History of Jefferson County

Charlotte’s Pearls
Transcribed by Charlotte M. Maness

JeffCoScribe.com would like to thank Charlotte M. Maness for transcriptions of historic Jefferson County newspapers. Please enjoy the glimpse into our history!

Jefferson Democrat Hillsboro, Jefferson county, Missouri
FRIDAY, 2 JUNE 1871

Destructive Fire - We learn with great regret, that the grist mill, lead furnace and wool carding machinery at Richwoods, owned and operated by R.G. HORE & Co., was burned on Last Saturday night. Everything -- buildings, machinery and material being entirely destroyed. Among the material lost were 1,000 pounds of wool; 400 bushels of wheat and 74 pigs of lead, the lead we presume is not a total loss. The loss is estimated at $10,000.

No person was in the building at the time, and it seems that it was almost half burned before the fire was discovered. The origin of the fire is not yet known, but according to our information it originated at an end of the building, where there had been no fire for five years.
This will for a while, at least, materially cripple one of our best enterprises. We have no news as yet from the proprietors, but presume they will build again soon.

DIED - On the 23d inst., at 11 a.m., of disease of the brain, Lulie, aged 7 months, and 14 days; daughter of A.E., and Roseline MOCKBEE.

FRIDAY, 9 JUNE 1871

The Little Monitor - This is to certify that we, the undersigned citizens have the Little Monitor Churn, made by MOCKBEE & CRAFT, in use, and we pronounce it one of the best churns that we have used, and can recommend it as a good churn: Mrs. E.M. HORINE Mrs. Rachel M. FARLEY Mrs. Louise STRICKLAND Mrs. Mary McCORMACK Mrs. Sarah LEE Mrs. Sarah DRUMHELLER Mrs. Mary CAREY Mrs. Ella HENSLEY Mrs. M.A. HENSLEY

All orders sent to us at Pevely, or to Mr. WILSON's Store, House's Springs, or McCORMACK & ENGLAND's Hemetite, will be promptly filled. We own the right for Jefferson, St. Francois, Washington and Crawford counties. All we ask for our Churn is a fair trial. We say it will make more butter and in less time, than any churn we have seen. It is simple and easy to clean. Sent to any address in above named counties, C.O.D. MOCKBEE & CRAFT, Pevely, I.M.R.R., Mo.

At Geo. H. WILLIAMS' we noticed a field of pretty fair wheat; a good stand of corn, clean and showing evidence of good cultivation, plenty of seedling peaches, and a variety of other fruits in small quantities.
Evidences of Thrift, Industry and Improvement - At H. STIDOLPH's a good crop of apples, some peaches, and a small pear orchard literally loaded down, and were informed by Mr. STIDOLPH that Mr. BALLAINE, living near here, had a pear orchard of about 500 trees, all full of fruit. Mr. STIDOLPH is an old English gardener, and is passionately fond of flowers, of which he has a good assortment in his garden. Some really fine. At the BECKET place (now occupied by a Dr. HOBSON), we noticed apples and peaches, but not a full crop.

FRIDAY, 9 JUNE 1871

Evidences of Thrift, Industry and Improvement - Returning from a business trip to HORINE Station, last week, we took occasion to observe and note down the condition of crops &c., along the route, and give here the result of the same. At Mr. MORGAN's, a new farm, a good prospect for corn and oats and a few peaches, but few of the trees being large enough to bear yet. Jno T. BURGESS is raising corn, broom-corn and sweet potatoes, all of which looks well.

Capt. LYNES has excellent wheat, oats, corn and plenty of fruit. He is also raising sweet potatoes pretty extensively.

John BUREN has a good prospect for wheat and oats.

At Gotlieb PLASS' we noticed fine wheat, oats and some fruit.

At the John SMITH farm, corn looks promising and all kinds of fruit trees are loaded but wheat and oats look badly, being sown on old ground that has been run down.

J.P. BOOTH's vineyard is full of fruit, and his farm presents an appearance of careful cultivation.

Mr. ARMSTRONG has a good crop of apples, peaches and small fruits. the raspberries and blackberries being particularly fine; the only trouble with them is that they are too close to the road. They might "lead into temptation."

James F. FOSTER's vineyard, near Hillsboro is a little ahead of anything we saw. The vines are full and show a different training and cultivation from anything we have noticed, and we shall watch for the results with some interest. At present nothing could look more promising.

FRIDAY, 30 JUNE 1871

We learned from Mr. Patrick BYRNE, of Merrimac township, who called on us the other day, that the wheat crops in his neighborhood was materially injured by frost, drought, &c., and will not average more than ten bushels to the acre. Oats are very light, but corn is looking splendidly. He also informed us that our old and esteemed friend, Laurence O'BRIEN, Sr., has taken another rib. He was married last week to Mrs. DEVIN, of Merrimac. As this is the fourth for him we sincerely wish that a long and happy life may be granted them both, and that he may never have occasion to embark upon the ship of matrimony again.

NARROW ESCAPE - We learn from corespondent, that William McNAMEE, son of George McNAMEE Esq., was narrowly saved from drowning by his brother Patrick, one day last week. He was bathing in the Merrimac river when getting n water too deep for him was washed down the swift current at a rapid rate. His bother was attracted to the scene by the screaming of a boy on the bank, and rushing up, plunged in without waiting to strip, and reached the boy just in time to save him and being an expert swimmer brought him safely to shore, where he was soon brought to consciousness, having had a big scare, and probably having learned a useful lesson.