davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-08-04
\A/IINESS Says Plea for Clemency for Mrs. Sur
wv raft Was Withheld From President johnson.

that the recommendation for mercy had
been withheld from the President. That
was the first time the President ever heard
Of the recommendation for mercy, a. I
Know from the Presidents own lips. 1t was
Withheld from him by Joseph Holt, who
alone had charge Of the findings Of the
commission. and In the official publication
compiled and arranged by Benjamin Pitman.
recorder of the commission. published by
permission of J. Holt. Judge Advocate Gem
erai, will be found proof of this.
1T was so published, including. as was
promised. the entire proceedings, the finding
and the sentences but it contains no mem
ton whatever of the recommendation for
mercy for Mrs. Surratt. which Judge Holt
declared afterwards that he did present
to the President. signed by five members
Of the commission. asking clemency for
Mrs. Surratt. That petition. left with Judge
Holt. as an addition To the findings and
sentences of the commission. and ordered To
be attached to them. is not mentioned I'm
the printed record of the trial. which was
not issued from the press until seventy
five days after Mrs. Surratt was stranglec.
Judge Holt in his own article. published
In the North American Review of July. 1855.
denounced the ex-President and adversely
criticised two others almost as conspicu-
ously prominent in the military trials of
General Speed. neither of whom would hear
witness that Holt did submit to the Presi-
dent a recommendation of mercy. signed by
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-08-04
Uncle Sis Opinion.

Sometimes a rather dainty mood
Takes hold my appetite.
When ordinary drink an food
Don't pear L taste jcs' right
At such times l don't crave a thing
The high-toned hotel serves.
But have a sort o. hankerinG
For Mandy's ounce preserves.
The quartered ounces strikes my throat
As ~honey-nothin' less,
Each drop q juice in which they float
Seems svigs o. tenderness
That have a tendency L soothe
Tagged brain an tired nerves
The one thing reedful life t smooth
Is Mandy's quirce preserves.
Food fit for gods they are. I swan
Canned bits OF bliss an JOY.
AS sweet as 'lasses candy TO
The glad heart OF a boy!
Designed to suit the angels need
Far more than man deserves
With me the way to glory leads
Through Mandy's ounce preserves.
What to Eat.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-08-04
The President of
The Association.

John 8. Traw. president Of the associas
ton. was born in Barren County, Kentucky,
October 2. 1872. When but 3 weeks Of axs
his parents removed to Missouri. lccatIng
in Pulaski County. They secured a claim
on the Gasconsde River. upon which they
remained three years. In 1916 the bought q
claim in Camden County. opening up a ans
farm. Mr.. Traw remained on the farm uu-
Til the breaking out of the Civil War. when
ne enlisted in the Confederate army. He
was married in 1852 to Miss Mary E. Lewis.
who died in 1881. and remarked i'm 1852, to
Miss Emily Strong. He has farmed in Cam
den and Pulaski counties up to the present
time. except for a period Of ten years-lsso
To lSso-when he was engaged In merchan-
dising in Richland. Mo. Mr.. Travis first
presidential vote was cast for Brecken-
ridge He Is the father Of Miss Ida Traw.
a charming and beautiful young woman.
who Is an expert with firearms. and who
recently shot and killed a fox which dogs
had chased from It's lair. L. J. KELLER
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-08-04
Tragedy of the Lost Turtle of White Haven.
II HasJ Just Been Found and on Its Shen Is the Portrait and Birth Record of te Girl bo
WasD Deprived of Property md Happiness Because 1t Was Not Pounds Sooner
THE SUNDAY REPrBILc.

WRITTEN FOR " sUNDAY
A tragedy long forgotten Is recalled by
the finding of a turtle lost for more than
fifty years. Had IL been found ut the time
IL would have been the caus, Of proving
q young girls right to the name OF Lizzie
Williams and TO the property left by her
father some sixty years ago.
Mr.. Williams. with his wife and child.
settled on a small farm more than seventy
years ago in White Haven, Pa. then a
small farming town. After living ct the
place a few years coal was discovered on
the farm. 4 company was started at
once. and Mr.. williams was elected presi-
dent OF the company. Mrs. williams hay-
ing died before this time. lef: little Lizzie
in the care OF her father. She was a
bright. happy child. and had for a MAY
mate Bob Smith. a boy about three year,
older than herself.
Bob If still living. and keeps the old
roadhouse on the Plank road. at White
Haven.
The turtle was found by Doctor BROWN
while fishing In a brook near White Haven.
Surprised at seeing a turtle with a blue
shell he picked IL up and. washing IL. dis
covered on the shell a painting OF a little
girl. and also some writing, which at the
time he could hardly make out. but upon
looking at 1t through a glass he was able
to decipher the following: Lizzie Williams.
daughter Of Thomas and L.xxie Williams.
born June l.. 1888. London. England"
Having been told the story ~ fba Inst
turtle when q boy. he took Il at once to old
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-08-04
\R N :NRs Jesse nGrLLEseIE.

