Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 10, Number 118, Decatur, Adams County, 16 May 1912 — Page 1

Volume X. Number 118.

TWO MILLION DOLLARS IS BEING EXPENDED HERE

DECATUR IS PROSPEROUS Expenditures In The Community This Year Exceed Valuation Os City

STRANGE BUT TRUE A Complete List of What is Doing in Old Decatur Town During 1912. i THE ERIE TRACKS Is a Big Proposition—The Sugar Company—Buildings, Bridges. Roads. Busy and beautiful Decatur. It's good to write it, because everyI one who lives within a hundred miles I of fiere-i knows it’s true, knows that I we have struck our gait and that the I capital of Adams county is now march- ; ing forward, steadily and conservai tively, but always forward. There is probably not a city of 5,000 in Indiana, where more real progI ress is being made than in Decatui. I For six months now we have progressI ed, starting with a time last Septern- | her whon our citizens and business I men, banded tnemselves together in an effort to land the first sugar factor.* Jin Indiana. We landed it, and with it I came much prosperity. Immediately | the city and country property took on Ea new value, rents advanced, new 1 homes were proposed and are now beI ing built. Others are being improved land of this splendid start toward i a splendid achievement, we now have [the pleasure to write. A year ago, it

■was a street topic of conversation, ■that Decatur had two hundred empty E houses. It was true. Now we could , E use two hundred more than we have f Those empty houses have been filled, more have been built and many are under construction and i. is still im- 1 possible to find a place for rent. The sugar factory is not the only thing which brings business to De-: catur and furnishes work for huni dreds of strangers. Friday the first L work on the Chicago & Erie double,' K track will begin. It means the em-i K ployment of five hundred people for |a year or more. Three times that •many more win be employed within ■fifteen or twenty miles each way from / ■here on the same work Other im- 1 ■provements are being planned and for . 1 ■ the next several years, it is likely that i 1 ■this will be one of the busiest spots ' ■on the face of this portion of the uni-p ■verse, whereon the sun shines the I ■brightest, the people are the happiest > ■and the stranger receives the wel- 1 ■come that comes from the heart —old , c ■lndiana. I 1 Public Improvements. Besides the sugar factory and the/ ■Other buildings in and about this ■inunity which makes a fellow feel, 8 ■proud, there are many other things, 1 ■doing which help. Among these is/ ■the new' city fire department building ; ■just ready for use, and located on ■ M&lonroe street. It is a modern home 1 1 ■for the fire department, fitted with ap ■new $5,000 nomination hose, chemi-. ■cal and ladder motor wagon. The/ ■building also contains rooms for the j' ■firemen, for the city officials and a ■council room. It was erected at aj' ■tost of about $15,000 and attracts the J ■attention of the stranger who passes ■that way. The Monroe Street Bridge. | The new bridge at the foot of Mon- 1 Bfroe street is under construction, the j BBfeurk Construction company of New j ■Castle being the contractors. The ■told bridge has been torn away, and |fcthe work of building the concrete ■Ration is starting. It is an interesting fework that furnishes employment tr sea large number. It should he comggSleted by the middle of August, ac-j to plans. In connection with |B>is should be mentioned the Hell m ; ■Radam road, which begins at the and extends east a long disStance. Julius Haugk has the contract

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

and has already started the work. Are Trimming Our Lamps. The city of Decatur is trimming her lamps, meaning that the old electric lights are being replaced by new and much better ones, adding not only to the appearance, but to the lighting system. Aside from this fact the county is having a row of beautiful lamp posts placed around the court house in front of the jail and many of the progressive merchants are placing these lights in front of their business houses. This was started by the Waring Glove company, and a glance at that establishment, corner of Monroe and First streets, will show what a decided improvement the new posts will make. The county is also having installed at the court house corner a dringing fountain for horses, that will prove convenient. The township is building a cacadamlzed road over Fifth and Monroe 'streets, the preliminary petitions and other necessary steps having been taken. Later in the season these streets will be bricked. The city is building a water line north from the old Patterson mill to the city limits, and from there the line will be taken across the land of the Holland-St. Louis Sugar company, a distance of 1,600 feet, thus giving the company proper fire protection. It all means work for some one. The Erie Double Track. Because of the fact that Decatur has been so busy with local affairs, so many improvements, the fact that the double tracking of a railroad line through the city is really at hand, has perhaps not caused as much interest as it would otherwise. It is a reality that means much work, the employment of several hundred men for a

