"Hairpins Scattered an Inch Deep"

The Bridgeport newspaper correspondent for the Mt Carmel Reporter published the story about the wedding of George M Whittaker and Mrs. Mary A Lanterman Price that occurred on January 27, 1880. The story was picked up and re-published by the Vincennes newspaper, on page 1 of The Weekly Western Sun, on Friday, February 6, 1880. You can read about it here Lanterman-407.

The Vincennes Sun’s correspondent from St Francisville informed the public of the marriage of John R Richardville to Mrs. Lucy C Tougas. You can read about it here  Couett-2  

The drowning of Jesse Jones was reported.  Jones-161184  The divorce of Frank Herin is here Herin-69   

The following Lawrence County news items were found in the Weekly Western Sun, published in Vincennes, on Friday, February 6 1880.

The Vincennes newspaper published (again!) that A. Clippinger of Sumner had purchased the press and other material for the Sumner Democrat, a new paper to be established in Lawrence County.  “That would make 4 county newspapers.”  (Vincennes said that was too many!)

Huston Jackson of Wyoming Territory had been visiting his relatives, the Hiskeys and returned to the far west on Tuesday. The employees of Mr. M. May of Sumner presented him with a gold-headed cane. Mrs. T W Roberts and Miss Alice Chenoweth of Lawrenceville returned from a visit to Atlanta. The infant of J McGaughey of Lawrence County died and was buried February 2, 1880.  The shoemaker in Sumner, Jeremiah Brooks, died. Brooks-31821

Professor E B Hill late of Palestine died February 2, 1880. Deceased was well known in the Lawrence County vicinity, having organized several brass bands at different times.  About 12 years ago (1868) he was instrumental in organizing the best band in southern Illinois at Lawrenceville.

The stove pipe in the court room of the courthouse fell down and one joint of it lit upon the reporter’s head and as it rolled off, it turned endwise and covered Attorney Jim Pritchett all over with soot.  The judge and everybody laughed when Jim said “take that thing away.”  All the attorneys blackened their hands trying to replace the pipe but failed and finally carried the stove out of the building.

The French influence in the county was felt. O& M RR sold round trip excursion tickets to Mardi Gras from February 1-7 on the Iron Mountain route. Round trip to New Orleans for $31.40.  Tickets were good for the return until February 28.

St Francisville still pressed for the railroad machine shops to be built in that city.  Their reasons were:

1.      Because they were located about midway between Danville and Cairo and the probabilities were that the business of the two divisions would be at that point.

2.      Because there was a junction formed there by the Indianapolis and St Francisville Line or the extension of the C & V from St Francisville to Vincennes.

3.      Because they were high and dry; their drainage had scarcely any equal.

4.      They had an abundance of soft water for making steam.

5.      They had an abundance of fine coal if shafted.

6.      Their gravel pits had no equal.

7.      They were blessed abundantly with a fine quality of foundry sand.

8.      Engine sand had been carried from this station ever since the road had been in operation.

9.      They offered $200 and “maybe more” to the railroad. (Not a bribe just “consideration money”).

10. Because the people of this town and whole surrounding country knew it was advantageous to the company to have the shops here and with one voice they shouted, “We want them.”

In conclusion they thought that their chances were superior to those of any other station between Cairo and Danville.

In other St Francisville news, the paper reported that the work on the new church was progressing rapidly but didn’t say which church. However, the cost was $3000. The new depot was almost completed. A regular passenger train left from this point. One could get on at St Francisville at 8:20 am and would return at 6:00 pm. A round-trip ticket cost 50 cents but the reporter failed to mention where one went.

Also in St Francisville, the ball given at Brouillette’s Hall on Tuesday night was the grandest affair of the kind that had ever been given in this town or vicinity. The social was the quintessence of superlative grandness.  The following named persons were present, including Burt Jordan and lady, Dr Frazer and lady, John Richardville and lady, Miss Belle Tougas, W F Ellis (accepted back into society now that he was found not guilty of murder) Florence Tougas, Paul Richardville and the newspaper’s correspondent.  The supper was splendid. Card playing was indulged in and the well-known game of “old maid” exercised the emotional power of every person present. Joseph Potts furnished excellent music while socialists merrily danced. 

A brawl did occur between two young ladies whose names the reporter refrained from giving.  One young lady selected her partner and had taken her position on the floor to dance, when another young lady concluded that she would occupy the same place.  A few angry words passed between the two females, they began pulling hair, and before they were parted, mohair, artificial curls, artificial bangs, and hair pins were scattered all over the floor an inch deep.

Circa 1842