Massac County, Illinois - Chapter 10: Regulators and Flatheads, 1900

JUDGE Wesley Sloan tells us in his reminiscences of Pope county, that about 1797 Cave-in-Eock was the rendezvous of the Mason band of outlaws, who plundered flatboats and murdered their crews. ^ In 1831 the Sturdevant gang of horse thieves, burf^ glars, robbers and counterfeiters, who had built a fort in the upper end of the county, were attacked by the Regulators armed with small arms and one cannon. One Regulator and three outlaws were killed there. Most of the outlaws were captured, but never punished. In 1843, Henry Sides, who was appointed administrator of the estate of a Mr. Dabbs, was killed by the "Hite Green" gang and robbed of $2,500 in silver. Money held in trust for free negroes, to whom Dabbs had not only given their freedom, but his property also. They served eight years in the penitentiary for this crime.

When Massac county was organized in 1843, lawlessness existed more or less and even to a great degree handicapped the courts. Every newcomer was quietly informed to keep "hands off." Of the thirty-two cases on the first criminal docket most of them are indictments for counterfeiting in one way or another, and one conviction only was made.

Irrespective of political affiliation the people divided into what were known as the Flatheads and Regulators, whose enmity grew more and more bitter until in 1844 or 1845, a battle was fought on what was known as Cheatem Lynn's farm, resulting in the death of three men, Messrs. Davisson, Kennedy and Taylor. In 1846 another fight occurred, at the old brick hotel in Metropolis, 111., which had been built by Wilcox, and one man was wounded.

Excitement ran high and 200 militia were sent. The legislature created a special court to convene at Benton, with jurisdiction over the cases arising out of the trouble, which was finally brought to a close.

This is the saddest page of Massac county history and because of its intricate social bearing upon our county's otherwise "good name" we hope to be pardoned for these general statements in which we do not seek to revive an almost forgotten event, that it is better to cover with the cloak of charity and consign to oblivion's tomb.

During the civil war several horses were stolen and sold to government officers. James Dallam, who owned what is now the Mulkey farm, lost a horse, and J. T. Taylor recovered the animal of a government agent in Saline county, to whom the thief had sold it. William Hancock, the thief, was caught and hung to the limb of a hickory tree at the crossing of the Upper Golconda and Brooklyn roads about two miles from Brooklyn.

Two desperate characters named Bell and Purdy, stole some horses in Kentucky, killed a man and were forced across the Ohio river at Metropolis, swimming the stream on horseback. When in Metropolis they immediately set about painting the town "red," as they claimed, fired promiscuously, drove the citizens off the streets, and fired through the window at Mr. Davis, the city marshal. Being informed of preparations to arrest them they fled into the country. About seven miles out they were caught and hanged to a post oak tree standing a few years ago on the Gowan farm.

THE early newspaper adventures were neither profitable or permanent. A Mr. Wood, son-in-law of John B. Hicks, founded a pioneer paper, which was later succeeded by another, published by a druggist named Duncan.

D. W. Lusk in the latter "SO's" founded "The Sentinel," which from a regularly published ^Sf sheet, dwindled into a semi-occasional newspaper under the editorial management of Edward Mc- Mahon who purchased it, and went to war. Lusk M'ent to Shawneetown and established The Mercury, thence to Pekin and later published his book, "Politics and Politicians of Illinois." In 1864 Henry Laughlin purchased ''The Sentinel" outfit, revived the paper for a short while, sold out and the ofllice material was moved away. These were democratic.

In August, 1865, Capt. J. F. McCartney came home from the war and found no newspaper. He paid |1,500 cash for an outfit at Mound City, brought it to Metropolis, founded the "Promulgator," a radical Eepublican organ, which succeeded from the first because of its outspoken sentiments. Becoming district attorney he sold the oflice to Benjamin O. Jones in 1870, after five years' service. In 1872, A. J. Alden bought a half interest with Mr. Jones, introduced new printing material, shipped other material to Mound City, and issued the "Pulaski Patriot." When Alden was admitted the name was changed to "Massac Journal" from "Promulgator."

1873 and also his interest in the Journal. Dr. AVaggoner immediately bought the "Patriot" and Jones continued in charge of the Journal, until he later sold an half interest to R. W. Mc- Cartney, with whom Mr. Jones was reading law.

E. A. Davisson and Walter Moreland, then a practical printer, took charge. Moreland later dropped out and Ed Melone in 1884 associated with Davisson. W. H. Hines succeeded them and in January, 1888, the firm became Hines & Starkes. In May, 1892, A. N. Starkes bought out Hines, and continued the publication of the Massac Journal as sole proprietor until August, 1892, when it was consolidated with the Republican, and called the "Massac Journal-Republican," published by A. X. Starkes & Co., com.posed of A. N. Starkes and F. H. Norris, the latter having purchased the Republican earlj in 1892 of D. R. Pryor, its founder, 1890.

Mr. K^orris retired in August, 1896, and sold his half interest to Mr. Starkes, who sold the office later to the Journal Printing Company, April 17, 1897, O. J. Page, editor and manager. In the fall of 1897 O. J. Page became sole proprietor and continued so until May, 1899, when G. C. Harner purchased an half interest and Page & Harner conducted the business until August, 1900, when Page sold his half interest to W. H. Miller. The ofliee is now conducted by the tirm of Harner & Miller, Page having purchased the Leader, Marion, Williamson connty, 111.

In 1867 W. J. Ward began the publication of "The Times," and in 1869 sold it to W. A. McEane, who increased its size from a four column 1o a six column folio, all home print. Captain J. F. McCartney purchased "The Times" of McBane and changed the politics from Democratic to "Independent," editing the same seven years, when he sold it to A. K. Vickers, who removed the material to Vienna, 111., after publishing the same in Metropolis for some time. "The Vienna Times" is the legal successor.

Hal. Armstrong, about 1877, began the publication of "The Democrat," but it failed to survive. J. D. Stewart & Co., with F. A. Trausdale, editor, began the publication of "The Metropolis Democrat," 1878, continuing until 1892, when Mr. Stewart retired, leaving Trausdale editor and publisher. In January, 1899, A. N. Starkes purchased "The Metropolis Democrat" of Mr. Trausdale and converted it into an independent paper. "The Herald.-'

The newspapers have gradually increased in size and typographical neatness from small folios to six column quartos. Dailies have frequently been plunged upon the journalistic sea, but have been sunken by the winds of non-support. "The Evening Herald," a five-column folio, two sides patent, is being issued by the Herald Printing Co., and is in its second year.

The Colored Baptist Church Society for several years maintained a church paper, "The Baptist Truth," under the editorial direction of Elder J. B. McCrary. It has since been moved to Cairo and Mr. McCrary now publishes and edits "The Metropolis Gazette," a weekly five column quarto devoted to the interests of the colored race, and republican in politics.

In 1898, G. Lay Wolfe began the publication of "The Brooklyn Eagle," a sis-column quarto at Brooklyn, Illinois. It was first independent, but has since become Eepublican in politics. E. B. and T. B. Thompson published "The Weekly Review," and afterwards the "Egyptian Obelisk," a proposed literary journal for Southern Illinois, both of which suspended as various others have done. The latest newspaper venture is the six-column folio, Democratic paper, "The Metropolis Tribune," issued by ''Stewart & Mulkey," as the firm name, and composed of Messrs. S. M. Stewart and C. L. V. Mulkey.