Peggy Smith-Hake's
"Window to the Past"
FROM the MILLER COUNTY VINDICATOR
​​
(Printed in THE MILLER COUNTY AUTOGRAM-SENTINEL in the column, 'WINDOW TO THE PAST', Jan. 30, 2003)
I thought I would print some news items from the past that appeared in an old Miller County newspaper called “The Miller County Vindicator”, which was published in 1881. I certainly enjoyed reading these old newspapers. If I can learn something about the people who lived in the county during those years, then it is like putting “icing on the cake”.... These newspapers were printed every Friday morning at Tuscumbia by the editors, Tomson and Wright... (Peggy Smith Hake)
​
THE MILLER COUNTY VINDICATOR
Volume 3 No. 27, 12 August 1881
​
News and Notes:
​
1. We can’t count on much turnip soup this fall.
​2. Mrs. Talbot has been sued for the sum of $1623 by her lawyer for defending her boys.
[Note: I have no idea who Mrs. Talbot was....no record found in Miller Co. records]
​3. The attendance at Elder Workman’s meeting, south of the river last Sunday, was good.......One confessing.
[Note: Thomas Owen Workman was a circuit-riding preacher in the Miller County area in this time era. I think his meeting was being held at Liberty Church of Christ which was about 4 miles south of Tuscumbia. It was established in 1867 by Rev. Workman, Nelson Davis, and T. S. Phillips.]
​4. Anchor Mills are constantly engaged in sawing and grinding.
​5. Ira T. Johnson has fenced in the south side of his store lot, which takes in considerable amount of old passageway next to the ferry.
[Note: Ira T. Johnson, born c/1844 in Ohio, and his wife, Elizabeth (Weitz), were living in Tuscumbia. Evidently they operated a store near the Osage river which was located near the old ferry landing.]
​6. A sign painted on the new fence on the south border of Johnson’s lot says, “For Cheap Goods, Go to Golden’s and Company”. There’s nothing like advertising.
[Note: Golden and Company was a competitor to Ira T. Johnson.....He was very generous to advertise for his competitor!]
​7. John Paul Beudler, near Charlestown, John Henry Township, was stricken down by sunstroke while hauling water last Sunday. At last account, he was still living.
[Note: This was John Paul Beutel, a native of Germany, who came to America in1867. He settled in Charlestown (today’s St. Elizabeth) and he survived this sunstroke because he lived until 1901.]
​8. Wells are going dry on the hill (Tuscumbia).
​9. Elder J. J. Lane will commence a protracted meeting at Salem on the first Sunday next month.
[Note: Elder Lane must have been a circuit-riding preacher who did not live in Miller County. I could not find him in any census record. Salem Church was in Saline township, north of Eldon.]
​10. The railroad surveying party has passed about 2 miles north of Mt. Pleasant. They camped Tuesday night at the widow Roark’s.
[Note: The railroad was not built north of Mt. Pleasant but ran about ½ mile south of the town.......I do not know which lady was “the widow Roark”. Two ladies lived in the area named Roark and both were widows......one was Candace Roark, age 66, and the other was her daughter-in-law, Leah Roark. Leah was the widow of Yancy Roark, one of the Civil War soldiers killed in the massacre on Curtman’s Island, located on the Osage river.]
​11. There is trouble among the brewers in St. Louis. Some of them voluntarily reduced the price of beer from $2 to $1.75 per keg and others, though objecting, are compelled to do the same.
12. Jordan Bowers was divorced at Rolla the other day and in less than 15 minutes, he had a license to remarry..............
​
Recent Marriages in Miller County in 1881 (July and August):
​
1. July 28, 1881---Andrew J. Colvin married Eliza Wyrick at the residence of the bride’s father. Esquire Pittsford officiated.
[Note: Eliza was a daughter of Nathaniel and Elizabeth (Hix/Hicks) Wyrick who were living in Saline township. I believe Esquire Pittsford was actually named Pitchford.]
​2. July 31, 1881----Last Sunday at 4 p.m., Mulligan Sullivan married Nannie Lupardus, at the home of the bride’s father, by Esquire John S. Wilson.
[Note: Nannie/Nancy was the daughter of Peter B. & Joanna (King) Lupardus who lived in Osage township in 1880. Mulligan Sullivan (isn’t that a strange name?) was living in the home of Charles and Isabelle (Skinner) Clarke at Tuscumbia during the census of 1880.]
​3. August 3, 1881---George Barton married Mary Ann Casey at the home of the bride’s father, by Esquire John S. Wilson, all of Miller County.
[Note: George was a son of Bentley and Elizabeth Barton and Mary Ann was a daughter of Zadoc and Sarah (Castleman) Casey, all of Richwoods township.]
​4. August 4, 1881....David Bear married Mary S. Winfrey at the home of the bride’s father, by Esquire John S. Wilson, all of Miller County.
[Note: David Bear was a son of George and Elizabeth Bear of Equality township and I am not sure who the parents of Mary Winfrey were (perhaps William and Christina Winfrey of Glaize township).]