Osceola Sun
Osceola, MO
5 December 1878

How the Boys Worked, And What They Brought in.
On Thursday last the young men of Osceola and environs, in accordance to agreement, made a sortie into the surrounding country with direful interest.
Many of them started the night before so that they might be at what they believed, the best hunting neighborhood, at an early hour.
All the game was in at seven o’clock, p.m., per agreement, and Dr. Pingry, an old and well trained son of Diana, was solicited and prevailed upon to take the Judge’s chair, and made the following amount of points:
W. Daniels (Capt.): A.M. Simms, 125; Jno. Philips, 140; Sam’l Lewis, 65; F. Hostetter, 105; J.R. Baldwin, 120; Dan’l Morgan, 70; Jas. Henley, 50; A. Benner, 105; Dock Lilley, 55; Joel Dean, 110; Wm. Holsapple, 210. Total: 1125.
Ed. Lewis (Capt.): Will Lilley, 115; Walter Lilley, 175; Fred R. James, 25; Hiram Meeker, 45; Fred Daniels, 155; J.J. Chaney, 115; Ed. Simms, 75; Wm. Henley & Wm. Gallaway, 70; David Chinn, 70; James Derringer, 90. Total: 915.
The day was not one of the best for hunting and, considering the amount of practice the members of the two clubs have had the amount of game obtained speaks well for St. Clair County sportsmen.
As will be seen by reference to the above figures, Mr. W.A. Daniels’ side came off victors by a majority of 190 points. W.C. Holsapple by his 210 points brought victory to his side. Mr. Walter Lilley tallied the second greatest number of points, ie., 175. Mr. Fred Daniels with 155 points was third.
Fortunately we are unable to record any accidents.

THE GRAND SUPPER
How the Ladies of Osceola Satisfy the Inner Man.
On Friday evening last the ladies, of Osceola, gave a fine banquet at the expense of the winning side, in the Thursday hunt. It is estimated that over two hundred and ten persons availed themselves of this opportunity of enjoying a first-class entertainment. The ladies of the town personally attended to the cuisine and everything that was served up was cooked in the very best style possible. The fresh oysters, from the house of Hopkins & Woodbury, were eaten with an avidity that proved conclusively their excellence. The various kinds of game were served up in the best styles, and the lightning rapidity with which the viands disappeared bore evidence more satisfying than words to the ability of the belles when called upon to sate the popular appetite.
After the supper, the young portion of the guests adjourned to the old stand of the “Osceola Hotel”, where they spent the hours of the night, until after twelve, in tripping the light fantastic, playing cards, and promenading, and they seemed to enjoy this programme as only the young can.
In a word the supper and programme for that night culminated in a great success for the ladies of this vicinity.

Arson?
On Wednesday the 27th ult., the house of Widow Williamson was burned to the ground. It is supposed to have been set on fire by an incendiary.

We shall soon publish a first-class advertisement of the firm of Carnahan & Alton.

Mr. L. Reese came down last Saturday to report to this office that business was rushing in Appleton City.

Mr. H. Weber has just received a fine lot of Boots and Shoes for men women and children. Just call and see them.

We concede the fact that two women can give more news in a chat of five minutes than we could write in a nine column paper.

Our city dads have renewed the saloon House of D.K. Holley, in accordance to a desire expressed by a petition of the majority of our citizens.

Reader, look to it that your flue is sound in every place, if you don’t wish to be compelled to move out of house and home at some unlucky moment.

And still the physicians complain of too much health. We are sorry for them and beg them to take comfort in the consolation that their loss is somebody else’s gain.

L. Conant has just received a fine assortment of men’s clothing, hats and caps. Give him a call as his prices are of the lowest.

The collector will be at the following townships at the times specified below:
Appleton, Dec. 16-17; Roscoe, Dec. 21-24; Taber, Dec. 18-19; Chalk Level, Dec. 27-28; Speedwell, Dec. 20-21; Monegaw, Dec. 26-26.

There are more pretty girls to the square yard in Lexington than in any place in America. – Intelligencer.
Come on down this way, brother, and you will take back the above wild assertion.

Mr. Geo. Hall has sold his Mentzer property to Dr. Wm. Cox for $500.00, just to accommodate. George always was disinterested where his own good was concerned, but always interested in the good of others.

List of dead letters remaining in Post Office at Osceola, Mo., Dec. 1, 1878:
Mary McDaniels, Chas. Smith, James Wiett, Maggie Harris. L.A. Mentzer, P.M.

An animal, the Mephitis Americana in fact, has been making himself troublesome about town the past week. One’s olfactories can’t stand the odors diffused by his precious body, with any degree of complacency.

