January 10, 1908 - Monroe County Appeal

James P. Holdsworth, of Paris, and Uncle Jimmie Waller, south of Paris, have both lost their eyesight in recent weeks.  Both are cheerful, high-class citizens who have had more than the ordinary share of misfortunes.  Everybody is sorry indeed of the great affliction that has befallen them in their declining days.

D. Reardon, through the agency of J. Evans and Sons, sold his 304-acre farm north of Paris, formerly owned by Rev. W.B. Craig, to Mr. Benton of Lewis county at $60 an acre, taking as part pay a hotel at Canton, valued at $16, 000.  Mr. Reardon will take personal charge of the hotel this month.  Success to him.

Death of Mrs. Margaret Dawson

Mrs. Margaret Dawson died at her home in Paris last Friday night.  She had been quite feeble for long time but had been bedfast only four days.  Funeral services were conducted by Rev. C. F. Richmond at the home Sunday morning, following which the remains were laid at rest in the New Cemetery.  Mrs. Dawson was born in Kentucky in 1823 and came to Missouri in 1833.  She had lived in Paris more than half a century and was the mother of ten children, eight of who survive her.  Since early in life she had belonged to the Cumberland Presbyterian church.  A lover of home, she seldom went abroad; retiring in disposition, she took a deep interest but little part in the affairs of the community; lovable in character and hospitable in the home, she was one of the best neighbors in all the town.  Besides her own large and honored family she raised several orphan children and loved them as her own.  That the world is better for her kindly life all who know her will assert.  To the bereaved one the APPEAL extends sympathy.

Cicero Dawson a Suicide

Standing in the rear of Fox’s saloon just after 11 o’clock Monday night Cicero Dawson fired a bullet through his head and fell over on the floor dead.  There was no eyewitness to the tragedy.

A few minutes before 11 o’clock Dawson entered the saloon and standing at the bar exchanged a few words with Nelse Tritch, the bartender.  He was smoking a pipe and seemed in the best of spirits.  After the bar was cleared Mr. Tritch went into his office and Dawson went out.  Ten minutes later he heard a noise in the back room.  Thinking a box had fallen upon some bottles he went back to investigate and found a man lying face down on the bottles.  He did not recognize the man and called to Mr. Fox that a man had cut himself all to pieces on the bottles.  Mr. Fox rushed back and saw that the man was dead.

Mr. Dawson had visited Buckley’s chili parlor just before committing the rash deed and nothing unusual was noticed in his manner, although he remained in the place and talked freely for half an hour.

No one knows anything that could have caused him to commit the rash deed.  Deceased was 33 years old and is survived by parents, Mr. and Mrs. Francis Dawson, three brothers, Alfred of Madison, Orville of near Madison and Henry of Paris; and three sisters, Mrs. Joe Parish, Mrs. Warner Fennel and Mrs. Walter Noel—Moberly Democrat.

Monroe county people are sorry indeed for this unfortunate family and deeply sympathize with them in this great trouble.

Henry Jackson is sick

John Jackson has returned from a trip to Cherokee, OK.

Prof. Fuller and family have all been quite ill this week.

A son was born to Mr. and Mrs. J. Wm. Jackson last Thursday.

The W.C.T.U. meets with Mrs. J.H. Whitecotton next Tuesday afternoon.

Mrs. Tom Gentry and Miss Mattie Mounce returned from Mexico Saturday night.

Henry Trussel’s house, west of Paris, was destroyed by fire Wednesday afternoon.

Mrs. Mattie Vaughn, Mrs. Jas. Sproul and Mr. and Mrs. Hyson Burton were in Moberly Tuesday.

Uncle Jack Sterret, north of Santa Fe, suffered a stroke of paralysis last week but is now able to be up.

Miss Kittie Blakey has returned from Victoria, Texas, where she visited Mr. and Mrs. Kirkland Greer.

Henry Key and family, north of Holliday, left Monday for their new home in Ochiltree county, Texas.

Mrs. And Mrs. G.C. Halley and daughter went to St. Louis, Tuesday.  They go from there to their home at Shawnee, OK.

Bruce Davis returned from Hamilton, Mont., Saturday.  He came back to stay this time and will help his father, Jack Davis, manage his farm south of Paris.

Mrs. M.L. Bibb, wife of a former pastor of the Paris Baptist Church, died at Liberty this week.  The news was received with much sorrow by her many friends at this place.

James R. Chowning, of Madison, is being mentioned as a delegate to the national democratic convention from this district.  It would be a worthy honor to a working democrat.

