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 5
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About two o'clock in the afternoon one of the maids of the hotel entered the room in which Mr. Cox had been left by his friend and was horrified to find him sitting in an upright position in the bath tub dead. An alarm was at once given, and those in charge of the hotel promptly notified Mr. Carlin, who at once telegraphed to the friends and relatives of Mr. Cox in Anderson.
The news soon spread throughout the city and caused great surprise and much grief to the friends of Mr. Cox. Mr. Clem. Hooven and Charles Cox, a brother of Limon, imme- diately went to Chicago to bring the remains to Anderson for burial. Mr. Cox was a prominent member of the Masonic Order and was buried by that fraternity with all the honors of that society. Mr. Cox was one of the most public-spirited citizens that ever resided in Madison county. He was liberal in donations of money and real estate to induce capital and
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manufacturers to locate their establishments here, and much of the thrift and enterprise of Anderson is due to his efforts, along with others with whom he was intimately associated.
He had at different times during his residence in Ander- son been connected with various manufacturing establish- ments, and was at the time of his death one of Anderson's leading clothing merchants. During the panic of 1893, like many others. Mr. Cox became somewhat embarrassed finan- cially, but being a man of iron nerve and excellent financial ability, and having a host of warm friends among those who could command money, he was soon on the road to recupera- tion, and had he lived another year he would have regained his place at the head of the column among the successful busi- ness men of Anderson.
No person ever died in Anderson who left warmer friends to mourn his loss, or whose death was more universally re- gretted than that of Mr. Cox. Ile was of a kind and cheer- ful disposition, scarcely ever becoming angry, and if at times he did so, his anger was but of short duration. Ile was al- ways willing to reach forth the hand of friendship and to ex- tend the olive branch to those with whom he had any misun- derstanding, and when his remains were covered over and the . evergreens were placed upon his grave, it is doubtful if there was a person living in Anderson who did not deeply regret his demise.
Mr. Cox had never held any political office, but was at . one time a candidate for the office of Clerk of the Madison Circuit Court. He was for years a prominent member of the Anderson School Board, and always took great interest in educational matters. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. At the time of his death he was a widower, his wife having died about two years previously.
Ile left two interesting daughters to mourn his demise, Miss Emma and Miss Anna Cox, who both reside in Ander- son in the old homestead at Jackson and Twelfth streets.
DEATH IN A BALL ROOM.
On the 27th of January, 1893, Frank Moss, one of the best known gentlemen in Anderson, suddenly died in the ball room in the Doxey Opera House on North Meridian street. IIe was seated at the time listening to the music and watching the merry dancers as they went by. On that evening Mr. and Mrs. Moss attended a concert given by the Elks in the theatre
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below the ball room, and early in the evening went to the ball, enjoyed the dance and participated in the grand march. After this they took part in a waltz. After making a few circuits of the hall, Mr. Moss became tired and with his wife, sat down to rest. He took his seat beside ex-Governor Will Cumback, who was at that time in conversation with his daughter, Mrs. J. W. Lovett. Suddenly Mr. Moss leaned over as if to make some remark to the ex-Governor who turned to listen, when he was startled to see Mr. Moss fall forward heavily to the floor. Dr. F. J. Hodges was in the room at the time and was quickly at the side of the patient. He saw at a glance that Mr. Moss was dead and that nothing could be done for his re- lief. Mrs. Moss was stricken with grief and was at once taken to the home of her mother, Mrs. E. B. Hartley, on Dela- ware street. Coroner Armington was notified but declined to hold an inquest it being very evident that the deceased came to his death from natural causes. Mr. Moss was about forty years of age, of a kind, genial disposition and whose home re- lations were of a very pleasant character. He was a brother of Sandford R. Moss, well known in Madison county and was engaged at various times in raising stock and farming. He was a prominent member of the Anderson Club, which or- · ganization was convened by the President, E. P. Schlater, and memorial services were held and resolutions passed in memory of the dead. The body of the deceased was followed . to its last resting place in the Anderson cemetery by a large concourse of people and many sorrowing friends.
THE KILLING OF WILLIAM BURKE.
