Facts, fiction, figures

American, July 1855

Wister's Patent Wash Tub

We might have said two weeks ago, that we were in the possession of one of these tubs from the manufactory of Messrs. English & Stran of New Albany, who own the right for Southern Indiana, and who are prepared to supply orders, wholesale or retail, but we preferred testing it thoroughly before recommending it. 

It has now been in use here, three weeks, and been tried on all sorts and sizes of clothes, from bed quilts to night caps and we are authorized to say that it fills the bill, and performs all that is claimed for it.

It is simple and durable, in its construction and but little heavier than an ordinary wash tub. It will be serviceable in the family of every man who desires to lighten the burdens of his wife or daughters, but those who think everything a humbug that does not do, or lighten outdoor work, will not buy it, or if they do they will growl about it.

They can buy patent threshers or rakers or cultivators but a patent wash tub is too small a matter for them.

Let all our readers who are in the reach of Messrs. English and Stran, send for one immediately.

We learn that Mr. Doddridge, the proprietor of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin, has made arrangements for  a manufactory here, and that they will be for sale in Brookville next week.

We need not urge the men who love their wives, to buy one -- they will do it without urging.

It will come with poor grace from some of them to say they can't spare $8, these hard times, when they chew and smoke more than twice that amount in a year.

Grand Island, Neb., 1901

HOUSE BURNED

And no trace found of the occupants.

Brookville -- The farm residence and all buildings belonging to Joseph Horn were burned to the ground tonight and the family cannot be found. The family consisted of Horn, his wife and four children. The fire is still too hot to determine of the bodies of the members of the family are buried under the debris of the residence, but it is believed all perished in the flames.

Moral: Insure in the Gordon Agency.*

*This was actually part of the story. The story is also a lie.

Fairfield, 1871

Brookville American, 1871

Fairfield Matters

A recent visit to the thriving little town of Fairfield impresses us with the fact that "improvement is the order of the day" there as well as elsewhere.

Mrs. Eliza Osborn is building a handsome frame residence in the eastern part of town; Dr. Ferguson has laid the foundation for a new dwelling to be shorted erected after the modern fashion, and Dr. Donough has refitted his office building in a handsome manner.

The Fairfield folks are fully up with the times in business matters generally, with the exception that some of them are not in favor of the new railroad running through their township, notwithstanding they will have a convenient depot on that road only a half hour's walk from their town. 

It is hoped, however, that they may yet see that such improvements are a benefit to any community, especially when it is known that they will be so conveniently located near a Grand Trunk Line of railroad such as the proposed new road will be.

They never built the railroad. Blame it on the town!

Rose & Loper

These gentlemen, manufacturers of buggies, carriages, etc., are steadily at work turning out a large number of the finest buggies and carriages of every style and variety.

They have a full set of hands constantly at work and continue to defy competition. Repairing of all kinds done promptly to order.

We take pleasure in thus referring to this firm, as we are confident they are among our most enterprising businessmen and fully deserve the success of which they boast.

Best buggy for your buck!

Teacher Wanted

A first-class male teacher is wanted to teach a three months' school in District No. 4, Blooming Grove Township. Address James M. Hugbell, Metamora, Ind. 

School 4 was in the southwest quarter of the township.

In case you wondered

 Cincinnati Enquirer, July 1858

The Brookville American says that a Mr. Frazee Tucker of Springfield Township in that county, was killed on Sunday last by being thrown from his wagon, which he had driven upon a bank and overturned, falling under it, while in a state of intoxication. He was about 70 years old, and wealthy.

Fell off the wagon, huh?

Cincinnati Post, March 1898

The most disastrous flood ever known here visited Brookville Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning. Both forks of the Whitewater River are out of their banks. The Whitewater Railroad and Big Four are washed away for miles. Telegraph lines and telephone wires are down through Harrison and Brookville, and houses, bridges, fences and stables are drawn toward the Ohio. Two fatalities are reported. Philip Schuh and Bert Osgood of Brookville are lost and supposed to be drowned.

There were worse floods.

Brookville American, December 1834

Hogs!! -- For the last three weeks, our eyes have been greeted with scarce anything but vast droves of the swinish multitude. Win that time, "from our own idea of things," and from the calculations of others there must have passed through this place upwards of THIRTY THOUSAND hogs, all wending their way to Cincinnati, the greatest hog market, we would venture to say, in the known world.

All these hogs are from a small section of this state. We are told by the oldest settlers, there never were as many hogs drove through this place in one year, before, as been within the last three weeks. Some days it seemed as if the vast arena of nature's store house was filled with hogs.

Porkopolis, Ohio.

Cincinnati Gazette, May 1858

The Post office and the jewelry store, attached, in Brookville were entered by burglars on Saturday,, and $2,000 worth of watches and jewelry,  all the letters in the office carried off. Some $300 worth of stamps were also taken. 

Before robbing the office, the burglars entered a hardware store and procured the necessary tools with which to effect an entrance to the former. It is suspected that some of our city thieves were engaged in the operation.

Out-of-town crooks ... can't trust 'em.