Hi Everyone, My daughter has been transcribing interesting article from old Madison County newspapers. I am going to post some from time to time to the list. Here is a large article that summarizes events of 1880. Article - The Madison County Democrat, Wednesday, January 5, 1881. 1880. EPITOME OF LAST YEAR'S EVENTS. A Condensed Record of Important Happenings in Madison County and Vicinity. Our readers are presented below with a compilation of the more important occurrences in Madison and adjoining counties during the year 1880, as condensed from the files of the DEMOCRAT during that period. The record is arranged in chronological order, and can not fail to be of general interest: JANUARY. 1. New Year's Day was pleasant and sunshiny. A larger number of calls were made than ever before in London. - 4. Charley Myers fooled with a revolver at Danville, and was shot through the right arm. - 8. Thomas Higgins of Oak Run township, died, aged 65 years. - 6. Sales Day, 733 head of cattle sold. S. H. Cartzdafner's grocery burglarized, but little of value taken. - 7. Dr. A. J. Strain, of London, married to Miss Mate Wilson, of Springfield. Gross receipts of St. Patrick Church Fair, nearly $1,000. - 13. William Curtain, Jr., of Deercreek township, and Miss Flora Armstrong, of London, married and left for their home in Missouri. - 14. Nine days of dreary rain, three of sunshine and one of snow, was the weather record of 1880 thus far. - 16. Dave Cain bound over to Court in the sum of $200 for shooting with intent to kill. - 17. Society to establish public library in London organized. - 18. Rev. Mr. Morrell preached his farewell sermon at Trinity Episcopal Church. - 10. The shock of the explosion of the powder mills near Xenia' was felt at London. - 22. Baty Clark, of Jefferson township, died, aged 48. - 26. Ann, infant daughter of Andrew Campion, of Paint township, fell into a fire place and was burned to death. A meeting was held at the Court House to procure aid for the suffering in Ireland. - 28. London Council, American Legion of Honor, was instituted with 30 charter members. FEBRUARY. 3. Stock Sales Day, 499 head of cattle sold. - 5. Marriage of Ernest W. Lowery, of Larned, Kans., to Miss Maime McCracken, of London. - 6. Alex. Bushdorf dropped dead of heart disease in Jenkins' butcher shop, Main street. - 7. Death of Mrs. Elizabeth McCoy, of London, aged 47. - 9. Officer Chrisman captured two boys escaped from the State Reform Farm. - 13. Clement Shockley broke Moses Thomas' arm with a spade during a quarrel in Stokes township. - 19. Marriage of S. S. Robison and Mrs. Mary A. Clark, of Pleasant township. - 21. Milo McNeal, of Jefferson, aged 27, fell dead while returning from a church lecture. - 28. Death of Eleanor, daughter of Val. Wilson, near Lafayette. MARCH. 2. Stock Sales Day, 480 head of cattle sold. - 4. Public trial of sulky Plowsby Speasmaker, Dungan, and Cowling. - 5. Mrs. James Gamlin's dwelling in Farrar's Addition destroyed by fire. - 15. Dr. B. F. Welsh's house in California burned. - 17. Sensation concerning the much married Clarence E. Davis. - 24. Burdette, the Hawkeye man, lectured in Toland Hall. - 25. Death of Andrew Canton, of London. - 27. Pat. Kennedy, of London, died from lung fever, superinduced by a blow on the head with a whip-stock. APRIL. 