The killing of Wm. Burke on Ohio avenue, in 1864, by James McKnight, has almost been forgotten by even the oldest residents of Anderson. The murder took place in a shanty on Ohio avenue on a Sunday night. The shanty was occupied by John Burke, a brother of the murdered man. They were brothers of " Paddy" Burke, who yet lives in Anderson. A quarrel had taken place between the Burkes and Mcknight, and the latter had left the scene of disturbance and come up town, but soon started to return home and, coming in contact with Burke, some hot words were passed. McKnight picked up an old ax and dealt Burke a terrific blow, splitting his head open and killing him instantly.
McKnight came up town immediately after killing Burke and, calling Sheriff Benjamin Sebrell out of bed, surrendered
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himself. The murderer was locked in a cell in the old jail that stood on the lot at Jackson and Ninth streets. By this time the friends and relatives of Burke had learned of the murder. Great excitement prevailed. They demanded McKnight's life, and it required all of Sheriff Sebrell's coolness and courage to keep them from storming the jail and lynching the prisoner. The grand jury soon afterwards indicted McKnight for murder. The day for trial came. The excitement became more intense, and it was found necessary to summon a special jury to try the case. The jury was selected principally from the south part of the county. John Sommerville is one of the men yet living who was selected to try Mcknight. The evidence was con- clusive. In fact no denial was made, but the plea of insanity and justification were set up. The jury, however, took a little more latitude. McKnight was an old man, and a compromise verdict, sentencing him to the penitentiary for ten years was agreed upon. This was concluded to be equivalent to a life sentence, because no one thought the old man would live to serve his time out.
In this, however, all were mistaken, and about fifteen years ago old man McKnight visited Anderson. He claimed that at the time of his arrest he had money and other valua- bles on his person which were taken possession of by the sheriff and never returned to him. When McKnight was here he was in search of his valuables, but the sheriff was dead and gone beyond this bailiwick where he could not be reached. · Mcknight was old and gray. IIe had so changed that but few knew him or of his presence. Ile made his stay very short and departed for parts unknown.
Burke left a family of two children, both boys, one of whom lives at Lafayette.
There has been a great change in the Irish population since that time. Then the Irish people of Anderson were mostly day laborers attracted here by the railroad building and other public works. They generally lived in shanties on leased grounds, and were mostly uneducated. Now there is no city of equal population in the whole country that can show so many intelligent, happy, prosperous Irish citizens as Anderson. They are up to the standard in education ; all own the property they live in, and many of them have large real- estate interests here. They are good citizens and Anderson is proud of them.
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
JOIIN A. CAMPBELL KILLED.
On the 1st of September, 1881, John A. Campbell was employed by the Paxon Bros. as engineer in the planing mill and lumber yard, on North Main street in Anderson. During the dull season, while the mill was standing idle, he was em- ployed in stacking lumber in the yard. Ile was upon a high stack of boards when it became top-heavy and gave way. In the fall he was caught between the falling planks and terribly mangled, from the effects of which he died soon after being removed to his home.
Mr. Campbell was a man well-respected in the commu- nity, and was of English birth. He came to this country when about eighteen years of age. After being in Henry county several years he was married to Miss Trobridge, the daughter of a prominent Methodist minister. Ile was a member of Company K, 36th Indiana Regiment of Volunteers, during the war.
Hle was the father of Bartlett H. Campbell, ex-Prosecut - ing Attorney of Madison county, and Joseph B. Campbell, a traveling salesman for Heath & Milligan, of Chicago, Il.
Mr. Campbell was for many years a resident of Chester- field before removing to Anderson.
After removing to Anderson he was for several years em- ployed by George R. Deering as engineer in his mills.
Mrs. Campbell, his widow, is yet living in Anderson.
A FATAL ACCIDENT.
