Hurled Into Eternity

The readers of the Rural Republican were shocked to read the headline on Friday August 13 1880 when they opened their newspapers. “One Of Our Citizens Hurled Into Eternity In A Second.”  On Tuesday at noon WC Gilbert, one of the local  blacksmiths, commenced the erection of a large grindstone, for the purpose of sharpening plow points. By about 4:00 everything, being in readiness, two horses were hitched on and the stone put in motion. William Wright, one of the workmen, held a plow point on the huge stone to grind it. The stone was making about 250 revolutions per minute, when it burst into four parts, one piece, weighing 120 lbs., or thereabouts, striking the unfortunate man in the breast, knocking him about 10 feet and killing him instantly, the poor man not moving a muscle after being struck. John Swineheart, driving a peg in order to make the stone more solid on the rack, was just grazed by one of the other pieces falling so close as to brush his hat. The accident was so sudden and unexpected, without a moment's warning, that there was no possible chance of avoiding the terrible doom. Mr. Wright was about 25 years of age and left an amiable wife and two children besides a host of relatives and friends to mourn his terrible death. The funeral took place from the residence of his father-in-law, WO Gilbert Wednesday evening.

Secure fine photographs at Webster's tent just in from Saint Louis --will only remain one week longer.  Pictures enlarged to life-size.

DL Brewer, Judy and company spent several days fishing in Schmalhausin’s lake this week with good success. Jonas Windsor one of Sand Ridge’s solid farmers brought the editor a very fine watermelon. Will Combs and partner, from the village of Chauncey, are sinking a large well on the fairgrounds in preparation for the coming exposition in Lawrenceville.

The vicinity of Shaker Mills just over the county line in Crawford had a tragedy all to itself the previous Thursday. Jack Magoon, a young man who worked for, a farmer during the last wheat harvest, claimed Holloway was still indebted to him. Thursday evening Magoon went the place where Holloway was threshing wheat, for the purpose of collecting the wages do him. Holloway ordered Magoon to leave his premises. John Holloway and John Magoon, then had some cross words; Magoon probably being more overbearing than was justifiable in his treatment of Holloway.  Their ill feelings culminated when Holloway shot Magoon from his wagon with his shotgun loaded with buckshot, tearing one hand to pieces and severing an artery on the right thigh.  Magoon died in less than an hour.  Holloway went to Flat Rock, surrendered himself, had a preliminary trial, and was committed to jail without bail.

Dr ZD French, late editor of the Lawrence County Press, retired and EE Jones formerly publisher of the same paper succeeded him. Scott Bond, who had for some time kept a disputable house at Sumner, was compelled to leave town after the town board took action against him. Dr ZD French and WE Shepherd of Sumner started Monday for a 10 day- hunt at Doniphan Missouri. The mill of Milligan, Brian and Company at Sumner was being repaired and new machinery put in.

Court cases: People vs George D Barnes, assault to murder, defendant entered a plea of guilty of assault to do bodily injury with a deadly weapon upon the person of William Combs. $25 plus fees and costs. People vs Wallace Colborn and Josiah F Colborn, burglary and larceny, continued.

People vs John T Hackett, perjury, States Attorney entered a dismissal. People vs William Casey, grand larceny, found William guilty and sentenced him to one year in the Chester penitentiary. People vs Pleasant Gowans, removing cornerstone, the jury found the defendant not guilty and discharged him.

People vs Kit Keniepp and Ed Jameson larceny, States Attorney ordered a dismissal. People vs William Rowland permitting gambling, defendant discharged. People vs John Woods, forgery defendant guilty, punished by one year in the penitentiary at Chester.

People vs Walter Gray Jr, larceny, jury failed to agree, defendant discharged. People vs Silas Rich rape, continued. People vs Paul Richardville, failing to appear as witness in case of Saar, fined $1.00 in costs. People vs John Stilley, attachment, defendant discharged. People vs Irwin Gosnell, William Gosnell, Lincoln Gosnell, James Dixon and James Sandiford riot, indictment to be recorded. The Village of St Francisville vs Richardville who was charged with rioting on July 3rd was found guilty and assessed a fine at $20.

The case of Anna J Emerick vs Warren Emerick for divorce and alimony elicited considerable interest in court. The evidence disclosed a lamentable state of affairs in this family. The plaintiff failed to secure either alimony or divorce and so far as the court was concerned, they could settle their differences in their own original manner.

The case of Daniel Leidey Sr vs Nancy Leidey was tried in the Circuit Court and excited considerable interest. The matter in dispute was 80 acres of land occupied by Nancy Leidey, the defendant in this suit and widow of Daniel Leidy Jr. The plaintiff sought to dispose her as she had no deed for the property in question. The fact was proven that Daniel Leidey Sr had promised his son he would execute a deed for the land which had been occupied by him as a home till his death, and by his widow since. The court therefore found for the defendant, the widow.

The case of Dr. CM Carter versus Owen Pinkstaff to recover the cost of amputating a leg for FM Pinkstaff, brother of defendant, the jury, after an hour’s absence, returned a verdict of $124.00 for the plaintiff.

