Paul Sherman, inspector for the
state board of health, was sent to Mulkeyville, Franklin county, where an epidemic of smallpox is reported.
[The Ste. Marie Tribune, Jasper County, IL - Friday, December 12, 1913]
JA Neal and Hester Harrison were married under a whiteoak tree on
the Benton & Tamaroa road on the 11 Aug 1881
[18 Aug 1881, Franklin
Chronicle, Benton, IL - submitted by Jeana Gallagher]
Austin Tedford, while working
with a threshing machine near McLeansboro on the 15th, has his right hand pulled off and his arm broken in two
places. The limb was amputated
[18 Aug 1881, Franklin Chronicle,
Benton, IL - submitted by Jeana Gallagher]
My wife, Martha M Adelsberger,
having in my abscence separated herself from me, I will not be responsible for any debts contracted by her. I
have made every reasonable proposition to her and she will not return
[18
Aug 1881, Franklin Chronicle, Benton, IL - submitted by Jeana Gallagher]
L.D. Starr, keeper of the poor
farm, had a son born, last Saturday 13 Aug 1881. It is the 1st child in 13 years
[18 Aug 1881, Franklin Chronicle,
Benton, IL - submitted by Jeana Gallagher]
Tow Men killed.
Sesser,Ill., Cletus Eubanks,17, and Micheal
Ymberick ,25 were killed today when the auto in which they were riding
crashed into the side of a train at the crossing. Eubanks was driving.
[April 13 1936, Franklin Chronicle, Benton, IL]
Jack Kundrazerwrz,of Hoopestor,Ill., entered a plea of guilty to having illicit liquor in his possession and was fined $250 by judge english who ordered him to stand committed to jail until fine and
costs are paid. He also goes to Danvilleas does Mike Shoter,of sesser,who admitted making and having liquor. Shoter got 60 days and a fine of $400.
[23 Nov 1922, Cook County Herald-Arlington Heights,Illinois]
Former Bank-President Held in Murder
Sesser, Ill., June 18 1932- Chas. Gauldonia,55,former president of the new defunct SESSER State Bank, was held in jail here today charged with the fatal shooting last night of Josep Garbiero,35,a miner.
Gauldonia is an officer of a loan company which recently foreclosed a mortgage on property owned by Garbiero. The former banker, who at one time was one of the wealthiest men in the section,
claimed he shot Garbiero in self-defense.
[June 18 1932 Cook County Herald-Arlington Heights,Illinois]
Benton, Ill june 20 1932- Charles Gauldonia, former sesser banker and real estate man, was at liberty today under $10000 bond while the grand jury investigated the slaying of Joesph Garbiero,sesser,last friday.
Gauldonia was ordered held by the coroner after testimony before a coroner's jury revealed a quarrel between the two. Gauldonia said Garbiero attacked him with a screwdriver.
[June 20 1932, Cook County Herald-Arlington Heights,Illinois]
Coal Discovered at Sesser
Coal was discovered at the new town of Sesser, in Franklin county, at a depth of 720 feet. It is a 9-foot-8inch vein. This shaft was put down half a mile between two
prospect holes where coal was reached at a depth of 600 feet.
[21 Sept 1906 Cook County Herald-Arlington Heights,Illinois]
I came to Franklin County with my parents in 1852. We lived in the William Mooneyham property in Benton.
In 1853 we moved North of Spring Settlement to a place called PLUCKEMIN. After another year later we
moved South about a Mile to some Government farm that father bought.
[In a newspaper article that Mrs. J. A. Coleman wrote for a local newspaper.]
October 26, 1888 - A tragedy occurred at Thomponville at the Boarding House of John MORRIS Wednesday night. Warren JORDAN, post master at Fitt's Mill, and John WILLIAMS
of Frankfort were both killed. They and others had been drinking and playing cards when a quarrel arose over 23 cents. WILLIAMS drew a knife and cut JORDAN on his face
and arms. JORDAN then drew a pistol and shot WILLIAMS twice. JORDAN then turned and left, going about 100 yards when Charlie WILLIAMS, a brother to John, came up behind
him and hit JORDAN in the back of the head with a hatchet, cutting out his brains. JORDAN died about 3 hours later. Charlie WILLIAMS is now in jail. All of the parties
are from excellent families and of the first settlers of the county. JORDAN has an excellent family and was himself a noble man of splendid impulses and a generous disposition,
though a few times in his life a little wild. WILLIAMS was said to be of a generous nature but addicted to drinking.