born IN Tennessee In 1885. wnen ne went to
Camden COUNTY ne took up land under the
graduation iaw-that is. all public lands
were reduced in price after having been 80
long open to the public. further reductions
being made at stated intervals If the lands
were still unclaimed. He first entered forty
acres at s1.25; then 10 acres at 20 cents and
eighty acres a little later at 10 cents. finally
taking eighty acres more under the home
stead law. giving him a total of 30 acres.
Some years later he traded this land for a
water mill. putting II in az 5000 and pay
ing $50 in cash. He sold the mill when he
came here. He says crops were grown with
less labor in those days than now. and that
the pests which affict the farmer In these
days. with the possible exec ption of the
Hessian fy. were then unknown. There was
a simpler life: the people had fewer i'm
sgined needs. were more readily content
and a great deal happier.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-08-04

Bob Smith. who. after having examined il.
raid. Yes. that is the lost turtle. but if IL
had only been found years ago. how differ
ent things might have been. and what trou-
bic it would have saved. remember az il IL
were to-day when Mr.. Williams painted and
put that writing on IL. He was sitting in
the woods painting a picture Of a COW. when
Liz and I found the turtle near "A pond. We
took II to him, and Liz asked him TO paint
something upon fits she'll. and. laughing. he
said. MI right. little girl. I'll paint your
picture on IL lie painted the shell blue.
and then painted ON IL the picture.
The next day I met him sitting on a log
in the woods. with the turtle in his hand.
Giving 1t to me TO put in the back yard. he
said. See. I have cut out Lizzie's name and
where she was born on the she'll The tur-
tie was seen in the back yard for a long
while. but one day was missed. In Octo-
her. 1853. Mr.. Williams was found shot
through the heart. Whether he was killed
or suicide was never known"
The father of Bob Smith took Lizzie to
his home and was appointed her guardian.
A few months after the death OF Mr.. VIII
liams 4 man by the name Of Joe Patch
claimed to be a cousin Of williams and en-
titled to his property. because no will had
been left. He limited that Lizzie was not the
daughter OF his cousin. The people of
White Haven laughed at this. but when the
case came to court Lizzie had no papers to
show that she was the child Of Mr.. VIII
hams. nor did she remember where she was
born.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-08-04
The Republic Bureau.
18th s.. and Pennsylvania Ave-

Washington, July 3i.-John r. Coyle. an
Old resident of the national capital. makes
an interesting statement of the suppressed
recommendation for the pardon Of Mrs.
Surratt, who was hanged for alleged con-
spirscy in the assassination of President
Lincoln. Mr.. Coyle wac one of the Witness
es In this celebrated trial. He SAYS:
Mrs. Surratt. innocent as a babe of any
connection. even the most remote. with this
great crime. was convicted upon the testi-
mony of n man named Weichman. whom
Mrs. Surratt had nurtured as a son. To
save his own life. as it was said at the
time. he swore her life away. His testi-
mony and that Of the drunken innlxeeper at
Surrsttsville. WAS all the testimony adduced.
Evidence of many of our best citizens would
have been produced had IL been allowed by
the commission TO prove a character so
stainless as to render improbable or i'm
Possible her connection with such a crime.
After her conviction. a recommendation
for mercy for Mrs. Surratt was signed by
every member OF the commission hut one
hut that recommendation was withheld
from the President until two years after
her execution, when on the trial of her son
John Sufratt. Edward Pierrepont. rcpres.nt-
ing the United States. presented II as eyi-
dsnce. when 1t was charged by Mr.. Merrick
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-08-04
Born i'm Missouri
Seventy Years Ago.

