USA > Indiana > Madison County > Historical sketches and reminiscences of Madison county, Indiana : a detailed history of the early events of the pioneer settlement of the county, and many of the happenings of recent years, as well as a complete history of each township, to which is added numerous incidents of a pleasant nature, in the way of reminiscences, and laughable occurrences > Part 31
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On Saturday prior to the murder they were in Anderson together and had been drinking considerably. Frazier became sick from the effects of drink and was confined to his bed as a result. On the evening of the day that he was taken sick he
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sent for Mr. Hupp, whose residence was but a short distance from his own. Hupp immediately complied with the request, and as he entered the room he passed by the bed upon which Frazier was lying and spoke to him in a friendly manner. Frazier's only reply was, " What do you want ?" and reaching under the pillow, drew a revolver and fired, the ball entering Hupp's heart, killing him instantly. There was no reason that could be assigned by any one for this horrible act. Frazier was at once arrested by Constable George W. Cummins, of Monroe township, and on the morning following waived an examination in 'Squire Finch's Court in Alexandria, and was committed to the county jail. During his incarceration he steadily refused to talk to any one in an intelligent manner, trying to leave on every one the impression that he was insane.
Many of the neighbors and people who were acquainted with Frazier gave credence to the story that he was deranged, from the fact that he had lost his daughter a short time pre- viously which it was said bore heavily upon him, causing him to give away to drink. He was a hard working man and had accumulated considerable wealth. He owned a farm of 160 acres well stocked, and in addition had quite a large sum of money. He was about forty-eight years of age and had a wife and eight children.
Sylvester Hupp, the victim. was a carpenter by trade and being of a quiet and jovial disposition, was not known to have an enemy in the world. He left a wife and four children in moderate circumstances. He was about fifty years of age, and a brother of Dewitt C. Hupp, a prominent school teacher and politician of Madison county, who yet resides at Alexandria. Coroner William A. Hunt held an inquest over the remains, returning a verdict of murder. However, before the Grand Jury could convene to make an investigation of the affair, Fra- zier put an end to the whole matter by taking his own life in the county jail on the 18th of May, 1884, by hanging himself to the bars of his cell. It is said that Frazier recognized the enormity of his crime and had asserted on several occasions that he had been guilty of a grievous offense. On being placed in jail he inquired of Deputy Sheriff Moore how long it would be before the court convened and on being informed that it would be four weeks, he replied that he would never have a trial. This was sufficient evidence that he had premeditated suicide. Before committing the act he addressed .a letter to his mother and also one to his wife and family, on the 31st of
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May, in which he urged them both to be good to the children, and to prepare to meet him in a better world. After the in- quest held by the Coroner of the county, his remains were de- livered to his grief stricken family, and they were then con- veyed to Wesley Chapel cemetery, in Richland township, where the remains of his victim had been interred but a few days before. The estate that he left to his family was esti- mated to be worth ten or fifteen thousand dollars. It is chari- table at least to believe that Frazier at the time he committed the deed, was not in his right mind, as no reason could be offered why he should deliberately take the life of one who had always been a neighbor and a close friend.
KILLED WHILE COUPLING CARS.
On the 28th of June, 1890, Henry Sholts, a brakeman on the C., W. & M. Railroad, was killed while making a coupling at Alexandria. He fell between the cars and was instantly killed. No one seems to know much about the par- ticulars of his death, and but little can be said about it. The records of Dr. C. L. Armington show that he was called there in the capacity of Coroner, and held an inquest over the dead body of Sholts, that he was a man of about twenty- five years of age. His remains were taken by friends after the inquest.
AN ACCIDENTAL SHOOTING.
One of the most distressing accidents that ever occurred in Madison county, took place on the 17th of October, 1891, near Alexandria, whereby Arlantas Runyon was accidentally shot by Willis S. Ellis, who is at this writing a practicing attorney-at-law in Anderson, and who was once Superintend- ent of Schools in Madison county. On the day above men- tioned, Runyon and Ellis had been out hunting, and were in a field about three miles from Alexandria walking very closely together, Ellis having his gun pointing downward. In some manner, he slipped and fell, and in his fall the gun was dis- charged, and the entire contents were landed in Runyon's right foot, terribly lacerating it, and disabling Mr. Runyon so that he could not walk.
