Newspaper Abstracts Overton Sharpshooter, Rusk County, Texas
Submitted by: John Dulin, Henderson, Texas
Gloria B. Mayfield Rusk County CC
Coordinator: Dolores I. Bishop
Jan 1887- Oct 1887
January 21,1887
Death: The esthetic Cluverius, who killed his cousin, Fannie Lillian Madison, in Richmond, Va. On March 13,1883, was hung on January 14,1887. He proclaimed his innocence to the last. (p2 c1)
Other: Uncle Frank Beall and his wife From Church Hill, neighborhood east of Henderson, have been on a visit this week to Overton to visit his elder brother, Dr. Adam Beall. (p3 c1)
Marriage: At residence of bride’s mother, Mrs. Irwin, near Lawsonville on the 13th, Mr. James H. Arnold and Miss Alice Irwin, Rev. W.H.H. Hays officiated.
Death: Henderson Hummings - on Friday last Miss Ida Still died - on Sunday Miss Mamie Still. (p3 C4)
Death: Palestine, Texas. January 8th – Brakeman John Willing was found crushed on the I. & G.N. tracts 15 miles east of here at 4:00 o’clock this morning. The body was found 20 ft. from his limbs. He was 28 yrs old and leaves a wife and child in St Louis, and a widowed mother in Cleveland, Ohio. (p4 c4)
Other: A notation is found in this issue of the paper, implying that the Overton Sharpshooter was first published on January 30,1886 and was a successor to the Overton Observer who’s editor was S.C.Pressley, who had been recently acquitted of the offense of Assault with intent to murder. (p4 c4)
January 28,1887
Death: Cotulla, Texas January 18th – Capt. George Schmidt and his rangers run down the murderer of Sheriff C.B. McKinney. Last evening, Bud Crenshaw and W.A. Tompkins came up on horseback. Capt. Schmidt ordered them to halt. Tompkins obeyed, but Crenshaw pulled out his revolver and pulled down on Lt. Grimes and the Rangers shot him. He died next morning. His body was taken to his sister Mrs. George Hill in Towbig Station. Tompkins fled in the excitement. (p1 c6)
Death: S.W. Turner, an old and respected citizen of Rusk County, died in Overton last Friday of cancer on his face. (p3 c4)
Death: Louisville, KY, January 18th – on October 22nd in Knox County, a house burned down. The charred remains of 8 persons were found: Mrs.Kittie Poe, Miss M.J. Carson, Miss Mary Burns, and Mollie, Axie, Laura P., Earlie and Willie Poe (the last five were children). It was discovered that they had been murdered. Charged with the affair are: Amelia Worms, thought to be the instigator, and Bruce Mills, Palmer Mills, Wright Smith, Elias Jackson, Mollie Stampers and Penda Hammond. Worms had a great influence over the others. (p4 c3)
Death: Minnesota Junction, Wis. January 26th – a 3yr. old child of Charles Gilman died recently after having expelled a snake from its stomach previous to its death.
