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Jersey County Page Newspapers
Jerseyville Republican 1868 – 1923
Jerseyville Republican, 1868
OTTER CREEK SCHOOL The director of the Stone School House, at Otterville have secured the services of Mr. and Mrs. Frost of White Hall to teach the ensuing year. The school was opened last Tuesday.
KILLED A little boy named Samuel Bell was killed at the railroad on day last week. He had climbed onto the side of a freight car and was crushed between the car and the platform in front of Van Pelts warehouse.
New telephone poles are being placed on line from Godfrey to Roodhouse. The new ones in the depot yard at Jerseyville are large and ornamental.
Wm. Cumbrick, a well-to-do farmer living near Carrollton, committed suicide on Sunday last by taking paris green. No reasons can be assigned for the act.
Jerseyville Republican, September 23, 1882
The committee having the matter in charge, received the statue that completes the Soldiers Monument in Oak Grove cemetery, and had it placed in position last Monday. Capt. Duffield took us out to the cemetery Wed., to inspect the work. The monument as it now stands is a work of which not only the soldiers, but all citizens of Jerseyville may well feel proud. The granite soldier is a grand piece of statuary, the face being a model of the sculptors art, the like of which is not often seen. We understand that the committee will make a full report to the Post at its next meeting, when we hope to be furnished facts and figures for publication. The monument will be dedicated next Memorial Day.
Jerseyville Republican, April 1896
KANE
Mrs. Laura Gardined visited in St. Louis the fore part of the week.
George Moyer, of St. Louis, visited his friend, Emmett Raines, Saturday and Sunday.
Dr. de Blois, of Shurtleff College, occupied the pulpit at the Baptist church Sunday morning.
Mrs. Dr. Hess, of Venice, and Mrs. Scott Greene, of Tallula, have been visiting their parents, Mr. And Mrs. Nelson Greene, returning to their respective homes Monday.
John Pope has purchased a lot in the east end and intends to erect a dwelling on it soon.
Pitt Littlefield has almost completed his studio adjoining Green Bros. Store.
A New (little) Women is being entertained at the homes of their respective papas, Herbert Waddle and Jos. Rice.
Cards are out announcing the marriage of Miss Tol Witt, daughter of Geo. Witt to Wm. M. Cory, on April 8. We the undersigned congratulate jointly and severally.
Mr. And Mrs. Louis Mann arrived from Toronto, Canada, Tuesday, and are the guests of Mrs. Hamm of Old Kane.
A year old daughter of Mr. And Mrs. Wm. Forsythe, died, Tuesday afternoon. (Deferred Letter.)
Mrs. Villa Houston of Roodhouse, is visiting her sister, Mrs. Hutchens of Old Kane.
Milt Richards, of Elmo, Wisc., is visiting Richards relatives in this vicinity.
Miss Hattie Thompson, having recovered from her protracted illness, departed for Girard last Saturday to maker her home in the near future with her uncle, George Thompson at that place.
George Goodman and wife have commenced housekeeping in the house formerly occupied by Mr. Shetterly.
Howard Perry is training Robt. Greenes famous trotters, Bermuda Boy and Bobolink.
Mr. And Mrs. Louis Cray, of Jerseyville, Sundayed at the residence of the latters father, Michael Henckle.
Mrs. Samuel McKabney is seriously sick, with small hope of recovery. Consumption being the aliment.
Louis Harwood was nominated for Pres. Of the Village Board at a caucus held last week.
Wilson Halbert and wife and Mrs. Cora Seago and son drove over to Scottsville, Wednesday.
Miss Elodie Morris is quite ill with what is feared to be typhoid fever.
Cecil White is night operator at Venice.
Those sleigh-bells, the other morning, made the early garden sass shiver in its bed, and the frisky bicycle, again haunted its winter quarters and prepared for a season of hibernation.
It seems to us that those H.S. Sparks caused by the Friction of Genes cerebrum on that of Aarons are being used too frequently to enlighten the populace on subjects not pertaining strictly to school and we would admonish those same H.S. lights to allow their Kane friend: to attend to thon items, and if their Newbern contemporary sees fit to express thon views on the flag question, to allow him to do so.
Robt. Greene shipped five car loads of fat cattle to S. Louis, Tuesday night.
Agt. T.O. White informs us that the herd of 18 Shetland ponies, that a Mr. Sylvester Gowens is to have on sale here in the near future will arrive next Wednesday.