• long time and the expenditure of much ’ money. The Business District. While there are no new blocks beling erected at this time, one or two are being planned and will materialize within the next twelve-month, and there are a large number of improvements being made. D. N. Erwin, who has purchased the building just north 'of the Everett & Hite grocery, is arranging it for the convenience of the Graham & Walters real estate agency 'on the first floor, while the second floor will be occupied by the Erwin law office and the Erwin real estate office, who will use the three front 'rooms and the three rear rooms in the ■rear of the building will probably be taken by the county surveyor. A 'heating plant is being added and the block will be one of the most comfortable in the city. Improvements that will cost $1,500 are being made to the Morris store building on Second street, including an addition that will make the store more convenient and commodious. J. S. Bowers is completing the block on Monroe street, a concrete walk in front, adding to the handsome appearance of that street. The entire bldck is now filled, the middle room being occupied by the Herald office. A new front in the store room occupied by the Fullenkamp store, is being planned and if built will add much to the appearance of that entire block. The home of the Daily Democrat of!fice is also to be brushed up soon, a [contract having been let for the installing of a new prism front, and 'when we have completed some repairing on the interior we will feel that we are fixed up in our Sunday best. The Rice building at the corner of Monroe and Third streets, formerly occupied by the Herald, and recently purchased by Henry Krick, is to be 'remodeled, the plans for same not being completed. While there is nothing for publication at this time concerning the plans 'of Charles Chatlin, of the Decatur 'Packing company, it is in line to say 'that there is something doing, that 'may mean much to the future of De'catur and this community. Several [parties from a distance are becoming interested and it may develop at any ■ time. (Continued on Page 2)

Decatur, Indiana, Thursday Evening, May 16, 1912.

FOR MOTHER’S DAY ! Mrs. J. D. Hale Writes Poem on Sacred Theme for Friend’s Niece. !'i LATELY BEREAVED Friend Requests Publication of Poem Which Has Much True Merit. I Decatur has a quiet and unpreteu- • tious poetess in the person of Mrs. J. D. Hale, a lovable and quiet home lady, who has spent her leisure moments in writing beautiful and inspiring poems, • though she has never given them for t publication, keeping them alone for • the eyes of her nearest and dearest ■ friends. Quiet recently a young friend • of hers who had the pleasure of look--1 ing them over, requested her to write I a poem for Mother s daj, which was 1 observed last Sunday, that she might I send it to a niece of hers who had lately been greatly bereaved by the ■ death of her mother. The poem was • so beautiful and full of consoling I thoughts that will be of general help - to hearts bereaved, that the friend rei quested that she have it published, it ; being especially appropriate at this - time, near to Mother's day. The poem i follows: > Mother's Day. • (By Mrs. J. D. Hale, May 12, 1912.) s Sacred and holy is Mothers' Day, Tokening us backward, and far away, • Back to the old home, to mother s love. Forward to her beautiful home above. ( Oh, how I long to go to that land, ( To again feel the touch of her loving hand, ' To hear her dear voice, to look in her face, To stand by her side in that Holy \ place. My mother now lives in her narrow [ cell, Her spirit has gone with the angels to dwell, But her memory. I ll cherish till 1 hear Jesus say, Well done, come up higher, come now, today. 0 FLAG COMMITTEES Named by G. A. R. to Mark Graves of Their Dead Comrades May 30th, THE ANNUAL CUSTOM Two Hundred Seventy-three Required This Year in the North Part of County. The G. A. R. and Ladies of the Relief Corps committees met in the Sam Henry post hall and completed arrangements for Decoration day exercises. A full and complete program was ordered published in the city dailies, commencing next Saturday. Comrades Hale, Mallonee and Fordyce were appointed a committee to ascertain whether the court house lawn can be secured for the ceremony, to be performed at the cenotaph and grave of unknown deceased soldiers. The following comrades were appointed to call at the Everett & Hite grocery store and procure from Comrade Shackley flags to mark the graves of deceased comrades, in the cemeteries in the north part of Ad-1 ams county: Alpha—Jonas Cline, three flags. Backenstow —G. W. Gates, thirteen flags. . Beery—Daniel Kitson, eight flags., Clarks —F. F. Freck, six flags. Catholic —D. K. Shackley and J. D. Andrews, five flags. Decatur —D. K. Shackley and J. D. Andrews, eleven flags. Fuelling—Fred Franz, one flag. Maplewood — Washington Pyle, CONTINUED ON PAGE FOUR

