Jan. 16-1876-Albion New Era
The Jefferson Union Church will be dedicated on Sunday January 30, 1876. The place is known as Skinner's Burying Ground. All ministers of the gospel, and others, are invited to attend. Good speakers are expected.
We shall soon have the pleasure of announcing the dedication of the M. E. church on South Orange Street, as the structure is nearly completed.
Suicide
An old citizen of this county blows his brains out with a revolver.
A sad affair.
On Tuesday morning of this week our citizens were started by the announcement that Mr. Barzilla T. Black, an old citizen of this county, who resided on his farm in north east Jefferson township, had committed suicide by blowing out his brains with a revolver. Mr. Black was a man of perhaps 55 years of age, and leaves a wife and several children.
Death of David B. Herriman
We find in the Kendallville Standard a biographical sketch of the life of Dan S. Herriman, who died at his home in Iowa, in December last, written by Rev. E. Fothregill, who preached the funeral discourse.
Mr. Herriman came to Indiana at an early day, settling in this county, and soon became one of the leading citizens of the county and a prominent politician of his day. He was repeatedly elected to the State legislature and State senate, where he made an honorable record as a faithful and hard working member. He will be remembered by many of the older citizens of this and adjoining counties, who will be pained to learn of his death, which occurred near Wadena, Fayette county, Iowa, on the 19th day of December, 1875.
At the time of his death he was 67 years and 2 months old.
We make the following extract from the sketch of his life above mentioned which will be read with interest by our readers: In the fall of the same year he became acquainted with Miss Mary Judy, who, with her parents had emigrated from the State of Ohio, and early in the following year, they were united in marriage, and soon thereafter moved to their home in the timber, their dwelling being a log house, (sweet remembrance of log house days to the early years of we Pioneers of Northern Indiana,) with plenty of Indians, wolves and deer, and other wild animals. Here he lived for a number of years clearing away the timber, plowing and cultivating the soil, until he made a model farm for that country. This farm lies close to the village called Rome City, on the Ft. Wayne and Grand Rapids R. R. Not many years passed away until the log house and other log buildings gave way for better and more substantial buildings.
In the meantime he became the favorite of his party, and was elected to the state Legislature, where he remained for sixteen unbroken years, save one, he refusing to let his name go before the people. He said "I wanted to stay home with my family." Soon after the opening of the session, he received a letter from a friend stating he wished him to come immediately to the Legislature, and he went. The Southern Michigan Railroad wanted him to get a grant to pass through a portion of the State on its way to Chicago. He was employed in working up the bill, and it passed. He was gone from home two months, and had sixteen hundred dollars for his services when he got home. No man ever worked harder for the interests of his people, than did D. B. Herriman, though at no time in his life was he able to make a speech. While others were speech making he was doing the work, and scarcely ever failed to carry his measure through.
He was, a part of his life, a great joker, and when he could get a political joke on his opponent, he enjoyed it hugely. And, finally, his political career in Indiana was a success."
After moving to Iowa, he was elected to many positions of public trust. His life was a long and useful one, and he died leaving a large circle of friends who mourn his departure to the mysterious land beyond the dark river of Death.
From Albion New Era, Jan. 13, 1876
In regard to the biographical sketch of the life of the late David B. Herriman, formerly of this county, which was published in the county papers some weeks the following: Mr. Enoch Fothregill, in his biographical sketch of David B. Herriman, mis-represented the facts (ignorantly, I presume) when he says, and "was" elected to the state legislature, where he remained for sixteen unbroken years, save one, he refusing to let his name go before the public. He said "I wanted to stay at home with my family."
The facts are, he was not elected to the legislature to exceed three terms, which at that time was but one year each, and the last time he ran for the office of legislator, he was badly defeated by a whig, his opponent, but not, however, without making a desperate effort on his part as well that of his party, to accomplish his election. The facts in the case would not seem to indicate that he wished to stay at home with his family as above expressed, but rather that he stayed at home for want of votes.
Dave, as he was familiarly called, was not one of that kind. He was an aspirant and lover of office. He, like Falstaff, carried a big belly and was full of fun. He could run a foot race, blow out a candel, jump over a rake stale, play euchre, drink whiskey, say grace, and do many good things, all in twenty four hours.
Verite sans pour' H. S.
Albion New Era, Feb. 3, 1876
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