"After the Funeral"

April 1st, 1881 News of Lawrence County

“Ye, the time approaches when the earth casts off her snowy shroud and arrays herself in a new garment,” so sayith the editor. The wheat was beginning to look nice and green.

 George Kyger furnished meat to the hungry at the old stand of Evans and Blevins. The water mill that ground wheat into flour was operated by O. Cole and Son. Frank Pierce (remember he was the blacksmith who was shot in the throat) was apparently up and around town again. The editor wanted to know if there was anyone else mad enough at Fred to shoot him on the other side of the neck.

The petition of Owen and Alfred Pinkstaff asking for a vacation of an order for the support of their brother was granted to take effect on payment of $75.00 to FM Pinkstaff.

The infant son of Joseph M Freese, one of the editors of the Bridgeport Times, died at Sumner, March 17. Mrs. Barbary Cochran living one mile northeast of Bird Eye, died at the residence of Daniel Cochran March 25 aged 90 years. William Langdon of Bridgeport Twp. died March 1 (buried in Shiloh cemetery), Susan Reed of Bridgeport Twp. died March 3, age 29 years, Charles E Grigsby of Bridgeport Twp. died March 11, age 11 years and 7 months, Samuel Benham of Lawrence Twp. died March 1 aged 94 years, and Peter G Charlie of Lawrence Twp. died March 25 age 50 years and six months of consumption. Mrs. George Stephens died from the effects of childbirth; the infant was stillborn.

At the recent examination for teaching certificates eight people were made happy out of the 22 applicants. Having nothing to do with the foregoing sentence, DA Watts shipped to Kansas City Missouri two of his best Poland China hogs last month that weighed 1345 lbs. He had now shipped to six different States and numerous counties within Illinois.

Running for primary on the People's ticket at Sumner were supervisor George Petty, collector, J. O. McDowell, assessor, John Perkins, justice of the peace, J. W.  Stanley and F. A. Baird. The Vincennes Commercial noted that William Lagow,  the King of Allison Prairie, who lost some of his shekels on the presidential campaign in the amount of $300, paid the sum last Monday and was contemplating joining the ranks of the Republicans. On the Democratic ticket were supervisor ND Rawlings, assessor John L McCleave, collector TJ Ray, justices of the peace, William Walton and George MCleave, Sr, clerk, John Will McCleave, constables James Allender and James Crews, and commissioner George M Whittaker.

Willard Lewis secured a job with a Cincinnati drummer (not with a band; a vintage word for traveling salesman), packing and unpacking trunks and was to be paid the snug little sum of $12.00 per month and expenses. The editor congratulated Willard on his success in getting a nice chance to see some of the world.

James F Jennings, of Chauncy, called on the editor and donated $1.50 toward inflating ye editor’s pocketbook. James was a very pleasant old gentleman, an uncompromising Republican and was one of the United States Grand Jurymen last winter at Springfield.

Thirty years ago (1851), Sam Young lived in the Broad Hollow neighborhood in a home located where William Akin resided in 1881. “The hail stones were as large as goose eggs and perfectly transparent except for stars in them. The storm resulted in killing a calf, destroying the birds. the knocking of bark from the trees and tearing all the shingles from Sam's house.

The editor visited the mammoth clothing establishment of Gimbel and Son in Vincennes and was shown through the largest stock of readymade clothing, hats, caps etcetera to be found in the city. They had just completed a neatly raised platform furnished with stylish imported chairs wherein ladies could sit down and be shown anything in the clothing line by the gentlemanly clerks in attendance namely Ike Gimble, Frank Wickel and Jacob Einstein who rather considered it a pleasure to show goods than otherwise.

Readers, you will remember that there were three obituaries for Walter Buchanan in the various February editions, and now Mr. James M Buchanan, son of Victor Buchanan, passed away. Living a few miles South of Lawrenceville, he died on March 21 at the age of 49. He was a 20-year member of the Pisgah Presbyterian Church and served for a number of years as Deacon and lastly as Ruling Elder. Let's hope that this is the only obituary and that James can rest in peace.

Bridgeport News: Washington school closed for the term. Town election was to be held next Monday-- whiskey or no whiskey. Mark Watson, the telegraph operator, was substituting for Ed Abernathy. Mr. Wilcox of Wabash County purchased Smithers building, known as the Hotel building, for $800, and planned to move up next week to open a hotel.

The county commissioners met that month and awarded the contract of preparing and painting the courtyard fence to Ed Schmalhausen for $125 dollars. A tract of woodland was to be purchased by the county to be used in connection with the poor farm for fuel. The price of coffins for paupers was increased to $8, and grave digging was allowed at $2.00. The board refused to pay Z D French $10.00 for autopsy on the body of Charles Brisbane. Several other bills were rejected or compromised.

St Francisville: Mrs. John Richardville purchased the residence of Antone Kapps on 8th St. for $2500.

Sumner news: Milligan and Brian were building a new elevator on their warehouse to be run by steam. The work on the foundry to be built by William Church and John Wagy would start April 1^st.

 A young gentleman recently lost his wife and a young miss of six, who came to the funeral, said to his little daughter of about the same age, “Your pa will marry again, won’t he?” “Oh yes”, was the reply, but not until after the funeral.