SWALLOWED TIN PINS. Now Has Pains —X-Ray Picture Taken of Sievers Boy. Clarence Sievers, the four-year-old son o? Mr. and Mrs. Henry Sievers of Columbia City, was taken to Fort Wayne Wednesday morning by Dr. C. L. Souder, where an X-Ray picture war, taken of the young man's intestines I in an effort to locate some foreign substance. It seems that some two years ago the little chap swallowed some tin pins that are used in connection with a cream separator and that eyer since that time he has had severe pains in his stomach and complained practically all of the time. The pictures were taken at the Lutheran hospital and Dr. H. A. Duemling was present at thetime but they did not wAiit to have the plates developed and the pictures will be forwarded to them in a short time. The little chap is opposed to operations and they experienced considerable trouble in getting him to consent to have the pictures taken. It is possible that an operation may have to be performed. Mrs Sievers is a sister of Mrs. Charles Heckman and Will Zwick of this city. Q To Spend Summer Away. Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Hale Wil! Have Delightful Summer Visit. Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Hale are planning to spend the summer months out of the city, and will leave Monday, May 27th, lor their extended visit. M.’. Hale, who has long been engaged in business in the city, recently retired from active business life, and is thus given the privilege, with his wife, of spending a summer free from care. They have owned wJ cottage at the Rome City summer resort for ten years, and will go directly there for a month’s stay. They will then go to Nappanee for a two weeks’ stay with their daughter, Mrs. Edward Wilson, and then go to Chicago with their daughter, Mrs. Hirairf Gregg, for a month. They will then return to RomeCity for the remainder of their four months’ vacation. Their beautiful home on Fifth street they have leased as it stands, ready furnished, to Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Haskel of Findlay, 0., who will be here until October Ist, Mr. Haskel bejng employed with the beet sugar plant construction company. Mr. and Mrs. Haskel are delightful people and will continue the hospitality of the Hale home during the Hale’s absence. o CALLED BY SISTER'S DEATH. Mrs. Sarah J. Ball of Magley passed through the city Wednesday evening on her way to Fort Wayne, where she was called by the death of her sister, Mrs. Catherine Miller, which occurred Monday night after a long illness from a complication of diseases. She was sixty-nine years of age. Mrs. Miller was born In Allen county, January 1, 1843. In 1880 she was married to Samuel Miller and the couple located on a farm in Wells county, where they lived until 1901, when they moved to Fort Wayne. The deceased was a member of the Bethel Evangelical church. Surviving besides the husband are two sisters —Mrs, Sarah J. Ball, of Magley, Ind., and Mrs. Batavia Heckler, of Fort Wayne. Two brothers also survive, these being the last of a family of eleven children. The funeral will be held Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock at thq Bethel Evangelical church, the Rev. C. E. Boyer officiating. Grant Ball and daughter, Opal, of Magley, a nephew of Mrs. Miller, also went to Fprt Wayne Wednesday. o KILSO-QUAH’S BIRTH MONTH. During the present month, the famous Indian princess, kil-so-quah, residing near Roanoke, and known in Decatur was born, and it is claimed that she is now 102 years old. She still lives quietly and peacefully near that place, where she has spent many of her declining years, and although the weight of years has a telling effect upon her she still retains remarkably good health. The time and place of her birth is uncertain, as no records were kept, but according to tradition •she was born some time in the month of May, 1810, at the forks of the Wabash river, west of Huntington. She is the granddaughter of the famous Miami chief, Little Turtle, and on her mother's side is also the granddaughter of a brave Miami chief, She-mock-r-nish.

