From Ontario County Times 7 January 1880

Naples, N. Y. - Herbert Semans had the misfortune to thrust the tine of a pitchfork through his foot a few days ago, inflicting a severe wound, which it was feared would induce lockjaw. Happily the danger was averted and Mr. Seman is recovering.


From Ontario County Times 14 January 1880

Victor, N. Y. - Mr. Con Sullivan was returning from his work on Andrew street on Monday with a lumber wagon, in which was a plow and a scraper. Mr. Geo. Moore drove up and attempted to pass. But Mr. S. objected, and both teams were soon running fast, and as they came down the hill Con could not control his team and they ran across Main street into a fence, upsetting the wagon, etc. etc., without doing any serious damage.


John Austin, a brakeman in the employ of the Northern Central railway, met with a serious mishap in the yard in this village last Sunday evening. While coupling cars, his right hand was caught between the bumpers and hurt so badly that the larger portion of it will have to be amputated, thus leaving him sadly crippled.


On Saturday last while several laborers were engaged in work on the old Lincoln Block, now undergoing repairs, a stone became displaced in some way, and fell, striking a man by the name of Richard Fitzgerald on the right leg, producing a compound fracture three inches above the ankle joint. Dr. J. T. Smith reduced the fracture.


From Geneva Gazette 30 January 1880

John W. Zobrist, aged between 60 and 70 years, about five weeks ago had the misfortune to wedge his foot in a street rut, and falling, broke both bones of his leg about two inches above the ankle joint, besides dislocating the ankle itself. This painful fracture was reduced by Dr. Picot and, notwithstanding his advanced age, the old gentleman is doing well, under this skillful treatment, and will soon recover the use of his limb.


From Ontario County Times 4 February 1880

Mr. Henry Brush, Esq., of this village, met with a painful accident a few days since. While carrying a pail of water, he slipped and fell heavily to the ice walk, receiving a severe shaking up and also breaking one of his arms. He is able to be about again and is improving rapidly, considering his advanced years.


Mr. William Clohassey, coachman for Mrs. Gideon Granger, in stepping from a cutter the other day, slipped on the icy pavement and fell in such a manner as to break his leg near the ankle. Surgical aid was summoned and the patient is now reported to be as comfortable as the circumstances will allow.


Another 27-hr "go-as-you-please" walking match is to be held in Foster Hall, commencing on Friday evening, Feb. 20th, at 8 o'clock. The contestants will include Frank Huxley, Daniel McGinniss, and John Barry of Canandaigua; Jasper Housel of Rushville; and Wm. Ordway of Rochester.


From Ontario County Journal 6 February 1880

East Bloomfield, N. Y. - During the past week two little ones have been taken from our midst by scarlet fever. Charles Corser, only son of Mr. J. Corser, died Thursday evening, January 29th, aged 6 years and 2 months. Funeral services were held on Saturday. Rev. George Terry officiated. Marcia A. Burrell, daughter of Mr. George Burrell, died Thursday, January 29th, aged 4 years and 9 months. Funeral services were held on Saturday, Rev. S. A. Morse of Fairport officiated.


From Geneva Gazette 13 February 1880

Gorham, N. Y. - The Rev. N. J. Lowrie, in company with William Hankinson, while on the way to attend meeting at Emory Chapel, was quite badly injured. Hankinson was driving his young and spirited horse to top carriage (the top was half down.) It was quite dark - the road was very narrow and a steep descent on one side. At this point a cat sprang on the fence and so frightened the horse that a quick turn was made to the side of the descent, throwing the occupants of the carriage about fifteen feet. Both were rendered insensible for a time. They were picked up by Wm. Evered, near whose place the accident occurred, taken to his house and Dr. J. N. Allen summoned, who, after bandaging the wounds, had the sufferers taken home. They are doing well. The carriage was wrecked.


From Ontario County Journal 13 February 1880

A Pleasant Affair - On Tuesday evening last, there was a very pleasant gathering at the residence of Mrs. Fitch, on Gorham street, in honor of the 78th birthday of Mrs. Clara Torrey, Mrs. Fitch's mother. The company was almost exclusively members of the family, though a few privileged friends were honored by invitations. Mrs. T. was the recipient of many tokens of the love and esteem in which she is held by those most closely associated with her, and all present heartily joined in the hope that she may be spared to celebrate many more birthdays.


