Horseshoe Bottom Presbyterian Church later became the First Presbyterian Church of Monongahela City.

From Mon Valley Town & Township History:

HORSESHOEBOTTOM PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.  Rev. Dr. Samuel Ralston, D. D., received a call from this and Mingo Creek congregations in November, 1796, which he accepted and was therefore ordained. In the latter church be labored forty years, and in the former thirty-five years.  This Horseshoebottom congregation was originally established three and one half miles from Parkinson’s Ferry, on the ridge road leading from this place to Brownsville on Simon Wilson’s farm.  It was a log church, had a graveyard connected with it , and part of the foundation is still visible.

Dr. Ralston preached in this church until 1807, when it was removed to (Williamsport) Monongahela City.  Mr. Moore, says: Dr. Ralston preached his first sermon in a little school-house near the present church building, preaching two years in the winter time in the school house, and in the summer time in a tent in a sugar grove below town.  Mr. Lamb and his wife were the first two persons who joined the church in Williamsport.  The first communion was held in August, 1816, when Dr. Ralston was assisted by Rev. Matthew Brown, D. D.  The whole number of communicants at that time was forty-five.

The church is located on Chess Street, a neat, substantial brick building; its pulpit has been filled by Rev. Dr. Ralston until 1835.  His successors have been Rev. George D. Porter, from 1835 to 1838, Rev. J. W. Kerr from 1839 to 1861, Rev. S. G. Dunlap from 1862 to 1867, Rev. J. S. Sutchell from 1867 to the present time, but I learn he has sent in his resignation.

The following persons have been ordained ruling elders since the pastorate of Dr. Ralston, viz.:  James Hair, James McGrew, James Martin, Robert McFarland, Aaron Kerr, Isaac VanVoorhis, James Gordon, Henry Fulton, Joseph Kiddoo, John Power, James Dickey, James Curry, E. W. Tower, John Wright, Francis J. Gardner, David Moore, David D. Yohe, Samuel Hindman, three of whom have passed into the spirit land, each upwards of eighty years of age, to receive a crown of righteousness.

There is a Sabbath school connected with the church, which by the last report numbers 17 teachers, 250 scholars, and has a library of about fifteen hundred volumes.  Its organization is placed at various dates, but the Rev. Mr. Dunlap thinks it was established in the year 1822.

*****

Found at Ray’s Place: Exploring New England’s Past, where you can find a wide variety of historical information.

History of Monongahela City, Pa.
From: A History of Washington County, Pennsylvania
By: Earle R. Forrest
Published By The S. J. Clark Publishing Company, Chicago 1926

The Presbyterian Church of Monongahela was organized in 1796 at Horseshoe Bottom by Rev. Samuel Ralston, and in 1807 it was moved to Parkinson’s Ferry, where it first met in a tent. Services were held in a schoolhouse until 1815, when the first house of worship was erected, on the hill between Third and Jackson streets. In 1836 the second church was erected on Chess Street on the site of the present Eagles Building. The present church was built in the seventies at a cost of $35,000. The first pastor was Rev. Samuel Ralston, D. D. The present minister is Rev. W. F. McKee, D. D., and the membership is 765.

***** The following version gives dates, which rules this Samuel Hindman out for the older generation that would have been a brother to our Senior John Hineman.

THE OLD AND NEW MONONGAHELA
Horse Shoe Bottom Church, Williamsport (Monongahela City.)
page 65

Mr. Dickey died Sept. 9th, 1864, and Mr. Kiddoo Aug. 11th, 1870. April 7th, 1862, a call was made out for the services of Rev. S.G. Dunlap. He was installed Dec. 6th, 1862, and remained pastor until Sept. 29th, 1866, about four years. Under his ministrations fifty-five were added on examination in 1863 and twenty-eight in 1864. Mr. Dunlap died in 1871 at Orrville, Ohio. Dec. 6th, 1862, Mr. E. W. Tower was installed, and Messrs. John Wright, Francis I. Gardner and David Moore were ordained elders of the church. Mr. Tower was drowned in the Monongahela River Feb. 19th, 1869, and Mr. Moore died May 11th, 1867. Dec. 30th, 1866, the congregation voted a call to Rev. J. S. Stuchell, who was installed May 10th, 1867, and continued pastor until April 1st, 1870, a period of three years. Mr. Stuchell died Oct. 1875. Oct. 26th, 1867, Messrs. Wm. C. Shaw, D. D. Yohe and Samuel Hindman were ordained elders. Mr. Yohe died Aug. 7th, 1868. Oct. 1st, 1871, a call was made out for the present pastor. He began his labors as pastor elect Oct. 16th, was installed Nov. 6th, 1871. At a congregational meeting held January 20th, 1868, it was resolved to build a new house of worship, and committees were appointed to procure a site and solicit subscriptions. The building committee were Messrs. Aaron Brawdy, H. H. Finley, T. R. Hazzard, Esq., John Patterson, James Stockdale, Wm. J. Alexander, Jas. H. Van Voorhis and Francis I. Gardner. The present house of worship was built at a total cost of about $32,000.00. The lecture room was dedicated by divine service March 17th, 1872, the first sermon being in the text John 2, 19. The house was brought to its present state of completion the next year, and dedicated June 8th, 1873, the pastor [p.65] preaching the sermon from Is. 56, 7, and Mark 11, 17. He was assisted in the service by the other pastors of the town, also by his predecessor, Rev. J. S. Stuchell, who preached in the evening. Messrs. Jas. Van Voorhis and John Patterson were elected and ordained, and Mr. Hindman was installed elder January 21st, 1872.

Horseshoe Bottom mentioned in the following:

It Happened in Pennsylvania
By Fran Capo, Scott Bruce – 2005

“The Death Fog – 1948″ pg 111

****************************************

From:

The 1782 Volunteer Militia from Washington County, Pa And their Moravian Indian victims
By George C. Williston.

Pvt. Samuel Hindeman ? In Hopewell Township in 1783;

RBE- probably the Sam Hineman who bought 60 acres on Cross Creek in 1783; the local historian, Isaac Craig, says in a letter to another local historian, Boyd Crumrine,[43]-? a man named Hindman was said by General Richard Butler to be one of the worst;?. this being the only man of that name on the list we have to assume he was talking of Samuel Hindeman/Hindman.- but what does ?one of the worst?; mean ?that he killed the most or was one of the most vicious? General Richard Butler was a well respected Continental officer who as a Colonel was at Fort  Pitt near the time of this expedition, and became Indian Agent immediately thereafter so he would have had reason to have been paying attention.

**[43] is noted as Isaac Craig

***********************************

The following are for Chester Co., PA. Posted by Sandra Ferguson on Rootsweb, in 2001. LINK

HINDMAN, JOHN.
November 24, 1741.
Adm. to James Buchanan.

Pennsylvania Wills, 1682-1834

RAMSEY, DAVID. Londonderry.
March 4, 1782. March 18, 1782.
Provides for wife Isabella including interest of £400 in the hands of
her brother John Hindman, during life and after her decease, 2/3 of it to children of said John Hindman and the remaining 1/3 to the children of her brother Samuel Hindman of Ireland. To my Uncle Robert Ramsey £42. To Ephraim and John, sons of Rev. William Ramsey late of N. Jersey,£40 each. To Jean and Frances, daughters of William Montgomery of Philadelphia, £40 each. To Jean and Margaret, granddaughters of brother James Ramsey, £15 each. To sister Mary, relict of Robert Sterrit of Paxton Township, Lancaster Co., £50. To Agnes, daughter of brother Nathaniel of Maryland, deceased, £60. To Margaret, relict of brother Robert, Lancaster Co., deceased, £30. To Moses, son of my Uncle Robert Ramsey aforesaid, £30. To Ann, daughter of Moses £15. To wife’s niece Isabella, wife of Andrew Walker of Cumberland Co., £20. To the Minister of Faggs
Manor, the interest of £50. To Ann, relict of William Robinson, deceased, £20. To Francis Sample £15. To my Uncle Robert Ramsey wearing apparel. To Moses and brother James Ramsey, same. To Rev. John Finly my right of Mr. Henry’s works. To John Hindman and Samuel Ramsey, Jr., remainder of books.
To John Kinkead best hatt. Remainder in 4 shares, one each to wife Isabella, children of Samuel Ramsey, Jr., children of Joseph Potter, deceased, children of Charles Kinkead, deceased. Joseph Potter, deceased, children of Charles Kinkead, deceased. Executors: Friends John Ramsey, James Gilleland.
Wit: William Pinkerton, Benjamin Walker, Magdalen (x) Gamble.

*****

RAMSEY, ISABEL. Londonderry.
October 9, 1787. May 29, 1788.
To brother James Hindman of Ireland £50. To Samuel Hindman £20. To George Washington Gibson £10 at 21, with rev. to his eldest brother John, sons of George Gibson. To Isabel Walker, my sister’s daughter, wearing apparel. To Alice, wife of Samuel Ramsey, wearing apparel. To Hannah, wife of John Hindman, remainder of wearing apparel. To Agnes, daughter of Ann Ramsey, now Kinkead, £10 at 18. Remainder to be divided among John, David, James, Agnes and Hannah, children of John Hindman, Jr. Also to the 6 children of my brother John, above named, the 1/4 part of a residuary legacy left me by my late husband David Ramsey. Executors: Friends George Gibson, Joseph Luckey.
Wit: George Gibson, Joseph Luckey, Benjamin Walker.
Will not recorded. Account filed by Gibson and Luckey.

