ILLINOIS GENEALOGY EXPRESS

A Part of Genealogy Express
 

Welcome to
PEORIA COUNTY, ILLINOIS
History & Genealogy


 

NEWSPAPER EXCERPTS:

Source: Jackson Citizen Patriot - Jackson, Michigan
Dated: April 23, 1887
      He died in the Poor House.
     C. W. WASHBURN, for years a noted character in Peoria, Ill., died at the county poor-house, Thursday morning.  The deceased started life with brilliant prospects.  He was a gifted orator.  He served in the Mexican war, and was in Col. INGERSOLL's regiment in the civil war.  He was a candidate for the state senate in 1854, being beaten by but a few votes.  Drink and general worthlessness finally reduced him so that he sought an asylum in the county poorhouse several years ago.
Source:  Inter Ocean - Illinois
Dated: Jan. 8, 1892
 His Accounts in Bad Shape.
     PEORIA, Ill. - Jan. 7 - Special Telegram -  Charles E. Coulton was arrested here today for embezzlement.  He was formerly the agent of the Singer Sewing Machine Company at Milwaukee, and left that city with his accounts considerable short.  He has been here since Dec. 23, working for Singer agent at this point.
Source: Kalamazoo Gazette - Michigan
Dated: Sept. 1, 1894
 PEORIA LAKE MYSTERY.
The Truth Will Never Be Known Why This Pair Died.
     There was a mysterious fatality on Peoria lake at a late hour the other night.  Harry McCOY and Miss Josie COLWELL lost their lives.  The accident is shrouded in mystery and it is probable the full details will never be known.  Mr. McCOY came to Peoria a few years ago from Jacksonville and had been employed in the office of his brother-in-law, W. H. MILLER, an architect.  Recently he commenced keeping company with Miss COLWELL, who has been a resident of the city for less than a year, coming from Wyoming, Ill.  Last Monday evening they went for a ride on the lake, securing a skiff from the boat yard of Capt. Bill York about 8 o'clock in the evening.  They wee in the best of spirits and that is the last time they were seen alive.  About 10 o'clock a Mrs. BERRY, who resides on the river bank, was aroused by hearing some one quarreling in a boat.  She listened for a time and looked out on the bright moonlight waters.  She could see the boat and the people in it and plainly heard the angry words of a woman.  She retired and a few minutes later when the quarreling had ceased she looked out.  The boat was still there, but it was empty.  She called to a neighbor, Charles SWEET, who rowed to the boat.  He found in it two hats, one a man's and the other a woman's, and near by a chair-back with the man's coat on it.  These were towed to shore and soon identified as McCOY's.  It was not until morning that the woman was found to be Miss COLWELL, who, during her residence here, had borne an untarnished reputation and had never previously kept company with any one.  A reward was at once offered for McCOY's body, but it was not until afternoon that it was found.  A few hours later Miss COWELL's body was found about 100 yards away.  Her apparel showed signs of a struggle and it is supposed the accident occurred while she was fighting for  her honor.  She was about 20 years of age and a beautiful woman.  Her parents are poor, and since her residence in Peoria she had been employed, as a stripper at a cigar factory, all the employes of which dragged the river for her body.
Source: Kalamazoo Gazette - Michigan
Dated: Aug. 8, 1896
 NEWS IN BRIEF.
     Mrs. Mary E. CAMPBELL, who was run down on State street, Peoria, by a truck wagon, died of her injuries.
Source: Grand Rapids Press - Mich.
Dated: Jan. 5, 1910
 DIED OF PELLAGRA
Disease Fatal to Two Patients in the Peoria Asylum. (By Associated Press)
     Peoria, Ill., Jan. 5 - Suffering of pellagrous mania Mrs. Valentine HERMAN, a patient at the state asylum, escaped scantily clad, dying later of exposure.  She was found sitting beneath a tree in the orchard frozen almost to death.  She was one of the first pellagra victims found in the Peoria asylum.
     Mrs. Anna Klingenmyer, sixty-five years old, at one time one of the wealthiest women in Illinois, died today at Peoria Asylum of pellagra.  She had been afflicted with the disease for a year.
Source: Duluth News - Tribune - Minn.
Dated: Oct. 24, 1916
 DIED STANDING UP.
PEORIA, ILL. - Oct. 23 - H. H. MOON, 35, a prominent farmer living near Trivoli, Ill, was found dead in his garage Sunday.  The body was standing erect against the wall.  The automobile engine was running and the garage was filled with gas.
Source: Plain Dealer - Cleveland, Ohio
Dated: July 17, 1871
 Spirit of the Morning Dispatches.
Obituary.
Hon. E. N. POWELL, one of the oldest and best citizens of Peoria, Ill., died suddenly on Saturday.  He was formerly judge of the court.  His funeral took place on Sunday afternoon, and was largely attended.
Source:  The Rockford Morning Star - Illinois
Dated: July 7, 1918
 COLUMBIA DEAD ESTIMATED AT OVER HUNDRED - Pekin Chief of Police Charges That Excessive Drinking Prevailed - Sixty-Two Bodies Taken Out.
     PEORIA, Ill., July 6 - With 62 bodies recovered and the total number of dead tonight estimated at from 100 to 150 persons, government, state and county officials began searching inquiries into the cause of the wreck of the excursion steamer Columbia Friday night.
     Survivors have charged that the big steamer carrying 500 passengers on a return trip from Peoria to Pekin, Ill., was driven against a sand bank scarcely ten feet from shore and about five miles south of Peoria, during a heavy fog.  First reports were that the craft had struck a snag or submerged log.
Settles on Bottom.
     While the orchestra continued to play on the dance floor which proved a death trap to scores of the 200 dancers the vessel, it was said backed into deep water when it suddenly broke in two and settled on the bottom of the river with only the pilot house and part of the sperstructure  appearing above the water.
     John Dougherty, assistant district attorney, C. F. Mansfield, assistant attorney general of Illinois, and Coroner Clary of Tazwell county, have begun investigations of the collapse of the vessel.
 Heavy Drinking
     Harry Smith chief of police at Pekin, said:
     "Reports have come to me that the drinking on board the Columbia the night of the tragedy was carried to extremes.  This phase of the situation will receive rigid attention after we have buried our dead.  The result may be amazing."
     It was on the return trip to Pekin from Peoria Friday night that a faint jar extending from stem to stern, gave the first intimation of the onrushing tragedy.
     "It was not a hard blow."  Captain Mehl said, "She had worked over pretty well to the Peoria side of the river because of the heavy fog which was probably the cuase of the crash.  She then backed off, squared away and headed down stream again.  Lots of people rushed to the starboard and she listed a bit, then the lights went out and she settled in a couple of minutes."
 Lived Near Pekin.
     The homes of practically all the victims were either in Pekin or Kingston Mines, a mining settlement about 6 miles south of Peoria.
 May Close Saloons.
     PEKIN, Ill., July 6. - After a day spent in collecting the dead from the wrecked steamer Columbia many citizens, excited by harrowing scenes tonight gathered in saloons and other places and threatened to wreak vengeance on any of the ship's officers who they could find in any way to fault for the sinking of the ship with the loss of 100 or more lives.
     Precautionary measures against any mob violence were taken by the city police.  Extra patrols were thrown into the street and the closing of saloons was threatened if any untoward action was started.                                
Source: Times Picayune - Louisiana
Dated: March 5, 1929
 DEADLY BEVERAGE BOUGHT IN CHICAGO
Same Liquor Believed Sent to Other Cities in State (By The Associated Press)
     Peoria, Ill., March 4. - The fifteenth victim of poisonous bootleg liquor distributed in Peoria over the week-end died tonight, and a coroner's inquest was held in abeyance to await the death or recovery of others who imbibed the tainted alcohol.
     State's Attorney Henry E. PRATT announced tonight that Maurice MANSFIELD, arrested as the local distributor of the liquor, had admitted he imported fifty gallons from a Chicago bootleg syndicate but refused to name his source.
     Lance HITZ, 55 years old, farmer, was the fifteenth to die.  Seven other deaths were reported during the day.
     The seven other deaths reported today, attributed to the liquor, were Marsh EASLEY, 60, and Andrew HEATON, 65, Vermont, Ill., stock raisers; Mrs. Catherine GAREY of Wesley City, a Peoria suburb; Edward BALDWIN, Peoria; Harold HEIPLE and Charles HOLLAND of Washington, a small town near Peoria, and Ben TEEL, 60, of Vermont.
     Edward BAILEY of Peoria, believed to have been the companion of Mrs. GAREY when she was stricken, himself is in a Peoria hospital, blind and in a critical condition.  Edward HANRAHAN of Burlington, Iowa, also is in the hospital seriously ill, and several other victims are receiving hospital treatment.  Reports said scores of other Peorians are ill at their homes.