Mr. Ellis hastenened to a neighboring house, secured a buggy and hauled his companion to Alexandria where his wounds were dressed. After an examination it was deter- mined that amputation was necessary, and Mr. Runyon un-
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derwent the ordeal of having his leg taken off between his knee and the ankle, thus rendering him a cripple for life. When he became convalescent, he had an artificial member placed on his limb, and one, to see him walk along the street. would never suspect that he had lost so important a member of his body.
Mr. Runyon is a prominent citizen of Madison county, having been twice elected to the position of Trustee of Mon- roe township, and was at one time a prominent candidate for Treasurer of Madison county. . This accident distressed Mr. Ellis nearly as much as it did Mr. Runyon, from the fact that they were close friends and companions from boyhood. Mr. Ellis rendered every assistance in his power to alleviate the sufferings of his wounded friend, and they are still close friends.
FATAL SHOOTING AT ORESTES.
On the 8th of September, 1894, in a saloon at the town of Orestes, in Monroe township. a fatal shooting affair took place in which James McDermit shot and killed Isaac Mar- tin, a young man about twenty-five years of age. It happened in a bar-room fight, and it seems that Martin was the aggressor, and that McDermit acted in self-defense.
C. L. Armington, the Coroner, was called and investiga- ted the case, and returned a verdict of justifiable homicide, which was afterwards confirmed in the courts of justice of Madison county.
A FATAL FALL.
On the 22nd of October, 1894, Lewis Hatchet, of Ores- tes, while in an intoxicated condition coming down a stair- way, fell and broke his neck, from the effects of which he died almost instantly. He was a man about forty years of age, being almost a stranger in the locality. But little is known of him. He was employed in a glass factory in the capacity of a laborer.
JEREMIAHI SMITH MEETS DEATH BENEATH THE WHEELS OF A BIG FOUR PASSENGER TRAIN.
Jeremiah Smith, a Madison county pioneer, residing near Rigdon, was killed at Alexandria by the morning pas- senger train over the Big Four, April 15, 1896.
Mr. Smith, although seventy-three years of age, was even more energetic than hundreds of men forty years his junior. He was a dealer in produce and drove to Alexandria from his
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. 857
home at Rigdon every Wednesday and Saturday morning. With a new buggy filled with eggs, butter, etc., he left his home as usual, not anticipating the horrible fate he afterwards met.
Attorney Arthur H. Jones, of Summitville, was an eye witness to the accident. He was coming to Anderson on the train. Mr. Smith had succeeded in crossing the track in front of the engine at the crossing just north of the Big Four depot. After crossing the track the horse became frightened and com- menced backing. The buggy was backed against the baggage car of the train, and immediately torn loose from the horse and broken into pieces. Mr. Smith was thrown forcibly to the ground, his head striking the rail. The top of his head was completely cut off and death resulted instantaneously.
The unfortunate man was well known throughout the county.
After the accident the ambulance was called and the ie- mains of Mr. Smith were immediately conveyed to the Davis undertaking establishment and cared for.
Coroner S. C. Sells held an inquest, after which the re- mains were removed to his home.
KILLED BY AN OFFICER. .
On Saturday night, April 20th, 1895, special officer Harry Painter, of Alexandria, while doing his duty as prescribed by law came in contact with two men, one of whom was named Schneider and the other Cherott. It became his duty to place them under arrest for transgression of the ordinances of the city, and in so doing was compelled to use his pistol by which means he mortally wounded Schneider and severely crippled Cherott. The facts of the affair are as follows: A party of glass workers were drinking at a saloon on Washington street in West Alexandria and became so boisterous that the pro- prietor ordered them from the place. The party left the saloon and got out on the sidewalk where the men who composed it commenced fighting.
Officer Painter, who was doing duty for another officer in that part of town, was in a barber shop near by getting shaved. but immediately got up as soon as the disturbance commenced and rushed out to arrest the men. He was soon surrounded by the men and in struggling with Cherott was borne to the ground. While he was down Schneider jerked his mace out of his hand and commenced beating him over the head with it. Painter
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finding that he was beset by men who appeared to be wanting to kill him, pulled his revolver and fired twice at Schneider and once at Cherott. Schneider ran and Painter succeeded in arresting Cherott and placing him in the calaboose. The shot aimed at Cherott took effect on the top of his head, making a painful but not serious wound.
