1876b jul-dec

41.

Morris HANCY, of Grand Rapids, aged 7 years was drowned in Grand river last Sunday night, by falling from a boom upon which he was walking. The body was recovered.

42.

Friday July 14, 1876

Several men got into a quarrel in John WALCH’S saloon, at Lowell, about a week ago, and one of the men named WOOD was kicked injuring him so badly that he died Monday morning. Mr. WALCH, proprietor of the saloon, is under arrest.

Friday July 14, 1876

Excitement is high at Ludington over the murder of Luther H. FOSTER a prominent citizen. Mr. FOSTER pursued a robber from his home outside his gate, and it is likely he caught the villain, who shot him. His wife found him a few moments afterward dead. No trace of the murderer is yet discovered.

Friday May, 12, 1876

Dowagiac Republican; The body of John BIELBY was found Saturday morning in Indian lake, and the facts of the case seem to be these. He was subject to fits and had been in an insane asylum for some time and upon being discharged he came to his brother-in-law’s Anderson SHAUL, near the lake and had been there visiting about a week. Friday afternoon he started out to take a walk, and it is supposed be was taken with a fit and fell in the water, as the strained condition of the limbs and muscles indicated it, and also the fact that the water was only about one foot in death where he was found.

Friday July 21, 1876

Henry SCHWARTZ, a Detroit lad, was drowned a few days ago while bathing, on an excursion to Bois Blanc Island.

Friday July 21, 1876

A 13-year-old boy named BLAIR was struck by lightning and instantly killed in Tuscola township, Tuscola county, recently, during a heavy thunder storm.

Friday July 21, 1876

O. B. CLARK, one of the oldest and wealthiest citizens of Coldwater, died at his residence in that city recently, aged 68 years. Mr. CLARK established the first paper ever printed in Seneca Falls, N. Y., in 1829, which he published several years.

Friday July 21, 1876

A whisky homicide occurred at Quincy Wednesday evening of last week. Marvin BAILEY, who was under the influence of liquor, assaulted Aaron BROWNELL, and the latter shot him through the bowels, killing him almost instantly. BROWNELL was taken into custody.

Friday July 21, 1876

Two brothers named RICHARDSON, of Dundee, went hunting on the Fourth. When they separated Thomas shot a bird and got into a tree to secure it, when William came up. Hearing something in the tree he shot into the moving leaves and was horrified to see his brother fall to the ground dead.

Friday July 28, 1876

Wm. ELKO was drowned while bathing in Lake George, a few miles south of Coldwater, Wednesday.

Friday July 28, 1876

Dundee has a visitation of cerebro-spinal meningitis. A daughter of Mrs. Etta RATHBUN has died, and other cases of great severity are reported.

Friday July 28, 1876

Mrs. JOHNSON, the wife of a quack doctor residing at Flint, died there a few days ago, soon after drinking a cup of tea. It is supposed case of poisoning.

Friday July 28, 1876

Dr. R. S. SMITH, President of the Ann Arbor Saving Bank, is dead. He was a man o considerable wealth and prominence in the city, and had lived there twenty years.

Friday July 28, 1876

A dead body was fished out of the river, just below Middle Bridge, in East Saginaw the other day, and identified as Robert STEWART, a resident of Saginaw City, supposed to have fallen into the river while under the influence of liquor.

At Pontiac, a few mornings since, Miss Addie B. HADSELL, aged 22, daughter of Asa HADSELL, broke open a trunk of her uncle’s and took a pistol, and, putting the muzzle to her right temple, fired the charge into her head, causing almost instant death.

Friday July 28, 1876

On Saturday of last week the body of a drowned man was found in the river at East Saginaw and identified as that of Robert STEWART, who disappeared on Monday and had not been seen since. Six months ago the body of Alexander STEWART, a brother of Albert STEWART, was found in the river under similar circumstances. The verdict in each case was accidental drowning.

Friday August 4, 1876

Dr. Thomas HASKINS was buried last week. He was an early pioneer of Scio, Washtenaw county, having removed there in 1833. He was 78 years of age.

43.

Friday August 4, 1876

Capt. James H. SHARKWEATHER, who once was well known as a master of lake vessels, died a few days ago at the Marine Hospital, in Detroit, where he was steward.

Friday August 4, 1876

A man named SAMPSOM, living in Fair Grove township, Tuscola county, accidentally shot himself a few days since, the charge entering the right breast. He survived the accident half an hour only.

Friday August 4, 1876

Recent deaths: At Charlotte, Asher KILBOURN, one of the oldest pioneers of Eaton county, aged 90 years; at Eaton Rapids, Mrs. M. KNAPP, aged 83 years, and Mr. GREEN, son of Capt. GREEN of the Revolutionary war, aged 82.

