NORTH VERNON SUN
North Vernon, Jennings County, Indiana
Thursday ~ ~ June 3, 1880
120 YEARS AGO
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Local and Miscellaneous News
This edition of the SUN consists of our regular sheet and a two-page
supplement, to which our readers are entitled. The supplement sheet
contains a cut of the Cincinnati Exposition Building and Musical Hall,
besides much valuable information and matter particularly interesting to
all those contemplating a visit to the Queen City.
Mrs. James P. Foley and son are visiting her father in this city.
Mr. Clough, the Madison tailor, was in this city Monday morning.
Ed Marsh shipped a carload of hogs from this station Monday night.
That White man, from Seymour, was in this city again on Monday.
Pat Dickerson sold his trotting mare to a Cincinnati man for $225.
An excursion was run from Indianapolis to Madison, Wednesday.
Miss J. E. Baker of Louisville, is visiting her sister, Mrs. Gohegan.
Omer Boon was promoted to conductorship of the branch local last week.
Charley Gautier continues the good work and Fred Bohnen paints his
house.
The invalid finds in Dr. Lindsey's Blood Searcher nature's great
restorer. It is wonderful.
Harrison Davis has gone to Lawrenceburg to work in the Cobb and Co's
chair factory.
John B. New has been appointed census enumerator of Ottercreek township,
Ripley county.
B. E. McLain has a gang of men building the telegraph line on the O. &
M. branch.
Ex-sheriff John J. Tobias and Sheriff Curson, of Scott county, were in
to see us Tuesday.
Hon. Jason B. Brown, of Seymour, our next State Senator, was in this
city Monday night.
Fred Bohnen and his men have gone to Nebraska, and are painting
Fruhaug's store and dwelling.
McMillen has "shut down" in his chair factory and we hear, no more the
hum of its machinery.
David Bay, who has been confined to his bed several days with sickness
is again able to be up and around.
Cal Dobbins passed through here Monday advertising the 6th of June for
the Seymour Red Ribboners.
John Rearden lost a Justice's docket last Tuesday night. The finder
will confer a favor by leaving at his office.
It is rumored that one of our society belle's will marry a gentleman
from an adjacent town in the near future.
J. N. Marsh ~ ~ you all know him ~ ~ editor of the Columbus Daily
Evening Democrat, was in this city Monday evening.
The Ripley Index came to us this week with a new head, new dress
(patent stuff), new editor, but a very old steryotype story.
The Lovett township ghost story is the latest sensation that is
interesting our people and will receive our attention next week.
Mrs. Meloy addressed a large audience at Odd Fellows Hall, Tuesday and
Wednesday nights. She will speak at Vernon tonight.
John H. Rodgers the recepticle of the republican votes of Marion
township has come to the conclusion that the docs not carry Frank O.
Johnson in his pocket.
Jeptha Underwood and Miss Mary Beesley were married at the residence of
the bride's parents, in Sandcreek Township, last Wednesday evening.
A telegraph office was opened yesterday at Otter Creek, for the
convenience of the men at work upon the bridge at that point. Jack
Scofield manipulates the key.
After many years, a republican has been found at Hardenburg competent to
management of the postoffice, and that institution has been turned over
to him. Vanriper is his name.
Henry Hampton completed his contract of three hundred car loads of
stone, with the O. & M. last week and will soon enter into another and
larger contract.
A petition is being circulated asking for the remission of the fine
imposed upon James H. Wilkerson. With two or three exceptions it has
been signed by every one to whom presented.
Minas Low, our own Minas, was nominated for sheriff of Bartholomew
county by the democrats last Saturday. This insures his election, but
what will Jim Honan and this office do now for a "lay over".
It is reported that Alphonso Peacock, formerly of the O & M was shot
through the heart by a tramp on the 22nd of May. At the time of his
death he was running a train on the Ft. Scott and Gulf R.R.
The remains of John Pfaffenberger, a prominent business man of Seymour,
who died at Moore's Hill on Thursday, passed through here on No. 1,
Monday, enroute for his home, where the interment took place.
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A Pleasant Lawn Social.
Last Wednesday evening the Temperance Union of this city gave a lawn
social at the residence of Mrs. Mary Prather, which proved to be an
enjoyable affair, and netted the organization upwards of twenty-five
dollars. The hill was beautifully illuminated with torches and Chinese
lanterns, and, as we viewed it from the city, we were reminded of the
hilltop resorts of Cincinnati. The tables were loaded with seasonable
refreshments and no one went away hungry. Had ample notice been given,
the spacious grounds and ample supplies would have been too limited for
the accommodations of the crowd which would have been in attendance.
