Washington County Tidbits 1900-09

Tidbits are newspaper articles, etc. which mention names, places, and other information useful to the researcher.
They will be posted as received, with the newest listed first.


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


Submitted by Christine Lembeck

Fort Wayne Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Indiana, November 14, 1900
Baltimore, MD – Nov 14


The Baltimore Trust and Guarantee Company has practically completed arrangements for financing a deal involving upward of $11,000,000.00 of stocks and bonds. A company has been formed, it is said, which will shortly be incorporated under the name of the American Lead and Baryta Company. This company will purchase 33,100 acres of land in Washington County, Missouri, about sixty-five miles south of St. Louis, said to contain valuable mineral deposits, including baryta, zinc, lead and iron besides extensive timber tracks. The most valuable mineral deposit on the property is probably baryta which is largely used in the manufacture of paint. A new town will be laid out and the company expects to reap rich returns from the sale of building lots. Experts employed by the Baltimore Trust and Guarantee Company made an examination of the property and have submitted a report showing that the present net revenue is $125,000.00 a year, and it is believed these earnings can be largely increased by the introduction of labor-saving machinery. It is said that about two-thirds of the underwriting has been place with Baltimore and Western financial institutions and capitalists.

The Iowa City Citizen, Iowa City, February 8, 1909

Leadwood, MO
George Ketcherside and John Hughes fought a duel here over a woman. They are dead. The shooting was in front of the home of Mrs. Adams, widow, with whom Ketcherside had boarded. He saw Hughes talking to her and went after a revolver.

Both began firing at the same time and at so close a range that their bodies fell across each other. Each body received five bullets.

Submitted by Christine Lembeck

St. Louis Post Dispatch, August 19, 1904

MAN ACCUSED OF EXTENSIVE SWINDLE

A deputy sheriff went to Irondale, Washington County, Friday, for the purpose of arresting B. F. McKinney, a merchant at that place against whom a warrant charging obtaining goods from St. Louis wholesale merchants under false pretenses as to his liabilities and assets was issued several days ago. McKinney is charged with buying goods on credit from St. Louis and other firms after submitting to them what purported to be a correct statement of his debts and resources. The warrant against him was issued at the instance of the Goddard Grocer Company at South Seventh Street, and the St. Louis Credit Men's Association. McKinney is said to owe $3,000.00 and to have assets not exceeding $350.00. It is alleged that in April of this year he sent an order for a bill of goods amount to less than $100.00 to the Goddard Grocer Company but because he had not credit rating with any commercial agency, the order was refused. Then, it is alleged, McKinney sent a signed statement representing his liabilities as $250.00 and his assets as $24.25. The goods were sent to him, according to the Goddard Company, but they failed to receive payment. A collection agency in whose hands the matter was placed reported that McKinney's assets were $300.00 and his liabilities $3,000.00. The following St. Louis firms are said to have lost sums reaching a total of $1500.00 (could be 1,300 due to bad print) as a result of similar operations by McKinney: Tennant Shoe Company, Fuchs&Neeman, Union Biscuit Company, James M. Houston Versteeg Shoe Company, Meyer Brothers Coffee and Spice Company, Jacobs Hat & Shoe Company, M. Scharff & Sons, Scudder-Gale Grocery Company, Friedmann Brothers Shoe Company…. (the list goes on)

January 1900, Weekly Independent

Obituary
Mrs. Adelia Thompson (nee Barron) was born in Potosi, Missouri, November 1, 1826; died at her home near Hopewell, January 16, 1900; was married to Elbert Thompson, December 22, 1848; joined the M.E. Church South, 1847; a husband, three sons, and two daughters survive her. She was an earnest Christian, a devoted wife, a kind mother, commanding the respect and esteem of the entire neighborhood. During her entire sickness her life was marked by Christian patience and resignation to the will of "Him who doeth all things well" "But we sorrow not as those who have no hope", for we are encouraged by the strong and abiding Christian faith that the parting is but for a season....

November 22, 1900, Weekly Independent

Obituary
John Barron, an aged and respected miner, residing two miles east of Potosi, was found dead in his yard on Friday last. Coroner Charles William held an inquest and the jury returned a verdict that he died of heart disease. Mr. Barron was consided one of the best miners in this section.

Potosi Journal, Potosi, Mo. November 28, 1900

County Court Proceedings
The court orders that the following persons be and are exempt from payment of road poll tax on account of physical disabilities:

E. H. George, John Coleman, James W. Steel, William Nephua, George McAtee, Lucian Boyer, J. W. Adams, Pryor Harvey, J. N. Harned and Richard Jackson.

Potosi Weekly Journal, February 15, 1900

Shirley News
Miss Ella Nephew of near Cadet is visiting her sister, Mrs. Court Compton.

The music and surprise party given by Mrs. Hill's children in honor of her 61st birthday was quite a success; there was a large crowd present, all of whom took part in the vocal and instrumental music and enjoyed themselves very much, after which refreshments were served to the visited guests. Those present were Mrs. Burt Compton, Mr. and Mrs. F. C. Hill, G. W. Compton, Jr., H and Ed Grooms, G. W. Compton, Sr., Michael McAvinney, Patrick and Michael O'Hanlon, Emmet and John Powell, Mr. Campbell and Miss Ella Nephew.

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Larry Flesher, Washington County, MO

lflesher@fidnet.com