USA > New York > Cortland County > Pioneer history; or, Cortland County and the border wars of New York, from the earliest period to the present time > Part 18
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277
GENERAL REMARKS.
markets large quantities of butter and cheese-of the former, upwards of $400,000 worth. There were shipped from the three stations-Homer, Cortland and Mara- thon-during the past year, 1,500,000 pounds of butter. There is still another item of increasing magnitude. We refer to the sale of cattle. There cannot be less than $220,000 worth of cattle driven out of the county annually. Our grain fields, though not in all re- spects equal to Tompkins, Yates, Ontario and Monroe, yet are generally very productive, while the grass lands are matters of astonishment to every one. We frequently cut from two to three tons of hay per acre. We refer now more particularly to the back and hill lands, which in times past have been regarded, by cer- tain descriptive geographers of our State, as being only suited to the growth of "wild Yankees and tall hem- locks."
But "we were not aware until recently that the waters of the Tioughnioga had ever been the highway of so much commerce as to render it a part of the journalist's duty to publish a " marine report." We knew that great quantities of whiskey, grain, potatoes and other pro- ducts of this wild region, were "sent down the river" to Harrisburgh and Baltimore ; but we did not suppose the commerce was of so much importance as the follow- ing would indicate. We copy literally :*
INLAND NAVIGATION. PORT WATSON. Highwater-Monday, 6th inst. CLEARED.
Bark Exporter, G. Rice, master, for Harrisburgh, laden with cheese and gypsum.
" See " Cortland Democrat," of August 2, 1855.
278
GENERAL REMARKS.
Bark Crazy Jane, L. Rice, gypsum, for Harrisburgh.
Dutch Trader, Shapley, gypsum,
" Navigator, Parsons, gypsum, Columbia.
" Brother Jonathan, Taylor, gypsum, Columbia.
" Gold Hunter, Sherwood, 66 66
" Indian Chief, Billings, 66
Resolution, May, gypsum, Marietta.
Perseverance, Wakefield, gypsum, Marietta.
66 Phoenix,
66 Enterprise,
66 Lazy Tom,
" Sour Krout,
" Yankee Rogue, .
We doubt not the memory of our venerable friend, Major SHAPLEY, whose recollection is not altogether dimmed by age, of " hair-breadth 'scapes" from ship- wreck, of the dangers of " taking in" too much freight- of passages over dams, and other adventures incident to the life of the Susquehanna raftsmen-will be greatly refreshed by the foregoing list. But the glory of the Tioughnioga has departed-the " ship yard" of Port Watson has gone to decay-the earth whereon those jolly barks were built, is now made to yield to the labors of the gardener and husbandman-the contest between nature and art has resulted adversely to the former, and the raftsman's song has given place to the shrill.scream of the steam whistle, and the products of our county are whirled to other markets, at a speed somewhat greater than two or three miles per hour. Many an "old craft" has smoked his last pipe and uttered his last oath; and those who are left behind cling closer to the chimney corner as the frosts of age gather around them, while they recount to incredulous
279
GENERAL REMARKS.
youth the deeds which wrought the hut into the man- sion-the forest into the hamlet-and extended to their descendants the benefits of schools, religion, and the comforts and refinements which prosperity and wealth produce.
The few remaining relics of the "olden time" are now trembling on the verge of an hundred years, and treading, as it were, the confines of another world. As they look back upon the mighty changes which time and industry have wrought, they seem overwhelmed and bewildered. But, after resting a moment to collect their scattered thoughts, they enter into a warm and interesting disquisition on the moral and industrial hab- its of the present generation, as compared with the more active and laborious life of their fathers. They feel conscious that a very great change has taken place in the moral and social habits of the people, and that although the age in which we live is marked by the hand of progress, and an enlightened civilization, they do not perceive the same union of sentiment pervading the various associations, or cementing the more endear- ing ties of fraternal friendship. When they first landed from their canoes upon the banks of the Tioughnioga, they regarded themselves as being beyond the bounda- ries of civilization, and as having cast their destiny in the far distant West. They can hardly comprehend the means by which new territories are settled and ad- mitted into the union of confederated States, with an energetic population of two years' growth, christened with the name of "State."
The inhabitants of this county are, in many respects, quite dissimilar to those of some of the sister counties
280
GENERAL REMARKS.
of the State, being principally made up of Connecticut and Massachusetts people, or their descendants, though there is an occasional sprinkling of the Dutch ; yet the peculiar characteristics of the universal Yankee are predominant. The agriculturists are proverbial for their frugality and propensity to hoard money, yet with extremely few exceptions, are affable, courteous, and dignified in their deportment.
