NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS - 1900
Friday, January 5, 1900
Clinton Register
Clinton, Illinois
CITY AND COUNTY.
A daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Chas. WHITE, of Texas township.
Mrs. PRYOR, mother of Arthur PRYOR, was acquitted at Vandalia on the charge of being accessory to the murder of her husband. Arthur is in jail here.
Friday night F. C. DAVIDSON, T. H. SLICK, L. R. MURPHY and A. H. ISABEL held their birthday anniversary banquet in Clinton. They were born on Dec. 28. The four who were guests were Dr. WILCOX, M. D. EPPSTEIN, Fred BALL and Mr. KNAP, the latter of Bement.
The widow and heirs of the late Geo. HARTSOCK have made the following pision of real estate: Emily HARTSOCK et al to Ralph HARTSOCK, ne ¼ of no ¼ of sec. 11, town 19, and $50. Same to Emerson HARTSOCK, nw ¼ of sw ¼ and 1½ acres in sw cor of sw ¼ of nw ¼ sec. 16 and $50. Same to Chas. M. HARTSOCK, nw ¼ of nw ¼ of sec. 1, town 19, and $50. Same to Wm. H. HARTSOCK, sw ¼ of sw ¼ sec. 1, town 19 and $50. Same to Etta M. HARTSOCK se ½ of sw ¼ sec. Town 19 and $50. Emily Hartsock et al to Emily Hartsock, sw ¼ of sw ¼ of sec. 1, ne ¼ of nw ¼ of sec. 12, se ¼ of ne ¼ and ne ¼ of se ¼ of sec. 11, town 19.
Submitted by Sheryl Byrd
Friday, January 5, 1900
Clinton Register
Clinton, Illinois
WAPELLA.
Some of the comrades of Seward Nelson Post called on W. A. HICKMAN Friday and took dinner with them and reminded him it was his birthday and anniversary.
MIDLAND CITY.
Mr. and Mrs. Otto BARNETT are the proud parents of a little daughter.
Submitted by Sheryl Byrd
Friday, January 12, 1900
Clinton Register
Clinton, Illinois
IN THIS COUNTY OVER SEVENTY YEARS.
Isaac ELLINGTON, near Waynesville, is one of the best known men in the west part of the county; and few, if any, have lived in the county longer. His parents settled near Waynesville in 1828, and that vicinity has since been his home. He says in 1828 there were only three buildings in Bloomington, and one of them was a blacksmith shop. Also that at that time there were only five buildings in Springfield and three of them log cabins. He has seen the wonderful change that has come to Central Illinois since 1828 and few who have lived 77 years, as he has, can recite more interestingly the pioneer days of this country. While he has witnessed the growth of the county, he has seen the REGISTER grow until it ranks among the best country papers in Illinois. He has been a regular subscriber for twenty years and always pays his subscription in advance.
Submitted by Judy Simpson
Friday, January 12, 1900
Clinton Register
Clinton, Illinois
HOW MAROA WAS NAMED.
The question is sometimes asked: "How did Maroa get its name?" It is explained as follows: The name was given it by the Illinois Central railroad. They run out of names and five officials whose duty it was to name all new towns along the Central agreed to throw a few letters of the alphabet into a hat, and to make a name of them. The letters thrown into the hat were A, M, A, R and O. Out of this combination the name Maroa was finally formed. Maroa is the only town of this name in the United States
Submitted by Judy Simpson
Friday, January 12, 1900
Clinton Register
Clinton, Illinois
CITY AND COUNTY.
A son was born to Mr. and Mrs. F. PURVIS Dec. 7.
A daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. J. AUGHINBAUGH, of Kenney.
Judge Webb, of Pana, was in Clinton this week. He says there is little doubt of Arthur PRYOR being acquitted of the charge of killing his father.
Submitted by Sheryl Byrd
Friday, January 19, 1900
Clinton Register
Clinton, Illinois
JAMES HOPPER FOUND GUILTY.
The trial of James HOPPER, charged with shooting at H. C. CLINE with intent to kill, occupied about two days in the circuit court, the case going to the jury after 12 o'clock Wednesday night. The jury returned a verdict yesterday about 3 o'clock, finding Hopper guilty. Judge COCHRAN sentenced him to six months in jail and imposed a fine of $100.
