This story was written by Genealogical Society volunteer, Beth Mitchell, for the Wilmington News Journal:
The Journal – Republican was published weekly 1868 – 1913. I thought it might be fun to check the news of one hundred twenty – five years ago to see what was important to the people of Wilmington. By January 10, 1900 the paper was known as The Wilmington Journal. At that time each community had their reporter who furnished “news of the week” and kept the community informed of the latest “comings and goings”. The following is as written.
In Martinsville A. R. Garner, wife, and son ate dinner with Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Cox at Christmas. Charley Ayres has moved his dry goods store into the Odd Fellows building. Mrs. Maggie West has been quite sick the past few days with some sort of head trouble. James Barclay Pucket died at his home. He was seventy years old and leaves a wife and ten children, all of whom are grown.
In Port William M. C. Powers preached two very interesting sermons at the church on Sunday and Tuesday evenings. Ed Borton is erecting a new barn. Miss Zella Weer resumed her school duties after spending her holidays in Clarksville.
In Sabina the news of the week was a shipment of hogs to the Cincinnati market. George Manmisel shipped twenty-five head with a total weight of 17,110 pounds. The largest hog weighed 800 pounds. The venerable James Richey died at his home near Union last Thursday morning. He was buried in Sabina.
From Deserted Camp it is noted that Charles Benlehr returned to Hiram College last week to finish the theological course of that institution. Charles Cammack had a runaway accident Saturday. While he and Earnest Starbuck were driving into Wilmington the fractious young horse became frightened and started to run. The horse dashed across the road and into the fence throwing both men out and destroying the buggy. The horse tore loose from the buggy and ran. Mr. Starbuck was thrown forcibly against a telegraph pole and was knocked senseless. Mr. Cammack is very unfortunate with his rig as this is the fourth time it has been wrecked in the past two years.
Some news of Oakland reported the telephone poles have reached as far as Kingman. Harrison Mullen met with quite an accident a few days ago. His horse became frightened while hitched to the milk wagon and ran away. The wagon was almost demolished. Harry Venard has gone to Columbus to enter a commercial college. Isaac Spray still remains very sick.
The report from the College and vicinity – Willa Ballard has gone to Oklahoma to teach at a Government school. College opened on Wednesday with an enrollment of one hundred. The Clinton Telephone Company has placed one of their fine instruments in the study room. Virgil Miller is expecting to go to the Paris Exposition.
Courthouse news can be found on page six of the paper and page six presents advertisements for the “latest cures for every ill”. The Wilmington Lecture Association is presenting a lecture entitled “Dawn of the Twentieth Century”. The speaker is the Honorable G. A. Gearhart. The lecture begins at 8:00 and admission is fifty cents.