Marion, Ill., Oct. 14 - A $10,000 damage suit was filed in Circuit Court here today against Henry
L. McCLELLAN, and the International Harvester Company for the death of Mary
Elizabeth EWING, four-year-old daughter of Robert F. Ewing of Benton.
The child was killed a year ago while crossing the state highway north
of Benton.
The suit alleges the brakes on McClellans car were faulty and he was on
business for the harvester company.
Coal Fall Kills Miner
West Frankfort, Ill., (IP)—Funeral services were held Monday for James A. MODGLIN, 48-year-old miner killed In a coal fall at
the old Ben No. 9 mine here. Modglin was buried about 15 minutes when three tons of coal fell underground in the shaft Friday.
He died less than two hours after he was taken to Union hospital.
[The Edwardsville Intelligencer, Tues. Nov. 15, 1949]
GODRON BENNETT DIES OF GUN WOUNDS
Shot Four Times Early Sunday by Clarence Smothers and Roy McClintock
***
Smothers Now in Benton Jail
****
Officers Fail to Locate McCLintock Who Dissappeared
Immediately Following Shooting
Gordon Bennett died at 3:48 this morning at the hospital as
a result of four gunshot wounds he received early Sunday
morning at the hands of Clarence Smothers and Roy McClintock.
He lingered so long and was seemingly improving so much,
his relatives and friends had built up hopes for his recovery.
Smothers, who shot him in the back, and who is possibly the
one most responsible for his death, was brought up from
West Frankfort at noon today and placed in jail. He is
suffering from a wound from a shot from Bennett's gun and
several broken ribs received when his car turned over near
No 18 mine when he was trying to make his escape.
Roy McClintock who also shot Bennett made good his escape
the night of the affair and has not yet been apprehended.
Gordon Bennett was born on the Bennett farm in Crawford's
Prairie, March 16, 1892 his age, therefore, being thirty
years, two months and twenty-four days. His parents are
George W and Frances Bennett both surviving. He is also
survived by four brothers and two sisters, namely,
Commadore, Raybern, Jewell, Ransom, Aileen and Imogene.
Early in life he engaged in teaching then he became
restless and decided to see the world with as a result that
when he returned with first-hand information _______ (page torn).
On May 20, 1918 he was wedded to Miss Jewell Secrest of Mt
Vernon who passed away June 2, the following year.
Nine days after his marriage, May 29, 1919, he entrained
with a contingent of soldiers for Atlanta Ga, being placed
in charge of the train when it left Benton. He was
attached to Co F, 5th replacement and at Camp Grant, Ill.
Funeral services will probably take place at the Bennett
home at the corner of Washington and Commerical streets
Saturday afternoon, Rev John A McClintock officiating,
deceased often expressing the desire that when he died he
wanted Rev McClintock to preach his funeral inasmuch as he
was the one who married him.
Interment will take place at the Masonic and Odd Fellows
cemetery.
TWO WOUNDED IN GUN BATTLE EARLY SUNDAY
The home of "Mother" Lee on South McLeansboro road near the
Hart-Williams mine was the scene of some real gun play
about 1 o'clock Sunday morning, some twenty shots being
fired, according to the best information available.
When the smoke of battle had cleared away, Gordon Bennett
was found to be in a very serious condition having been
shot four times twice from the back and twice from the
front, all of the bullet holes indicating that Bennett was
in the act of turning as each shot was fired.
Many rumors are current as to the cause of the affairs but
it is most generally believed that several youths from
Frankfort Heights and in the vicinity of Mine No 18 went to
the Lee house with the intention of having trouble. These
included Bill Rotramel, Clarence Smothers, Roy McClintock,
Bill Wall, Enrich Burk, Jewel Hungate and another names
Foster.
It is said that McClintock opened the affair by saying
something to one of the girl's which was displeasing to
Bennett. McClintock is alleged to have then drew his gun
and Bennett did likewise and ordered McClintock to hand him
the gun. At that moment Smothers, who was at the rear of
Bennett, drew his gun and fired, and as Bennett turned to
face Smothers, McClintock drew his gun and fired at
Bennett. One of the men used a 45 Colts and the other a 22
Smith Wessen. Bennett fired his gun twice.