Submitted by Judy Simpson
Friday, January 19, 1900
Clinton Register
Clinton, Illinois
CITY AND COUNTY.
A son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Emerson VANDERVORT Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. M. E. SMITH, of Urbana, attended the funeral of Mrs. S. M. ARGO. Mrs. Smith is a daughter of Mr. ARGO.
Alex JACKSON went to Peoria Monday to attend the funeral of his brother, Zeke JACKSON, who died Sunday night. Deceased lived in Clinton several years ago and conducted a barber shop. He was not married.
J. G. ROYCE received word this week of the death of his grandfather at Hamburg, Mich., aged 87.
Marian JOHNSON, eldest son of J. F. JOHNSON, of this city, submitted to a very difficult operation in Chicago last week, and is still in the hospital. The operation was to improve the young man's speech by an operation upon the palate.
Submitted by Sheryl Byrd
Friday, January 19, 1900
Clinton Register
Clinton, Illinois
SUCCESSFUL IN LIFE
Much Achieved By A Tunbridge Township Farmer.
Has, by His Own Efforts, Amassed a Fortune of Two Hundred Thousand Dollars.
Edmund W. FRUIT was a caller at the REGISTER office Tuesday, and in talking of his early life in DeWitt county gave some interesting facts, as well as thoughts that would be very valuable to young men, if acted upon.
Mr. Fruit was born in Christian county, Ky., Sept. 21, 1823, and is in his 77th year. While he is nearly four score years, he has the appearance of being much younger, though no man in the county has been more active through his whole life. His parents, Thomas and Elizabeth FRUIT, came to Illinois, settling in what is now ridge township in 1834, this county being a part of Macon county. Edmund was 11 years old at that time and had attended school about three months. When the family came to Illinois, he had to assist his father in making a home in the then "Wild West," and had no opportunity to attend school. He remained with his father until 20 years old when he traded a horse for 40 acres of land, which is now a part of his homestead near Kenney. This was the beginning of the building up of a landed estate that consists of over 2,400 acres of as fine land as there is in DeWitt or any other county. The highest he paid for any land was $85 an acre. He does not own an acre in any other county, and none of his farms are over two and a half miles from market. He owns near Kenney 1,460 acres that can be traveled over without stepping foot on land owned by another. He says he would not take $100 an acre for all the land he has. He says he may not live to see the time it is worth that amount, but his children will. He thinks the people do no realize what Illinois land will be worth. Mr. Fruit's wealth shows what can be done by industry, and economy. When Mr. Fruit bought his first 40 acres, he made rails and fenced it. Then he borrowed $50 to buy 40 acres joining, making 80 acres. Then he built a log house, made his beds, tables and chairs, and the doors were hung on wooden hinges that he made. He says the mistake many young men make is in buying fine furniture, an organ or piano before they have their home paid for. He thinks there is ample opportunity for young men to accumulate property in Illinois if they are industrious and use good judgment.
He oversees his vast estate, and asks only grain rent except for lots and pasture land. He does not ask grain rent because he thinks the farmer who does his work well, and for causes he cannot prevent, his crop is short or a failure that he should be made to stand the whole loss. He says the man who owns the land is usually more able to stand the loss than the man who rents it. Though Mr. Fruit has done such a large business, he always fills out two leases, one of which he gives to the tenant, so that he may know at any time just what he has agreed to. In this way there is no cause for misunderstanding, hence no lawsuits.p>
Mr. Fruit's life has been such that young men can learn a lesson from it that would be valuable. In addition to being industrious and economical he has never gone in debt beyond his means. He has never used tobacco in any way, and was never under the influence of liquor. He strongly condemns anyone who is not honorable and upright; and believes people should not encourage those who are inclined to be reckless and not economical by giving them credit beyond a reasonable limit. He is ready to help those who help themselves, and there is perhaps not a more lenient landlord in DeWitt county.
