She Fell Down on Her . . .

News in the County in October 1879

Stuble & Co was the new undertaker in Lawrenceville.  They promised to keep on hand a good assortment of caskets and cases (imitation rosewood, burr oak and metallic), plain coffins and boxes, and even advertised that they would attend funerals.

St Francisville: Allen and & Potts were erecting a handsome residence for Russell Tugaw north of town.  The store of Mr. Shroyer two miles west was broken open and a number of articles taken. Spencer Quick had his mule team and wagon stolen from him. Mr. Barnes sold his water mill property to Daniel McCaulay of Clay City. Cas Price, new owner of Quick’s steam mill in St Francisville, took to milling as naturally as a duck takes to water.

Henry Lathrop had the lumber on the lot between the P & D railroad shed and the Christian church, ready for the erection of a new marble shop. Two weeks later the newspaper noted that WH Lathrop, marble cutter, had moved to his new shop near the P&D Railroad and was prepared to turn out styles of headstones and monuments.

Milton Lewis was selling sewing machines at his new brick store second door west of the post office in Sumner for $35. He also sold pianos and organs.

Two financial disasters were remembered as occurring in the County by the editor Mary Buntin.  In 1861 Sam Laird, then the County Treasurer collected and smuggled for his own use, taxes from the people of $4000. Then orders to pay various venders were made but as there were no funds to pay, litigation resulted. Laird was then discovered, and he was called on to refund and he refused. A lawsuit was brought against his bond, and it was found to be defective, and a compromise was agreed upon. He was allowed to pay 50 cents on the dollar.  He collected good money, he kept it concealed for ten years, he paid half back.

The second event occurred February 1874, when Treasurer George W Stoltz had $4000 of tax money in the County safe when burglars blew up the safe at midnight, pocketed the cash and fled to the woods. Stoltz made long expensive efforts to recover the stolen cash but failed. A lawsuit was brought against him on his bond and a compromise on his behalf payable in annual installments.  He met those obligations and there remained $1500 due the county of about forty cents to each voter.  In his elder days he worked hard to keep his promise to pay.  The editor of the paper thought it was only fair to deal justly with him and let him go free.

The previous month a birthday party had occurred at the residence of TW Roberts to celebrate the 22nd birthday of Mr. Lew Hite. Supper was served that consisted of oysters, roasted, fried and stewed and many other choice edibles. The host was highly tickled to see that the guests were tastefully and elegantly attired as follows:

Mr. T W Roberts was dressed in a handsome suit of green jeans pants and soldier’s blue overcoat; ornaments: pin with a stone from the bottom of the Embarrass set in pewter. Mr. Lew Hite, light blue pants and brown roundabout; ornaments: tin watch and leather chain. Mr. Tom Watts, yellow jeans pants striped, with green broad cloth coat; ornaments: silver ring. Mr. Gus Warner, bed ticking pants, luster coat with jacket front; ornaments: wooden cuff buttons painted black. Mr. Chris Guess, brown overalls and blue jeans coat; ornament: silver eagle cravat pin. Mr. Fred Dubois, blue jeans pants slightly patched on knee and linen coat; ornaments: black ring with silver heart. Mr. Will Garrard, Linen pants, blue vest, pink roundabout with elbow sleeves; ornament pure brass ring with hickory set. Mr. Lew Schmalhausen, blue cotton pants white vest, brown jeans coat; ornaments: pewter watch set with stones from the shores of Injun creek hanging from a twine string. Mr. Chas Harsch, blue soldier pants and black jeans coat; ornaments: pure hickory cravat pin. Mr. John Corrie, yellow duck overalls, red oil calico coat ornaments, large brass buttons on vest. Mr. John Swineheart, buckskin pants, white vest, navy blue coat; ornaments: two silver rings. (And we think kids dress funny today. . .Ok so this was probably a “costume” party.)

Samuel James was arrested on a charge of assault with the intent to kill.  The row occurred near Sumner September 2d. Wheat was up $1.03 per bushel. The steam thresher of W M Lewis had almost finished threshing.W E Mock sold the Lawrence County Press published at Sumner to Dr L D French and A C Clippinger because it did not prove profitable.

Bridgeport news. It was cool enough to make sausage. W M Lewis had a hardware store. Dr H V Lewis of Bridgeport left for the State Physio Medical college in Cincinnati Ohio. Mr. Jacob Garin of Bridgeport entered a stand of wax flowers at the Knox County Fair.

Lawrenceville: Mrs. Pipers in Lawrenceville had sewing machine needles for sale and could reshape and fit hats. A cold wave hit Lawence County making overcoats and fires in demand. Two train carloads of coal from the Brazil, Indiana mines were received here. The city dads were discussing a public well so that if a fire broke out in the courthouse it could be extinguished. Mr. BF Pence and son hauled five loads of wheat into Lawrenceville and took home $304.50 in solid cash. The Buchanan House received a new coat of paint. It was noted that Barnes and Abernathy sold strictly for cash and did not add on a percent for bad debts.  Ed Tracy had a pumpkin that weighed 108 pounds.  A citizens meeting was held to devise ways and means to organize a library. Mr. Pierce, Mr. Robinson and Mr. Gold were appointed to solicit subscription of stock for the purpose of purchasing books.

On Sunday last as Noah Pence was going from his home two miles west of Lawrenceville to Bridgeport he was overtaken by Walter Carr and Charles Wolf when Carr commanded him to get out of his buggy at the same time running up to his side.  Carr pulled out a pistol and fired at Pence only missing him a few inches but Carr thinking he had shot his man, made swift his retreat.  There seems to have been a word war between these two parties at the Cross Road school house on Tuesday prior which was the cause of his attack upon the highway.

Broad Hollow News: Thomas England built a substantial barn. John Slagle fell about 9 ft at the barn raising but did not get hurt much. A new bridge was built near Freemont school. The Gray threshing firm finished forty-five thousand bushels of grain that fall. The weather was very dry. SP Barton, Lawrenceville grain merchant, had shipped 104 train cars of wheat to Toledo, Ohio via the P & D Railroad since July 2, 1879.

Mr. Jesse Benefiel surveyor of Lawrence County met with a painful accident at Bird’s Station. He, in the company with Mr. J W Whitaker, county treasurer, was looking over the ground politically, both being candidates for reelection to their respective offices, and stopped at the station to talk with a friend.  A train on the D & SW RR passed but the mare attached to their buggy did not seem to take any notice of it till the cars had passed out of sight.  Then she began to rear and pitch, smashing the buggy into splinters and throwing Mr. Benefiel out and breaking his ankle.  The buggy was a new one worth $150 and was a total wreck.  Mr. Benefiel had a higher price perhaps set on his ankle so that he was the greater sufferer.

 How Maggie Fell

“You ought to have seen me,” said the vivacious young lady to the new minister. “I’d just got the skates on and made a start when I fell down on my ---.

“Maggie!” said her mother.

“What?  Oh, it was funny. One skate cut one way and the other’n t’other way, and down I came on my ---.”

“Margaret!” reprovingly spoke her father.

“Well, what? They scooted from under me and down I came on my ---.

“Margaret!” yelled both parents.

“On my little brother who had me by the hand and I liked to have smashed him.  Now what’s the matter.”