Death: Sanders, Ga. – On Saturday night notice was left at the jail that Sanders would be lynched the next evening. About 9:00 o’clock on Sunday night squads of men began collecting. Sanders was tied and brought out of jail. At the forks of the road, a mile and a quarter from Carnesville, the crowd halted. Sanders confessed to killing John Swelling, "because he chocked me two weeks ago." Swelling was killed by an ax blow to the left side of the head. Mrs. Swelling awoke and raised up in bed and hallooed, "Oh Lord, Papa!" He struggled, but made no sound. He then turned to the bed where the little boys were sleeping and struck them with the ax. "about this time, the baby cried, and I killed it with the ax handle!" He then put oil on the beds and set them afire. After giving his statement, Sanders asked someone to pray for him. Then he was hung. (p1 c4)
Death: Mrs. Hamilton, wife of R.W. Hamilton, died near Omen at her home last Thursday after a long and severe illness. Note: this was Mrs. Susan "Susie" Smith Hamilton (October 18, 1850 – January 27,1887), buried Shilock Cemetery, Smith County, Texas. (p3 c1)
Death: The trial of Matt Wheelis for killing Hugh Mitchell on the 12th of December last, was taken up in the District Court Tuesday morning. (p3 c4)
Married: From Gould – Mr. Neal McCrary, living below Sulphur Springs and Miss Ellen Jones, from near Mt. Enterprise, were married on Thursday the 20th. (p3 c5)
Death: Springfield, Ohio – January 14th: it has been learned that William Murray arrested here a year ago for burglary and robbery recently conspired to have his wife killed and Chief of Police Walker and Detective Morris as well. Norris is responsible for his earlier conviction. One of the conspirators weakened and informed on Murray, that it was Murray who killed Engineer Almo Ames in the robbery of an express train in the Vandalia Line near Long Point in July 1875. (p4 c5)
Death: William Dalton, a cattleman from Pecos, while visiting El Paso, crossed the river to Paso del Norte. He started his turn at dusk and as he crossed the bridge, he was halted by a one legged Mexican guard who told him in Spanish that he could not cross. Dalton either did not understand Spanish or disregarded the warning and was shot and killed; the bullet entering his back and abdomen. Dalton was carried to the del Norte jail and lies covered in blood on the dirt floor. It was not believed that Dalton intended to disobey the law. Consul Brigham is looking into the matter. (p4 c5)
February 11,1887
Death: Texarkana, Texas – February 7th: near DeKalb, Mr. J.Ed Rosser was killed and his son William Rosser seriously wounded as a result of a long time feud between the Rosser’s and an old preacher named John C. White. Both parties claimed the same piece of land. The District Court had issued an injunction against the Rossers with interfering with White’s possession. Then last week, the County Court granted a writ to them dispossessing White. In trying to put off White (from off the land), the Rossers were shot. White also died in the shooting as did two of his nephews who were not involved in the dispute at all. White had the reputation of being as inoffensive harmless citizen. His nephews were Hugh and Walter White. Ed Rosser also had in his company a hired hand named Mullins and a brother-in-law named Planter. White left a wife and five children. The shooting took place in a one room long house. (p2 c4)
Death: Matt Wheelis has been found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to 3 1/2 years in the state penitentiary. (p2 c5)
Death: District Court New – State vs. John Price trial abated by the death of said Price. (p3 c3)
Death: Another of Mrs. Stills’ Children has died; little "Sudie" was interred last Friday. (From Old City Cemetery at Henderson. Sudie, daughter of J.N. and E.J. Still – October 24, 1872 – February 24, 1872)
(P3 c5)
February 18,1887
Jim Courtright is dead, the man whom the railroads hired to do their dirty work, was killed in a saloon in Ft. Worth, by Luke Short. Short did a good deed. (p2 c1)
Death: DeKalb, February 10th: The bodies of Col. Rosser and White family were buried today. John white left a wife and six children. Rosser left a wife and five children. Planter, Mullins and George White are held under bond to appear at a jury of inquest. (p2 c#3)
February 25,1887