Coroner Investigates

     Coroner William ELLIOTT is conducting an investigation but has postponed the inquest until he receives reports from Professor George C. ASHLAND, chemistry expert at Bradley college, Peoria, who is analyzing liquor taken from the vital organs of several of the victims.
     Authorities said they learned a soft drink parlor in the Stock Yards hotel here was one of the distributing points for the poisoned liquor and claimed at least five of the victims obtained their liquor at the place.  Walter NEIBERT, bartender, war under arrest, with Maurice MANSFIELD, alleged distributor of the liquor.  A raid on the place failed to disclose any liquor, however.
     Reports current on Peoria streets said liquor from the same source that wreaked havoc here had been shipped to Galesburg, Decatur and possibly several other Illinois cities.
Source: Plain Dealer - Cleveland, Ohio
Dated: Feb. 13, 1938
 NEWSPAPER EXECUTIVE DIES
     PEORIA, ILL, Feb. 12 - (AP) - Clarence EYSTER, 55, chairman of the board of managers of the Peoria Star, died today of a heart ailm

NOTES:

*

CLICK HERE to RETURN to
PEORIA COUNTY, ILLINOIS INDEX PAGE		   CLICK HERE to RETURN to
ILLINOIS GENEALOGY EXPRESS
GENEALOGY EXPRESS
FREE GENEALOGY RESEARCH is MY MISSION
This Webpage has been created by Sharon Wick exclusively for Genealogy Express  ©2008
Submitters retain all copyrights