A few years ago Mr. Fruit decided to retire from active farm life and bought a fine farm of 175 acres joining Kenney and built a fine residence at the north limits of that town. Besides his landed interests he owns business property in Kenney. At a fair estimate, his property is worth $200,000. The accumulation of his vast estate is due to Mr. Fruit's foresight, industry and economy. Beginning his business life in a log hut with a puncheon floor, furnished with rude furniture made by himself, he made money by attending strictly to business; and by putting his surplus into land he was able to add a farm to his estate every few years. His age marks the growth of his county. He knows its progress better than compilers of its history write it. In the sixty-five years he has lived in it, he has witnessed the beginning of and growth of Clinton as well as other places in the county. Where Clinton is was then prairie, and his father built the first house which was across the street west of the city hall. He thinks part of the building now there is a part of the house built by his father.
While Mr. Fruit has never been active in politics he has always been a Democrat, and his advice has often been sought by those more active in political work.
Submitted by Sheryl Byrd
Friday, January 19, 1900
Clinton Register
Clinton, Illinois
WAPELLA.
Several of the near relatives and neighbors took Mrs. A. D. METZ by surprise Tuesday and came with their dinners to remind Mrs. Metz she was fifty-two years old. All enjoyed a good social time.
Dr. G. W. ROBERTSON reports the arrival of a little daughter at his home.
Submitted by Sheryl Byrd
Friday, January 19, 1900
Clinton Register
Clinton, Illinois
A LUCKY DISCOVERY.
James Bell's House Found To Be on Fire in the Parlor—Damage Covered by Insurance.
Yesterday about 11 o'clock a member of J. W. BELL's family went into the parlor and found the room filled with smoke and fire. The fire had originated in the lounge in the room and rapidly spread, burning lace curtains, portiers and the carpet. By considerable difficulty the flames were put out. The cause of the fire is a mystery as no fire of any kind was in the room, excepting a hard coal stove. It is thought, however, that the filling of the lounge was composed of material that caused spontaneous combustion from the heat of the stove as the lounge was but a few feet from the stove. It was a lucky escape from a destructive fire. The insurance will enable Mr. Bell to not suffer any loss. The fire department was not called out.
Submitted by Sheryl Byrdp>
Friday, January 26, 1900
Clinton Register
Clinton, Illinois
CITY AND COUNTY.
F. M. and W. M. PHARES attended the funeral of L. S. PHARES at New Grand Chain Monday.
A daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. J. B. BRYANT, of DeWitt. The father is 81 and the mother 29 years old.
Lafayette COX, who died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. C. R. SMITH, near Farmer City, was 75 years old. Mrs. C. HUFFMAN, who died in that city was 61 years old.
Sheriff SHUE and Deputy BRYANT took Wm. H. ANDREWS, whose crime was forgery, and Jacob WALTERS, who burglarized Mr. MASON's house near Wapella, to Chester penitentiary the first of the week.
Tom DILLOW, who had been in jail fifty days charged with throwing stones at a train, was tried in county court yesterday and discharged. Jas. HOUSTON, of Weldon, arrested on a charge by Miss SPARROW, was found guilty, but the judge has not fixed the fine.p>
Submitted by Sheryl Byrd
Friday, January 26, 1900
Clinton Register
Clinton, Illinois
SERIOUS CHARGE.
James W. Griffin and Dr. Edmonson, of Maroa, Arrested For Alleged Criminal Practice.
James W. GRIFFIN, a well known young cigarmaker of the city of Maroa was arrested yesterday by Sheriff LEHMAN on the serious charge of abortion. The arrest was made on a capias from the grand jury. Last night Sheriff Lehman made a second trip to Maroa and arrested Dr. Geo. S. EDMONSON on the same charge. Dr. Edmonson is one of the most prominent young doctors of the north part of the county and the arrest created a sensation in the little town. The friends of the doctor immediately came to his rescue and bonds in the sum of $700 was furnished which saved him from making a late trip to Decatur in the company of the sheriff. The friends of Griffin came to his aid last night and he was released on a bond of $700 about 10 o'clock last night and returned to Maroa on the Diamond Special this morning.
The arrest of the two men is the result of a criminal operation alleged to have been performed on Miss Edna HORSEMAN over a year ago. The young woman is a resident of the town of Maroa, where she makes her home in the family of her uncle. The peculiar feature of the affair is that the arrest of Griffin and the doctor is not instigated by the young woman in the case but on the other hand she and Griffin seem to be on the best of terms and were seen together on the streets of Decatur yesterday and returned to Maroa together in company on the train just before the sheriff made the arrest.