George Vernon, aged 81 years, died at the residence of Samuel Gardiner, early Monday morning. The funeral took place Tuesday a.m.
Miss Cora Burnett visited the Future Great, Monday.
Mrs. Ralph Vandenburg and sister Miss Alma Carlin visited in Kane, Tuesday.
From all accounts, the undersigned will be able to serve their readers with news that has a wedding bell accompaniment.
Jerseyville Republican, May 1896
The writer of the following reiniscence of Rev. Peter Cartwright came from Tennessee to Illinois in 1840, and for several years was one of the most eloquent and popular Baptist ministers in the state. He served in the Civil War as a chaplain in the Federal Army, and now, at the age of ninety years, is residing in Marshall County, Kansas.
Dr. Peter Cartwright
During the years of 1847-1848 the writer was the pastor of a Baptist Church in Jerseyville, Illinois. Jerseyville at that time was a beautiful little village of, say a thousand inhabitants, cultured intelligent, progressive people. Almost the entire population were, as the name of the town would indicate, originally from the state of New Jersey. This fact they did not regard as a reproach, but rather as something to be proud of.
Along in Autumn of 47, about dusk, one evening, a venerable looking man rode up to my gate and dismounted from his horse and was proceeding to hitch the animal, when I went out to meet him. The traveler was Rev. Peter Cartwright, whom I had known years before, now on his way to attend the annual conference at Alton. “Uncle Peter,” said I. “Aint you at the wrong house? The Methodist minister lives over there, pointing in the direction of his residence. “No said he, “I have not lived this long without knowing what I am about. It is the Baptist preacher who has to take care of me tonight. A warm, cordial greeting, such as we had given each other many a long year ago among the hearty hospitalities of Kentucky, then followed. Then such an evening as we did spend together! Old-time places, faces and Christian issues were up before us, and we talked away until along in the wee small hours of the night. A stranger would never have guessed, nor did we then think, nor were we then, members of different churches, though he marshled under the Methodist banner and I the Baptist, we were both in the same army corps, fighting the same enemy and rejoicing together in the success of the same cause.
During the evening, said I, “Brother Peter, will you preach to my folks when you return from conference? “Certainly I will, was his answer. “Will you preach in my church on the evening of the next Wednesday a week, and on the following morning, after an early breakfast, mounted his horse and resumed his journey to Alton.
On the next Sabbath, before service, I announced that Rev. Peter Cartwright would preach from my pulpit, in his own style, on the next Wednesday evening. That announcement was enough to insure the filling of any house, or any two houses in Jerseyville, with an intelligent, expectant and appreciative congregation.
The Wednesday evening came, and with it, about sunset, came the famous preacher. Long before the appointed hour, the church building and its doors, windows and yard, were all completely filled with eager listeners. The writer introduced the services by reading, singing and prayer, after the preacher arose and announced his text as follows: “I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ; tis the power of God to Salvation. The vast crowd was then so silent that the fall of a pin could have been heard.
Peter Cartwright preached many strong sermons in his time, but never a better one than this. He was in fine spirits and health and felt the full inspiration of the glorious theme, with a masterful understanding of the whereof that he preached. His voice, gestures, illustrations and figures were all appropriate, easy and expressive. It was truly a joyful feast of truth, reason and faith. He displayed no eccentricities, no oddities, or levity, but just told the grand old story of the gloriouis Gospel of the Son of God, and of the power of God to the Salvation of sinners.
When dismissed almost the entire congregation, Baptists, Methodists, and all promiscously crowded around the preacher to shake hands with him, and to congratulate and rejoice with him, to the heartfelt joys of our holy religion.
My folks often asked me, after that, “When shall we look for Brother Cartwright again? These blessed minglings together of our Christian brotherhoods are the refreshing anticipation of that promised gathering together on the “beautiful evergreen shore of the blissful beyond.
Peter Cartwright is gone; that noble woman who, with me, welcomed him to our hospitality that night, is gone; the most of that delighted congregation are gone; the writer is old and feeble and will soon follow to the heavenly abode, but the cause remains.