Our merchants, too, as a class, are a very worthy por- tion of community-intelligent, high-minded and honor- able, and such as would be creditable to any country. Many of them are in the enjoyment of considerable wealth, honorably acquired.
And last though not least, the clergy deserve a pass- ing notice :- distinguished alike for liberality of senti- ment, generosity of purpose, and commanding powers of mind. The religious sentiments, greatly liberalized by the descendants of the pilgrims, and cultivated by the early pioneers of Cortland, are properly appreciated by the enlightened clergymen who conduct public re- ligious worship in our various temples of christianity.
Of the legal fraternity we have remarked in another place.
The first military organization, embracing portions of the territory of this county, dates back to 1796. In March, 1794, after the erection of Onondaga county from Herkimer, various appointments were made for the new county ; and especially for the battalions, of Majors John L. Hardenburgh, Moses De Witt and Asa Dan- forth. The latter battalion, in 1796, was made a regi- ment, and comprised the townships of Hannibal, Lysan- der, Cicero, Manlius, Pompey, Fabius, Solon, Cincinna-
281
GENERAL REMARKS.
tus, Tully, Virgil, Camillus, Sempronius, Locke, Dryden, and the " Onondaga Reservation." Asa Danforth was made Lieutenant Colonel Commandant.
The act of April 8, 1808, authorizing the erection of Cortland county, provided for the holding of three courts of Common Pleas and General Sessions of the Peace, which were to be held on the second Tuesday of April, and the first Tuesdays of September and Decem- ber, in every year after the due organization of the county. These Courts were to have the same jurisdic- tion, powers, and authorities as the Courts of Common Pleas and General Sessions of the Peace in the other counties of the State have in their respective counties. Suits previously commenced, however, were not to be affected so as to work a wrong or prejudice to any of the parties ; nor were any criminal or other proceed- ings on the part of the State to be in the least affected ; but on the contrary, all such civil and criminal proceed- ings were to be prosecuted to trial, judgment, and exe- cution. The act also provided that the Courts "should be held at the school-house on lot No. 45, in the town of Homer." John Keep received the appointment of first Judge, April 3d, 1810.
Cortland county was made to form a part of the Western Senatorial District, and part of the Thirteenth Congressional District, and was entitled to one member of Assembly, and so continued to be up to 1823, when Daniel Sherwood and John Gillett were elected. By a change of Representation, in 1846, Cortland was re- duced to one member, and in 1847 Timothy Green was elected to a seat in the Assembly. Ephraim Fish, the
13*
282
GENERAL REMARKS.
first member, was elected in 1810, and took his seat at the opening of the 33d Session.
The first court-house was erected on a commanding eminence west of Cortland Village. Various sites were examined by the locating commissioners, there being numerous interests operating upon the minds of the people in the different localities. Homer, Cortland, Port Watson and M'Grawville, were equally interested in securing the location of the public buildings, and the good citizens were, apparently, equally certain of suc- cess. The commissioners, however, after examining the different locations, and listening to the fervent and eloquent appeals of interested individuals, finally stuck the stake at the south-west corner of where the venerable old relic of a passing age now stands, "soli- tary and alone," a monument of other days and of the yet remembered differences of an excited people. The decision, as was naturally expected, did not meet with the general approbation of the community. A ludicrous representation of the commanding structure, and of some of the opposing interests, was prepared by a wag, which was rendered, from existing circumstances, somewhat amusing. The "was to be" elegant and dignified edifice appeared quite accurately drawn on old-fashioned foolscap, rearing aloft its bold outlines of pine and hemlock, and looking down with defiant scorn on the outraged citizens of Homer and Port Watson. Two lines of heavy cordage were attached to it ; one leading to Homer, the other to Port Watson; and to each of these ropes were clinched the firm hands, as with a tiger's grasp, of several of the prominent and
283
GENERAL REMARKS.
most influential leaders of the aggrieved parties. There they stood, pulling as if for life, resolved upon at least bringing the stupendous fabric to their notions of right, inasmuch as they had failed in securing the good will and approbating judgment of the self-willed commis- sioners. If they could not bring them to correct judg- ment, they could, at least, pull the magnificent structure down. But look again. On the other side of the legal pile, stands William Mallory, grasping a still heavier piece of cordage, determined on contesting the skill and strength of the opposing forces. There he stands, a proud representative of the immortal Wallace, of enormous form and determined will. His heels are im- bedded in the earth, as he braces himself to the work of preservation.
