Misc. News from Hardin County

Misc. News from Hardin County
From Metropolis, IL Newspapers

Elizabethtown–In an effort to rescue the occupants of a family boat, which was in grave danger, at Rock Bend, about a mile from the mouth of Saline, Charles Rash, a brother of the Independent editor, and James Cannady lost their lives. The boat and the occupants were saved. Several detailed reports have been received and some are conflicting–however, summed up, it appears that the two men had seen that the boat was safely across the creek and attempted to follow in a boat when the ice came on them so fast that the boat was abandoned and they climbed a tree. The great onrush of the ice up the creek from out of the rapidly rising river cut the tree down and buried the men deep under the gorges. Little hope is entertained for the recovery of the bodies.

–Independent. (From the Republican Herald, Thursday Feb. 21, 1918) Submitted by Ann Laird

ATTAINS TO EIGHTY-SEVENTH MILE-STONE

Last Sunday March 6, 1926, Mr. T. J. Shepard, well-known aged veteran of the Civil war who resides at 501 Girard Street, this city, celebrated his Eighty-seventh birthday anniversary. Mr. Shepard has resided many years here, and for several years, owned and operated a grocery store business but sold out and retired some years ago. He was at one time owner of one of the finest farm and orchard plantations in Hardin county, located between Shetlerville and Rosiclare, but sold out and moved to this city. He and Capt. Phil Howard, army captain of the Civil War, who was previous to his death several years ago sheriff of Hardin county, and popularly known all over Southern Illinois, were close friends, comrades in war, and neighbors for many years following the Civil War, up until the death of Capt. Phil. The Republican Herald hopes for Mr. Shepard many other happy, peaceful days, ere the "sound of taps" comes.

(From the Republican Herald, Wed. March 10, 1926). Submitted by Ann Laird

W. S. MORRIS

A Quincy dispatch to the Chicago press tells of the admission to the soldiers’ home in that city of Captain W. S. Morris,
formerly a well known lawyer and politician of Southern Illinois. The dispatch says;

"Bent with age, sufficiently feeble to occupy a hospital cot, but his mental vigor undimmed, this once prominent man has
become the nation’s ward, a victim of security debts contracted for supposed friends. He declares he will stay here only so long as his health is feeble, he being much broken by financial troubles and sorrow over the death of his wife, whom he buried three months ago." Capt. Morris, who was formerly a resident of Golconda, at one time states attorney of Hardin county and a member of the legislature at several sessions, will be remembered by many of our readers. He was a brilliant speaker, and has campaigned all over this end of the state, part of the time as a republican and part of the time as a democrat. At one election Capt. Morris was a candidate for congress against Geo. W. Smith in this district.

(From the Metropolis Herald, Jan. 17, 1906) Submitted by Ann Laird

1890 HARDIN CO. TORNADO

The following article is taken from “The Democrat” of April 3rd, 1890 and will give the readers a good description of the
havoc wrought by the big cyclone, which visited our city on March 27th, 1890. The issue was obtained through the kindness of Mrs. Mollie Black.

The most complete ruin in town, however, is the formerly handsome and brand new two-story brick business house of Mr. T. J. Shepherd on the corner of Fifth and Girard streets. Mr. Shepherd occupied the upper story as a family residence and had a new stock of groceries in the lower rooms. Had it been lifted up bodily and afterwards hurled from the clouds in a heap, it could not by any possibility have been more completely converted into debris.

When the storm struck the Shepherd building Mr. Shepherd, his wife, his son Ollie, Miss Mary Hannon and John Keith were inside. Mrs. Shepherd was very badly hurt by being pinned down between the fallen debris and the upright portion of a brick wall. Her thigh was dislocated and she sustains dangerous internal injuries about the small of the back and lower bowels.

Miss Hannon had her left arm broken and she is also cut and bruised about the face in a painful manner.

Mr. Shepherd, his son and young Keith were taken from the ruin bruised and bloody, looking much like they had been
engaged in a rough and tumble fight. Their wounds are painful but not dangerous.

Among the wonderful incidents witnessed during the storm was the rolling along, on top of the moving column, of a red barrel, which Mr. Wm. Martin watched until it fell in a field near his residence. It turned out to be a vinegar barrel, partially filled, and Mr. M. says it rolled along in mid air very much as any one would roll a barrel rapidly over a level floor. In all probability it was taken out of Mr. Shepherd’s stock of groceries and carried some 7 miles away.

(The above paragraphs were extracted from a very long article printed in the “Republican Herald”, April 1922 describing a cyclone that came through Massac County causing much destruction to most of the county. Thomas J. Shepherd lived in Hardin Co. before moving to Metropolis. Mrs. Shepherd died as a result of her injuries.

Submitted by Ann Laird

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