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Newspaper
Freeport Journal
Location
Freeport, Illinois, United States of America
Date
Jul 16, 1873
Page
4
A jumble of town items reports on drug stores, market goods, weather, excursions, religious events, and local repairs. Sessions note Rev Geo W Dean’s Doctorate from Racine College, while others mention a Polo lightning strike, a fire cistern project, and a Rock Island excursion with government works visit plans. Numerous brief items reference merchants, livestock, concerts, and road/bridge updates.
The Best Free Press reports the eighteenth annual Winnebago County exhibition to be held in Rockford from September 15 to 19, 1873, with premium lists received and exhibitors preparing. It notes local incidents including a city brawl, a father jailed over a fine, and a fruit jar explosion injuring children. Prices and market notes appear, along with ads for Harvester machinery sales and sidewalk improvements.
At the Joliet District Conference in Morris the Methodist Church session concluded on the 9th. Mrs Jennie F Willing received a unanimous vote granting her a license to preach the gospel.
The J B Scroggs Lodge No 372 I O C F Orangeville installed W W Bolender N G G Wirt W G A A Krape R Secy Jno J Moore Per Secy William Potts Treasurer for the ensuing term on Saturday night July 5. A large party hosted by Mr D Knowlton on the previous Wednesday was highly enjoyable with mirth lasting until late.
Readers decide to pay postage on weekly papers. fifty-two copies cost twenty cents a year at the usual rate. A Baptist Church gathering on Sunday and Embury Church on Monday raised a sizable sum. O W Brown’s horse ran away causing a wreck of his buggy and drag team. Earnest Fowler narrowly escaped injury in the incident.
A fragmentary note from an unknown sender hints at an unspecified matter while grocers scramble to meet sugar demands. The piece suggests merchants should prepare for a forthcoming fruit season surge and hints at a possible follow up.
The Ogle County Press reports a local watch theft and notes a man named Mr George Whles relieved of a tape worm over a hundred feet long, with health improving after five years of illness. It also praises wind mill and pump manufacturing growth, signaling Freeport’s forward momentum.
The article describes busy transfers and papers for turning over the internal revenue office to Major Nase, praising retiring collector Robert Little. It also mentions an incident where an elderly man, a victim of a three-card monte scam at Lent’s Traveling Circus, lost $20 and his watch, with no arrest recorded.
Samuel Nelson, a Western Union railroad man, was robbed of his vest and a $75 watch last Saturday while washing at the sink in the round house. He left the vest on a bench near a big side and returned to his engine. the vest was gone. Warrants issued and two alleged circus workers linked to Tent’s circus were detained as investigators searched their baggage.
A Baptist paper in Ohio was sent for nine years to a subscriber who never paid. The paper was returned to the publisher with a note saying Gone to the better world. The pious publisher’s faith is reportedly shaken by the unreliability of the information.
Local exchanges promote a government excursion to Rock Island, calling it a good chance for townspeople to visit the site and view government works. They expect a large turnout from multiple communities and express hope it will be well attended.
Prof. D. S. McCosh of Dixon plans a large band jubilee likely in September during fair week. The event will include his tutored bands and others, with about a hundred pieces and anvil choruses with cannon emphasis. Dixon and nearby areas, plus visitors, are expected to attend.
Nora's two sons visited Freeport and later at Packard's hotel in Lena caused a street furniture incident. Police arrested one youth, he paid damages, and left with a black eye on the Lena constable. The trouble stemmed from Freeport whisky and reflects a reputational slur about dealers.
The grand excursion organized by Zion Parish church of this city will take place on July 23. The round trip fare is $3.60, making it affordable for all who wish to attend. This is touted as the best chance to see government work at Rock Island, with full details in the advertisement on page five.
Our agricultural men have all they can attend to this season as farmers buy mowers reapers mowers separators corn plows seed sowers and other implements. Wagons laden with goods leave the city daily showing lively business and strong encouragement for all shopkeepers.
Elmira milkman introduces a new delivery system with racks of glass bottles in his wagon. Customers receive quart and pint bottles filled with fresh milk and return the previous day’s empties, saving pails and dishes. Bottles are corked and stay fresh in cold water or a cooler, compact for warm weather.
A Friday afternoon gathering at Hess Mille in Saratoga of Stephenson County featured a large picnic among local youths. Eatables were consumed, fortune-telling entertained guests, and no fish were caught. The account notes collective enjoyment and a sense of lingering weariness at day’s end.
Sunday night a lightning bolt hit the chimney of J H Deaner’s house, one and a half miles west of the city, in Harlem township. The chimney was demolished and soot scattered, but no ground conduction or serious injury occurred as the family stayed upstairs and children were moved downstairs. Deaner calls the event fortunate and notes no trace of the strike remains.
The Ladies of First M E church hosted a sociable at Mr T D Wilcoxon s home on Wednesday evening. A large yard was lit with torches and lanterns but rain forced indoor turnout and all proceeds from ice cream and cake sales totaled around $15. The next sociable will be at Myp O FP Miers tie evening.
A first person recounting of a dark night on Clay Street describes a tall black clad figure with a whip and a group of white robed child forms on a fence. The narrator fears danger, imagines crimes, and considers possible explanations, hinting the whole scene may be a playful mystery or a frightful prank.
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