Wm. F. Boyakin, Blue Rapids, Kansas
Jerseyville Republican, September 1911
Mary J. Hubbard versus Wm. E. Hubbard
Elizabeth Carins versus Alexander Carins
Mattie Cooley versus Harry L. Cooley
Elmer Grafford versus Maggie Grafford
Edith Pearl Mundy versus Leslie Mundy
Jerseyville Republican, May 21, 1914
Class confirmed at St. Francis Xaviers Church:
Marcus Gibbons, Henry Murray, Loretta Quinn, Anthony Powers, Edward Allen, Mary Lyons, Joseph Fleming, Stephen F. Massey, Lena Accario, John Quirk, George Redmond, Mary M.C. Accario, John Duggan, John W. Donnelly, Mary A. Corder, Edmond Connolly, Thelma Burns, Mary Lahey, William Tuohy, Loretta Dougherty, Anna Murray, Francis F. Meehan, Genevieve Fleming, Mary E. Fleming, Francis Walsh, Katie Moore, Veronica Gibbons, Leo Touhy, Grace Cunningham, Mary Fleming, Leslie Bray, Eligia McDaniels, Mary M. Quinn, James F. Dolan, Verna Leasenfelt, Teresa Flamm, Eugene Munsterman, Catherine Wahlen, Mary Allen, Edward Fleming, Margaret M. Bligh, Anna E. Grupp, James McGuire, Marquerite Callahan, Mary Dougherty, John Thurston, Cecilia Cook, Emma E. Maple, Gussie Moore, Hentietta Lahey, Lucille Massey, Francis Cunningham, Marie Cook, Catherine Fleming, Maris Lillis
Jerseyville Republican, 1915
Earl Edwards died Tuesday, Dec. 22, at his home on the L. L. Seely farm, south of White Hall, at an age of 36 years and 2 months after being sick with typhoid pneumonia. A young wife and three children survive him.
Miss Verna Edwards, daughter of Mr. And Mrs. Sylvester Edwards, who is attending the high school at White Hall, was badly injured in a runaway Wednesday morning. The horse took fright at an auto and after both front wheels of the buggy were smashed, the young lady who had the lines buckled around her body, was dragged quite a distance. Fortunately the injuries are not fatal.
The Peoples Bank at Carrollton will open for business with the beginning of the new year. Its officers are: W.D. Bowie, president; F.A. Linder, vice-president; Marcus Turney, cashier, and Geo. Olbert, assistant cashier.
From Kane the Patriot reports two interesting items: The Shanks family, father and sons, keep bachelors hall over on the banks of Macoupin, west of here, without the civilizing influence of a womans hand. It seems they settled their family differences as the savages did in the Stone age, and as European barbarians are still doing. The boys got into an argument Sunday morning, and Lester emphasized his part of the debate with a knife. After it was over, Lee Shanks was brought to town, and a physician patched him up. There was one long slash in his leg and required five or six stitches, and a number of stabs on his body, one of which would have reached his heart if the knife had not struck a rib.
A stranger, driving a team and cutter, stopped here Tuesday night. He left the rig at the livery stable and stopped for the night at the Gardiner house. It was understood that he was trying to sell the team and cutter, and Constable Perkins ascertained by telephoning that they belonged to a livery stable at Roodhouse. The man in charge of the Roodhouse stable said the hire amounted to about eight dollars and the payment of the amount would satisfy the stable. The constable had expected instructions to arrest the man. The stranger very willing paid over the eight dollars and went back to his bed at the hotel. Yesterday morning, however, when the proprietor of the stable came down to investigate the matter and possibly have the man arrested, it was found that he had slipped away from the hotel, probably before day light, and left town afoot. His early disappearance seems to indicate that his actions would not bear investigation. Cases similar to this have occurred rather frequently to late. A couple of weeks ago two men boldly took a horse and rig from a hitchrack in Jerseyville, in plain view of the sheriff. A week later it was found that the house had been left in charge of a farmer near Modesto.
Jerseyville Republican, September 1917
The school at Independent opened Monday morning Sept. 10 for the coming term. Miss Clemens from Indiana will have charge of the school large attendance.
EVANGELICAL CHURCH CONFIRMATIONS. Confirmed at Evangelical Church Fieldon
Rev. Stange Gertrude Haushalter, Estella H. Pauline M. Wilst, Freda M. Garrels, Margaret Abrogast, Edna H. Clara M. H. Wilhamine H. Eighard, Edward G. Garrels, Willie C. Krueger, Wm. T. Baum, and August F. Groppel
Jerseyville Republican, February 28, 1918
Historic Boulder
Arthur Thatcher of Jerseyville has been placed head of a committee to remove a boulder eight by five feet and weighing several tons from the I. D. Snedeker farm, just south of Jerseyville, to the court house yard where it will be suitably engraved to commemorate the organization of Jersey County in 1839.