But the scene was suddenly changed on turning the paper over, though the ludicrous picture was measura- bly the same. There it stood, an unyielding mass of timber,-of tenons and mortises. There stood the vener- able Mallory, holding on to his undissevered rope, while a smile, peculiar to him alone, played over his flushed countenance. But where were his hitherto un- yielding opponents ? Their cords had parted, and forced them into the unpleasant attitude of turning double semi-circles down the declivated pathway.
The venerable pile that in former days
" O'erlooked the town and drew the sight,"
long since failed to attract attention or gratify the pride of an enlightened and prosperous people. And in order to properly secure the ends of justice, the old structure was condemned and pronounced " unsafe,"
284
GENERAL REMARKS.
and measures were taken, which in due time resulted in the erection of the present court-house, which was completed in 1836.
The clerk's office was erected in 1819. The first county clerk was John Ballard, who was appointed April 8, 1808.
The county house, with one hundred and eighty-eight acres of land, was purchased in 1836, for $5,000. The house was originally erected by John Keep, at a very early day. It has been enlarged and variously im- proved at different periods.
At the time of our visit to the county-house, there were in all fifty-one paupers. The average number for several years past, as shown by the keeper's book, is a fraction over fifty-eight.
The ages of those bending under the weight of years, were variously classed as follows : two, fifty-five-one, sixty-six-two, sixty-nine-two, seventy-nine-three, eighty-five-four, eighty-nine-and one, ninety-two years.
Randall Bank, organized. December 3, 1853. Capital $50,000. William R. Randall, Banker. Jonathan Hub- bard, Cashier.
The Cortland County Medical Society was organized in 1808. The officers and members were as follows :
Lewis S. Owen, Homer, President.
John Miller, Truxton, V. President.
Jesse Searl, Homer, Secretary.
Robert D. Taggart, Preble, Treasurer.
Luther Rice, Homer.
Allen Barney, Homer.
Ezra Pannell, Truxton.
Elijah G. Wheeler.
285
GENERAL REMARKS.
Dr. John Miller, of Truxton, is the only living member of its original organization. The Association, with oc- casional amendments of by-laws, has been continued to the present day.
The Cortland County Agricultural Society was organ- ized October 1, 1838. William Berry, President ; Jesse Ives and C. Comstock, Vice Presidents ; C. P. Jacobs, Recording Secretary ; H. S. Randall, Corresponding Secretary ; Rufus Boies, Treasurer ; Paris Barber, C. McKnight, Israel Boies, Morris Miller, and C. H. Harris, Executive Committee.
The Union Agricultural Society of Truxton, Willet, Marathon, and Lapeer, was organized in the winter of 1856.
The post-offices organized at various periods, are as follows :
Blodget Mills,
Willet,
Cincinnatus,
Cortland Village,
Cuyler,
East Freetown,
East Homer,
East Scott,
East Virgil,
Freetown Corners,
Galatia Valley,
Harford,
Homer,
Kinney's Settlement,
Lapeer,
Little York,
M'Grawville,
Marathon,
Messengerville, Scott,
Preble,
Solon,
South Cortland,
Taylor,
Texas Valley,
Truxton,
Union Valley,
Virgil.
286
GENERAL REMARKS.
COUNTY JUDGES.
John Keep, appointed April 3, 1810. Fed.
William Mallory, Jan. 31, 1823. Buch.
Joseph Reynolds,
March 9, 1833. Jack.
Henry Stephens, May 17, 1838. Dem.
Daniel Hawkes, elected June, 1847. Whig.
Lewis Kingsley,
Nov. 7, 1851. Whig.
R. Holland Duell,
Nov. 6, 1855. Rep.
COUNTY CLERKS.
John Ballard, appointed April 8, 1808. Dem.
Reuben Washburn, 6 66 3, 1810. Fed.
John Ballard,
March 4, 1811. Dem.
Mead Merrill, 66
April 2, 1813. Fed.
William Mallery, 66
March 2, 1815. Dem.
Joshua Ballard,
July 7, 1819. Clin.
Matthias Cook,
Feb. 14, 1821. Clin.
Sam'l Hotchkiss, jr., elected
1822.
B.
Orin Stimson,
1834.
Whig
Gideon C. Babcock, "
1840.
Whig.
Sam'l Hotchkiss, jr., "
1843.
Dem.