A pretty tall fight occurred in the Barber shop in Sumner. William Rowland, proprietor of the Central Hotel, bounced Henry Route, the barber. Roland had been indicted for keeping a gambling arrangement, and thought Route had set the job up on him. The mayor fined the landlord $5 in costs. Captain M O’Donell shipped a carload of hogs from Bridgeport. Bridgeport dealers were paying from one to three cents more per bushel for wheat than Sumner. Perry Wyatt, a former Bridgeport boy, was now living in Kansas. Charles Downey was editor of the Sumner Democrat.

The county jail had a female occupant. The reporter said that “she sings like a Canary in a cage, and the citizens of Lawrenceville will be sorry when she is turned out.”

For Sale:  Very desirable property consisting of two storerooms at St Francisville, situated on the best business corner of the place.  Enquire of John M Deusterberg.

Isaac McBride of Lawrenceville shipped 3 train car loads of watermelons north on the D&SW railway. At the residence of Mr. James Gochenoour in Sumner a ‘masked’ leap year party was held. The people were enclosed in  white sacks and after fooling each other a certain length of time threw off their disguises. When the time arrived for the company to disband, the ladies each tucked a poor miserable specimen of the opposite sex under her arm and escorted him to his home and saw him safely within the doors.

Deaths occurring this week: July 14th Sarah Hensley Lawrence Township aged 31 years; July 16th Mary McDaniel, Sumner age 20; July 12th Alice Tewalt Lawrence Township age 5 months; July 12th Caroline Bryan Lawrence twp. age 11 years.

Edgar Seed desired to sell his undivided interest in what was known as the Samuel Seed farm about 5 1/2 miles South of Lawrenceville and a half mile east of Alfred Vandermark’s.

Bridgeport Brevities: Dry and Dusty. Good wheat was worth $0.83 per bushel. L Barnes was a Republican candidate for circuit clerk. A brick kiln would be built this season on WM Lewis land by the brick manufacturer of West Port.  He expected to furnish 150,000 bricks. Mrs. Sarah Wells of Bridgeport was struck by lightning a few days ago. The Bridgeport band would furnish the music for the temperance jubilee at Russellville Saturday. Sumner High School's new principal was Mr. George Page of Olney.

The most elegant affair of the season was a reception given at the Centennial Hotel, in honor of several young people visiting Bridgeport and for Mr. Charles Eshelman, who was to leave for Lebanon Ohio to attend school for a year. Besides 10 or 12 couples from Bridgeport, the event was honored by the presence of Misses Walker, Hoopes, Brownfield and Jones, and Mr. Hoopes, Mr. Delaney, Mr. Grier, and Mr. Bird all from Sumner. During the evening the company received a delightful serenade from the band. At 11:00 a repast of ices, cakes, lemonades and fruits were spread. Toward morning when the stars began to grow dim, the guests departed, having first expressed their thanks for the enjoyment of the occasion which was rendered more pleasant by the untiring efforts of Phoebe and Emma Irwin and Maddie Williamson.

Buggy riding was fashionable among the young people of Russellville. It was said however that the seats of the vehicles in that town were all made too wide. Russellville would like to recall the census as three new babies arrived there on Monday night. The citizens of Russellville were in good spirits, because Charlie Westfall opened a butcher shop in that place and dealt out fresh beef and mutton steaks. Dr McGowan, formerly of Russellville, reported considerable sickness in the lower part of Crawford County. He had a number of cases of typhoid/ malaria fever on hand.

 Wesley Potts of Saint Francisville was enlarging and refitting his hotel building, and before long would have one of the most commodious hotels that could be found in any small town in southern Illinois. Joseph Pebble Jr. who obtained a divorce from his wife last week, in the Circuit Court, was, in a day or two. united in marriage to Mrs. Kate Lent.

 The Lawrenceville Cornett band was reorganized and gave a festival for the purpose of assisting them in paying for some recently purchased instruments. It netted upward $25; a cake was voted to Miss Molly Allender as the most popular young lady present.

The most inexpensive summer resort in this vicinity was the springs of Moses Stiver, near Bridgeport. A person in search of rest could go there at less expense than to any other watering place, and the benefits were said to be the same. About 15 or 20 guests including Mr. and Mrs. Hyatt and Miss Carrie Ghee, were there enjoying the cool quiet of the place and imbibing of its health -giving waters.

A scandalous fight took place in Sumner between two church members Friday,Lewis Wheeler, sexton, and William Laws, trustee of the Union Christian Church. The trustee requested the sexton give up the keys to the church, but Wheeler refused. Laws then tried to get them by force, and a fight ensued, but the keys were not captured. Laws was arrested and fined $3 and costs.

Dr. Robinson delivered a lecture to the Physiology class for the Normal (teachers)school held in Bridgeport and dissected a heart showing its anatomical structure.

Mr. Erskine Hook and Mrs. Susan P Payne were married in Lawrenceville by Elder Lockhart. It is about the only case on record where a Paine got Hooked in that manner.