Witch hunting in Holmes County Witch hunting is a topic that has fascinated people for centuries. While we often associate it with medieval Europe, witch hunts were not exclusive to that time period. A lesser-known example of witch hunting occurred in Holmes County, a small rural community in Ohio, in the late 19th century. The witch hunt in Holmes County began in 1885 when a local woman named Martha Johnson was accused of practicing witchcraft. Rumors had been circulating about Martha's strange behavior and unusual abilities for years, but it was not until a young child fell ill and died that the accusations became more serious. The illness and subsequent death of the child were attributed to Martha's supposed hexing, and a group of townspeople formed a vigilante mob to seek justice.
Dell Rodman was 62 years old last Friday and in the evening, about fifteen of his friends and neighbors dropped in on him and spent the evening in an old-time celebration of the event. Dell is a pretty lively old fellow in spite of his years and says he will be ready for a considerable number of birthdays yet.
We have a large number of springs about the city, but after the city grandmothers tried a witch-hazel faker, the city settled down to the steady use of the dark extract known as Black River water. The Warriors team was eliminated from the tournament on the sectional level at Wisconsin Rapids last Friday night when they dropped a heart-breaker to a fine, well-drilled Marion High School team, 64-59.
The illness and subsequent death of the child were attributed to Martha's supposed hexing, and a group of townspeople formed a vigilante mob to seek justice. They gathered evidence against Martha, such as her collection of herbs and potions, and brought her to trial. During the trial, Martha maintained her innocence, but her pleas fell on deaf ears.
Mammoth witch renovation store
April 1, 1993, Page 40
Transcribed by Sharon Schulte
Index of "Good Old Days" Articles
After last week�s C.C. Sniteman article, some interesting photos relating to the story were brought into our office, which we thought had to be printed in this week�s edition.
In the early 1900�s, the Sniteman Pharmacy was referred to as �The Mammoth Silver Front Store�, the �largest drug store in Clark County.�
Mr. Sniteman started as a Neillsville pharmacist in January of 1879, when he managed the store of Henry Myers. In a short time, he bought out the interest of Henry Myers, forming a partnership with Isaiah Myers, a brother of Henry. A year later, he bought out the partner, Isaiah, and became sole proprietor of the business.
The business was incorporated in 1891, under the state laws, from then on being known as the C.C. Sniteman Company. For many years, he was a member of the Masonic order, which he had joined at Peoria, Illinois. He also was an active member of the Odd Fellows� Lodge at Neillsville, and the Business Club (now known as the Chamber of Commerce). As mentioned previously, he was secretary and director of the Furniture Factory Company and treasurer of the old Lighting Company. He was treasurer of the Neillsville Opera House and contributed largely to its construction and financing.
Charles was at one time a member of the state militia of Illinois. After coming to Neillsville, he served fifteen years on the staff of the colonel of the Third Regiment, Wisconsin National Guard, as hospital steward, serving on the non-commissioned staff. When the Spanish-American War began, he reported as ready for duty, but was rejected due to having rheumatism. A busy man who led a full life.
George Sontag and C. C. Sniteman pictured in the pharmacy during 1937.
George Sontag worked with the Sniteman business as pharmacist for many years. He, his wife and a daughter Jean, made their home at 148 West First Street. (That house is now owned by Terry and Anette Marty.) Coincidentally, we received a note from Sontag�s daughter, Jean Stolcup, yesterday. Jean resides in Ogden, Utah. In her note, she referred to who her father was and where they had lived in Neillsville.
There were several calls and people who came to our office to identify the two gentlemen in last week�s photo taken in front of the pharmacy. The older fellow was Dave Parry and the younger man�we had three names given. Some think it was Craig Blum. Others thought it was Spencer Blum, and a few said maybe Herbert Blum, Jr. So, for sure, it was one of Herb and Martha Blum�s sons. The year that the photo was taken has been determined as 1955, the year that parking meters were installed on Hewett Street (and since removed.)
Dave Parry and his wife lived at 209 East Fourth Street and later moved to a new home at 4 Huron Street. During Dave�s working years as the Sniteman pharmacist, taking over the business after Sontag�s retirement, he was very active as a member of the Shriner�s organization. While being a Shriner, he aided some children with physical disabilities (who needed treatment), getting into the Shriner�s hospital.
Owners of the pharmacy after Dave Parry, were Leroy and Isabelle John. The Johns and family lived near Snyder Park.
C. C. Sniteman Company's Federal Drug Store as it appeared in 1937. Note one of the original lamp posts in front of the store, which were dismantled some years later for lamps of a more modern and illuminating design. Hewett Street was resurfaced recently, and many city residents requested a replica of the 1930's lamp posts to be positioned along the Street once again. Looking at the lamp post in the photo and those along the street today, the task of simulating the originals was well done.
Presently, Bill Weiler and his assistant, David Klieforth, serve as pharmacists for the business. Bill also owns the Loyal Drug Store. David is a Neillsville High School graduate, who, with his wife and two sons, reside in Neillsville.
This week�s photographs belong to a former long time employee, Agnes Meinholdt. Agnes worked for the Sniteman Company for forty plus some years. We thank her for sharing them.
Agnes was a registered nurse, taking her nurses training in Milwaukee. Her first employment in Neillsville was as a nurse at the hospital on State and Fourth Streets.
As she worked in the nursing profession, there were times when she was summoned by Dr. Housley to accompany him on emergency house calls. In that era, house calls were frequently made, of which many such calls were for the delivering of babies. If it was a baby delivery call, Agnes was sure to be asked to go along with the doctor as his assistant at anytime of the day or night.
In c.1940, Agnes started working at the Sniteman Pharmacy, which extended for many years. She worked with different pharmacists and employees during that time, witnessed the various building remodeling, as well as other changes of the business. Quoting Agnes, I�m the only one of those early days employees in the business who is still living.� Olga Haas was also a long time employee who now resides at Memorial Home.
