Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 5, Number 173, Decatur, Adams County, 18 July 1907 — Page 1

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT.

Volume V. Number 173

HISTORY CHAPTER Story of Adams County’s I Public Buildings '.FIRST JAIL WAS BUILT IN 1836 Court House in 1839—Present Hall of 'justice in 1873—School Houses and Churches. g By Ladies' Historical Club. Public Buildings. I The subject of the first public buildings in a county is, of necessity, rather dry and uninteresting, because of the fact that these buildings must be crude structures in keeping with the architecture of the primitive homes of the pioneers. These homes were usually one or two room cabins, constructed from the trees felled to make a clearing for the site of the cabins, and for the raising of grain and vegetables for the sustenance of the family. When these families had multiplied sufficiently to form a community, thought must be taken for the education of the children and the log schoolhouse, j with its scant furnishings was the outcome. As we are in this paper especially concerned with Decatur, it is pertinent to mention in this connection the first school house. It was a one room structure made of round logs and stood on the back end Cf the lot on which the building known as Noah’s Ark now stands. How long it was, used for a school house could not be ascertained. The second, was a frame building and stood directly across the street from the James Niblick residence, on the corner facing west. The next school building was that now used as a seed store by J. D. Hale, and was moved from the site to make room for the present central school. Among the first records of the commissioners of Adams county, were those of license granted to different individuals for a stated sum permitting them to sell “domestic and foreign merchandise, wooden clocks and spiritous and strong liquors, as a result of this latter privilege it was not long until John Doe and Richard Roe and others of like ilk began to “beat and abuse the body of each other and expressed a willingness so to do. <P. 24, Book A.) and the next thing on the program was the building of a jail in which to incarcerate these obstreperous individuals. Early in the history of the county (May, 1836), one Thomas Johnson generously proposed to donate $3,000 to the commissioners for the use o f the county, also four lots for churches, one half acre for public square, one acre for county seminary and a piece of land not to exceed two acres for a graveyard, and also to furnish a house to hold court in at the spring term of the year 1837, and until the public buildings are erected. Jehu and Robert Rhea donated to the county twenty acres off the west end of an eighty-acre lot "in consideration that the committeemen will locate the county seat at the site donated by Thomas Johnson on the St. Marys river.” Samuel Rugg on the same date donated ten acres adjoining the land on the north on which the town site donated by Thomas Johnson is located. Os course, all of these donations were accepted and at the meeting of the commissioners. June 20th, 1836, it was “ordered that notice be given for the letting of the contract for building a jail in Adams county at the town of Decatur, to be completed by the Ist of July, 1837.” January 11th, 1837 it was “ordered that the jail be built on the southwesterly corner of the public square within twelve feet of the line of Third and Court ittreets.” The writer has been unable to find any description of this jail in the county records, but Ex-Sher-iff Krick says it was built of logs, the outside walls composed of three thicknesses, the middle layer being perpendicular and the outside and inside layer being horizontal. At an extra session of the commissioners, July 27, 1837, it was “ordered that the sum of $350 be paid the contractors, David McKnight and Wm. Lewis, or their order, for building said jail." “The board, after being released by the original contractors, gave Basil Browning an order for S3OO for completing the county jail which was built according to contract on the southwest corner of the pul lie square.” This is the first public building mentioned in the commissioners’ reports of Adams count '. At the session of May Bth, 1839, it was “ordered that John Reynolds Sind Samuel

