The War On Base Ball

A great many young men of [Jerseyville] have taken to base ball as fish do to water, and have been at it without any interruption from outsiders for the last three years until last week, when Dr. J.O. Hamilton had a number of them arrested for playing inside the corporation.  The base ballists will have their trial to-day before Judge Peter P. Voohrees  JW. Merrill prosecutes, and Hon. Robert A. King defends young America.

-Missouri Republican, August 30, 1870

The earliest account of baseball in Jersey County that I had before this was from 1875 but this article, which was headlined "War on Base Ball," shows that the game was being played there around 1867.  That's not exactly surprising, as it fits with what we know about baseball's spread pattern, but it's useful information. 

Plow Boys Vs. Anchors

A very interesting game was played September 19, on the Eldridge Farm, Jersey county, Ill., between the Eldridge Plow Boys and the Anchors, of Brighton, Ill., which resulted in the defeat of the latter...

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, September 23, 1875


This game is probably of little interest to anyone other than me and my family.

Jersey County is just north of Alton, Illinois and technically is not part of the greater St. Louis metropolitan area. However, my aunt and uncle have lived in Jersey County for about thirty years now and I couldn't tell you how many times I've been up that way. I don't know anything about the Eldridge Farm but I do know where Brighton is. All serious Cardinal fans will have heard of Brighton because it's the hometown of one Jason Isringhausen. Izzy is married to a girl from Jerseyville, where my aunt and uncle live. It's a small world.