*****

HINDMAN, JOHN. Londongrove.
August 21, 1789. January 25, 1796.
To sons David and James £30 each. To wife Hannah 1/3 of estate during life.
Remainder of estate to children, Samuel, John, Agnes, Hannah, David and James, share and share alike.
Executors: Wife Hannah, sons Samuel and David.
Letters to David and Hannah.
Wit: John E. Finley, George Gibson.

*****

HOOD, JAMES. West Nantmel.
Died August 20, 1805 aged 76 years.
August 12, 1805: September 1805.
Provides for wife Catharine.To my eldest daughter Mary, who was born in Ireland, $8.To son-in-law Joshua Davis $l.To daughter-in-law Rebecca Hood and her daughter Hannah, the child of my son William, deceased, $l. To son Thomas $20.To son John that part of my plantation north of new turnpike road, except the buildings, &c. To son Samuel the land on south side of road, with half of buildings, &c. on … .To daughter Elizabeth McClellan $15. To daughter Rachel Hindman $134.Remainder of household good to wife Catherine, who is executrix.
Wits.: John Hartan, George McCadden, James Lockhart.

*****

McCLENACHAN, ELIJAH. Chester County.
April 7, 1802: February 8, 1810.
Gives $40 out of the money bequeathed me by the last will of my uncle Dr. Robert Finney and the will of mother Anna McClenachan to assist in building a stone wall around the family burying ground on Thunder Hill. To the congregation of New London $60.
To the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America $20.For the use of the poor of Chester County $20.
To son John Finney McClenachan $100 and wearing apparel.
To daughter Lettice, wife of Samuel Hindman $l. To son Elijah $300. To granddaughter Jennet McClenachan that lives with me various articles. To son Samuel Blair McClenachan all remainder of estate, real and personal.
Executors: Son Samuel B. McClenachan and James Strawbridge. (Letters to son.) Wits.: Jno. Menough, John Reed.

*****

Link to biography of Samuel Hindman of Schuyler Co., IL, who came from Allegheny Co., PA.

Foi um dos arquitetos mais importantes do século XX, suas idéias e obras influenciarão os rumos da arquitetura moderna. Considerado peça chave da arquitetura orgânica que foi representada no projeto Fallingwater House (casa da cascata).

Acreditava que cada projeto deveria ser individual, de acordo com sua localização e finalidade, e também que a arquitetura não era só uma questão de habilidade e criatividade, mas deveria transmitir felicidade.  Dizia que “a forma e a função são uma só”.

Nome: Frank Lloyd Wright

Nacionalidade: Estado Unidos

Nascimento: 8 de Junho de 1867

Falecimento: 9 de Abril de 1959 (91 anos)

Projetos significantes: Robie House, Fallingwater House, Johnson Wax Building, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum,Westcott House, Florida Southern College, Massaro house.

Frank escreveu muitos artigos e deixou um acervo de 20 livros, nos Estados Unidos e na Europa era conhecido como um grande palestrante. Teve seu  reconhecimento ainda em vida quando o American Institute of Architects conferiu a Frank o titulo de “Maior arquiteto americano de todos os tempos”.

Seus projetos foram eternizados e fielmente reconhecidos por todo o mundo, as suas principais obras são:

Casa da cascata (Fallingwater house) ou casa kaufmann (nome da primeira família proprietária) que é considerada a residência moderna mais famosa do mundo. Frank conhece o sítio localizado nas montanhas em uma área de floresta com corredeiras e uma  cascata. A intenção dos proprietários era de que a nova casa fosse construída próxima a cascata. O arquiteto decide “pousar” a casa sobre a cascata. O projeto foi iniciado em setembro de 1935. A construção inicia-se em 1936 e em dezembro de 1937 o edifício  principal fica pronto. O anexo dos hóspedes e serviços fica pronto em 1939.

Terreno antes da contrução do edificio

Etapa da construção do edificio

Croqui de Frank Lloyd Wright

As curvas do museu

Museu Solomon R. Guggenheim localizado em Nova Iorque e é famoso pelas linhas curvas da fachada representando a arquitetura moderna em sua forma mais orgânica. Leva este nome em omenagem ao criador e fundador do museu. Solomon Robert Guggenheim quando iniciou este projeto procurava um “homem guerreiro, amante do espaço, agitador, experimentador e sábio”. Foi assim que ela encontrou Frank Lloyd Wright.

Croqui

As casas Westcott House e Frederick C. Robie House são tombada pelo patrimônio histórico dos Estados Unidos, pois são os melhores exemplos do período Prairie School, o primeiro estilo arquitetônico genuinamente americano.

Casa Robie

Casa Robie

Casa westcott

Casa Westcott

Esquema "urbanistico" dos conjunto Child of the Sun Danforth Chapel

O grupo de edifícios Child of the Sun juntos formão a maior coleção de prédios projetados por Frank Lloyd Wright, que também estão no roteiro histórico dos Estados Unidos.  É localizado no campus da florida Southern College em Lakeland.

Danforth Chapel

Pfeiffer Chapel, 1941

Buckner Building

Ordway Building

Esplanade (walkway)

E a Massaro House ou casa do lago que começou a ser projetada por Frank  mais, não foi realizada na época,  só apos seu falecimento que foi concluída mais especificamente  em 2005  mais de 50 anos depois, que foi totalmente construída, por Thomas A. Heinz que é um fiel seguidor  e responsável por diversas restaurações em obras do Frank.

Croqui original

O vídeo esta em Inglês mais vale a pena conferir:

Em fim, Frank contribuiu de maneiras e estilos diversos na historia da arquitetura.

British North America Act

Does Canada have a written constitution? According to a recent article in the American Political Science Review by James Fink, Canada’s constitution is entirely customary or unwritten. As political scientist Janet Ajzenstat points out, Canada has a written constitution.

I would add, however, that the unwritten parts of the Canadian constitution are more important than the written documents. This is probably what Fink meant to say.

As the old map of Kingston we posted about last week demonstrates, our city has changed substantially throughout its history. While these changes are often recorded in maps, they are also recorded through photographs after the 1860s. The museum contains many original photos and reproductions in our collection. Here is a small sample of historic Kingston as seen through the camera.

Kingston celebrates the firsst Dominion Day (later called Canada Day) in 1867

Princess Street always was the most happening street in town. Even in the 1890s!

Image from www.legendsofamerica.com

Roy Bean was for ten years in the young days of Texas justice of the peace and coroner of the town of Vinegar Roon, being, as he expressed it, “the law of Texas west of the Pecos.”

He is still living in the town of Langtry, 300 miles west of San Antonio. No man know whence he came. The railroad builders found him away out there on the great desert plains, and when the gamblers and toughs and tenderfeet came along with the first trains and at once proceeded to run the country according to their own notions old Roy Bean declared himself a justice of the peace and boldly announced, “I am the law of Texas west of the Pecos.” It is highly probable that a few people who were in favor of law and order invited the strange character to assume the judicial position and that on account of his desperate courage and fearless judicial demeanor he afterward was appointed to fill the office of justice of the peace.

Early one morning it was reported in the town of Vinegar Roon that a man had fallen from a bridge near the place and that his dead body was lying on the ground close to the water. Roy Bean, as justice of the peace and exofficio coroner, at once summoned a jury. There was no testimony to be taken. The man was a stranger, and it was not easy to determine the cause of his death. He might have fallen from the bridge or he might have been murdered. The coroner searched the dead body, and when he found a pistol in one pocket and $50 in the other he turned to the jury and informed them that in this matter their services were of no value, since it would be necessary for the court to render a verdict without their aid. The court fined the dead man $50 for carrying a pistol and took possession of the money, since the fees of the coroner amounted to just $50, and the body was buried on the lonely prairie at the expense of the county.

Image from www.baronservices.us

Vinegar Roon was named after the most poisonous little reptile that infests the western plains, says the New York Press. It can sting a Gila monster to death in the twinkling of an eye and then turn about and chase a rattlesnake from his den. Chain lightning whisky is no antidote for the poison of the vinegar roon. Roy Bean named the place, and while acting justice of the peace he divided his time between the judicial bench and a roomy saloon and gambling house, where there was none to dispute his authority, for he was sole proprietor.

One fine day a gambler, while in an unusually hilarious mood, sent a pistol ball crashing through the brains of a Chinaman. When the citizens of Vinegar Roon had ceased to celebrate the exit of the Celestial and the funeral solemnities were an affair of the past, the killer was honored with a request to appear at the bar where liquids and justice were dispensed alternately.

The sage who was “the law of Texas west of the Pecos” had evidently devoted some spare moments to the study of his first murder case, for the judgment that was rendered and entered on the docket is certainly without a parallel.