The gang then left the house Smothers jumping into his Ford
and headed toward Mine 18 and as he neared that place is
said to have run into a ditch, upset his car and received
six broken ribs. Upon being examined by physicians it was
found that he had been shot twice, one bullet grazing his
stomach and the other had entered an arm. The physicians
say it will be some time before he is able to be brought to
jail here and he is now being guarded by Tobe Hungate.
In making his getaway from the Lee house, McClintock jumped
into the car of "Peck" Hill, a local jitney driver, and
ordered Hill at the point of a gun to drive as fast as he
could also in the direction of Mine 18. The manner of
escape of the others is unknown.
Bennett was brought to Dr Moore's hospital where Drs Sidney
Moore, Edgar Austin and H A Vise operated upon him.
It is found that Bennett was shot once through the right
leg, twice through the back and once through the side, one
of the bullets penetrating the lungs and his intentines
were cut in seven places.
He is in a very serious condition and his relatives and
friends have little hopes of his recovery.
Bennett is a son of Mr and Mrs George W Bennett of this
city. He is 30 years of age and was practically raised on
the Bennett farm in the vicinity of Parrish.
The other members of the gang are also said to have been
raised in the vicinity of Parrish.
Smothers is eighteen years of age and is a son of Harmon
Smothers who resides just over the line in Cave township.
Some are inclined to believe that the shooting of Bennett
was the aftermath of trouble in which Bennett and the
others had been involved in since the days when they
attended school together.
(Benton newspaper--no date)
[Submitted by: Sheila Cadwalader]
William Hood, 55, who operates a barber shop in the Heights is in Union Hospital
with a fractured skull as a result of being struck by Ralph Rumsey, 24, in the
Burpo garage at the Heights yesterday afternoon. Rumsey went to the Burpo store
to purchase some stovepipe. Burpo did not have the kind of pipe in the store but
had some of his stock stored in the garage building and Bird Lee, a clerk at the
store, accompanied Rumsey to the garage to look for the particular pipe he needed.
Not finding what they needed, the two men started out of the garage. When he reached
the front door of the building, witnesses state that he met Mr. Hood, whose barber
shop is just across the street. A witness told authorities that Hood asked Rumsey
if he had 50 cents that he didn't need, to which Rumsey replied that he didn't.
"When are you going to pay me that half dollar," Mr. Hood is said to have inquired.
Witnesses stated Rumsey struck Hood and the Barber fell on the concrete floor of
the garage with blood pouring from his left ear. Police went to the home of Rumsey
but failed to find him at home. They later found him at the home of his father-in-law,
Marshall Willis, who lives on a nearby farm. It was learned that Rumsey had already
been to the hospital to learn the condition of Mr. Hood before he was taken in custody.
Rumsey told police that Mr. Hood had called him a liar. Mr. Hood is said to be of a
quiet type and is reported to have never been involved in any trouble of any nature.
(*NOTE: Rumsey was found Not Guilty at his trial)
[Submitted by: Sheila Cadwalader]
Officer Slain in Dance Hall Melee.
Benton, Ill., May 17.1921
John KELLY, constable of Zeigler, a nearby mining town, was shot to death Sunday night
after killing two foreigners and wounding four others in a pistol duel in a dance hall
where he had gone to quell a disturbance.
Many of the dancers were intoxicated, according to the authorities, and the hall was in
an uproar. When KELLY attempted to disarm a man who was flourishing a revolver, it was
said, he was attacked by several other men and the shooting ensued.
[Fort Worth Star-Telegram May 17 1921 Location: Fort Worth, TX]
Convicted for Murder
Wednesday, February 22nd 1922
John Savant, convicted in Franklin county for the murder of a boy and who was sentenced to hang,
is to pay that penalty on Friday morning of this week. While Savant is said to have abandoned
all hope of being saved, opinion around Benton seems to be divided about equally as to the
fatal outcome.
Hundreds of people in that county visited the county jail yard in Benton Sunday last in
an effort to get a glimpse of the scaffold that has already hanged three men and is about to
claim its fourth victim, and which is now in place. The scaffold is built immediately east of
the jail and as Savant stands on the trap he will face the east and will go down to his doom
about the time the sun casts its first rays of light over the city hall building. The stockade
is so constructed that it will be impossible for outsiders to see what is going on within. It
was opened to the public for a short time Sunday and hundreds took advantage of the opportunity
and saw the scaffold from which Savant will hang.