SOWERS---MURRAY Lytle Edgar Sowers Claims Miss Ada Florence Murray as His Bride. A QUIET WEDDING Solemnized This Morning at Home of Bride’s Parents --Left for East. At a quiet wedding which occurred this morning at 7:45 o’clock at the home of the bride’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Murray, on Rugg street, Lytle Edgar Sowers, a former Decatur boy, son of Dr. and Mrs H. E. , Sowers, of Sharon, Pa., claimed Miss , Agnes Murray as his bride. The wed- . ding was a quiet one and witnessed only by the immediate family of the bride, being solemnized by the Rev. Gleiser of the Presbyterian church. Mr. and Mrs. Sowers left at 8:30 o'clock for Fort Wayne, thence to Cleveland, Ohio, and Detroit. Mich., before going to Sharon, Pa. where they will make their future home, the ; groom being connected with a garage ’ at that place. They expect to arrive ■ at. Sharon by Sunday and the greeting of their many Decatur friends to , whom the news of the wedding will I come as a surprise, and who therefore i did not have the opportunity of ex- ; tending them before they left today, • will await them there. “ *-! j The bride’s wedding costume was d , cream tailored serge and her going- , away frock was a black satin suit. , Miss Murray has spent her entire life here and is popular among her large number of acquaintances, being a • young lady of winning personality. Five years ago this coming Septem- . ber 7th she took a position with the ■ local telephone company as operator, and continued with them until May Ist, when she resigned to prepare for her coming wedding. The groom is a son of Dr. H. E. Sowers, an osteopath, who was located here before going recently to Sharon, Pa. Much of his life was spent here, where he is . very well and favorably known. He . arrived Wednesday night from Sharon for the wedding. o COURT HOUSE NEWS The Clover Leaf Company Promptly Sends Check for Penalty, Also for FALL INSTALLMENT Ode McClish Asks Change of Venue of Case from the County. Judge Merryman was at Huntington today, hence the affairs about the court room here were very quiet. In his special findings of facts and conclusions of law' filed in the case of Lucinda J. Branyan et al. vs. Asael Brookover et ah, quiet title case from Huntington county, finding was made in favor of the plaintiffs. Real estate transfers: Henry Michaud to Justin A. Michaud, lot 322, Berne, $1250; U. S. A. patent deed to David Smith, 160 acres, Washington tp.; Nimrod Dailey et al. to John S. Falk, lots 1 and 12, Rivarre; John Lee et al. to John S. Falk, lot 12, Rivarre; Otto Rteppert to Thomas H. Baltzell, realty in Washington tp., $3400; Mary M. Lee to J. W. Vizzard, 103 acres, St. Mary’s tp., quit claim deed, $300; Caleb Roe to Wilson Markley, 30 acres, Blue Creek tp., $2400. Upon being apprised by County Treasurer C. W. Yager that their cheek of $3,474.90 on the spring installment of taxes had been received two days too late to avoid the ten per cent penalty, which would amount to CONTINUED W PAGE FOUR

A NOVEL LETTER Is Written by a Man Who is Waiting for a Pension. A prominent firm of pension attorneys recently received from a client in state who has waited long for his restoration of pension the following unique letter: • Gentlemen —As I have no consan gui’ne posterity to whom I may leave my wealth when I shuffle, please sa.V to those pension sharps in Washington that if, in the sweet bye and bye, they finally decide to allow my claim, to send the check No. 1, Paradise avenue, City of Zion, Heaven, care of St. Peter, and I’ll gel it. 1 may have some difficulty in having the check cashed, but that I may be able to have it accepted as security for a second hand harp, or trade it for a cemetery lot in a swamp or suthin. > ’’Only waiting until the shadows are a little longer drawn. Only waiting, waiting, waiting, till eternity has flown.' o ACTOR JOINS THEATER PARTY. J. Harold Snedeker, a former member of H. R. Snedeker’s company, but < lately doing “L'ncle Josh” in Josh Spruceby’s company, arrived this morning and will be seen as Warren Ramsey in Mr. Snedeker’s production of The Diamond Necklace,” Friday and Saturday night. Later on he will be seen in a rural comedy which the company is staging, written especially lu his quaint portrayal of the rustic comedy. Friday and Saturday a week the company will present a western drama. o —— MR. HITE BETTER. Henry Hite, th” Well known grocer.' - ■ than, w’ho Wednesday morning, upon i feeling somewhat sick, with a severe j ■ headache, later going to his home, | w’here he soon afterward suffered a > stroke of apoplexy, falling in the house, was somewhat better today i and resting easier. He is still unable to be out of bed. but unless something unforeseen sets in he will get along all right. LAID TO REST. The last earthly respects for Mrs. Vai Snell, the well known lady who resided south of the city, were held this afternoon and attended by many who in this life have lost a dear friend i and companion. A short service was held at the house previous to leaving for the Washington church, where the principal service was conducted by the Rev. Thompson. The officiating minister paid a high tribute to the < life of the deceased lady. Interment was made at. the Ray cemetery. o SCHOOL BOARD MEETS. Will Probably Select Teachers Next Wednesday Evening. The city school board held a meeting Wednesday evening, but beyond the discussion of several plans, nothing was done. The board will meet again next Wednesday evening to take up the matters and the the selection of teachers for the coming school year will probably be made. o —- CONTINUE FLOWER SALE. The Evangelical ladies will receive another consignment of flowers tor their sale tomonrow and Saturday at the Winnes shoe store