From Ontario County Times 18 February 1880

Naples, N. Y. - A terrible and fatal casualty occurred some six miles south of this village last Wednesday. While a number of logs were coming down a runway on the hillside, east of Lyon's Hollow, one log struck a stump and bounded out of the track. Coming down the hill with great velocity, it struck and utterly demolished the dwelling house of Amos Eldridge, killing a little child instantly, injuring another, which has since died, and inflicting severe injuries on the older members of the family.


From Ontario County Journal 27 February 1880

Flint Creek, N. Y. - Will Robinson met with two severe accidents last week. One day he was on a ladder, trying to put a large iron pully on the end of a line shaft, which projected from the inside to the outside of the building which they occupy as a heading factory, when his foot slipped and he fell to the ground, the pully falling upon his arm and bruising it badly. Two days after this accident, he was in the engine room, when one of the belts which drives a part of their machinery, came near running off. He stepped up and tried to hold it on with the hand which had not been injured, when his hand and arm were caught under the belt, and his arm was broken just above the wrist. We think no one can be too careful around machinery.


From Ontario County Journal 19 March 1880

Academy, N. Y. - We have many cases of measles in our midst. Chauncey Rogers, Hiram Freer, John Mansfield, and Robert Gelder's whole family are prostrated with it.


From Geneva Gazette 26 March 1880

Gorham, N. Y. - Jacob S. Buckalew, who resides one and a half miles northwest of this village, while going home from a neighbor's last Thursday evening, across lots, stepped into a woodchuck's hole, and falling broke one of his legs in two places below the knee. After calling for help some time, and failing to make himself heard, he dragged the broken limb home in a crawling posture, one-half mile in about three hours. The sufferer is about 58 years of age, and it will be a long while before he recovers from this accident. He has the sympathy of many friends.


From Ontario County Times 21 April 1880

John Condon and William Murphy indulged in a fight on Main street Monday evening. The dulcet tones of hand-organs on every corner will soothe their savage breasts, and the flowers of May will smile a welcome to them when they again leave Sheriff Bacon's hospitable board. Cider -- whisky -- fight  -- jail. Such is life.


From Ontario Journal 7 May 1880

Shortsville, N. Y. - Mr. Clarence Bently, who works in the Empire drill shop, met with a serious accident last week by sawing off his thumb while at work with a buzz saw.


From Ontario County Journal 28 May 1880

A team belonging to Mr. Jeremiah Coughlin of this village, created considerable excitement on Main street, between eight and nine o'clock last Wednesday evening, by running away. They were drinking at the Town House watering-trough, when one of lines became caught under the pole of the wagon to which they were attached. Mr. Coughlin's son, a boy some 13 or 14 years of age, was in the wagon at the time, his father having walked on down toward the stores. The boy backed the team out into Main street, when, perceiving that something was wrong with the reins, he gave a jerk upon them, which started the horses into a run down the street. As soon as he saw that he had no control over them, he started to make his way out of the back end of the wagon, and had nearly succeeded in doing so, when the team, in turning down Chapin street, swung the wagon against the lamp-post on the corner, throwing him violently to the ground. He rolled over a few times, but, strange to say, when he picked himself up he found that he was not at all injured. The lamp-post presented an appearance of total wreck, being broken off about two feet above the ground, and the pole and reach of the wagon were also broken. The team ran but a few rods on Chapin street, when they swung in against the fence and stopped.


From Ontario County Journal 4 June 1880

Fishers, N. Y. - Lewis S. Dennie and Fred Rufer engaged in a 27-hour go as you please, at Jacob's Hall, Victor, on Friday and Saturday of last week. They covered 97 miles. Friday they ran 5 miles in 33 minutes; on Saturday they ran for 100 minutes, and made at the rate of 9 miles an hour. Rufer is a tough man and done about all his race on pure game.