Attorneys for the condemned man are making every effort to have sentence commuted or at
least give him a longer lease on life, and it is the belief of many that even if Savant does pay
the penalty, it will not be on next Friday.
It is said Savant spends much of his time in playing a phonograph in the jail and staying
up as late as 2 o'clock in the morning writing letters, most of them to his wife.
Harrisburg will send a few citizens over to witness the execution, but just who will
constitute the contingent from this city we have not learned as yet.
[Daily Register - Harrisburg, Illinois 1922] [Submitted by: Roni MILLER]
Stay of Execution
Thursday, February 23rd 1922
John Savant, who was to have hanged in Benton tomorrow morning about sunup, has been granted a
stay of execution by Governor Small. Sheriff R. S. Watkins of Franklin county received a
telegram this morning from the governor, telling him that Savant had been granted a stay of
execution until Friday, April 21st 1922.
Up until the telegram from the governor had been received, Sheriff Watkins had been
making preparations for the execution. Everything was in readiness. The death watch was placed
on Savant yesterday and he was constantly guarded. He had even asked the graphophone which he
has been using in his cell be played while he was being put to death and his request had been
granted.
Harrisburg was going to send a delegation over to the hanging, and all had completed
their arrangements to go. In the party would have been State's Attorney Chas. H. Thompson,
Deputy Sheriff Hal Bynum, S. B. Bolden, Floyd Lassater, John R. Jackson, Frank Hildebrand,
John Williford, Fred Sisk, Ray Overstreet, Geo. W. Russell, with possibly a few others whose
names we did not get.
[Daily Register - Harrisburg, Illinois 1922] [Submitted by: Roni MILLER]
Thursday, April 20th 1922
John Savant, who was to have been hanged at Benton tomorrow, has been once again saved, this
time for final. Governor Small has commuted the death sentence to life imprisonment in the
Chester penitentiary.
[Daily Register - Harrisburg, Illinois 1922] [Submitted by: Roni MILLER]
2 Sep 1887: The Old Settlers Meeting was held at the fairground on Saturday
Aug. 28th, 1887. The following old persons were present, as collected by
the secretary and this was only part: G.W. COOK, a natural born Franklin
County, IL. citizen aged 78.
Southern Illinois Man 101 Years Old Saturday
Benton, Illinois, December 7
The 101 birthday anniversary of Major William Mooneyham,
Benton's only centenarian and the oldest living war veteran in Illinois, was celebrated at his
home here Saturday. Wm. son of Shadrach and Luereta (Ogle) Mooneyham, was born in White
County, Tennessee, December 4, 1819, and came with his parents to Franklin County in 1838.
Major Mooneyham has been twice married. First in 1841 to Sally Ann Moore of Perry County, who
died October 4, 1882. On June 21, 1888, he was married to Margaret Tyrell at the age of 66.
He cast his first vote for James K. Polk in 1844; voted for Stephen A. Douglas in 1860 and for
Warren G. Harding in 1920. He served a time as constable and was elected sheriff of Franklin
County in 1854 and 1855.
In point of years he is the oldest Mason in Southern Illinois. He united with the Pleasant
Hill Baptist church in June 1841, and is now a member of the First Baptist church of this
city. Major Mooneyham has been a member of the G.A.R. since its incipiency. He was the
sergeant major of the Eighty-first Regiment, Illinois Infantry, for three years during the
civil war.
Major Mooneyham has had 131 decendants, nineteen of whom are deceased. The four living
children are Mrs. Rebecca Webb, East St. Louis; Mrs. Louis Taylor, Mrs. Almyra Fitzgerrell,
Mrs. Louisa Taylor and Mrs. Emma H. Swolford, all of Benton. He has 26 grandchildren,
67 great-grandchildren and 15 great-great-grandchildren. The line is unbroken for five
generations. Major Mooneyham walks with a can and is able to go when and wherever he
pleases.
When Stephen A. Douglas made a visit to this county Major Mooneyham was one of a committee
of six to drive to Tamaroa and meet Douglas and accompany him to Benton. Major Mooneyham
was a warm friend of General John A. Logan.
Edwardsville Intelligencer (Edwardsville, Illinois) 1920, December 7 [Submitted by: Roni MILLER]
News Papers:
THE BENTON EVENING NEWS; Benton, Franklin Co., IL
THE DAILY AMERICAN; West Frankfort, Franklin Co., IL
|
