Madison County, Indiana - Chapter 59, 1897

Chapter 59

In the year of 1880 the young fellows of Anderson township, b}' way of a joke, voted for Lee M. Trees, the " Merchant Prince " of Anderson, for Justice of the Peace, and Morris M. Williams, commonly known as " Bundy" Williams, for constable. When the votes were counted it transpired that they had each received enough to elect them, to the surprise of themselves and friends. They thought to further the fun, so they both qualified and entered upon the duties of their offices

Soon after 'Squire Trees had filed his official bond, and been " qualified " he was called upon by a young and buxom couple from the country with a request to join them in holy wedlock. The " 'Squire"' very graciously ushered them into his elegantly furnished rooms over his store, and for a few moments excused himself. He went out and found his chief of staff, Mr. " Bundy" Williams, high constable, and fifteen or twenty of the " boys '' and returned to his apartments where the groom and blushing bride were in waiting.

Lee ordered the waiting couple to arise to their feet and join hands. Constable "Bundy" Williams " gave the bride away " and the ceremony proceeded when in a very impressive manner, Lee said :

" Do you each solemnly swear in the presence of God and these witnesses assembled, that you will support the constitution of the State of Indiana ; that you will love, cherish and honor each other through sickness as well as in health ; that you will neither of you depart from the paths of virtue and rectitude, but will cling to each other as the ivy clings to the trunk of an old tree, so help you God."

The decanter was set out and the "Squire, Constable, bride and groom partook first of the claret, then it was passed to the bystanders. Thus ended ".Squire Trees" first marriage ceremony.

He and Constable Williams only held their offices a short time and resigned, other business being too pressing for them to attend to the duties imposed upon them."

Almost every farmer in Madison county will remember Robert Shinn, who kept a place where Louis Blest's " White House " now stands. Robert's place was headquarters for farmers to lunch, and to get all the political news. Robert and his good, old wife, recently deceased, kept posted on the politics of the day, and many politicians and candidates have been made and unmade in the Shinn grocerv. Robert was a liberal fellow in all things, and had a heart as large as a tub. ^Vhen the crusade against the saloons was raging in 1874, fhe ladies sat in little booths upon the streets, taking the names of all who entered the saloons, one of which w-as in front of Robert's place. Some one passed down that way and sa\v Robert complacently sitting beside the ladies who were watching his door, fanning himself with a large palm leaf hat. When he was asked, " Well, Robert, what do you think of the proceedings?" he answered with a big laugh, " Oh. I think the}' are a set of d - n fannyticks.'"

In 186G, W. E. Cook and Tom 0"Neil, who were connected with the Anderson SlaiidarJ, published a "tlyby night" paper called the Fire Fly. It was gotten out in the night when every one was supposed to be asleep. It " roasted " every one without respect to person, and nothing escaped it. Robert Shinn was, one sleety morning, strolling down the street, when, without a moment's warning, out went his feet on the ice, landing Robert on his back. He was as thick as he was long, and in his scramble to get up, he rolltd until he got over against the court house fence before he could regain his footing. Climbing up against the fence, he began to brush the ofFal of the public square from his clothing, and, limping up to the corner, with a look of dispair, said ; " I " sposhe ' they'll have it in that danged ' horse-fly' to-night."

liked by all who knew him and was an honest man. He paid his debts to the last farthing, and believed in doing to others as he would have them do unto him.

Two Large Black Coons

Lafe J. Burr, one of Anderson's old-time citizens, holds the title of president of the "coon club." It is an organization that meets on the street corners and talks a great deal about coon hunting, but really does but little hunting. It is composed of Lafe Burr, James H. Snail, George Hughel, Thomas J. Stephens, Jack Brunt, John P. Davis and several others whose names do not now come to mind.

Some friend of Mr. Burr's one day, in a moment of hilarity, went to the Bnllciiii office and put in a two-line advertisement and signed Lafe's name to it, wanting two large black "coons."

In a few days an old farmer drove up in front of Mr. Burr's gate with a farm wagon and stopped. He called Mr. Burr out of the house, and, after passing the time of day, said :

This aroused the old man's ire. 'T reckon you did; I 'seed' it in the BiiUctin, and I can read writin' and printin' as well as you can, and it's in the paper."

Lafe still insisted that tiiere was a mistake somewhere in the matter. The old man began to warm up. "Look here, Mr. Burr, I've knowed you a long while, and respected you as an honorable man. Me and my boys quit our work and went to a great deal of trouble to catch these coons for you, and you don't want to play none of vour foolishness on me. You can either take them and pay me for them or there will be trouble and our friendship is at an end."

"Well," said Mr. Burr, "I don't want to lose you as a friend, but I assure you this is a practical joke some one has put up on me; but I'll take the coons. What are they worth r "

"All right; here's your money. Take them and put them in C. K. ^IcCullough's Riverside Park, and come back and get your dinner and call it scjiiare."

Mr. Burr, besides being an old coon hunter, is one of Anderson's respected citizens, and has been a great success in business affairs. At the November election, 1896, Mr. Burr was elected County Commissioner on the Republican ticket.