**************************** * WHAT’S DOING IN OLD DECATUR TOWN IN 1912. * * The following list of improvements being made in this city and im- * * mediate surrounding community, shows that two million dollars * * is being expended here this summer. It also shows the almost start- * * ling fact that the expenditures this year excel the appraised valuation * * of the city. Here’s what’s doing, conservatively gathered: * * Sugar factory, estimated cost SBOO,OOO * * Double tracking of Erie, ten miles each way from this city.. 800,000 * * C. & E. new bridge 35,000 * * Raising old C. & E. bridge four feet 6,000 * * Monroe street bridge 18,000 * * New lights and poles 5,000 * * Macadam and brick streets 15,000 * * Extending water lines 5,000 -v * Factory improvements, proposed and under way 50.000 * * Business house improvements 25,000 * * New dwellings 75,000 * * Remodeled dwellings 75,000 * * Macadam roads in six north townsnips, actual figures 71,000 * * Repair of roads and bridges in six north townships 20,000 * * Total expenditures $2,000,000 * * Appraised valuation of City of Decatur, January 1, 1912 .... $1,917,450 * ***************** 4-' * * * * ******

Price, Two Cents.

HIS LOVE COOLED , f Now Homer R., the Winona Choirmaster, is Sued for Breach of Promise BY A CHICAGO LASS ** I Who Asks $50,000 for Damaged Heart—Known to Decatur People. Decatur people who spend their summers at Winona Lake, and are acquainted with Homer Rodenheaver, the Winona choir master, will be interested in hearing of the breach of promise suit brought against him by a Chicago lassie. A Chicago dispatch to the Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette says: Homer Rodeheaver, of Winona Lake, Ind., Billy Sunday's choir master, and idol of the feminine converts of the evangelist all over the country, has been sued for $50,000 for breach of promise by Miss Georgia W. Jay, 640". Monroe avenue. ‘ The romance began two years ago at a religious meeting in lowa. The singer met Miss Jay and fell in love at first sight. She came to Chicago following the meeting, and in Tis many visits to this city Rodehaver never missed an opportunity of showering attentions upon her, according to the young woman s bill. “A year ago he made her promise to marry I'. ini and he pressed his Suit so persistently that the young'woman declares she consented. But a montn ago, she says, Homer's feelings changed. His letters did not reach her with the same regularity as of old, and finally there was an end to all correspondence. “Mrs. Jay, the mother, and her son, wrote letters to Rodeheaver, but he replied with a short, unsatisfactory answer, stating that his feelings had changed. The girl was prostrated. She was confined to her bed for weeks and is still in a very weak condition. “When seen last night at her home she said: ‘The whole affair is too serious and I can’t talk. I am ill and this has wrecked my nerves.’ The girl spoke with tears in her eyes. Her mother said: ‘The reason for bringing the suit is that I want to see justice done. My daughter is a good, innocent girl, and I want the man taken to task for such rude treatment.’ “Cyrus Heren, the attorney in the case, stated that suit had been brought by him in the circuit court for $50,000 damages. When questioned about the facts in the case he said: The case comes to me by reconimendation of the firm of Mahian, Mahian & Mahian, of Smith City, Kans. I understand the man promised to marry the girl.’ “Rodeheaver is on a vacation now that the revival meetings of ‘Billy’ Sunday have suspended for the coming months. Service will be made on Rodeheaver within the next few days.” o SERVICES TONIGHT. , ' ' ■ - - * There will be Gertnah services he'd at the Zion Lutheran church at 7:30 o'clock this evening. —o 4 All of the members of the Pocahontas council are requested to attend the meeting this evening. Initiation will be in order.