L. Rugg be authorized to build a court house on lot 94 in the town of Decatur, which shall be a framed house of good materials and 30x40 feet square and two stories high, the lower story or room to be left whole without any petitions, and the upper story divided into rooms to accommodate the grand and petit jury and that they convey said lot to the county by its proper agent for which lot they shall be allowed the sum of fifty dollars, the cost of which, together with the cost of building the house, shall be paid out of the donation soon to become due from John Reynolds and Samuel L. Rugg • • • the building shall be completed by the October term of the Adams county court, if possible. The weatherboarding on the two sides next the street shall be planed." The first recorded meeting of the commissioners in the new court house was at the May session, 1840, but it was not until the June session, 1841, that the final acceptance of and settlement for it was made. In this record it was “ordered that John Reynolds and Samuel L. Rugg he allowed the sum of $1,724 in full for the building and furnishing the court house and the sum of SSO for the lot on (Continue don page 4.) WAY WAS~SICK And The Locals Lost Another At Van Wert FIELDER BURNS RELIEVED HIM And Pitched Great Ball—Chagrined Over the Loss, Three of Our Champions Jumped in the Creek. Overpowered in the mud. The Van Wert team defeated the Decatur champs in the mud by a score of 7 to 2. All the horseshoes were with the Buckeyes. So they did not need the lemon that gave them the game the day before. The Ossian wonder got out of his sick bed and started the game. But he could not locate the plate, so they let Burns toss the pill the rest of the game. He pitched in great style. Three men were on bases when he took the mound, and no one out. He struck out the next three. They only scored one run off his delivery. Way was not the only pitcher taken out of the game. Grubbs had to be relieved after four straight bingles in the ninth. He was relieved by Moore. We will take them before the season closes. On the way to the grounds we were sure we would win. So all the members of the team on the way to the grounds said that if they lost they would all jump in the creek on the way back. There was only three that kept their promise. They were Nash, Pierce and Witham. There was another one of our chums playing third for the other team who also plunged in with us. The creek was overflowing its banks, so it made the boys swim some with their uniforms on. We drove to Ohio City and enroute an argument started that Weber could not beat it home. So he took the bet. climbed on the front end. followed by Pierce to see he got there safe, arriving one coach ahead of the rest. Claiming we will win some day, good bye, Humpty. Score, Van Wert, 7; Decatur, 2; hits Van Wert, 9; Decatur, 9. Errors, Van Wert, 1; Decatur 3. Batteries, Decatur, Way, Burns and Winger; Van Wert, Grubbs, Moore and Hlllinger. o. MARION SCHOOL BOARDCROOKED According to a Petition Filed Asking That Books be Audited. That the school board of the city of Marion has been extravagant in the expenditures made during the past few years in the maitnenance of the schools of the city, and that interest received from depositaries for the use of the funds coming into the hands of the board has been retained by the members of the board, is alleged to be the bisis of a petition which was presented to the city council last evening. asking for the appointment of experts to audit the books of the board. The petition was received and placed on file and the council adopted a motion constituting all the councilmen as a committee of the whole to audit the school board’s books. The council also reserves to itself the right to employ experts to assist the auditing committee in its work. — Marion News-Tribune.

Decatur, Indiana, Thurssday Evening, July 18, 1907.

A BOY DROWNED Monroeville Lad Meets Death At Flat Rock COMPANIONS UNABLE TO SAVE Eleven-Year-Old John Hay Sinks Into a Watery Grave in Sight of Several Playmates. John Hay, the eleven-year-old son of Mir. Adam Hay, residing one mile north of Monroeville, was drowned in Flat Rock creek at Monroeville shortly before noon yesterday while several companions loked on absolutely powerless to aid him. Up to a late hour last night the body had not been recovered. The creek in which the lad was drowned is ordinarily nothing but a ditch, but the recent rains have swelled the stream until it is fully eight feet in depth in places. It meanders along the eastern edge of the town of Monroeville and is used as a swimming place by the boys of the town when its depth permits. The drowned boy with Clyde Taylor and several other companions, wandered down to the creek and went in swimming about 11 o’clock. For forty-five minutes they swam and played in the water, paying little f heed to the depth. Finally John Haygot beyond his depth in the middle of the creek. Though he struggled and called for help, his companions were too young to offer him any assistance and the boy was finally overcome and sank to the bottom. The other boys, horror-stricken and frightened, summoned assistance and almost the entire male population of the town joined in the search for the body, which had not been recovered last evening.—Ft. Wayne Journal-Gazette. voterslnTounty Township Trustees File Their Reports AT COUNTY AUDITOR’S OFFICE Showing a Total of Over Fifty-Two Hundred Voters—This Township Has Over Fourteen Hundred. The township trustees of Adams county have filed at the county auditor's office a report showing the enumeration of the white and black male inhabitants of said county over the age of twenty-one years and the public have the privilege to call and inspect this enumeration, which shows the total vote of the county to be 5,247. All these seem to be white, as no colored enumeration appears under that head- The number of whites eligible to a vote in their respective townships is as follows: Union, 221; Root, 326; Preble. 277; Kirkland, 229; Washington, 1,404; St. Marys, 311; Blue Creek, 295; Monroe, 639; Franch, 234; Hartford, 358; Wabash, 686, and Jefferson. 267. Total, 5,247. From these reports it will be seen that Washington township, with Decatur, leads the list by more than double; Wabash, Including Geneva, is second, and Monroe, with Berne and Monroe corporations, is third. Firguring five to each voter, the proportion usually used for such computation, the county has a population of 26,235, and this township of over 7,000. o— • Among the passengers in jured in the wreck of Erie train No. 11, near Foraker. Ohio, Monday night, was Colonel Isaac W. Brown, of Rochester, known as the “bird and bee” man. Colonel Brown’s injuries were of abrasions on the legs and minor bruises over the body together with a sever shaking up. He was taken to Rochester on a later Erie train and was met at the station by relatives. The prominent naturalist will not be able to leave his bed bofer the end of the week to renew his lecture engagements. o The Delphos ball team, headed by Captain Suttles, arrived today and are this afternoon trying conclusions with the locals at Steele’s Park. The Delphos bunch come highly touted, and will no doubt put up a fast game.