Friday August 4, 1876

A boy named LONG, aged 13 years, while shooting squirrels near Union City, accidentally discharged his gun, the load taking effect under his ear, and a portion of it passing into his brain. The poor lad died forty-eight hours after the accident occurred.

Friday August 4, 1876

Wm. GAGE, a farmer whose home was near Ypsilanti, was killed by a locomotive near that city a few days ago. He was driving across the track became demoralized at seeing a train approaching, and sprang upon the track just in time to get killed. Deceased had live in that section a long time, and was well known and highly respected.

Friday August 11, 1876

Frazier HARRIS, a resident of Ann Arbor for upward of thirty years, died, a few nights since,, at the age of 85. He served in the war of 1812, was widely known, and highly respected. His original home was New York. His brother was for many years Minster to China and Japan.

Friday August 11, 1876

A man named Ed SMITH, who lived about two miles south of Grand Rapids, was shot and killed recently. He had a gun-trap set with a string to shoot deer, and it is thought that he went out to examine the trap and accidentally ran against the string and was shot dead. His body was found at the place by his friends.

Friday August 11, 1876

A young man, named Fred W. WAGSTER, was arrested at Banks, Bay county, one night last week, for forgery. He was allowed to go up stairs to change his clothing, the officers guarding the stairway. While he was in his room three pistol shots, following each other in quick succession, were heard, and the officers rushed into the rooms and found WAGSTER lying on the floor dead. On examination, it was found that the last ball, fired at the left breast, pierced the heart, passed through the body, and fell on the floor. The deceased was about 24, and leaves a wife.

Friday August 11, 1876

The aged David COOPER, of Detroit millionaire, is dead. He had lived in Detroit since 1790, and leaves two children only, Rev. D. M. COOPER of Albion, Ind. And a Mrs. SPRAGUE, of Wayne county, this State.

Friday August 18, 1876

Several men were engaged in a game of cards at a saloon at Detroit, a few days since, when a controversy arose, and Michael TOBIN was shot by John SCHNEL and, fatally wounded, the man living but a short time.

Friday August 18, 1876

George H. REISELEY, a boy about 9 years of age, a resident of South Saginaw, was drowned one day last week, in the river, while swimming near the shore. Only a small boy was present, and he too young to be of assistance.

Friday August 18, 1876

A man named KLINGLER, residing at Chelsea, was instantly killed by attempting to jump from the day express going west. His head struck against a railroad tie and his skull was smashed to a jelly. He leaves a wife, having been married but a few weeks.

Friday August 18, 1876

Mrs. Lottie HUDDETON, of the Canada settlement, Eaton county, died of grief recently, at being charged with poisoning her husband, who died some months ago. A post-mortem examination entirely exonerated her, but the disgrace weighed fatally upon her mind.

The body of Mr. W. HEATON, one of the victims of the steamer St. Clair disaster, was found near the mouth of Salmon Trout river. It was so badly decomposed as to be unrecognizable, and was only identified by the initials of his name pegged in the soles of his boots.

Friday August 18, 1876

While services were being held in the Methodist Episcopal Church at Fentonville, on Sunday of last week, Mrs. POTTER, mother of the minister, a lady of over 70 years, fell back in the pew and died in a few minutes it is supposed from paralysis or heart disease.

44.

Friday August 18, 1876

On the 6th day of June last, says the Grand Rapids Eagle, Thomas TRASK, a carpenter living on the west side of the river in this city, made and executed a written conveyance of his body, to be delivered after death, Dr. Wm. H. DECAMP, physician and surgeon, "for the purpose of the advancement of medical and surgical science," authorizing the doctor to take possession of the body and dissect it, and use it in that or any other manner that he might deem best for the purpose named in the deed, also enjoining his heirs, executors and administrators to aid in carrying out the terms of the contract by the delivery of the body or corpse of the said TRASK, after his decease. The instrument was properly and legally drawn, signed and witnessed by two witnesses, the latter being P. S. WESTON and John PRICE. On Friday last Mr. TRASK took morphine, it is supposed with suicidal intent, and died apparently from the effects of the drug. The contract was carried out, Dr. DECAMP taking possession of his body, dissecting the head and examining the brain, and then consigning it to proper burial. Mr. TRASK was an old resident, a quiet, honest and unassuming citizen, but living a somewhat lonely life, and had been out of health for a long time, probably becoming morbidity tired of life.

Friday August 25, 1876

John P. SWAN, in years past a well-known journalist of Detroit, died in that city a few days ago, of consumption.