Rufus A. Reed,
1849.
Whig.
Rufus A. Reed,
66
1852.
Whig.
Rufus A. Reed,
1855. Rep.
Allis W. Ogden,
66
1858.
Rep.
DISTRICT ATTORNEYS.
Augustus A. Donnelly,
1819.
Clin.
Edward C. Reed,
1827.
Dem.
William H. Shankland,
1836.
Jack.
Horatio Ballard,
1844.
Dem.
Augustus S. Ballard,
1847.
Whig.
287
GENERAL REMARKS.
R. Holland Duell,
1850. Whig.
Edward C. Reed, appointed
1856. Dem.
· Abram P. Smith, elected
1856.
Rep.
COUNTY TREASURERS.
Justin M. Pierce,
Nov.
1848.
Whig.
Edwin F. Gould,
1851.
Whig.
Isaac M. Seaman,
66
1854.
Whig.
Horace L. Green,
1857.
Rep.
SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS.
Noah C. Dady, appointed June
10, 1856.
Amer.
Dan C. Squires, 66 June 10, 1856.
Dem.
Noah C. Dady, elected
1857. Amer.
Daniel E. Whitmore,
1857.
Rep.
SHERIFFS.
Asahel Minor,
April
8, 1808. Dem.
Wm. Mallery, appointed June
9,1808.
Dem.
Joshua Ballard,
April 3, 1810. Dem.
Billy Trowbridge,
Mar. 25, 1814.
Dem.
William Stewart,
2, 1815.
Dem.
Noah R. Smith,
Feb.
13, 1819.
Clin.
Moses Hopkins,
12, 1821. Buck.
Moses Hopkins, elected
1822.
Buck.
David Coye,
66
1825.
Buck.
Adin Webb,
1828.
Antima.
William Andrews,
1831.
Union.
Gilmore Kinney,
66
1834.
Whig.
E. W. Edgcomb,
1837.
Whig.
Alanson Carley,
1840.
Whig.
Christian Etz,
1843.
Dem.
George Ross,
1846. Dem.
288
GENERAL REMARKS.
J. C. Pomeroy, elected
1849.
Whig.
Frederick Ives,
1852. Whig.
John S. Samson,
1855. Rep.
Silas Baldwin,
1858.
Rep.
SURROGATES.
John McWhorter, app'd April
8, 1808. Dem.
Mead Merrill,
3, 1810.
Fed.
Luther F. Stevens,
March
4, 1811. Dem.
Adin Webb,
9, 1816.
Fed.
Jabez B. Phelps, 66
27, 1823.
B.
Charles W. Lynde,
66 April
15, 1828.
Dem.
Townsend Ross,
66
March
9, 1832.
Jack.
Anthony Freer,
May
4, 1836.
J.
Adin Webb,
66
4, 1840.
Whig.
Anthony Freer,
66
66
4, 1844.
Dem.
MEMBERS OF ASSEMBLY.
Ephraim Fish,
elected
1810. Dem.
Billy Trowbridge,
1811.
Dem.
1812. Dem.
1813. Dem.
William Mallery,
1814.
Dem.
S. G. Hatheway,
66
1815.
Dem.
Joseph Reynolds,
66
1816.
Dem.
John Miller,
66
1817. Dem.
S. G. Hatheway,
66
1818. Dem.
Joseph Reynolds,
1819 .. Dem.
John Miller,
1820. C.
John Osborn,
66
1821.
B.
Since the adoption of the Constitution of 1846, this office has been merged in that of the County Judge.
289
GENERAL REMARKS.
Daniel Sherwood, elected
1822. B.
66 66
1823.
B.
John Gillett,
1823. B.
Matthias Cook,
1824.
C.
William Barto, jr.,
1824.
C.
Josiah Hart, 66
1825. B.
J. Chatterton,
1825.
C.
John Lynde,
1826.
B.
Augustus A.Donnelly,"
1826.
C.
Nathan Dayton, 66
1827. B.
Cephas Comstock, 66
1827.
C.
Nathạn Dayton,
1828. D.
John L. Boyd,
1828. D.
Gideon Curtis,
66
1829.
Antima.
Alanson Carley,
A.
Henry Stephens,
1830. W.
Chauncey Keep, 66
W.
Fredus Howard,
1831.
Jack. J.
Andrew Dickson, 60
1832. J.
J. L. Woods, 66
J.
David Mathews,
1833.
W.
Enos S. Halbert, 66
W.
Oliver Kingman, 66
1834.
J.
