Salmon in the Wabash?

HISTORY CENTER OPEN SUNDAY APRIL 12 1-3 Dresses of the Decades Exhibit (Will be closing in May)

Don't foarget to register for the Find Your Patriot program

Contact: Lawrence County Historical Society lawrencelore@gmail.com or 908-208-2372

Event: Find Your Patriot – Genealogy Research Program

Dates: April 18, April 25, and May 2, 2026

Time: 9:00 a.m.

Cost: $76.00

Location: Lawrence County Historical Society Research Library, Lawrenceville

 Friday, April 8th, 1881

Doctor EH Robinson sported the most elegant mustache of any young man in town. James P Lewis received $1200 in arrears from his Civil War pension. D L Gold received a position in the pension department in Washington DC. JB Hiskey, general agent for the Lawrence County and Wabash Illinois Nurseries, was busily engaged in making his spring delivery of trees and shrubs etcetera. Representative Lib Mieure cast a vote in the local election and returned Wednesday evening to Springfield accompanied by Mr. Schmalhausen and Mr. Judy.

The management of the Union House Hotel near the D&SW depot occupied by Mr. G Smith was taken over by Paul Sheridan from Chauncey. The Republican ticket was carried in Allison Township: John R Gold was elected assessor, GA Norton for supervisor, Jay Leonard as town clerk, FM Adams for collector, EC Crews and KD Smart as justices of the peace.

The editor noted that Genevieve Ward was shocked beyond all expression because men and women were compelled to sleep in the same sleeping car on the train. "It is dreadful." The young, newly-married editor, Sam Day, noted that he had often worried himself over the same thing, and been afraid to go to sleep less some woman should chloroform him and kiss him in his dreams. “No man is safe in a mixed sleeping car.”

TA Curry has retired from the circuit clerk's office to engage in the sale of machinery and the grain trade with SP Barton. Mr. Curry had been in the office as deputy clerk during the past eight years and had proven a faithful efficient official, winning by his courtesy and kindness, the esteem of all who came into contact with him.

Last week Curtis Potts, son of the county judge, concluded that it was not well for him to be alone and so accordingly equipped himself with the necessary documents and accompanied by Reverend Lockhart, took himself to the residence of S Rawlings and was soon after joined in the holy bonds of wedlock to Miss Clara Rawlings. Curtis was a young farmer of good habits and would doubtless make a success in life.

Between midnight and Tuesday morning some unscrupulous Rascal forced entrance to the engine room of Price Brothers steam mill of Lawrenceville, near the shafting of the engine, and developments the next morning indicated that the person knew just what part of the engine he could damage the most, and consequently must have had some knowledge about an engine to accomplish it. Tracks were also seen leading to the Bank of the river where the pieces were evidently thrown to hide detection. The Price Brothers were well known enterprising gentlemen and had only had their mill in running order a few months and were unaware of an enemy in the county until this blow was dealt to them when all honest men should have been in bed. A fiend in human form that would deliberately stoop to such a low-down petty trick for revenge was just the person that would not hesitate at anything mean and low-lived. The editor said that there “seemed to be an element In our midst of maliciousness, destruction of property, spiteful and petty revenges, and disregard of the law, that was unequaled in any town that same size in the state. If there weren't some steps taken to protect the citizens, his advice was for every man to keep an old musket loaded with buckshot and have the courage to point it and pull the trigger.”

The following deaths were reported since last issue. James Abraham Garfield Winkles of Denison Township, March 4, aged 3 months; Carrie Fish of Lawrence Township March 24, age 8 months; Jacob Potts of Gunnison Township, March 20, age 5 years two months. Mrs. Seth Ellegood of Sumner died of consumption; Mrs. William Piper, wife of one of Sumner’s citizens, died of pneumonia; Amzi Coffman, a farmer,  who resided 4 miles West of Sumner died of consumption.  It was also reported that  eleven babies were born.

Sand Ridge: Joseph Garing died the previous night at the age of 30 years. He was buried in Vincennes. Isabelle Flowers who taught at  Conover school  the past winter would teach summer school at Plank Road. 500 bushels of corn were for sale in quantities to suit purchasers at the Carey farm 5 miles east of Lawrenceville by John R Gold.

Sand Barrens: The school there closed for the term on April Fool's Day. Jacob Potts, son of Miles Potts, was buried March 21 at bunker hill cemetery.

Denison Township: The wheat in this section was badly damaged. Many fields would be plowed and planted in corn.

Perry Tindolph, the Main St. jeweler in Vincennes and Bill McAndrew went duck-hunting in Lawrence County and as a result of two afternoons’ work returned with 96 ducks, every one of which had fallen by the aim of their guns. The ducks were the gamiest kind of mallards, and the boys felt bad because they missed five shots and brought down five of the common variety. (I don’t know what that means but I’m sure the game warden would.)

This doesn't sound right to me, but this is what the Vincennes newspaper published: “George Haynes, a fisherman caught a fine salmon about 30 inches in length above Russellville a day or two ago. He says that there are thousands of salmon in the Wabash and that they are multiplying more rapidly every year. The reason that they are not caught until they attain a good size is that their peculiar shape enables them to wiggle through the meshes of an ordinary fishnet. In a few years salmon will be a common fish in the Wabash.” Can a fisherman tell me if this is just a fish story or were there really salmon in the Wabash?