McKean County PA Archives News.....Deaths 1879-80 McKean County Miner 1879-1880
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McKean County Miner 1879-1880
DEATHS IN MCKEAN COUNTY 1879-1880
From
THE MCKEAN COUNTY MINER NEWSPAPER
Transcribed by Ronald J. Reid, 2008
The dates shown prior to each item or group of items is the date of
publication. This can only be considered a partial list as many pages of the
paper are unreadable and some may have been missed. All items were found on
page 3 of the paper unless specifically noted otherwise.
INDEX of Names
==============
Feebe Acre
Henry Beckwith
Mary Blindbery
Peter Boyle
George Culp
Children of John Digel
Perry S. Ernhout
Barney Fisher
David E. Foster
N.C. Gallup
A. Darwin Hamlin
Frederick Hughes
Kittie Irwin
Levi Mason [attempted suicide]
George Miller
John Paterson
Ida M. Prouty
Willie H. Prouty
Charles M. Provin
Fred Real
Daniel Rifle
Minnie Rouble
John Rowley
Jordan Shelves
Walter Sprague
Howard Tackett
Georgia Tate
John B. Taylor
Samuel Vickers
Miles Taylor Young
Henry Wagner
==============
Jan 23, 1879, page 3:
Shocking Suicide.
At Findley's Lake, Chautauqua county, N.Y., last Sunday evening, a man by
the name of John Rowley, son of Hial Rowley, suicided by shooting himself with
a rifle. He was unmarried, and resided with his brother-in-law, John Hill, at
that place. Early in the evening he went up stairs to his room and shortly
after the report of a gun was heard in that direction. The family hastened to
the room, where, lying upon the floor, with a bullet hole in his head, from
which the blood was flowing freely, they beheld the lifeless form of the
unfortunate victim. The ball entered at the forehead and passes directly
through the brain, coming out at the back of the head. He was about thirty-
five years of fage, temperate, hones and respectable.
Financial embarrassment, coupled with unrequited love, is assigned as the
cause of the rash act. It is stated deceased was affected with aberration of
mind. On Saturday the day preceding the one on which he destroyed his life,
he went to the woods, only a short distance from the house, and there under a
tree where in summer he had often lounged, and doubtless stocked his mind with
silly love stories, dug his own grave and left a request to be buried there.
Feb 13, 1879, page 3:
Death of Perry S. Ernhout.
Intelligence was received here a few days ago of the death of Perry S.
Ernhout, son of Capt J. Ernhout, proprietor of the Bennett House. The young
man died at the Dixmont Hospital for the Insane, where he was placed about six
months ago, after suffering for years from softening of the brain. He was a
young man of unusually bright intellect and vigorous constitution. While a
student at the United States Naval Academy, of which institution he was a
graduate, he stood first in his class both as to excellence in his studies and
all athletic pursuits. It is believed that the disease which eventually
caused his death was contracted by over exertion of his brain at the Academy.
He was in his 34th year at the time of his death, and leaves a wife and two
children, one ten and the other five years of age. The funeral services will
be held at this place next Sunday at 11 a.m. Rev. Wilson, of Wilcox, will
preach the funeral sermon.
Feb 27, 1879, page 3:
Died.
TATE.-AT Lawrenceville, Pa., Jan 21st, 1879, Georgia, infant, daughter of J.H.
and E.M. Tate, of Clermont, Pa., and grand-daughter of M.. Chapman,
Lawrenceville, Pa.
The funeral services attending the burial of Perry S. Ernhout, whose death
we noted in our last issue were held at the Bennett House last Sunday. There
was a large attendance, completely filling every available space within
hearing of the funeral discourse. The services were conducted by Rev. Wilson,
who preached a very earnest, affecting and appropriate sermon. There was a
large attendance of the friends of the deceased and the family from Wilcox.
Mar 20, 1879, page 3:
Died.
ACRE.-At the residence of her, Wilbur Acre, on the old homestead, Feebe Acre
wife of Daniel Acre, . deceased, aged 72 years and ?? days.
She with her husband were among the earlier settlers in this county.
Together they endured the hardships of a pioneer life. She raised a family of
eleven children. (The remainder of the obit about grandchildren is mostly
unreadable)
Resolutions of Respect.
