Demon rum -- the end is near

Brookville American, July 1856

Let's Take A Drink

"Let's go and take a drink, boys," said a well-dressed young man as the cars stopped at the Waukegan station. And so the boys did, re-entering the cars with their language and persons marked by the bar room color.

Take a drink! The young men were well-dressed fools. They have taken a step which will bring a fearful retribution. Years hence, a thousand woes will blossom in the footprints now made in young life. A false light gilds the deadly miasma which dogs their footsteps.

They see not the smoking altar towards which they are tending. A host of shadowy phantoms of vice and crime are flitting on before.

Red-handed murder laughs at their folly, and death is waiting at the fresh-opened grave. There are tears to shed by those who at this hour dream not of the sorrow which these false steps shall bring upon them.

Take a drink! All the uncounted host of drunkards whose graves in every land mark the pathway of intemperance, took a drink. They took drinks and died. Three out of four of the murderers of 1855 took a drink.

They wither like the grass under the sirocco breath of the plague they nourish.

Another day, and the storm of their life is told by a rude, stoneless grave in the Potter's Field.

We involuntarily shudder when we see young men crowding the deeply-beaten path to the dram shop. They are all confident in their own strength. With the glass in hand where coils the deadly adder, they ha-ha, about the fools that drink themselves to death!

Don't take a drink! Shun the Dead Sea fruits which bloom on the shore where millions have died. The bondage of iron galls but the limbs. That of the dram fetters the soul.

-- Cayuga Chief

Note: Editor T.A. Goodwin was also a minister and he was constantly railing about the evils of alcohol.

Mad cows

 

Liberty Herald, 1902ish

BOVINES WILL RUN

And Kick Up Their Heels in

Vevay Streets, According 

to the Verdict of the People

VEVAY, Dec. 4 -- At a special election held here last Saturday to decide as to whether or not cows should be allowed to run at large in the streets, the bovines were victorious.

The question has been agitated for some time and the city  council agreed to let the citizens vote on the matter.

There were only 280 votes cast and 180 of them were in favor of the cows.

Visitors to Vevay should not blame the town authorities for the presence of cattle on the courthouse steps and in other public places for it is aa privilege the cattle family  enjoys.

Note: Vevay is in Switzerland County, which favors its milk, cheese and chocolate history. Frivolous "referenda" are never legal when the public health is in question.

Shocking if true

Brookville American, Sept.  6, 1900

A young student of electricity near Eaton, O., has just secured a patent on a form of primary battery that looks as if it were destined to wipe out every power house and electric light plant in the country.

He has succeeded in producing a battery which will give a steady current of 12 volts per quart cell at about 50 amperes. Unlike any other primary cell, it keeps up a constant current until exhausted.

Eight quart cells will run a two-horsepower motor 10 hours at an expense of only 10 cents. Ten cells will burn 12, 32-candle power lamps 10 hours. The cells differ from any other form in that the exciting fluid is dropped into the cell at the rate of one drop a minute while the battery remains in use.

Its cheapness of maintenance and great power will cause its universal adoption on traction lines. Almost every house and business place will have its own lighting plant and power for running sewing machines, fans, etc.

The highest voltage now obtained from the best form of primary battery is nearly 2 volts to a gallon cell, and then only for a few minutes as the current rapidly runs down.

Note: Obviously this did not become a part of our world, so it's  likely the inventor didn't have the capital to develop it, or more likely, his patent rights were bought out.

Franklin Repository Sep. 6, 1828

Administrator's Sale

WILL be sold on the ninth day of September next, at the late residence of Samuel Miller, deceased, in the town of Greensborough, in the county of Franklin, all the personal estate of the said deceased-- consisting of the following articles --

One Horse, one small Wagon, one Wooden Clock, a Crop of Corn growing on the ground, Feather Beds and Furniture, Household and Kitchen Furniture, with many other articles too tedious to mention. 

A credit of nine months will be given.

The sale to commence at 10 o'clock on said day. Further terms made known on the day of sale.

MARGARET MILLER, Adm'rx

BENJAMIN NORVELL, Adm'r

August 22d, 1828

Note: Greensborough? Greensborough?

Blooming Grove

20 DOLLARS

REWARD

WILL be given for the apprehension and delivery to the subscriber of

THOMAS GARY, 

Who broke jail on the night of the 19th instant. Said Gary is about thirty years of age, six feet or upwards in height -- slender made -- sandy complexion and blue eyes. The above reward will be given immediately on the delivery of said Gary.