“I have carefully examined the criminal statutes of Texas,” said Roy Bean, “and I find that there is plenty of law to punish one white man for another, but there is no law to punish a citizen of Texas for shooting a Chinaman. In fact, the Chinese are not mentioned in the statutes. The gentleman at the bar stands charged with having shot and killed a Chinaman by the name of Ah Foo. Mr. Ah Foo was unfortunate. He should have remained in his own country. Texas is the land of the free and the home of the brave. It is no place for Mr. Ah Foo or Mr. Ah Sin or Mrs. Ah Sin. Our wise legislators have failed to make laws for the protection of pigtails. Therefore the defendant is discharged, and the costs of this case are assessed against the deceased, Ah Foo, and in case the same cannot be collected in full by the sale of the goods and chattels of the said Ah Foo, or some other Chinaman, it is the order of this court that a copy of these proceedings be made and forwarded to the United States minister in China, and by these presents he is authorized to collect said costs from the emperor of China. The defendant is discharged.”

One day a man with an immense sombrero above his long, tangled hair and an arsenal at his belt appeared at Vinegar Roon, declaring that he had just stopped over to have a little recreation.

“I have been spending a few weeks in San Antonio,” he said, “and my shooting irons were getting rusty.”

After taking a few drinks at the bar he began to berate the mild and feeble qualities of the liquids offered for sale in the infant city.

“Give me a little tarantula juice with a real vinegar roon floating around in it!” shouted this Arizona terror.

“All right,” calmly replied the old behind the bar. “I think we can accommodate you, but you will have to wait a few moments.”

“Well, get up the beverage,” roared the terror, “and I’ll amuse myself during the delay by dropping a few bullets around promiscuously among the lamps and bottles and sich things.”

“As you please,” suavely replied the old man. “I like to see a stranger enjoy himself.”

The terror glanced at the polite barkeeper rather suspiciously, but he never once dreamed that he was talking to old Roy Bean.

Fairly chuckling with suppressed merriment, old Roy went out on the plains only a few steps from his saloon and after turning over two or three rocks he got a big tarantula and a monster vinegar roon. After mashing the heads of the poisonous reptiles he returned to the barroom, entering the door just as the terror with a wild Comanche yell began to rain lead among the bottle and glasses.

As the patrons of the house started through the doors and windows in confusion, old Roy shouted:

“Keep your seats, gentlemen. This infant cyclone will be of sort duration.”

The next instant the terror found himself standing on his head and his weapons were falling upon the floor. Mr. Bean held the amazed man in that position until an accomplished bartender had filled a large beer glass with pure alcohol, and then he reversed the terror as if he had been handling a toy.

“Now, look here, stranger,” said Mr. Bean, in tender but deceptive tones, “you have been finding fault with the quality of my whisky and you have seen proper, to satisfy your fastidious taste, to order a peculiar drink which I have taken the trouble to prepare for you.”

The terror turned his white face toward the bar, and when he saw a tarantula and a vinegar roon floating about in a tumbler of alcohol he uttered a groan of distress and his knees began to tremble.

“There is the peculiar drink and trimmings that you ordered, young man, and my name is Roy Bean,” said the old man, as he pushed the trembling terror toward the bar.

The amazed and thoroughly alarmed stranger found voice enough to beg for mercy.

“Drink every drop of it or I will break your neck,” said Judge Bean.

The poor devil gulped down the awful mixture and with a scream of terror sprang out into the street. He “hit the earth a-running,” and he never slackened his speed until the town of Vinegar Roon was far behind him. It is supposed that the man’s stomach instantly rejected the fearful poison, for he lied to tell of his experience in Vinegar Ron, though he said there was not gold enough in the world to hire him to revisit the place.

Newark Daily Advocate (Newark, Ohio) Oct 6, 1900

Image from http://blog.nj.com/njv_shenemans_sketchpad

STATE PRESS.

What the Newspapers Throughout Texas Are Talking About.

The Uvalde News says:

Last Monday Harry Webb, one of the Southern Pacific barge men, to amuse himself brought crackers to feed Judge Bean’s immense bear. The animal would come to the end of the chain, receive a cracker and turn a somersault, to Mr. Webb’s infinite amusement. Judge Bean finally remonstrated, telling the man to go out and “monkey with the donkeys,” as they wouldn’t hurt him. Mr. Webb bought another dollar’s worth of crackers and fed the long-eared animals for a time, but protested there was no fun in that and returned to Bruin, who, no doubt, was feeling injured. Finally a cracker was dropped and Webb stooped over to pick it up. The bear thought he intended taking it away from him and reached over with his mighty paw, caught the man back of the head, and pulled him into the ring. He tore the man’s scalp off, from neck to crown, as cleanly as an Indian could have done it, and was proceeding to further deeds of destruction when Judge Bean, attracted by the victim’s frantic yell, uttered a war whoop and landed directly on the bear’s back. The animal knew his master and cowed instantly.

Galveston Daily News (Galveston, Texas) Jul 27, 1891

A Judge Arrested for Smuggling

SAN ANTONIO, Tex., Aug. 24. — Judge Roy Bean, of Langley, has been arrested for smuggling. It is alleged that he has been concerned in running horses from Mexico into the United States. He is one of the most celebrated characters of the frontier, and has been justice of the peace for many years. He has been accustomed to enforce his ruling with the six-shooter. Once when justice of the peace in Bexar county he sentenced a man to death by hanging for horse stealing, and the criminal would have hanged if not for the intervention of the officers from San Antonio. Bean is 60 years old and wealthy.

Mitchell Daily Republican (Mitchell, South Dakota) Aug 24, 1891

Image from www.leverguns.com

JUSTICE OUT WEST

Judge Roy Bean Disposes Of a Big Docket.

Langtry, Tex., May 19. — Judge Roy Bean, chief justice of the district of Vinegaroon and the hero of many a thrilling border experience in court and camp, has recently been entertaining Judge Falvey of El Paso, whom he enlightened as to the practical and effective methods of dealing out justice in his jurisdiction. Judge Bean had no long before had as a guest Hon. H.C. Carter of San Antonio, to whom Del Rio lays claim because he embarked upon his professional career there and was at one time county attorney, making a splendid record as a successful and able lawyer.

When Judge Falvey came down from El Paso, Judge Bean met him not far from the seat of justice at Vinegaroon, escorted him to town and invited him to occupy a seat on the bench with him as he was about to open court. Judge Falvey accepted the invitation with expressions of pleasure, and court was opened in due and solemn form.

The first case called was one in which a man had made an affidavit charging another with shooting at him with a pistol, the bullet missing affiant’s head barely an inch. Judge Bean remarked that he had seen the two men drinking together during the morning with every indication of good will toward each other and asked:

“You are friends, aren’t you?”

“Yes,” replied the man who had made the affidavit.

“Then I fine you $50 each,” firmly announced the judge.

“But, my dear judge,” interrupted Judge Falvey, “this man is charged with a penitentiary offense.”

“That’s all right,” responded the court.

“All we can do with these fellows here is to fine them. IF I was to send them up to Fort Stockton it would require a journey of 200 miles by rail and 60 miles more by land and it would bankrupt the county to feed them. The fine assessed by this court will stand.”

The next case was that of a man brought in by Sergt. Lindsey, charged with having “rolled” another.  Judge Bean, thinking perhaps Judge Falvey would not understand the expression “rolled” called on the sergeant for an explanation. The sergeant gave it, saying that the term “rolled” meant that a man caught asleep or too drunk to take care of himself has his money and valuables taken out of his pockets or off his person. It was the border term for theft from the person. The prisoner in this case, he said, had taken two $20 bills and some silver from his victim’s pockets and the bills were produced and laid on the judge’s table as incriminating evidence.

Judge Bean demanded of the prisoner to tell what he had done with the silver and the latter replied that he had spent it on the guard.

“Then,” said the cort, “I fine you both $10 a piece and if I catch you around here within two hours I will feed you on bread and water and chain you to a stake.”

“This man is also guilty of a penitentiary offense, judge,” said Judge Falvey, who had listened closely to the proceedings.

“I can’t help that,” returned the chief justice, “that is all the way this court can be run.”

While Judge Falvey was sitting with Judge Bean he saw some 15 or 20 cases disposed of in like manner and when he told the people there, referring to his visit at Vinegaroon,

“Gentlemen, you have the right man in the right place.”

It is said that in reading closely Judge Bean’s famous decisions is to be attributed in a large degree the success achieved by Attorney Carter in his profession and by the way, it is said, note of these decisions has ever been reversed. Though, possibly that is due to the fact that the dispenser of justice at Vinegaroon never allows appeals from the decisions of his court.

Judge Falvey asked Judge Bean if the report was true that he allowed no appeals and the answer given by Judge Bean was that no appeals were granted because all the contractors in that vicinity were transients; all their personal effects and chattels were mortgaged and they could not give a solvent bond as required by law when appeal is taken.