Friday August 25, 1876

An 11-year-old girl, named Rebecca BUCHANAN, was drowned, a few days since in the Tittabawassee river, at Midland. She was with an excursion of the Methodist Church Society, and while playing on some logs fell in.

Friday August 25, 1876

Phoebe WORTHLY, wife of John WORTHLY, a resident near Flint, committed suicide, the other day, by drowning herself in a tub of water. Mrs. WORTHLY leaves a husband and three children. Probable reasons for killing herself, family trouble.

Friday August 25, 1876

A correspondent at Dexter writes: "Another victim to his own temerity was sacrifice this morning as the 9 o’clock freight passed through here east. A little boy, 11 years of age, threw away his young life by jumping from the fence of the cattle yard on to the cars while in motion. He was thrown between the cars and cut up through the hip, the whirled over and cut up across the waist, finally his head was severed from his body, and he was taken up a mangled mass. His name was John MCGOVIN. No blame is attached to the engineer. We hope this lesson will be considered a warning to the boys of Dexter.

Friday August 25, 1876

Margaret HAMMOND, of Canada, who, seventeen years ago, was left a widow by the death of her husband, John MAGEE, is desirous of finding her daughter Margaret, who about that time was adopted by a farmer named Ephraim THOMPSON. Mr. THOMPSON is supposed to be a resident of Michigan. Information should be addressed care of Wm. B. CLARK, Sarnia, Ontario.

Friday September 1, 1876

Last Saturday night a young man, named John WHEELOCK, was drowned at Grosse Isle while bathing.

Friday September 1, 1876

Edgar FOLLER, a young man of good family, shot and instantly killed himself at Bronson a few days ago. The reason ascribed for the deliberate suicide was that of jealousy.

Friday September 1, 1876

Saturday evening an old sailor named AMES, aged 60, while trying to make a line fast to the dock, fell into the river at Sangatuck and before being discovered was drowned. He leaves a wife and children.

Friday September 1, 1876

Edwin NELSON, a son of Col. E. S. PIERCE, the clothier of Grand Rapids, took cobalt used as fly poison accidentally, one day last week, and died within two hours. The child was 21 months old. His father and mother were absent at the Centennial at the time of the accident.

Friday September 8, 1876

Charles FOISLE, a young man employed as clerk in the dry goods establishment of Chas. Boot & Co. was drowned at Detroit last Sunday by falling into the river from a steam yacht.

Friday September 8, 1876

Jacob F. BROSS, who has been a resident of Ann Arbor and vicinity for about thirty years, was buried in that city one day last week. He came from Germany to Ann Arbor in 1847. At the time of his death he was living in Austria.

Friday September 8, 1876

William BARKER was found dead in the barn of William PATTERSON at Constantine, Tuesday afternoon. His age was 50 years, his residence Newburg, and his occupation bookkeeper. The jury decided after hearing all the evidence, that deceased came to his death from the effects of intoxication, exposure and overdose of laudanum.

45.

Friday September 8, 1876

Mrs. LELAND, of Ypsilanti, who attempted suicide on Aug. 10, and whose husband died on Aug. 21, from the effects of a dose of morphine administered by her, fell in a fainting fit on Aug. 22, at her husband’s funeral, and died within five minutes. She had hardly been in her right mind for some time past, owing to the excessive use of opium.

Friday September 8, 1876

A man by name of John WHITE (known among his familiars as Buffalo Bill), a cooper by trade, was found drunk in the streets of Northville, last Saturday evening, and by the Marshal placed in the village lock-up. Soon after his incarceration, the building was discovered to be on fire, and before assistance could be rendered, the unfortunate inebriate perished in the flames. It is probable the unfortunate man set fire to the straw in his cell in attempting to light his pipe. The deceased for some years past has made his home in Novi, and, it is said, has parents living in this State.

Friday September 8, 1876

A recent fire at Wyandotte destroyed A. LISKEY’S store and dwelling. Mr. LISKEY was suffocated while endeavoring to remove his goods from the burning building.

Friday September 15, 1876

James T. SICKLES died at DeWitt, last week, aged 80, on the farm located with a soldier’s warrant in 1830.

Friday September 22, 1876

Thos. WHITE was drowned in the river at Detroit, while endeavoring to board a vessel one night last week.

Friday September 22, 1876

Judge George YOUNGLOVE, aged 83 years, one of the pioneers of Raisinville, died at his residence in Monroe township recently.

Friday September 22, 1876

Mrs. E. JACOBS, of Martin, Allegan county, aged 23, married and with a family of three children, killed herself by taking poison Saturday week.