Soon after Cherott had been placed in the calaboose, Mar- shal T. M. Houston was informed that there was a man lying under a tree not far from the scene of the fight who was either . drunk or sick, and the officer proceeded to the place indicated to investigate. He found Schneider lying on the ground under the tree dead, and sent for an ambulance and had the body conveyed to an undertaking establishment. Painter gave him- self up to the Marshal saying that he supposed he had killed the man, but was not aware of it until his remains had been found.
Upon examination of Schneider it was found that he had been shot twice, one of the wounds being in his left arm and the other in his left side.
Painter was placed under arrest, but was bailed by R. H. Hannah and other leading citizens of Alexandria, and finally, on a hearing in court, was acquitted of any, criminal act, being entirely exonorated, as doing his duty as an officer of the law.
A DISASTROUS STORM.
One of the most disastrous storms that has visited this county occurred on the 17th of August, 1888, in a small strip of country, lying north of Anderson, between Killbuck and Alexandria, and was the scene of much destruction. On the Alexandria pike, north of the old John Nelson farm, and for two or three miles on either side, a strip as far as the Del- aware county line, was severely shaken up by the wind and rainfall. Hail fell in immense quantities and the wind up- rooted trees, blew down fences, barns and out-buildings. The hail was of unusual size, cutting the corn to ribbons and breaking the glass in the windows of the houses. The grow- ing crops over the country were almost entirely obliterated and the corn was beaten down into the ground. The home of Mrs. Hupp, a small log house, was blown out of existence. The logs were caught by the wind and blown in every direc- tion. At the time it struck the building, Mrs. Hupp and her family were in the house, but strange to relate, none were seri- ously hurt. One of the boys, however, sustained a wound
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about the head, from the falling timbers. Mrs. Hupp was the widow of Wesley Hupp, who was killed by Joseph Frazier prior to this event, of which killing an account has been given in these pages. The farms of Washington Black, Weems Heagy, Mrs. Anthony Mabbitt, William Thornburg and Noah Eppard were in the direct track of the storm and their growing crops, fences, timber and out-buildings were more or less damaged. It was, by far, the most severe storm that ever swept through this part of the country, and will be- long remembered by all those who witnessed it.
SAVED HIS BRIDE FROM A WATERY GRAVE.
On the 18th of February, 1895, Hon. John Shannon, Mayor of" Alexandria, was joined in wedlock with Miss Mar- garet Lathrop, of Greensburg, Indiana. After the wedding ceremony was over and they had received the congratulations of their friends, they started on their wedding tour by the way of Louisville, Kentucky, at which place they boarded a steamer on the Ohio river for Cincinnati. They took passage on the " State of Missouri," one of the finest boats plying be- tween New Orleans and Cincinnati, owned by the Cincinnati and Memphis Packet Company. While they were enjoying their honeymoon on the placid waters of the Ohio, near Alton, Indiana, the steamer struck a rock on the Indiana side, and in less than ten minutes went down in forty feet of water. C. C. Whitehead, an old pilot, was on board and gave the following account of the disaster. He said : " As the vessel was com- ing down the river I was in the pilot house and started down to supper. When I reached the cabin deck I noticed the ves- sel was headed too much towards the shore, and started to see what the matter was. At that moment the pilot in charge of the boat seemed to realize that the steamer was going in the wrong direction, and he began to turn, but he was too late in making the effort to change the course of the vessel. The bow missed the rock but the stern was struck and was completely cut off from the other part. When the shock came, a brave negro jumped ashore with a line and attached it to the boat, but the headway of the vessel parted the line and the boat swung into the river. All were excited and there was no time to study what was best to do. Life boats were lowered, but before the passengers had time to take advantage of them, a general scramble was made without any system on the part of the officers and passengers. It seems that every one fought
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his own battle. At this juncture Mr. Shannon seeing the danger, and that there was but one way to escape, asked his wife to jump into the river, assuring her that he would follow and take her safe to the shore, which she did ; he immediately sprang after her and swam with her to the Indiana side, thereby saving himself and his wife from a watery grave.
