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 The Milan Exchange (Gibson Co., Tenn.) Aug. 4, 1883
Gilbert Pond, 74, resided near Zuni. As he watched his hands plant potatoes, he fell backwards from the fence rail he was sitting upon – breaking his neck. He died in a few moments.
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 The Richmond Times-Dispatch, Dec. 29, 1904
Isle of Wight County resident Richard T. Frazier, 65, married Mattie S. English, 39 years his junior. The bridegroom said that he loved the girl since she was a child.  The Richmond Daily Dispatch, April 22, 1862
Nathan Mountfort of Isle of Wight County was hunting turkeys in a field near his residence when he spied what he thought was a turkey 30 yards away near a fence. After firing his gun, he ran to inspect his kill. Instead of a turkey, he saw his nephew John Hall, 17, lying in the agonies of death. Hall was also hunting turkeys. Neither imagined that the other was near.  The Richmond Times-Dispatch, Oct. 31, 1905
A former resident of North Carolina and soldier during the Spanish-America War, W.R. Cherry was arrested on charges of representing himself as a government revenue official. He collected sums ranging from $10 to $25 from small distillers in Southampton County and Isle of Wight County with the promise that he would “protect” them from further revenue tax. Cherry had given up his pension as a war veteran and assumed another name. He was arrested by federal authorities in Florida and brought back to Virginia for trial.  The Richmond Times-Dispatch, July 18, 1901 Authorities near Windsor pursued an unknown suspect who broke into and robbed the house of Mr. Tobe Britt near Zuni. The suspect stole three suits of clothes, one pistol and $2.50. The thief was pursued by Constable W.J. Bradshaw along with Suffolk private detective Johnny "Hurricane" Branch and his bloodhounds.
 From the Staunton Spectator, Sept. 11, 1877
Miss Ida V. Branch, 23, daughter of James Branch of Smithfield, Va., was said to be the belle of the village and had many admirers including her betrothed, a Mr. Ferguson, the son of a neighboring farmer. By January 1877, certain indications in the appearance of Miss Branch aroused a suspicion on the part of her father that the intimacy between Miss Branch and Mr. Ferguson was of an improper character. After her father voiced his suspicions, Ida protested the accusations and swore that her intimacy did not exceed that of the strictest propriety. After his suspicions persisted, James sent Ida to stay with her sister in Charlottesville where her physical condition necessitated a physical examination. The examining physician confirmed James’ suspicions. Ida again proclaimed her innocence, and another doctor was called upon to provide a second opinion. This exam revealed the presence of an ovarian tumor, and it was suggested that she go to Baltimore for treatment. Upon reaching Baltimore, the tumor grew rapidly, and an operation was necessary. The doctors told Ida that she would die within days, but surgery might save her life. She agreed to the surgery with the request that, should she die, a postmortem would be performed to establish her purity and innocence. A 44-pound tumor was removed. Ida survived surgery but only lived for several hours. Her body was brought back to Virginia for burial.  From the Richmond Times-Dispatch, July 18, 1901
A man named Charles Hines and his daughter came to Windsor on July 17. She had been bitten on the hand by a copperhead snake while looking for a hen’s nest in an old outhouse. The arm was severely swollen. Amputation was a possibility.  From the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Jan. 5, 1917
Cephas H. Riggan, prominently known throughout Maryland and Eastern Virginia in lumber circles, was instantly killed on January 4 in Windsor. Mr. Riggan was loading up a rail car with lumber when a log rolled off and crushed him.  From The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., Aug. 20, 1904
While making preparations to marry his fourth wife, Joseph Smith was arrested on Aug. 19 in Isle of Wight County, Va., and put in prison. His first wife was dead, but his second and third wives were still alive. The warrant was sworn out by third wife Elizabeth Capman Smith who said that she was Smith’s bride for several months. She alleged that Smith sold his farm and was planning to move to Newport News and marry again.  From The Norfolk Virginian, Jan. 1, 1897
14-year-old Moses Allmond and 16-year-old John Allmond of Isle of Wight County had a battle with slingshots using brickbats as ammunition. The situation turned dire when one of John’s projectiles hit Moses in the face. The bit crashed through his skull and lodged just above his left eye. Physicians were able to remove the item with great difficulty. |
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