". . . us girls don’t. Amen.”

October 1 1880 The Rural Republican

The paper was still filled with political news. Orators were imported many miles to speak at different rallies; fireworks were purchased by the bushel and the supply of bourbon parceled out as a stimulant. The speeches of the politicians were published in full, leaving little room in the newspaper for local news.

It was now sorghum making season.  Hickory nut parties were in order. Samuel Gillespie and Thomas Kirkwood, two of the county’s foremost farmers, attended the Illinois State fair as delegates. Miss Nellie Cummins was baptized in the murky waters of the Embarrass by Reverend J Lockhart. John R Gold attended the State Fair in Springfield. Hiram H Jones of St. Francisville died September 27.

 SP Barton and his lady were among the invited guests on the boat excursion of the Garfield party from Toledo to Put- in- Bay. David A Jones, age 55, died September 6th of internal hemorrhage; he was from Lawrence township. W R King was the administrator of the estate of Mrs. Melissa Smith deceased. Sidney Stivers rented G W Coopers farm north of town on the Lawrenceville Road. Sherman Kochor, a blind boy, left for Jacksonville to attend the school or the blind.  He would be gone for 8 months. Wheat sowing was in progress as was apple picking. William Malone was the teacher at Washington school.

 The Vincennes Weekly Western Sun stated that there would be no Lawrence County fair this year.   The National American Kennel Club’s Field Trials were to be held at Vincennes. Seth G Ellegood of Sumner received his discharge from bankruptcy. A little daughter of Mr. Ash who lived three miles north of Sumner was severely scalded. The child ran past the door at the same time that its mother threw out a pan of boiling water.  Fletch Guess of Sumner just completed a fine dwelling.  The house of Mrs. Catharine Henry was burglarized on September 17 and cash and other valuables taken to the amount of about $250. She also had a pocketbook taken at the same time containing some accounts and other papers.  The pocketbook was of common Morocco leather, and fastened with a wide spring clasp, yellowish gilt with several pockets to it.  

 October 8, 1880

T W Roberts moved into the family’s new home on the west side of the Rural Republican Office. Calicoes (material) were only 7 cents a yard. The Lawrenceville elementary school‘s enrollment was 125 with quite a number of non- resident pupils in attendance. A reward was offered for the return of a brown leather buggy cushion taken from the buggy of E H Robinson. Wm Seed was sworn in as executor of the Last Will and Testament of William Rogers. Joseph Moyer, from Denison, died October 4, aged 57.  On October 6 Bessie Seed Lawrence Township died at aged 9 years. Mrs. Luther Shaw of Chauncey died. Hiram Jones of St Francisville died after a short illness. C W Price started his new steam flouring mill in Lawrenceville.

Otis Haines, residing across the river from Vincennes, awoke one morning minus a horse which he possessed on retiring the night before.  Some fellow rode the animal off; neither man nor brute have been heard from since. Mr. Eckenrode of Sumner purchased the Denver twp. Richland County farm from the estate of Dr French. He paid $8000 for it, the sale being cash.

Russellville: The firm of Drs Wolfe and Ford was dissolved by mutual consent.  The Russellville public schools opened with Prof. LG Pitman of St Francisville as principal and CC Hays of Russellville in charge of the primary department. William Inlow died of consumption at the age of 24 years. Mrs. Marie Norton nee Caughran died at her home on Allison prairie a few miles west of Russellville. She was a victim of typhoid fever and was but 25 years of age.

St Rose’s Boarding and Day school under the direction of the Sisters of Providence in Vincennes would commence the first Monday in September and end January 31. The second term would begin the first of February and end the last Wednesday in June.  

The Board of Commissioners met.  $200 was appropriated to Petty twp to assist in building a bridge across Muddy Creek at the crossing of the Bridgeport and Shaker Mill Road.  Paid to Maria Morris for boarding and nursing Emma Mitchell, $9.15. Medical attention to Angeline Dibble $7.00 and $10 for Mrs. Evans. Paid to Joseph Mickey for boarding Amanda Myers, $26.25. John K Green $9.05 for furnishing beef to paupers of Allison twp. $162.50 to Isaac Potts for quarterly salary as County Judge. $75.00 to F W Cox for quarterly salary as County Superintendent of Schools.   Paid to James Sandiford for taking care of court room and cleaning county privy- $3.50. Paid to Charley Spencer for taking John Smith, a pauper to the Poor Farm, $1.50. Paid to Ettie Sandiford for feeding prisoners in county jail $64.00.  Medical attention for Highfield’s child and Mrs. Lagross $23. 90   Coffin for Mrs. McDaniels $6.00.   Medical attention to McLean Cox $7.00 and $7.00 for J Basket’s family. Medical attention to J Clark’s family $12.50, medical attention to Arrilla Stiner $8.50. Mr. McClaycomb for keeping paupers at Poor Farm $192.99 and for his wife Mary L for making and mending clothes for $8.50. Medical attention to John Wheely’s child $6.00. Medical attention to Shadrick Gowen $15.00. Medical attention to pauper $9.00. Various amounts were paid to merchants for merchandise provided to paupers.

A little girl being aggravated past endurance by a her big brother fell down on her knees in church and cried: “O Lord. Bless my brother Tom.  He lies, he steals, he swears. All boys do; us girls don’t.  Amen.”