Other: A Modern Cain: Murphy, N.C. - In 1844, a man named Mortimer came to this country from Virginia. He was wealthy and owned a quantity of slaves. He was a literary man, well educated, having a fine library. He lost all in the (Civil) War and died just before the surrender, leaving a wife and two boys aged 8 and 10 yrs. old named Henry and Edward. Their mother taught them to hate. Both were married then aged 28 and 30 yrs. of age when they quarreled over $60 that Henry loaned Ed. Edward always put off paying back his brother. They met in front of their mother’s house quarrelling. She came out and stood between them. Edward was shot through the head as he clutched a knife. Their mother lost her forefinger on her right hand. Henry was arrested, tried, and acquitted, as the only witness was the mother. But he was troubled by dreams of his dead brother coming to him and pulling out his hair. Henry now has no hair from his head to his toes. (p1 c2)
Other: A Wife Swap – near Rock Gulf Ferry, Indian Territory, immigrants John Turley, wife and two kids and McCallock, wife and child. The men became attached to each others wives and traded, the women agreeing. Each woman kept her on child/children, who are all small. Turley went to Missouri and McCallock in the territory. (p1 c6)
Death: State of Texas against John Knight for the murder of conductor Frazier, will be called for trial at Tyler on the 7th of March. (A later paper reports that the charge was dismissed. (p2 c3)
Born: Jamestown, Texas on February 16,1886 I delivered Mrs. William R. Jones, who resides one mile north of Jamestown, a 12 pound boy. And today, February 17,1887 I delivered the same lady of three babies, 2 girls and 1 boy. The girls weigh 8 1/2 and boy 9 pds, Making 26 pounds of babies in one birth, and four babies in 12 months and 1 day. Signed J.R. Tucker M.D. Since put into print, Mrs. Jones has died. (p2 c4)
Death: At Gould, Rusk County – death of Uncle Tom Jones one of Texas old veterans, died at his home near Mt Enterprise on the 16th aged 81 yrs. He lived in the same place over 40 yrs. (p3 c4)
Married: Married on the 9th at residence of bride’s father Mr. V. Blair by Rev. William Pruitt, Mr. C.D. Wood and Mrs. Josie Blair. (p3 c4)
March 11,1887
Other: Wanted to find – the heirs of Joshua Barnes who lived in Shelby County, Texas about 1850-1854 or 1855. Any heirs who see this please correspond with the editor of this paper. (p4 c4)
Death: Henderson, Texas, November 22nd: – Thomas Lax, a neighbor of William Hillin, and both of Pine Hill, this county. Lax was struck with a plow beam by Hillin last night and instantly killed. It was the result of a prank on Lax’s part. He was going to scare Hillin and had just left Hillin’s house. Hillin mistook Lax for a prowler. Lax was a young man and leaves a small family. (p5 c2)
Death: New York, November 22nd – Mr. W.M. Hoxie, First Vice President of the Missouri-Pacific, died this morning at 2:00 o’clock. (p5 c2)
Death: Died at his home three miles from Overton on the 4th March, Jessie J. Butler, son of Rev. C.M. Butler (Col.) a member of the Baptist Church 21 yrs., leaves a wife and 1 child, besides his parents, brothers and sisters. (p5 c3)
March 17,1887
Death: Death of Rev. Henry Ward Beecher yesterday at his home in Brooklyn, N.Y. resulting from apoplectic attack, onset last Friday. Famous orator and author. He was in his 74th year, having been born in Litchfield, Connecticut on June 23, 1813. He was the son of Rev. Lyman Beecher. Ward grad. Amherst College in 1834, and had three brothers in the ministry: Edward, Charles, and Thomas K. Beecher. Deceased leaves a wife and several children. (p1 c6)
March 24,1887
Born: A 10 pd. girl at John Goforth’s is playing havoc with John’s night rest. (p3 c4)
Married: Mr. A. Wettermark, banker of Henderson, married Miss Alice V. Hall on the evening of the 23rd. (p3 c5)
March 31,1887
Hastings, Nebraska, March 19th – Dr. G.W. Randall and his wife were jailed accused of placing young girls in a house of "ill fame". Dr. Randall was brought to court and charged with the outrage of 11 year old Laura Hart of Edgar. After bond was set, the brother of the girl drew his revolver and shot him dead, then walked away. No one took the trouble to look for him as the shooting is looked upon as justifiable. (p1 c6)
Death: Little Rock, Ark. – March 28th: News from Haxen, Ark. Benjamin Mobbs was found poisoned, robbed and hanged in his home on Saturday. A much respected citizen. His death was first thought to be a suicide, till the poison was discovered. He lived alone and was hung to conceal the crime. (p2 c1)
April 7,1887