When the evening’s session was over, Judge Bean escorted his guest to Eagle Nest, a string band leading the way and enlivening the journey with soft music. That night the judge gave a dinner at his saloon at Eagle Nest in honor of his visitor and things were made pleasant all around.

THE SAN ANTONIO DAILY EXPRESS (San Antonio, Texas) May 21, 1899

Image from http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth38466/

TEXAS LANDMARK FAST CRUMBLING

Once Proud Seat of “Law West of Pecos” is Now Crumbling Ruins.

WHERE JUDGE BEAN PRESIDED

Town’s Name, Eagle’s Nest, Vanishes From Map and Only Memory Remains of the Judge and His Rulings.

San Antonio, Tex. — With its foundation posts wobbling like old men’s legs, its floors showing ugly gaping holes, its porch roof shorn of the last lingering board, scraggy bits of what was once white paint hanging to the outer walls, and its door banging to a single rusty hinge — at Langtry, Tex., once known as Eagle’s Nest — what remains of one of Texas’ most famous old landmarks is succumbing to wind and rain.

It is the once proud seat of the “Law West of the Pecos” — the old home and saloon and throne where, not so many years ago, Judge Roy Bean lived and reigned supreme as dispenser of justice and red eye liquor, and dared the world to interfere with his game.

But since Judge Bean went away there had been a great change. Perhaps it is just as well that he “cashed in” — as he himself probably would express it — before the days when nowhere in the whole of Texas can the traveler find a drop to drink.

In the “Good Old Days.”

Many humorous and many semi-tragic stories regarding Judge Bean have been handed down by friends and relatives, many of whom are living in or adjacent to San Antonio today. It was in a day when enforcers of the law were few and far between, and when the men with the quickest trigger finger and the steadiest nerve were monarchs of a large portion of what they surveyed.

Bean was justice of the peace of precinct No. 6 and the ranking representative of the law for hundreds of miles north, south, east and west of him. Equipped with a copy of the statutes of Ohio of the vintage of 1885, a sense of fair play, and a strong conviction of what the law should be even though it were not so written down in the books, he put up his sign:

Judge Roy Bean,
Justice of the Peace,
Law West of the Pecos.

In addition to being chief magistrate over everything “West of the Pecos,” Judge Bean conducted a thirst-quenching emporium typical of the day. The saloon was in the hall of justice, and from behind the bar came the voice of authority backed by a brace of perfectly good six-shooters.

Judge Bean’s “Law.”

Two Mexican men and women walked into Judge Bean’s court one day and informed him that they wanted a change; that they wanted to swap helpmeets. The judge made diligent inquiries of each of the four, found all to be of the same mind, charged each of the men $15 and a dozen bottles of beer and called it done.

When a state official from Austin on a flying visit to “Eagle’s Nest” complained to Judge Bean that he was exceeding his authority, explaining that divorces should be passed up to a higher court, Bean alleged to have retorted:

“Why, say! Have I ever butted into your affairs? These people wanted to sway, they paid me for changin’ ‘em around, they’re livin’ together pu’fectly happy, an’ nobody ’round here has complained. You go on back to Austin an’ handle your courts like you want to, but this is out o’ your jurisdiction.”

THE IOWA CITY DAILY CITIZEN (Iowa City, Iowa) Dec 22, 1919

To J.W. Schofield, city salesman of A.B. Frank % Company, belongs the distinction of having served as clerk in “Judge” Roy Bean’s court when “Law west of the Pecos,” had application to all classed of cases, civil and criminal, and the “Judge” power to render judgment extending all the way from the imposition of a petty fine, to the pronunciation of the death penalty.

The honor is not to be lightly construed. Mr. Schofield is the only person known to have officiated in the dispensation of justice in the most unique court in the history of judicial procedure. It was in every sense a high honor, for Judge Roy Bean, as was becoming his unusual prerogative, alone and unaided administered the “law” of his court. But the case under consideration was one in which the defendant threatened an appeal in the event the case went against him. Under the circumstances Judge Bean thought best to comply with the wishes of the attorney for the defense and Mr. Schofield was appointed to act as clerk.

Business Rivalry Cause.

The case was the result of the rivalry which existed between Judge Bean’s saloon and that of J.P. Torres.

In the spring of 1893, Mr. Schofield visited Langtry in the capacity of drummer of one of the San Antonio houses. D. Hart, a prominent sheepman of West Texas was preparing at the time, to pay off 200 or more sheep shearers who had been engaged to shear the animals. In anticipation of reaping some of the benefits of this spurt of prosperity, Judge Bean had laid in an extra stock of beer and whiskey. His rival was no slow to follow his lead.

The Mexican shearers arrived, and went in droves to the “Jersey Lily,” Judge Bean’s saloon. Satisfaction spread over his face as he looked over at the almost empty place of his rival.

Stealing a March.

But Torres was not easily outwitted. He had a partner running a saloon with a dance hall in connection at Flanders, the point where the railroad gang engaged in the construction of the Pecos bridge was camped. Torres dispatched a messenger to him with instructions to bring the dancing girls at Flanders to Langtry, accompanied by the orchestra. The move was not known to Judge Bean, if it had been, an injunction restraining Torres from bringing the women and the music to his place would have been issued immediately.

Soon after the arrival of the dancers, strains of music issued from Torres’ place to the accompaniment of shifting feet. The crowd of Mexicans in Judge Bean’s saloon, one by one, raised their lips from the glasses, and in crowds departed to the scene of revelry.

Judge Bean scratched his head and called for his friend, Mr. Schofield.

Not in Accord With Law.

“Now look here, Schofield, it ain’t in keeping with justice that all this amount of beer I have imported for this occasion should go to waste,” he said. “It ain’t economy, and it ain’t accordin’ to the statutes of the State of Texas.”

“I’ll just pull Torres for conducting a disorderly house. There are more ways than one of doing business,” he said, while deputizing several cowpunchers to arrest Torres, and bring him before the honorable court of the law west of the Pecos.

Following the arrest of Torres, his place was closed down, and the shearers returned to the “Jersey Lily,” while the case of the State of Texas versus J.P. Torres, was duly docketed and called for trial.

Threatens Appeal.

Mr. Cunningham, inspector of customs, stationed at Langtry, appeared for the defendant, and demanded a jury. He also informed Judge Bean that in the even the case went against his client in the lower court an appeal would be taken. He was in turn informed that the decisions of Judge Bean’s court were conclusive and final and no such thing as a appeal had even been heard of. Mr. Cunningham insisted that the appeal would be taken, and Judge Bean called on Mr. Schofield for assistance.

In making the appointment, Judge Bean said, “I’ve got to have you for a clear, because there ain’t anyone around here can write.”

While Mr. Schofield agreed to serve as clerk, his intentions were to leave on the night train. Just as he was in the act of boarding the train, however, a ranger stepped up to him and asked if he had not been appointed to act as clerk. Mr. Schofield admitted that such was the case. Upon this the ranger then told him that he had better remain and perform his duties. Mr. Shofield agreed with the ranger when he caught sight of two bit six-shooters that looked like business.

The Trial.

In the morning the case was called for trial.

Mr. Cunningham, having a smattering of law, got the best of the argument, and put Judge Bean to rout on several legal points. Whenever the judge was unable to reply to the sallies of Mr. Cunningham, he would hold up the only law book he had, which was a statute of the state, and say:

“If what you say is the law, and is in the book, and ain’t a good law, then I’ll tear it out of the book.”

Mr. Schofield who was busily engaged in performing the usual duties of the clerk, in addition to taking and subscribing testimony, realized that the case was going against the judge. In the end the jury disagreed and it being impossible to secure another, the case was dropped for the time being.

A year later Judge Bean, on a visit to the city, met Mr. Schofiled, who naturally, was still greatly interested in the case.

Judge Bean Won.

“Well I finally got the best of Torres,” he told him.

“A jack-leg lawyer turned up in Langtry broke some time ago, and in discussing the case with him, I found out that Cunningham had no right to practice law. The lawyer told me if he did not have a license he had no right to defend Torres. After that things looked easy. I called on Torres and told him that I had him. The thing I sprung on him was, that I had discovered that Cunningham did not have a license to practice law, and therefore his action in defending him was illegal and contrary to the constitution of the state and the United States, and if he wanted to plead guilty, it would cost him $25, but if he did not, then I would try him again and stick him the limit. Torres came across and paid the $25.”

Judge Bean had at this time run afoul of the real law, by giving divorce degrees to two Mexican hombres in order that they might exchange wives. In discussing the case, Judge Bean gave expression to an axiom which he alone has ever been able to understand, “Law,” he said to Mr. Schofield, “is the true dispensation of justice.”

Hitting a Snag.

“The two Mexicans,” he explained, “appeared before me and secured a license to marry. I issued the license and married them. About four months later the same men came to me again and said they wanted to be divorced so that they could exchange wives. They said that in marrying they had married the wrong women, and had now concluded that their difficulties could be solved by being divorced and re-married. I granted the divorce, and swapped the wives around for them.

“It was not long after this that the county judge at Fort Stockton got wind of the proceedings and called on me at Langtry.

