Miscellaneous Articles and Stories
Miscellaneous Newspaper and other Articles
Please send newspaper and other articles to Cass County Historical and Genealogical Society or to Marcia Cox for posting. Please include source and date if available.
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ACCIDENTAL DEATH - Chandlerville Times, Chandlerville, Illinois, August 29, 1902, later published in The Cass County Historian, March 1998
About 6 pm, Saturday, Clara, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dallas JUMP was accidently shot and killed at Virginia. Her parents were in Beardstown at the time and she was at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Washington SHARP who live near the JUMP residence. The twelve year old son of the SHARP's was shooting a 22 rifle in the back year [yard] when the young lady came around the corner and in range of the gun at the very instant of it being discharged. The ball struck her in the left eye and upward to the brain, killing her instantly.
BIRTHDAY - Virginia Gazette, Virginia, Illinois, April 26, 1901, later published in The Cass County Historian, March 1998
Hagner neighborhood - One of the oldest residents of this vicinity, "Aunt Judy" BUCK recently celebrated her 82nd birthday. She was born in Bertie County, NC near Windsor on April 14, 1819. At the age of 15 she emigrated to Illinois with her parents Mr. and Mrs. Eldred HARDY.
She was married to Thomas BUCK at the age of 19 and is the mother of 12 children, 35 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.
50th ANNIVERSARY - Chandlerville Times, Chandlerville, Illinois, May 2, 1902, later published in The Cass County Historian, December 1997
Mr. and Mrs. Howard CURRENT celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary April 28 at their home near Bentonville, Arkansas. The Busy Bees of the Christian Church gave a reception. Mrs. CURRENT (nee WING) married and resided near Chandlerville for a number of years.
RUNAWAY - Ashland Sentinel, Ashland, Illinois, May 2, 1903, later published in The Cass County Historian, December 1997
Jens MARCUSSEN, a farmer residing near Newmansville, was badly injured Thursday of last week. In going over a bridge near his home, his team became frightened and ran away, throwing him out of the wagon. He will be confined to home for a week or two.
THE CHANDLERVILLE MILL - Virginia Enquirer, Virginia, Illinois, December 27, 1879 - later published in The Cass County Historian, December 1997
The Chandlerville Mill has been thoroughly over hauled and repaired and is in good running order. THe proprietors W.W. BAKER & CO. furnish the public with best quality flour, meal, and bran.
ANOTHER VERSION - DOUGLAS AND LINCOLN IN BEARDSTOWN - The Cass County Historian, December 1999, source - Schuyler Citizen, August 18, 1958
Judge DOUGLAS spoke in Beardstown last Wednesday. A large number were present, probably 3000 would be a fair estimate.
DOUGLAS reached Beardstown at 10 a.m. on board the "Sam Gaty". He was met at the wharf by two military companies and a large number of citizens and was escorted to the National Hotel where he spent the remainder of the forenoon receiving friends.
At 2 p.m. he was escorted to the Square. He was welcomed by J. Henry SHAW and then he delivered his speech. We will not outline the speech because it was a reptition of other speeches he has made and such things as LINCOLN charged DOUGLAS as being a "party to the spread of slavery into our territories", this was pronounced "as an infamous lie" and that TURNBULL had reiterated the same charge in Chicago recently, which he "would not dare to make to my face" DOUGLAS said. He went on for sometime, claiming that LINCOLN wanted to dissolve the Union and that he favored negro equality etc.
DOUGLAS is a good orator but a reckless politician. There was continued restlessness among his audience and less enthusiasm then expected. During the whole discourse, a foolish fellow kept firing off a little one horse cannon that had been imported for the occasion.
LINCOLN arrived by steamer at 9 a.m. and was greeted by a large number the same as DOUGLAS. He was escorted to the National Hotel where he received friends.
At 11 a.m. a delegate of 200 from Schuyler County appeared on the opposite bank of the river with flags and music by the Rushville band. They were welcomed by Mr. STURTEVANT. Three cheers each were proposed for Schuyler, Cass counties and LINCOLN. The delegation was escorted to the Square with military companies and 50 to 100 horsemen and where Rushville and Arenzville bands played. The horsemen then drew up at the hotel and saluted LINCOLN.
At 2 p.m. LINCOLN was escorted to the stand by the Rushville band and were received there by the Arenzville band. He was introduced by Judge RICH and received by a storm of applause. We will not attempt to do justice to his masterly effort. It is sufficient to say he took up the ridiculous charges of his opponent and completely annihilated them.
Although more people were in town Wednesday, LINCOLN had a more attentive audience Thursday. To the honor of Beardstown, both days went off well.
NANCY MASTEN - History of Cass County, IL., Vol 2, 1915 by Charles Martin
Nancy MASTEN is a Cass county woman who is proving her ability to conduct extensive farming interests successfully and is justly accounted one of the representative agriculturalists of this section. Mrs. MASTEN was born in Cass county, April 30, 1851, a daughter of Thomas and Rachel (Elmore) COMBS, the former born in Kentucky and the latter in Robinson county, Tennessee in 1812. These parents were married in Illinois, but later went overland in a covered wagon to Missouri, but came back to Illinois and located in Cass county.