Another social of a similar nature will be given at an early day, when
Vernon and this city will unite and have a grand old time on the fair
grounds, of which due notice will be given.
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CONSIDERATE TRIFLES.
Furnished as Subjects for Thought to the Readers of the Sun.
That was Bill Olcott ~ ~ I know his laugh too well.
Motto: "What is home without a baby."
Nothing in comparison to a lot babies without a home. Whoa, Emma.
Harry Swift, we presume is about the only boy in the city who goes about
the depot much, that doesn't swear.
Will P. Rooney, of Seymour, a thoroughbred gentleman, of Cork ancestry,
gave this office a pleasant call on Monday morning. Our foreman
expresses himself under obligations to Will for tidings from Seymour
acquaintances.
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LOVETT LACONICS.
Corn plowing is next on the program.
Harvest with usual amount of sweat and swearing will soon be here.
James Deputy of Stony Point was visiting relatives here a few days ago.
A nephew of General Robt. E. Lee is tramping about over this
neighborhood.
Of all the republicans we have heard speak, not one is in favor of the
third term trotter.
Beech Grove, Jackson county, will give a Centennial Suday school
celebration at no distant day.
Several persons from here talk of attending the temperance celebration
at Seymour next Saturday.
Samuel Tribbet, an honest hard working farmer was swindled out of $57 by
some lightning rod sharpers, a few days ago.
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BIGGER TOWNSHIP PIONEERS
Some time ago I received a circular from an old settler, asking me to
give the names &c. of the pioneers of this township. At that time I was
not well, not able to attend to it, thence the delay. Now, I offer a
few names, such as I can geather from memory. Not having come to this
county till 1841, I am not myself one of the pioneers.
The first settlers of Bigger Township, in the county of Jennings,
Indiana, were John Hughs, Wm. Hickland and John Needham. They came in
1810. At first they pitched their tents in the wilderness, lived,
sometime in them, until they could build their cabins and then they cut
out their farms from the woods. These persons, at the time of their
settlement, had children grown, who came with them. Food then, had to
be obtained from afar and brought through the woods. Pork and bread
stuff had to be brought from Kentucky or from Clarks Grant. Most of the
meat, however, was geathered from the woods, deer and other game being
very plenty.
In 1817, or 1818, Noah Ransdal, Jawson Stephenson, Wm. Thom and Wm.
Callicutt, came over to our township. They, too, had to bring their
bread from a distance.
From 1820 to 1821, James Spaulding and Benjamin Merrill settled here.
Merrill was a wagon-maker and blacksmith.
From 1822 to 1823, Robert Torbatt and George Evilon, came from
Kentucky,
and settled on Big Graham. About the same time came William Johnson.
Mrs. Johnson, and Wm. Ransdall, are still living, both 90 years old.
From 1825 to 1828, Robert Cowdon and John Headon, made their
settlements, also Mrs. Stott, widow of Stephen Stott, and Mrs. Bland,
widow of John Bland.
In 1830, James R. Johnson, came to this township and bought out the farm
of Wm. Thom.
In procuring food and raiment and all the necessaries of life, at the
same time, to open up their farms and make all these improvements, our
Pioneers must have done some work. All men and women, old and young,
had to work ~ ~ work early, late and hard, to endure much privation, and
many hardships. In the morning, all must be astir, the boys to the
clearing, cutting down the trees, cutting and rolling the logs, piling
and burning the brush, splitting rails and making fences ~ ~ ~ the girls
taking their buckets, hurrying to the yard, milking the cows, and taking
back to their mothers their buckets of milk. Then drawing up their
wheels ~ ~ the big and the little wheel, walking by the one, and setting
by the other, and keeping time with the buzzy of tooth. At the same
time, they add to the chime, the rattle of the shuttle and the bang of
the loom. All life and engery ~ ~ all cheerful. The sparkling [ ? ]
and rosey cheeks of the pioneer lass were none the less pleasing to the
boy than would be than the delicate modern belle at the piano.
The young people of our pioneer families intermarried. Some, though
grown old are with us still, others have passed away. Let me make a few
references.
John S. Torbatt, came from Kentucky, when a young man in the family of
his father, in the year 1822. Soon after coming to these woods he
became fascinated with the charms of a Miss McGannon and was married,
since they have shared lifes battles together. He is now an old man of
some 77 or 78 years, has a respectable family, some in this county, some
in Jefferson.