At a meeting of the undersigned committee, representing the High School of
Smethport, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted:
Whereas, It has pleased Him, who doeth all things well, to remove from our
midst so suddenly our friend and fellow student, Charles M. Provin, therefore
Resolved, That whilst we humbly and submissively bow to the will of Divine
Providence, we do sincerely mourn the sudden death of our respected friend and
brother in pursuit of knowledge.
Resolved, That we do sincerely sympathize with the family of the departed in
this early loss of a promising son and brother, and fondly hope that their and
our loss is his eternal gain.
Resolved, That our hall be draped in mourning and that all the member of the
High School wear the usual badge of mourning for the space of thirty days.
Resolved. That these resolutions be published in the Miner and also that a
copy of them be presented to the bereaved parents of the deceased.
G.R. Brownell, T.F. Richmond, A.A. Daly, Aline Hamlin, Mary Sartwell, Ethel
Armstrong, Committee.
Killed By Lightning. - On Saturday evening last during a thunder storm, a
young unmarried man named Samuel Vickers was killed by lightning on Maple
ridge, Tioga county, Pa. His team were also killed. All were found by the
young man's father on Monday morning lying in the snow a few rods from home.
The only mark on the young man was a dent about the size of a bean on his
forehead. His boots were torn. He was returning home with grist from a
neighboring mill.
Mar 27, 1879, page 3:
On Tuesday morning George Miller was found near Sawyer City lying across a
log, dead. He had gone out to repair a water pipe at a well where he had been
drilling, and not returning his friends went over and found him as stated. He
came from Corry, where he has a wife and child. The coroner's jury rendered a
verdict of death by heart disease.
Apr 3, 1879, page 3:
Tragedy at State Line.
(The first part is unreadable)
..place in booming and transporting logs, got into a dispute which ended in
the capsizing of one of the skiffs occupied by Wagner and the drowning of the
latter. It appears that there were two small boats about the mill, but on
Friday, the day of the casualty, the work of Doyle required the use of both
and he was assured by one of the employees that he could have them. Wagner
was not aware of the privilege granted Doyle and at the beginning of the day's
labor the former took one of the boats and started up the river for some
purpose. Doyle returned from the boom to the mill to get a pike-lever when he
saw Wagner rowing up the stream. Doyle demanded the boat saying that he would
need it for work on the booms, but Wagner paid no attention, doubtless
supposing that it was simply an attempt of Doyle to deprive him of its use to
satisfy, if possible, the ill-feeling which he was conscious existed between
them, for they had not been on agreeable terms for some time past. Wagner
told Doyle in a sneering way that he could have the boat if he could get it.
This aroused the anger of Doyle and he jumped into the boat he had in use and
started in pursuit of Wagner. The latter, seeing the course of Doyle,
immediately stopped rowing, and when Doyle came down close enough to him with
one of the oars he splashed water on Wagner, and Wagner in return unshipped
one of his oars and dashed water on Doyle. The latter, when within a proper
distance, jumped into the skiff occupied by Wagner. By this time high words
were passing between the two men. They raised their oars and each threatened
to strike the other. A short scuffle followed, during which they capsized the
vessel, and Wagner either fell or was thrown into the river. Doyle swam to
the left shore and Wagner struggled about the water for a short time
endeavoring to reach the boat. He failed in the attempt, however, and
disappeared and reappeared several times. Doyle, after reaching the river
bank, took off his boots and plunged into the stream again and brought out one
of the boats. By this time Doyle became alarmed, and, with several other
persons who saw the struggle, went to the rescue of the drowning man. Doyle
took a pike pole and attempted to help the man. Realizing that probably life
was gone, in his excited state, Doyle exclaimed, Oh, my God, what have I
done? Wagner's body was taken ashore and efforts made to resuscitate him,
while a man hastened to Eldred and summoned Dr. Guthrie. However, Henry
Wagner was beyond revival, and nothing of course could be done even when the
physician did arrive.
The following day Coroner Blair was notified of the matter, and proceeded to
State Line depot, where, after empaneling a jury, the testimony of James
Doyle, and six other witnesses testimony was taken. After hearing the
evidence and some deliberation, the jury found a verdict to the effect that
James Doyle was the cause of Henry Wagner's death. A warrant was subsequently
issued, and on Sunday morning Doyle was arrested in the neighborhood of Eldred
and taken to the county jail at Smethport.