CENTRAL WESTERN SELLS OUT Cochran and Son Buy Oil PropertyMove Office to Geneva. Geneva, Ind., July 17. —J. E. Cochran & Son. of Bradford, Pa., secured one of the best producing properties in the Geneva field, of Adams county, when they purchased the holdings of the Central Western Oil company, located around Geneva and Berne. They have moved the headquarters of the company from Berne to Geneva and located their office over the Callihan hardware store. Tom Cochran will manage the affairs for the new purchasers. ■o DO YOU WANT TO BUY A FARM? Do you want a country where corn is king and wheat and oats a close second? Do you want a country where cattle and hogs make fat bank accounts for their owners? Do you want a country where every settler who has lived there is no better? Do you want a country where land can be bought for one-half what it is worth? If you want such a country we have founnd it. Let us take you to Nebraska. which is God’s country. For particulars see Ira Steele, Decatur, Ind. o CALL IT NUISANCE Farmers Want Fertilizer Factory Moved APPEAR BEFORE THE COUNCIL Party of Ten Prominent Farmers Have Taken up the Fight and Say They Will Push It. The city council was visited last evening for a short time by a party of ten farmers, residing north of our city, who desired to appeal to the city dads for some relief in relation to the fertilizer factory that is located on the Coverdale farm, and which the surroundings farmers and property owners declare is a nuisance of the rankest kind. The committee was composed of such leading citizens as George Keller, rural route carrier H. A. Fuhrman, John H. Bogner, Charles Fuhrman and Tice Uhman and several others. Each one of the farmers in turn spoke to the council in relation to the awful stench that comes from this fertilizer factory and one even went so far as to state that when the wind was blowing in a certain direction he was compelled to close his house tight to keep out the smell. Others stated that it made one sick to drive along the public highway coming to and from the city, and they desired that the council take some steps to declare the same a nuisance, as it was bound to cause much sickness and was depreciating the value of their respective farms. Attorney DeVoss, acting for the council, informed the committee that the city was powerless to act, and that if they desired immediate relief they should proceed to the prosecutor and file an affidavit declaring the factory a nuisance and the matter would then be left for the court to determine, and if a nuisance an injunction would be issued and the plant closed. The committee seemed well satisfied with the advise given and stated that they would see the prosecutor and proceed at once. The committee stated that the entire neighborhood was aroused over the condition of affairs, and wanted to stop the same. o ELK GRAND LODGE OFFICERS Philadelphia. July 17.—The complete and official returns of the election In the grand lodge of Elks yesterday in this city were announced today as follows: Grand exalted ruler, John K. Tener, of Charleroi, Pa.; grand treasurer, Edward Leach, New York; grand esteemed royal knight, W. T. Leickle. Dowagiac, Mich.; grand esteemed lecturing knight, Bayard Gray, Frankfort, Ind.; grand estemed leading knight, John D. Shea, Hartford, Conn.; grand secretary, F. C. Robinson, Dubuque, la.; grand trustees. Thomas B. Mills, Superior, Wls.; T. F. McNulty, Baltimore, Md„ and Mayor C. C. Schmidt, of Wheeling, W. Va.; grand tyler, James Foley; and grand inner guard, A. M. Taylor. o — ■ Peter Mougey, who suffered an injury to his right hand a few days ago, is still suffering much pain and cannot use that member at all. It is so sore that he is forced to carry it t around in a sling.