The large rock which is located just south of the large Snedeker barn was discovered 20 years ago by the late Paul Thatcher, father of Art. Thatcher, when the former ran his plow against it, and ruined the plow. He had plowed over the spot many years before the boulder heaved itself sufficiently near the surface to obstruct the plow.
The rock is thought to be of glacial formation and to have ben brought to Jersey County in the ice from way up in Canada. At the time of its discovery persons in the neighborhood were very curious. Some thought a treasure had been buried under it, possibly by the Indians. One morning Mr. Thatcher found the earth dug from around the rock by persons eager to get rich quick. Their efforts were not crowned by success. The late Professor J. Pike and Ed Shaffer thought the boulder might be of meteoric origin, a piece of a shooting star. The rock cannot be removed without much effort as it is almost wholly covered by earth.
June 20, 1918. Seven tons of solid red granite dug from the ground at the Isaac Snedeker farm in south part of Jerseyville, was hauled on skids to the southeast corner of the Court house square in Jerseyville Friday, where it will be suitably engraved to mark historic events in the origin and development of Jersey County. The work is being done under the auspices of the Jersey county chapter of the I*llinois Centennial commission. Arthur Thatcher is chairman of the committee in charge of the removal and setting of the rock.
Elisah Pickrell removed the rock from the ground by means of a tractor and heavy chains. An incline was built from the surface of the ground to the base of the rock and chains were fastened around the stone. When all was ready, Martin Long started his tractor and the glacial rock slowly moved from its ancient resting place. The stone was hauled on plank runners to the court house square where it is awaiting a bath and a base. Several workmen with block and tackle pulled the rock in place Monday.
The huge block of granite was brought to Jerseyville ages ago by a glacier which traveled southward from the region of the Hudson Bay. The great mountain of ice melted as it came south and the rocks and dirt which it carried was deposited. Gillham mound south of Jerseyville is part of the sediment carried by the glacier. The stone, which lay hidden for many years, was discovered by the late Paul Thatcher, who farmed the Snedeker place for 40 years. One day Mr. Thatcher broke his plow share against the rock. Since then many persons have speculated as to what was under the stone. About 20 years ago Frank and Isaac Snedeker with young mans curiosity, figured that their father must have secreted some valuable papers under the stone and decided to remove it. They dug all around it with the aid of Eli Walker, but found it too heavy to move, so the hole was filled in. The stone lay untouched for a long time, partially covered with earth. Mr. Pickrell uprooted two rows of potatoes when he cleaned off one end of the stone.
Appropriate exercises will be held when the stone is engraved and dedicated. On face of rock will be original name of Jerseyville Hickory Grove and the dates when Jersey was made a village and incorporated as a city and when Jersey county was born, August 5, 1839.
Jerseyville Republican, March 25, 1920
MARCUS SUNDERLAND WOUNDED IN STREET FIGHT OVER A GIRL. SHOT IN CHEST BY RIVAL SUNDAY EVENING ON NORTH STATE STREET. ELZY PICKEREL, JR. HELD IN JAIL. Warrant Charges Assault With Intent to Kill – Hearing Set for Next Wednesday – Alberta Lewis Object of Contention.
Marcus Sunderland is suffering from a bullet wound in his chest and Elzy Pickerel, Jr., is in the county jail as a result of an altercation regarding a young woman Sunday evening on the streets of Jerseyville. Sunderland, commonly known as “Mope,” is 24 years old and is employed at the Jersey garage. “Tough” Pickerel, 21 years old March 1, has been employed as delivery man for the Keehner-Delano grocery.
Miss Alberta Lewis, daughter of Mrs. George Gauf of Jerseyville, had an engagement with Pickerel, according to the latter’s statement. As he was going to meet her about eight o’clock he saw Sunderland, accompanied by Scott Wood, drive up to Miss Lewis and ask her to ride with them. Pickerel went up to the group and asserted that he had an engagement with the girl. He and Sunderland had an argument and presently Pickerel pulled out a 32-calibre revolver, according to his own statement, and warned Sunderland to keep away from him and let them alone.
Shot in Chest.