Mr. J. Humans, formerly of Humansville, but who has been out to the Black Hills, in Dakota for two years past, passed through town on his way to his old home yesterday. He reports business being brisk among the Black Hills.

Appleton City Items:
It is rumored the Galena House will change hands soon.

J.P. Herman proprietor of the Union Saloon has just finished a capacious ice house.

County attorney Jennings was up last week looking after State causes in Justice Hodkins court.

There are fifteen banks within a mile of the Appleton City depot. One of them is a bank of discount and the others are coal banks.

Jimmie Elliott and Thomas Heffern of the eastern part of the county took in the town and bad weather last Saturday. They came with wheat for the market.

Miss Jennie Ogden has accepted a position in a large millinery establishment at Hot Springs, Arkansas. Miss Jennie will be greatly missed in our social circle, and her place will be hard to fill especially in the dramatic troupe.

There will be a meeting of the creditors of the Appleton Savings Bank at Hedrick’s hall in Appleton City on the 12th of this month. Parties interested will please take notice and be present either in person or by representative.

And now at this day came the Greenbackers and talk compromise of the county indebtedness. Twenty-five cents on the dollar is low enough for them, the G.B’s, and they say everybody is in favor of it. “We were afraid of that.”

The Methodist district Conference adjourned to meet again in Appleton City next year.
Before adjourning they passed a resolution of thanks for hospitality etc. Our people know exactly how to treat preachers.

Appleton City continues to be one of the main shipping points on the road for stock. Shippers usually send off their stock on Saturdays and Mondays and on these days it is not an uncommon thing to see 15 to 25 car loads move out from this point.

No bill was found against Miss Emerson at her trial before the Justice of the Peace for arson. This, from what we have heard, is as it should be.

Kidnapped by Savage
A correspondent of the Elmira (N.Y.) Advertiser relates the following:
George Simons, a well known resident of Towanda Township, and at one time an employee of the Pennsylvania and New York Canal and Railroad Company, went West last spring, to prepare a home for himself and family. His wife, with their four children, joined him in the summer. He had settled within four miles of Kansas City, Mo. Some two weeks since, the Indians made a raid into the neighborhood, destroyed his crops and burned the buildings he had erected. Two of his boys got on a horse and attempted to escape. The savages shot the horse, and in the fall the arm of one of the lads was broken. However, all succeeded in getting away except Dora Simons, a girl of 11 years, whom the Indians captured and carried away with them. The agonized father, fearing for her a fate far worse than death, pursued her brutal captors, in company with six or seven of his neighbors. At last accounts he had followed the Indian trail for 200 miles westward from Kansas City. Part of the little party of men who had started with him in pursuit had returned. Grave fears are entertained that the remnant of the number have been captured and killed by the savages.

The public schools all gave a holiday on Thanksgiving day and our children were duly thankful.

Services were held at the Court House last Sunday evening, a minister of the Southern Methodist officiating.

Mr. Alton, of the firm of Alton & Cannahan, has been suffering from the effects of a sore eye, for the past week.

Mr. Joseph Landes has been making use of crutches for the past week, on account of a badly sprained ankle.

Mr. John Gordon was sworn in on Monday last as Sheriff of St. Clair Co., and is now performing the duties of that office.

County Court met on Monday the 2d inst., and was in session for two days. See another column for the business transacted.

The third copy of the Columbia, Ark., Banner comes to us this week. It is a spicy, newsy, paper and we place it with pleasure on our exchange list.

On Monday last, Bill Emerson was bound over in bonds of $400.00 for his appearance at Circuit Court, charged with assault and battery of his sister.

Justice Butler, of Roscoe township, was in town last Monday. Mr. Pugh administered the “iron clad” and he went away rejoicing, to perform the functions of Justice of the Peace, for the next two years. He did not forget to obtain a full supply of Justices’ blanks at this office, however.

Mrs. John H. Lucas, we are informed, is going to spend the coming winter among friends in Kentucky. Mrs. Lucas has been an invalid for some time and we hope the change may prove beneficial to her health.

The citizens of Osceola were allowed the pleasure of hearing an exquisite bag-pipe pouring forth its melodious accords. “The Old Clock” was played in a manner that would make even a grandfather arise from his grave. Who the fortunate player of the bag pipe – harmonica was we have not been able to learn.

“The Allen Coalbank Co.” sells grate coal at the bank for six cents, and blacksmith coal for seven cents. Delivered, it costs eleven and twelve cents. This is the cheapest and best coal hereabouts, other banks charging twelve and a half to thirteen and a half. Lay in your supply of winter coal and buy of the Allen Company.