From Ontario County Times 9 June 1880

The neighborhood known as "The Pines," located in the town of Phelps, about three miles north of Geneva, on Wednesday last, was the scene of a tragedy, in which William King, a farm laborer, attempted to murder his young wife by shooting her with a revolver, and afterwards used the same weapon in a vain attempt to take his own life. King is a Frenchman, aged about thirty years, of a dark, swarthy complexion, by no means bad looking, who came from Rochester about a year and a half ago, and was engaged as a laborer by the farmers in the neighborhood where the tragedy occurred. He made the acquaintance of a young girl named Ida Bryant, only fifteen years of age, who lived with her widowed mother at "The Pines," which culminated in marriage about a year ago. King and his wife commenced housekeeping, but lived together only a few months when Mrs. King returned to her mother, influenced to the step, it is claimed, by her relatives, and though repeatedly urged by her husband to return to him, she steadfastly refused to do so. Since the separation King has been living at Clifton Springs, and a week ago last Saturday he called at her mother's house to see her, when he was informed she had gone to Geneva to attend the circus. King claims he had good reason for believing in his wife's unfaithfulness to him previous to this time, and having been informed that she had gone to Geneva "with company," the demon of jealousy was aroused in him.

 This, with her persistent refusals to live with him, wrought him up to a pitch of frenzy and recklessness which ended in his purchasing a revolver at Phelps on Monday with the intention of killing her. Going to her mother's house on Wednesday morning, he gained her presence, and finding her engaged in combing her mother's hair, with hardly a word of warning, deliberately fired at her, the ball taking effect immediately under the left ear. She fell insensible to the floor, and King retreated to the yard, when he placed the pistol at his own breast and fired again. The ball entered just above the heart, but its course was changed by coming in contact with the sinews or bones of the chest, and he continued his flight to the adjacent woods. Medical aid was summoned for the injured woman, and officers procured from Geneva to arrest the would-be murderer. He was found towards night hidden in the branches of a fallen tree, and immediately gave himself up. It was found that he had made two more attempts to take his life, the three balls being lodged in his left breast in the region of the heart. Though he is exceedingly weak from loss of blood, it is not believed that the wounds will be fatal.

 He was taken to Geneva, and having been brought before a justice, he was committed to the jail in this village, where he arrived on Thursday, to await a further examination. The injured woman's condition is pronounced critical, as she is about to become a mother, though the wound itself is not considered dangerous. The revolver with which the deed was committed is an inferior weapon, carrying a small ball, to which fact both victims undoubtedly owe their lives. In conversation with our reporter, King admitted his guilt, but claimed he was out of his head, on account of his domestic trouble. He now deeply deplores the course he pursued, and "sincerely hopes the poor girl will recover." He evidently fully appreciates the position in which his rash has placed him. If his wounds will permit, he will have an examination on the 15th inst.


From Ontario County Journal 2 July 1880

William Johnson, an employe at the Northern Central freight-house in this village, was so unfortunate as to have several ribs broken, by falling between a car and the platform of the house, while unloading freight last Monday.


From Ontario County Journal 9 July 1880

Shortsville, N. Y. - Mr. Herman Deer, who was hurt quite severely a short time since, by falling twenty-five feet in a barn, while helping to put up a hay unloader, we are glad to say is able to be out again.


From Ontario County Journal 9 July 1880

Mr. Nathan Eldridge had a narrow escape last Saturday. His horses became frightened at a band of music, and ran away. The pole of the buggy, coming contact with a post, broke, and the horses were stopped without further harm being done.


From Ontario County Journal 9 July 1880

A horse belonging to William Maher, who resides on the Cavan farm, a short distance north of this village, created considerable excitement yesterday morning by falling down as Mr. Maher was driving his team across the railroad track, coming down Main street. Before the harness could be taken off, he was dead. The cause of his sudden demise was supposed to be "blind staggers."


From Ontario County Times 21 July 1880

Mrs. Emma Jenkins, who resides with her daughter, Mrs. C. S. Knowles, in this village, celebrated her 97th birthday on Thursday of last week. She retains her faculties to a remarkable degree, and, though temporarily disabled by a recent fall, is still in the enjoyment of excellent health and spirits.


From Geneva Gazette 23 July 1880

Mr. Isaac Platt of this village will reach his ninety-fourth birthday on the first day of August next. He has consequently voted at seventy-three consecutive fall elections, every time in the State of New York, and for the past 40 years in Geneva. His first  presidential vote was for James Madison in 1808, and if he lives until the second day of November next, he will vote for Hancock, which will make his eighteenth vote for President. It is a long record, and well worthy of mention.