solomon Bartlett is a farmer and miller.
lie operates a saw and grist mill OH the
Gasconade River. He is a native OF Mis-
souri,. having been born in Miller County in
1881. though his parents were both Kentucky
born. He has been tuice married. In ls5.
he became a citizen Of Pulaski County. pur-
chasing sixteen acres Of land upon which
his mill Is situated. The sawmilI is run by
water power. He is a Democrat, and as
such was elected to the Legislature in 1864.
The same year he enlisted in Company A.
Forty-eighth Missouri Volunteer Infantry.
as Second Lieutenant. was promoted. and
was discharged in June. 1866. He was a
Supervisor OF Registration for two years
after the war. He IL hale. hearty and
ocular.
Elijah Jordan Christeson was born IN
Adsir County. Eentucky. November -. 1919.
In 1874 he married Sarah c. Colley. who
was six years his junior. Their physical
condition is good. and. though Mr.. Colley
has been blind since 1851. he superintends
the work on his farm. He takes great in
terest in politics. and has never voted other
than the Democratic ticket. Mr.. Christie
son has used tobacco since his earliest rec
objection and finds it a great comfort. He
never used liquor. In 1875 he entered lso
acres OF land about Ave miles from Wdynes-
Vile. and has since continuously resided
there. He added acre by acre to the orig
inal farm. until he increased II to $50 acres.
HI has been Sheriff. Collector. County
Judge and Public Administrator. He lost
his sight as a result of neuralgia. Mr..
Christeson Is not a church member. hut
believes In the Bible as a true moral guide.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-08-04

AS the case was about TO he decided H.,b
stood up and told the Judge about the
turtle, and said If the Judge would ave
time before deciding the case he would ;rv
10 Ind the turtle. which, he was sure nal
me place OF Lizz'e's birth cut out on tbs
shell The Court gave him six months.
time. "'S
The whole town looked for that turtle h.,
u could not be found. and the property was
given to Joe Patch after PROVING hs w.s
the cousin and next Of kin. Lizzie on bear-
ing the verdict. felt the disgrace ana. takiii-
IL to nesrt. Law ut the point Of death frr
many days On recovering from her sick
ness she insisted upon leaving the home OF
Mr.. Smith. saying that she would never i've
with any one until she found that turtle
ana removed the stain from her dead par
ents name. She also refused to marry i;ob
Smith until the turtle should be found
She went to live In y small hut near an
old coal mine. and could be seen every day
for years hunting among the grass for tho
turtle The children commenced to call hs-
Crazy Liz" and she would onIy smile I'm.
never stop looking. Some 1--WE years AGO
she was found lying on the grass near hsr
hrt too weak to walk When carried In she
asked one of the children to 10 for Rob
Smith. her old friend. Smith arrived iust
before she died. Taking his hand in hers,
she said:
Bob. before I die promise me that vou
will try to ind that turtle prove to the
world that I have a right to the name OF
Lizzie Williams. After I an buried put q
white slab over my grave. but no name un.
til you can prove my right to It."
Now thst me turtle has been found her
name viii at last appear on that little WHIT
slab which stands over hsr gravaL .
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-08-04

add to the excitement prevailing In this
city. This telegram from the Archbishop
was called forth by a visit OF General Ham
cock. who. under orders from the War De-
partment. had desired the Archbishop to
forbid any public statement by Father
Walter.
The two men most conspicuous in bar
ring from the President those who came to
plead for mercy for Mrs. Surratt were
Preston King of New York and Jim Lane
Of Kansas. who committed suicide not long
after the execution Of Mrs. Surratt.'
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-08-04
Blazed Long Roads
Through Virgin Forests.