The programme carried out at the last Temperance meeting was in every way first-class. All the people present conceded that it was one of the most excellent that has been held for a long time. The singing was acknowledged to be very fine, and we hope that the good work will move on with unceasing vigor and strength.

Rev. Mr. John T. Metcalf is holding a protracted meeting at the Motley School House, in Roscoe township, with a great deal of success. On Sunday last, ten persons were found on the mourner’s bench, feeling the need of that Higher Power, and, it is said, many more are enquiring the way. We rejoice in being able to record such grand results in that township. Let the good work go on.

Mr. T.C. Davis, who is one of the ablest editors in the State, left Osceola for Sedalia this morning.
Mr. D. is the best informed person on the finances of the country, in this portion of the State. He has been a life-long Democrat, and has always worked for the advancement of that party. He was without doubt one of the most effectual speakers in this county during the past campaign and did more for the interest of his party than is generally known. His great power as a speaker in a canvass lies in the fact that he does not deal in extremes – he gives his voice for the good and noble in every party and concedes that there are some good things to be learned from all sources.
We are sorry to lose Mr. Davis. During his stay in this county he has made many friends, all of whom wish him success in his future undertakings.

Arson?
On Wednesday the 27th ult., the house of Widow Williamson was burned to the ground. It is supposed to have been set on fire by an incendiary.
Mrs. Williamson gave a report, which is given as nearly as possible as she told it.
“On Wednesday night I had been down town accompanied by Mr. W. Emerson, and did not return until quite late – about ten o’clock. After reaching home I went over the house to see that there was no fire burning and I am sure there was no fire in the house with the exception of some smoldering coals in the kitchen stove. I went to my room soon after, and Mr. Emerson slept in an adjacent one. I had not but just gotten to sleep when the negro woman, who I have employed for the past two or three weeks, came into my room with the cry “The house is on fire.” I got up as quickly as possible and hurried to awaken Mr. Emerson, which I found a very hard task to accomplish, as he is a sound sleeper. Thus some time was lost and the flames gained a good deal of headway. One half an hour after the fire was discovered the whole house was enveloped in flames, and the house I had worked and saved so hard and carefully to build was consumed by the pitiless element. I believe the house was set on fire, as it could not have been burnt by any other means that I am aware of; besides a certain person was heard to say, that she would burn the house. I had rented the house to Dr. W.M. Cox, for one year, for $75.00 and he was to take possession on Monday the 2d of December, and I was going to move into town to-day.”
It is certainly very sad to see anybody’s house burned over their head, by accident, or carelessness, but it is infinitely worse to know that there are people in a community who will not hesitate to maliciously harm and undermine another person’s property. No mercy should be shown to the perpetrator. But the law should take its course.
To tell the truth, we believe that there is no foundation for the story that the above work was accomplished by an incendiary.

Temperance Meeting.
For the temperance meeting to be held this evening, at the Brick Church, the following is the programme:
Singing by the audience. Address by J.W. Silsby. Song to be selected. Address or essay. Song. “Temptation”, Sselect Reading by B.R. Shoemaker. Singing. Declamation by H.W. Meeker. Singing. Address. “Forgive and Forget”, (Song.) Business of the Society.
The above programme may be cut down a little on account of length, and we believe that the average Osceollan cannot spend his time much better than by attending these weekly meetings. Let us have a full attendance.

Mr. J. Humans, formerly of Humansville, but who has been out to the Black Hills, in Dakota for two years past, passed through town on his way to his old home yesterday. He reports business as being brisk among the Black Hills.

B.R. Shoemaker will have at the City Book Store a fine assortment of holiday goods consisting of Albums, fancy goods, Stationary, Confectionary & etc. Everyone is respectfully invited to call and examine his stock and make themselves happy by buying something neat and knobby for holiday presents.

We return thanks to “Truth” for his article, but must refuse to publish it, as we do not like to enter into any controversy and have sworn never to allow the name of that paper to darken our columns any more. If the man you speak of is a hypocrite the people will find it out sooner or later.

The latest style imported into this neighborhood is black kid gloves for dances. The cause for wearing this particular color at a dance we fail to grasp, unless it be that the wearer wishes to be ready for some body to dance themselves to death, when he shall be properly dressed to attend the funeral.

“Peterson’s Counterfeit Detector” has at last arrived at this office. It is for the use of those men who wish to know genuine from counterfeit money. Of course we have no use for such a book. If we were so lucky as to receive even a counterfeit five dollar bill w would consider ourselves as being fortunate. But since the time we entered the Journalistic fields money has kept clear of us. A blind man could find as much pleasure in contemplating the beauties of a Raphael or Ruben as we in perusing the pages of the “Detective”.