OHIO GENEALOGY EXPRESS


A Part of Genealogy Express
 

Welcome to
Preble County, Ohio
History & Genealogy

Newspaper Excerpts
For more go HERE and HERE

Source:  Daily Ohio Statesman - Ohio
Dated: Oct. 3, 1837
     Departed this life on Wednesday evening the 27th of this inst., Mr. JOHN G. JAMESON, of New Paris, Preble County, Ohio, in the 43d year of his age. ~ Eaton Register.
    
Messrs. Jameson and M'Nutt, one on the 26th, and the other on the 27th ult.  They were both members of the last House of Representatives, from Preble Co. ~ Ed. Statesman
Source:  Daily Ohio - Ohio
Dated: Oct. 29, 1851
     Among the gratifying results in Ohio, we have recorded none with more pleasure than the election of our old friend, Abner Haines, formerly of Wayne Co., Indiana, but now a citizen of Eaton, Preble county, Ohio, as District Judge, from the district composed of the counties of Butler, Preble, and Darke.  We are gratified at the success of our old friend, and we are particularly gratified at the defeat of that political apostate, Elijah Vance, who, says the Cincinnati Enquirer, "began his apostacy from principles while in the Constitutional Convention, and closed it in the late campaign by bolting entirely from his party and joining the whigs of Butler, Darke and Preble, to obtain the Judgeship for that Judicial District.  He is defeated in all the three counties; in his own by 553; in Darke by 260; in Preble by 143, making the majority for Mr. Haines, his Democratic competitor, 956.  This is a wise disposal of a dishonest and unprincipled trickster.  Thus perish all traitors!"  Indiana State Sentinel
Source:  Times Picayune - Louisiana
Dated: November 19, 1851
Hon. James Gardner, one of the associate judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Preble county, Ohio, died on the 1st inst.
Source:  Flake's Bulletin - Texas
Dated: May 8, 1867
Heavy Forgeries in Preble County, Ohio.
       From the Dayton Journal, April 20.
     A chronic case of dishonesty and crime ws, we are credibly informed, recently brought to light in Preble county.  William Gifford was a well-to-do farmer, residing on a large and valuable farm near Euphemia.  Besides the regular business of farming, Gifford had been for several years engaged in buying and selling stock, etc., and he had on several occasions borrowed money in considerable quantities from wealthy farmers in the vicinity of West Alexandria, in most cases giving his note, with a brother-in-law named Jacob Fudge, for security.
     A week or two ago, we are informed, Gifford met another brother-in-law named Fudge in West Alexandria, and asked him to go on a small note for him.  Fudge refused, and made some remarks disparaging to his credit, and Gifford left the room greatly offended.  A farmer who was present remarked, after Gifford withdrew, "Why, you dont seem to have as much faith in G. as your brother Jacob, who goes on his paper to any amount desired."  Fudge replied that none of the family had much confidence in Gifford, and he would warrant that Jacob Fudge was not on his paper for $5.  This alarmed the farmer, and he showed Gifford's note to Jacob Fudge, who pronounced the name forged to the document.  This expose brought matters to a crisis.
     In the meantime Gifford ascertained what was going on, and he made over his farm, stock, etc., to his brother-in-law, Jacob Fudge, and gathering up some ready means, he fled - it is not generally known where - leaving his family to be provided for by his relatives.  Besides the farm, there was a large amount of stock on hand - enough.  Gifford assured Fudge, to make him safe on the notes to which his name had been signed.  The matter got noised abroad, and then Gifford's paper began to come in.  The stock was soon swallowed up in liquidation; yet the notes kept coming in for redemption, until the brother-in-law, seeing no possible end to it, shut down on the transaction until he can make himself sure on the farm, which is by no means a sure thing, for about $6,000 of notes have been redeemed, and it is estimated that about $3,000 are yet outstanding.
     The forgeries of Gifford over there have been going on, it is affirmed, some five years.  The notes were not given in his own neighborhood, and as they were regularly renewed and interest punctually paid, the fraud was not discovered until the accidental conversation about surety in West Alexandria, the other week, brought it to light.
    The conduct of Gifford is most inexplicable.  As his farm was unincumbered, and he had not lost in his speculations in stock, it is a mystery what he did with the money he raised on the forged notes.  The mystery will probably be developed in the course of time.  The affair has created a great deal of excitement and has greatly shaken the confidence of the people in private negotiations.