JOHN ROOP, Sheriff. F.C.

Brookville, 29TH Aug. 1828

Hat pictures from 1915 because, why not?

 

Cows can eat it, so can we

Liberty Star-Banner, June 1836

There is nothing better than a decoction of tobacco for destroying insects that infest either animals or plants. We have frequently with safety and success, dipped young lambs in it, for the purpose of destroying ticks; but when applied to animals, care should be taken that it not be made so strong as to injure the animals, especially young ones; when given internally, any degree of strength is always dangerous -- on plants it cannot be made too strong.

In support of this theory, we give the following cases -- Mr. Renick of Pickaway County applied a strong decoction of tobacco to a young and valuable calf, with the intention of killing some lice with which the calf was infected.

On making the application, the calf was immediately paralyzed and was with difficulty recovered. The insects were, however, destroyed and the calf eventually benefitted.

Last fall a distinguished Kentucky cattle breeder, Mr. G.N. Sanders, attended the fair of the Hamilton County Agricultural Society with a choice lot of blooded cattle; after the fair he turned them into the orchard in which the ground was covered with fallen apples; they having been kept in a lot without food for the principal part of a day, very naturally gorged themselves with the fruit and in consequence, were seized with a violent cholic; in this dilemma, being advised by a physician to administer a strong decoction of tobacco in a full-blooded short-horn cow, he took the advice, and did administer the decoction as strong as it could be made, both into the stomach and by injection. The result was, the cow expired in a few minutes.

Farm & Mechanic

Note: So, what lessons have we learned?

Pork bellies

Fayette Observer, 1827

GRAND EXHIBITIION OF

Living Animals

At the Connersville Hotel on Tuesday and Wednesday, 7th and 8th of November.

Tippo Sultan, male elephant; mammoth lion, Tiger Cat, of South America; llama of Peru; Lion-tail money; Ringtail money; Rib-nosed baboon, etc.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ELEPHANT

This elephant is superior in size to any in the country, being about 9 feet high and weighing between 6 and 7 thousand pounds and has tusks about 4 feet long.

DESCRIPTION OF THE LION

This lion is full grown, much superior in size to any ever in America. He is secured in a strong iron cage and devours from 13 to 20 pounds of meat per day.

GOOD MUSIC

CONNERSVILLE HOTEL

The subscriber respectfully informs hi former customers and the public in general that he has removed to that large and commodious house former occupied by Martin M. Ray, Esq.

Opposite the Court House

He has been particularly careful in having his BAR furnished with the choicest liquors and his stable with the best of provender. So that those who may call upon him may expect the best accommodation

JOHN SAMPLE

TO OUR SUBCRIBERS

To avoid the inconvenience and loss to which the above heretofore been subjected, by receiving pork irregularly, we have fixed upon the date of this inst., and the 10th of January next, for the reception of PORK in payment for the Observer. Those who wish to pay their subscription in pork, are informed that the article will not be received at any other time for the present year, unless by special request.

Those who intend to pay in pork are requested to notify us without delay.

Oh, Carry me home ....

Laurel Review, Sept. 9, 1903

Still in Business

Having severed all connections with other firms, I am now in the Undertaking business for myself. I have my office in the Patterson building, and have new hearses and everything that an up-to-date business requires.

I am still managing the Franklin County Mutual Interment Association and can report it in better condition than ever before.

In the three years it has been running, we have had 33 assessments in Class A, 27 in Class B. We have never had a word of complaint from any of the members and still hope to retain their confidence by looking well to their interest.

Chas Bishop

Brookville, Ind.

Note: One assumes only the living cared about this story, since the customers seldom complained. 

Nifty appliances from 1915

 

Farm Hill, where the fun was

 

Brookville Democrat, July 8, 1915

Celebration Held 

at Old Franklin

Was Well Attended

We learn that the Homecoming and Old Settlers celebration at Franklin U.B. Church, Fairfield Township, on Sunday, July 4, was a splendid affair.

The attendance was beyond expectations, the exercises good, dinner immense and visitors from Huntington, Greensfork, Brookville, Whitcomb, Liberty, Oxford, Mixersville, Colter's Corner, Fairfield, College Corner and Greensburg were in evidence, and several "breezy" talks were given.