From Ontario County Times 28 July 1880

Naples, N. Y. - One of our citizens, Solomon Garfield, is a cousin of the Republican nominee for President. His father, Solomon Garfield, was reared in Worcester, Otsego county, and was a brother of Thomas Garfield, the General's grandfather. The family comes of good New England blood, characterized by energy, industry, and honesty, everywhere.


From Ontario Messenger 13 August 1880

Victor, N. Y. - Last Wednesday night as James Mayher was moving his threshing machine, and as he arrived at the hill near Tim. McMahon's, it was deemed necessary to put on an extra team. Arriving at the top of the hill, James went in between the two teams to uncouple them; as he was about to unhook the traces, one of the horses kicked him in the face, breaking the cheek bone and knocking out two of his teeth.


From Ontario County Journal 3 September 1880

Stanley, N. Y. - A son of Wm. V. Bodley, a few days ago sustained a very severe and almost fatal accident. He was employed on the farm of John Lewis, of Hopewell, and with others was engaged sawing wood with a buzz saw, when by some misstep, his pants were caught in the tumbling-rod, the limb drawn under and fearfully lacerated, in fact completely tearing out the calf of his leg. He also sustained other bruises. Critical as the case was at first, he is at present rapidly improving.


From Ontario County Journal 1 October 1880

East Bloomfield, N. Y. - Dennis McCarty, an employe, and Charles Murphy, section foreman, met with quite a sad accident a few days ago. They were running the hand-car used in the performance of their work on the railroad, when one of the arms broke, knocking Mr. McCarty off in front of the car, which cut and bruised him considerably. It will be good news to his friends to learn that he is steadily on the gain.

Rushville, N. Y. - One day last week Wm. Ketchum, Esq., attempted to change the bridles on his colts as they were standing in the road. The colts did not wait. Becoming frightened they ran over Mr. Ketchum, bruising his face and breaking the bones of his thumb in a painful manner. They were stopped near the stores without much further injury.


From Geneva Gazette 8 October 1880

Under the law requiring physicians and surgeons to register their names, residences, etc., in the office of the Clerk of the county in which they propose to practice, before the 1st day of October, the following have registered in the County Clerk's office in Canandaigua:

Canandaigua:  E. W. Simmons, John H. Jewett, F. C. Hawley, Ira F. Hawley, F. R. Bently, O. J. Hallenbeck, J. A. Hawley, J. T. Smith, W. T. Swart, H. W. Nichols, Harvey Jewett, M. R. Carson, Dwight R. Burrell, J. B. Hayes, C. T. Mitchell, M. U. Gerhard, H. F. Bennett and J. B. Voak.

Geneva:  Andrew Merrell, Ziba H. Potter, M. H. Picot, H. L. Eddy, George N. Dox, J. Henry Budd, H. M. Eddy, W. F. Edington, G. E. Flood, Nellie L. Keith, W. G. Hemiup, Jerome P. Avery, Stephen Johnson, J. H. Stebbins, H. K. Clarke, A. J. Frantz, N. B. Covert, C. H. Mead, Elisaph Dorchester, Amos L. Sweet, and Henry D. Weyburn.

Phelps:  John Q. Howe, H. S. Dimock, F. W. Mailler, F. D. Vanderfhoof, Johnathan Burt, W. A. Wheeler, and George C. Prichard.

Clifton Springs:  James H. King, A. G. Cruttenden, M. B. Gault, C. C. Thayer, Mary H. Dunbar, Henry Foster, A. Imeson, and Watson W. Archer.

Victor:  A. M. Mead, Cassius Jackson, J. W. Palmer, and James F. Draper.

Manchester:  J. Richmond Pratt, Peter VanVleet, Jeremiah P. H. Deming, and Nehemiah S. Bryant.

Bristol Center:  David J. Mallery and H. A. Slingerland.

South Bristol:  William Templar.

Honeoye:  Leonidas Wilbur and Lewis E. Green.

Seneca Castle:  William Bell.

Hall's Corners:  Duncan S. Allen and W. A. Hartman.

Orleans:  LeRoy Lewis.

Naples:  T. B. Wettling, G. S. Gallagher, Amos Stoddard, Sylvenus E. Parker and David H. Conley.

Seneca:  M. D. Skinner.