May 15, 1879, page 3:
He Took too Much.
A young man named Barney Fisher died in Duke Center on Tuesday from an
overdose of morphine, taken while suffering from the quinsy. He was 25 years
of age, recently married, and highly respected.
May 22, 1879, page 3:
Died.
PROUTY.- In Smethport on the 20 inst., of Diptheria, Ida M., oldest daughter
of Mr. Prouty, Supt. Of the Extract Works, aged ? years.
PROUTY.- In Smethport, on the 21st inst., of Diptheria, Willie H., second son
of Mr. Prouty, aged 6 years..
May 29, 1879, page 3:
Died.
BLINDBERY.- Near Smethport, on Tuesday, the 27th inst., Mary, infant daughter
of Charles Blindbery.
After losing three children by diphtheria Mr. John Digel removed his family
to Clermont, to the house of his wife's brother Mr. Peter Martin. Since that
time the disease has broken in Mr. Martin's family, and one of his children
was buried yesterday. Another of Mr. Digel's children is also very low with
the same disease.
Jun 26, 1879, page 3:
Killed in the Woods.
An old and prominent resident of the town of Jackson, Tioga county, Pa., was
the victim of a terrible and fatal accident on June 19th. Jordan Shelves, in
company with others, went out into the woods early in the morning to peel
bark. He was engaged to in cutting the branches from one of the felled trees
when he was struck by one of the heavy limbs of another tree which was being
cut down near by. He was pinned to the earth, and the tree that held him down
had to be cut twice in two before the injured man could be released. Half an
hour after he was taken home he died. Deceased was about sixty years of age.
A son was among the choppers and witnessed the accident. Deceased was a
brother of Mr. George Shelves of Elmira.
Suicide of a Mansfield Farmer.
The citizens of the western portion of the town of Mansfield were thrown
into a state of excitement last week Wednesday afternoon by the discovery of
the suicide of a well-to-do farmer, Walter Sprague, of that town. The
unfortunate man went to his barn in the afternoon and drove a nail into one of
the stalls about three feet from the floor. He then attached a small cord to
the nail, arranged a loop in the cord and placing his head through the loop,
laid down on the floor and strangled himself to death. He was discovered
later in the afternoon in that terrible position, his head being with a few
inches of the floor. Mr. Sprague several years ago was confined in an asylum
for insanity, but since his release had been rational and considered
permanently cured, until about three weeks ago he was called upon to mourn the
death of a daughter, a young, married lady. This melancholy event again
disturbed his reason and since that time has been insane. His family was
apprehensive that he might undertake to destroy his life and kept a vigilant
look after him, but their precantation failed to prevent his irresponsible
designs.
Died.
YOUNG.-At Larrabee on Thursday, the ??th inst., of Tubercular Meningitis,
Miles Taylor Young, infant son of D.C. and Ada Young, aged 7 months.
Was it an Accident, Murder or Suicide?
On Tuesday morning of this week a Swede named John Paterson was found dead
in his house on the Highland road, a few miles from this place. A bullet hole
through his head and a revolver on the floor at his side tells a part of the
story. It is said that he was never known to have a revolver in his
possession, and the whole matter is shrouded in mystery. He was known as a
hard working, honest man, was single and lived alone and worked his little
farm. Rumor says he was to have been married on Friday of this week, and that
his intended wife was coming here on that day. The question now arises, Did
he take his own life, was it an accident, or was it taken by the foul hand of
an assassin? At this writing the coroner's jury has not convened, and when it
does it may throw some additional light upon this sad affair.
Jul 17, 1879, page 3:
Fatal Accident at Westons.
A special dispatch to the Olean Times, of Tuesday says: A very serious
accident occurred here to-day resulting in the death of a boy named Fred Real,
aged about fourteen years, he was employed by Geo. Fitzgibbon, pealing bark on
the hillside opposite the mill. He, with the son of Fitzgibbon's was felling
a hemlock tree which struck the top of a dry rotten stub breaking off a place
about three feet long, which flew and stuck young Real on the head smashing
his skull and killing him instantly. The boy was thought a great deal of by
all who knew him, and his friends have the heartfelt sympathy of the entire
community.
Aug 7, 1879, page 3:
Suicide at Coleville.