Source:  Cincinnati Daily Gazette
Dated: November 20, 1867
From Preble County.  The Preble County "Varmint" - A Disgusting Rape Case.
Special Correspondence of the Cincinnati Gazette.
         WEST SONORA, O., November 17.
    
Cities are the hot-beds of skepticism.  Simple faith in God and humanity flourishes as naturally in the rural districts as vines grow toward the sun.  It is not a difference of actual goodness nor yet intelligence, but the result of local influences, over which men, as individuals, have but little, if any, control.  In the city, the duplicity of human life is constantly set before you in all its phases.  In the country, the frankness of nature meets you on every hand.  As iron sharpeneth iron, so men become incredulous and cunning by frequent contact with each other; and, as the warmth of one sun gives life to all vegetation, so does the spirit that pervades diversified nature impel all hearts to faith in the Creator and confidence in His creature, man.  Let him who doubts this spend a week in the crowded metropolis and then slip out, Saturday night, to some quiet country home, or meek little village with its one or two white frame churches, to enjoy the Sabbath.  When he opens his eyes next morning the change is so marvelous that he can almost imagine himself in a spirit land, where the "busses" cease from rumbling and the weary are at rest.  The sun shines down through an atmosphere innocent of stone coal smoke, and the autumn winds do not moan through damp and covenous alleys, but, fur the child of nature, sing lullabys among the half clad branches of the trees.  An hour more, and the little church bell rings in the time of Sabbath school or meeting, and young and old turn out to honor as well as enjoy the happiest day of all the seven.  When the preacher tells them that the righteous  shall never be forsaken and their seed shall never beg bread, each one feels that he or she wears an amulet against which sickness and famine shall not prevail.  No subtle philosophy is needed here to interpret prophesy.  When the good man tells them that the righteous shall be clothed with wings as the angels in heaven, and that the wicked shall forever be tormented in a lake that burns with fire and brimstone, they accept the statement as a simple fact, and never dream of troubling their heads with such questions as whether angels' wings are callow or feathery, and where all the brimstone will come from which is to be used in smoking the wicked forever.
     But I am rambling from the real purpose of this letter.  What I started out to do was to give you the news from Preble county, on the border of which this little village is hanging.  Sonora is the half-way place on the Dayton & Western Railroad, between Dayton and Richmond.  Its trade is considerable for the size of the town, but is principally carried on by the two houses of Wm. Leas and John D. Niswonger & Son.  It has a telegraph office, two churches, a pocket saw mill and a bishop.  Its fine and commodious school house is yet in the breeches of a few thoughtful gentlemen whose lands do not lie adjoining the town.
     This town being about six or eight miles from the headquarters of the notorious Preble county "Varmint," I am enabled to give some additional facts concerning that wonderful beast.  That its size and color are variable is now a well established fact.  According to the evidence, its maximum size is that of a large panther, and its minimum that of a small wild cat.  Some believe it to be a panther, others a lynx, while not a few pronounce it the original whang-doodle which came down from the mountains of Hepaidam.  It feasts on mutton chops and stuffed veal.  One man testifies that it made a breakfast, not long sine, on a yearling heifer, after which it stuck its nose in the ground and howled for more.  It followed some children home from school, and after they had got there it reared up on its hind legs and looked in at them through a second story window.  As two young gentlemen were escorting their ladies home from singing school the varmint got after them and they became utterly demoralized, left their girls and ran for dear life.  The animal not feeling disposed to make a lunch on cold calico, allowed the young ladies to proceed unharmed.  It met another young man going out "sparking", and turned him back on the double-quick; and he has not gone to see his Betsey Jane since.  One Sunday it made its appearance, at maximum size, to a youth who was going over to a neighbor's to trade horses.  Reports say he is now under deep conviction, and will never break the Sabbath again.
     I have heard numerous other statements with regard to the nature and performances of this beast, but the above are the only ones which I regard as perfectly reliable.
     The most disgusting rape case that has ever disgraced the records of this county is at present being tried in the Common Pleas Court at Eaton.  The plaintiff is the daughter of a respectable miller, and the defendant is a farmer forty-five years of age, a man who has hitherto born an excellent character and has held several responsible offices in the county.  He is the father of six or seven children (the eldest being now grown), and has his second wife.  The case came up a year ago, but the jury hung, eight being for acquittal and four for conviction.  The defendant has already succeeded in establishing the fact that the girl's virtue was not very strongly fortified, and has, by testimony, so far removed the probability of rape that he will, no doubt, be acquitted.  It is a sad comment on manly virtue, however, when such acquittals must be secured by the confessions of a score or more of honorable (?) men (nearly all married) to a crime only less than the one with which the defendant in this case is charged.                        D. S.

