judge R. W. McCartney, of Metropolis, well known to a great many readers of The Citizen.
(His marker in German
Reformed Cemetery at Wetaug reads: William B. McCartney Born Nov.
17, 1839 Died Oct. 15, 1893 Aged 55 Yrs., 10 Mos., & 28 Ds.—Darrel Dexter) Last Sunday evening, Dr. G. W. Shivell, of Wickliffe, was taken suddenly ill. He lay down and almost immediately expired. He had ordered his horse and buggy to be brought to the door and was going out to reside with his children and while waiting for the horse, was stricken down as stated above. He had been in his usual health. Dr. Shivell was one of the most prominent citizens of Wickliffe, having lived there for many years, coming from Hinkleville, soon after the county seat was established at Wickliffe.
He was a regular
physician but had abandoned the practice of medicine and devoted his
attention wholly to trade, which included the drug business and other lines
of merchandise. He leaves a widow and three children.
Tom Fields,
colored man who was until recently cook at the Marine hospital, died very
suddenly Tuesday evening. He had been in poor health and a Dr. Black,
a colored “quack” doctor, was treating him. Tuesday evening Fields
ate supper and took a dose of medicine and died almost immediately. It is
supposed the medicine was the primary cause and so “Dr.” Black was
indicted for murder and locked up.
Reese Kenrock, a
grandson of Mr. G. W. Kenrick, of Charleston, Mo., died in the St.
Mary’s Infirmary, this city, last Friday afternoon, of typhoid fever.
Funeral services were held Sunday, at his home in Charleston. A short history of the life of Capt. Dick Fowler by his long time friend, Capt. Ben F. Egan is not inappropriate now on account of the suicide of his son-in-law Capt. Spencer Berryman. Capt. D. C. Fowler, owner of the Pat Claybourn, who was killed by the explosion of that boat’s boilers, was born in Princeton, Ky., educated at the Kentucky Military Institute and began his business life in 1854 as manager of the wharf bat owned by Watts, Given & Co., at Paducah. In 1855 he engaged in business at Cairo, with E. Norton as wharfboatmen and agents of the Illinois Central railroad. His first wife was Miss Lucy Betty, the most accomplished and beautiful young woman of southern Kentucky. By this marriage was the father of only one child, a daughter, now the wife of D. A. Given, Jr. His second wife, the sister of J. D. Porter, the present governor of the state of Tennessee died in 1874. During his life, Capt. Fowler was prominently identified with the steamboat interest. In 1856 he purchased for the Evansville and Paducah packet trade, the Silver Star and Dunbar. In 1857 he bought the Blanche Lewis, for a Nashville and Paducah packet, and in the same year he purchased the Alida, the day after she was sunk by the Fashion, raised her, repaired her and introduced her into the Tennessee River. Within the last few years he commanded the several steamers, James Fisk Jr., B. H. Cooke, Idlewild, and Pat Cleburne. He was a most devoted friends of the south, and, as a captain in her ordinance department, took an active part in the late war. Under his direction the ram Tennessee was built at LaFayette, La., which would have been the most powerful war vessel ever used in the Confederate service. Before this gunboat was finished and ready for action she was destroyed by the Confederate army the night previous to the evacuation of New Orleans.
After the war was over
he returned to his old home in Paducah, and for several years represented
railroad as their contracting agent, but finally drifted back to river
life. Manly, generous, impulsive and brave, he was a model representative
of a southern steamboatman. He snatched a joy with eagerness wherever it
could be found, and careless of the future, was borne lightly on the wave of
life, with no hope of fortune but through his own exertions. His name, on
the banks of the lower Ohio, was a familiar household word, and myriads of
friends will long continue to bless the name of Dickson Given Fowler.
(Cyrus M. Tripp
married Samantha Tripp on 28 Apr 1867, in Union Co., Ill. Her marker
in Cobden Cemetery reads: Samantha wife of C. M. Tripp Born June 13,
1845 Died Oct. 13, 1893.—Darrel Dexter)
(Henry Casper
married Eliza Rich on 8 Mar 1838, in Union Co., Ill. His marker in
John Rich Cemetery reads: Henry Casper Born March 6, 1815, Died Oct.
15, 1893.—Darrel Dexter)
(John Rhymer
married Mrs. Margaret Heddinger on 20 Oct 1868, in Union Co., Ill.