It was a brave deed and very few men would have had the courage to undertake such a task. The clothing of Mr. Shannon and wife were badly soiled, and they lost their bag- gage which was in the wreck. They telegraphed their friends and relatives at Greensburg that they were all right. They continued on their trip, however, and returned to Alexandria, which place they have since made their home. No fatalities occurred on the vessel as the crew and passengers were all saved.
KILLED WHILE RESISTING ARREST.
Scarcely had the Schneider killing passed out of the pub- lic mind (an account of which appears in this volume) when the news was flashed over the wire that John Graham, a Policeman of Alexandria, had on Saturday the 29th of Febru- ary, 1896, shot and killed John Worthington, a workman in the steel mill, while arresting him for the violation of the law.
Many stories were set in circulation and no two agreed as to the particulars. The public press at the time gave about the following account of the affair :
" The first reports of the tragedy received indicate that the shooting was the result of an attempt to place Worthing- ton under arrest, upon a warrant issued on the complaint of his room-mate, one Thomas Kneading, who reported to the police that Worthington had fired three shots at him. It seems that there was a woman in the case, a widow, at whose house the two men boarded ; that Worthington was in love with the widow and suspected Kneading of being a little too persistent in his attentions.
" When Policeman Graham went to arrest Worthington he was accompanied by Kneading, who, however, kept well to the rear as they approached the house. Graham found Worthington in his room, and four of his fellow-workmen were with him. It is said that Worthington had his revolver in hand ready for action, but it does not appear that he made any demonstration toward using it against the officer. On the contrary, when he found the officer had a warrant for his
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arrest, he suffered him to take the revolver from him. After securing the revolver and placing it in his own pocket, the officer seized the prisoner, who, for some reason which at the present time is unexplained, made a stubborn resistance, strik- ing and kicking the officer, it is alleged, whereupon the latter pulled his gun and fired the fatal shot. It does not appear that the four companions of Worthington took any part in the proceedings beyond attempting to cool the parties down and avoid trouble, though it is stated that Graham had his prisoner floored at one time, and let him up at the request of these men, who guaranteed that he would go along peaceably with the officer.
" Graham immediately reported the occurrence to his superior officer, who sent him to the Mayor's office where he was formally placed under arrest.
" Worthington came to Alexandria from Birmingham, Ala., but has a sister residing at Ashville, Ky., also one at Columbus, Ohio. He was a large and powerful man phys- ically."
Mr. Graham was taken to Anderson for safe keeping on account of the angry spirit manifested by the companions of Worthington, although no violence was offered.
Graham was acquitted in January, 1897.
BURNING OF THE PLATE GLASS WORKS.
On the 17th of September, 1895, a disastrous fire took place at the Alexandria Plate Glass Works, in which a por- tion of that institution was destroyed, entailing a large loss of property to the owners of the plant. Major C. T. Doxey was the president of the company, and immediately after the fire set about rebuilding the parts destroyed in a substantial and extensive manner. and it is at this writing one of the largest of its kind in the State.
AN OLD SOLDIER KILLED.
On the 6th of August, 1896, Leonard Birch, a veteran of the late war, a member of Company K, 100th Regiment of Indiana Volunteers, and an inmate of the Soldiers' Home at Leavenworth, Kansas, was killed at Alexandria by being run over by the cars on the " Big Four" railroad.
He was on the track and stepped aside to avoid a coming train and stepped in front of another, unnoticed by him. going
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in an opposite direction, thus meeting his death. He was a man about fifty-two years old.
DR. SCOTT COMMITS SUICIDE.
On Saturday, August 8, 1896, Dr. Scott killed himself at Alexandria by cutting his throat with a razor. He had been in bad health for some time, and was visiting the family of his sister, Mrs. Davis, the wife of the minister in charge of the M. E. church, when the rash act was committed. His sickness had caused a temporary aberration of mind and he was not responsible at the time.
The weapon used was a razor that Mrs. Davis had been preparing to pack with some articles that she was taking to the lakes where she intended to go in search of rest and recre- ation, and during her temporary absence Scott got hold of it and took his life. The act was done in the presence of Mrs. Scott, just as she was returning to the room in which she had left the unfortunate brother a few minutes before.
