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Buffalo Reflex, Thursday, March 24, 1886

Gone, but not Forgotten

James W. George died March 1st, 1886, of general debility, after an illness of eight weeks of almost entire helplessness, though care for as an idolized child would be, at no suffering for want of affection.Uncle Jimmie, as he was familiarly called, was born January 1st, 1798 in North Carolina, of highly respected family of old time southerners. He moved to Missouri about the year of 1840 to what is now the south part of Dallas Co., then almost a wilderness. He raised a family of seven boys and four girls all lived to be grown but one. Four sons are still alive, three of whom cared for their father in his dotage and last hours. He was a mechanic.

Fatal Affray Between Brothers

Wednesday evening a little after 6 o'clock Lon Swingle came to Bolivar and turned himself in to the custody of sheriff Dollison, with the statement that he had killed his brother Sigel Swingle. To parties who had visited him Lou Swingle talked freely concerning the affray, the details of which, as narrated by him are as follows: At about 4 o'clock Sigel drove up to where Lon, with his younger brother, Willoughby, and his neighbor Harrison were making fence. Siegel asked Lon what he was doing. Lon replied that he was fencing his land to prevent teams beating it up. Siegel said with an oath that he would beat Lon's brains out and seizing a loose standard from his wagon started toward Lon who retreated to the fence. As he was going through the fence Sigel threw the standard, missing Lon. Sigel then fired one shot at Lon without effect, and as he was drawing his pistol for a second shot Lon fired, and Segil dropped dead. Leaving Segil in the hands of Harrison and Willoughby Swingle who were witnesses of the affair. Lon went for his home and immediately came to Bolivar. Both parties to the affray lived about three miles southeast of Humansville, on the lower edge of Twenty-five mile Prairie.
Bolivar Herald.


Buffalo Reflex, Thursday, March 25, 1886

S.H. Burris & Dr Vaughn of Urbana were in the city Monday.

Miss Ruth Brying, of Springfield, is in the city visiting the misses Bacon.

Stephen Davis, of Polk County, committed suicide by hanging himself on Monday of last week.

Jacob Drake has purchased the Henry Humphrey blacksmith property of N. W. Glasgow for $300.

Our young friend W. I. Finley writes for the REFLEX to be sent to his address at Lowery City, Missouri.

The beloved wife of F.M. Ruth of Spring Grove, died on the 20th. Marian, the bereaved husband, has the heartfelt sympathy of all who know him.

Peter Humphreys has traded fifty acres of his farm, one mile northeast of town, for N. W. Glasgow's residence property just north of Jacob Drake.

Miss Flora Stanley is teaching a class in music at Weaubleau, Hickory County.

Stephen Davis of Polk County, committed suicide by hanging himself on Monday of last week.

Sheriff Burns is building an addition to the county jail, and will move thereto in a short time.

Misses Alma Greever & Mamie Bacon were received into the Christian Church by baptism Monday evening.

Mrs. S.B. Roll after spending the winter with her son, Bert Roll in Caldwell, Kansas, returned home last Saturday.


Buffalo Reflex, Thursday, April 22, 1886

The many friends of Uncle Phil Bennett will learn with sorrow of the death of this old landmark, which occurred at his residence, one and on-half miles south of this place, on Monday evening, aged 75 years, 3 months and 5 days. Uncle Phil as he is commonly called, was born in Nelson County, Kentucky in 1810. At the age of twenty he moved to lark county Illinois and November 25, 1836 was married to Miss Anna Marrs. In the year 1856 Mr. Bennett and family settled near Long Lane, where he lived until 1859, removing to where he died. He leaves a devoted wife and seven children, five boys and two girls, and a host of grandchildren and friends who esteem him as one of the best men. The funeral took place Tuesday when all that was mortal of Uncle Phil was laid to rest in the family burying ground a short distance east of his residence.

John Paul, heretofore a leading citizen of Marshfield, is in jail at that place charged with burglarizing a store. If a few more of the prominent (?) men of Marshfield were in jail the hard fisted yeomanry of the county would be in less danger of being pauperized.


Buffalo Reflex, Thursday, June 3, 1886

James Norman, living three miles northeast of Buffalo, was thrown from his buggy last Sunday morning, & whom picked up in an insensible condition was thought to be fatally injured. Dr Sater, the attending surgeon, informs it is his opinion he was first struck by lightening at which the horses took fright and ran away throwing him violently to the ground; becoming entangled in the lines he was dragged on the ground a distance of a hundred yards or more, hence the lacerations on his face and throat. He rallied Monday morning and it is thought no more bad effects are to follow, at least we hope so.

John Polly who has been confined to the asylum for the insane at Fulton for the past several months, returned home last Saturday, having been pronounced cured by the asylum management.

Last week the 13-months old son of C.C. Fulton while playing on the Guld Railway in Greene County was run over by the train and killed, its head being severed from its body.


Buffalo Reflex, Thursday, June 19, 1886

Knight & Rodreick have removed their sawmill to Long Lane, where they are now prepared to do custom work of every kind.