David Hileman married Sarah Heddinger on 6 Jan 1870, in Union
Co., Ill. A marker in Mt. Pisgah Cemetery near Wetaug reads: Margaret wife
of John Rhymer Born Feb. 2, 1830 Died Oct. 16, 1893 Aged 63 Yrs., 8
Mos., & 14 Ds.—Darrel Dexter)
(William L. Keith
married Ella Gates on 20 Mar 1888, in Gallatin Co., Ill.—Darrel
Dexter) Last week we announced that Fred W. Harris was adjudged insane and was taken to St. Mary’s Infirmary where Dr. Stevenson tried orificial surgery as a remedy for his overturned mind. Reports as to his condition were favorable until Saturday, when it was learned that he died at three o’clock in the morning. Mr. Harris was 27 years of age and leaves a mother, Mrs. Augusta Harris, and a brother. He entered into business in 1887 with his brothers, one of whom has since died, under the name of Harris Bros. and has built up a good trade in the dry goods line.
The deceased was an
Odd Fellow and a member of the Improved Order of Red Men, which organization
took charge of his funeral Monday afternoon.
Mrs. Weisen, an
aged German lady, was crossing the Big Four track at Mound City Tuesday
forenoon when an incoming train struck her, inflicting fatal injuries and
mutilating her body in a terrible manner. She was very deaf and did not
hear the approaching train. News received Wednesday evening was to the
effect that she was still alive, but cannot survive long. Mr. C. Close, a former resident of Cairo, died a few days ago in Atlanta, Georgia. Mr. Close lived in Cairo a good many years and will be remembered by all our old citizens. At the close of the war, he was quite well off, but reverses came and he was reduced to poverty. He built the house where Mr. Peter Neff now lives and occupied it as his residence but he was obliged to let it go.
A son and a daughter
settled in Atlanta, Georgia, and he finally removed there a few years ago.
Louis Miller,
who shot Joseph Schulle, superintendent of the Murphysboro brewery,
on February 12, 1892, has been found at Stockton, Cal. He has been hiding
ever since the murder was committed. Sheriff Huthmacher has gone out
for him. WETAUG, ILL., Nov. 7.—The southbound vestibule No. 3, which arrives here about midnight was badly wrecked a mile north of Ullin at the Lime Kiln Switch, Saturday night. Three coaches and the baggage car were derailed and the tender of the engine. The engineer was killed by the tender falling on him and two tramps who were stealing a ride on the blind baggage, were instantly killed by the car falling on them. The wreck was caused by an open switch. The lock had been pried open and the light broken off and thrown away. The switch track is used by Mr. Shick to load lime and rock at his quarry. The track makes a sharp curve just after it leaves the main track and the ties were rotten and the speed of the heavy train caused the track to spread and the cars to leave it. The engineer discovered the light was gone when in about three hundred feet of the switch and immediately applied the brakes but the train was heavy, consisting of eleven cars running fifty miles an hour, and they could not be checked in time to prevent the catastrophe. The engineer remained at his post and was only slightly injured. The fireman jumped and was killed by the tender rolling on him. One of the tramps killed was an American and the other an Italian. Nothing was found on them by which they could be identified. An inquest was held and they were buried near the place of their death. $4.50 was found on one and a few coppers on the other. The fireman killed was named Harmon and had a wife and family at Centralia. Various theories have been offered to account for the broken switchlock, but the most probable one is that it was done by malicious person or persons from a pure deviltry, they foolishly thinking that it would be a good joke to run a train in on the switch and probably not expecting such a fatal termination. Some think it was for the purpose of robbery but no robbers were seen at the time or have shown up since. The shots said to have been fired were torpedoes exploded to warn approaching trains. The railroad company offers $1,000 reward for any information leading to the capture of the miscreants. All trains were delayed several hours and a new track had to be built to get the cars back on the main track. When the ill-fated train stopped at Wetaug the conductor made four men get off the blind baggage or the death list would have been two greater, the two killed having got back on.
President Fish’s
private car was attached to the train, and was occupied by himself and his
secretary.
P.S.—There was not
present at the burial of Bill Baker a single outsider, but the good
man, Wash Phillips.
