| Notice of Non-Resident State of Indiana Perry County In the Perry County Circuit Court February Tenth 1880 Matthew Smith vs. Sarah A. Smith complaint for divorce Sarah A. Smith non resident of the State of Indiana is hereby notified that Matthew Smith has filed a complaint against her in the Perry Circuit Court for divorce and that the same is set to trial on the 5th day of February being the 4th day of the February Term of said Court A.D. 1880 Witness my hand at the seal of said court this 20th day of December 1879 Jno T. Patrick Clerk E.E. Drumb att’y for PPff – Cannelton Enquirer and Reporter 1/15/1880 |
| Notice of Appointment: Notice is hereby given that the undersigned has been appointed by the Clerk of the Perry Circuit Court, Administrator of the Estate of John R. Dome deceased Said estate is probably solvent Hezekiah Tate Administrator – December 23 1879 |
| Notice is hereby given that the undersigned has been appointed by the Clerk of the Perry Circuit Court administrator of the estate of Charles Bleibel late of Perry County, deceased. Said estate is supposed to be solvent William Beck Administrator – Cannelton Enquirer and Reporter 1/15/1880 |
| Mr. Patterson, Sheriff of Perry county, brought up yesterday two brothers named Prather, convicted of horse stealing at the late term of the Circuit Court of that county, and sentenced to the State Prison It will be remembered that four brothers of the same family were convicted of the same offense at the late term of the Crawford Court. There are now six brothers in the State Prison; another died in jail and the mother and sister, under indictment, are still at large. – New Albany Daily Ledger 5-31-1859 |
| A private letter received by a gentleman in this city, reports twenty-two cases small pox in Cannelton, and the disease on the increase. The people of that section are very alarmed. New Albany Daily Ledger Standard, 30 Jan 1873 |
| Perry County Crimes. A gentleman from Perry County informs the Ledger-Standard of the following: at Tell City, three of four days ago, two cabinet makers, Frederick Rank and Edward Schultz, had a difficulty, in which Rank seriously wounded Schultz in the face and neck with a knife. Rank was arrested and held in $500 to answer in the circuit court. New Albany Daily Ledger Standard, Saturday, 2 Oct 1880. Calvin Allen and Argus Chisholm had a difficulty near Rome and came to blows, during which Allen stabbed Chisholm four times, twice between the shoulders and twice in the back. Chisholm will probably die from his injuries. |
| Major W. S. Lamb, of Cannelton, Ind., was yesterday appointed assignee of the estate of Fred Pilchohowki, a bankrupt of Perry County. New Albany Ledger Standard, 8 Nov 1877 |
| The Treasurer of Perry County, Indiana Vanishes Leaving a Shortage of 67,000 Evansville, Ind. July 5 Special Telegram The city of Cannelton, Perry County, Ind. is in a high state of excitement, caused by the heavy defalcation of County Treasurer Hinton Miller, which was discovered three days ago. His predecessor J. M. Coombs was found short in his accounts 30,000 the greater part of which he made good, and he is now serving a sentence in the penitentiary. Miller was elected his successor. Serving for one year in an exemplary manner, and was re-elected to a second term. He had some trouble to get the desired number of names on his bond the law requiring 100 worth at least $1,000 each. He succeeded in getting only twenty-six. As the time drew near when he had either to give the proper bond or relinquish the office it formed the principal topic of the conversation among the people of Cannelton but none were expecting the terrible denonoment of Tuesday last. Mr. Miller came to this city on Thursday of last week bringing with him his young wife to who he was recently married. He came ostensibly for the purpose of selling some hogs for his firm and nothing was thought of his visit until Sunday morning. When a letter was received by the county officials dated Indianapolis Ind. and inclosing the combination and key to the county safe. An examination of his accounts immediately followed and he was found short to the extent of 67,000 and it is though a closer scrutiny of his books will make his defalcation reach a much larger figure. It is rumored that Miller receipted for $10,000 of Coomb’s shortage when going into office and thus started in his term short that amount. Miller has nine children ranging in age from 9 years to others who have passed their majority. He was never considered a safe business man. He left no trace when leaving Indianapolis but it is supposed that he is now in Canada and he ahs had plenty of time to get there. The county will lose nothing as he had 101 bondsmen who are good for the amount of his shortage 7/6/1887 Inter Ocean |