Dr. William Robertson will be remembered by many of the old residents of Anderson. He lived about two miles south of the city on what is known as the Van Devender farm. Several years ago he married the widow Van Devender, owner of the place. On Monday, the 28th of March, 1887, while re- turning from the funeral of an acquaintance east of the city, in attempting to cross the railroad track in front of an ap- proaching freight train, Dr. Robertson was struck by the engine. Mrs. Robertson had succeeded in crossing the track in safety, but her husband, being infirm and feeble, was slower in motion and was struck by the pilot of the engine before he could escape. He was thrown several feet into the air and off to the side of the road. . He was conveyed to the residence of James Clark, at the crossing, where he lingered in an uncon- scious condition for about two hours, when death relieved his
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sufferings. He was seventy-five years of age at the time. IIe came to this locality from Randolph county a few years prior to his death, at which time he married Mrs. Van Devender and located on the farm owned by her. Here he made his home until the occurrence of this sad event. Ilis widow was appointed afterwards as matron of the Orphan's Home, which institution she managed successfully for several years. The remains of Dr. Robertson were taken to Huntsville, Randolph county, for burial.
THE KILLING OF MISS TILLIE SEBERN.
One of the most horrible accidents that ever happened in Anderson occurred on the 1st of August, 1894, at " In- wood Park," east of the Pan Handle Railway tracks. Frank Stutskey at that time was operating a beer garden at the park and in order to attract people to his place had a grand balloon ascension at 2 o'clock in the afternoon. The aeronaut who was advertised to make the trip into the clouds was Miss Tillie Sebern, a young lady about 17 years of age, hailing from Richmond, Ind. She was a novice in the business. At the appointed hour after the balloon had been inflated, in the pres- ence of several hundred people, and in the midst of the shout- ing of the throng, the rope was cut loose and the air ship started upward with its human freight. When it had reached a height of about 300 feet it bursted, thus allowing the heated air to escape so rapidly that it descended with great speed, landing its occupant with terrific force on the ground near the bank of White river, just at the east end of the iron bridge spanning the stream, killing her instantly. It was an awful scene; men with stout hearts turned their backs, not being able to look upon it. Her body was immediately taken to Stutskey's place where her attendants took charge of her remains. Iler people, who lived at Richmond, were at once notified and came and took her remains to that city for interment. Great indigna- tion prevailed among the people when it was ascertained that the young girl was inexperienced in the business, and that that was her first attempt to make an ascension. Strong talk was indulged in of visiting summary punishment upon all those connected with the affair. Those who witnessed this incident will remember it as long as they live. Miss Sebern was the daughter of poor but honest parents, who were very much opposed to her engaging in such a reckless feat, and it
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was only by designing friends that she was induced to make an attempt of the kind.
A' CONDUCTOR KILLED.
John Hyer, a conductor on the C., W. & M. Railroad was run over and frightfully mangled in the Big Four yards in Anderson on the 8th of November, 1887, from the effects of which he died a few hours afterwards, at his boarding house on West Seventh street. He experienced intense pains during the last hours of his suffering, but remained perfectly rational until the last moment. He was able to recognize his father and mother when they arrived, and other friends who called upon him.
The accident was due to the fact that he had mistaken the direction in which a train was running, and, before he was aware of it, the engine was upon him and he was unable to extricate himself from his perilous situation. His remains were taken to Wabash the day after the occurrence for in- terment.
The deceased carried a life insurance policy for $1,000 which was made payable to his parents, but a few days before his death he had made a will in which he bequeathed the policy to his intended bride, a Miss Bevelheimer, of Anderson; but his death took place before the will had been signed or attested, thereby rendering it invalid, and the insurance went to his parents.
RUN OVER BY A TRAIN.
On the 20th of September, 1891, John Rigsby, an employe at the Flint Bottle Works in Hazelwood, while passing a Big Four train that was standing across the street, met with an ac- cident that caused him the loss of both of his limbs. The train was moving slowly at the time and in making the passage across, Rigsby caught his foot and fell beneath the cars. Two wheels passed over his left leg and right foot before he could be pulled from under the train by a man who was standing. close by, which prevented him from being otherwise injured. Quite a number of people assembled and physicians were at once called. Rigsby was rendered a cripple for the balance of his days.
A FOUR-YEAR.OLD BOY KILLED.