From a brief (!) paper read of the history of this church organization dating back 95 years, it appears that over 50 ministers have held forth at Old Franklin and that 130 persons are buried in the cemetery.

The presence of mumps and whooping cough among the "kids" in this neighborhood prevented the attendance of many last Sunday.

T.L.D. had a fine history from 1830 to the present time. We extend many thanks to him. 

Notes: T.L.D. was Theo Dickerson, a colloquial historian for the Fairfield area for many years.

Old Franklin is still in business and is much older than 95 now. 

Buick -- the only way to go

Brookville Democrat, May 13, 1909

Accident Narrowly Averted

Roy Personett, the 14-year-old son of George Personett of Fairfield proved himself an apt scholar as chauffeur of his father's fine touring car one day recently.

Roy had taken a party to Brookville in the automobile and when returning home going up the hill opposite the McClure residence a hog suddenly ran from roadside in front of the machine, which killed the porker instantly. The concussion caused the auto to start down the steep embankment towards the river.

The young man used great presence of mind by stopping the machine after going only eight feet, otherwise had it not been checked in season it would have plunged over a 30-foot bank into deep water.

The occupants of the auto were Prof DeFore and two Fairfield ladies, who were greatly excited and consider it almost a miracle that all were not injured.

The only injury was to the front axle which was slightly sprung and one of the lamps was broken. Roy says give me a Buick auto when you are in a tight place.

The 1830s -- important years

 Lawrenceburg Palladium, December 1830

MAIL STAGE

From Lawrenceburgh to Harrison

The subscriber respectfully informs the public that the mail stage on the above named route is now in operation. It leaves Harrison on Mondays and Fridays, after the Richmond and Cincinnati line arrives there, and returns to Harrison on Tuesday and Saturday mornings, one hour before the Richmond and Cincinnati line passes that place, at which point passengers can take the Stage and go to Brookville, Connersville, Milton and Centreville, or from Brookville to Fairfield, Bath Springs, Liberty, Brownsville and Richmond, or any other place.

The accommodations on the above lines are good and the charges very moderate. For passage from Lawrenceburgh, apply at E.D. John's.

Daniel Mason

November 1, 1830

Brookville American, April 1833

FASHIONABLE TAILORING

THE undersigned respectfully inform the citizens of Fairfield and vicinity, that they have commenced the above business in Fairfield, in all its branches (shop on Main Street) where they will be happy to receive orders for coats, pantaloons, vest, pelisses &c, all of which they hope to furnish in the nearest and most fashionable style. Having received the New York and Boston Spring Fashions, they hope to be able to furnish work at the shortest notice, and in a manner superior to any done in this section of country. All kinds of country produce will be received in exchange for work at the highest cash price.

B.N. CALVERT, & Co.

April 5, 1833

American, June 1833 

6-1/2 CENTS

And a basket of Charcoal REWARD!

Ran away from the subscriber, living in Fairfield, on the 14th instant, an indented apprentice to the blacksmith business, named DANIEL MOORE; between 14 and 15 years of age; dark complexion; and heavy built. All persons are forbid harboring or trusting said boy on my account. Whoever will return said boy shall receive the above reward, but no thanks.

WILLIAM OSBORN

July 15, 1833

Brookville American, January 1836

PUBLIC MEETING

Fairfield, Dec. 30, 1835

Agreeably to previous notice, a number of the citizens of the town of Fairfield and vicinity, impressed with a belief that the Excessive Retailing and use of ardent spirits are productive to many pernicious, deplorable consequences calculated to destroy the peace, happiness  and prosperity, not only of individuals and Families, but of the community in General, met in the town of Fairfield at the school house, therein on the evening of the 30th of December, 1835, for the purpose of devising some means calculated to suppress the same by forming themselves into a society and by example and persuasive admonitions, to use their influence in arresting the awful consequences which must inevitably follow from excessive retailing and excessive use of ardent spirits.

Whereupon, Redin Osborn, Esq. was called to the chair and N. Kerrick was appointed secretary. The object of the meeting having been stated from the chair, the meeting proceeded to business.

American, March 1839

Fairfield -- We are pleased to see that the spirited citizens of Fairfield have taken the preparatory steps to incorporate their town. The late Board of Commissioners ordered an election of trustees of Fairfield on the 23rd next.