WILL INFORCE IT The Ordinance To Prevent Hitching Horses ALONG THE STREETS OF CITY Officers Will be Notified to Take Such Rigs to Feed Barn or Livery Stable After Monday. There is an ordinance in Decatur, as well as in every other city in the country, which forbids the hitching of horses to telephone and telegragh poles along the streets. This ordinance was passed not to inconvenience any one, but for several other good reasons. First it is unsafe. The interurban cars, a passing band, or a hundred other things may frighten the horse, so that it breaks loose and a serious runaway results. This has happened frequently. Second, the poles belong to the company, which owns them, are an investment on which no one have the right to trespass. Third, the practice does the horse harm and seems entirely uncalled for when one can take the horse to a feed barn for five cents. Acting upon these facts, the officers will, beginning next Monday, enforce this ordinance. We are informed that at that time the police will be notified that it is their duty whenever they find a horse hitched along the streets to take it to a feed yard or livery barn where the owner can recover it by paying the price. This custom is followed in all cities in this section. o Mrs. P. W. Smith and daughter, Mrs. R. G. Leeds, of Richmond, arrived in the city this morning to make a short stay before leaving for the north on an outing. o THE SOCIAL NEWS Various Meetings of the Church Societies t. SEVERAL SOCIALS ANNOUNCED Euchre Club to Meet Saturday Evening—Miss Botthoff Gave a Dinner Party. All members of the Home Missionary Society are requested to meet in business session at the home of Mrs. John Niblick this evening (Thursday), at 7:30. The Ladies’ Aid of the Baptist church will give a Dollar Social this evening at the home of Mrs. Winnes, of Jefferson street. There will be special features for the occasion, and the public is cordially invited to attend. A meeting of importance was the Ladies’ Aid Society of the German Reformed church yesterday afternoon at the home of Mrs. John Spuhler. Business of of great importance was discussed and then a social hour followed. The attendance was splendid and a large collection was gathered. The Euchre Club will be entertinel by Miss Acker on Saturday evening at her home on First street. The Ladies’ Aid Society of the Presbyterian church held their regular meeting this afternoon with Mrs. J. H. Heller at her home on north Third street. The Y. P. C. U. of the United Brethren church will give a social this evening on the church lawn. Everybody cordially Invited to attend and enjoy the refreshments. Miss Ethel Botthoff entertained at dinner today at her home on west Monroe street, the guests of honor being Miss Genevieve Rowe, of Albuquerque, N. Mex., and Mrs. Joe Devlin, of Springfield, Illinois. A delightful time was had. o During the absence of Coroner Grandstaff, of Preble, John S. Falk, of this city is looking after the duties of that office and is expected to handle anything that comes along in his line.

HARRY BROKAW WAS DROWNED Young Man Well Known Here Lost Life in Wabash River. Harry M. Brokaw was drowned in the Wabash river at Terre Haute yesterday morning and his body was recovered late last evening. This news was received this morning by his uncle L. T. Brokaw, of this city. The young man went to the riser to take a plunge and an hour or two later his clothes were found on the bank. No one witnessed the affair, and no other particulars are known. Harry formerly lived at Ft. Wayne, and was quite well known here, having frequently visited his relatives in this city. His body was taken to Indianapolis, where he has been living recently, and where the funeral services will be held. o The Clover Leaf is doing all it can to keep the rivalry between Decatur and Bluffton stirred up, owing to the business It makes and in order to keep things stirred up will run a special train to Decatur Sunday to take over the rooters that want to go. The train will leave here at 1 o’clock and returning leave Decatur about six. The fare will be sixty cents. —Bluffton Banner.

WASHINGTON NEWS Os Especial Interest In The Hoosier State IMMIGRANT RECORDS BROKEN An Increase of Six Per Cent Over Last Year —Novel Warning Bell Method is Perfected. Washington, July 17. —First Assistant Postmaster-General Hitchcock has completed the list of promotions of Indiana postoffice clerks. The last increase became effective July 1, and are as follows: Anderson, one clerk, from S7OO to $800; Bedford, one clerk, from S7OO to SBOO, one from SBOO tc S9OO, one from S9OO to $1,000; Connersville, one clerk from SBOO to S9OO, one from S9OO to SI,OOO. ■ - I The Civil Service Commission announces an examination for clerks and carriers in the postoffice service at Hammond, on August 10. A. Huff, of Indiana, has resigned his place as a watchman in the office of the Secretary of the Bureau of Commerce and Labor. The place pays $720 a year. Walter B. Woodrsin, of Indiana, has been promoted to a SI,OOO clerkship in the Bureau of Corporations.