Abusive language passed between the two and Sunderland advanced upon Pickerel, saying he was going to make the latter “eat the gun.” After they had edged a distance down the block, Pickerel fired, the bullet striking Sunderland in the chest. It was deflected by a bone and spared him from fatal injury. “I didn’t mean to hit him; I was only trying to scare him,” said Pickerel to a representative of the Republican, who interviewed him in the jail. The warrent issued for his arrest charged Pickerel with assault with intent to kill. Wednesday of next week has been set for his hearing before Justice Thatcher.
Woods took Sunderland to Dr. L. J. Giers office, where the physician probed for the bullet, but at the wounded man’s request deferred examination until the following day. He is getting along satisfactorily and no serious results are expected. Sunderland had close acquaintance with bullets while in service overseas with company M of the 28th infantry. He was wounded by a machine gun in the side and arm. While he was between two German prisoners who being carried back from the front lines acted as stretcher bearers, the Germans were killed by a shell that exploded nearby and Sunderland sustained further injury from fragments.
Buffalo HuntJerseyville Republican, February 17, 1921.
LOCAL MAN HUNTED BUFFALO IN OLD DAYS. PATRICK LYNCH SAW PRARIE BLACK WITH ANIMALS IN FRONTIER DAYS.
Much publicity has been given to the last big buffalo hunt in the United States which has been taking place the past week on Antelope Island. Some three hundred of the shaggy once monarchs of our prairies went down before the rifles of modern hunters. The privilege of killing one of the animals cost the hunter two hundred dollars.
The slaughter of the animals was decided upon by the owners of the Island. It was charged that the buffalo had become a dangerous nuisance for they were destroying cattle that had been placed on the island to graze.
A protest by the American Bison society and other kindred organizations interested in the preservation and propagation of our nearly extinct buffalo availed nothing and the slaughter has been about completed.
In Jerseyville lives one of the last of the plainsmen and scouts of the early days. The man in question is Patrick Lynch. He saw service for thirty years in the United States army and cavalry. More than twenty years of that time was spent fighting Indians on the plain. In such service Lynch viewed the buffalo of the, early days when the animals roamed the prairies in multitudes.
“I have seen the praries black with the animals,” remarked Lynch when questioned regarding his experiences. “I have killed a many a one.”
“The best plan is to shoot a buffalo is at the point of the left shoulder. You might as well try to shoot a hole in the foundation of the courthouse as to penetrate the skull of a buffalo The Indians shot them with their arrows at right angles to the shoulder blades. The redskins would ride as close to the animals as possible before releasing their arrows.
“A wounded buffalo is a dangerous thing and many a time the boys of our company had their horses gored by a charging bull or buffalo cow. I remember sewing one horse up after the animal had been ripped by a wounded buffalo. The animal got all light and saw service for several years after with our command.
“The greatest hunting we ever had during was during the starvation time in Nebraska. The grasshoppers had taken all the crops and the settlers were starving. The governor of the territory applied to the Federal government for permission to slaughter enough of the animals for food to run the settlers during the winter then approaching Our company was detailed to handle the situation at Red Willow, Neb. The government furnished the ammunition, the army the salt and the settlers the barrels.
“In the morning our company would start for the buffalo herds and cut out some, hundred of the animals for slaughter. We would drive them inward the encampment of the settlers and there shoot them down. I have seen as many as three hundred settlers’ wagons in the half circle at one time at Red Willow.
“The buffalo scalpers were a nuisance in the early days. They would use a high power rifle and a telescope sight. Thousands of the buffalo fell at the hands of these illegal hunters of the early day a of the I plains. We had many fights will the scalpers.”
“What did you do with the scalpers when you caught them? he was asked.
“We never made any arrests. We knew they would be at the game as soon as they were released. They met swift justice. The coyotes always had a feast after contact with our command.”
Questioned as to the edible qualities of buffalo meat, Lynch replied: “The meat when properly cooked is excellent. We used to place a thick slice of the meat in a Dutch oven then alternate with small slices of pork and thick slices of buffalo meat. The ovens were placed in a trench where a fire had been kindled and red coals were plentiful. The sentry kept the ovens supplied with needed water and by morning the meat was done to a queen’s taste. Another good way to cook the meat was to roast buffalo ribs over a fire. I can see in fancy now the hunch of old boys getting such a meal. We were as healthy an outfit as you could find anyplace, tough as buckskin.”
Jerseyville Republican, March 17, 1921.