(Mark C. Scully
married Mrs. Lelia Nelson nee Berlin on 1 Jul
1878.—Darrel Dexter)
(His marker in Cobden
Cemetery reads: Samuel Springs Born Jan. 13, 1825 Died Nov. 6,
1893.—Darrel Dexter)
(Her marker in Calvary
Cemetery at Villa Ridge reads: Jennie Stack 1844-1893.—Darrel
Dexter) ANNA, Ill., Nov. 29.—Mrs. Ellen D. wife of Mr. C. M. Willard, president of the First National Bank, died on Monday and her remains were laid away on Wednesday in the Anna cemetery. Like Mr. Willard, she was of a cultured and enterprising Christian family, which early in the century, migrated to Southern Illinois, and aided in developing its business. While the Willards located in Union County, the Tuthills (that was her family name) settled in the Prairie a short distance to the north. Mrs. Willard some time ago was injured by a fall down the cellar stairway and remained an invalid until her peaceful death. Last April Mr. and Mrs. Willard went to the famous sanitarium at Battle Creek, Mich. Though they passed the entire summer there, the benefit to her health did not appear as hoped for. Accordingly they returned in the early summer. In her last days, she had the comforting presence and ministrations of not only her husband, but her aged mother, Mrs. Tuthill, and her three sisters, one from Quincy, Ill., and another from Florida. Mrs. W. was one of the foremost members of the organization of the Presbyterian Church of this place and died in its communion. Funeral services Wednesday at the residence, conducted by the Rev. W. B. Minton, and attended by a large concourse of citizens.
(Charles M. Willard
married Ellen D. Tuthill on 2 Nov 1853, in Jackson Co, Ill. A marker
in Anna City Cemetery reads: Ellen D. Tuthill Willard born at Peru,
Vt., Feb. 7, 1830 Died at Anna, Ill., Nov. 27, 1893.—Darrel Dexter)
(William J. Wright
married Mary J. Rinehart on 4 Jun 1879, in Union Co., Ill.—Darrel
Dexter)
(Joseph Rinehart
married Lydia Barnhart on 14 Mar 1833, in Union Co., Ill. His marker
in St. John’s Cemetery is broken and reads: Joseph Rinehart Born
Aug. 12, 1810
Died Nov. 25, 1893—Darrel Dexter)
Henry Whitaker
of Elco met with a serious and perhaps fatal accident Monday afternoon. The
woods near his home were afire and he went out to fight the flames alone.
The heavy wind that was blowing hurled a limb of a tree down upon him
breaking his left arm and injuring him internally. He was not found for
nearly six hours or about seven o'clock in the evening, when he was
discovered lying unconscious where he fell and in great danger of being
burned. He was carried home and J. J. Rendleman sent for. The
doctor reports that there are but a slight chances of his recovery. Died—Saturday, Dec. 9th, after an illness of several weeks, Benjamin Stapleton, aged 24 years. The deceased was employed by the American Express Company until his last illness compelled him to give up works. he died of consumption. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Stapleton and a brother of Robert and Miss Maggie Stapleton, and was well known and well liked. Funeral services were conducted at St. Patrick's Church Monday, interment being at Villa Ridge. (Dennis Stapleton married Catharine Cahill on 22 Jul 1860, in Alexander Co., Ill.—Darrel Dexter) Died—At Jackson, Mo., Monday, Dec. 11th, Mrs. Watkins, the aged mother of Mr. T. C. Watkins, of this city. She was nearly 80 years old. funeral services were held Tuesday at Charleston, Mo.
Died—At Sandwich,
Ill., Saturday, Dec. 9th, Mrs. Oliver Dewey, the aged mother of
Circuit Clerk E. S. Dewey. She was nearly 86 years old, and in a
married life of over fifty-six years, this is the first time death has
entered their family. Many Cairo people have kind recollections of Grandma
Dewey, and Grandpa Dewey, as well, who now survive her. Mr.
E. S. Dewey left Sunday at noon to attend the funeral.
(Monroe C. St. John
Died Dec. 8, 1893 Aged 23 Yrs., 10 Mos., 9 Ds.—Darrel Dexter)
(Obadiah F. Stoner
married Diannah Knupp on 17 Jun 1875, in Union Co., Ill.—Darrel
Dexter) DONGOLA, ILL., Dec. 27.—A sad and fatal accident happened to Job Hardin late last Saturday eve. As he was walking from Wetaug along the Illinois Central tracks he fell into the cattle guard, about half way down the pass track, and was assisted out by a friend and two who were with him, and after walking a short distance further fell and expired soon after being removed from the track. The coroner’s investigation showed the fact that he was injured internally. His funeral was Sunday afternoon last.
(Job Hardin
married Esther Toler on 16 Sep 1866, in Union Co., Ill.—Darrel
Dexter) Mr. Peter Neff is very seriously ill and grave fears are entertained that he cannot recover. His trouble is asthma and heart disease and his condition if such that he cannot be down. Miss Grace Eubanks, daughter of Mr. W. H. Eubanks, died last Saturday afternoon at Marion, Ill. Many Cairo people will remember Mr. Eubanks was chief deputy in the internal revenue office under C. Pavey. Sunday morning Coroner Grear was summoned to Dongola to hold an inquest over the remains of a man who it was ascertained came to his death by falling through a trestle on the I. C. R. R. receiving fatal injures |