Barnet P. Johnson, came a young man, with his father Wm. Johnson. He
soon fell a captive to one of our pioneer girls. He spent his life with
us, dying a few years ago. He left a respectable family, mostly in the
neighborhood.
Vardeman Hughes, has been noticed in the papers. He went to Kentucky
for a wife, and she became an estimable pioneer hoosier.
John Hayden, came from Virginia,a young man. He was a school teacher,
but he to soon yielded to the charms of one of our pioneer girls. He
has left a respectable family ~ ~ John L. is his oldest son.
You see, I can only give the briefest sketch of some of our Pioneers.
We may immagine some of their trials, privations and hardships, and yet,
I am not certain they they did not enjoy life about as well as we do
now. There was no shrinking bashfulness, no defiant independence, but
all stood upon a level here in the woods, regarding each other as
equals. All were enjoyable, and full of life. There were their log
rollings, house raisings, shuckings and quiltings, and after, their
farms became cleaned (cleared ?) so that the farmers could raise flax
the youngsters would gather to the pullings ~ ~ pull and spread it out
so nicely. At the other bees and doings, all would turn out, old and
young, men and women, boys and girls, and they would have a jovial and
good time generally. The men and boys went to the rollings, raisings
and shuckings, the women and girls to the quiltings. In the meantime
the mothers ~ ~ bless their good old souls would have the dinners and
suppers prepared and suited to their quickened appetites. There was the
delicious chicken pie, its crust baked brown all around, done up in the
skillet and lid. Girls if you want to learn to make a chicken pie, go
to your mothers, they will show you, without my writing a recipe, and
believe me, chicken pie is one of the best dishes ever put upon a
table. Yes, commend me to a chicken pie; if I had one now such as our
mothers used to make I would quit this writing in a moment, and go in
for my share of the [ ? ].
Though the Pioneers came from [ ? ] and settled here in the woods,
they soon became familiar. The latch strings of the cabins were hanging
out, and they made the necessary efforts to secure social intercourse
and enjoyment. They came and went at pleasure, and none went away
hungry. Of our early Pioneers few remain, but their achievements,
their farms and improvements are here. They have done good work and we
cherish their memories.
I may not have mentioned all I should, or written as fully as I might,
but it is about what my memory affords me at present and you must make
the most of it.
Thomas Bland.
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HE GOT HER.
Dr. Theodore M. Brenton and Miss Fannie M. Shook were married at the M.
E. Parsonage, in Vermilion, Wednesday, May 26, 1880, at 3 o'clock p.m.
by Rev. W. R. Lathrop. The happy pair left on the evening train for
Edinburg, Ind., where they will spend a week visiting relatives and
friends. ~~ Osgood Journal.
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MANGLED MASHERS.
Last Wednesday Louis Schwake mashed his hand while prying up a heavy
rock. Thusday Hugh Dorsey dropped a block of stone that weighed a ton,
more or less, upon one of his paws, causing it to present a puffed up
appearance, and James McQuiddy, not to be outdone by anybody, dropped a
stone on one of his feet, smashing it all out of shape. All are now
doing well.
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PLEAD GUILTY SENT UP.
George Redding, Jacob Fulton and Patrick Hoyt who were detected in the
act of manufacturing some spurious coin, near Queensville a short time
since, and arrested in Ripley county, were arraigned before Judge
Gresham of the United States Court last Thursday, plead guilty, and were
sentenced to the penitentiary. Redding was given two years and Fulton
and Hoyt each eighteen months.
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DIED.
On Sunday morning, May 30, 1880, at 5:20 o'clock at his home in this
city, Emerson B. Reeder; aged twenty years. Deceased was a son of W. S.
and E. B. Reeder. His health has been quite poor for about three years,
but he was not confined to his bed until two days before his death.
Funeral occurred from family residence Monday morning, Rev. Mark
Robinson delivering the discourse, and the remains were followed to the
cemetery by a large procession of friends, where it was consigned to
grave, that "windowless palace of death". For him the trials of life
are over, and his voyage across the dark river ended. With patience and
forbearance he bore his suffering, and only when disease had mastered
the vigor of his body, did hope leave him. The family have the sympathy
of many friends in this their hour of grief and trouble. Weep not fond
parents, kind brothers and sisters, your son, and brother only sleepeth
for awhile to wake on that bright eternal shore where all is peace and
happiness, where the weary are at rest and trouble never comes.
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