Viewing the inside of the drug store as it appeared c. 1940. Left to right: Agnes Meinholdt, George Sontag, Dave Parry and Marge Hauri, who staffed the business during that time.
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO
The Warriors of Neillsville High School will be represented at the state WIAA basketball tournament, opening in Madison today. But it will be by their seniors and coach. The Warriors team was eliminated from the tournament on the sectional level at Wisconsin Rapids last Friday night when they dropped a heart-breaker to a fine, well-drilled Marion High School team, 64-59.
Note from Columbia columnist Irma Sollberger: �Wildlife is beginning to appear in the area. William and Georgeanna Schultz counted eight deer in their garden one day last week. Skunks also have come out of hibernation.
FIFTY-YEARS AGO
Acute Shortage of Tires Hits Motor Owners of County!
Only emergency needs can be met from the waning supply of rubber.
A real shock is about to hit nearly 400 owners of motor vehicles in Clark County. They will receive from the war rationing board their tire applications, with the information that supplies are exhausted and the applications returned.
This is the first time that the local war rationing board has been forced to throw up its� hands. Up to this point, the board has combed the applications over, sorted out those with definite merit and furnished the tires to keep �em rolling�
As the situation is now developing, anything which looks like an automobile tire will be viewed with respect, no matter how many miles it has traveled and no matter how much it is worn�
SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO
Last Friday morning Herb Brooks had the huge tamarack tree in his front yard cut down. It had been dead for a year or two and has now followed its original owners and guardians into the realm of the past. It was set out by the first wife of James O�Neill, the founder of Neillsville.
Neillsville is putting several thousand dollars into a filter to try and make the Black River water pure and clear and of drinkable quality. We have a large number of springs about the city, but after the city grandmothers tried a witch-hazel faker, the city settled down to the steady use of the dark extract known as Black River water.
Knorr and Rausch printed the new prices for Ford cars: Touring car, $450; Roadster, $435; and Sedan, $695.
J.W. Raine has bought the Adolph Hemp home at Clay and Fourth Street.
Dell Rodman was 62 years old last Friday and in the evening, about fifteen of his friends and neighbors dropped in on him and spent the evening in an old-time celebration of the event. Dell is a pretty lively old fellow in spite of his years and says he will be ready for a considerable number of birthdays yet.
Robins arrived in town in platoons and regiments Sunday, betokening spring.
ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO
The Bethlehem, Pa. Iron Company�s officials have received notice that a contract has been awarded to them for over $2,000,000 worth of heavy armor plate. The entire contract was $3,000,000.
The Carnegie Works of Pittsburg were awarded the balance of the contract. This will give work for five years to the Bethlehem Iron Company�s employees.
The New York Press Club has a little unpatented device which a committee of congress should at once investigate. When a speaker at that organization�s dinners exceeds ten minutes, a colored boy appears on the scene with a large brass bong and beats the devil�s tattoo thereon until the orator takes the hint and collapses.
© Every submission is protected by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 .
Show your appreciation of this freely provided information by not copying it to any other site without our permission.
A site created and maintained by the Clark County History Buffs
and supported by your generous donations .
The townspeople were convinced of her guilt, and she was sentenced to death by hanging. Her execution took place in the center of town, with thousands of townspeople in attendance to witness the event. The witch hunt in Holmes County had a lasting impact on the community. Many residents became wary of anyone exhibiting unusual behavior or possessing knowledge of herbal remedies. Fear and paranoia gripped the town, and people turned on each other, accusing their neighbors of witchcraft. In the years following Martha's execution, several more alleged witches were brought to trial in Holmes County. While the severity of the punishments varied, ranging from public shaming to banishment, the accusations often led to the destruction of the accused person's reputation and livelihood. The witch hunts eventually died down in the early 1900s, as superstitions began to wane and a more scientific understanding of illness and natural phenomena emerged. Today, the events of the witch hunts in Holmes County serve as a cautionary tale of the dangers of fear and ignorance. In conclusion, the witch hunting in Holmes County in the late 19th century was a dark and troubling period in the community's history. The accusations, trials, and punishments inflicted on supposed witches left a lasting impact on the town and its residents. It serves as a reminder of how easily fear and misinformation can lead to the persecution and harm of innocent individuals..
Reviews for "Witch Hunting and Gender: The Impact of Misogyny in Holmes County's Trials"
1. Sarah - 2 stars
I was excited to read "Witch hunting in Holmes County" as I am a fan of mystery and supernatural books. However, I was truly disappointed with this one. The story felt repetitive and lacked depth. The characters were one-dimensional, and it was hard for me to connect or care about any of them. The writing style was also quite basic, and the plot twists were predictable. Overall, it failed to capture my attention and left me unsatisfied.
2. Mark - 1 star
I regret picking up "Witch hunting in Holmes County" as it turned out to be a tedious and poorly executed read. The pacing was incredibly slow, and I felt like nothing significant happened until the last few chapters. The author's attempt at creating suspense and mystery fell flat, and the so-called "twists" were underwhelming. Moreover, there were several inconsistencies and plot holes that left me confused and frustrated. I struggled to finish this book and wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for an engaging witch-themed novel.
3. Emily - 2 stars
I had high hopes for "Witch hunting in Holmes County," given its intriguing title and promising synopsis. Unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The characterization was weak, with the protagonist lacking any real personality or development. The dialogues felt forced and unrealistic, making it difficult to engage with the story. Additionally, the writing style was overly descriptive in some parts, causing the pacing to drag. Overall, it lacked the depth and complexity I was seeking in a witch hunting novel, and I was left feeling unsatisfied with the reading experience.