A Review of Life in October November and December 1878

The deep dive into the year 1878 concludes today with the last quarter of the year.

The County Commissioners built a cistern on the Poor Farm. They agreed to follow the state statue and tax dog owners one dollar per head. It was not a popular decision. J K Dickirson was asked to procure suitable coal stoves for the offices of Circuit and County clerks. Paupers mentioned were Alex Wilson, Henry Jones, Ravallette; Mrs. Gardner’s girl, and Mrs. Ash. At the December meeting paupers mentioned were W Cattron, Ed Cheatman (prisoner), Mrs. Dibble, Arthur Williams,  Mrs. Shelton, and  Hugh Orr.

Dr D M Carter, the county doctor, was paid $30 for the amputation of leg of Lewis Keitz, who had slipped between two railroad cars. (Keitz subsequently died and the county commissions paid for his coffin.) Dominos was a popular game. A corn sheller was added to John D Sage and Sons flouring mill which would enable them to shell and grind corn at five cents per bushel. Miss May Adams was the agent for Singer sewing machine. The lack of a good corn crop made it necessary for Milligan Grain and Co to ship two train carloads of corn from Vincennes to supply the want of trade. This was the first corn ever shipped here from abroad.

The 18th Annual Lawrence County Fair started October 2 and ran for four days.  It was not located in Bridgeport but on land closer to Lawrenceville. It had a track, floral and agricultural halls and exhibits of prized animals. Among the most noticeable was D A Watts’ Poland China Hogs, W H Tanquary’s fine cow and calf and mule, W A Dollahan’s two very fine horses, and some splendid Norman colts from Petty Township.  D A Watts was ahead with his chickens. Mrs. Phillip Snyder took the lead in butters.  Some good corn was entered by W T Buchanan, Victor Buchanan, Wm Ray, and Phillip Snyder. Competition in wheat was lively, the principal entries being from John T Buchanan, J J Buchanan, Victor Buchanan, and John Gold. In penmanship D S Porter led the way.

The pawpaws abounded in this section as did hickory nuts and hazel nuts. Lots of sorghum was raised in the county. All kinds of small game, such as squirrels, partridges, prairie chickens and wild ducks were plentiful. The Masonic Lodge at Russellville was removed to Flat Rock.

Mrs. Brewer and Mrs. Seed were returning from Vincennes in a buggy on the East bridge when the horse became frightened at a wagon coming toward them on the ride. The horse attempted to back up and Mrs. Seed jumped out aiming to catch him but missed. The horse and buggy plowed off the south side of the embankment and down the riverbank with Mrs. Brewer and her little daughter. Miraculously they escaped but the horse broke his neck, and the buggy was badly wrecked.

Sauerkraut season had arrived but there were few cabbages to be had.  Bold highway robbery was committed upon an old man making his way to New York.  He was found gagged and tied, hand and foot, with many bruises inflicted with a club by some dastardly tramps, who then robbed him of about $3.10. A young man named Lackey passing that way heard cries of distress and went to examine into them when he was attacked and soon was tied to a tree.  Being unable to walk as his feet being tied, the old man rolled about and made his situation known by his cries for help. Will Garrard happened along about this time and after relieving the sufferer of the rope which had cut deeply into the ankles, the old traveler was taken to Vincennes. A watch was placed at all the bridges and trains hoping to catch the robbers but to no avail. 

The Commissioner of Civil War Pensions noted that by Act of Congress of June 19, 1878, no attorney or agent could charge over ten dollars as a fee for procuring a pension and that this fee could not be demanded in advance. H Frazer and D C Guess of Lawrenceville challenged any Bridgeport resident to a croquet championship.

Peter Perkins of Sumner started a shoe shop. ‘Possum and sweet potatoes would soon be in order. The courthouse well had been dry for several weeks. Mr. Arthur McBride of Sandridge raised Clinton variety grapes. A new confectionery and oyster saloon opened by R P McEswain, Esq.; his bivalves were large luscious and fat. Several new houses had been built in Sumner during the year including one for W W Shepherd, E K Saxton, and D Scyoc.

W and M May of Sumner had the largest stock of dry goods. S J Eckenrode built a large warehouse adjoining the one he already had. Wm Schrader left on a visit to Missouri and Wm Schmalhausen, the carriage trimmer took charge of the sadlde and harness shop in his absence. Dr H V Lewis, after studying two years with Dr S Hall of Lawrenceville, left for the State Physio Medical Institute at Cincinnati to attend medical lectures.

D Saulsbury and Mr. Root from Bridgeport have a nice barber shop with a striped pole in Sumner and will do shaves for ten cents each. Dr Freese purchased another house near the depot in Sumner and contemplated reopening the Empire House. Hugh Lanterman operated the Centennial in Bridgeport.

A little son of Frank McCleave, about four years of age, while playing near a hog pen, had his leg broken above the knee by a section of pen falling on him. Dr. Hall set the limb and from last accounts, the little fellow had no further desire for investigating hog pens.

Gray & Sons quit threshing for this season.  They threshed 34,287 bushes of wheat and 1,695 bushels of oats. Corn husking was about over but farmers complained that the ears had not filled out. The first oyster supper of the year was given by Alfred Vandermark. Jeff Chingle was the champion racoon hunter having caught 76 this fall. There was another escape from the county jail.  

Even though the lectures heard at the temperance meetings were printed in the paper, it was found that some of the Temperance members were still imbibing in intoxicating drinks sold for medical, pharmaceutical, and culinary purposes. (From a review of a program it appeared these meetings were more like AA meetings but with singing.)

One reporter noted that Thanksgiving was not widely celebrated that year but where it was, the turkey population suffered. However, W L Gray had a dinner at his residence with over 50 guests.  No services were held in the churches and the spirt of the institution was ignored even though it was a legal holiday.

Wiley Childress had moved from Lawrenceville to take charge of the Russellville mill. Hog killing was now in full blast. First snow fell. Warner Bros advertised that Santa Claus was coming and they sold firecrackers, toy pistols, furs for the wife or sweetheart, dolls, cigars, candies, and oranges. W C Gilbert was putting up his new sawmill in the Embarras River woods. The newly re-elected sheriff inventoried his office and found 4 pairs of handcuffs, 3 sets of ankle ties, 4 jail keys, 2 keys to the court room, and 1 key to the jury room.

Roads were getting bad. Grim winter was now in earnest, the weather was cold and stormy. However, a 7-inch snow covered the ground about Christmas time and the sleighs were running from early dawn till the small hours of the night.

This concludes the review of 1878. The researchers would be interested in your comments about life at that time for your ancestors; what you learned that you didn't know; or what surprised you. Send your comments to lawrencelore @gmail.com