West Jefferson in Days Gone By - series 71

West Jefferson in Days Gone By - series 71 by Charlie Miller

____June 5, 1935 – Thomas Corwin Carter, age 91, West Jefferson’s last Civil War Veteran, died Saturday afternoon at the home of his daughter, Mrs. James Berry, Frey Ave. He was born September 27, 1840, in Paint Twp. He enlisted at Camp Dennison on May 2, 1864, and served in Company C, 154th. O.V. I. He was honorably discharged in September of 1864. He is survived by a son Robert of Columbus and two daughters, Mrs. Robert A. Wilson and Mrs. Berry. ( This was just a year before I was born, I almost was able to live the same time that West Jefferson’s Civil War Veteran lived. As a very young man I did get to see a Civil War Veteran at a Summerford Memorial Service.) 

____June 1935 – One hundred and twenty-six members of the West Jefferson Alumni Association met at this year’s Alumni Banquet. The welcome address was given by Mrs. Etta B. Martin, Class of ‘84. The banquet was held in the dining room of the Methodist Church and the dance was held across the street in the Township Hall. Some members present were: Mrs. Martin ‘84, Mrs. L. C. Dick ‘86, Mrs. J. M. Maddux (Edith Headley) ‘07, E. E. Gregg ‘07, and Willard B. Culp Class of ‘07. 

____November 25, 1935 – An unintentional turkey chase and killing was staged today by E. J. Britton and son, operators of the Red & White Store. The turkeys had been purchased from Matt Higgins a Fairfield Township farmer, and as they were being placed in the Britton’s poultry house, escaped. Ben got out his shotgun and his aim was a good one, but the other one got away. The last report stated that Mr. Turk was heading north for the tall and wild! 

We now turn the clock back to 1873, where we left off at Series #50 

____March 26, 1873 – Madison County Democrat – On Wednesday last, Charles Gassel, a boy of 12 years, son of Mr. Fred Grassel, a cigar maker of West Jefferson, took up a musket which had been loaded to shoot pigeons, and in a playful mood, pointed it at his little brother Freddy, age five years, and telling him he would shoot him, pulled the trigger and the whole load of the gun caught the young boy full in the chest killing him immediately. 

____April 16, 1873 – A boy while fishing under the Little Darby bridge at West Jefferson, a day or two ago, caught an eel some two feet in length. It is quite unusual to catch one of these slippery fellows in the water hereabouts. 

____June 4, 1873 – John Heath of West Jefferson now has 2,700 to 2,800 head of sheep partly clipped. (John Heath built the beautiful house at the end of Chester St. around 1844. Heath Lane is named after him.)