DIVORCES
Ralph Rawlston vs Estella Rawlston
Alice Bentz vs Ed. Bentz
Ida May Miles vs Wm. Miles
James M. Godfrey vs Laura Godfrey
Wm. A. Main vs Estella D. Main
Wm. Strebel vs Caddie D. Strebel
Augusta Mains vs Andres J. Mains
Chas S. Turpening vs Gladys S. Turpening
Hester Campbell bs Davis C. Campbell
Leah Faye Waddell vs Harry K. Waddell
Anna Weld vs Arthur D. Weld
Louis G Houseman bs Minnie Pearl Houseman
John J. Dunham vs Maggid L. Dunham
Kate Sager vs Guy Sagerreunited
Alice D. Be.. Harry G. Bell
Jerseyville Republican, October 12, 1922
Meadow Branch News: Rev. Wilson, our new minister, preached here Sunday. His sermon was The Salt of the Earth. He will be here again on Oct. 20. Everyone come hear him. If you come once, you will come again. (The Salt of the Earth was probably my fathers best sermon. He invariably used it for his first sermon at a new church. I have not the slightest idea how many times I heard that sermon, but I never tired of it. It was always newalways good).
Jerseyville Republican, January 18, 1923
Meadow Branch News. Funeral services over the remains of A. J. Proffer were held Tuesday at his late home in Grafton. Services were conducted by Rev. T. J. Wilson. Rev. Wilson officiated at the funeral services for Worthington Lazier. Also for Mrs. Walter Banfield.
Jerseyville Republican, August 2, 1923
Rosedale News. Brother Wilson filled his appointment here Saturday night. Brother Wilson says that if anyone wants to hear him preach, he would like them to come on inside and not stand out and talk so as to disturb everyone else. (Actually that sounds fairly placid for my father. He would not tolerate his services being disrupted by young ruffians. He had been a Circuit Rider as a young minister. He was born in 1866 and never quite lost that pioneer spirit. He never resorted to rough tstuffalways managed to handle the situation tactfully, but well.)
Jerseyville Republican, January 7, 1923
Rosedale News. Rev. Wilson and daughter, Naomi, of Grafton, and Miss Thomas, a missionary from Africa, were Saturday night guests of the Wedding Sisters. (Not until I found that news item did it dawn on me that I had not heard, or did not remember hearing the Wedding Sisters called by their first names. It was always The Wedding Sisters. I decided to find out what their names were. I called Freda Freiman and Lora BradsdhawThe Freiman Sisters. They knew their names. They were Cora and Anna Wedding. When Cora and Anna reached the Pearly Gates, I feel sure they walked through without question. They were such faithful members of the Rosedale Methodist Churchand were so willing to refill the church coffers when they ran drySt. Peter no doubt nodded and gave them the go ahead.)
Jerseyville Republican, February 22, 1923. Rosedale News. William Brown died near Rosedale. Funeral services were conducted at the Hartford Church by Rev. Wilson of Grafton, assisted by the Odd Fellows of Grafton.
Jerseyville Republican
On May 24 1923, a Mrs. Winterton (I know nothing more about her, but assume she lived in the vicinity of Jersey County), wrote a very firey letter to the Editory of the Jerseyville Republican about the legality and wisdom of enacting legislation erquiring business houses to close their doors on Sunday. I may be more than a little prejudiced, but I thought my father ripped her arguments to pieces in his reply published 31 May 1923. Is Mrs. Winterton right or wrong? Lets see. She thinks the faith of millions will be tested by certain laws proposed. If our faith is not founded on rightor Gods will and his lawsit should be tested. She thinkgs we should be allowed to worship according to the dictates of our conscience. Who would calla thing worship that constantly pleads for things that are contrary to His law? That is leaving off worship and going according to the world and the flesh of the devil. No man has a right to do wrong. Why call a thing un-American that stands for what America should stand for? For right and justice. Why not repeal the law against murder? Theft? Some seem not too scrupulous about it. Is murder a civil or a religious wrong? For more than 6000 years it has been kept as both. She says Sunday Laws are wrong in principle and dangerous in practice. God made the first law of that kind. I suppose he did not know. Would Mrs. Winterton have us believe she is wiser than God? I for one prefer the Creator to the created. Signed T. J. Wilson. It is a well known fact that children never appreciate their parents until they are grown and many times until after the parents are gone. It didnt take me seventy years to appreciate Dad, but reading that letter 61 years after he wrote it, sure renewed my pride in him.