| At Leopold, Perry County, Indiana, young Thomas Webb was spending a cozy evening with a widow and her two daughters, one of whom was a young lady of eighteen, when a young physician by the name of Christian came into the house, and on seeing the apparently pleasant relations existing between the inmates and the visitor, became excited and retired but in a short time returned and without any warning rushed furiously upon Webb with a bowie knife and inflicted seven stabs upon him in the region of the heart Fortunately, a large plug of tobacco and a folded newspaper in the inside pocket of his coat protected him from the force of the blows. Webb is in a very critical situation. The doctor fled He is a man of education and a Creole of Louisiana Lowell Daily Citizen and News 2/25/1857 |
| Attacked by Anti-Catholics Three Persons Killed and Many Hurt at an Indiana Picnic English, Ind. July 5 1895 —- Dr. William Lomax, of White Sulphur Well, telephoned here this evening news of a serious riot at a picnic in Siberia, Perry County, in which one thousand men and women participated. It is stated that three persons are dead and fifty wounded. St. Martin Of Tours Church Church, Siberia is fifteen miles from a railroad in the wildest part of Perry County. The men supposed to be dead are William Geise, Frank Hart and Frederick Elmer. It was a German Catholic picnic and was interrupted by anti-Catholics – New York Herald 7/6/1895 |
| Marriage Notices The Rev. J. W. J. Collins of the Methodist Episcopal church in Cannelton, and Miss Olive F. Webb were married at Greencastle. Elkhart Daily Review 1891-09-05 |
| Perry Co. Sheriff Will Seek Autopsy in Brother’ Death – Paradise, Ky (AP) An Indiana sheriff planned Tuesday to ask an autopsy in the death of his brother, whose body was recovered from the Green River near here. Fred Falls, 53, of Troy, Ind., brother of Perry County, Indiana sheriff William Falls, had been missing since Saturday night when he disappeared on a fishing trip Raymond Winchell, 47 of near by Central City, the victim’s brother in law said he fell into the river as he and Falls tied up their boat to the shore. He said he swam to the opposite side of the river and didn’t see his brother in law again. A Tell City, Ind., rescue unit found Falls’ body Tuesday near the spot where the upright boat was discovered Sunday morning. |
| In the fall of 1816 Thomas Lincoln, with his wife Nancy, his daughter Sarah and young son Abraham, came to Indiana. After a short visit at Troy. On the Ohio river near the mouth of Anderson Creek where Abe later on was to run a ferry boat, the little family made their way to the site of their future home on Little Pigeon creek, cutting a passage through the tagled wilderness in what was then known as Hurricane township, Perry County, Indiana Perry county was the fourth county in the Territory of Indiana, and was the last count to be created before the Territory applied to Congress for an enabling act Troy was the first county seat. Spencer county was organized in 1818 and its boundaries included the settlement of Little Pigeon Creek where the Lincolns lived. The Lincoln family entered the Indiana country in the autumn season when the hills are dressed in their gayest colors. These returning fall pageants of bewitching hues was annually witnessed by the boy Abraham from the tender age of seven until his twenty-first year. These are the years of memory-storing. Abe Lincoln never forgot. It was not long after the arrival of the Lincolns at the Perry county settlement until the Pigeon Baptist church was organized and Thomas Lincoln became a member on June 7th 1823 He was soon made trustee and often served as moderator. He was a skilled carpenter and when the church was built he fashioned the door and window frames and made the pulpit. Young Abe assisted in this work. This building was no doubt made of logs and stood about a mile south of the Lincoln home. The drawing above was made from the cemetery yard and shows the little frame church which was erected on the site of the original log building. The Times Recorder 4/22/1949 |
