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Newspaper
Freeport Journal
Location
Freeport, Illinois, United States of America
Date
Feb 19, 1879
Page
4
A call for correspondents across towns and school districts seeks reliable neighborhood news in condensed form excluding personalities and quarrels. Also noted are state politics, court hearings, weather, marriages, business changes, church events, temperance talks, and local incidents with brief notices and upcoming meetings.
A large Newfoundland dog belonging to Mrs Beck fatally attacked a son of Jno Tracy on Friday night. The animal’s incisors pierced the man’s body causing his death. Authorities may investigate the incident as a fatal animal attack in the community.
The era’s chatter ranges from the Rockford murder jury and the prospect of reviving the whipping post in Wisconsin to Rock River Seminary’s possible sale, a large Valentine distribution, a Lena High School oratorical contest, and debates on the Chinese question. Other items note aging New York residents, Illinois Board of Agriculture fair site talks, $950 raised for encampment efforts, Dairymen meeting in Gilman, a chicken theft complaint against Ed Barnes, and local railroad carnival funding. Also mentioned are marriage license filings, a Sunday union service for railroad workers, a 1590 pound cow sale, and lodge announcements with Masons and K T order postings.
Dr J Flanders Beaumont performed a neat operation last week to remove a tumor from the bridge of the nose of a city gentleman. The patient is recovering well. In Davis on Thursday three teams fled together in a rapid chase with two caught. the third was still running when last seen.
The Atlantic Review notes the French brothers of Burlington County as a noted family with totals listed for Thos. E., 300, Levi, 2711, Burrows, 279, Daniel M., 230, Lewis, 202, Francis, 200 totaling 1,483 and mentions two are 48 Bory on their feet. nephews of Mr. Thos. French. It also reports a drop in valentines sent through the mail due to school departments creating post offices for scholars, affecting stamp sales and mailmen workload.
Julius Stith, Esq. a pioneer citizen of Freeport, was buried Sunday from his son W. W. Smith’s residence in Lancaster. He helped build the Pecatonica bridge and Freeport court house, founded the local Masons, served as Justice of the Peace, and aided early growth. He lived 81 years 11 months 15 days. Funeral by Rev. Geo S. Young of Embury. The community mourns his loss.
Balabrega the magician performed Monday evening at the Opera House before an unusually small crowd. He displayed sleight of hand tricks, some praised, others mocked, with feats including Miss Leyton’s chained hands and a blindfolded "second sight" where she described items handed to him. A table illusion involving a sailing prop closed the show, eliciting amusement and astonishment from the young spectators and assistants.
George Washington Brown a tensorial athlete of color came to the city to spend the Sabbath and wandered into Middleditchs lower grogery. He assisted by Ferry and three from Eleruy, resulting in a knife wound but the case ended with a not guilty verdict after jury deliberation. Edward Cavanagh dies at 32, a traveling boot and shoe firm representative and printer by trade, leaving many friends.
In December 1878 an agent opened an office behind Elgon's jewelry store and began selling the Genuine StNaur sewing machine. The ad promises quality and urges readers to examine the new advertisement and then visit E. W. Trout, the local agent, for details and purchases.
During Monday afternoon jury examination in an assault and battery case, one prospective juror, a small man, answered to have served on a jury within a year with the remark I served on an insane jury. The statement drew laughter and another man was called.
A letter from Inter Ocean manager W. Penn Nixon confirms the subscriber list up to February 4th is correct and urges continued use of accurate lists. The notice follows assorted local items, including politics and revival meetings, plus a shipment table for Ten a year ending 1878 with totals for grain, stock, and butter.
Early Thursday at 1 am a fire gutted G M Waldorf's Carroll Street home, spreading to Jno R Wagner's house but saving it from major damage. Eight B Gardner's residence on the other side survived with only paint damage due to citizen efforts. Waldorf's loss near 1000 dollars, insured 1400. Wagner's loss about 800, insured 1300.
At special meetings on Monday and Tuesday the claim of F I B Mc Dowell for 1000 dollars for arrest of George Thompson was referred to the Finance Committee. A resolution to instruct the State's Attorney to dismiss suit against the George Thompson bondsmen will be considered next meeting. In the Goodhue matter bondsmen must settle for one hundred cents on the dollar immediately or quit will be instituted by the Finance Committee.
A reader proposes a geometry puzzle. In an equi angular triangle posts stand at its corners with heights 30 40 and 50 feet respectively. From a common interior point draw lines to the tops of each post that are equal in length. Find the interior point and the common length of these lines.
Centennial Lodge No 232 I O G T adopts resolutions mourning the death of Mattie Edwards. The lodge laments the loss of a faithful member and asks mourning drape for thirty days. Copies will be sent to the deceased’s family and city papers for publication. Committee: F N and C O Heard, Alice Serfass, J Massenberg.
In Story County Iowa C S Brubaker and wife mourn the loss of their baby Hattie Malvina Feb 10. His sister Anna Malvina dies Feb 6 after accompanying his father to Winnebago Illinois. A telegram brings news of the baby’s illness in Ames. Funeral services were led by Rev C H Granby. Charles Dean, brother of Mrs Jno F Smith, dies of consumption in Chicago. The piece closes with satirical remarks on local politics and a Brainerd piano advertisement.
In a grim contrast, rising murder counts coincide with more hangings, seen as a rare, stark moment of suspended life between heaven and earth.
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