USA > Indiana > Madison County > Historical Sketches and Reminiscences of Madison County, Indiana: A Detailed History of the. > Part 47
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With not a clue to work on as to his identity, he left the officers in a difficulty. His act, though rash, had been delib- erate, and it was evidently his ambition in his last mo- ments to occupy an unknown grave. He had, with a fore- sight seldom exhibited in these cases, in his endeavor to erase all clue, not only destroyed his personal effects, including papers and letters, but he had gone so far as to cut his laundry mark off of his collar, cuffs, and shirt, then going to his room completing the work by cutting the marks out of his soiled laundry, as well as destroying all that came under his notice.
His work was complete, and when he entered the hard- ware store, giving the impression that he wished to buy a re- volver, there was not a thing on his person that bore any clew as to who he was or where he came from.
Baffled in this manner, there was but one thing to do. As an unknown he was placed before the public, and at least 4,000 people looked on his features for identification.
He was finally identified by a traveling man named Fer- guson, as Fred. W. Irwin, an employe of Dadge, Andrews & Co., of Columbus, Ohio, who were communicated with.
There was no apparent reason why he should quit the company, and Mr. Dadge was thunderstruck at the announce- ment of his death.
Irwin came to Anderson and put up at the Big Four Hotel. He did not register, and did not say what his name was. He talked to Walter Teal, but simply alluded to Co- lumbus, Ohio, being his old home, in speaking of Sell's circus wintering there.
His widowed mother and sister came and claimed his remains and took them to Columbus, Ohio, for burial. The young men of Anderson turned out to escort them to the station, having six pall bearers and a large procession on foot.
SUICIDE OF GEORGE BUNGER.
George Bunger, a shoemaker, committed suicide in an out- building near the Pan Handle freight depot in Anderson, on the 15th of June, 1896. He was a harmless, good-natured
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fellow, who made his headquarters in Geo. Hettel's shoe store for several years, and came with that gentleman from La- fayette, Indiana, to Anderson, about the year 1887.
He had been drinking for several days previous to his death, and is supposed to have been in a fit of melancholy when he committed the deed. Disappointment in a love affair in his younger days is said to have borne heavily upon his mind and caused him to drink to excess at times. His rela- tives at his old home came and claimed his remains and re- moved them thence for burial, after an inquest had been held by Coroner Sells.
It is said the young lady to whom he was at one time engaged to be married is now an inmate of the Insane Asylum at Indianapolis.
A PECULIARLY SAD SUICIDE.
Dallas McCallister, son of James McCallister, and brother of Robert McCallister, committed suicide at 3:30 o'clock P. M., April 11, 1893, by shooting himself through the head with a revolver. He was formerly employed as driver for the American Express Company, and was of a jolly disposition.
The cause that led McCallister to commit the act is stated as follows :
J. C. Clark, special agent of the American Express Com- pany, had been in Anderson several days. The result of an investigation showed that McCallister was short $950 with the company.
A warrant was placed in Patrolman Rodgers' hands, who, meeting young McCallister at the door of the Griffith House, began to read the writ, when the young man drew a revolver and fired, the ball entering his forehead.
He fell to the sidewalk, the brains oozing from the wound. He died almost instantly, and was removed to the home of his parents, where an inquest was held by Coroner C. I .. Armington. Young McCallister's funeral was one of the largest ever in Anderson.
It is not only the opinion of the writers, but of a large majority of the people of Anderson, that McCallister was the victim of a conspiracy-that some one else was the rogue, and that the young man had a confession wrung out of him under promise of protection, after which he was betrayed. When
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he saw he was trapped he was too proud to be placed in a felon's cell, and deliberately took his life in the presence of the officer who made the arrest. He had been employed by many people in Anderson at different times, and had always borne a good name.
TRAGIC DEATH OF DOTE M'CULLOUGH.
" Dote " Mccullough, a desperate character, met with a tragic death in Welsh's saloon on North Main street, in An- derson, May 26, 1894.
Ile attempted to kill young Dora Welsh, but failed, and in self-defense the latter sent a bullet crashing through his brain.
About half past nine o'clock in the evening a young man by the name of Paxon, and Laura Skidmore, a woman of the town, went to Welsh's saloon, on North Main street, and entered the wine rooms.
