Alhambra, Illinois, Newspaper Clippings
Madison County ILGenWeb Coordinator - Beverly Bauser
PROPERTY FOR SALE IN ALHAMBRA
Source: Alton Daily
Telegraph, July 16, 1853
The reader will please take notice
and bear in mind that in the northeast part of Madison County,
there is a town called Alhambra on the state road from Alton to
Vandalia. It is one of the healthiest, most beautiful and
desirable locations for a town that the eastern part of the
county affords, and the country adjoining is not surpassed for
farming, and is settling up very fast; consequently, those
wishing to locate either in the country or town will do well to
make an early investment while property is cheap; tradesmen and
mechanics will find it a desirable location. Any or all property
will be sold on terms that can but be satisfactory to the
purchaser, if application be made soon, and the sooner the
better bargain. Texas gold fever the cause. For further
particulars, call on or address (postpaid) the undersigned, at
Alhambra, Madison County, Illinois. Larkin C. Keown.
ALHAMBRA BOYS SAVE LIVES ON TRAIN
Source: The New York
Times, New York, NY, July 19, 1903
Two boys averted a
terrible wreck with the probable loss of dozens of lives by
flagging the early morning express on the Illinois Central
before it ran on the bridge across Silver Creek, which had been
partially burned away, three miles north of here yesterday. The
boys John and William Bilf, twelve and fourteen years old,
respectively, who live on a farm near the creek, were on their
way to a neighbor's when they saw smoke issuing from the bridge
some little distance from them. About middle way out they
discovered that forty feet of the structure had been burned away
and the bridge was still in flames. They knew that the fast
express would be along in a few minutes, and if it were allowed
to run on the bridge it would surely go down in midstream, with
great loss of life. It must be stopped, they both knew it, and
they set about their important task. They had no flag, but that
trifle was soon mended. John tore up his shirt and tied it to a
staff. Then together they ran to the track to meet the train.
About half a mile from the bridge they heard the oncoming train,
so, taking their position in the middle of the track they began
to wave the flag as the train came in view. The engineer was
quick to perceive the signal and threw on the brakes stopping
the train within a few yards of the bridge. The engineer,
conductor, and many of the passengers thanked the boys for their
heroism. The two boys are members of a family of thirteen
children. It is supposed that the fire was caused by coals from
the firepan of a passing engine.
ALHAMBRA FARMER STABS NEIGHBOR
Source: Ogdensburg, New
York News, September 13, 1907
September 12, 1907 - Charles W.
Hosto, a farmer living near Alhambra, walked into the office of
Sheriff Jones here and surrendered himself, saying he had killed
Charles Hesi, who lived on a farm adjoining his. Hosto's story
was not believed at first, but was found to be true. Hosto was
arrested on the charge of manslaughter and released on bond
pending his preliminary hearing. The two men quarreled Monday.
Hosto declared he cut Hesi with a pocket knife in self-defense.
He put the man in a wagon and drove him home. Hesi died that
night.
ALHAMBRA FARMER ACQUITTED
Source: Troy Weekly
Call, October 19, 1907
Charles Hosto, the Alhambra township
farmer charged with killing Charles Hesi, a neighbor, in a
quarrel some weeks ago, was given a preliminary hearing before
Justice Joseph Edmonds at Edwardsville last Saturday, and was
acquitted of the charge. The dispute arose over a boundary line,
and Hosto claimed he acted in self-defense. The attorneys for
the defense asked that the charge be dismissed, which was done
with the consent of States Attorney Gillham.
TWO TRAGEDIES AT ALHAMBRA
Source: Troy Weekly Call,
September 14, 1907
Alhambra had two tragedies during the past
week - a suicide and a murder. William Homan, a young farmer,
crazed by drink, attempted to murder his wife and four children
by standing them in a row and leveling a shotgun at them, but
suddenly changed his mind and fired in the air, and shortly
afterwards hung himself in his barn. The second tragedy was the
killing of Charles Hesi by Charles Hosto in an altercation in
which the former was stabbed. The men were neighbors and had
been bitter enemies for a year over the drainage of a piece of
land. Hosto gave himself up at Edwardsville and was released on
a bond of $5,000, signed by T. E. Rinkle and Thomas Koch of
Edwardsville.