Suicides, robberies and all imaginary crimes are becoming so frequent in and
about Coleville that not to hear of some fracas or other every day seems a
little odd. Indeed, to learn of no disturbance from that quarter during a
period of forty-eight hours is about the only thing that surprises us as
coming from that vicinity, and thus when the report reached here on Monday
that a young lady had committed suicide the night before the rumor was
received as simply a matter of fact occurrence and inquiry as to whom, and the
cause of the step, mad purely to gratify curiosity. It appears that the
unfortunate woman, whose name was Kittie Irwin, had been an inhabitant of
Mollie English's bagnio for some three weeks. On Sunday she had some trouble
with a gentleman (?) friend and went to McBride's drugstore where she
purchased a quantity of morphine with which to drown her troubles she had
been drinking heavily for some days previous and was very much demented and
cast down in spirits. Her roommate noticed that she was intoxicated when she
went to bed, but did not see her take the poison. The discovery of her dead
body the next morning was the first that was known of her rash act. Coroner
Blair of Bradford was notified of the occurrence and proceeded at once to
Coleville empanneled a jury and held an inquest, the verdict being rendered in
accordance with the above facts.
We subjoin a brief sketch of the career of this unfortunate woman as given
by the Bradford Era, to show what earnest but unavailing efforts were made to
deter her from the damnable course she seemed determined to follow: Kittie
Irwin who thus expiated a life of shame was twenty-five years old. She was
born in Beaver, this State, of highly respectable parents. It is said she was
in attendance at Beaver Seminary and showed much aptitude for study. After
running away from school she fell from virtue was reclaimed by her guardian,
but proving incorrigible was taken to the house of correction at Pittsburgh.
Escaping from the reformatory she next turned up in Petrolis, where she became
an intimate of a notorious begalo. This was between four and five years ago.
A prominent operator became enamored with the handsome Cyprian and took her to
ive with him. Sometime after the girl's guardian again appeared on the scene
and took her back to the house of correction. It is said Kittie had-
expectations of a fortune of $8,000, which would accrue to her should she
return from a life of shame. All efforts to reclaim the unhappy woman were
fruitless. When she emerged a second time from the house of correction she
was hardened in crime and forever lost to friends. Coming to Bradford, Kittie
became a well known inmate of a disreputable house on Pig Island. Three
months ago she emigrated to Coleville, and entered the establishment of Mollie
English.
Aug 14, 1879, page 3:
Accident and Mishaps.
Edenburg has another mysterious murder case. An old and respected citizen
named George Culp was fatally poisoned by partaking of a loaf of bread. A
portion of the same loaf was fed to two dogs, causing their death.
A son of Frederick Hughes of Tioga junction, aged 13 years, pointed a gun at
a younger brother four or five years of age, supporting that it was not
loaded. It was loaded, however, and the young brother was buried last Sunday.
Levi Mason, a brakeman on the K.&E. R.R. undertook suicide on Sunday morning
by the unheroic and unpoetical means of a dose of morphine. The physicians
took him in hand, and his recovery is probable.
Aug 21, 1879, page 3:
Death of an Old Resident.
On the 21st of last month Mr. N.C. Gallup, of Norwich township, died at the
ripe age of 65 years. His father settled in this county, in what was then
Sergeant township, now Norwich, in 1813. He at once cleared up a farm upon
which he lived to the day of his death, and his son succeeding him has also
lived and died upon the same farm. He leaves a wife and three children, two
of whom are married. He was always known and respected as an honest, upright
man and good citizen, and in his death we are forcibly reminded of the fact
that one by one the old settlers of the county are rapidly passing away.
Peter Boyle deliberately courted death on Tuesday by walking in front of a
train on the Erie branch. No warnings of the whistle or bell could induce him
to leave the track and every effort was made to stop the train, but he was
overtaken and almost instantly killed, and horribly mangled. It was a case of
deliberate suicide. Boyle was a native of Canada and has been a resident of
the oil regions for fourteen years. He was 38 years of age and a driller by
trade.
Oct 30, 1879, page 3:
Death of a Pioneer.
David E. Foster, yesterday, died at his home near Lewis Run, about five
miles south of this city. Deceased was aged sixty-two years and had been a
resident of this section for the past half century. He followed a quiet and
steady life as a farmer and was widely known and esteemed among the older
residents of the Tuna Valley. For the past year he has been afflicted with
consumption so that he was unable to longer attend the labors of his farm the
funeral will take place at the late residence of the deceased on Friday. -
Bradford Era.