While they were in the rooms " Dote " Mccullough came in the back way and entered the wine room. He had been a lover of the Skidmore woman, and was in a jealous frenzy when he entered the place. He began to threaten Paxon and the woman, when Welsh entered. The latter told Mccullough he would either have to behave himself or get out. Mccullough was a stranger to Welsh and he retorted by mak- ing some threat. Mccullough then passed out, and in about five minutes entered the room again. He had a revolver in his hand, and when he saw Welsh standing a few feet away he leveled the gun at him and swore he would kill him.
Welsh jumped toward Mccullough and struck his arm. The blow lowered the weapon, and, as it was discharged, the bullet passed through the fleshy part of Welsh's left thigh. Welsh and Mccullough then grappled and the latter attempted to use his gun again. Welsh in the meantime had got out his revolver, and, breaking away, brought it down, and sent the ball crashing through Mccullough's head.
Mccullough never spoke after the shot. Welsh picked up the smoking weapon of his antagonist, and passed into the saloon and laid it and his own pistol on the bar.
Policemen Robbins and Smith attracted by the shooting rushed in and placed Welsh under arrest. Hle was taken to jail and the ambulance was called. Coroner Armington was
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also notified. He came and viewed the body and ordered it taken to Sells' undertaking establishment.
After an inquest his body was taken to Oxford, Ohio, for burial.
The firm of Diven & McMahan was retained to defend young Welsh.
Welsh was acquitted at the preliminary trial on the grounds of self-defense.
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CHAPTER LV.
WHICH GIVES SOME ACCOUNT OF A NUMBER OF FATAL HAPPENINGS.
DEATH OF MOSES TREADWAY.
Moses Treadway was an old and highly respected citizen who was one of the early settlers of Madison county, on a farm north-east of Anderson, now owned by Robert C. Shep- herd, who is the son-in-law of Mr. Treadway. He was an honest, upright old gentleman, and had a host of friends in Anderson and vicinity. He was unpretentious in his manners and always prided himself on being prompt in paying an honest debt. He was a thorough type of the early settlers of this county, and in his unfortunate taking off was removed one of the landmarks of this community.
On the afternoon of Tuesday, the 17th of June, 1878, Mr. Treadway, while on his way home in a wagon, his horses became frightened as he was crossing a bridge over the hy- draulic canal, a few rods from the Samuel Myers' ford, east of White river. At this place he met a man employed on the Myers farm, who was driving a yoke of oxen attached to a cart. The horses, unaccustomed to such a sight, became excited and, after passing the oxen, started to run away. Mr. Treadway was unable to control them, and when they had run about thirty rods they turned square off from the road and up-set the wagon. It is supposed that Mr. Treadway was thrown out as the wagon up-set, and that one of the wheels struck him in the forehead, fracturing his skull and producing instant death. Ilis feet were entangled in the lines and his body was dragged quite a distance before the horses stopped. Some boys who were fishing in the river near by saw the team running away and hastened to the spot and found the old gentleman dead and bleeding profusely from his wounds. The driver of the ox-cart was prevented from seeing the accident because he had passed by a large rick of wood on the side of the road and this shut out the view of the scene.
Mr. Treadway was born in Knox county, Tennessee, in
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1809. He moved with his family to Virginia, and from that State to Ohio, and from there he immigrated to Madison county, in the year 1832. This county was then almost a wilderness, and Mr. Treadway was quite a young man, and, being industrious and frugal, had sufficient means to pre-empt the land that he owned when he died. He made this place his home until the time of his death. His wife died in the year 1848, leaving Mr. Treadway with one child, a daughter, now the wife of Robert C. Shepherd. He was a man of strong mind and possessed of more than average intelligence. He kept himself posted on current events and wrote a most excellent hand. In politics he was a sterling Democrat, and yet his mind was of a liberal cast and he could see and appre- ciate the good qualities of his opponents and the faults of his · political friends. His remains were interred in the Stover graveyard, near Prosperity, where they are now sleeping the sleep of the just.
KILLING OF ROLLA FRANKLIN.