4. Death of Miss Alice Cooper, of London, aged about 17. - 5. Spring election. Following elected municipal officers in London: Mayor, Noah Thomas; Treasurer, W. H. Chandler, Jr.; Clerk, O. L. Boisol; Marshal, A. V. Chrisman; Councilmen, H. F. Smith, James Holt, H. B. Lenhart; School Board, H. Toland, R. B. Cowling. - 6. Death of James Wilson, of London, and Henry Penny of Jefferson township. - 8. Marriage of Dr. S. D. Kumler and Miss Fannie Dunkin, of London. Death of Mrs. Sarah Bond, of Jefferson township, aged 76. - 13. Death of Miss Jane Murray, of Stokes township. - 15. Mrs. Mantle, of Pickaway county, gives birth to triplets. - 22. Noah Thomas appointed Warden of the Ohio Penitentiary. -23. Heavy storm. Announcement of the marriage of Will. H. Chrisman and Miss Fannie Bridgman. -25. Union Block damage by wind-storm. - 26. Death of Maj. Downing at Central Insane Asylum. MAY. 4. Marriage of Dr. Horatio Downs and Miss Elizabeth Bowen near West Jefferson. Annual election of officers of Alumni of London Public Schools. - 8. Jerry Winecoop, of Plain City, cuts Fred. Dawson dangerously. Death of Mrs. William Core, of Midway. - 17. Dr. W. M. Beach was prostrated by an apoplectic stroke. Death of Fred. Stateler, of Somerford township. Pat. McCloskey of West Jefferson, accidentally shot himself. - 21. Hayward's circs visited London. - 22. Mrs. Isaac Smith, of Midway, killed by being thrown from a buggy. Marriage of E. E. Mann and Miss Mary Beach at Cincinnati. - 24. Special election for Justice of the peace, W. A. Athey elected. - 26. Dr. Leathers and family removed from London to Rolla, Miss. - 28. Marriage of W. L. Stroup and Miss Ida Lemen. JUNE. 6. Deaths of Mrs. Elizabeth Gould, of London, aged 90; Isaac McClimans, of Range, aged 75; Mrs. L. W. Burnham, of London. Rev. L. Peters preached the Baccalaureate sermon in the London M. E. Church. - 8. London High School Commencement. - 11. Death of Miss Melvina Bales, of Somerford township, and Mrs. Thomas Preston, of Lilly Chapel. Annual reunion of the Wilson family near Somerford. -12. David Williams, of Pickaway county, shot and killed near Georgesville. A young man named Frazelle was arrested and is held to answer for the crime. -15. Mrs. Kate Hanson appointed postmistress of London vice James S. Crain, absconded. - 22. Death of County Recorder Leonard Eastman, aged 37. - 23. The DEMOCRAT of this date gives particulars concerning the defalcations, peculations and abscondonment of Postmaster James S. Crain. Peter Schwitzer, of Jefferson township, shot and dangerously injured by Dan. McFarland. -24. Leroy S. Dungan married to Miss Grace Rich, of Lapier, Michigan. -25. Death of Mrs. Thomas Suver, of London, aged 77. - 26. Death of Austin P. Kennedy of Pike township. -28. Pat. Lilley, of Jefferson, drowned in West Virginia. - 29. Death of Silas Chapman, of Plain City, aged 71. Ernest McCormack appointed County Recorder to fill vacancy occasioned by the death of Leonard Eastman. - 31. The London Enterprise came out in a new dress. JULY. DEMOCRAT office removed to corner of Main and First streets. Albert Gains burglarized Thomas Roahen's house near Lafayette. - 3. Death of Mrs. Anna M. Thomas, of Columbus, aged 55, sister of the wife of the editor of the DEMOCRAT. - 4. The glorious Fourth came on Sunday, and was variously observed on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Death of Mrs. Eph. Smaling, of London, aged about 35. - 5. Death of Mrs. Minnie Goslee and Thos. Singleton, of London. - 6. Stock Sales Day, 248 head of cattle sold. Death of Emma, wife of Mat. Blaugher, aged 26. David Willoughby appointed night watchman, vice Candler, resigned. - 10. St. Patrick's Church picnic at the old fair grounds. - 11. Universalist basket meeting at Charles Phellis' grove. - 13. Ed. Florence seriously injured by being thrown from a buggy. Mrs. Peter Gainard died suddenly at her home near Somerford. - 15. Death of Miss Mary Nolan, of London, at Columbus. A large party of Madison county people leave for Chicago to attend the Triennial Conclave. - 17. Democratic County Convention at London to select delegates to the State Convention at Cleveland. Katie Smith, a little daughter of Mat. Smith has her arm run over by a freight car at Little Miami depot. - 20. Death of Jerry Dady, of Range township. - 21. London's population ascertained to be, 3,102. - 22. Death of Andy Nicholson at Plattsburg. - 24. Death of Uncle Jimmy Garrard, of London. - 25. Death of N. T. Paullin, of Clark county. - 26. Sudden death of Wils. Olney, of Jefferson. - 27. Burr Robbins' circus visited London. - 28. Albert Gain given five minutes to leave town. - 29. Robert Skiles, of Paint township, died from the effects of sun stroke. AUGUST. 