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Newspaper
Freeport Journal
Location
Freeport, Illinois, United States of America
Date
Dec 28, 1881
Page
4
A local notice proclaims if arrears are paid and a year is prepaid, service continues until January 1 1888. New subscribers who send their names and pay for a year will be credited to January 1 1888. Special arrangement allows FREEPORT JOURNAL and WHEELY INTER OCEAN for one year.
A collage of reader visits, calls and social events from the Journal and Inter Ocean. Mentions of subscribers, local calls by Fager Swanzey Best Gochenour and Mallory, church school actions, Krewe at the Opera House, lodge socials, Christmas dinners, and a New Year ball. Includes hospitalities, travels, and a Guiteau trial note.
A long list of residents and visitors spend the holidays in Freeport including Thomas and family, J H McNamara, Dr J Flanders Beaumont, Jno Arthur, and Harry Snyder. Merchants saw strong trade Friday and Saturday despite poor roads while Oettinger Bros. Clothing House was seized by a sheriff over $18,000 in debts. Masonic and prison notices, newspaper exchanges, and excursion plans fill the page amid reports of injuries from a bridge accident and other local anecdotes.
A steam engine accident left a conductor dead as the paymaster’s car detached and blocked a bridge. the fireman survived after leaping clear. In Freeport a stage show starred Sam Lucas in Uncle Tom’s Cabin drawing strong crowds and praise, with two Topsys and bold bloodhound acts. A First M.E. Church Society fair drew 300 at first night tables, raised about 250 dollars, and featured splendid tableaux and singing by Miss Davy despite bad weather.
The Illinois Central Railroad will run an excursion to Ackley Iowa on January 12 1882 leaving Baileyville at 3 22 pm and Freeport at 3 30 pm. Tickets round trip are five dollars from each listed point. Return tickets valid for thirty days. Also court notes cover two civil cases Raber vs Gund and McNamara vs Shannon with verdicts and motions for new trials. Mount Hope School reports twenty six students taught by Chas H Addams, with steady progress and active study and play.
The following officers were elected and installed for the coming year in the city Masonic bodies. Excelsior Lodge lists Norris as Worshipful Master and J N Galloway as Senior Grand Overseer with several others named. The Aged Area, Chapter, and Council men are named with titles such as W W, J W, D D, treasurers and secretaries. Several officers including R.A., Kihi, Lott, Stevens, and Norris appear across the chapters and councils, reflecting a full slate of lodge leadership for the year.
The Illinois Central Railroad offers a southbound excursion with round trip fares from Freeport to New Orleans 32.50, Houston 45.00, San Antonio 55.00, Jacksonville 50.00. Tickets valid until June 1, 1883. Sleeping car through from Freeport. berths via Mr J F Merry in Manchester Iowa or P H Murphy in Freeport Ill.
The Clifton Hotel by J Youngs Son opened on Chicago street amid large local and regional invitations. Guests praised the new, finely furnished rooms and noted the capable staff led by clerk C Spellman. A fine supper, speeches, and congratulatory sentiment followed the opening as locals eyed the venture.
The Mistick Krewe wowed the Academy of Music crowd with an unprecedented show, drawing the largest audience in the building's history and continuing a run of marked success. The company will appear at Wilcoxon's Opera House on Wednesday December 28 with reserved seats at 50 cents.
A report from the vicinity notes Daniel Stine, 36, crushed by a threshing machine last week and dying Friday the 22d, leaving three children and a widow. Other injuries include B. Galbrath with a broken arm and Dr. Jas. McFarrich’s leg fracture after a dark accident. A child of C. Y. Sansman was buried. a Kent township school incident left a young boy with a broken wrist. Emma Hayes and C. F. Litchfield wed in Milwaukee. several townsfolk travel for business, and a local assault case against Wm. Lipper is before Esquire Dodds.
The Berlin Literary and Philorhetorian Life Society met Thursday evening. Twenty members present. Debate on whether Chinese emigration should be prohibited with J. Hu and Alex Caldwell for the affirmative and F. Nestleroad and H. F. Barr for the negative. The vote: two for affirmative, one for negative. Caldwell, Frank Wolf, and Master Joe Mallory contributed closing remarks. W. C. Smith read a selection. Next Thursday’s topic: Resolved, horsepower is more useful to man than steam power. Regular meetings to continue through winter with hoped benefits to participants. W. C. Surru, Secretary.
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