News items extracted from the Henry County News as printed in "History of Henry County: Also Biographical Sketches" copyright 1901. Book notes that several volumes of files were destroyed by fire, which could explain the time gaps throughout the year. 1874 January 16: Henry County News issued by Belvel and Fisher. Firm members: Henry M. Belvel, of Corydon, Iowa, and Hendrick V. Fisher, of Geneseo, Illinois. February 13: Henry L. Kiner buys interest of Hendrick V. Fisher in Henry County News. March 6: N. H. Anderson killed by train at Bureau Junction, Illinois. April 21: Lewis Deem died at Cleveland, Illinois. Member 112th Regiment. May 2: Stephen Pomeroy died, Geneseo, aged 89. May 15: News takes a stand for Hennepin Canal. May 22: Warner and Beers issue first county atlas. May 22: Independent farmers' party started May 29: Kendall warehouse burned in Geneseo. May 29: Martin Rice dies of injuries received in fight with Bryant on Rock River ferryboat. June 5: John Christian buys Bevel's interest in News. June 6: Tampico wrecked by hurricane. June 16: Oliver C. Waite died. June 16: Charles Bowfinger died July 10: Tom Collins, predecessor of McGinty, arrives. He is blamed for disasters. July 31: "Maple City" first applied to Geneseo by News. August 22: Mrs. Whitfield Sanford dead November 13: Sidney Sowers sells farm in Munson at fifty dollars per acre. November 27: P.H. Taylor sells one hundred and sixty acres four miles south of Geneseo for fifty dollars per acre. December 18: Major Allan attends Transportation Convention, Richmond, Virginia, as delegate appointed by governor of Illinois. He reconciles south to Hennepin canal. December 15: Hennepin canal meeting in Rock Island. December 15: Henry county sends cars of clothing to Kansas and Nebraska destitute. Grasshoppers. December 15: Golden eagle killed in Eight Mile Grove. 1875 January 22, 1875: Wm. Merriman sees buck deer, two miles north of Geneseo. Probably from Kempster herd, Dutch Bottom. January 29: Charles L. Ballou, young Prophetstown poet, suicides. February 19: News suggests oldfashioned spelling school. One is held at Geneseo and thence spread all over country. February 19: Man jumps fro Rock Island flyer at midnight near Rock River bridge. Bright moon and fresh snow. All get out and search; but no trace of man found. March 5: Prayer meeting in Woodhull saloon March 5: Township insurance companies organized. March 5: Cambridge moves. Ten new business buildings in process of erection on Prospect street. March 5: Mrs. Major Gould of Cambridge makes her home a depot for supplies intended for grashoppered Kansas and Nebraska. Mrs. Gould's activity amazes the county, which generously responds. March 5: Christian-Spiritualist debate at Cambridge March 19: While crew of freight ate dinner at Geneseo, caboose burned. Only trucks left. March 19: Big liquor suits at Atkinson. March 26: Annie Lee, of Geneseo, aged thirteen years, burned to death. March 26: Revival of Free Methodists in Atkinson continues three months. April 2: Ella Porter of Atkinson, proclaimed champion speller of Henry county. April 9: Daughter aged twelve of I. Callender of Cornwall, accidentally shot dead by little brother April 23: Blackiston adds room to his Geneseo block. April 23: W.R. Robertson, nomad dye worker, suicides. May 7: Charles Youngs catches twenty-five-pound pickerel in Green River, with hook and line. This record still stands. May 7: Amos Spaid crushed to death beneath load of lumber, north of Geneseo. May 7: At spelling school Wm. T. Allan contests way word is spelled in standard speller. Dictionary proves Allan right. May 21: Ancient sepulchre opened by Fred Luckett in Shabbona Grove. May 21: Henry and Rock Island counties hold spelling contest. Won for Henry by Mrs. Fanny Perry Wolcott and Mrs. Patterson Holmes. May 21: Drunken man at Howe's circus put hand in elephant's mouth. Lost part of hand. June 4: David Hadley of Osco takes belladonna by mistake. Recovers. Minerva Scott of Edford took an ounce of laudanum. Saved by Dr. Clerk. Orion horse doctor drank mule medicine. Pumped out. June 11: War breask out between Geneseo homeopaths. Dr. Fulton accuses Dr. Hoppins and wife of fraud. Rev. Langridge of Baptist church defends the Hoppins. June 11: Mowry and Hawkins advertise a grand reaper delivery day. Red Letter Day in Geneseo. June 11: Squire Wm. Smith returns from tour of California. Shocked because California did not respect sanctity of Sabbath. Climate humbug. June 16: Edward Morris, stockman, Greenfield, Iowa, killed at stockyards. Wife Miranda Nash, daughter former Geneseo Episcopal rector. June 18: Paddelford barns in Hanna struck by lightning and burned with all contents. October 16: Cutting every other tree in park arouses indignation. October 23: Death of Louis Logeman, Geneseo resident. October 23: Petrified log found forty feet down in Weimer coal mine, Phenix. October 23: Death of Postmaster S. Lloyd Atkinson October 30: Committee decides to make old Almshouse at county farm rendevous for insane. October 30: Towsley erects grain elevator, Cambridge. November 6: Mrs Francis, Andover, sells three hundred dollars worth of apples from her orchard to Crain, of Osco. November 6: Colonel A. W. Perry bets boots, loses, delivers boots, and goes home in stocking feet. Incident is illustrative of the indomitable will and honesty of the pioneer. November 6: Mirage of Mississippi River seen from Geneseo. Opposite shores seen down railroad track. November 6: Seeley house closes at Prophetstown November 18: Wedding of Adam Lieberknecht to Miss Priscilla Fehlman. November 27: Recent failure of City Bank, Geneseo, followed crash of Cook County National Bank, in which Geneseo bank had surplus funds December 4: Burning of Lawbaugh warehouse. December 11: Lecturer's sensational address on "Old Maids" calls forth News comment "As long as they remain harmless, let them live." December 11: Death of Charles H. Clerk December 18: Application made for charter of Farmer's National Bank December 22: Plowing on farms all over county. December 22: Cracker factory started in Pope building, North Side, Geneseo, by Geo. Singlman and Company. Ran less than year. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. 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