Rolla Franklin was a young man who was born and reared in Anderson, being a son of Rev. Joseph Franklin, formerly pastor of the Christian Church. Young Franklin had left Anderson and gone to Veedersburg, where he was employed in the heading factory of W. H. Coleman, of that place. On the 22d of May, 1888, while engaged at his work in the factory, a pulley on a shaft bursted and a piece of the metal struck Franklin, who was at the time working at one of the circular saws. It struck him on the neck, almost sever- ing his head from the body and killing him instantly. The body was taken to his boarding place, where it was cared for by the proprietor of the mill, and young Franklin's friends and relatives in Anderson were notified of the occurrence. He was a prominent member of the Knights of Pythias, who took charge of his remains. After the Coroner's inquest had been held they were removed to Anderson and were taken to his home. The Anderson Lodge of Knights of Pythias met the remains at the depot and escorted them to the family resi- dence on Ohio avenue. The funeral obsequies were conducted under the auspices of the Anderson Lodge and took place at the Christian Church, Rev. W. HI. Ziegler officiating. His body was interred in the Anderson cemetery. He was a young man universally respected and his parents were old and influential citizens of the community.
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
KILLING OF EDWARD POMEROY.
Edward Pomeroy, a brakeman on the Midland Railroad, met a horrible death on Saturday, the 21st of December, 1889, by being run over by a locomotive. Pomeroy had taken a po- sition on the pilot of the passenger engine, and in getting off to open a switch he stepped between the guard and the main rail, catching his foot in such a manner as to hold him a prisoner until the wheels of the locomotive had passed over h's body. His left foot was crushed to a shapeless mass. The right leg was taken off at the hip, while his right arm was mashed to a pulp. In this mangled condition he lived until noon of the next day. He retained his consciousness until his eyes were closed in death. Drs. Hunt and Preston were called to attend to his injuries, but at once pronounced them fatal. He was twenty-two years old and unmarried. His home was at Lebanon, but while in this city he boarded with William Childers, on South Meridian street. Rev. C. G. Hudson attended him in his last moments until death relieved him of his sufferings.
FOUND DEAD IN HIS BED.
D. M. Williams, a carpenter, was found dead in his bed, two and a half miles south of Anderson, on the 4th of June, 1890. He had worked hard all day, and went to bed in seem- ingly good health. In the morning his wife got up and had gone to the barn to do the milking. Her husband was awake . at the time she left, and he chatted with her. When she re- turned to prepare the breakfast she did not go to the bed- chamber at once, but when she was ready to call her husband for his meal she found that he was dead. His body was still warm, and he had evidently died while she was near him, un- conscious of the fact. Coroner Armington held an inquest and returned a verdict of death from heart failure. He left a wife and five children. He was an honest, industrious and hard-working man, and well respected by the community.
A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT.
John R. Reed, an employe in Ralya's heading factory, which was once situated near the crossing of the Pan Handle and Big Four Railroads, in Anderson, met with a horrible death on Thursday, the 23d of November, 1882. while running a cut- off saw in that establishment. One of the belts which ran the
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
saw slipped off the pulley, and Mr. Reed attempted to put it on, when it began to coil about his head, causing him to step backward to get out of its way. The saw was about ten feet distant from where he was attempting to replace the belt. In stepping backward he stumbled over a pile of rubbish which had accumulated there and fell against the saw with his arm, which was severed from the body. He was also drawn over the saw, cutting him in several places, running diagonally from under the right shoulder through his breast, and also nearly severing his head from his body. He was thrown into the air above the saw and came down upon it again, cutting another terrible gash through his body, just below the pit of the stomach. He was left almost nude, and presented a ghastly spectacle as he lay on the ground, mangled and bleeding.
Mr. Reed was about thirty-five years old. He left a wife and three children to mourn his loss. He had removed from Frankton to Anderson but a short time before the accident occurred.
BURNED TO DEATH.
On the night of the 4th of June, 1890, the stable owned by Patrick Croke, near the Big Four railroad, in the neigh- borhood of the crossing of Meridian street, was discovered to be on fire. The department was called out, but too late to save the building from the flames.
During the progress of the fire it was discovered that Daniel C. Croke, a boy about ten years of age, a son of Pat- rick Croke, the owner of the stable, was in the building and his body was burned to a crisp before he could be removed.