Griffin is a young man apparently 27 years of age and of rather prepossessing appearance. When seen at the jail last night after his release he said that he did not expect to have any difficulty in establishing his innocence of the charge. He said that he was not guilty and that the prosecution was the result of ill feeling toward him of some of the relatives of the girl and that he thought her uncle was the prime mover in the prosecution. On the bonds the two men were cited to appear in the circuit court Monday morning.—Decatur Herald.
Submitted by Sheryl Byrd
Friday, February 2, 1900
Clinton Register
Clinton, Illinois
CITY AND COUNTY.
A son was born to Mr. and Mrs. F. JONES, of Clinton, Jan. 26.
A son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Walter ROBINSON, of Farmer City.
A daughter was born Tuesday to Mr. and Mrs. E. D. MAYALL.
Mrs. Michael J. CAINAN, of this city, was adjudged insane and taken to the asylum.
Mr. and Mrs. C. P. SPRAGUE celebrated his 53rd birthday anniversary by entertaining a few friends.
Arthur PRYOR, who was fined $25 for stealing a watch of Lee GIFT, near Weldon, for whom he was working, was released Wednesday and returned to his home at Vandalia. His friends paid the fine. He is charged with killing his father near Vandalia a few weeks ago.
Submitted by Sheryl Byrd
June 8, 1900
Clinton Register
IS A NOTED CROOK.
J. B. Evans, Who Robbed the Wapella Post Office, an Escaped Convict.
It turns out that J. B. EVANS, who robbed the Wapella post office, and was arrested in Bloomington next morning with a lot of one and two dollar bills in his possession, is Ed RATTIGAN, one of the cleverest crooks in the country, the only one that has ever succeeded in blowing a latest model time-lock safe. This he did in Wisconsin, was captured and sent to the penitentiary, from where he soon escaped. $100 reward was offered for his arrest, but he will no doubt serve a term in Illinois before that reward is payable.
The night of May 15, the Wapella post office was robbed of about $225 in money and stamps. News of the robbery was sent to Bloomington. Next morning a man asked to exchange twenty one dollar bills for a twenty. The cashier thought him the man who had been at Wapella and sent for an officer, who arrested him. About $100 in small bills was found in his possession. One of the bills was marked with a blue pencil, and Postmaster ROLOFSON identified it as one of those stolen. Some of Wapella's citizens identified the man as the one they had seen in Wapella the day before the robbery. His bond was fixed at $2,000, which he could not fill and was taken to Springfield. He gave the name of J. B. Evans.
The inspectors had his picture taken and sent to Chicago, where the police recognized it as Eddie Rattigan, who had worked extensively in Chicago and other large cities. He is said to have been a criminal from boyhood, having been disowned by his family very ...(paper torn). It is probable the federal grand jury will indict him for the Wapella robbery and he will be sent to the penitentiary. He is 5 feet 8 inches tall, dark complexion and weighs 160 pounds.
Submitted by Judy Simpson
July 13, 1900
Clinton Register
Samuel McCONKEY was seriously injured in a runaway here Wednesday morning. One leg was horribly mangled, both bones being broken below the knee. A piece of bone protruded through the flesh about three inches. The wound is of a very serious nature.
Note: Samuel died the following day; s/o Alexander and Catharine (LAFFERTY) McCONKEY.
Submitted by Judy Simpson
July 26, 1900
Clinton Register
Taken To His Home.
Harry FINFROCK was taken to his home near Waynesville Tuesday afternoon. He did not know of the death of his sister, Eva, until Monday night when Drs. WILCOX and GRAHAM told him. For several days he had insisted on knowing why his sister did not come to see him, and when he asked for her Monday night, they told him all about the accident that resulted in the death of his sister. They told him he was hurt by being caught by a train. He then asked if Eva was hurt and was told she was hurt worse than he was. When he learned of her death he wept bitterly and often spoke of her during the night. The last thing he remembered of doing the morning of the accident was putting his rubber boots on before starting from home. He did not remember the heavy rain that was falling at the time of the accident.
(See related news article)
Submitted by Judy Simpson