Andrew SIMMONS, aged 17; of Martin , tried to drive a squirrel from under a log with the butt of his gun. The gun, of course, was discharged, the contents lodging in the abdomen of the youth. He will not recover.

Friday September 22, 1876

A few days since (a special from East Saginaw informs us) the barn of Charles SMITH, situated near the village of Chesaning, Saginaw county, was discovered to be on fire, and it was soon consumed. The body of Mr. SMITH was found in the ruins, and the suspicion was at once raised that he had been murdered, as he not been on good terms with his family, and his wife had made inquires as to weather she could hold his property in case of his death. Mrs. SMITH and other parties have been arrested. SMITH was 45 and Mrs. SMITH was his second wife. A young man named ALEXANDER, was also mixed up in the case and was arrested.

Friday September 29, 1876

A young girl, 14 years of age, named Paulina MAGER, daughter of Adam MAGER, of Ann Arbor, met with an accident on Saturday, which resulted in her death on the following day. She had just started a fire a noon, and, because it did not burn to suit her, began fanning it with her apron. This caught fire in the flames, and in an instant her other clothes were set on fire. Becoming frightened, she ran out doors toward the barn and afterward in front of the house, with the usual result, that the flames increased in their fury. A neighboring lady by this time came to the rescue, and, wrapping a blanket about her, further burning was arrested, yet it had gone so far that her flesh was burned to a crisp in many places and there was no help for her life.

Friday September 29, 1876

Friday September 29, 1876

At Allegan, one day last week, Isaac HOWE and wife died of bilious fever, after a brief illness. They were childless, well respected and old. The husband died in the morning and the wife in the evening.

A 15-year-old daughter of Adam MAGER, a resident of Ann Arbor, was burned so badly the other day that she cannot recover. She was building a fire, when her dress caught in, and was not extinguished till she was shockingly burned.

Friday September 29, 1876

A lady named Elizabeth PERRIN, aged 70 years, of Ypsilanti, while sitting at the table at the residence of her son, F. DUBOIS, in East Saginaw, the other day, instantly expired. She had been in her usual good health. Heart disease was the cause of her death.

46.

Friday September 29, 1876

The verdict of the Coroner’s jury summoned to sit upon the body of Charles SMITH, found dead in a burned barn near Chesaning, indicated that the deceased came by his death by murder in his own house: that the body was conveyed thence to the barn and there burned with the building, and that suspicion pointed to Mrs. SMITH, wife of the deceased, Freeman CARGON, and his wife, the latter a sister of Mrs. SMITH, and Morris ALEXANDER. The parties were arrested, and, followed by an excited mob of the citizens of Chesaning, were conducted to the depot, thence to Saginaw City, and lodged in jail. When found the body was almost entirely consumed. The legs and arms were entirely gone, the trunk was a charred mass, with only a sort of outline of the ribs to indicate that the thing had once been a man. The face and skull were completely burned away, only a portion of the latter remaining in the place where it touched the floor.

Friday October 6, 1876

John SCHARER, a farmer living six miles west of Ann Arbor, was killed the other afternoon by the cars at Dexter. He was crossing the tracks with his team, when a wild train struck the horses, killed them, and demolished the wagon. He was 50 years old, and leaves a wife and ten children.

Friday October 6, 1876

Mr. Marvil SHAW, one of the pioneers of Macomb county, died at his residence in Romeo, on Sunday morning last. He had been in very feeble health for some time, and his death in consequence was not entirely unexpected. Mr. SHAW was born in Fulton county, N. Y., and removed to Romeo in 1850. He was a man of untiring energy and enterprise in his earlier days, which enabled him to accumulate large possessions, and he was without doubt at the time of his death the wealthiest man in Macomb county.

Friday October 6, 1876

At the Democratic pole-raising in Onondaga last Saturday afternoon, one shot was fired and the streamer was raised, and while loading for a second shot the gun was prematurely discharged, instantly killing the gunner, named TURNER. The accident broke up the meeting, and cast a gloom over the entire community. The deceased leaves a wife and one child.

Friday October 6, 1876

Detroit Evening News: "A few years ago a man named Joseph F. MERRILL, whose home was in Port Huron or Fort Gratiot, or both, went to Chicago and died there. At least it was reported, and there was corroborating evidence of the best kind to prove it. Joe was a sort of a lawyer, an artful dodger, and the reporters got even with him by kicking up a decided sensation about his wretched death. It is characteristic of him now to come forward and say he is not dead, and his wife believes him."

Friday October 20, 1876

A man named McMANNIS was washed overboard off the schooner James Couch, off Port Huron, one night last week, and drowned. Mr. McMANNIS lived in Painesville, Ohio. The body was not recovered.

