Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 April 1881 — “Old Abe.” [ARTICLE]

“Old Abe.”

The Madison (Wis.) State Journal gives over three columns to the history of the famous war eagle of that state, “Old Abe,” which died at the capitoi in that city on Saturday evening last. The bird was captured in its nest on the Upper Flambeau river, Wisconsin,by an Indian inLAugust 1861 and when about two montns old, sold, for $2.60 to a company of the Eighth' regiment, Wisconsin infantry, known as the “Eau Claire Badgers” (Capt. Perkins), by whom it was presented to the regiment and carried through the war, including the fiercest battles of that period. He gained great notoriety and was highly valued by Wisconsin soldiers, who took great pride in their living emblem. The Madison Journal enumerates some thirty-six battles in which “Old Abe” participated, commencing with the skirmish at Fredericktown Mo., in October, 2861, and ending with Hurricane Creek, La., in August, 1864. He was a prominent figure in the siege of Vicksburg and In Sherman’s “March to the Sea.” and has been popular at Soldiers’ Fairs, often exciting the greatest enthusiasm. He was also present at the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia, in 1876, where it is claimed that he earned SBO,OOO for the various enterprises exhibiting him. The bird died in the arms of its keeper at 4:30, on Saturday afternoon after an illness of about a week, du - ring which it received all the aid and attention medical skill and careful nursing could give. Some of his veteran admirers proposed to bury the noble bird and erect a monument over his remains, but it was decided to have his skin stuffed by a taxidermist and mounted In the state historical rooms, duly encased in glass with a record of his battles emblazoned on a neighboring shield. A woman named Oalligan, who resides in Castle Grove, was struck by lightning last Friday. She was engaged in her household duties about the cooking stove. The electric fluid seems to have struck the chimney tearing and setting on fire the end of the house, demolishing the stove and striking Mrs. Galligan’s foot, tore it to Sieces and then escaped through the oor. The foot was mutilated and shattered as though blown to pieces by dynamite or some other tetrible explosive. The heel of one of her shoes was driven half through the floor. The moat singular feature of the affair is that Mrs. Galligan was not stunned or shocked by the stroke and with great presence of mind dragged herself to a tub of water, extinguished the flames, rnd then crawled to tbe door and summoned her husband. Dr. Phillips was sent for with-' out delay, and amputated the foot lust above the ankle joint. Tbe plague is reported diminishing in Nedjeflt, but has appeared at Ms* rag ha, Northern Persia.

There are more tbws 48,000 poet offices in the United States, and the whimsicalities of the American people are nowhere more strongly illustrated than in their selection of names therefor. The southern and western states especially furnish many ridiculous instances of absurd mental freaks in this regard. The following names, taken • from tbe United States Official Poet Guide for January, 1881. displays at least a remarkable variety of taste: In Alabama we find Blowhorn, Bucksnort, Gl, Gnatville, hubbub, Quid Nunc, Rawhide and Shinbone. In Alison a, Bumble Bee, Snow Low, Tip Tod and Tombstone. In Arkansas, Oil Trough, Sub Rosa and Tomahawk. In California, Sons, Unde Sam, Yankee Jim’s and Zem Zem. Colorado boasts of Greenhorn, O. Z., You Bet and Troublesome. Baby Mine and Tenderfoot are in Dakota. Florida rejoices in Padlock, Scrub and Sopechoppy. Georgia has in her borders Alligator, Cheap, Clinchem, Crackling, Crane Eater, Dark Corner, Dirt Town, Doboy, Hot House, Iceberg, Persimmon, Postol, Rock Pile ana Ty Ty. Illinois turns out with Fish Hook, Half Day, Pre-emption, School and Zif. Indiana adorns the list with Bean Blossom, Bigfoot, Buckskiu, Dioe, Npgo, Polk/ Patch, Pucker, Brash, Soonover and Zulu. Odd. Unique, What, Cheer, Yankee and Zero are in lowa. Kansas furnishes Free Will, Haphazard, Og, Rattlesnake, Terrapin and Zenith, Kentucky produces Eighty-eight,Sev-enty-six, Backbone, Marrowbone, Devils-heel, Headqu afters, HumptyJamboree, Fobob, Pig,Scrabble Schuffletown, Slckaway and Tiptop. Louisiana contributes Happy Jack and Jump. Pattagumbus is In Maine. T. B. and Gunpowder in Maryland. In Tennessee are A. B. C., Dabbs, Fortyeight, U Cet, Zed, Zero, Skull Bone, and Calf-Killer. In Texas Blowout, Gunsight, J. Rob, Jehoy, Jlmtown, nameless, Straddle, ana Vox Populi. Pennsylvania donates Nine Points, Seven Points, Six Points, Seventy-six, Sabbath Rest, Scalp Level, and Bhickshinny. Nine Times and Ninety-six are in South Carolina, Seventy-six in Missouri, and Fourteen is in West Virginia. Dubbs, Kara Avis and O. lv. are in Mississippi ; and Dakota and Michigan each have a Stump. Washington territory prides herself on Muck, Kumptaw and Skookemchuck; Virginia on Chuckatuok, Non Intervention, Pen Hook, Skinquarter, Tan Yard and Wolf Trap. Antiquity is in Ohio, Shoo Fly is in lowa, also in North Carolina; Sleepy Eye is in Minnesota, and Wide Awake in Kentucky. None Suoh ijj in Michigan, Nix in Alabama, Last in North Carolina, and Last Chance in lowa.

Tennessee blushingly produces Sweet Lips to be promptly saluted by a Buss from Manitou county, Mich. Fillmore county, Minn., boasts of its Clear Grit, while Bay county, Mich., shows a White Feather. Blue Eyes, Clapper, Grease, Protein, Tribulation ayd Zig are Missouri. Fair Chance is in Pennsylvania. Fair Dealing is in Kentucky, but she finally pleads guilty to a Trickum, and so does Georgia. New York and Indiana each have a Big Indian, while Nevada has nothlug better thau a Sheephead. North Carolina has a Day Book, a Hanging Dog, a Meat Camp, Old Hundred, Sandy' Mush, Shoe Heel, Short Off, 'Lilly Ho and Why Not. Ohio comes to the rescue with Aid (also Gratis), and while her politics is Republican, Democracy is the name of one of her post offic sin Knox county. Monday, Roundhead and Zuek also embelish Ohio’s list. With the inordinate desire that characterizes Ohio to monopolize things, she points with pride to a post office named Sodom, which stands alone in its glory as the only one of that name in the 43,000 in the United States. Pee Pee and Wetmore are also in Ohio, so are Round Bott6m and Spanker. A crusty old Batchelor is in Missouri and a Blushing Maiden in North Carolina. Bachelor’s Hall is in Virginia,- and we find Widows in Alabama. South Carolina furnishes a Bachelor’s Retreat in Ocopeecounty, but she equalizes things by establishing a Lady’s Island in Beaufort county. Mamma is in Cumberland county, Tenn., close to Daddy’s creek, in the same county, while Bud is iixMissburi, Sis in PennSlvania, her Gent in Texas, and a orrid Boy in Campbell county, .Tenn. Ohio has an entire Congress, of course, but the Speaker is in Michigan. Pennsylvania is well provided with rulers, having a President and the King of Prussia, to checkmate which Ohio and Mississippi each return a Veto.