Yard Sale 1881

News in the County April 21 1881

Dan Osmond painted the courthouse fence this week. The editor noted that it would add to the general appearance of the town if the board of supervisors would have a courthouse treated to a new coat of paint perhaps in a dark stone color. Baseball seemed to be a favorite Sunday amusement among the boys. Doctor FM Pickern, who resided in the north part of the county, died last week. Sid Rawlings was baptized in the river by Elder Lockhart last Monday evening. Doctor Hall planned to erect a fine dwelling south of the square this spring; James Musgrave had the contract.

In Lawrenceville, TW Roberts, JK Dickerson, and C Cole were elected village trustees and FC Meserve, clerk last Tuesday.  Lafe Barnes and SP Barton were elected school directors. The sale of the Buchanan land took place last Saturday with John M Buchanan being the purchaser at $5405. Mrs. Booker received a fine stock of millinery goods and opened a millinery and dressmaking room at the late residence of Mr. ME Barnes. Her stock included hats, bonnets, ribbons and trimming and she invited all the ladies of Lawrenceville to inspect her stock and prices.

The bridge on the road leading to the Lawrenceville cemetery was down, rendering it impossible to reach the cemetery with vehicles. Since April 1st, 1880, there had been recorded by the county clerk 190 marriages, 447 births, and 192 deaths.

The parties engaged in the melee at Sumner were tried a few days ago. Mr. French pled guilty to an assault; Shoup was bound over and Kendricks fined $5 and costs.

The following incident was reported in two different newspapers this week with different spellings of the names:

#1 Two negro women, Sarah Gowens and Mrs. Nellie Carl, who live a short distance north of this place, got into a dispute that ended in Sarah Gowens inflicting a dangerous wound on the face of Mrs. Carl. Trial was to be held that day.

#2 Headline: Two Colored women Engage in Open War on the Street. Sarah Goens, a colored woman got into an altercation with Mrs. Nelly Carl, another woman of color, Wednesday evening near the residence of Polly Morris of Lawrenceville by which Nelly received quite a lash across the left cheek with a murderous knife. The parties have heretofore been quiet and inoffensive inhabitants of the county and just how the row originated is a mystery that will be left for his honor Esquire Walton to unravel at 3:00 today. The reporter noted that the paper went to press too early to get full particulars about this disgraceful affair. The wound was properly dressed by Doctor KH Robinson, and the patient would recover with a  slight scar.

In the St Francisville election, John M Collison was elected police magistrate by a large majority. The trustees are John Jordan, JS Kirkey, Wesley Potts, and August Smith. Doctor P Smith was elected village clerk over SJ Gee.

While returning from church last Sunday night some of his neighbors found the dead body of Willis Seed in the road about 6 miles below Lawrenceville, leading to Bridgeport, with his horse standing by his side. The deceased was a son of William Seed, of Bridgeport, and about 22 years of age. He had been subject to fits for many years but had been entirely free from them for some time and was surprisingly thought to be permanently cured. When found, his face was embedded in a pool water and his nose and mouth filled with mud. He probably fell from his horse on his face and was smothered to death. He was buried Tuesday. Coroner Leech held an inquest near Bunker Hill School house. The verdict of the jury was that he came to his death by “strangulation”.  (Drowning wasn't an option?)

Pinkstaff News: Mud was getting scarce and farmers were thinking of plowing soon. There was sickness in the community yet, but the general health was improving. The wheat was looking up since the warm days. James Cochran erected a handsome dwelling that would soon be completed. Jacob Cochran would work in the Carpenter trade this summer with Isaac Delong. Ed Dollahan has returned from Fairfield where he went to school the past winter. The funeral of Grandma Cochran was held May 8. John Seitzinger was elected school director.

John Reagan of Allison left for California by way of Kansas expecting to make his home there. Frank Ewing the young man arrested some time ago in Petty Township for forgery and taken to Missouri on a requisition, was tried there, found guilty, and sentenced to four years in the penitentiary. Miss Nelly Seed, by some mishap or other, fell into the river last Sunday afternoon and her escort Thomas Eli Watts did the gallant thing by throwing himself into the waves and rescuing the town’s estimable postmistress.

Bridgeport News: Garden making was in order.  G W Lehr was elected school director. Dr Maxwell fitted up his new office in style and planned to move in this week.  Mrs. Kinsey started a subscription school. The new organ for the Presbyterian church arrived. A stray horse was seen on the streets with a saddle and bridle. Nothing was known about the horse until a telegram arrived from Mount Carmel from WG Baird inquiring about it. Mr. Baird came up on Tuesday and said the horse was stolen from his stable near Mount Carmel Sunday night. No clue as to who the thief was.

Warner’s Bros, the Walmart of the 1880s in Bridgeport who had just moved their firm to Flora to the dismay of almost everyone except the other merchants, decided to sell some of their personal property including 1 good work horse, 1 two- year old colt, 1 two-horse wagon, 1 two -horse plow, 1 harrow, 1 good milk cow, 1 set of wagon harness, 1 bridle and saddle, 2 stacks of good hay, 2 bedsteads, 1 cupboard and safe, 1 large kitchen table, 3 cane chairs and one book case. (Great yard sale for those interested…)