Two young men named RYAN and MURPHY at the Keystone iron mine, Ontonagon, commenced wrestling near the mouth of the shaft and fell down the same, a distance of seventy-five feet. RYAN was badly mangled by the fall, and lived only an hour. MURPHY was more fortunate, and hopes are entertained of his recovery.

Jacob REBER, a farmer near Lansing, started home from that city the other evening with a load of empty barrels, and was found next morning in the street, in the western part of the city, with his neck broken. Whether he fell or was knocked off and killed is unknown. The deceased leaves a wife and family. He was 45 years of age.

Friday November 3, 1876

Wm. DOUGLAS, of Ogemaw, accidentally shot himself while crawling into a hunting tent recently. It appears that he seized the gun by the muzzle, and while pulling it toward him the hammer became caught in the blankets and the piece was discharged, he receiving the contents in the breast, while the muzzle was only six inches from him. DOUGLAS lived only about thirty six hours.

Friday November 10, 1876

Two boys playing on a dock at Detroit, the other day, quarreled about some driftwood, when Henry PASHEA, aged 9 years, throw a stone at Peter LAZOA, and killed him, the stone striking him in the head.

Friday November 10, 1876

The little 5-year-old boy of Wesley DUNN, of Brounson, met an untimely death Sunday evening. He had been missed for half an hour. Search was instituted, which resulted in finding him in a barrel of swill, in which he had fallen head first.

Friday November 10, 1876

At Coldwater, one day last week, William MARTIN, a cigarmaker, fell over the bannisters at the Southern Michigan Hotel, and dropped about eighteen feet, striking on his head, breaking his collar-bone, and receiving other injuries, from which he died soon afterward. He remains were forwarded to Detroit for interment. He leaves a wife and two children.

47.

Friday November 10, 1876

Frederick NOVIO and Joseph ARMSTRONG, of Detroit, went to Lake St. Clair, one day last week, on a sailing expedition, and, when near Grosse Point, on the American side, ARMSTRONG shot his companion, inflicting wounds from which he died soon after. The body was brought home next day. The cause of the shooting is not known, and nobody was in the boat but NOVIO’S 4-year-old son, whose story indicates that the shooting was deliberate and intentional.

Friday November 10, 1876

Jeremiah O’CONNELL, a brakeman on the M. H. & O. Railroad, was instantly killed at about 9 o’clock on Tuesday evening, near the Cleveland mine. Mr. O’CONNELL, who was an employe on Tracy’s train, the Marquette Journal says was on the front platform of the passenger car, and as the train was passing Mr. WRIGHT’S store, in attempting to step to an ore car which was forward, he fell between the cars, the wheels of the passenger car passing over him and cutting him, aged about 32 years, and was beloved by all who knew him.

Friday November 17, 1876

Under Sheriff Henry GILEHRIST, of Branch county, died at Coldwater, of consumption, one night last week.

The Dowagiac Republican says Gomorrah COTTERBACK, a boy aged about 15, was run over by a wagon near that place, a few days ago, and received injuries which resulted in his death in a few hours.

A Flint special reports the killing of Mrs. George COTHARIN, and an infant by being thrown out of a wagon which was driven by her drunken husband.

Friday December 1, 1876

Mrs. HINCKLEY, wife of J. W. HINCKLEY, of North Lansing, died last Friday morning from the effects of an overdose of hydrate of chloral, taken the previous night to quiet nervousness. Physicians were called, but too late to save her life.

Friday December 1, 1876

Last summer a man named BELCHER had a controversy with one KINYON, at Leamington, thirty miles from Windsor, relative to the right of lease to a piece of land, and finding KINYON removing crops shot him. The trial was concluded at Sandwich on Saturday, finding BELCHER guilty of murder, and he was sentenced to be hung on Dec. 11.

Friday December 1, 1876

The Port Huron Commercial describes how William HANSHAW in a fool-hardy manner met his death: "He and others were engaged in digging a town ditch. A tree stood in the line of their operations, and after they had dug all around it he climbed up among its branches to the height of about forty feet, when it fell and he never spoke afterward. He leaves a wife and two children in poor circumstances.

Friday December 1, 1876

It has been discovered that Mr. Frank ATCHISON, who mysteriously disappeared in the winter of 1870 while a student in Kalamazoo College, and who has been long since given up as dead, is living on a farm in the far West. The explanation given for his strange conduct is that while preparing for the ministry he became a confirmed infidel, and "knowing that such a course would grieve his parents worse then to mourn him as dead, he fled to from all who knew him and sought refuge in the wilds of the west".