2. Mrs. Crawford Minter died at her home in Lafayette. - 3. Stock Sales Day, 328 head of cattle sold. - 4. The census gives as Madison county's population, 20,174, an increase of nearly 30 per cent. over 1870. - 7. Madison county Prohibitionists nominated a county ticket. - 11. Converse family reunion in Canaan township. - 15. Death of J. M. Reeder of Fairfield township, aged 70. Universalist Harvest Basket Picnic in Converse's grove. - 17. Mrs. McCord, of Union township, prostrated by a stroke of lightning. - 19. Mrs. James Shough drowned while crossing Deer Creek. - 23. Suicide of W. O. Upfold, tailor, at Plain City. - 25. Death of Mrs. Catherine Flood in London, aged about 96. - 26. Death of Miss Jessie Minshall, of London, aged about 18. - 28. Democratic County Convention nominated a county ticket. SEPTEMBER. Tom McDonald, once Corporation Marshal of Mt. Sterling, lynched by a Pickaway county mob at Commercial Point. - 2. Death of Otway Core, of London. Mike Fraher, of London, injured while jumping from a train. - 5. Death of Isabell, daughter of W. H. Chandler, Jr., of London. - 14. The Cincinnati Enquirer contained announcement of the indictment of E. E. Mann, of London, by the Hamilton County Court for perjury in obtaining license to marry Miss Mary Beach. - 15. Fletch. Sanford, of Monroe township, killed instantly by being struck by a crowbar while raising a house. - 16. Marriage of Elijah Bales and Miss Pet. Robison, of Pleasant township. - 17. John Streets, of London, died, aged 79. - 19. Death of Miss Ida Warner, of London. - 20. Death of Mrs. William Price, of Midway. - 22. Great Inter-Ocean Show pitched its tents in London. Marriage of Harry Yates and Miss Susa S. Wissler at the residence of J. E. Lotspeich. - 23. Death of William G. Jones, an old citizen of London. - 27. Big shipment of cattle to Liverpool by Sidner & Farrar. - 30. Death of Miss Euphemia Bolds, of London, aged nearly 53. OCTOBER. 2. Death of Samuel Watson, of London, aged 59. - 5. Stock Sales Day, 757 head of cattle sold. Death of Mrs. Jenny Sparks, of London, aged about 45, and Mrs. Sabina Douglass, of Columbus, formerly of Pleasant township, aged 87. - 6. Announcement of the resignation of Harford Toland as Cashier of the National Bank, the election of Judge B. F. Clark Cashier and George Van Wagener Teller. - 7. The Republicans have a torchlight parade. - 9. Great parade by the Madison County Democracy on the Saturday night before the October Waterloo. If we didn't "ketch the woodpecker, we scared it like darnation, anyhow." - 10. Death of Eli Wilson, of Union township, aged 72. - 11. Harvey McNutt gored by an enraged steer at the Short Line stock yards. - 12. October election: nothing funny about this. - 13. The death in Europe of Mrs. Lillie Pettifer, of Cleveland, nee Mrs. Lillie Mount, of London, announced. 15. Ellsworth Ford killed by a train near Jefferson. - 16. Death of Miss Sayde Brush, aged 79, and Burris Golden, aged 22, both of London. 18. Sheriff Jones and wife thrown from a buggy near Jefferson, and the Sheriff seriously injured. - 19. Rev. L. Peters, pastor of Lutheran Church, and family removed to Sagerstown, Pa. - 20. November Stock Sales postponed until Wednesday, the 3d, on account of Presidential election. 21. Luther Johnson, of Jefferson, married to Miss Lottie Biggert, of Georgesville. 22. Death of Mrs. William Gamlin, of London, aged 35. 