A most disastrous accident occurred on the Pendleton and Anderson road about four and a half miles south of the city,
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on Sunday, the 14th of December, 1884, whereby the four-year- old son of Mr. W. F. Jarrett, was shot and killed.
It appears that a boy about sixteen years of age, named Henry C. Seybert, had loaded a gun for the purpose of killing a hawk, but failing to get a chance to shoot at it he placed the loaded gun under a bed in Jarrett's house and left the prem- ises. At the time of the accident the little boy and a brother, six years older, were playing in the room by themselves. It is presumed that the little fellow had crawled under the bed and discovered the gun and pushing it in front of him, had discharged it. The child was killed instantly, the whole side of his head being blown off.
Another accident of a very serious nature had occurred to this family four years previous to this, whereby a son was killed by being burned to death, which made this a double affliction for the bereaved family.
Coroner William A. Hunt was summoned to the scene and a verdict was rendered of accidental death in the manner above described.
WILLIE LANG KILLED.
Willie Lang, a little five-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Lang, of South Fletcher street in Anderson, was run over by a wagon heavily laden with stone on the 17th of April, 1890, and so badly injured that he died the evening following. The little fellow was in company with some other boys and . they were swinging on the wagons as they passed by. In some manner he got caught and was thrown under the wheels with fatal results. The remains were taken to New Albany for interment.
Drs. M. V. Hunt and J. W. Fairfield attended the wounded boy, but no medical aid could save him from his doom. The parents were grief stricken and were rendered such consolation as laid within the power of sympathizing neighbors.
INSTANTLY KILLED.
On Sunday, the 11th of May, 1875, three boys were lead- ing a horse along the streets near the residence of Johh Mer- shon, on Fourteenth street. The oldest of the boys, Frank Hunt, son of Andrew J. Hunt, the liveryman of Anderson, had hold of the halter strap which was attached to the horse. The strap was so long that when the horse would go faster than the boy the boy would be behind the heels of the animal. 33
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When in this position one of the brothers touched the horse with a whip which scared him, and he began kicking, and in doing so one of his hoofs struck Frank square in the face with such force as to break his neck. He fell immediately and his little brother ran to him and raised him up, and seeing, al- though but a child, that his brother was dying, he thought to save him by laying him down and fanning him, but to no pur- pose, as the injured boy lived but a few moments. He was buried on the following Monday in the Anderson cemetery.
Mr. and Mrs. Hunt received the entire sympathy of the community in their sad bereavement.
A FATAL FALL.
One of the most horrible occurrences that ever took place in Anderson was the falling off of a scaffold from Louis Loeb's building on the south side of the public square, in February, 1877, by Geo. Brown and Simon P. Shetterly. They were painting the front of the building, using a swinging scaffold. They were standing close together at work when it became necessary for them to move their position. Shetterly sat down, or squatted rather on his feet for the purpose of allowing Brown to pass around him. Brown was in the act of passing Shet- terly, and had thrown one leg on the opposite side and was just in the act of bringing the other around which would have made his passage safe, when the scaffold shook, or from some other cause frightened Shetterly, when he jumped and straight- · ened up throwing Brown backward. Brown in attempting to save himself, caught Shetterly, and in less than an instant they lay upon the stone sidewalk a shapeless mass of broken bones and bruised flesh. Shetterly was almost instantly killed. Brown was so terribly mangled that every one thought it was a pity that he was not killed outright.
Shetterly's body was conveyed to his home on Nichol avenne, from whence he was in due time buried.
Brown was taken to his mother's residence in the south part of town, where Dr. N. L. Wickersham was called and attended to his wounds. There was scarcely a bone in his body that was not broken. Ilis legs, his arms, his jaw bone, and in fact he was all broken up. Everyone thought it would be a blessing if death would relieve him as he would certainly be an awful cripple if he survived.
But Dr. Wickersham never let go of George. He stayed with him like a twin brother and patched him up; set his
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broken bones, bound up his wounds, and while he did not exactly make a new man of him, one would hardly think to see George Brown, the painter and paper-hanger, on the streets of Anderson, that he had been run through a threshing machine in his life time. George gets around about as nicely as any one, and is a prosperous and happy man ; does as much work as any man in town, and enjoys life as well as the best of them. He has been as near death's door as any man ever was to get back.