Nov 16, 1879, page 3:
Died.
RIFLE. At the residence of his son, A.L. Rifle in Norwich township, Nov. 1,
1879, Daniel Rifle, aged about 75 years.
ROUBLE.-At the residence of N.W. Heinemann, in Norwich township, Oct 25, 1879
of Diptheria, Minnie Rouble, daughter of the late Michael Rouble, aged five
years.
Feb 5, 1880, page 3:
Death of Darwin Hamlin.
We are called upon this week to announce the death of Mr. A.D. Hamlin which
occurred at his residence in this borough on Monday night last. At the time
of his demise he was 59 years of age, and was one of the old residents of our
town. He came here we think in early boyhood, and has ever since been a
resident of Smethport. For two or three years past he has been afflicted by a
cancer in one of his eyes and this we understand was the final cause of his
death. He suffered the most excruciating pain from this fatal disease and
tried many remedies in the hope of effecting a cure, but to no purpose, and
finally yielded to the inevitable as do all seemingly afflicted with this
deadly disease.
Mr. Hamlin was a surveyor by profession and naturally enjoyed a very large
acquaintance in this and adjoining counties, as the duties of that profession
brought him in contact with the people generally and especially land owners,
who found in him a competent surveyor and agreeable companion. He was an
honorable citizen, a kind and obliging neighbor, and had a heart as large as
ever beat in the bosom of man. Funeral services, conducted by Rev. W.R.
Wagoner, were held at hiss late residence at 3 p.m. yesterday, after which the
deceased was followed to his last resting place by a large concourse of
relatives and friends.
Feb 12, 1880, page 3:
Blown To Atoms, A Glycerine explosion at Corwin Center.
Howard Tackett Torn Limb from Limb.
On Monday morning two men named Howard Tackett and James Feeny started from
Butts & Baxter's glycerine magazine a short distance south of Bradford for
Cole Creek, with five twenty pounds cans of the explosive in a cutter. When a
half mile east of Corwin Center, they drove into a deep gully when the sleigh
suddenly capsized. The cans of glycerine were hurled out upon the hard
ground, causing an explosion which woke the echoes for mile upon mile. When
the sleigh went over Feeny jumped. The explosion buried him in the debris and
although injuring him dreadfully he was not killed outright. But Tackett was
a horrible spectacle to look upon. For fifty fee through the air he was
hurled like a foot ball and fell a mangled corpse. His right arm was torn
from its socket, and blown to atoms, the pieces being found scattered far and
near. His right leg was also wrenched off and ground to pulp Both eyes were
out; his jaw was broken, and the entire side of his face and body crushed to a
jelly. Hardly a rag of clothing remained on his body. Several buildings near
by were shaken as if by an earthquake. The horses which were drawing the
cutter were instantly killed. Tackett was a native of Forrestville, N.Y., a
sober, industrious young man, unmarried, a member of the A.O.U.W. at Custer
City. Feeny who now lies in a critical condition, came a few months ago from
Petrolia, and has been for some time handling glycerine.
(The story of the damage caused to the surrounding area continues at length)
The body of the poor unfortunate Tackett was gathered up, and taken to the
undertaking establishment of P. Webster, of Bradford, to await the arrival of
his brother, from Forrestville. Feeny is under the charge of good
physicians. It is not known whether he is fatally injured or not.
Jun 3, 1880, page 3:
Death of J.B. Taylor.
The announcement of the death of John B. Taylor on Friday, the 4th inst.,
was an unexpected event to most people. Although known to have been in poor
health for a long time, he was not thought to be in a dangerous condition - no
more so than he had been in many previous sicknesses. Mr. Taylor was sixty-
six years of age and was considered one of the oldest residents of the place.
He was in active business for many years and was well known in the county.
Funeral services were held at the Baptist church on Sunday morning, a very
large concourse of people being present on the occasion to pay their last
respects to the deceased.
Aug 12, 1880, page 3:
Died.
BECKWITH.-In Farmer's Valley, Aug. 12, 1880, Henry, son of C.H. and M.E.
Beckwith, aged six months and nine days.
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