Columbus C. Long, an old and highly esteemed citizen, died at Goss, Wednesday, after a long illness.  He was buried at Pleasant Hill on Thursday.  Rev. Frank Allen conducted the funeral service.

W. B. Priest and family are now settled in the splendid home they bought of Col. Evans, just west of Paris.  They started four of their children to school in Paris Monday and hope to eventually have their place taken into the district.

Buckner Ragsdale spent the first of the week with his parents at Paris.  He owns and personally manages one of the biggest stores in Cape Girardeau and does a large volume of business on a strict cash basis.  He is prospering, of course.

The following officers were installed at the Granville Odd Fellows hall last Friday night:  John Woods, N.G., Tucker Bierly, V.G., Clyde Woods, secretary, Jim Nickell, treasurer.  A feast and general good time was enjoyed during the evening.

Miss Flora Mason returned from Texhoma Saturday night.  She reports her folks well pleased with their new home and was herself delighted with the country.  Mr. Mason and the boys were building a big barn and preparing to buy and store feed which is very plentiful and cheap in that vicinity.

Eben McBride is here.

W.H. Blackford has plenty of cord wood and wood cut to stove length for sale.

W.H. Dawson, John Dawson, Jo Dawson, Mrs. B. Pile and Mrs. S.B. Sproul attended the funeral of their mother at Paris Sunday.

V.L. Hess and R.O. Minor will move back to Momence, Ill., this month.  There is much regret that Monroe county is to lose these clever gentlemen and their excellent families.

Probable Fortune for Mrs. Vantine

An item in the APPEAL three weeks ago in regard to the search for Libbie Butler, and our last week’s announcement that Mrs. Sam Vantine was probably the person sought, was followed on Friday by a visit from James Gillispie, a Columbia lawyer, who has been prosecuting the search.  He went away thoroughly convinced that Mrs. Vantine was the person he had been trying to locate.

An air of mystery surrounds his investigations and will continue to do so until a suit the law firm contemplates is filed in the circuit court at Columbia.

From reliable sources, however, the APPEAL is able to state that the court will be asked to recognize Mrs. Vantine as one of the three lawful heirs to the large estate left by a man by the name of Butler who died in Boone county a year ago.  The attorneys assert that he was Mrs. Vantine’s father and, further, that the other two heirs are willing to recognize her as their long-lost sister and consent for her to share with them in the division of his estate.  Mr. Butler was married four times.  Two of his wives were divorced and two died.  Mrs. Vantine, it is said, was the daughter of one of his divorced wives.

Most Paris people are familiar with her history.  Found in a camp of soldiers north of Mexico by Dan Wyman during the war, he persuaded the woman who had her in charge to let him give her a home.  The child was then five years old, and her name was Lydia.  Wyman’s wife was unkind to the little girl and when Mrs. E.T. Wetmore asked the privilege of adopting her it was granted.  Gradually the name of Lydia gave way to that of Lizzie as the little one grew into the affections of her foster parents and as Lizzie Wetmore she was known to her associates until she became the wife of Sam Vantine, a prominent young farmer.

The attorneys in charge of the case at Columbia feel certain that after all these years she will not only be recognized as a member of one of Missouri’s best families but will at the same time come into a goodly share of a goodly estate.

Want Infirmary Site Changed

Large and representative delegations from Madison, Monroe City, Indian Creek and other localities met at Paris Monday afternoon and urged the country judges to abandon the poor farm south of Paris and build the $25, 000 infirmary close to town.  Madison asked that it be moved to that place, offering the Tenny Bassett 40 acre place just east of town at $100 an acre or an 83-acre place just south of town at $60.  The other delegations preferred that it be built in sight of Paris in order that people coming to the county seat could see and visit it.  All were agreed, however, that the court would make a fatal mistake in building it on the present county farm.

Dr. Carver, J.R. Chowning, J.C. Frank, I.N. Atterbury, R.E. Western and others spoke for the Madison delegation; Revs. Reid and Bailey, J.M. Proctor, J.S. Scott, J.J. Brown, J.H. McClintic for Monroe City; Tom Spalding and John Williams for Indian Creek; J.H. Whitecotton, S.S. Bassett, R.N. Bodine, and James P. Boyd for Paris.  All argued for a change of site, except Mr. Bodine. 

The court adjourned with Allen insisting on the old site, Umstattd strong for a close to Paris site, and Brown undecided.  There is absolutely no reason for prolonging the agitation.  Settle it gentleman and let it stay settled.