Dennis Dace Lewis was born May 10. 1t2n.
In Indiana. His wife. VINO was Elender En-
vim. was born November 2. 1872. in Ken
lucky. They were married in Coles County.
Illinois, In 1874. and came TO Pulaski coun-
ty in 1s41. Mr. Lewis cast his first vote for
William Henry Harrison He has used to-
found him sick in bed. but a big piece OF
fiat" tobacco rested on his pillow. while
a cuspidor's fresh-stained sides told its own
story of his being well enoueh to chew. He
homesteaded one piece Of land and bought
an adjoining tract from the Atlantic and Pa
ciic Railroad Company. He farmed part
or the time and was engaged at intervals
in freighting. hauling goods from Rolla to
Springfield distance Of about $50 miles.
Because of the timber and poor ro- 9. many
OF which he 'blazed' out. it took 40 weeks
to make a round trip. He got 81 per 100 for
hauling. His principal amusements were
rife shooting and dancing. He raised corn
and potatoes. There was no method of con-
verting wheat into -four and IL was not
cultivated. He has FIVE children living; the
youngest q years old. There are nineteen
grandchildren and eleven g~reat-grandchil-
dren.
On another bed. in the same room. rested
his wffe-a sweet-faced. silver-haired old
lady. She. too. was i'll. but at the foot Of
the bed rested a cigar box in which were n
cob pipe and a sack OF tobacco. Mrs. Lewis
smokes. and has done SO for forty-one
wears. She uses graduated tobacco now.
hut expresses a preference for the old-time
hand twist" There were only subscrip-
tion schools in her girlhood days. Deer
were m thick then as rabbits are now.
They came in large numbers TO the cattle
pens when the cattle were being sailed. and
she had seen her husband kill them from
his doorway on many occasions. People
were happier then. she said. because they
had fewer wants. there was more rugged
honesty and less envy and seihshness.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-08-04
Father of First Child
Born i'm Richmond.

Captain Henry +. Warren of Richland
established himself in business here in 1859,
and is the only merchant in the county
VINO has been continuously such for that
period OF time. He is the father of Mrs.
Joseph ;. Armstrong. Of Carthage, who
was the first child born in Richland. Cap
tain Warren represented his county I'm the
Legislature in 1856. In 1853 he enlisted In
the Federal Army. and. after serving four
months as a private. was made Sergeant
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-08-04
Went by OK Team to
California in 1850.


James NJ. Mays came to Pulaski County
IN 49, In 1850 he was one OF a rarty of
eighty who started on an overland trip to
California. They drove OK teams. and IL
took seven months 10 complete the Journey.
He spent three years in mining. aud the,
engaged in stock raising until 1851. in which
year he returned 10 Waynesville. making
the return trip via the Isthmus Of Panama
and Cuba. He was a Wing, but now adj
heres to the tenets and principles of De-
mocracy. He was born in 1925. and is. there
fore. 3 years old. He has been very feeble
the past year. He is very much liked by the
small boys about towE-his home is now
tere In Richland-with whom he Jokes a
great deal. and the urchins take many liner
ties with him. all OF which he bears with
the greatest good nature. He is a very large
man, weighing over 275 pounds. In later
years he met with financial reverses
James NJ. Rollins was born in West yir-
eihia IN 1880. He came to this county i'm
lsa', renting a farm. on which he improved
II" acres. In 1861 he settled on his present
farm' which was then nearly all forest.
nut Is now one Of the best farms i'm the
county In August. 1862, he enlisted i'm
company NJ. Third Iowa Cavalry. and OBJ
Grated principally in Missouri and Arkan-
sas. He was in the battle of Little Rock.
His regiment was the first to raise the
Union flag on the Statehouse. He was cap
tured in 1854 and kept a prisoner for seven
months. In 1865 he was Sheriff and Collector.
being reelected two years later. He is
now a grocer here. and is a business man
or splendid qualifications. He was mar
ried in 1851 to Sarah J. Martin. and with
his wife occupies one of the handsomest
houses in Richland. He is the father OF
Harrison Rollins. for many years a power
In political circles. but who is now cashier
of the Bank of Dixon. assuming the duties
Of that position when he retired from Of
flee. He has nine children. twenty-four
grandchildren and one great-grandchili..
He cast his first presidential vote for
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-08-04

In this county-resulted from the union
All but one. the eldest. who died In 1851.
are still eligible TO membership in the asso-
citation. All Mr.. Christeson's children are
married but Miss Jennie. He has twenty
nine grandchildren. but nc great grand
children.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-08-04

tween ST. Louis and New orleans. He was
pilot On the Sunboat Essex. his sen James
being on tine Arkansas when they had a
fight below NicksburS. Captain Chalfont
cast his first presidential vote for Taylor.
He has used tobacco since he was Is years
old. and does not care to give II up. Hs
has twenty grandchildren and one great
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-08-04
Has Lived i'm One Place
for Seventy-Six Years.