| Francis J. Smith killed his wife and little son near Derby, in Perry county, Indiana a day or two since and then committed suicide. He left an incoherent letter detailing domestic difficulties, which seem to have incited the triple murder – Flake’s Bulletin June 16 1867 |
| Peter Jasper, who served under Napolean I, eight years, and was in the Moscow and Waterloo campaigns, recently died in Perry County, Indiana San Francisco Bulletin 9/7/1867 |
| The Cannelton (Indiana) Reporter of Thursday last gives an account of a row which occurred in Perry county, Indiana, in which fifteen persons were stabbed, bruised or shot. One man was mortally wounded; another lost an arm and another leg. Milwaukee Sentinel 4/24/1865 |
| David Nelson, of Union township, Perry county, Indiana, fell from an apple tree and broke his arm in three places – Indianapolis Journal Ah that faithful apple This must have carried David back to primeval times and man’s original fall New Orleans Times 8/6/1875 |
| Corrupt public Officers; An Indiana County Treasurer Absconds With $50,000 The Attorney Also Flees Evansville Ind.- July 7- Perry county, Indiana, is widely excited over the defalcation and flight of Hinton Miller county treasurer. He owes the county 40,000 and private parties 10,000 more. The county safe, when opened contained nothing of value. Following on Treasurer Comb’s defalcation and imprisonment last year it is hard to find a new treasurer as bondsmen cannot obtained. Miller’s bondsmen are trying to avoid liability. Floyd Mason, a wealthy citizen, will probably be induced to serve. To make matters the more desperate, Prosecuting Attorney Vance has absconded, having been detected in bribing jurors. Some of the later will probably follow suit Vance was highly respected. He leaves a small family and Miller a large one. Macon Telegraph 7/8/1887 |
| Quick Work- The Canton Wrought Iron Bridge Company received an order last Saturday from Perry county, Indiana for a bridge 115 feet long. The bridge was made and shipped to-day and will be ready for travel the latter part of next week. Repository 4/11/1878 |
| A Perry county, Indiana, went into the army. Years went by and as he failed to return he was believed to be dead, and his wife married again. A few days ago her first husband returned and gave what seemed to the family a sufficient cause for his long and mysterious absence. But now what could be done? The two men met, and in a friendly manner talked the matter over and each felt that no one was to blame for the circumstances. The parties agreed, however to leave the wife for a few days, and at an appointed hour and moment the three should meet and the wife should decide whose wife she would be. The decision was to be final, and the man not received should leave the vicinity. With this arrangement each complied the decisive moment, the important time arrived, and the woman decided that he who had been her first husband should be her last. The other procured his divorce and left for other parts. – Jackson Citizen Patriot 10/12/1877 |
| The citizen of Perry county, Indiana, who communicates the notice of the death of a Revolutionary solider published in to-days paper says “I have neighbor in this county named John Kepler, a solider at the Revolution, a native of Lancaster county, (Pa) aged one hundred and three years on the 23rd day of April last and now enjoying good health” 9/10/1844 Daily National Intelligencer |
| In Perry county, Indiana at the late term of the county court, there was no less than twenty two applications for divorce. Daily Ohio Statesman 11/25/1855 |
| Richard Welch of Derby, a little village in Perry county, Indiana fired several shots at one of his sons without effect Monday he met his son, Montgomery Welch, one with his mother had been to see a lawyer in regard to prosecuting the father. When the parties met the elder Welch exclaimed that one of them had got to die. The son succeeded in drawing his pistol first and firing. The father fell dead. Welch was a farmer in good standing 4/5/1881 Plain Dealer |