Source: Cincinnati Daily Gazette - Ohio
Dated: April 6, 1869
Mrs. Alcy Ann Cox died in Eaton, Preble county, March 26th, aged 75 years.  She was born at Barren county, Ky., in 1793, and removed with her father, Nathan Sellers to Preble county in 1807.  In 1811 she married James Cox who died some ten years ago.
Source: Cincinnati Daily Gazette - Ohio
Dated: Aug. 13, 1870
Death of an Old Pioneer.
Died in Eaton, Preble county, Ohio, Mr. Cornelius Vanausdal, aged 84 years.  He was born in Berkley county, Va., and emigrated to Preble county in 1805.  In 1808 he commenced the mercantile business, which he successfully conducted until within a few years of his death.  His first trading was with the Indiana and a few whites who inhabited that country.  From 1825 to 1828 he, in connection with L. M. Gray, Esq., had a store in this city.  At that time there were very few banks in the country, and nearly all of the floating money about this vicinity was deposited in their hands for safe keeping.  At that time he purchased a building near the landing, and paid $3,000 cash, and the people were greatly astonished to think a man could spare that amount of money from his business.  There was then no wholesale dry goods store in Cincinnati, and he was advised by some of his friends to go into the business, as he was advised by some of his friends to go into the business, as he had almost unlimited credit at the East, but being rather timid about it he neglected the opportunity, and others stepped in, who made fortunes in the wholesale business.
     Mr. Vanausdal commenced the publication of the first newspaper in Eaton; was appointed by General Cass Deputy United States Marshal, and took the first census of Preble county.  In the war of 1812 he was actively engaged, and furnished supplies and paid the troops in the vicinity of that county.  He served as a member of the Legislature in the sessions of 1819 and 1820.
     Mr. Vanausdal had a very strong constitution, and retained his senses to the last.  He was riding out the day before his death, but was stricken with paralysis the morning that he died.  He was possessed of great kindness of heart, and died beloved by all who were acquainted with him.
Source: Fort Wayne News Sentinel - Indiana
Dated: June 2, 1919
Death of Jacob Paulus.
(Special to the News)
COLUMBIA CITY, Ind. John 2 - Jacob Paulus, 80 years old former commissioner of Whitley county, died Saturday evening at 8 o'clock at the home of his daughter, Miss Allie Kimble, in South Bend.  The deceased had gone to South Bend about four months ago and was taken ill while there.  He was born in Preble county, Ohio.  His wife died twenty years ago.  The following children survive:  Mrs. John Wallace, Lakeville, Mrs. Allie Kimble, South Bend, Joseph Paulus, Thorncreek township; Mrs. Clara Dancer, South Bend, Grover Paulus, Logansport, and Ira Paulus.  A sister, Mrs. Sara Fogle of Seattle, Wash., also survives.  The body will arrive here this evening and funeral services will be held at 2 o'clock Tuesday afternoon at the Egolf cemetery.
Dated: 1965
Deborah Kay Abbott, six-week-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lester Abbott, 4531 West Pine Blvd., St. Louis Mo., died there Wednesday.
Survivors include the parents, a brother, at home; paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Abbott of Hagerstown, maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Coy Brown of New Paris, Ohio.
Services for infant Abbott were held at 1:30 p.m. Friday at the Kessler Funeral Home.  Burial was in Spring Lawn Cemetery.
(contrib. by Sharon Wick)
Dated: 1965
Infant Rachel Jane Adams
Rachel Jane Adams, infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Adams, 270 West Mill street, Eldorado was dead at birth Tuesday night.
Surviving are the parents; two sisters, five brothers, and the grandparents, Mrs. Robert Adams of Kirklia, Ind., and Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Soper of Richmond.
Graveside services for infant Rachael Jane Adams were held Thursday at 2 p.m. at Goshen cemetery, with Rev. Howard Wallen of Brookvile, Ohio, officiating.  Arrangements were handled by the Jones and Placke funeral home in Richmond.

 


 

CLICK HERE to Return to
PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO
INDEX PAGE

CLICK HERE to Return to
OHIO GENEALOGY EXPRESS
INDEX PAGE

FREE GENEALOGY RESEARCH is My MISSION
GENEALOGY EXPRESS
This Webpage has been created by Sharon Wick exclusively for Genealogy Express  ©2008
Submitters retain all copyrights