Jesse Newton Gillespy was born March
a. 49,. in the territory from which Pulaski
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-08-04
DEHHio lewis

Mr.. Colley has been Sheriff and Collector,
and has also served his county in the Legs
lature. In 1855 he was appointed Deputy
Internal Revenue Collector. but resigned
after serving two years. Mr.. Colley states
that he never used tobacco. though he
took an occasional glass of liquor. but has
not done so for a great many years.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-08-04
Came Here When Pulaski
County Was q Forest.

crandchild-
The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1901-03-16
EXPIRES. HARRISON IS DEAD
Surrounded bY Relatives and
Friends lie Peacefully Passed
A"Hy-He suffered No Pain To-

indianapolis. March 10. General
Benjamin Harrison died at 4:45 o'clock
this afternoon without regaining con
seriousness. His death was quiet and
painless, there being a general sinking
until the end came. which was marked
by single gasp for breath as life de
parted from the body OF the statesman.
The relatives. with few exceptions, and
several OF the former presidents old
and tried friends, were at the bedside
when he passed away. The generals
condition was so bad this morning, at
ter a restless night. that the end could
not be far of, and all the bulletins sent
out from the sick room were 10 this
effect. SO that all the family and friends
were prepared when the final blow
came.
The gradual failing OF the remark
able strength shown by the patient be-
came more noticeable in the afternoon
and few moments before the end
there Was an apparent breakdown as
he surrendered 10 the disease against
which he had been battling so many
hours. The change was noticed by the
physicians and the relatives and
friends who had retired from the sick
room 10 the library below were quickly
summoned and reached the bedside OF
the general before he passed away
News Of the death reached the public
The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1901-03-16
NORTHWEST NEWS ITEMS
BRIEFLY TOLD In NOTES
An Interesting Collection Of Items
Prom the Four Northwest states
of n Miscellaneous Nature Gath
cred the Past Week.
IDAHO.

Ex-Congressman James Gum has
taken charge of the Soldiers home.
The Snake river is nearly as high
now as 1t was at any time last sum-
mer.
Farmers and merchants of Nez
| Perez have Joined hands 70 build a tel.
/ ephene.
The senate has passed the general
deficiency bond bill for an issue OF
S1l7.O00
The premium list for the state fair
is being made up and shows increased
offerings in all departments.
The Shoshone canal that furnishes
water for the farms around Parma has
been sold to a Utah company.
p. T. Brown, commonly known as
Tommy Brown" committed suicide at
Wardner recently. by shooting.
The westbound Great Northern pas
senger train was wrecked last week
near Bear creek. in the Rockies.
The house bill for bounty OF a cent
pound on sugar manufactured from
idaho beets has passed the senate.
A memorial has been introduced in
the house asking for the vacation Of
the Bitter Root and Priest River forest
reserves.
The fight between Madden and
King. two featherweights. pulled OF al
Wallace, was won by Madden in two
rounds
The farmers on NeZ Perce Prairie
are expressing an intention Of putting
in still larger acreage OF fax this
year than ever before.
A fatal accident occurred at Spirit
Lake last week by which Marcellus
Herring Of State Line met an untimely
death by falling tree striking him on
the head
Mart Kennedy. well known about
HALEY and other mining camps a few
years ago. died at Florence. Col. last
week of heart failure, after a long
spell OF sickness.
The body Of Thomas Langon was
found recently near the head OF the
old flume grade on the trail from Muir
ray up 10 where Barry Hillard has g
force Of men at work on Bear gulch
He is supposed TO have become ex
hausted or been overtaken by heart
failure.
The house passed the bill appropri
atiEg $4,000 for a bridge across the
Salmon river in Custer county: appro
priating $500 for construction of a
wagon road over Packer John noun.
tain; appropriating $3.50 for a bridge
the Payette river. near Banner, in
Boise county: appropriating $4,000
for construction of the wagon road
from the mouth Of Logging gulch to
Atlanta. Gilmore county; appropriating
$500 TO construct a wagon road from
the bridge crossing the Payette river.
near Emmett, to the Boise county line;
appropriating $4,000 for bridge across
Snake river, in Cassia county: appro
priating $1,000 for a wagon road in
Bannock county; appropriating $4,000
for a wagon bridge across Snake river.
at Warm Springs ferry.