Pigs in yards. .

The Research Library and History Center will be closed the week of December 21-27.

December 24 1880

Mr. Day, the editor, advised people to save their loose dimes for the big oyster supper for the benefit of a City Hall to be given in the old Presbyterian Church December 30, 1880.  Lawrenceville schools would have a one-week vacation during the holidays. The post office would be closed from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Christmas Day. (implying that they would be open earlier?)

There was every prospect of splendid sleighing before Christmas here and while enjoying oneself and having a good time, the editor advised everyone to not “forget the fact that there were many poor families in our big county of Lawrence that may have nothing-- no presents, no Christmas dinner, no kind friends to wish them a bright Christmas and Happy New Year. Think of the poor, you who are able and blessed with plenty and if you can succeed in making the hearthstone of one family brighter, do so and you will be rewarded for your kindness.” A good sentiment 145 years later as well. 

TB Huffman had a neat painted sign and a hand, directing clients to the entrance to his law office over Tracy's Grocery. Huffman and Meserve, attorneys at law, also had a painted sign at the entrance to their office over Hall's restaurant. George Fuenfgelt, the butcher, was located under TW Rogers’ store and sold fresh pork, beef and sausages. Justice Struble, proprietor of the Lawrenceville livery barn, advertised that he would pay the highest market price in cash for 1000 bushels of good corn delivered to his stable immediately.  BL Cunningham, ex- circuit clerk,  decided to try his hand in the insurance business and planned to represent several of the oldest and best companies.

Price Brothers advertised that they gave 40 lbs. of flour per bushel for #1 wheat. JB Price purchased the flouring mill formerly owned by WC Price. The mill was in complete running order, having new bolts, middling purifier, midline grinder, and in fact everything pertaining to a new process mill.

A man named A B Aman of Carmi placed an ad asking if anyone knew the whereabouts of his sister, Mary Ann Aman, to please contact him.  When she was last heard of, she resided in Bond County, Illinois.

The following deaths were reported: James T Graham of Denison Township December 6, age 54 years; Harriet B Kelly of Lukin Township, December 8, age 74 years; John Richardson of Denison Township, November 26, age 33 years; Alexander Wells of Sumner December 11, age 53 years; Eliza Jay Williams of Bridgeport, December 3, age 38 years. Mrs. Caroline Garthard/Gothard nee Blackwell, colored, formerly of this place, but who left with her husband for Atchison Kansas the previous spring, died there recently very suddenly. Mrs. Mary Maguire of Allison Township died of pneumonia, aged 44 years, on December 20.

AF& A Masons would elect officers at their Hall in Lawrenceville December 25 according to William Musgrave, secretary and WC Gilbert.

According to the Bridgeport correspondent, there was to be more snow. He asked his readers if everyone had their turkey for Christmas. He also reported that a Good Templars Lodge had been organized. Services were held at the Catholic Church the previous Sunday. WM Cecil sold his farm east of town to GM Whitaker. Cecil left for Kentucky. CH Debolt, who had a hay press at James King's northwest of town, shipped a train carload of baled hay the week before. The gossip in town was that Bridgeport was to have a newspaper published soon. Dale Clark of Sumner planned to start a printing office in Bridgeport by moving the Sumner Democrat office, that he was in charge of, to Bridgeport. (No mention of whether he would change the name of the newspaper or whether this was even true.)

 Mount Zion items: More snow; better sleigh riding.  There was to be a Christmas tree at Bethel Church on Christmas Eve. (By the fact that Christmas trees at Churches were mentioned so frequently in the news, leads one to believe they may not have been that common before….)

LG Pittman and CC Hodges were teachers at the public schools in Russellville.  FW Weyl’s ice harvest has been a failure so far, according to the Russellville correspondent.

In Lukin, eggs were scarce and sold for 40 cents per dozen.  Making eggnog would be more expensive than usual that year. There was a ‘grand hop and oyster supper’ at Frog Eye the past Tuesday night. (Yep, Frog Eye was the name of a school in Lukin).

The total tax for Lawrence County for the year 1880 was $45,051; the tax for Lawrenceville was $7,447.

The new editor, and recently married, Sam Day reported that his wife was visiting friends in Knox County, Indiana that week and he was disconsolate, down- hearted and sad.  With his better half gone, the worst half was left at home “to batch and think of the trials and tribulations in a bachelor's life.” His big brother, Ike, was a world of consolation to him, however. He built the fire, looked after Jack and Ben, ran the pigs out of the yard declaring that all editors should have fences, carried in the wood and coal, and helped devour biscuits manufactured by the two of them for which, Sam said, they had applied for a patient, all with a calmness and serenity of countenance unequalled. Had he known how hard life would be when his better half left, he would never have consented to be left in this manner. (Well, if these were the duties of his better half, I might have gone visiting myself…..)