Gorham:  James H. Allen, A. D. Allen, and George H. Van Deusen.

Farmington:  R. E. Phillips.

Bristol:  W. Scott Hicks.

West Bloomfield:  George W. Prentis and H. F. Gillette.

East Bloomfield:  William M. Silvernail, E. C. Hollister and Fred Francis Webster.

Allen's Hill:  E. B. Sayer.

Cheshire:  John Hutchens.

Rushville:  B. B. Havens.

From Ontario County Journal 10 December 1880

Gorham, N. Y. - An accident occurred one evening, a week or two since, at the house of Mr. Charles Hershey, which came near proving quite serious. The fastenings of a hanging lamp gave way causing an explosion and setting the room on fire. Mr. and Mrs. Hershey succeeded after a time in extinguishing the fire before any serious damage was done.


From Geneva Gazette 17 December 1880

The Old Settlers of Phelps in Convention - To the venerable and public-spirited Thomas Vandevort are the good people of Phelps indebted for originating the idea of holding annually a conclave of old settlers. The idea was first acted upon a year ago, when he was present and the life and soul of the party assembled. It was a source of deep regret, mingled with the many pleasures of the gathering, that through illness he was prevented from being present at the second recurrence of the kind which came off yesterday. But he was with his neighbors "in spirit" if not in the flesh, as his written message to them, couched in terms of fraternal regard, amply testified. He was kindly remembered in the speeches which followed.

The assemblage took place at the Phelps Hotel, and "mine host" Tickner and his several attendants exerted themselves to make one and all happy. In deference and respect to the wishes of many, his bar was closed, and nothing occurred to mar the enjoyment of the old folks.  The afternoon was devoted to greetings and informal interchange of experiences and reminiscences of the good old town, "the garden of the State." From six till seven o'clock the company fed at the well-spread board. Tis enough to say that the bill of fare was ample in variety of substantials and delicacies to suit all tastes.

There were 107 present, and nearly all exceeding 50 years of age. We append the names of a few who claim the longest residence in Phelps:

Resident

Almon Melvin
Seth Gates
Frank Root
Theodore Swan
Austin Salisbury
Mrs. Samuel Marsh
Hiram Musselman
Ulysses Warner
A. D. Crosby
L. B. Hotchkiss
Simeon Harmon
Milton Edmondston
Mrs. Anna Tickner -age over
90 was the oldest person
present
Years residence
in Town
78
77
74
73
69
69
69
68
67
67
65
65


From Geneva Gazette 24 December 1880

Stanley, N. Y. - A severe and painful accident happened a few days ago to Mr. J. R. McCauley of this place, resulting in the loss of the fourth and part of the third fingers of his right hand. Mr. McCauley was at the barn of his son, Thomas A., where they were husking with a spiral husker, when an ear of corn stuck in the perpendicular rollers. Mr. McCauley attempted to remove the ear when the "pickers" caught his mitten and drew his hand in, mashing the bones of the fourth and third and tearing the ball of the second finger. Dr. Vandusen was called and amputated the mutilated members. Mr. McCauley is getting along finely, notwithstanding his advanced age.


From Ontario County Journal 24 December 1880

RUNAWAY - About noontime yesterday, a team owned by James Van Gorder, and another, the owner of which we could not learn, started at a lively gait from back of the postoffice, and made the street lively. Mr. Van Gorder's team ran through the park, striking a little tree and carrying it with them for a short distance, and the wagon finally bringing up against one of the larger trees, came to a standstill. The whiffletrees and neckyoke were broken by the sudden halt and the harness gave way, when the team continued to run a short distance down Main street and was stopped. The other team ran down Cross street and the last seen of them they were still in the straight road and no damage had been done.


From Ontario County Journal 31 December 1880

Rushville, N. Y. - Last Saturday night about 7 o'clock, a young man named Chas. Eddy, who lives on South Hill, drove down through our streets at a furious pace, and when just below the village on the Middlesex road, ran against a covered carriage containing M. A. Pearce and S. W. Blair, Esqs., overturning both wagons, breaking them very badly. Mr. Eddy was thrown to the hard ground and his face was cut and bruised in a frightful manner, but, strange to say, not dangerously. His horse was soon stopped without injury. The other gentlemen, being in a top buggy, escaped without serious injury.


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