Wife Gone With Another Man

The wife of Arthur Willis, a prominent young farmer living south of Paris, has been missing since Wednesday of last week.  There seems but little doubt that she has gone with another man, and that man, it is generally believe, is Lewis Ball, a married neighbor.  The fact that improper relations between the two had been suspected for along time and the further fact that both disappeared the same day lends color to the suspicion that it was a mutual and well planned affair.

Mrs. Willis came to Paris on Wednesday morning with her mother, Mrs. Bertha Young.  Ball left home the same morning, driving a bay team hitched to a buggy.  He took dinner at Centralia.  Mrs. Willis took the noon train at Paris and is supposed to have joined Ball at Centralia that afternoon.  Sheriff Nolen, on his way to Madison, met her on the train and she was very much confused and refused to answer when he asked her her destination.  It is thought that she left the train at Centralia and that she and Ball went south in the buggy.

Mr. Willis came to town as soon as he learned of his wife’s disappearance and sought to have a state warrant issued.  Prosecuting Attorney Boyd was out of town all the week and nothing was done until his return.  No warrant, however, was issued, because of the fact that the only charge that could be brought against Ball, if guilty, would be wife abandonment.  If the couple should be found living together they could be prosecuted for adultery but the warrant could only be issued in the county in which the offense occurred.

On Monday, however, Mrs. Young came to Paris and had 500 pictures of her daughter printed.  These were attached to postal cards on which her description was given and on which a reward of $50 for her detention was offered.

Mrs. Willis is 22 years old and very pretty.  Ball is about ten years older.  He left a wife and one child in very straightened circumstances.  He is supposed to have had about $600 in cash when he left, having sold considerable stock the week before.  He was a steady, hard-working young man and bore a good reputation until people began talking of his alleged infatuation for his pretty neighbor.

Mrs. Young, mother of the missing girl, indignantly denies that she had a hand in the unfortunate affair.  To an APPEAL man she made the following statement: 

  “I had no idea of Lute’s intentions when she came to Paris with me that day.  She had previously asked me to bring her and when I phoned her that morning to know if she still wanted to go to town she said she didn’t know whether she did or not.  A little later she phoned for me to come by.  She came out with a big bundle and told me it was a quilt she had make for Arthur’s mother.  I suggested that we stop and deliver it when we got to town but she said she would take it up later.  I thought she acted rather queer when we passed a field in which Arthur was working that morning.  She stared at him as we went by, then raised the back curtain and watched him until we got out of sight.  When I went to the hotel for dinner she wouldn’t go along, saying she couldn’t eat a bite.  That afternoon I looked for her everywhere and finally went home alone, leaving word at the store that I would come back for her if she came in asking for me.  But in my heart I felt that she was gone.  I had been suspicious of her and Lewis Ball for a long time and had spoken to them about it but both only laughed and said there was nothing to it.  A week before she left, it was Christmas day, Lute and the other children spent the day with me.  She seemed absent minded, wanted to hear somebody sing about home and mother, and said several times that she did not expect we would all be together next Christmas.  Ball got so bold in his attentions in recent weeks that he would hardly wait for Arthur to leave the house before he would go over there.  I think he had had her drugged for a month, she acted so strange.”

Mr. Willis had also been suspicious for some time but had been unable to confirm his suspicions.  About two weeks ago he thought it strange that his wife would not come to town with him.  He saw Ball leave town soon after his arrival, it is said, and immediately started back towards home.  On the road, it is said, he overtook Ball and Mrs. Willis riding together horseback, Ball leaving her and hurry on ahead when he came in sight. 

Mr. Willis is a high-toned and highly respected young man and is greatly humiliated by his wife’s escapade.  He was married to her when she was only sixteen.

The second trial of Harry Thaw began Monday and will probably be finished in two weeks.  His plea is that he was insane when he killed Stanford White.

Simon is Grateful

The old year has closed and my books show my business was larger than ever before.  To all who gave me a share of their trade I return sincere thanks.  I am now trying to close up all my accounts now on the books.  All who owe me are urged to settle at once.  I need the money and hope to be paid without delay—

A.H. Simon, Granville, MO.

I have a team of horse mules for sale.  They are 2-year olds, 15 ¾ hands high, good bone, good weight, stylish and gentle.  If you want a pair that are fancy you can buy these worth the money—G.W. Wright, 10 miles northeast of Paris.

J.J. Herman and wife are back from a visit with Iowa relatives.

Robert Alexander paid $3,000 for the Medley farm northwest of Ash.

