Foregoes

What was happening in Lawrence County during the first week of March 1880?

Seed potatoes and garden seeds were for sale at Watts in Lawrenceville. They also sold Mackerel, white fish and everything in the fresh salt fish line. Farmers could buy pumps for their wells there as well. Watts paid the HIGHEST prices for all kinds of poultry and produce. In the next column, W H Meadows advertised that he paid the highest price in cash of any business house in town for poultry of all kinds. The Meadows store, known as the Stove and Tinware Depot, located on the north side of the square, also sold tin ware, hollow ware, Japan ware, granite ware, table knives and forks, and general hardware, in addition to taking chickens in as trade.     

Justus Struble and Co., undertakers, kept on hand a good assortment of caskets made of imitation rosewood and Burr oak and metallic cases. B H Propes moved his shop to the Masonic building in Lawrenceville where he kept small pictures, moldings, frames, picture nails, shade tassels, window cords, looking glasses, hat racks, parlor brackets, and a variety of other useful and ornamental articles that he advertised he would sell cheap for cash or exchange for all kinds of produce.  He also kept coffins, cases, and caskets on hand and would make Walnut coffins to order on short notice. Warner Bros of Bridgeport announced the arrival of their spring stock including their 5 and 10 cent counters, 12 pounds of rice for $1 or 25 pounds for $2, 50 lbs. of coffee for $8, and oatmeal toilet soap at 50 cents for a dozen bars. Knives and other cutlery as well as tinware could be purchased at Schmalhausen’s in Bridgeport.  They also paid cash for old scrap iron.

The Japonicas were in bloom from the unusual warm weather for March. (These were Japanese quince bushes for those of you who are a little rusty on your botany.) The local sawmills had signed large contracts for hard lumber to be used in the construction of Chicago elevators.  

Mr. Arthur Williams who resided near Lancaster, died last week after a short illness. He was the father of Mrs. E. Schmalhausen. The preacher from the German Albright church in Olney preached at the Presbyterian church in Bridgeport.  It was at the urging of Grandma Schmalhausen who understood the German language better than the English.  If you interested in the Schmalhausen family from Prussia who became merchants in Bridgeport and Lawrenceville check here and here 

Frank Robb/Rabb Barton was born May 16, 1879, to Samuel and Belle O Curry Barton. Little Frank died February 27, 1880, aged 9 months and 11 days in Lawrenceville. “Another jewel has been gathered from earth for the crown of the King of Kings.  After protracted and severe suffering little Frank has gone to rest eternally and to a happy home with the pure in heaven.” The death record stated that the cause of death was a “disease of the head, supposed to be a hydrocephalus with complication of a tumor or enlargement of the sinus.”  This condition lasted for three months. Dr H M Smith of Vincennes noted that he did not perform a postmortem.  If you are interested in the SP Barton family check here

R W Anderson, the dentist, relocated to Lawrenceville Illinois from Bedford, Indiana to practice dentistry with an office at the Watts House. He advertised that he would call on patients at their homes when called to so. 

The news must have been scarce that week because the reporter got a little creative with reporting the marriage licenses that were issued the previous week.

  “James K Brown,60, has the undisputed right to start a hotel on a large scale now or any other legitimate business in whatever he goes at; he will find Nancy E Terrell,39, a helping companion and we predict she will “Hoe her Row”. (married February 26)

"Joseph Strouse, age 75, and ready as a cricket, kept up such coaxing at Sophia Decker, 46, to be his daisy, his dumpling, his lamb, and love him little and love him long that Sophia finally said yes and now they are as happy as June bugs in the meadow. (March 7)

"Milten Green,35, was in too much of a hurry to get the papers that gave the parson the right to slip the fatal noose over his head and join him for life to Rachel Huston,34. (March 7) These were second marriages for all involved."

WW Parrish published that he would sell the Peter Charlie farm containing 40 acres of good plow land and ½ interest in 40 acres of wheat on the place for $800-$20 per acre.  Five or six rail car loads of horses were shipped to St Louis and the southern market from Sumner.

Charles H May, administrator for the estate of A J May, offered a final accounting before the court.  William Seed Sr, Alexander Brunson, William K Brunson and Laura Brown, minors by their next friend, Alexander Brunson and Sally Brown were ordered to sell real estate by the court.

Dr EP Crump died at his residence March 2, 1880, after a two-week illness of pneumonia He was aged 60 years, two months, and sixteen days. To read more about this “horse doctor” and his family check here.

Mark Watson was learning telegraphing with the Bridgeport railroad agent, Ed Abernathy. JG Snapp of Allison Prairie was clerking for LR Schmalhausen in the Bridgeport drugstore. Mr. Cooper of Bridgeport planned to engage in the drug business in Sumner. Judge WJ Crews and Dl Gold “celebrated their fifteenth birthdays February 29 and still they have been exercising their right to vote for over 30 years.”

“Foregoes” was the word given out at a school writing exercise and one little boy handed in  “go, go, go, go”. Was that your ancestor?