W.S. Rice, one of the leading farmers of Louisburg, was in the city Saturday and reported the killing, on Friday, of a rattlesnake that measured 5 feet 2 inches long and 8 inches in circumference. His snake ship also sported seven rattles and a button.

T.B. Morrow and daughter Lizzie left Tuesday for Rolla where the later will attend the Conservatory of Music the ensuing term.

Sheriff Burns, accompanied by C.S. Finley, took Mrs. S.E. Edwards and George Cranfield, two insane subjects, to Fulton last Friday.

The Kansas prodigals are slowly but surely returning. W.J. Vanhorn is again among his old time friends who are glad to welcome him back to old Buffalo.

C.E. Burton, who has been attending school at Warrensburg the past several months, returned last week to his home near Greasy.

Mrs. Martha English who has been visiting her brother, R.S. Brownlow, has returned to her home in Campbellsville, TN.

Miss Bertha Hardy gave a birthday party last Thursday evening


Buffalo Reflex, Thursday, July 15, 1886

CS & George Roll took in the races in Springfield on the 5th.

M.G. Lovan returned from Eureka Springs Tuesday, where he had been to recuperate his health.

John Brownlow, Robert Booth and George Morrow will attend school in Fort Scott Kansas. They will leave about September 1st.

John Hawes came up from Urbans Saturday evening to take in the fireworks and remained over night. He says that Urbana also had a rousing time.

J.H. Rogers, who is attending school at Sedalia, writes under the date of July 2 that he is well pleased with the school and believes that he has improved fifty percent in the last two weeks.

We publish the announcement of G.W. Kellogg as a candidate for sheriff. Mr. Kellog was born and raised in Dallas County and is one of Jackson Township's most prominent farmers; is a man of merit and a Greenbacker from principle, and will make it warm for his opponent if he gets the nomination.


Buffalo Reflex, Thursday,July 22, 1887

E.C. Williamson, a leading farmer, of O'Bannon Prairie, called Tuesday and had his paper changed fro Charity to Greasy. Mrs. T.C. Opdyche is visiting relatives in Camden county this week.

Died while visiting in California, July 9, 1886, Mr. J. W. Payne, aged 71 years. He was born Dec 3, 1815 and on October 6, 183? married Miss Eliza A. Blockard (mother of Mrs. S.W. Lindsey of Louisburg, MO) who died June 9, 1858. In 1836 Mr. Payne moved to Dallas Co with his family and was one of the early pioneers of this county. He returned to Mississippi in 1847 for nine years and then returned to Dallas Co. Then in 1864 he moved to Macon Co., MO. On July 17, 1860 he married for a second time to Rachel P. Early, who died Oct 7, 1883 (long obit)


Buffalo Reflex, Thursday, September 16, 1886

Gracie Marsh 12 year old daughter of J. P. & Clementine Marsh died.


Buffalo Reflex, Thursday, September 23, 1886

Melvin Yeager born Hickory Co. MO Nov 8, 1848 died September 23, 1886. He married Eliza Ann Pare on Dec 16, 1870, they settled in Dallas Co, near Urbana he leave a wife and four children. Two children preceded him in death.


Buffalo Reflex, Thursday, October 14, 1886

William Humphreys of Lincoln in this county was instantly killed by the accidental discharge of his gun whilst engaged in a hunt in Flat Creek, near Sedalia. The deceased was about 18 years of age.

C.J. Pendergraft who left this county last year for Texas, returned one day and will make it his permanent home.

C.L. Curtice is enjoying a visit from his sister, Mrs. George McKerlie, of Dawn, Livingston Co., Mo. whom he has not seen for twenty-five years.

Married in his city at the Hotel Brown, on Saturday, 9th instant, at 5pm Charles H. Drago of Lebannon & Miss Lizzie Heinz of Decator Illinois.

The case against J.A. Crawford for arson was decided last Friday night, the jury being out but a short time. The sentence was five years in the penitentiary. A motion for a new trial has been filed.

Dick and Hallie Carson are attending the Lebanon fair. W. Hunt, J.R. Welch, G.T. Edmisson and Alex McPheeters departed this morning for Lebanon to attend the fair.

Robert Brown, son of “mine host” of the Brown House, who has been employed in St. Louis since February is expected home this week.

Dr. Blevins, of Bolivar, was in the city last night the guest of his son S.S. Blevins. They went up to Springfield this morning accompanied by B. F. Harris.

J.W. Glenn last week exchanged his land claim in Kansas for Alexander Levisey's farm in Jackson Township, and will remove thereto in a short time.

Charles Bottom, son & daughter of Marble, Ark. came up last Friday on a visit to relatives. Lizzie Bottoms accompanied them home where she will remain a short time visiting.

The Kansas prodigals continue to return to old Dallas thoroughly disgusted with that windy and grasshopper country.

Wm. Hensley accidentally shot, and fatally wounded, his little daughter 12 years old, on Tuesday. He was taking down his shot-gun from the rack when it got caught in a coat that was hanging on the rack, and went off, striking the child in a vital part. She lived for a few hours after the terrible incident.
Forsyth Home


Buffalo Reflex, Thursday, November 4, 1886

Born to C.S. Finley & wife on October 31 a 10 lb Greenback Boy.