Nancy S. COMBS was reared on a farm and educated in the country schools of Cass county. On May 6, 1869, she married James MASTEN, born in Ohio, June 3, 1843, who came to Illinois in 1860. He was a farmer and stockraiser. His father served as a soldier during the Black Hawk War. Mr. and Mrs. MASTEN had the following children, Almire Jane, born December 19, 1870, Silas, born July 6, 1872, John William, born January 14, 1877, Nellie, born November 16, 1878, Edward C. born October 18, 1885, Rachel born November 8, 1887, Ezra, born November 10, 1889 and lives in Tallula, Charlie M. born February 24, 1892 and Marian, born June 28, 1895, the last two still living at home and Jessie, Julia and Thomas, all three deceased. Mr. MASTEN died June 2, 1901. He was a Democrat and served as a school director. Mrs. MASTEN is a very capable woman and has all her land, 230 acres situated on Section 32, Township 18, Range 8 under cultivation.
CHRISTMAS BIRTHDAY PARTY - Ashland Sentinel, January 2, 1896 - source - The Cass County Historian, December 1994 -
J.J. ELMORE happened to be a Christmas present to his parents 58 years ago. His wife, since their marriage has rarely let that fact slip his memory. Following this habit Mrs. Elmore prepared for Friday one of those dinners which has given her the reputation as being one of the best cooks in central Illinois.
Among the guests were W.W. CRUM, Mike CARNEY, Charles BENNETT, ___STILTZ, Harry STRIBBLING, Cy COUCHMAN, Clint BUICE, J.L. MARTIN, Ab MITCHELL, Dave HORTON, Warren HORTON, Will GRAFF, F.M. SCOTT, Willie DAVIS, S.M. DAVIS and Philander FLOYD. The enjoyment was not limited to dinner but continued well toward the night.
COUNTY HISTORY - The following article is in regards to the "History of Cass County Illinois 1882" by William Henry Perrin and published by O.L. Baskin of Chicago, Illinois. The article was first published in the "Virginia Enquirer" and then published in the "Sangamon Valley Times," October 20, 1882.
"The citizens of Monroe precinct held a meeting at the Monroe schoolhouse on last Monday evening, to plan an organized 'resistance to the draft' made upon them by O.L. Baskin and Company for so-called History of Cass County, recently published by that enterprising Chicago firm. The reporter was not admitted to the meeting, but I learn that our Monroe friends resolved to stand together and make common defense against what they regard as the worst fraud that has ever yet struck this county. They charged the agents of the firm who canvassed the precinct for subscriptions with the grossest misrepresentations, falsehood and even forgeries of names. They allege that the book in every respect falls far short of the prospectus and that as a history, it is full of errors and unreliable. For instance, it represents that Hon. John Pratt, a late prominent citizen, to have been a Hoosier, Hon. David Epler, a teamster, John Springer is prematurely announced as the father of two children and Dick Davis's second wife is stated to be his son, Jo. Our worthy postmaster, Newt. Wilson, married his second wife eleven years before the death of his first. But the chief grievance of the Monroe folks and their strongest ground of objection to the so-called History lies in the execution of the portraits which embellish the work. They say that Jack Tureman's picture is a vile and malicious caricature purposely so executed for political purposes during this campaign by some secret designing enemy of the Greenback-Labor-Socialist party. They assert that the portrait of Hon. J. Henry Shaw must be from a wood cut that has already don duty in sensational yellowback literature as the picture of Missouri's greatest hero, Jessie James. Our worthy citizen, Gotliev Noellsch is made to look as if he was smelling an intolerable stink, while Uncle Jim Crum seems to be suffering from 'that hell of all diseases' the jumping toothache. But the worst case of portrait among them all is that one purporting to be Dr. Boone. The Dr. is by no means an Adonis but a very prepossessing well-favored gentleman, full of life and energy but any intelligent stranger guided by this sad case of a portrait, alone would bet that it represents the mummited remains of some prehistoric denizen recently dugup. No, the Monroe folks don't very well admire this species of literature and its mode of dissemination. It won't be healthy for Baskins agent go come into Monroe to collect pay for that book." Source - The Cass County Historian, March 1995, submitted by Janice Fox
BIRTHDAY PARTY - Virginia Enquirer, Virginia, Illinois, December 25, 1915
Mr. and Mrs. John KRUSE entertained twenty two guests last Wednesday in honor of Daniel BIDDLECOME's 89th birthday. Those present were Mr. and Mrs. BIDDLECOME, Miss Tacie BUXTON, Mrs. Lillian LEONARD, Mrs. Mary SCHMIDT, Mrs. Elizabeth BIERHAUS, Mrs. L. WUBKER, Mrs. Carrie KOCH, Mr. and Mrs. E.H. HUPPER, Mr. and Mrs. Amos BUXTON, Mr. and Mrs. Henry MILLER, Mr. and Mrs. Fred MAUER, Mr. and Mrs. Jesse ACHUE, Mr. and Mrs. Jasper STADLEY, and Mr. and Mrs. John ENGLE. The guests reported a fine time and a most bountiful dinner. Mr. BIDDLECOME received many cards and an angel food cake with his initial and age on it from Mrs. KRUSE.
