Washington County Tidbits 1880-89

Tidbits are newspaper articles, etc. which mention names, places, and other information possibly useful to the researcher.


E-mail your Washington County, MO Tidbit to Larry Flesher,


Submitted by Thomas Fea

Fair Play, February 28, 1880

An elderly lady, Mrs. Moro Ducloe living alone for a number of years in a small cabin on Aurenault Branch, a few miles north of this place, was found one morning last week in her cabin burnt almost to a crisp. It is supposed that she fell from her chair into the fire, as a chair was found sitting near the fireplace. - Potosi Independent.
Submitted by Thomas Fea

Weekly Graphic., October 16, 1880.

Charles Skaggs, who ran a splinter into his thumb at Potosi last week, has since died from lockjaw.
Submitted by Thomas Fea

(April 1881) A telegram from Dr. Volker of DeSoto to Mr. John R. Higgins of this place announced the sudden and unexpected death of James Fea, well known in this town and county. James was born in St. Louis [incorrect, born in Scotland but lived for awhile in St. Louis], but while quite young his parents removed to Washington county. After he became of age, he left for the gold and silver lined mountains of Arizona. In the last few years he was very successful in mining operations and accumulated a competency. He still had several interests in paying lodes in the territory which were yielding him a comfortable living. Some seven months ago he returned to this State and on the 14th of October, 1880, he was married to Miss Nannie Silvers of DeSoto. He resided at DeSoto until death overtook him last Sunday. He leaves a widowed mother, several brothers and sisters, a loving wife, and a host of friends to mourn his untimely demise. His remains were brought to this place and interred by the Odd Fellows in the Presbyterian cemetery. We sincerely sympathize with the grief-stricken relatives in their hour of sore affliction. His death was caused by a locomotive knocking him down and running over his body.

James Fea died April 17, 1881 and is buried in the Potosi Presbyterian Cemetery - ed
Submitted by Christine Lembeck

Saturday Herald, Decatur, Illinois, February 10, 1883

At Bonne Terre, Missouri, on Saturday morning, Sherman Dougherty, 21 years old, a laborer in the Desloge Lead Company, was instantly killed by a stroke of lightning.

Submitted by Christine Lembeck

Decatur Daily Republican, Decatur, Illinois, May 14, 1883

Potosi, MO - May 10
Last Sunday night Mr. William Reihl, who lives one mile south of this place, had two horses stolen, the thieves making towards Cuba. Mr. Reihl immediately telegraphed to all points in that direction and nothing more was heard of them until yesterday when he heard that the thieves had been caught up with, and a fight occurred between the pursuers and the thieves. The horses were both recovered and the rest of the party are in hot pursuit of the other thief. This kind of depredation is getting quite frequent in this community and our county court has taken steps to offer a reward of $200 for each like offense committed in our county.

The New York Times, July 9, 1883

Potosi, MO
Sam Cook, colored, shot and fatally wounded Emma Shares, a young woman who had refused to receive his attention on account of his intemperate habits. Cook then attempted suicide, but only inflicted a flesh wound in the hand with the revolver. He then escaped. It is believed that the colored citizens will lynch him if he is brought in.

Daily Freeman, Waukesha, Wisconsin, July 12, 1883

St. Louis, July 10
Sam Cook, the negro who in a fit of jealous rage, shot Emma Shores, a colored girl, at Potosi, Missouri, last Thursday evening, and then shot himself, and subsequently eluded pursuit, has been captured, and taken back to Potosi.

In his attempt to kill himself, after shooting the girl, he fired two bullets into his head, one of which penetrated both hemispheres of the brain. The other passed through one hemisphere and both are now inside his skull. Not withstanding these wounds, from both of which the brains oozed in a considerable quantity, the negro roamed in the woods from Thursday evening till Sunday morning, when he ate a hearty meal, talked rationally, and walked three miles from the place where was captured to Potosi. Physicians, however, say he can not live. The girl still lives but is paralyzed from the effect of the bullet, which entered the back of her head and passed under and into her spinal column.

Submitted by Christine Lembeck

Cedar Rapids Evening Gazette, November 24, 1883

At Potosi, Missouri, Mrs. W. J. Owens, who lives in the country and had been to the jail to see her husband, a prisoner there, was washed from her horse in crossing Benton Creek, and was swept down the river some distance with her two year old child. She was rescued by a farmer, but the child was drowned.

Submitted by Christine Lembeck

St. Louis Post Dispatch, January 2, 1884


Potosi, Mo.- Mr. Robert Peebles, an old citizen who resided alone in the suburbs of this place, was found dead in bed this morning. Cause of death unknown.

The St. Louis Post Dispatch, April 29, 1885


Potosi- Miss Laura, daughter of P. Huddleston, was found dead in her room yesterday. By her side was found a note: "Only one person in this world knows why I die!" She evidently committed suicide.