26. William Mara thrown from his wagon and killed near Harrisburg. 27. Marriage of V. W. Reese, of London, and Miss Julia Matthews, of Kenton, O. 29. Death of Alfred Gray, of Union township. 30. Sidner & Farrar shipped 420 head of fat cattle to Europe. NOVEMBER. 2. Presidential election. Marriage of J. N. Ford and Miss Mahuldah Jeffries, of Range township. 3. Houston's elevator and eight other buildings burned at South Charleston. 18. John Fogarty, of London, died from injuries received by falling down stairs. Marriage of George H. Van Wagener and Miss Mary Minter. 19. Marriage of Ed. Denmead, of Columbus, and Miss Mollie, daughter of R. G. Dun. 20. Death of John Foster of Oak Run township. 21. Fred. Placier and wife narrowly escaped death by asphyxiation. - 27. Death of William Curtain, Sr., of Deercreek township, aged 75, and Mrs. Joseph Benjamin, of Fairfield township, aged 49. - Prof. Lewis Prugh died at Vinceunes, Ind. 30. Telegram received announcing the death of Miss Flora Curtain, nee Armstrong, at her home near Yates Center, Kans. DECEMBER. 2. Wooden wedding of Mr. and Mrs. F. R. Neff. Stock Sales Day, 371 head of cattle sold. 8. Andy Lewis confined in county jail on charge of burglary, became insane, and was subsequently sent to the Central Asylum. 11. Death of Mrs. Bridget Graham, of London, aged about 63. 13. A little son of John Shea, living on Walter A. Dun's place wandered away from home, and died from cold and exposure shortly after he was found. 14. Death of Mrs. Katharine King, of Pike township, aged 93. 16. The London Athenaeum Club celebrated its anniversary. Marriage of Taylor Lilly and Elnora Long, of Fairfield township. 17. Bruce P. Jones elected Mayor of London by Council to fill vacancy. 18. Marriage of Levi Elben and Mrs. Catharine Bushdorf, of London. 23. A man named Bolin in the county jail for larceny made his escape. Josh Billings lectured in Toland Hall. George W. Athey, of London, was adjudged insane and on the following day taken to Martha Ayle, of Deercreek township, aged about 50. 25. A merry Christmas. The money drawer at Short Line ticket office was robbed of about $35; two tramps suspected. 30. Marriage of Dr. C. S. Morse and Miss Emma McDonald, of London. SALES DAY STATISTICS. The following are the total number of cattle sold in the respective months: January 733 July 248 February 499 August 328 March 480 September 327 April 725 October 757 May 402 November 783 June 365 December 427 From this we find a grand total of 6,074 head of cattle sold during the year of 1880, to 7,119 head sold during 1879, a decrease of 1,045 head. The total number of three-year-olds sold during the year was 487 head, at an average of $55 per head, making an aggregate of $26,785. The number of yearlings reported was 3,526, sold at an average of $30 per head, footing up $75,780 invested in yearlings. The total number of two-year-olds was 2,718 head, averaging $45 per head, making $122,310 in all. The total number of cows and calves reported (many being sold not reported) was 219 head, averaging about $35 for cows and 12 for calves, making an aggregate of $4,116. Twelve yoke of oxen were sold a $150 per yoke, aggregating $1,800. In reporting sales of horses, our reporter gave only the purchase ofgood horses by city buyers. It shows there were 523 horses sold, averaging $125 per head, making a total of $65,375 expended in "hoss flesh." By adding these several totals together we find the large sum of $296,160 changed hands for stock during the regular monthly sales. Isn't it absurd to talk about abandoning the stock sales, when such amount of business is transacted? Every man who attends our Sales leaves a sum of money, more or less, with our merchants and other business men. Hope you found it interesting! Steve Slattery