Death: Franklin, Texas – March 31st: A bloody tragedy in Robertson County yesterday, about 9:00 o’clock in the morning. Captain A.N. Smith was plowing his field when shot in the neck from ambush. The assassin then stood over his victim and shot another load of buckshot into the head and face. Citizens running to investigate arrested J.E. Fulton for the deed. Fulton is about 50 yrs old. Capt. Smith was a Captain in the C.S.A. Born in N.C. and also lived in Tennessee before coming to Texas about 1874, and practiced law with General Hammond at Calvert, this place. Smith was about 50 yrs. old and never married and lived alone. At a camp meeting three yrs ago, Smith joined the Baptist church and was licensed to preach. (p1 c4)
Death: Sabine Co., Texas – In tracking the Conners, a notorious outlaw family which has plagued this area for 20 yrs., Capt. Scott and 10 Rangers were sent to look for them. The Rangers were ambushed and Ranger J.H. Moore was killed. One of the Conners, Capt. Scott and two other rangers were badly wounded. (p2 c 1)
April 14,1887
Married: At the Methodist Episcopal Church at Temple, Mr. Abe C. Hayter was married to Miss Susie M. Champe. (p2 c5)
Married: Married at Timpson, Texas, on the evening of April 5th, at the residence of Capt. T.S. Garrison, the bride’s Father, Mr. Kinney B. Alford and Miss Mollie Garrison. K.B. is of the Alford Brothers from this city (Overton) and of the firm of Alford Brothers, & Sanford, of Timpson. (p3 c2)
Born: At Sam Overton’s a 12 pd. boy has arrived and taken up quarters at Sam’s. The boy has been christened "Prohibition" and he is already on a boon. (p3 c3)
May 5,1887
Death: Tyler, Texas – April 27th: Albert Robertson, under sentence of death for the murder of his wife, was to be hanged on May 20th, but died a natural death last night at 9:00 o’clock. He was 25 years of age. He shot his wife Annie on the first Monday in April 1886 at her father’s house while nursing her infant. They were married about a year. (p1 c2)
May 19,1887
Death: Mrs. Boon, wife of William Boon of Kilgore died yesterday morning. Dr. Motley attended her and said she died of intersussepsion of the bowels. Note: This would be Nannie Harnage (September 19,1858 – May 17, 1887), who married William Boon on September 24,1879. Buried Kilgore City Cemetery. (p3 c3)
Death: Willis, Texas – May 29th: about 10:15 on Thursday night, W.Y. Brookens, who had been sick eight or nine days, of typhoid fever, shot himself through the head with a pistol. His brother, J.L. Brookens had been nursing him through his sickness and had gone to the drugstore to get him some medicine. (p2 c3)
Death: Recent Deaths – Mr. H.R.T. Parker of Shiloh, Rusk Co., former tax collector died May 27th; Mrs. Claiborne of Henderson, died Sunday May 29th. Note: she was Sarah H. Claiborne (May 6,1825 – May 29,1887) who is buried in the Old City Cemetery in Henderson. Dr. John H. Irby, well known physician at Henderson, died on Monday, May 30th. (p3 c2)
June 9,1887
Death: Palestine, Texas – May 19th: A.T. Toner, formerly of Latrobe, Pa. and lately roundhouse fireman here, leaped from a third story window in the Arlington Hotel at 700 p.m. last night and died in a few minutes. He was 35 yrs. of age. "He had been on a protracted spree for 3 weeks and was suffering from delirium tremens." (p1 c2) Note: Part of the first name is missing A-tion T.Toner.
June 23,1887
Born: Some of the people were engaged in looking after John Bolton. John is well nigh crazy. The occasion of John’s trouble is the arrival of a 12 pd. prohibitionist at his house of the male persuasion. This being the first Bolton boy that has ever been born in Jacksonville out of about 60 efforts in that direction. (p3 c3)
Death: The Brethren at Millville Lodge publish a tribute of respect for Bro.J.W. Motley, for a number of years, a worthy member of our lodge #219 A.F. & A.M. has been removed by the hand of death. (p3 c4)
Death: Died at his residence near Bass, Smith County on the night of the 28th, Mr. C.W. Pruitt, a congestion of the bowels. (p3 c5)
July 21,1887
Married: Mr. H.C. White of Bremond, Texas was married on the 12th inst. The couple are now on a visit to the parents of Mr. White near this place. They will return to Bremond (p3 c3)
Death: Wednesday morning – July 13th at 2:00 o’clock in Gainesville, Cook Co., Texas. Two young ladies: Miss Bostie of Gainesville and Miss Watkins of Dallas, the latter was here on a visit to her aunt, were sleeping together when attacked by an intruder. Miss Watkins was brutally cut and died 48 hrs. later. (p3 c4)
Death: Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Burton have the sympathy of the entire community in the loss of their baby boy Jessie Madison Burton, who died on the morning of the 5th, aged 1 mo. & 15 days.
