News of May 6, 1881

Fruit trees were then in bloom and from appearances there would be an abundance of fruit if nothing happened to destroy or blight it. Farmers were rejoicing over the fine weather and the outcome of the wheat. Health was good in general. Croquet seemed to be the principal amusement of the young folks.

Simon Vandermark had disappeared; information was wanted as to his whereabouts. Lou Hite, a young man well known in the county formerly clerking in the drug store of Ed Schmalhausen, was married to a young lady of Gerard, Kansas. The brick building on the West side of the square owned by Mrs. Peter Charlie, last occupied by the Roberson brothers was re-shingled and repaired this week. The town hall had been in the hands of carpenters for some time and the improvement was noticeable. Mrs. Booker has moved her millinery and dressmaking establishment into the room one door West of the post office; William Robinson occupied the office of Mr. Gold with Charlie Ryan; and CJ Borden  helped Doctor Robinson occupy his office.

Mr. William Shafer, a rich and spry widower of 50 summers from near Claremont Richland County was married yesterday to the widow of the late James Tanquary at her father's uncle Tommy Seed’s residence. John Will McCleave was appointed treasurer to fill the vacancy of JW Whittaker, deceased, as treasurer of Lawrence County.

About 10 days ago a man representing himself to be George Allen, from near Ottawa Franklin County Kansas, appeared at the residence of ex- coroner Graffham of Lawrenceville claiming to be a nephew of whom he had not seen for near 16 years. He was hospitably received and cared for accordingly and some ten days sufficed for working himself into the good graces of his pretended uncle and aunt. He claimed to be the owner of a good farm in Kansas and was waiting here for the appearance of a check from that state upon the receipt of which he intended to make them a handsome present.  He played the part so well that when he approached Mrs. Graffham for the loan of $10 last Saturday, she willingly complied and allowed him to follow her and see her take it from her trunk. With the borrowed money he purchased a revolver. So completely had he pulled the wool over their eyes as the old saying goes, that on Sunday morning they went to the country visiting, leaving him in charge of the house, and on returning in the evening their supposed kinsman was missing as was $105, the balance of their hard-earned money.  The fact was duly made known, and Sheriff Ryan scoured Vincennes without avail. Inquiry established the fact that a man answering the description had boarded the train Sunday afternoon for St Louis, where he probably arrived ahead of a message. States Attorney KF Snyder and Dr. EH Robinson took the next train for St Louis in hopes of apprehending the scallywag but their man took the precaution of getting off the train in East St Louis and made his escape. No tidings have been received as his whereabouts at this time. Gabriel Graffham was well satisfied at this point  that he had no nephew.

The ME church at Sand Ridge was to be dedicated on May 15th.

To following deaths occurred since the last issue. Arthur C Roberts of Denison Township April 2 aged 2 months; Caroline L N Valley of Denison Township April 27 age 5 one month; Harlan Fordice of Lawrence Township April 22 aged 10 years; Willie H  Seed Bridgeport Township April 17.

There was a special meeting of the Board of Supervisors held May 2nd, 1881, TM Stevens was chosen chairman of the board for the next year. ND Rawlings and Jacob Potts were appointed to the committee on the Poor Farm. Samuel A Longnecker was paid $2.00 for conveying Ed Brink, a pauper to the Poor Farm; The Illinois Institute for Deaf And Dumb was issued a $7.50 check for clothing furnished to Charles Shields a pauper. The Illinois Southern Insane Asylum was paid $28.40 for incidental expenses of John Pargin, a  pauper; James George received $1.50 for conveying Stuard, a pauper to Poor Farm. The jurors for the inquest of William H Seed were each paid $1.00; this included John G Buchanan, Joseph B Jett, Josiah Crawford, Ada Moyes, H G Buchanan, and Ed Leach. Meat was furnished to paupers Highfield, Reed, and Archie Dibble. Doctor Hayes received $9 for medical attention to Angelina Dibble, a pauper, and Doctor Baird, $2.00 for medical attention to Mrs. Wells, a pauper. Doctor Silas hall was allowed $24.00 for medical attention to Armer, Solinger’s wife and child, and Reed's wife, paupers.

The rattlesnake displayed in a Vincennes business show window was killed on Frank Bayard's farm in Lawrence County by Victor Halter. Halter was plowing in the field at the time he ran onto it. It was about 3 feet in length and had seven rattles and one button which signifies that the reptile had attained its 8th year.

Pinkstaff: one day the past week a little boy named Mede Waggoner while playing with a gun pointed it at his younger sister and told her he would shoot her.  The gun went off and came near proving fatal, tearing the ear and skin from her head making an ugly wound.

Sumner:  Bartram the confectioner in town had a barrel of fresh fish sent to him and sold most of them by Friday afternoon The town board of Sumner elected Lafayette Corrie, police constable, William Jones, Street commissioner, and Marion May, village treasurer. The summer schools would close the following week Doctor Dollahan had a new partner in dentistry by the name of Magie of Oxford Ohio. Wagie and Church had their foundry in running order. Doctor Bosart erected a new residence that would be one of the finest in the town. Fred claycomb living 3 miles east of Sumner cut his foot severely last Friday he started to town and came very near bleeding to death before he got to the doctor.