All Immigrant records in the history of the country were broken by the aggregate returns for the fiscal year of 1907, which ended on June 30. last. The total number of alien immigrants landed in America during the year was 1,285,349, as against 1,100,735 landed during the fiscal year of 1906. The increase in the year was about 6 per cent over the greatest number of immigrants that ever arrived in America heretofore in a single year. A novel methiid has been perfected of advising ship of the approach of their vessels to the danger zone, in connection with the use of the system of submarine bell signals, in places where the warning bell cannot be placed on a lightship or lighthouse. In such cases the electric bell is hung from a tripod set on the botton of the sea on the edge of the shoal at the required point, and this bell is struck by a mechanism operated by a current of electricity conveyed through a cable from the signal station on shore. Such a station at Point Allerton, Mass., and another at the entrance to Halifax harbor are operated through cables over two miles long. The bell strikes any code that is desired, and the sound travels through the water so that vessels from five to ten miles away hear the bell and get directions accurately in a fog or at night, when equipped with the receiving apparatus. The lighthouse board has completed 'arrangements to place these submarine signals .on all lightships not already equipped. The Canadian government is adopting the system, and when the work now ordered by the two governments Is completed, every important harbor in North America will be protected by such signals.

Price Two Cents

CONTRACTS LET D. W. Myers Secures The Erwin Sewer HENRY STEVENS GETS SEWER Petition for Cement Sidewalk on Winchester Street —Bills Allowed— Other Business at Council Session. The council met in regular session last evening, Mayor Coffee presiding, and every councilman being present. The minutes of the last meeting were read and after being approved, the council immediately got down to business. Attorney Beatty, representing the three railroads, appeared before the council and presented the grievances of the companies in relation to the rate charged for electricity and the schedule on which the same is run. The matter was referred to the electric committee for adjustment. Upon motion by Martin the clerk was ordered to draw his warrant in favor of A. C. Gregory for the sum of $36.67 to pay rent in full to August 5, 1907. A nunc pro tunc entry was then ordered in relation to the plans specifications and profile on the Erwin and Rice sewers and the same were ordered spread of record, now as of then. The following bids on the construction of the D. M. Erwin sewer were opened and read and the contract awarded: Albert A. Butler, $747.95; D. W. Myers, $553.00; Henry Stevens, $765.00. The bid of D. W. Myers being the lowest, the contract was awarded to him and he will, no doubt, start the work at once. The following bids were opened and read on the Rice sewer: Henry Stev(Continued on page 2.) oWAS OPERATED ON J. 5 Miss Dottie Cramer in Care of Surgeon - . ■ .r- ’ HER CONDITION VERY SERIOUS Has Suffered for Several Weeks—She Rallied from Operation and Some Hopes are Expressed. Miss Dottie Cramer, daughter of

Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Cramer, who reside in the south part of the city, was operated upon this morning at nine o’clock by Drs. J. M. Miller, J. S. Boyers and W. E Smith, for an obstruction of the bowels. The operation was a success in every respect and. every vestage of the complaint was removed. The patient rallied in nice shape from the effects of the same and although her condition is very serious, her physician is hopeful of a speedy recovery. Miss Cramer had been ailing for some time and it was at first feared that she was suffering from appenditis. However, this fear was soon dispelled, and a careful examination disclosed an obstruction of the bowels. The operation was a tedious one, lasting nearly an hour, but the seat of trouble was removed and her many friends hope for her ultimate recovery. A nurse has been secured and the patient will be given the best possible care and attention. The outcome will probably not be known for three or four days at least. o— — The first town election for Uniondale was held Tuesday and of the 45 voters entitled to the rights of citizenship, thirty-eight reported at the polls and cast their votes. The only contest was in ward number one, where George Black and John F. Taylor, both republicans, were candidates for the town council. Taylor was elected by a plurality of six voters. AJonzo Brickley was elected councilman in ward number two and H. W. Lipkey in number three. O. L. Cupp was elected as the first town clerk and treasurer. The town board will meet shortly to organize. 0 — A party of Decaturites are expecting to leave Sunday morning for Cedar Point, where they will spend a week attending the Knights of Columbus outing. The boys are all figuring on having a fine time.