| Tribute Paid to 63 dead in Air Crash. Tell City, Ind. UPI Four caskets were lowered into a hilltop cemetery grave yesterday in a symbolic burial witnessed by mourners for 63 persons killed in a southern Indiana plane crash six days ago. More than 100 kinfolk and friends of the victims of a Northwest Airlines turbo prop plunge into a farm field last Thursday night watched bareheaded as the empty coffins were buried The ceremony concluded a half-hour four faith memorial service held in Greenwood Cemetery about 11 miles from a crater where the fuselage of the big airliner buried itself deep into the muddy earth on a flight from the Midwest to Florida. Roman Catholic and Buddhist priests, a Jewish rabbi and a Protestant minister intoned masses. The mourners stood on a blanket of artificial grass, flanked by a group of witnesses which included Indiana Gov. Harold W. Handley Two top officers of Northwest Airlines, which flew relatives and friends to the services attended. Business stood still in Tell City Merchants closed their shops. Digging in the crater which yielded unrecognizable bodies late Tuesday was suspended during the services. This the greatest air tragedy that the State of Indiana has ever known, has prompted many to make all types of investigations with the sincere hope that similar tragedies will never again occur, said the Rev. Henry Lippert pastor of a Tell City Protestant church. We are gathered together to dedicate the consecrate this site to the memory of all those whose earthly lives were so suddenly and completely taken. A motor caravan brought survivors to the victims to the site. Boston Daily Record (Boston, MA) March 24 1960 |
| An Indiana Outlaw Driven from Crawford County by White Caps He Murders his wife in Perry County and kills the sheriff who attempts to arrest him – A lynching probable New Albany, Indiana, July 5 – The report of a horrible double murder reached this city this afternoon from Perry County, George Seals was formerly a resident of Crawford County, and being a desperado, and leading a life that rendered him obnoxious to the entire community, he was visited one night by the famous Crawford County White Caps, and tied to a tree, and whipped nearly to death. He was then given his choice of leaving the county or being hanged by the night riders. He chose to leave the county, and moved into Perry County, settling near Branchville. Afterwards be went before the Crawford County grand jury and procured indictments against a number of citizens on the charge of being White Caps but the men were tried and acquitted, Seals having no bad a reputation that the jury that tried the case refused to credit his statements as a witness Thereafter Crawford County was entirely to hot for George Seals But at his new home near Branchville, in Perry County, he led a lie that rendered him a terror to the entire community. He had long been guilty of a very crud treatment of his wife of whom he was insanely jealous. On the 1st of the present month he abused his wife in a most cruel manner and the report states that on the next day she was found dead, murdered by the brute, being shot and also killed and stamped. The discovery of the murder created intense excitement, and Sheriff Case Gardner being noticed of the crime went from Cannelton to Branchville to arrest Seals. In attempting to make the arrest however, Seals shot the sheriff, who died the same day. The second murder by the desperado Seals has aroused the people of Perry County to the highest degree of irony. Sheriff Gardner was a brave officer and very popular and his death at the hands of such a desperado as Seals will doubtless lead to the lynching of the murdered should he be captured. He fled immediately after the commission of the bloody deed. Sunday July 6 1890 Cincinnati Commercial Tribune |
| Word was received at Cannelton Saturday of a horrible murder in Perry county. G. Seals, a desperado, who was driven out of Crawford county by the White Caps abused his wife in a shocking manner on July 1. On the next day, she was found shot, and beaten to death. Sheriff C. Gerdiner who came on July 3 to arrest Seals, was mortally wounded by the murderer and has since died. The county is thoroughly aroused, and Seals will probably be lynched if he is caught. Public Press 9 July 1890 |
| Information reaches here from the interior of Perry Co., that the daughter of Jonathan Essery, while engaged in milking was over powered by and unknown scoundrel, bound and gagged and criminally assaulted after which her unconscious form was thrown over a fence for purpose of concealment and in the fall her thigh was broken by a sharp projection. When found by her father she was delirious in which condition she remained at last account. She is aged fifteen. Mr. Essery is a well known local politician of Perry county but he lives in an out-of-the-way locality Public Press Wednesday July 2 1890 |
