Below are clippings from several scrapbooks we have at the Linesville Historical Society. Please enjoy them, and I hope you are able to make a connection! Miss Minnie Newcomb, aged 15 years, daughter of A.J. Newcomb, Esq., of this place, met with a very serious accident on Thursday night, the 20th inst. It seems that Minnie was working a motto which she intended presenting to her mother as a Christmas gift and, to keep the matter a secret from her mother till presented, Minnie worked on the motto in her room after getting into bed at night. On Thursday, about midnight, after working for several hours, she fell asleep and the lamp, which she had placed on the bed beside her tipped over and set the bed clothes as well as her night robe on fire, which waked her, when she jumped up and ran down stairs screaming with the flames streaming from her burning night-dress. Assistance came to her relief after she was terribly burned over a large part of her body when the flames were put out and medical aid summoned. As we go to press the young lady is recovering. Dec. 26 - Miss Minnie Newcomb, a young lady and daughter of A.J. Newcomb, was frightfully burned on Thursday evening of last week. She had taken a lamp to her room and set it with herself on the bed, and engaged in preparing a Christmas present for her parents when she fell asleep and was aroused soon after to find herself and the bed enveloped in flames. She immediately ran down stairs, and gave the alarm, whereupon her father and mother hastened to her, threw quilts around her and smothered the fire. Physicians were summoned from Conneautville and this place, and all possible means were employed to alleviate her sufferings, which were intense as she was burned from head to foot. The best of care has been given her by one or more of the medical fraternity, and at this writing there are some hopes entertained of her recovering. (My note here - I looked a few pages back, haven't found Minnie's obituary yet, so maybe she did survive the fire, but I do find one for BOTH of her parents on page 5!) McKINNEY - In Linesville, March 13, 1878, of diptheria, Mina, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles McKinney, aged 16 years, 5 months and 4 days. "Death of Albert McKinney" Albert McKinney, died on Tuesday morning, the 5th inst., between ten and eleven o'clock. This is the seventeenth death in this little town of diptheria since last Sept. The death of Albert McKinney is a very painful occurrence. He was a young man of much promise, but he is gone. What a sad and solemn sound comes from the pronunciation of the monosyllable "Gone!" But yesterday the bloom of health was upon his cheek and the beam of intelligence in his eyes, now closed forever. Sorrowful is the void occasioned by his departure. He was just and generous, conscientious and honest, and a pattern worthy of imitation. Green be the grass above him and hallowed by the spot where he lies. In regard to religious convictions we understand that Albert never signed any creed. His life was his creed and he lived it well. I do not know what Albert thought Concerning spiritual needs I am not sure that he fought at all In the battle of human creeds. But whether he did or whether he didn't, Is not his title clear? Say! Is not that one fit for heaven, Who lives his duty here? VAN WINKLE - At the residence of her son, S.M. Van Winkle, in Conneaut township; Sept. 22, Mrs. Nancy, widow of the late Thomas Van Winkle, in the 85th year of her age. TALCOTT - In Hinesville, April 6th, 189 (last year of date blurred - could be 2 or 3), of consumption, Herman Talcott, Esq. aged (unreadable) years. More to follow! Kathy Brubaker Volunteer Genealogist Linesville Historical Society kbrbkr@toolcity.net