West Jefferson in Days Gone By - series 41 by Charlie Miller

NEWS ITEMS: __April 28, 1864- The Madison Co. Union-Patrick McLene, founder of London, Ohio, and early pioneer of Madison County died at the age of 78 years. 

__April 28, 1864- West Jefferson has improved considerably within the last few years. The new M. E. Church is an ornament to the place and a credit to the society. It is furnished throughout in good style. 

Squire Clark kindly showed us through the building. The dry goods stores and groceries appear to be doing a good business. The American House kept by Col. Fickey, and the Mantle House by Ed Hill, are well-kept hotels. Thomas D. Brown formerly of the 95th O. V. I., the newly elected Justice of the Peace has opened an office in the second story of his building on Main St. Esquire William Clark may be found in the same room and is the West Jefferson agent for The Madison County Union. 

(The American House sat right across the street from the Village Hall, it burned down in June of 1882. Col. Fickey’s wife was Mary Mantle daughter of Baltzer Mantle the original owner of the Mantle House. Mary died December 10, 1874, and was 55 years old. She was highly thought of by village residents. Ed Hill was married to Mary’s sister Susan, she owned the Mantle House after her father died in 1860. Ed Hill served as a 2nd Lt. in the 154th Regiment in the Civil War. In 1873 Thos. D. Brown was serving as Mayor and was found guilty of violating his oath of office, he resigned when Council was drawing up an Article of Impeachment against him.) 

__January 12, 1865-The Madison County Democrat- A man named Gallagher was arrested in West Jefferson on Tuesday and brought to jail on a charge of shooting another man in a drunken row. 

__1865-Madison County Democrat- File Your Newspapers—Many people take newspapers but just a few preserve them, yet the most interesting reading imaginable is a bit of old newspaper, it brings up the very age with all its bustle and everyday affairs. Who can read a paper printed some 50 years ago without the thought that almost every name printed is now cut upon a tombstone? File your newspapers and in future years a pile of them will repay you for your trouble. 

West Jefferson train schedules of 1865: 

EASTBOUND WEST BOUND 

Night Express 2:16 a.m. Night Express 600. a.m. 

Cincinnati Express 9:22 a.m. Col. & Accommodations 6.56 a.m. 

Mail & Accommodations 1:16 p.m. Cincinnati Express 3:25 p.m. 

Col. & Accommodations 8:40 p.m. Mail & Accommodations 10:55 p.m. 

__April 22, 1865- The Marshall presented a bill for removing and burying one dead hog and one dead dog, 50 cents each.