All of us remember Bob Marsh. When my father died in 1942, Bob came to pay his respects. Rather than have hurt feelings over which of the children would get the Bible Dad had carried most of his fifty years as a minister, we decided to bury it with him. Naomi and I were trying to put the Bible in his hands. Neither of us could do it. Bob Marsh was standing by he could and did put the Bible in Dads hands. We were ever so grateful.
Jerseyville Republican 1923
SEVERAL HUNDRED MEN AND WOMEN SOUGHT LOST CHILD. TWO YEAR OLD BOY WANDERED IN WOODS NEAR FIELDON ALL NIGHT. WAS FOUND BY HARRY HEALEY. Child Wandered From Home Thursday After Dinner and Was Found Next Morning After Search By Hundreds of Citizens.
An entire township in Jersey county, Ill., turned out Thursday afternoon, Thursday night, and Friday morning to help find James Isringhausen, aged two years, ten months and eighteen days. The child is the son of Mr. And Mrs. Alfred Isringhausen who resides on what is known as the lower Belt Farm in Richwood Township and disappeared from the home of his parents about two oclock the afternoon of October 25th.
Thursday afternoon Mrs. Isringhausen told her children to remain in the house while she went into the woods adjacent to the Isringhausen home to look after some cattle. When the mother left the house the child slipped away from the other children and attempted to follow her.
Mrs. Isringhausen returned to the house in about half an hour and upon her return missed the child. She searched the house and went into the door yard and called. The child did not reply and she continued the search going to the out buildings. When she could not find the little child she became alarmed and went to a field that borders on the Otter Creek. Her husband was working in the field sowing wheat. She informed him of the childs disappearance. Irsringhausen tied up his horses and went with his wife to continue the search for their child. After two hours of useless seeking the two sent to the nearest neighbors for help. Twenty of the neighbors responded and helped continue the search until sundown.
The failure to find the child resulted in the searching parties being continually reinforced until about nine oclock Thursday night a force of two hundred men and women were scouring the country in the search for the child. Joining the Isringhausen farm is a woods comprising more than three hundred acres much of it being exceedingly heavy timber augmented by dense growth of underbrush. This timber was scoured by men who used gas lanterns, flash lights and crude torches to light their way through the darker stretches of woods.
When failure to find the child in the timber resulted from the earlier attempts of the searchers an effort was made to find the child in the creek and wells adjacent to the Isringhausen home and there are dome deep water holes in the vicinity. All of these were dragged but no body was found. Louis Thurm was lowered into the wells at the Isringhausen farm in the belief that the child might possibly have fallen into one of them.
When the wells and nearby streams yielded no results the searching party again extended its efforts to the timber lands. Belief began growing that the child might have become the victim of some wild animal. Wolves have been numerous in the vicinity in question and it was feared that the baby might become the victim of some animal if it had escaped death from other sources.
At daylight next morning, men and women began arriving from all parts of Richwoods township to help continue the search and the neighboring township of Rosedale began pouring in scores of additional helpers.
Louis Krueger and his son Albert, aged fourteen, Harry Healy and Harold Groppel also of the same age left Fieldon early Friday morning to go to the Isringhausen place to join the searching parties.
They walked southward from Fieldon toward the Isringhausen farm. When they were within about a mile and a half of the place their attention was suddenly attracted by a strange noise. They caught the faint cry of Daddy, daddy, uttered in a childish voice.
The four remained standing hoping for a repetition of the cry not being certain from which direction it had emanated. They called and Harry Healy who is credited with knowing more woodcraft than any boy in western Jersey county detected a movement some distance away. He made a dash toward the sound and discovered the lost child. The little one was carrying a piece of broken stick in its hand. Healy put out his hands to the child and the youngster raised its hands toward him. The child was thinly dressed, having on only a calico romper, a suit of summer weight underwear and shoes and stockings. The four removed their coats and wrapped them about the child. The little boys hands and feet were blue from cold. Turns were taken in carrying him the mile and a half through the woods and brush to the Isringhausen farm.
Other searchers were met in the vicinity of the farm by the four and a procession of shouting men and crying women made their way to the Isringhausen farm.
The child was handed to his mother who clasped the little one to her without speaking.
Mama, the child said, I want some cough medicine. The little one had been ill of a bad cold before its wanderings into the woods and expressed the wish as its first desire.
Dr. Brewster of Fieldon was called to the Isringhausen home and ordered the child placed in bed as the exposure had so aggravated the childs condition that pneumonia threatened.
Clippings from Marty Crull.
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