“He informed me I had exceeded my authority, and that he would be compelled to arrest me and take me to the jail at Fort Stockton. I finally succeeded in getting the judge to remain over night in Langtry, and knowing he was fond of playing poker, I sent out for some of my boys.

“The judge had about twenty dollars with him, which he soon lost. Of course, I supplied him with money from time to time, and when daylight came the judge owed me about $500.

“He called for his horse and rode away without mentioning anything more about the criminal proceedings against me for granting the divorce, and I did not remind him of the money he had borrowed from me. After he had gone, the boys came around and gave me back my money.”

“Texas certainly lost a unique character by the death of Roy Bean, some three or four years ago, ” said Mr. Schofield.

THE SAN ANTONIO LIGHT (San Antonio, Texas) Nov 26, 1911

Famed Pecos Judge Shocked S.A.
By RAY WARD

For 20 years before he became law west of the Pecos, the famed Judge Roy Bean shocked San Antonio with sensational scandals and gave his name to part of the south side.

South of Concepcion park along Flores, where the colorful adventurer played Robin Hood to his friends and reveled in comic glory, became known as Beanville.

His escapades kept the courts busy but his legal footwork was so expert he was never convicted on any charge brought again him. Finally, a harried friend paid him to leave town and stay away.

QUICK FORTUNE

The portly man with a heavy black beard came to San Antonio during the Civil was and made a quick fortune running the union blockade by smuggling cotton to Mexico.

Deciding German and American society was too formal for him, Bean donned a sombrero and moved to the west side in 1866, squatting in a shack on San Pedro creek.

After a run of bad luck his creditors attached his hauling equipment and the sheriff prepared to sell it. Feeling the pinch in his pocketbook from lack of wagons, Bean simply stole his equipment back and the case was closed without further action.

REFUSED TO PAY

Bean’s unwilling landlord then ordered him to pay back rent for the shack or move out. Bean refused and went to court again. After months of legal stalling, the owner gave in and compromised by moving Bean’s belongings to another house, giving him a jug of whisky and paying him $3000 for inconveniences.

Bean then moved to S. Flores and the area took the name of Beanville. Pundits called it Dogtown because of the extreme poverty of the residents and because all the curs on the south side were starving to death.

The temporarily wealthy Bean next created a society sensation by marrying Virginia Chavez, a descendant of on of San Antonio’s original Canary island families. He settled down to a quiet married life for a few months, but was soon back in court.

ACCUSED BY WIFE

In 1867 his wife charged him with assault. She said he came home drunk, took a flaming stick from the fire, chased her out of bed and burned her backside severely.

The case rocked society and Bean got a change of venue to Boerne. At the trial he demanded his wife show the jury her scars, and when she refused the judge dismissed the case.

Bean next turned woodsman. He was hired to keep poachers off a lumber mill’s property, but made more money selling to a competitor on the side.

When the deception was uncovered, he became a dairy farmer. He bought a herd of milk cows on approval, but because of a drouth they starved to death.

BUSINESSES BROKE

Butchering was his next vocation. Bean hired boys to steal stray horses and cows and peddled the meat from door to door. He opened a saloon on the side and went broke in both enterprises.

His last venture was a return to freighting, but he killed a man in a duel in Mexico and closed shop again.

A posse of deputy marshals camped in Beanville in 1875 and convinced the 56-year-old man he should seek his fortune in the wide open west. He lacked the money to go, but a neighbor, who wanted  to be rid of him, bought his worthless business just to get him to leave.

TOO MUCH LAW

As a parting gesture he made a southsiders promise to keep the name of Beanville and departed from San Antonio saying:

“They say there’s no law west of the Pecos. Well, there’s too much law around San Antonio.”

He settled at a railroad construction camp called Vinegarroon and opened a tavern which he advertised widely in south Texas. In 1882 he was made a justice of the peace and began his climb into legend as a judge, a sportsman and platonic friend of Lily Langtry.

SAN ANTONIO LIGHT (San Antonio, Texas) Oct 24, 1954

THE STORY OF JUDGE ROY BEAN

Law West of the Pecos

By EVERETT LLOYD (excerpt from chapter two)

Contrary to general belief, Roy Bean was not personally acquainted with the celebrated English actress, Lillie Langtry, and she did not visit the town supposed to have been named in her honor until after Bean’s death. That he had a long-distance admiration for her, and even wrote to her and received a reply, we know from the statements of the famous beauty in her autobiography.

The most plausible explanation of Bean’s admiration for Lillie Langtry is that at the time she was a world celebrity; her picture and stories of her triumphs and love affairs were in every newspaper; and the station of Langtry having already been named, it is more than probably that Bean in a spirit of levity and partly as a hoax, informed her that he had named his town in her honor, and it was natural that she should feel flattered. A few years later when the opportunity came during one of her American tours, the citizens of Langtry being aware of Bean’s fancied or pretended acquaintance with the great actress, and having heard him read her reply to his letter, invited her to pay the town a visit on her way to California and she accepted.

Amarillo Daily News (Amarillo, Texas) Aug 1, 1940

Image from http://media.photobucket.com/image/%252522Judge%20Roy%20Bean%252522/telerion/sanders-hot-springs-hunters.jpg

Famous people in the photo above include Judge Roy Bean, Wyatt Earp, Butch Cassidy and Teddy Roosevelt.

Dernièrement, j’ai appris qu’une Église du Connecticut, la Manifested Glory Ministries, s’adonnait à l’exorcisme. Mais pas n’importe lequel, celui contre le démon de l’homosexualité…

On pourrait presque dire que l’« Église » évolue, puisque ce genre de pratique est assez inédit. Une manière d’aller récupérer quelques brebis sodomites égarées?

Parlant évolution, justement, saviez-vous que la constitution canadienne (dernière version : 1982) débute par « Attendu que le Canada est fondé sur des principes qui reconnaissent la suprématie de Dieu » alors que l’« ancienne version qui date de 1867 était parfaitement laïc »?

La lecture de la page Wikipédia au sujet de ce préambule est assez éclairante sur comment les religieux sont perdus dans leurs obsessions, ce qui peut donner, ultimement, des exorcismes du genre cité plus haut. Avec son aplomb légendaire, le Premier Ministre de l’époque, Pierre Elliot Trudeau, aurait dit : « Je crois que Dieu s’en fout d’être dans la Constitution ou non. » C’est plutôt rare, mais cette fois-ci je suis d’accord avec lui, même si par cette phrase il avoue croire en Dieu, à moins que ce soit simplement du sarcasme pur. Je n’irai pas jusqu’à vérifier, sa vie personnelle ne m’intéresse pas…

Mais ce que je constate, c’est que le Canada n’avait pas besoin de ce préambule avant 1982, puisque la vie religieuse a pu suivre son cours quand même. Par contre, à partir du moment où « la suprématie de Dieu » y est inscrite, cela ouvre des portes inquiétantes. Le Parti de l’Héritage Chrétien se sert de ce préambule pour appuyer sa propagande pro-vie et pro-famille (comme si les athées et agnostiques étaient tous des célibataires sans enfants…), essayant d’amputer moralement les droits et libertés selon leurs principes. La loi de Dieu avant la loi des hommes. Même logique tordue du côté des musulmans : ce préambule déroulerait le tapis rouge pour la loi islamiste au Canada. Et je n’ai aucun doute que les chrétiens ne sont pas très contents de ça. C’est d’un humour!

Je ne m’inquiète pas pour vrai. Seulement si un jour le système de justice est gangréné par les ultras religieux, ce qui ne semble vraiment pas le cas pour l’instant. Mais quand même, est-ce qu’il faut s’attendre à voir prochainement des exorcismes pour déloger le démon athée?

I feel the need to be a patriotic Canadian for a minute and remember today, its 142nd anniversary. Not a number that sticks in one’s mind, I’ll admit, but it’s 8 away from 150!

Actually, I really haven’t done anything special today. There’s some stuff going on at City Hall today, but it’s mainly a bunch of crappy tents selling useless junk as well as some small acts on a stage. I’m so glad I missed Kreesha Turner performing- she ruined my New Year’s Eve 2008. Let me explain.

On December 31, 2008 I went to Nathan Philips Square in Toronto for the annual New Year’s Eve festivities. Why I wanted to go, I have absolutely no idea. Pretty much every act there was horrible. But it was Kreesha Turner that made me want to kill myself. It was a few minutes before midnight, and she said “So hey guys, this song ‘Don’t Call Me Baby’ is going to be the last song you guys will hear this year!”

I smacked my head. The last song I was going to hear of 2008 was a shitty pop song. As soon as I got home I threw on some Radiohead. Anyways, I’m getting very off topic, aren’t I?

When I think of Canada Day, I think of it as a celebration of all that defines us as a culture, not just what defines us to our neighbours such as the States. I am happy to say that today I did not partake in the consumption of maple syrup or poutine. I did get a free flag from when I stopped by City Hall for a bried period today.