S. Bogardus,
J.
: Barak Niles,
1835. W.
Aaron Brown,
W.
Chauncey Keep, Cephas Comstock,
66
W.
Josiah Hine, 66
1837. W.
John Thomas,
66
W.
John Osgood, 66
1838. W.
Charles Richardson,
-
1836. W.
290
GENERAL REMARKS.
David Mathews, elected
1838. W.
G. S. Green,
66
1839.
W.
George Issacs,
W.
Jabez B. Phelps, 66
1840.
W.
William Barnes, 66
W.
Nathan Heaton,
1841.
W.
Lovel G. Mickels, 66
W.
Oren Stimson,
1842.
W.
Jesse Ives,
66
W.
H. M'Graw,
66
1843. W. D.
George N. Niles,
1844,
D.
Platt F. Grow,
D.
John Pierce 2nd,
1845.
D.
Geo. J. J. Barber,
W.
Amos Graves,
1846.
D.
John Miller,
66
W.
Timothy Green,
66
1847.
W.
James Comstock,
1848.
W.
Ira Skeel,
66
1849.
W.
Lewis Kingsley,
1850. W.
Alvan Kellog,
Geo. W. Bradford,
66
1852.
W.
Ashbel Patterson,
66
1853.
D.
John H. Knapp,
66
1854.
W.
Geo. J. Kingman,
66
1855.
R.
Joseph Atwater,
1856.
R.
Nathan Bouton,
66
1857.
R.
Arthur Holmes,
66
1858.
R.
The interest manifested by numerous prominent po- litical actors, with reference to our full and complete
1851.
W.
J. Kingman, jr.,
291
GENERAL REMARKS.
table of county officers, from its organization in 1808 to the present time, with the names of the various parties to which they were attached, has induced us to add a comprehensive list of State, Congressional, and Sena- torial members which have been chosen from this county.
SECRETARY OF STATE.
Henry S. Randall, Cortland, elected 1851. Dem.
REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS.
Elected.
Session.
John Miller, Truxton,
1824
19.
C.
Edward C. Reed, Homer,
1830
22.
D.
Sam'l G. Hatheway, Solon,
1832
23. J.
Joseph Reynolds, Virgil,
1834
24.
J.
Lewis Riggs, Homer,
1840
27.
D.
Harmon S. Conger, Cortland, 1846
30.
W.
Harmon S. Conger,
1848
31.
W.
R. Holland Duell,
1858
36.
R.
MEMBERS OF THE NEW YORK SENATE.
Elected.
Session.
William Mallery, Cortland,
1818
40. D.
Samuel G. Hatheway, Solon,
1822
46.
B.
Chas. W. Lynde, Homer,
1830
54. W.
Wm. Bartlit, Cortland,
1841
65.
D.
Geo. W. Bradford, Homer,
1853
77. W.
Geo. W. Bradford,
1855
78. W.
In 1855 there were in the county 3,388 farmers and agriculturists, 95 merchants, 56 clergymen, 20 lawyers, 49 doctors, 32 inns, 184 school-houses, 6,426 names of pupils on teachers' lists-average attendance, 4,157.
292
GENERAL REMARKS.
No. of churches, 51-valued at $99,900. Real estate on which they are located, valued $18,100. Salaries of clergymen, $17,164. Argricultural products, 1,212,074 bushels. Value of orchard products, $24,613. Value of market gardens, $508. Gallons wine, 81. Dairy products, 3,087,936 lbs. Tons of hay, 56,769. Clover seed, 866 bushels. Other grass seeds, 1,585 bushels. Hops, 10,327 lbs. Flax seed, 1,978 bushels. Wool, 120,793 lbs. Maple sugar, 521,052 lbs. Maple molasses, 2,769 gallons. Beeswax and honey, 24,360 lbs. Cloth, 21,800 yds. Common school libraries, 184. Number of volumes in Dist. School libraries, 19,669. Aggregate population, 24,957. There were 245 persons who could neither read nor write ; there were 95 who could read, but not write. Number of colored persons, 30. Owners of land, 4,212. The oldest person residing in the county (1855) was Margaret Berry, of Taylor, age 106 years.
In 1840 there were seventy-nine persons entitled to pensions for Revolutionary or military services. Of these, twelve resided in Truxton, fifteen in Cortland, eleven in Homer, eight in Preble, two in Scott, fifteen in Virgil, two in Solon, six in Cincinnatus, two in Mara- thon, three in Freetown, and four in Willet. In 1855 there were none reported.