Thomas and Patrick Croke were brothers, and at that time were dealers in "junk " and used the stable as a warehouse. The boy and his parents did not live agreeably together, and he was sleeping in the stable. How the fire originated is not known, but by some it was supposed to be spontaneous com- bustion from old rags piled up in the building. Coroner Armington held the inquest.
KILLED BY FALLING FROM A TREE.
On the 31st of October, 1890, Andrew J. Gustin, an old man of the age of 67 years, fell from a tree at the residence of George Kline at the corner of Meridian and Fifth streets, in Anderson, and was instantly killed. He and his son-in-law,
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a Mr. Wigner, were pruning trees for Mr. Kline. The old man had gone up into the tree-top to cut out the limbs while Wig- ner stood below to carry them away. Mr. Gustin missed his footing and fell to the ground, breaking his neck. He died almost instantly. Coroner Armington was called, and held an inquest merely as a matter of form and the old gentleman was taken to his home where kind hands laid beautiful flowers on his bier. Mr. Gustin was a man well liked by all who knew him, and was honest in his dealings with his fellow-man.
KILLED BY AN ENGINE.
On the morning of March 24, 1891, Lizzie Bond, a young lady twenty years of age, who was employed by The J. W. Sefton Company at the " Butter-dish" factory, was on her way to her day's labor with her dinner pail on her arm, as merry as the lark in the field, when, without a moment's warn- ing, she was ushered into eternity, by being rur. over by an engine on the Michigan division of the Big Four railway, at the crossing of Twelfth street. Her remains were imme- diately removed to an adjoining house, and Coroner Arming- ton called and an inquest held, after which she was removed to the home of her parents. She was a bright young lady, well respected by her co-laborers, as well as a large circle of friends. Her parents were poor and her sad death overcame them. The place where this event transpired is a veritable death trap, and it is only a wonder that more fatalities have not taken place there.
HORRIBLE DEATH OF J. E. HIGGINS.
A most horrible occurrence took place in Anderson on the night of September 23rd, 1893, in which J. E. Higgins was burned to death. He was a roomer in the residence of Mrs. Elizabeth Pratt on West Eighth street, while his wife was away visiting friends. In some manner the house caught fire in the room where he was sleeping, and was destroyed, burning Mr. Higgins into a crisp. It is supposed he was reading by a light and perhaps had been smoking and had fallen asleep and the bed clothing took fire.
Mr. Higgins was a man of excellent habits, a salesman in the Lion Store, and well liked by all who knew him.
Mrs. Pratt, who owned the property, was the widow of the late Asa Pratt, Esq. The property was fully insured. 35
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
A FATAL RIDE.
Sherman Eastman was one of the young business men of Anderson, who came here after the finding of natural gas, and was employed as bookkeeper by the Indiana Box Company. He was popular with his employers as well as the general public. He was the son of H. O. Eastman, who was for many years road-master of the " Bee Line " railroad system, and a brother to Charles and Ruby Eastman of the Anderson Glass Company. He came to Anderson from Union City, his native town, having been born there, and where his parents yet reside.
On the evening of December 28, 1895, as he was coming from North Anderson, his home, to do some shopping for the family, as he reached the east side of the public square, he at- tempted to alight from the car without stopping it. It was on a very sleety night, and in dismounting his feet went from under him, and he fell backward under the rear car that was used as a " trailer," and had his head nearly severed from his body by the car passing over him.
His body was taken into the drug store of Cassel Bros. on the east side and medical aid summoned, but life was ex- tinct before the physician arrived.
His brothers and his family were notified and his remains were taken to his home and afterwards to Union City for interment. -
Mr. Eastman left a young wife and a small family to mourn his untimely death, besides several brothers and rela- tives who were much attached to him. During his stay in Anderson he was highly esteemed by the business men, among whom his acquaintance mostly consisted, as he was unpreten- tious and made no effort to be prominent in society, choosing rather to attend strictly to business and spend his leisure moments with his family. The young business men of Ander- son missed him greatly and felt the loss quite severely.
BOY DROWNED IN A CISTERN.
A distressing accident occurred in the family of George Hlouk on the 19th of November, 1888, by which a son, a boy of four years of age, was drowned in a cistern. Mr. Houk lived on what has for many years been known as the Gunder farm, north-east of Anderson, on the Chesterfield road, near the residence of James Larrimore, where the accident occurred.
