"An Honest Woman...Your Honor"

Friday, February 4th, 1881 Both Vincennes and Lawrenceville newspapers

The editor announced that there were six more weeks of winter so don't trade off your overcoat yet and he cautioned not to forget to send her a valentine. The previous Sunday was like a spring day, warm and the sun shone brightly, the snow disappearing rapidly under the warm rays. However, the previous extremely cold weather had affected the health of the county; in many places, measles, pneumonia, rheumatism and other diseases were raging. School at Cross Roads school had to close because of the measles.

Circuit Clerk Barnes reported that the following business on the docket for Circuit Court consisted of 12 criminal cases, 34 common law cases, and 77 cases in Chancery. The new sheriff would be able to try his hand at ‘Oy Yea Oy Yea’ while the Circuit Court was in session with Judge WC Jones presiding.

The room formerly occupied by The Herald newspaper office was rumored to soon be inhabited by another drug store, that of John Kennedy of Bridgeport. Doctor EH Robinson wished to inform the public that he had moved his office to the building one door east of the Watts House where he might be found day or night unless professionally engaged. Thirty- four sewing machines were sold in the county since the 1st of January.

Obituary:  Walter Buchanan died at his residence February 1st, 1881. (His tombstone says January 31, 1981.) He was born in Kentucky in 1804 and came to Lawrence County Illinois in 1819.  For many years he was the noted surveyor of the whole section of the state, and his peculiar talent was mathematics, in which he took his greatest delight by solving the most intricate problems sent to him from all directions. Had his early education and surroundings been more favorable, he would have attained the highest rank in that field. Generous to all, with a kind disposition, he made friends everywhere. As one of the staunchest pillars of the Pisgah Presbyterian Church his daily walks and conversations added much toward advancing the spiritual interest of the community. At the ripe age of 78, he was summoned to a higher walk in the realms beyond the river where he would receive his well -merited reward.

The US Jury was then in session at Springfield consisting of 21 grand jurors including JF Jennings of Sumner, a farmer and a native of England, 61 years old, weighing 187 lbs. and a resident of Illinois for 30 years.  Also, JD Tolles of Allison, born in Connecticut, 71 years old, weighing 170 lbs., following the occupation of farmer and a resident of Illinois 4 1/2 years was another one of the jurors. (Not sure why the weight of the jurors was important enough to be published but perhaps they had to decide 'weighty' matters.)

Tax Purchaser Notices were published for Real Estate belonging to Joseph Brown, Catherine Howe, and TM Hardin. Gabriel Tugaw of St Francisville promised to pay a liberal reward to anyone who could find his horse, which ran away last July 1880. The horse was described as a bay, 3- year- old colt about 13 hands high and branded with the letter T on the left shoulder.

At Bridgeport FM Cox leased ground from the railroad company on which to keep an agricultural implement store. CH DeBolt, who had been shipping bailed hay from Bridgeport for some time, rented Cooper’s livery stable and moved his hay press into it. Warner Brothers were busy packing up their goods because they couldn't find any room to rent rooms in Bridgeport, so they are relocating to Flora. The town board of Bridgeport passed an ordinance to close business houses on Sunday.

At Sand Barrens, Charlie Smith and Joe Ryan hired eighteen men to saw logs. Health was not good at Charlottesville. John Malcolm, while loading wood, slipped and fell, breaking one of his ribs. Colonel Taylor's horse didn't like the Captain Jinks hop at William Irwin’s. When the fiddle began to play, his horse broke loose and ran away. The Grapevine Telegraph is a good thing; the correspondent noted that they had one in their town. He thought ‘What is nobody’s business is everybody’s business’. Samuel Shoulders rented the Neal property and would be ready for business in a short time.

Deaths:  An old gentleman named Jones died at the poor farm about four miles southwest of Lawrenceville. He was reported to be 94 years old. The wife of Meshac Martin, one of the most respectable citizens of Lukin Township, died a few days ago and was buried at the Catholic Cemetery near Bridgeport. Mary A Crews died at her father's residence of measles at the age of 17 years and nine months.

At Bridgeport, January 19^th, Clarence E Buchanan of St Francisville was united in marriage to Miss Phoebe S Irwin of Bridgeport at the residence of Mr. John and Buchanan. Besides the members of the family, the ceremony was witnessed by Ella Warner, Mary Smith, and Mattie Williamson, Gus T Warner, Edward Leach, and Joseph Pixley.  A number of handsome presents were received, and the match was pronounced to be a most excellent one.

George Fuenfgelt, the Lawrenceville butcher, insisted that the lady who entertained him Sunday night in Vincennes was an honest woman. The Vincennes’ Mayor entertained different views, because she was a well-known courtesan and fined George $28.00 in Mayor's Court. George was also minus $35 which he had when he called upon this ‘honest’ woman.

A Sinister Poem A Bloody Deed

It was in a dark and dismal dell

One morning that he found him;

And where the shade the deepest fell,

With hasty care he bound him.

He peered around with watchful eye,

And then, with ruffian swagger,

From out its sheath quite hastily

He drew a glittering dagger.

He felt the edge so sharp and keen;

He smiled, that hardened Sinner.

And said, as if it sport had been,

“We'll have some sheep for dinner.”