Death: Louisville, Ky. – August 3rd: from Manchester, Clay County, a fierce fight broke out at the polls on Monday. Six men were killed: Jack Hacker, Dotgherty White, John G. White, Dale Lytle and two whose names are unknown. The first four were prominent men of Manchester. (p3 c5)
August 11,1887
Death: Macon, Ga. – Aug 7th: Captain and Mrs. Woolfork, their six children ranging from 16 mos. to 20 yrs. and Mrs. West, aunt of Mrs. Woolfork, aged 60 yrs. were all murdered. Coroner’s jury returned a charge of murder against Thomas G. Woolfork, son of Capt. Woolfork, by his first wife. The motive believed so as to gain his father’s property for himself and his two sisters by the first wife. (p2 c3)
Death: Ft. Smith, Ark.- Aug 5th Frank Broome was arrested Tuesday morning at Leflore, 15 mi. south of this city, in Choctaw Nation, by J.J. Barrett, sheriff of Montague Co., Tx. for the murder of Miss Watkins of Gainesville. He at first confessed to the deed, and then denied it, then confessed again to a fellow prisoner that he killed the girl striking her with a Smith and Wesson six-shooter. He then fled to his uncle, John Broome’s residence near Dexter and left the gun there, then went to join his father in the Choctaw Nation, 3 mi. from this city. (p2 c5)
Born: At Tyler, Tx. – At this office, Mr. J.M. Conner of the Tribune staff announced that a son and heir to the house of Conner had put in an appearance. Mr. W.J. McKay is the happy father of a 12 pd. girl. (p2 c5)
Death: Died at the residence of Uncle Billy King, near Mt. Enterprise, Mrs. Nora King, wife of Willie King and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. T.H. Edmunds. She was born July 18,1869, joined the Meth. Episcopal Ch. at Glenfawn in July,1886, married Willie King Nov. 25,1886 and died July 25,1887 aged 17 yrs. 11 mos. & 17 days
August 18,1887
Death: Henderson Hummings – the wife of P.B. Stanley, died Tuesday night and was buried Wednesday at this place. Note: this was Annie (Aug. 17,1855-Aug 10,1887), bur. Old City Cem. at Henderson. (p3 c2)
September 1,1887
Death: Gainesville, Ga. – Aug. 24th, Jackson Co: near Jefferson, Jasper Porter was to marry Miss Mattie Ward on the 23rd. On his way to her house he stopped at a church where a funeral was being conducted. The coffin lid was opened for a last look at the deceased and the young man found himself viewing the corpse of his intended bride – thought to have died of heart disease. (p2 c4)
Death: Mrs. Cal Crawford of Mt. Enterprise, died Thursday night the 25th inst. of a fever. (p3 c3)
Death: Palestine, Tx. – Aug. 22: John Furlong, living about five miles from Palestine, was watching for three convicts stealing horses in the vicinity. Last night while sitting in his door, he saw a man coming hurriedly toward his yard gate. He called to the man and with no response shot him with a load of buckshot. He killed his own cousin, Harry Furlong, who lived on his farm, by mistake. (p3 c4)
Death: Tyler Courier – Aug. 30th: Rev. M.E. Blocker, Methodist Minister and General Secretary of the Y.M.C.A., died last night at 7:30 p.m. (p3 c4)
Death: At Pine Hill, Rusk County on the morning of the 28th, Mrs. Wherry, wife of W.B. Wherry, leaves a husband and eight children. (p3 c4)
Death: Uncle Andy Reed, who lived at Reed’s Switch (Rusk Co.) 5 mi north of Overton, died last Sunday night of congestion. (p3 c4)
September 8,1887
Death: Wheeling West Va. – Aug 24th: John Cartwright, a noted desperado of Wetzel Co. (W.Va.) was assassinated at his home in Mannington, W. Va. while standing a few paces from his own door, at about 7:00 o’clock, by a man on a ridge above with a rifle, the bullet instantly killed him. Cartwright was 34 yrs of age and the father of seven children. (p1 c5)
Married: Married at Bellview, Mr. Thomas L. Lindsey to Miss Ida Rowland, the Rev. Mr. Wheelock off. (p2 c4)