BIGAMIST - Chandlerville Times, Chandlerville, Illinois, November 2, 1902, later published in The Cass County Historian, December 1997
Four living wives is the record for John T. DRISCOLL alias C.M. BLOOM who is in jail in Virginia on a charge of bigamy brought by wife number 2, Mrs. Eliza HUNTER of Ashland. They married July 1901 and he deserted a month later, taking $340 of her money. Wife number 1 resides in Paxton, Illinois and has five children. DRISCOLL/BLOOM had been living in Huntington, Indiana with wife number 4. Wife number 3 is a resident of McLean Co., Illinois. The action of the grand jury in April will no doubt place him out of the range of temptation for awhile.
A TRAGEDY - Virginia Jeffersonian, October 4, 1872, reprinted in The Cass County Historian, September 2000
Our neighborhood (Chandlerville) has had great excitement the last day or two, over a mysterious death. We shall five [give] you such particulars as can be relied upon. There have been living in this village for the last five or six weeks, a German and his wife by the name of KNIERIEM. Both recently came from Europe. They married here, the lady coming to this place by an arrangement made by the husband. They had moved themselves and commenced housekeeping. Last Sunday afternoon somewhere near five o'clock the woman was shot dead in the house. A trial was held last night before Squire PADDOCK and RAINES. Mr. CARPENTER of Virginia appeared for defense and Mr. CHANDLER for the prosecution. The husband was placed under suspicion. As there were no witnesses to the act, Mr. CHANDLER had to rely upon KNIERIEM statements together with what circumstantial evidence he could find. The gun was fired in the house and heard by some neighbors but not acted upon as any direct clue until KNIERIEM himself, some half and hour after the firing of the gun, came out of the house, locking the door. The house being in the east part of town, he went down to FREDRICK the shoemaker (and his employer) and told him his wife "had fallen dead". The reason given for going so far before relating the story is that he could not speak a word of English, which is true. On KNIERIEM's returning to his house he overtook Peter NEFF and others, to whom he told the same. NEFF going with him to examine and help. The door being opened and body being looked at, the question was asked "how was this done?" KNIERIEM pointed to the window which was open and stated "that someone had shot through it and he and his wife had fallen down." NEFF said this could not be "you did it." At this KNIERIEM at this point looked wild stopped crying and said nothing. KNIERIEM was taken to the calaboose. While there he says he came to his senses. He claims in his statement before the court that from the time of the death of his wife till this period in the jail he knew nothing definitely because he was over whelmed in horror and sorrow. But after recovering himself he sat down and looked it all over. Charles NEFF visited him in the jail and told him to say nothing but the truth. KNIERIEM then stated this. "Sunday afternoon he concluded to kill one of his chickens for supper, telling his wife that she should get the fire alight and put water on. He went into another room in the house occupied by a Mr. TAYLOR - now absent - got his gun, sat down at the table, resetting the barrel of the gun on it and towards his wife "fooling with the gun" concerning the hammer, caps, etc. He had snapped it twice, and he supposed unloaded. His wife sat at the other side of the table, with head inclined forward depending on left hand, elbow resting on the table and finger crooked near tight [right?] eye, reading out of a German hymn book. All at once the gun went off and she fell dead. This is KNIERIEM's deliberate story. He told one slightly different in the jail but this did not come up in the evidence. THe points made in his favor are as follows: 1. He was so confused at the accident, he could tell nothing rationally at first. 2. He had never been known to quarrel with his wife, and they appeared to live happily and like children together.
The points against him are: 1. He remained in the house half an hour after the deed, changed his bloody pants and shoes, having put the gun in a recess some distance from the room where his wife was shot. 2. The gun shot wound blowing out the right eye, breaking all the bones of the skull and lower jaw, must have been made by a gun depressed and not elevated.
He had excellent defense in Mr. CARPENTER. He is very little known by the Germans here. The corpse was buried yesterday at 3 p.m. and the husband bound over in a bond of $1000 to appear in court. Gossip shall be utterly excluded from this report.
Several weeks later a few lines appeared in the Jeffersonian stating that Mr. KNIERIEM had been acquited of the murder.
The following seems to be that of the above couple. Conrad KNIEVIEM to Mina SALTZMAN, 21 August 1872 by Gustav BAUMMAN of the Lutheran Church of Chandlerville.
BUGGY ACCIDENT - Beardstown Morning Enterprise, Beardstown, Illinois, August 27, 1913
About 2:30 am Tuesday, as a freight train No. 77 on the Burlington was passing through Arenzville, the engine hit a horse and buggy driven by two gentlemen, killing the horse, smashing the buggy and injuring both men. The young men in the buggy were Paul BATES and Ben ARENZ and were lucky in escaping with their lives.
The engineer was unaware of he accident until he arrived in Beardstown where part of the buggy was discovered still hanging to the front of the engine.
Miscellaneous Articles and Stories, p.4
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