St. Louis Post Dispatch, February 9, 1886


Potosi- Dr. A. R. Saylor was stricken with paralysis on his way home last evening.
Farmington- Dow Sebastian of Liberty township died in a dentist's chair while his teeth were being extracted. No chloroform had been given him.
Submitted by Christine Lembeck

Indian Journal, February 11, 1886

Potosi, Mo., Feb. 8 - The dead body of Dr. N. Lyon Franklin was found this morning by J. K. Ellis at the Burgland Farm, four miles south of Potosi. The body was lying on the outside and a gun on the inside of the fence. On examination of the body a gunshot wound was found in the breast two inches to the left of the breast bone, running upward and lodging back of the right shoulder. From the position of the body it is evident that the deceased had aimed to cross the fence, placing his gun on the inside and in attempting to climb the rails, the gun was discharged.

Submitted by Christine Lembeck

Richwood Gazette, Richwood, Ohio July 8, 1886

Western wind storms are getting personal. A tornado started on George Larned's farm in Washington County, Missouri, the other day, and continued its operations entirely to his premises, but before it let up it unroofed the barn and corn crib, and blew Mrs. Larned and the children about the place in the most wreckless way. None of them were killed.

Submitted by Christine Lembeck

Decatur Republic, Decatur, Illinois, August 12, 1886

A little boy playing in an old log house at Richwoods, Missouri, lost a marble through the floor and crawled under the house to get it. He found there a tin pail filled with gold and silver coin. The amount proved to be $1000. It was the property of an old gentleman of the place, who had hidden it there in 1864 and afterward, not finding it readily, thought it had been stolen.

St. Louis Post Dispatch, August 3, 1886


Potosi- Capt. John I. Robinson, an extensive lumber merchant, died here last evening.
Submitted by Esther M. Ziock Carroll

Election day, November 2nd, 1886:


Robert Wigger, age 44, & Marvin McCabe, age 57, were neighbors living in the vicinity of Mineral Point. A feud had long existed between them & on election day they met at Mineral Point where Robert shot & killed Marvin. Marvin's son, Charles McCabe, was present & avenged his father's death by immediately shooting & killing Robert Wigger. Charles was charged with murder & his two brothers, John & James, were charged with aiding & abetting. All were indicted for murder & sentenced to ten years in the penitentiary. Prior to this incident they had all sustained good reputations. All of the McCabe brothers had temperate personalities & two of them were of the Methodist faith. James, age 30, had a wife and four children. Charles, age 28, & John, age 22, were single. All entered the State Penitentiary on June 21st, 1887. Fortunately they did not have to serve their full ten year sentences. The governor of Missouri pardoned James McCabe on February 24th, 1889 & Charles & John were pardoned December 11th, 1889.

St. Louis Post Dispatch, December 18, 1887


Potosi- The local option election took place today in this county, and the temperance people claim a victory of about two hundred majority. The other township (unreadable) will not change the result.

St. Louis Post Dispatch, December 27, 1887


Potosi- The little son of William Turner, a farmer in the suburbs, was burned to death yesterday, his clothing catching fire at an open grate.

St. Louis Post Dispatch, April 3, 1888


Potosi- Judge John L. Thomas instructed the Grand Jury yesterday that registered druggists had a right to fill prescriptions for whisky, wine, brandy, gin, etc., written by registered physicians. He holds that the old pharmacy law has never been repealed, hence the local-option law does not refer to the filling of prescriptions by registered druggists.
Submitted by Christine Lembeck

St. Louis Post Dispatch, December 12, 1888


C. A. Blaine, a deputy sheriff from Potosi, Mo., was struck by a C & A train near the tunnel entrance last night and received a serious cut in the forehead. His right arm was badly bruised.
Submitted by Christine Lembeck

The New Era, Humeston, Iowa, January 2, 1889

Leon Dean found Derville Boyer making love to his (Dean's) wife at Old Mines, Missouri, on the 26th and killed him with an axe.

Submitted by Christine Lembeck

Washington Globe, February 9, 1889

Appointed postmasters:
John Amonette, Caledonia, Missouri
John Casey, Old Mines, Missouri

Submitted by Christine Lembeck

Fair Play - July 13, 1889


On Saturday, June 30th, while a Mr. Blacke, residing at Richwoods, in Washington County, was engaged in cleaning out a smoke house, he was the lucky finder of $500 in gold which had been placed there by some unknown person.
Submitted by Thomas Fea

Fair Play (Ste. Genevieve Mo.), November 23, 1889.

A farmer in Washington county weighed six 2-year old steers, which averaged 992 pounds, and wants to know if any body in the county can beat that. What do our farmers say! Are those steers heavy for 2-year olds?

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Larry Flesher, Washington County, MO

lflesher@yahoo.com