I also ended up watching two Canadian films, Highway 61 and Hard Core Logo. The former was pretty bad- it mixed a road trip movie with a Satan worshipper villain who didn’t kill anyone. Not my kind of movie. The later was a mockumentary about a British Columbia punk band who goes on one final tour, and all the, ahem, mayhem that ensues.

Sloan is playing tonight- I want to go and see them. If I can find a way there I’ll be going. In the meantime, I will exit with… Your English is Good by Tokyo Police Club. They are an awesome indie band and the song is also awesome. If you’ve never heard of them, listen now.

Le document fondamental sur lequel la constitution du Canada repose est l’Acte de l’Amérique du Nord britannique, (British North America Act), ou si vous voulez, la Loi constitutionnelle de 1867. Ce document avait pour but de tracer le cadre dans lequel la colonie britannique du Canada pouvait choisir de devenir une union fédérale entre les provinces, unies par une constitution acceptée par les provinces et surtout, les populations des différentes provinces.

Or, la Loi constitutionnelle de 1867 n’était pas une constitution en soi. Le Canada n’est jamais devenu officiellement une union fédérale. C’était un privilège futur pour les provinces de se réunir en fédération, mais qui n’a pas encore été utilisé: les provinces n’ont toujours pas signé à ce jour d’accords, de pactes, ou de traités entre elles pour créer une union fédérale et un gouvernement fédéral. Selon les interprétations de la section 18, paragraphe 3 du Interpretation Act of 1889, il semble que le Canada soit toujours une colonie munie d’une législature centrale et d’autres locales.

Des provinces complètement souveraines

Étant donné que les provinces doivent jouir la condition de souveraineté et d’indépendance avant qu’elles puissent se fédérer, il était nécessaire pour le gouvernement britannique de renoncer à son autorité sur ces dernières. Cela fut accompli par l’adoption du Statut de Westminster (Statute of Westminster) du 11 décembre 1931. De par la section 7, paragraphe 2, de ce statut, les provinces du Canada ont été consacrées comme étant souveraines, libres et indépendantes dans le but de pouvoir consommer l’union fédérale qu’ils souhaitaient créer en 1867, mais qu’ils ne furent pas autorisées d’accomplir.

Depuis le 11 décembre 1931, les provinces du Canada n’ont pas utilisé leur nouveau statut acquis; elles n’ont signé aucun accord, elles n’ont pas adopté de constitution et les citoyens du Canada n’ont pas ratifié de constitution. Une telle action aurait dû être entreprise immédiatement après l’adoption du Statut de Westminster. C’est pour cette raison que toutes les anomalies de notre présente situation existent. Nous avons essayé depuis 1931 de nous gouverner nous-mêmes au niveau fédéral, sous un instrument qui n’est rien de plus qu’un acte du Parlement impérial ayant pour fonction de gouverner une possession coloniale. Non seulement cette condition anormale prévaut depuis 1931, mais elle l’a été sans qu’aucune référence ne soit faite à la population canadienne. Ils n’ont pas été consultés à propos de quoi que ce soit relativement à ces questions constitutionnelles. Les provinces et la population sont libres de le faire depuis le 11 décembre 1931, mais elles ne l’ont pas fait.

Un Canada sans constitution

Voilà la conclusion à laquelle en vient Walter F. Kuhl, dont il était question la semaine passée dans le billet Le Québec: déjà un pays souverain? :

LA QUESTION EST DONC: D’OÙ LE PARLEMENT FÉDÉRAL TIRE-T-IL SON POUVOIR POUR GOUVERNER CE PAYS? Le Parlement impérial ne peut pas créer une union fédérale. Cela ne peut être fait que par le peuple du Canada, et ils ne l’ont pas encore fait. J’affirme donc, avec une majorité de Canadiens, jusqu’à ce que je ratifie une constitution au Canada, qu’il n’y a pas de constitution, et je lance un défi gagnant à toute contradiction de cette affirmation. (Traduction de ce paragraphe)

Le Canada, un pseudo-pays composé de dix provinces indépendantes et souveraines. Est-ce l’image que vous aviez de ce pays?

François Marginean – rédaction et traduction

Image Flickr: Clickr Bee

H. C. Spurgeon, ein englischer Baptisenpfarrer (1834-1892) schrieb neben einem Reisebericht über Helgoland auch einen Brief von der Insel an seinen Sohn Charles. Das war im September 1867 und der Brief lautete:

HELIGOLAND, Sept., 1867. MY DEAR CHARLIE, — I am very glad that you wrote a nice little note to your dear mother, and I hope it is a sign that you are always going to be diligent and thoughtful, and this will be a glad thing indeed …. I am delighted to hear that you are doing so well at College. Give my love to all the students, and tell Mr. Rogers that it always cheers me to know that the brethren bear me up in their prayers.

On this little island there is a lighthouse; you see it at the top, on the left of the picture. It is much needed, for many vessels are wrecked here. We live down below, on the beach, near the square tower with a flag on it; that is a bath-house. Steamers come every two days, and then we can send letters; at other times, we are far off from everybody, alone in the wide, wide sea.

We have sheep’s milk, for there is no room for cows. Fish is very plentiful, and very good.

My dear boy, I trust that you will prove, by the whole of your future life, that you are truly converted to God. Your actions must be the chief proof.Remember, trees are known by their fruit, and Christians by their deeds.

God bless you for ever and ever! Mother sends her kindest love, and so does — Your loving father, C. H. SPURGEON.

Secretary of State William Seward was a genius.  I don’t know if that’s strictly true, but in retrospect, his push for the purchase of Alaska from Russia was a masterstroke for the United States.  People scoffed at the idea of yet another huge land purchase, despite its ridiculously cheap price of $.02 per acre.  “Seward’s Folly” they called it.  Some reasoned that the vast territory acquired in the preceding 60 years had yet to be properly populated.

The massive Louisiana Territory (1804), the Annexation of Texas (1845), the Oregon Territory (1846), and the lands from the Mexican Cession (1848) had created the landmass that would ultimately comprise the “lower 48″ states.   The Alaska territory was a frozen wasteland…and it wasn’t even connected.

But Alaska was so cheap!  The Russians, who owned the territory, wanted to get out of the “Russian America” business, primarily because right next door was the rival British Columbia and, should a war break out, the land would be easily lost.  And Britain clearly didn’t want to pay for Alaska when the Russians had asked them about it.  So rather than risk losing it for nothing, why not sell it for something?

For the American government, their justification also had to do with the British.  The Russians had been a Union ally during the Civil War, while the British had clearly not been.  So the purchase would help the Russians while simultaneously giving the British an American presence on two sides of British Columbia.

And so, in March of 1867, the negotiations began.  They concluded when the treaty was signed at 4am on March 30, 1867.  The final price was $7,200,000…a tidy sum in those days of Reconstruction.  The territory would be officially passed to the U.S. in October.  And still the criticism would be heard about “Seward’s Icebox”, but over time, one could say that it was an investment well-made.

Within 25 years, gold had been discovered and the Klondike Gold Rush was on.  During World War II (when Russia was an ally and a Lend-Lease partner), supplies were flown in to Alaska from the States, and then flown from there by Russian pilots to aid in their war against Germany.  And after the War (when Russia was no longer an ally), Alaska stood as a barrier of defense to Russian aggression.

And of course, there was that little place called Prudhoe Bay where, in 1968 (just 100 years after The Alaska Purchase), a massive oil reserve was discovered.

William Seward was chided for suggesting the U.S. purchase the no-man’s land of snow and ice from Russia.  And he was berated for actually carrying through with it.  But if those same folks were alive today, their silence would be deafening.

These are some random “printing press” items I ran across while searching for printing related topics. Previous related posts :  The Poetic Printers, Robert Hoe of R. Hoe & Co., and Richard M. Hoe: Celebrated Inventor.

A citizen of Connecticut has invented a printing press, which he claims will strike off four thousand copies of the New Testament per diem, or four hundred copies of a newspaper per minute.

Galveston Daily News (Galveston, Texas) Sep 27, 1867

The first printing press ever taken West of the Missouri was established by the Mormons at Independence, in 1832.

Galveston Daily News (Galveston, Texas) Aug 13, 1868

Robert Hoe, the printing press inventor, began life as a Leicestershire (England) mechanic, and came to New York in 1815.

Galveston Daily News (Galveston, Texas) Dec 31, 1868

Not satisfied with the great advances in the printing press, R. Hoe & Co. are at present engaged in perfecting a press on the principle of printing both sides at once from a continuous roll of paper.

Galveston Daily News (Galveston, Texas) Oct 21, 1869

The well known press builders, R. Hoe & Co., have instituted an industrial school in their manufacturing establishment, convinced that the efficiency and success of their corps of workmen would be greatly increased if they possessed a good English education and a thorough knowledge of the fundamental principles of mathematics and mechanics.