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
There was no covering over the cistern, but a few loose boards lay near its mouth. The supposition was that the little boy had been playing around in proximity to the cistern, and had fallen in by stepping on a loose board. His mother soon missed him and after searching the premises went to the cistern. She saw that the boards had been removed, and on . looking down was horrified to behold the body of her little son floating in the water. He was at once removed, but life was extinct. His remains were interred in the Anderson cemetery on the following Tuesday. He was a very bright boy, and the sudden and tragic death caused a gloom in the homes of the surrounding neighbors and friends.
A BOY DROWNED.
On the 21st of June, 1881, James Finan, a little lad of seven or eight years of age, met his death by being drowned in the fatal swimming hole near the Pan Handle railroad bridge near Anderson. He was in company with William and Peter Kellar, sons of Phillip Kellar, who at that time kept a restaurant on south Main street. They were boys about . Finan's age or perhaps a little older. This was at that time a favorite spot for the boys to congregate and swim ; although many accidents had happened there, it did not seem to deter the lads from risking their lives in this fatal place. The boy jumped from the bridge and dived into the deep water below, and did not again appear. This soon alarmed his companions and little "Pete" Kellar, at the risk of his own life, plunged into the river to rescue his little friend, while William ran down the bank of the stream, screaming for help. This at- tracted the attention of Daniel Knotts and James Hanson, who were gunning along the river near by. They has- tened to the scene, but too late to render any assistance, as young Finnan was dead before they reached the place. Little "Pete," hero that he was, did more than many men of ma- .ture years would have done. He grappled Finan and came very nearly getting him out, but had not sufficient strength to take him ashore. Every one of Anderson's older citizens re- members "Pete" Kellar. Although his surroundings were not the best, he was in all a manly little boy, and never knew what the word fear meant. He was as brave as a lion and would face death for a friend in time of peril. This was a . heart-rending affair for the parents of young Finan, who yet live in Anderson, and mourn the loss of their little one. The
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Kellars live in Chicago, and little "Pete" is now a man and is said to be a useful and respected citizen. Thomas Finan, the father of the unfortunate boy, has for a long. while been em- ployed by the American Wire Nail Company.
A TERRIBLE DEATH.
For many years after the building of the Pan Handle railway through the city of Anderson, there was a large strip of vacant ground lying directly west of the railroad and south of Tenth street, a portion of which had formerly been used as a Catholic burying ground. In making the heavy fill for the railroad bed it was necessary to take out a large amount of gravel and earth from along this strip of ground. The Cath- olics in the meantime removed their cemetery to the present site south of the city .. The locality above spoken of was for many years inhabited by a class of people who did not own real estate but had merely " squatted " there and built their little shanties and small frame houses in which they lived, being tolerated by the indulgence of the railroad company and others who owned the property in that vicinity. It was known as "Happy Hollow," and by some people it was called
" No Man's Land," because no person living there had any title to the real estate. Among others who dwelt in that neighborhood was an old lady of the name of Johanna O'Con- nor, a widow who had living with her a deaf and dumb sister and a small girl of the name of Hannah Dunn, who helped about the household work and did little chores for Mrs. O'Connor.
On the 3d of August, 1877, little Hannah was ordered by Mrs. O'Connor to light the fire for the purpose of preparing a meal. The child at once obeyed and hastened to the stove, and in making preparations to light the fire, picked up a two- gallon can of coal oil and began pouring it upon the wood in the stove, until she had emptied nearly half of the can. It seems that there were slumbering in the bottom of the stove some burning embers. When the coal oil came in contact with this it at once ignited and communicated with the can in her hand which exploded. The flames blazed furiously up into her face setting fire to her clothing, and in almost an instant she was burned to a crisp. It was with great effort that Mrs. O'Connor saved her house from being destroyed, but nothing could be done to rescue the little child. She screamed loudly and made a great struggle to save herself, but
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with no avail. Her screams could be heard for squares around. It was a most horrible sight to see her little body reduced to ashes. She was an orphan and for this reason the instance was regarded as more pitiable. Her remains were taken in charge by the neighbors and interred in the Catholic cemetery south of the city.
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