Drs. Hugh and Coffin were called, but no relief could be rendered the victim, and he died in a few minutes after the fatal stroke. The remains were removed to Greentown, his home, for burial.
ALEXANDRIA HAPPENINGS-GAS EXPLOSIONS AND A BRIEF SKETCH OF ITS FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The facilities of Alexandria for fighting fire, prior to its wonderful boom, were considered adequate for a small village, and for many years consisted only of an unorganized bucket brigade under the management of a volunteer chief. When a fire occurred, the usual alarm was a loud cry of fire, started by some one and taken up by the denizens of the town. Mer- chants, mechanics, laborers and numerous small boys with wooden buckets, tubs and vessels of every description would form a line from the neighboring wells to the burning build- ings. The noble work and deeds of daring of this unorgan- ized brigade has saved the homes and household effects of many families, and the success or failure, and the special deeds of bravery of individuals were liberally discussed at the homes and firesides of Alexandria people for many days after the oc- currence.
Among those who have been prominent in fighting fire and who have distinguished themselves as volunteer chiefs of the fire fighters, we mention James B. Black, Mort. Canfield
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and George Grant, they having been in command in more than one conflagration.
The rapid increase in population cattsing Alexandria to spring from a mere village in 1891 to a city of six thousand souls, gave an impetus to all branches of business and to all trades, but the means of protecting property from the fiery el- ements were entirely ignored until the citizens were confronted with the fact that the town was being rapidly burned down without the resources at hand to prevent its entire destruction.
On the 6th of December, 1891, near the hour of midnight, an alarm of fire given by a citizen promptly brought out the populace with their buckets. It was soon discovered that the business room occupied by Scott Pauly, as a jewelry store, was on fire, and before water could be procured the flames had communicated to the adjoining buildings. It was soon apparent that the whole square would be consumed. The se- vere cold weather and scarcity of water rendered the citizens powerless. Many stocks of merchandise were carried from the adjoining buildings to the streets and the flames had their own way. They were finally checked at either end of the square, by Washington street on the south and Church street on the north. Three saloons were among the many business places destroyed. Their contents were carried into the street and freely made use of by all those who wished to help them- selves. The only brick building in the block was that occu- pied by H. P. Williams as a saloon. The side walls were all that remained of this structure, and they were left in such con- dition that in a few days they fell down, and buried in the ruins John Fink, a well-known citizen, and Willie Morley, a boy about fifteen years of age. When rescued they were both unconscious and died in a short time afterward.
The following is a list of the business houses that were destroyed by the fire : John Wiggins, restaurant ; Ves Layne, boots and shoes; Alexandria Fruit Company ; John A. Gra- ham, saloon ; Fred Cartwright, grocery; John Dwyer, saloon ; George Kelley, saloon ; Manlove & Buckley, hardware ; H. P. Williams, saloon ; A. Bertsche, harness; Ben Patterson, restaurant; Edward Eccles, saloon.
On the night of January 21, 1893, a frame building on the west side of Harrison street, occupied by J. C. Clayton as a grocery store, and also by the post-office, was discovered to be on fire, and it looked for a time as if the conflagration would destroy the entire west side. The building was soon
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enveloped in flames, and the adjoining property was doomed. The contents af the stores were hastily removed to the street, as there were no buildings empty in which to place them. The fire was checked at the corner of an alley between Church and Wood streets by tearing out a frame building occupied by Rupert & Stockton as a restaurant. John Black, John E. Sherman and others rendered valuable aid in tearing out the building, damming up the gutter and saving the water made by the intense heat melting the deep snow. After these con- flagrations the property owners began to realize the necessity for protection, and therefore applied to the City Council to provide apparatus for that purpose. The finances of the city were, however, such that it was soon apparent that nothing could be done by the city fathers.
Five citizens, R. H. Hannah, Anthony Bertsche, A. E. Harlan, S. E. Young and J. P. Condo, volunteered to supply the necessary money with which to purchase a large, two- horse chemical engine, hook and ladder wagon, a small five- gallon chemical engine, which was accordingly purchased in Chicago.
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