Born: A young lady arrived at the home of Mr. Egbert Alford last Saturday evening at 3:00 p.m. and took up permanent residence. Mr. Alford is proud of being the father of so beautiful a little queen (p3 c3)
Married: Philadelphia Times – At Camden, N.J., Charles Brooks aged 86 yrs. an old time dancing instructor and Emma Elrich 68, were lovers over fifty years ago, but her father (of Burlington Co.) disapproved and they were separated. She went to Virginia and he out west. He later came back to Philadelphia and married, his wife later died. Miss Elrich never married. When he found her in Philadelphia, she reminded him of his promise to marry her, hence the trip across to Jersey on the ferry. (p4 c2)
Married: Mr. H.F. Collier of Rockwall was married to Miss Frankie Kilgore, daughter of Col.C.B. Kilgore at the residence of the latter at Wills Point on Aug. 24th. (p4 c4)
September 15,1887
Death: Bishop Elliott, of the Western Diocese of Texas, died at Suwanne, Texas on the 27th ultimate – George H. Dutton of Waco, a prominent contractor, committed suicide on Monday. (p1 c5)
Born: Miss Rose Wood aged 2 days is stopping at Mr. Clayton and Mrs. Delia Woods (p2 c4)
Born: Mr. John A. Beall … has a baby girl at his house. His family numbers 13. (p3 c1)
September 22,1887
Death: Maj. J.W. Flanagan, prominent citizen of Rusk Co., died at Longview on the morning of the 20th of pneumonia. He was about 90 yrs. old. His remains were carried to Henderson yesterday and interred in the family cemetery where he has three wives buried side by side. Born in Va. and moved to Ky., he came to Tx. more than 40 yrs ago. He held offices of State Senator, U.S.Senator, and Lt. Governor. (p2 c4)
Married: Boonville, Mo. – Sept. 16th: Mr. Ashbel N. Merrell of St. Louis, Mo. and Miss Mattie R. Hutchison were married yesterday at the residence of Walter R. Hutchison, father of the bride. Both bride and groom are deaf mutes. Rev. J.J. Wilkins of Christ Church, Sedalla, Mo. officiated. The ceremony was interpreted by Ben Hutchison, brother of the bride and Miss Lottie Merrell, sister to the groom. Mr. George Merrell and Miss Bernadine Hutchison attended them. The groom is the son of a St. Louis druggist and is 24 yrs. of age. The bride is 21. Her father is a banker. (p2 c6)
September 29,1887
Death: Longview, Tex. – Sept. 21st: Last night Senator J.W. Flanagan died. His son, Hon. Webster Flanagan and all near relatives were at his side. Buried on the family estate about one mile from Henderson. The senator was the son of Charles and Elizabeth Flanagan and was born near Gordansville, Arbarmarle Co., Va. on September 7,1805. His parents moved to Kentucky in 1815 and settled at Brownsboro, on the Kentucky River. In 1822, he married the daughter of Elder J.L.L. Moorman and they had six children, three are still living: Webster, the oldest son and two daughters. In 1843, he moved to the Republic of Texas and settled in Harrison County, but moved to Henderson later becoming a member of the bar. He served in the State Legislature from 1850 to 1851, then elected state senator 1854-1856, and opposed secession in 1860-1861. He married second in 1844, Miss E.R. Lane who bore him two sons, both of whom died early, the last dying about four years ago (1883). Mrs. Flanagan died September 17,1882. He was briefly Lt. Governor and elected to the U.S. Senate in December 1869, by the state legislature. He converted to Christ and joined the Baptist Church. He was 82 years old. (p1 c2)
Married: Married at Longview, Sept 22nd: Mr. Jerry Stevens to Miss Annie daughter if Mr. and Mrs. T.G. Akin with elder John N. Poe officiating. Annie was formerly of Henderson. Note: entry states that Stevens was a conductor on the Henderson and Overton Railroad. (p2 c5)
Death: John Caldwell living about 6 miles from Henderson, died on Saturday evening from a complication of diseases. He was about 45 yrs. old. He leaves a wife and several children, all grown. Buried with Masonic honors. (p2 c5)