| The large paper mill at Cannelton was totally destroyed by fire last Friday night; alarm given about 10:30. loss $25,000 or $30,000 – insurance, $ 5,000. Origin of the fire unknown Public Press Wednedsay July 2 1890 |
| Tell City News. 6 January 1906 Anderson Valley – Prof. Porter J. Coultas, who has been teaching the Noble school, resigned his position Friday and left for Louisville Sunday to take up the study of medicine. |
| The U. S. Hame Company are moving machinery and other paraphernalia into their new plant. When everything is moved and the plant in perfect operation it will be one of the largest plants in the country. Tell City News.13 January 1906 We are having a good deal of snow. The young folks are having a good time with their sleighs. Our hills are mighty fine for the youngsters at this particular time. The Steamer Tell City passed by this landing on Monday night, not being able to land on account of the heavy wind. She has been having quite a good deal of trouble at the local landing recently. It strikes us that an effort ought to be made to make a macadamized road to the city cemetery. The road during the winter is terrible and at times almost impassable. The city is growing and an attempt ought to be made and if same could be accomplished it would be a good advertisement for the city.Anderson Valley - The windstorm Monday afternoon that swept over this section of the country wasn't much less than a small cyclone. It played havoc with rail fences and unroofed several barns and sheds. Siberia - Last Monday a hail storm passed over this country and later it rained harder than we've ever seen.
Tell City News, 3 February 1906 Natural Gas. J. H. McDermott has requested the City Council to pass an ordinance giving him the right to lay pipe lines in the streets and alleys of Tell City for the purpose of conveying and distributing natural gas. The ordinance furthermore guarantees that the said McDermott is to put the street or alley in the same condition as it was and that he is not to have the exclusive privilege of furnishing gas to the city. It furthermore fixes the price as 27 cents per thousand cubic feet. His representative says that the pipeline would be complete and gas to be furnished within eighteen months. Tell City News, 17 February 1906 Anderson Valley - Candidates are out in the country now and are moving around quite lively. As the roads are all very sloppy, there will be a great deal of mudslinging between now and spring. Democrat candidates are listed for following offices: County Auditor - Charles D. Patrick Clerk of Circuit Court - S. S. England of Tobin Twp., Hal Weatherholt of Tobin Twp., Henry Nimsgern of Tell City County Treasurer - Joseph H. Mosby of Anderson Twp. County Sheriff - Edward Cassidy of Oil Twp., Philip Wittmer of Cannelton, Henry Luke Kellems, Derby. County Recorder - Frank J. George of Tell City; James M. Lanman of Clark Twp., D. E. Hicks of Anderson Twp. County Assessor - Anton G. Rudolph of Troy Twp. County Coroner - Dr. Earl Snyder of Troy. The report that Alfred James, the popular mail carrier on Route 2, had bought an automobile is not true. The roads are too bad to use one. Tell City News 24 February 1906 The Mechanics Star Band Annual Mask Ball will be at the Opera House on Monday evening Feb. 26th. Promises to be the best of the season. Prizes will be given. Admission, masks 50 cents, unmasked 25 cents Chair Makers Union buys Weiss Chair Factory of Rockport and will remove to Tell City. Bank Statement - The Citizens National Bank of Tell City - Resources $155,784.14; liabilities, $ 155,784.14. Robert Huelsmann, Cashier. Tell City News, 3 March 1906 Anderson Township will only have ninety-six days of school this year - over a month shorter than usual. The cause of the shortage is lack of funds. A number of baseball enthusiasts met in the City Hall Wednesday night and elected Nic Beumel as manager of the Tell City Grays for 1906. The Chair Makers Union closed the deal for the old Plant No. 2 of the U. S. Hame Company. The chair factory recently bought at Rockport will be expected at this plant. The Tell City Improvement Association has decided to celebrate Tell City's 50th anniversary in grand style sometime in May 1908. Tell City News, 10 March 1906 Tell City News, 17 March 1906 In the case of Sam P. Marting vs. Anna P. Marting, for a divorce, plaintiff alleges they were married April 16, 1893 and lived together until Feb. 1906, when defendant left him, taking with her their four children, certain account books, a team of horses, and a buggy and is living now near Eckerty in Crawford County. The Tell City Steam Laundry will be ready for work sometime next week. John Obrecht Sons Mfg. Co. bought the old Herrmann Hame plant from the Tell City Real Estate company for $10,000. They will shortly remove their hub plant into this properly. City Council Proceedings - Concrete sidewalks must be put down on Ninth Street between Jefferson and Tell. Tell City News, 24 March 1906 They Have 14 Children. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas C. Duffin, of St. Croix, last week visited Mrs. Rosa Gilligan, in Cannelton, and are the parents of fourteen children-three girls and eleven boys. The oldest, Charles R., was 30 years of age on Monday, March 12h and for the past five years has been in the service of "Uncle Sam" in Manila, Philippine Islands. Recently he married a Spanish lady there. Lawrence is a bartender in Chicago having gone there sometime ago from St. Louis. He has been away from home about six years. Rosa and Anna live in St. Louis. Albert is a waiter in a hotel there. Ed is a baker, is married, also lives in St. Louis. The other eight children, one girl and seven boys, are at home with their parents. The youngest is seven years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Duffin, Sr. will celebrate their thirty-first wedding anniversary at their farm near St. Croix with a feast and good time on Saturday, May l2th, next. Few parents can boast of so many and so healthy and successful children. The Chair Makers Union is pushing the installation of their new Chair Factory. The plant will be ready for operation within a week or two. Tell City is going to experience another great building boom. The contractors will all be busy the entire summer. A large number of small cottages are to be erected which are undoubtedly needed. We understand that several families from Rockport will shortly move to this city. The John Obrecht Sons Mfg. Co. will shortly move their hub factory into the Brick Factory. The Obrecht Brothers have certainly shown their ability as business men. In the recent past they have built a levy, purchased a dock and added several barges to their fleet so that they are better prepared to do towing than heretofore. 50th anniversary of Tell City to be celebrated in Royal Style in May 1908. Committees are being appointed for one week of homecoming activities. It is hoped that all former residents will return for the celebration. The first families began to arrive in March 1858. By May 29'h there were 616 inhabitants and growing steadily since. Tell City News, 3l March 1906 The Derby Telephone company has installed several new telephones during the month of March. The Cumberland Telephone and Telegraph Company have installed 44 new telephones within the last month in the county. Andy Steinauer asked the Tell City Council for the right of 124 feet at the river bank at the foot of Washington Street to be used as a ferry landing. He is to pay expenses in making suitable roads to the landing. |
| Recently a deposit of stone coal said to be 138 feet deep, has been discovered in Perry County. In this county is the flourishing manufacturing town of Cannelton, the hills in the vicinity of which have long been known to contain an inexhaustible supply of an excellent quality of the mineral. Recent explorations have demonstrated that the whole of western have demonstrated that the whole of western Indiana abounds in wonderful and exhaustless deposits of this sort Madison (Ia) Courier, of 20th Boston Evening Transcript (Boston MA) Aug 29 1851 |
| Indiana State Troops Are Held Under Arms Strike Riots Follow Shooting of Tell City Marshal Indianapolis, Ind. Aug 12- Expecting trouble at Tell City as a result of labor difficulties at that place Adjutant General Perry has notified four companies of the Indiana national guard to hold themselves in readiness to move at once. General Perry left this noon for Tell City. On his arrival he will investigate the trouble and ascertain whether the troops will be needed. Last night Edward Hawkins marshal of Tell City shot and killed William Danfer a union striker and then went to Cannelton where he surrendered to the sheriff and was placed in jail. The strikers formed a mob and factory employees who refused to join the strikers were beaten and driven from the town. Albuquerque Journal Aug 14 1907 |