ASSESSED VALUATION OF REAL ESTATE FOR 1855,
$5,352,153 00
Assessed valuation of personal prop- erty, 530,691 00
Aggregate taxation, 1855, 29,909 49 Military tax, do. 543 00
293
GENERAL REMARKS.
INCORPORATED COMPANIES LIABLE TO TAXATION.
Syracuse, Binghamton and New York Railroad, and Randall Bank.
Assessed valuation of Syracuse, Binghamton and New York Railroad, in the towns through which it passes, is as follows :
Cortland ville,
$30,000
Homer,
30,000
Lapeer,
1,000
Marathon,
18,000
Preble,
30,000
Virgil,
5,000
Assessed valuation of Randall Bank,
50,000
It is a matter of no little astonishment to the enter- prising and progressive tourist, as he visits our county, -with 194,736 acres of improved land, her beautiful farms, green pastures, watered by lovely streams, and her quiet picturesque villages located in her rich val- leys, like gems in a golden casket,-that so little atten- tion should be given to the growing of fruit. In 1855, the Marshals reported the number of bushels of apples grown in Tompkins county at 417,757 ; in Cayuga, 522,751 ; in Chenango, 553,554 ; in Onondaga, 624,545 ; and in Cortland, 351,975. The reader will readily per- ceive that Cortland county falls far behind either of the sister counties above quoted. Our soil and climate is not as well adapted to the growth of the peach and quince ; but we believe that all the prominent fruits may be equally well grown here.
The wealth of our county does not lie in jewelled
294
GENERAL REMARKS.
skulls and golden shrines, but in a commerce which enriches our agricultural producers.
The neglect in the culture of the apple is attributable to several causes, but mainly to the want of good, healthy nurseries. Until within a few years, no perma- nent nursery had been provided from which to secure the various trees for transplanting into orchards. A. second, and most excellent reason is, that the people have been sadly imposed upon by men of little or no experience in the science of grafting. The permanent nursery of Messrs. D. C. Hobart and E. H. Knapp, in the town of Homer, comprising about thirty thousand grafted trees, of the most choice varieties, must event- ually add greatly to the wealth of the county, as well as to the convenience and comfort of those who pur- chase and propagate the more desirable qualities of fruit.
The first and only death-penalty inflicted in Cortland county, occurred September 2d, 1853, upon the person of Patrick O'Donohue, for the murder of Mrs. Jane Ann Kinney, of Truxton, September 3d, 1852. The particu- lars attending the bloody tragedy are briefly as follows: His daughter Elizabeth, a girl of ten years, had been forbidden to visit the house of Mrs. Kinney. But con- trary to the expressed wish of the father, the little girl had disobeyed ; and to escape the vengeance of his fiend-like temper, her two elder sisters secreted her in a ledge of ragged rocks, and then informed their father that she had been stolen away. O'Donohue hastened from his work in the woods, accompanied by his wife and two or three other children, all in a high state of excitement. He was falsely made to believe that the
295
GENERAL REMARKS.
abductor was no other than the husband of Mrs. Kinney, whom he presumed to be his enemy.
Little did the daughters think of the sad and mourn- ful tragedy that was soon to follow their improper de- ception. Little did they presume that their indiscretion was so soon to lead the father to imbue his hands in the heart's blood of an unwarned and unprotected mother and child ; that murder-black-hearted and fiend-like murder-was to be the result of their inconsiderate conduct, and in a few short hours to send the life cur- rent curdling to the heart of a whole community. What a reflection to be forced upon the mind of the erring girls-sad, mournful, and truly tragical !- a lesson to the young written in the warm blood of the innocent ..
A search for the little girl was instituted, between the father and son, the former carrying a loaded gun. The search was not a prolonged one, as it was given up about the middle of the forenoon. At about this time Mrs. Kinney, and her daughter, Amanda Jane, were on their way to the residence of a neighboring family, and of necessity had to pass the house of O'Donohue. Just as they drew near the gate leading to the barn, they were met by the murderer, who angrily asked Mrs. Kinney if she had seen Elizabeth. Receiving a nega- tive answer, he flew into a terrible passion, leveled his gun and fired at Mrs. Kinney; the contents of the deadly weapon, however, merely glazed her side, causing her to reel or stagger. His uncontrolled temper now raged with greater fury in his unrelenting and fiendish breast. Hastily reversing the position of his gun, he struck her several blows with the butt end, the second of which dislocated her neck, causing immediate death. Not yet
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