Married: To be married on October 5th, John Tipps and Miss Lelia Studdiford. (p2 c5)
Married: Mr. F.B. Martin of Kilgore and brother of Mr. J.K. Martin of Overton, was married on the 29th ultimate to Miss Lula McIntyre of Atlanta, Cass Co., Tx. (p4 c1)
Death: Owing to the death of Mr. Frank Lacy, the Henderson Democratic Club cannot perform on the 31st. He was the father of L.L. Lacy, died at his home on Thursday evening, in Henderson. (p4 c4)
October 6,1887
Death: Miss Mollie Bergfield (of Tyler) died at the home of her brother on Sunday morning the 2nd inst. She was taken to St. Louis for interment. (p2 c3)
Death: John Caldwell, a member of the Masonic fraternity of Henderson, died last Friday night and was buried Sunday at 2:00 p.m. with full Masonic services at Mt. Hope Cemetery 6 miles west of Henderson (now Hwy 64). Rusk County lost one of its oldest and honest citizens. (p4 c5)
October 13,1887
Mankato, Minn. – Sept 26th: At Lake Crystal, in this county, Asher A. Morgan and Hester A. Simmons were arrested on charges of bigamy on a complaint filed by William M. Simmons, the latter’s son. Asher A. Morgan married the daughter of Hester A. Simmons in March 1886 and in this present month married his wife’s mother, the said Hester. Hester’s first husband is also still living and they are still married. The second wife is the mother of the first wife and of the complaining witness (Wm. M. Simmons) and of course the mother-in-law of her husband. Hester’s first husband and father of her children now is the father-n –law of his wife’s second husband. Thus William M. Simmons is the brother of the first wife and brother-in-law of Asher A. Morgan, as well as his stepson! (p4 c5)
Married: Married at the family residence in Tyler on Wednesday evening last by Rev. Mr. Williams, Major D.W. Weir to Miss Ella Scott. (p2 c2)
Married: To be married soon, Dr. Thomas Bradford of Troup, Texas to Miss Gordon of W. Va. (p2 c3)
Death: There has resided in this city, Bonham, Fannin Co., a gentleman known as Col. T.C. Bean, a bachelor, who amassed a princely fortune. Bean died a few weeks ago and no one knew his heirs. A gentleman from Mississippi named J.W. Saunders has shown up at Bonham saying he is the only brother of Col. Bean, whose real name was Saunders. (Paper is torn here and part is missing.) Apparently in 1835, in Obion Co., when aged 24 or 25, T.C. Bean killed a chain carrier named Cruthfield in an argument over not accomplishing his work. T.C. took refuge on Bean Island in the Mississippi River. The brother, J.W. was then an engineer on a riverboat and took T.C. to Gains Landing in Arkansas, returning to Old Commerce. From Gaines Landing, T.C. fled to Camden, Arkansas, then Fayetteville and on to Fannin County. T.C. and J.W. met in St Louis in 1854 or 1855, and again in Austin, Tx. in 1886, and in Bonham in 1884. T.C. agreed to give half of his estate, at his death, to J.W. with the other half to his negroe servants, but if J.W. died first, then to J.W.’s children. J.W. had a daughter, then living in Lamar Co., Tx. The father of T.C. and J.W. went to N.C. circa 1882 to collect some money, and was never heard from again. Dr. J.J. McBride said that he will swear to the identity of Tom Bean, stating that he (Bean) is Saunders and that his (Dr. McBride’s) wife was a sister of Col. Bean. Capt. F.J. Gates, who it is asserted, will testify that Col. Bean told this story to him, which is now being recited by Saunders. (p3 c1)
Other: Mr. J.W. Waugh of Claiborne Parish, La., father of our fellow townsman, W.A.C. Waugh, has been spending a few days in Overton. (p4 c4)
October 27,1887
Death: Uncle Grip Scott, oldest inhabitant of Sand Mountain, died at his home at Alberville on the 24th ult, Aged 83 yrs. – Gadsden (Tenn.) Times and News, "Our citizens will remember the celebrated character in Rolla Ryan’s play called "Grip Scott’, the character was real and was taken from the individual who’s death is noted above. (p2 c1)