A son was born to Mr. and Mrs. L.T. Carter at Madison last week.

W.H. Berry moved to the John Williamson place near North Fork Wednesday.

C.E. Montgomery has moved to the J.B. Carrico farm in Indian Creek township.

Henry, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Kesner, died at Granville on Monday of last week.

Milas Haden, south of Woodlawn, was recently married to Mrs. Nichols, near Holliday.

Tom Fryar will succeed Mr. Featherston as carrier on the star route between Paris and Victor.

Virgie, the 5-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Austin Yates, was buried at Indian Creek recently.

Mrs. William Fields has rented her farm to C.H. Martin and will make her home with her daughter, Mrs. Jas Young, Jr.

John Cox died of consumption at his home near Granville Jan 1.  He was a clever gentleman and will be missed.

Hub Palmer traded his farm near the Harley schoolhouse to Orville Chowning for the W.T. Davis farm near Middle Grove.

Mrs. Sarah Love of Holliday found a 20-ince worm in a head of cabbage and the cabbage-worm scare is in full blast again.

Eugene Berry, who has been bookkeeping for the Burlington, has secured a better position with the Missouri Pacific at Sedalia.

Dr. Lin Bryan, formerly of the Paris vicinity, has been practicing osteopathy at Gainesville, Tex., for six years and now has a good paying business.

S.S. Paris, near Indian Creek, was recently married to Miss Grace Cleary in Iowa.  They were given a rousing welcome on their return to Indian Creek.

Mrs. Tho McManama recently celebrated her 73^rd birthday at the home of R.L. Foster, near Tulip.  A gathering of relatives and friends was held in honor of the event.

A family reunion, with the usual big feast, was recently held at the home of S.W. Sanders in honor of the 8^th anniversary of his marriage and in honor of the birthday of his father, S.A. Sanders.

Ira Overfelt, formerly of Holliday vicinity, was married to Miss Willie Howell at Hawk Point, MO., last week.  His home is at Colton, Utah, where he is agent for the D. & R. G. Railroad.

Frank Newman and Miss Mamie Hopper, prominent young folks living south of Madison, were married by Eld. Featherston at Moberly, Sunday afternoon.  Mrs. Newman is taking a business course at Sedalia.

Mrs. P.G. Spears, aged 52 years, recently died at her home in Holliday.  She was a valued member of the Christian church and was highly esteemed by all who knew her.  Her husband and five children survive her.

Henry Wade, J.R. Chowning, C.A. Overfelt and Ed Lynch, surviving comrades, unite in a splendid tribute to the valor and character of C.L. Enochs, recently deceased.  Mr. Enochs was a bugler for that famous battery and one of its bravest men.

The Woodlawn district has put individual desks in its schoolhouse, bought a new organ, papered the room and made it very convenient.  The term up there is nine months.  The teacher is Miss Euretha Grant, one of the very best instructors in the county.

In Memoriam

Harwood Rouse was born in Ralls county, Ohio, near Chillicothe, on the 17^th of September, and consequently had passed his 75^th birthday.  He united with the M.E. Church at the age of 16 years, and lived a consistent Christian life to the end.  At the age of 33 years, he was married to Miss Sarah Jane Baker; five children were born to this union, two died in infancy and a daughter at the age of 12.  One daughter and a son with the mother still survive.  Brother Rouse was a faithful church worker, and for many years was a Sunday School superintendent.  He died as he had lived in triumph of the Christian faith.  He rests from labor and his works follow him.  He had been a member of the Masonic fraternity for 55 years and was buried by the lodge he organized when 36 years of age, with highest honor.----C.A. Carter

Card of Thanks

We desire to tender our sincere thanks for our friends of this community for the interest and sympathy extended us in the loss of our husband and father.

        Mrs. Sarah Rouse

        Chas. B. Rouse

        Mrs. W. H. Furnish

The marriage of Mr. J. Wm. Davis and Miss Fannie Horton is said to have been one of the prettiest events the Goss vicinity has seen in years.  It was a pink and white affair, the house being lavishly decorated in those colors, the ceremony being performed under a large white wedding bell.  Miss Mabel Miers played the wedding march.  Many friends and relatives from Mexico, Kirksville and other points attended.  Mr. Davis is a splendid young man and the APPEAL is of the opinion that his bride is one of the finest young women in all the country.

Mrs. Roy Wightman, who died near Carrollton last week, was 101 years and 10 months old.  At 95 she regained her eyesight and up to the last year of her life she could read a newspaper without aid of glasses.