The course of study embraces grammar, arithmetic, algebra, geometry, reading, writing, drawing, composition, the ten science principles and Overman’s Mechanics. The classes in these various branches recite once a week, the recitation being an hour in length. The lessons given are long, but the apprentices have ample time out of work hours not only to prepare them but to reflect upon and study their practical applications. All the apprentices, numbering upward of a hundred, are compelled to go through this course of study, and as the term of apprenticeship ranges from five to seven years, they have time to become proficient in every branch taught, so that when their apprenticeship is over they have a thorough English and technical education so far as mechanics is concerned. Everything is furnished gratuitously, the best of instruction, text books, and drawing materials; and the annual outlay required is very trivial compared with the valuable results already attained.

Daily Gazette and Bulletin (Williamsport, Pennsylvania) Jan 19, 1875

THE will* of the late George P. Gordon, the inventor of the printing press that bears his name, and who left an estate valued at $800,000, has been contested in the King’s county Surrogate’s Court, New York, and refused admission to probate on account of insufficient execution. It seems to be an easier matter to make an intricate piece of machinery than to legally give away the profits of it. Millionaires must feel disgusted with themselves as they contemplate the fun their taking-off gives rise to.

Galveston Daily News (Galveston, Texas) Apr 11, 1878

George Gordon, aged 68, died Jan 27, 1878 at his farm near Norfolk, VA.

*This will contest was not settled until 1897, after the heirs had all passed away.

Pioneer Women Journalists.

Of the 37 newspapers in the American colonies at the time of the Revolution, says E. Cora Depuy in The Household Realm, several were owned and managed by women.

The first newspaper published in Rhode Island was owned and edited by Mrs. Anna Franklin and established in 1732. She and her two daughters wrote the items and set the type, and their servants worked the printing press. For her quickness and correctness Mrs. Franklin was appointed printer to the colony, supplying pamphlets to the colonial officers. In 1772 Clementine Rind was publishing a paper in Virginia called the Virginia Gazette, favoring the colonial cause and greatly offending the royalists. Two years later Mrs. H. Boyle started a paper under the same name, advocating the cause of the crown. Both were published at Williamsburg, and both were short lived.

In 1773 Elizabeth Timothy started a paper in Charleston. After the Revolution Anna Timothy became its editor and was appointed state printer, which position she held for 17 years. About the same time Mary Crouch started a paper in Charleston in vigorous opposition to the stamp act. She afterward moved it to Salem, Mass., and continued its publication for many years.

The Fitchburg Sentinel (Fitchburg, Massachusetts) Feb, 21 1898

For more, read Women in Newspapers at the Matilda Joslyn Gage website.

Samuel Pennypacker

All the newspapers of Pennsylvania, regardless of party, have joined in the crusade against Gov. Pennypacker on account of his signing the new libel law. It is quite possible that they will find that they are protected under the clause of the Pennsylvania constitution which says that “the printing press shall be free to every person who may undertake to examine the proceedings of the legislature or any branch of government, and no law shall ever be made to restrain the right thereof.”  That is very broad and seems to cover amply such cases as those designed to be hit by the new law. It would be most logical if the law were declared unconstitutional.

The Fitchburg Sentinel (Fitchburg, Massachusetts) May 18, 1903

He died of syphilis before he Angelus (Angelus Domini) start the prison sentence. The last was somewhat confused in effect, but in recognition of its consummate rendering the State purchased it. On May 20, 1841, he was baptized into the local church parish, Notre-Dame-de-Lorette as Oscar-Claude.
He may have needed to visit the city to

materials.

Eugène Delacroix died in Paris, France and was buried there in the The Bather, 1863.
C.
As a result he wrote his Descriptive Catalogue (1809), which contains what Anthony Blunt has called a brilliant analysis of Chaucer. His models were routinely available to Diana’s Return from the Hunt to pose in any.
Peter’s, who came from just outside Urbino and was distantly related to Raphael.

Titian joined Giorgione as an assistant, but many contemporary critics already found his work more impressive, for example in the exterior frescoes (now almost totally destroyed) that they did for the Fondacio dei Tedeschi, and their relationship evidently had a significant element of rivalry.
Harvesters Resting (or Ruth and Boaz) an excavation in the 1970s bones were discovered beneath the paving. Telling Catherine and her parents the story, she expressed her sympathy, whereupon Blake asked her, Do you pity me? To Catherine’s affirmative response he responded, Then I love you.
He went not primarily to study art, but to escape Jean-Francois Millet Gathering Apples. Delacroix’s painting of the death

the Assyrian king Sardanapalus shows.
His most famous work, 36 Views of Mount Fuji, including the famous Great Wave off Kanagawa, dated from this period.

At the age of about ten to twelve he and his brother Francesco (who perhaps followed later) were sent to an uncle in Venice to find an apprenticeship with a painter. Paintings Jean-Francois Millet – A Farmer’s wife sweeping, 1867 rather small, but rich in details (for example, in. Having completed this portrait (now lost), Blake laid down his Millet: Grazing in the Vosges. In 1629 he completed Judas Repentant, Returning the Pieces of Silver and The Artist in His Studio, works that evidence his interest in the handling of light and variety of paint application, and constitute the first major progress in his development as a painter.

In 1287, at the age of about 20, Giotto married Jean-Francois Millet Churning Butter, 1866-68 di. He was a

bugger.Jean-francois Millet Antwerp, Rubens received a humanist education, studying Latin and classical literature.
The well-known Italian male model, Angelo Colorossi, who sat for Leighton, Millais, Sargent, Watts, Burne-Jones and many other Victorian artists, also sat for Waterhouse. If Sargent used this portrait to Jean-Francois Millet issues of sexuality and.
Pozzi at Home, 1881, a flamboyant essay in red, and the more traditional Mrs.

He entered the Royal Academy of Art schools in 1789, when he was only 14 years old, and was accepted into the academy a year later.
The life of Jesus occupies two registers.
He could not have Boucher – Vulcan Presenting Venus with Arms for Aeneas 1757 a better trip or companion, as. It was there that Rembrandt frequently sought his Jewish neighbors to Millet.
Among them were his cousin and his son Jacob. Vasari, the 16th century Hi5 of Renaissance painters tells of how. He received special permission to base his studio in Antwerp, instead of at their court in Brussels, and to also work for other clients.

In May 1871 he left London to live in Zaandam, where he made 25 paintings (and the police suspected him of revolutionary activities).

Leul, această unitate bănească oficială a ţării noastre, a început să circule începînd din anul 1867, denumirea sa fiind luată de la talerul cu figura de leu pe revers, monedă batuta în Ţările de Jos la începutul secolului al XVI-lea.

De la bun început leul a avut ca unitate divizionară banul. In legătură cu acest lucru vă întrebăm următoarele : ştiţi în cîte feluri se poate schimba un leu avînd la dispoziţie monede de 25, 15 şi 5 bani ?

Isidore van Kinsbergen, Rear view of the Ganesha of Boro, East Java, Indonesia (1867)

Please click on photo for full view and caption.

USA 3000 Airlines (Brendan Air dba) (Philadelphia) intends to restore the Cleveland-St. Petersburg/Clearwater route on May 1.

- Karl Marx, 1867, Das Kapital

This data on the Ulster Scots in North Ireland named Montgomery is documented in many archives.

The History and Genealogy of the Montgomeries has been chronicled for centuries.
B.G. de Montgomerie’s book published in 1948, London is a scharlorly and quite accurate account.

There is Book on History of the Montgomerys of Ballyleck written in 1867.

More recent writings by William R. Marsh, M.D., publ. 1990 by the author through Gateway Press, Baltimore, MD.

It continues records of a grandson and a namesake of Colonel Alexander Montgomery, who m. Elizabeth Coles, heiress of Thomas Cole, of Ballyleck in County Monaghan.

The Clan Montgomery Society International covers the early history of the family on their Web pages.

It’s database contains thousands of names,contributed by members and non-members of the Clan and of ancestors back to the Viking period when facts and fiction mingle.

The surname does go back to the 11th century. However being a “place” name no one can be certain how many Montgomery “cousins” are related by blood. In ancient days, people often assumed the surname of the lord whom they served as knight, horse trainers, armour bearers or pages. Some who lived in village or estates named “Montgomery” might take on that name.

Causing further confusion, often a son-in-law took the surname of his bride in order to share in inheritance and glory when they fought under the Montgomery banner.

The Montgomery men were first and foremost warriors.

Often employed by kings of Belgium, France and Norway.

They left Normandy as followers of William the Conqueror in 1066 A.D.

Some remained in France and others settled in Ireland and Scotland.

A few went to Scandinavia and even Australia.

Thus they represent many countries having scattered to the four winds as soldiers, merchants, sailors, pirates, administrators and religious ministers.

They were also planters (or farmers)who settled in every colony and Provence of the New World. But this part of their history deals only with one son of some mystery who settled in Connecticut and New York state and was a Tory or Loyalist during the American Revolution.

You will need to get a copy of William R. Marsh’s book since he did the research and covers it so very well. Dr. Marsh served on the Board of the New England Historical and Genealogical Society so his research is well-respected. I am genuinely interested in my mother’s side of the family and have spent a number of years gaining some knowledge, though I am no expert.

I have written several small booklets and a number of articles for the Clan Montgomery News Magazine. This fine publication is printed quarterly for CMSI members.