Poor Simon Shetterly never knew what caused his death. He was never conscious after landing on the stone pavement. He was not so terribly mangled as Brown, but was in some way killed in the fall. He left a widow and a small family of children, who yet live on Nichol avenne, in comfortable circumstances. Simon was one of the first members of the Knights of Honor, and held a policy of $2,000 in that organ- ization, which his family received at his death. He was a Spiritualist in belief, and his immediate friends and relatives claim that he often comes back to his old home and associa- tions.
Simon Shetterly was an honest, upright man, as indus- trious as the busy bee, never gave any one a crusty answer or angry word, and was a man universally liked by all who knew him. The fall from the scaffold was witnessed by several people who were standing near by, but every one was so horrified that they turned their backs and held their breaths . until the heavy thud announced the landing on the pavement. So dumbfounded were they that it was some time before a person moved or came to the relief of the unfortunates. This is one of the occurrences that will never be erased from the memory of the Anderson old-timers, and it is hoped that it will never be repeated.
KILLING OF CHARLES GIPE.
On the 25th of June, 1895, Charles Gipe, a carpenter employed in the construction of the Grand opera house, at the corner of Twelfth and Main streets, in Anderson, fell from a scaffold and was instantly killed. He was engaged at the time in placing some timbers on the building along with other workmen, and in some manner lost his balance, and fell from the second story, landing upon the timbers on the first floor, striking his head in such a manner as to cause instant death. He was a resident of Park Place where his remains were taken
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by his fellow workmen. He had but recently come to Ander- son from Wayne county.
A FATAL FALL.
On the 31st of August, 1896, Milton Gipe, a carpenter, while working on a building at the Straw Board works in Anderson, was killed by falling from a scaffold. He was employed in placing some timbers in position, when he lost his balance and fell to the lower story of the building, and was almost instantly killed. But little over a year prior to this, a brother of his, Charles Gipe, lost his life in the same manner, while working on the opera house in Anderson.
Milton Gipe was a man well thought of, and a prominent member of Kamala Tribe of Red Men, he being sachem of the tribe at the time of his death. The lodges of Anderson all participated in the ceremonies at his funeral. The remains were taken to Mechanicsburg. in Henry county, and buried beside his brother, followed by a large funeral cortege.
Mr. Gipe was in the employ of P. B. Millspaugh at the time of his death as was his brother Charles at the time of his sudden taking off. Both men were held in the highest esteem by their employer, and it was a sad blow to Mr. Millspaugh, as well as to the relatives and friends of the unfortunate men.
KILLING OF HERMAN SEITZ.
Herman Seitz, a citizen of Anderson, was killed by the cars at Pendleton, on the 27th of June, 1894, while in the attempt to board a moving train. He had gone there for the purpose of purchasing a cow, and in his anxiety to get home attempted to get on the car that was just leaving the station, and in some way missed his footing and was dragged under the wheels and almost instantly killed.
Mr. Seitz was a married man and left a family in Ander- son, who still reside here. He was by trade a glass blower, and came to Anderson with the American Glass Company in 1888, and was a stockholder in that concern when it went to the wall, losing what he had invested in it. After going out of the glass house he went into the saloon business, in which he was engaged at the time of his death. He was a German, and well liked by those who knew him.
KILLED BY A TRACTION ENGINE.
David Wynant, a young farmer, was killed on the farm of his father, six miles south-west of Anderson, on the 5th of
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August, 1896, by a traction engine. Ile, in company with Clay Brown and a man of the name of Sissons, were engaged in running a threshing machine into the barn, and had placed the engine behind it to propel it, having a pole between the machine and the engine. The engine had started and was well up to the barn door, when the pole slipped and allowed the machine to run backward, catching Wynant between the engine and machine, crushing his skull and killing him almost instantly. Ile was a young man well respected, and had many prominent relatives, among whom is Charles II. Neff, the city editor of the Anderson Herald.
Sissons came near losing his life in the same manner, but was dragged out of the way by a by-stander.
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