S.S. Blevins has about completed his now dwelling on east main street.

W.A. Goode of Carthage, last week took his own life by swallowing strychnine.

Adolphus Jones, colored, shot and killed Frank Turnor, also colored, at Springfield, last Sunday.

Peter Humphry has sold his residential property on main St. to Rev. Shepherd and moved his family to the John Ball farm, three miles north of town.

Thomas Weatherby, of Polk county, father of our townsman T.G. Weatherby, has moved into the building made vacant by Rev. Shepherd. His daughter, Mrs. Van Auda, late of town, is living with him.

James Gifford, of Burlinggame Kansas, came in Tuesday on a visit tohis brother-in-law, F.A. VanNorman.

M.L. Reynolds has announced his intention to move to Springfield engaging in the nursery business at Nichols Junction.

W.T. Brown left yesterday morning for his home at Sullivan Indiana. He will return in a short time and make this his permanent home. He will perhaps engage in the livery business with Jas. L. Randles.

John Bonner, one of the most promising citizens of Urbana, died last Saturday of an over-dose of nitric acid administered by his own hands by mistake.


Buffalo Reflex, Thursday, November 18, 1886

Thomas Pittman has sold his farm near Long Lane and moved to Buffalo.

John T. Jones has leased his farm, four miles south of Buffalo, to Samuel Cox.

G.W. O'Bannon has beautified the front of his business house with a new coat of paint.

R.S. Brownlow has resigned his position with W.L. Morrow & Co. and T.B. Morrow has taken his place.

R.S. Brownlow has accepted a position as clerk in the “old reliable” house of G.W. O'Bannon and would be pleased to have his old friends call and see him.

Last week Frank Cheek, a brakeman on the Bolivar branch of the Frisco Line, accidentally fell off, his head striking a rock causing his death almost instantly. The accident occurred near Wishart while the train was running at full speed.

We are glad to be able to note the election of W.G. Robertson as prosecuting attorney of Dallas County, and also the election of his brother. R.M. Robertson to the same office in Johnson County. They are sons of our venerable and esteemed fellow citizen Uncle Jim Robertson and were born and raised in this county.

Lost Boy

The son of Mrs. Caroline Wade, by a former husband, was taken from the family home in Labanon, MO., by his step-father, G.C. Wade, on or about June 1. The last heard of the boy was at the home of a man named Wm. Beasley, twelve miles north of St. James, on the Union road. The boy's name is George A. Harris. He is eleven years of age. Any information of of thelad's whereabouts will be thankfully received by his anxious mother, Caroline Wade, who can be addressed at Marshfield.


Buffalo Reflex, Thursday, December 2, 1886

On the afternoon of the 21st inst. at Nevada, Tom Bateman aged 18, Ollie Batman aged 15 and Willie Ingram, loaded a stump with powder and attached a fuse to it. Retiring to a safe distance they awaited the explosion until they thought the fuse had gone out. They went to the stump to acertain the cause of failure. Just as they reached it an explosion occurred, by which all were seriously injured, the Ingram boy, it is feared fatally.

Thompson Highfill, son of Elijah Highfill, died at Santafee, Finley County, Kansas, Friday, November 19, aged about 21 years after a six-week illness with Typhoid malarial fever. The remains arrived here on Monday and was taken to the home of his father near Fair Grove, and was buried at the Pleasant Ridge cemetery the same evening.

Last Saturday evening two young men living n the neighborhood of Hazel green post office, this county, named William Burton & James Randolph, were handling an apparently empty revolver. Randolph was snapping the gun promiscuously when he playfully threw it in the face of young Burton and snapped the hammer, discharging a stray load of cap powder and ball, of which nothing was apparently known. The bullet entered the head of young Burton near the right eye and came out at the front of the right ear. The victim is thought to be fatally injured, but is yet alive at this writing. He is regarded as a harmless but weak-minded youth, but is generally esteemed among the neighbors. Young Randolph as a matter of course, overwhelmed with grief, but entertains little hope for the life of his victim.

Boys Devoured by Wolves

On the 15th ult. Willie Meyers aged 16, and Johnie Flynn, 15 years of age, sons of neighboring farmers, left their home to gather hickory nuts. They did not return that night and yesterday a party organized a search for the lads. Late last night the remains of Willie Meyers were discovered in a long ravine, ten miles from here. Nothing but the clothing and a few bones were found and an investigation showed he had been devoured by wolves. No trace of young Flynn has been discovered. Both Stoddard and Bolivar counties are overrun with wolves, and it is believed that the lads were chased by a pack after dark and separated in their flight. Very little hope is entertained of finding Flynn alive, but the search is being pushed vigorously.

Little Charlie Rains, one year old son of Joshua & Lucinda Rains., departed this life on Saturday, November 17th, 1886 after a short illness of four or five days.


Submitted by Cindy Alvarez.

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