Here, I enter a descendancy record starting with -
Colonel ALEXANDER m. Elizabeth (COLES) MONTGOMERY

Date of his b. not known. d. March 15, 1723 Their children:

i. Thomas, d. 1761 m. Mary Franklyn (parents of General Richard Montgomery, Revolutionary War hero. d. Dec 31, 1775 Quebec City.)

ii. John d. 1733 m. Mary Cox, Dau of Dr. Cox

iii.Alexander (never married)

iv, Robert, Rev. (Believed father of our ancestor)

v. Mathew

vi. Hugh m. cousin Elizabeth Coles & took her hame.

vii.vii Elizabeth . John Moutray

viii Dorcus m. Chris Irvine.

ix. Sara, may have m. Casper Wills
Richard Montgomery’s, then a Captain, who came in 1754 to fight in the Franch & Indian War.

http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/p/a/u/Florence-E-Paull/

Montgomerys of Ballyleck, County Monaghan, NI, and Colonies

John Kitts 1870 Census

A Man Over One Hundred and Four Years of Age.

Baltimore boasts one of the most remarkable cases of longevity in the country. Person who are in the habit of traversing Calvert street may have frequently observed at the corner of that and Mulberry street a very elderly gentleman, quietly seated on a chair or  promenading in the vicinity, regarding attentively every object which passes him, and though mostly reticent, yet prompt to reply to any remarks addressed to him. There he enjoys the quiety and repose of age, looking out upon the world more than a century older than when he was first ushered into it. Our ancient friend’s name is John Kitts.

Bloody Run, Pennsylvania

He was born at Bloody Run, in Bedford County, Pa., in 1762, and is, therefore, now in the on hundred and fifth year of his age! In 1776, when fourteen years of age, he was a member of the First Pennsylvania Regiment of the Revolutionary War.

Battle of Yorktown

He was in the battle of Yorktown, and occupied at one time the position of errand boy or messenger to Washington and Lafayette. He retains a distinct recollection of the personal manners and habits of those illustrious heroes of our first struggle with Great Britain. He was too old to be drafted in 1812, but he entered the army, and remained about a year.

He has no constitutional disease; of course suffers somewhat with debility; but he moves about without assistance; has a dark, keen, observant eye; is quick and appreciative in his responses to queries; hears remarkably well; his eyesight is good; he never uses glasses; he says that “he is afraid they will injure his eyes.” He has a most excellent memory. Like most very old people, however, he remembers the events of his earlier years better than those of recent occurence.

Mount Vernon Rye Whiskey

On propounding the question as to whether our Methuselahian friend had practiced “total abstinance,” he replied, “No; I always drank whenever I felt like it, and enjoy a glass of old rye as much now as ever.”

The Ohio Democrat (New Philadelphia, Ohio) Sep 13, 1867

Marquis de Lafayette

John Kitts, claiming to be 107 years old, and a soldier of the Revolution under Lafayette, has applied to the Baltimore City Council for an appropriation.

New York Herald (New York, New York) > 1869 > November > 16

Genral Nathaniel P. Banks

A Soldier of the Revolution on the Floor of the House — A Hero of Two Wars Petitioning for a Pension.

John Kitts, a veteran, who served in the war of the Revolution, called at the Executive Mansion today to pay his respects to the President. He was received with much cordiality by the President, who questioned him concerning his history and invited him to remain for lunch. The old gentleman declined, because, he said, he was anxious to see Congress in session. The President ordered Mr. H.L. Fox, one of the messengers at the White House, to proceed with Mr. Kitts to the Capitol, and to remain with him while he staid there.

Upon reaching the Capitol he was taken on the floor of the House, General Banks stating who he was and asking that the privilege of the floor be granted him. He occupied Horace Maynard’s seat, immediately in front of the Speaker’s desk, and received the congratulations of the members, who flocked around him in large numbers and questioned him about his age and the leading events of his life.

Mr. Kitts was born in Bedford county, Pa., in 1762, and is therefore in his 108th year. He served in the American army during the Revolutionary war, and was present at the surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown. In the battle preceding the surrender Mr. Kitts was struck in the back of the head with a spent musket ball, and the indentation which it made is still visible. The old man points this scar with considerable pride, and is quite garrulous about the circumstances under which he received the wound.

When the was of 1812 broke out he was considered too old to enter the service as a soldier, but he went in as a messenger to carry the mails. He relates many interesting stories of the narrow escapes he had from being taken prisoner by the enemy’s scouts. On one occasion he was forced to leave his horses and take to the woods, so closely was he pursued. He was the bearer of important despatches, which he succeeded in carrying safely through. On being asked if he could read Mr. Kitts replied that he could not. When he was a boy, he said, there was very little reading done, and even if he had learned to read it would be of no use to him now. He had never found time to read until his eyesight failed him.

Although entitled to a pension both as a soldier of the Revolution and of 1812, he has never applied to Congress for it. He says until about seven years ago he had no occasion to seek aid from the government, because he was able to take care of himself. He thought the government had enough soldiers who fought in the rebellion to pension without giving anything to the “boys” who fought under Washington now. The old man is unable to do anything, and he asks a pension. He said he didn’t expect to remain long upon the rolls, and all he would draw out of the treasury would not be much. He has neither children nor grandchildren living, and when asked if he had any relatives he replied, “No; I am the last of the stock.”

General Banks and Mr. Ingersoll, of Illinois, started an impromptu subscription for the old man among the members of the House. The entire amount realized was eighty dollars, twenty of which General Banks gave himself. This is rather a small contribution among so many men, but some allowance must be made for the economic fit under which the House is just now laboring. General Banks will look after the old man’s petition for a pension, and there is reason to believe he will get it.

New York Herald (New York, New York) Feb 11, 1870

JOHN KITTS. — We do not know how often the last Revolutionary soldier has died. On the average we think he has died twice a year for the last ten years. But it makes no difference. We are glad to see him alive and in full possession of his faculties once more. John Kitts is the prevailing representative of that former generation, and we think that John is a bona fide representative. He is one hundred and eight years old, and has a scar on the back of his head. Besides, he only claims to have helped to capture Cornwallis at Yorktown. He does not appear to have nursed Washington or to have shaken his hand and received his benediction in the true Washington style, which all the old negroes in the country claim to have done, and which at one time must consequently have been a very empty honor. On the contrary, old John Kitts seems to be a very worthy old soldier, and, although he never nursed Washington, he is fully deserving of a large pension.

New York Herald (New York, New York) Feb 14, 1870

Died at the Age of 108.
BALTIMORE, Sept. 19. — John Kitts, aged 108 years, the oldest citizen died last evening.

Chicago Tribune, IL Sep 20, 1870

– JOHN KITTS, aged one hundred eight years, died at Baltimore on Monday.

The Portsmouth Times (Portsmouth, Ohio) Sep 24 1870

–The venerable John Kitts, of Baltimore, is dead. He was born May 7, 1762, and was 108 years, 4 months and 11 days old at the time of his death. Last winter he visited Washington, and was granted the privilege of the floor of the House of Representatives.

Edwardsville Intelligencer (Edwardsville, Illinois) Oct 6, 1870

“Owners of capital will stimulate working class to buy more and more of expensive goods, houses and technology, pushing them to take more and more expensive credits, until their debt becomes unbearable. The unpaid debt will lead to bankruptcy of banks, which will have to be nationalized, and State will have to take the road which will eventually lead to communism.”

Karl Marx, 1867

“There is another Loneliness”, by Emily Dickinson assumes I am acquainted with at least two species of loneliness.

There is another Loneliness
That many die without –
Not want of friend occasions it
Or circumstances of Lot

But nature, sometimes, sometimes thought
And whoso it befall
Is richer than could be revealed
By mortal numeral –

The loneliness everyone experiences when robbed of companionship can be remedied by almost any attempt at conversation. Even in extreme loss, I’ve known friends who, following a divorce or other breakup, simply walk around a mall to keep from “going crazy.”  I am more inclined to dive into a long novel, or, (surprise) dig into a poem. But, I too, have days — today being one of them — when I am so in the mood for casual chit-chat I feel like I could make an anarchist feel peaceful. Without interaction with others I will invite that familiar loneliness.

The poem concentrates on loneliness “That many die without — ” experiencing.  This brand of solitude, aloneness as a fundamental ingredient, is as individual as the exact shape of a nose. It is “Not (a) want of friend… “. Even circumstances such as heredity, ill-fortune, death and disaster are outside its purview. 

“But nature.. ”. No one to blame. The idea that “.. nature, sometimes, sometimes thought” is no explanation. No analysis.

But that’s what people do. Isn’t that what poems are about? more»

Not attempting to explain, it would seem, is the explanation. “And whoso it befall” must rely on nature thinking.

Nature. Thinking.

For she “Is richer than could be revealed” by friendships galore or families standing by. Because “By mortal numeral — ” we are in the realm of mortal solutions.

Those of us afflicted with loneliness as a fundamental trait must wait for natural forces. For Nature to think.

Digest A Poem A Day — Accept What Comes Your Way