Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 10, Number 236, Decatur, Adams County, 3 October 1912 — Page 1

Volume X. .Number 236.

WITHOUi WARNING Was Henry Schmidt, Preble Township Pioneer, Stricken Wednesday. FUNERAL ON SUNDAY Stroke of Apoplexy Came at Dinner Table — Lived With Step-daughter. Funeral services for Henry Schmidt, tbe Feeble township pioneer, whose death, as stated in Wednesday evening's paper, occurred Wednesday noon, will be held Sunday morning at 10 o'clock at the Freidheim Lutheran church Mr. Schmidt, who was seventy-sev-1 e n years of age, resided with his step-I uaugnter, Mrs. William Schwartz, and ' death came very unexpectedly from ' .., ~'i-xy, while sitting at the dinner table. The day before, Mr. Schmidt, who was ever active, had insisted on sowing rye, while the others cut corn.

That evening he complained of feel-! fng tired, and the next morning was ' not well, though he was able to be up | and in the morning went out to the 1 mail box for the mail. At noon he | ate with the others, and he and his 1 step-daughter remained longer at the ; table than the others, he reading the j paper. Suddenly he threw up bis bands and gave a cry, and Mrs. - irtz tunning to help him, caught him before he could fall. He was taken to bed, but life became extinct in a few moments. Coroner Grandstaff of Preble was summoned and held an inquest. Mr. Schmidt was nearly a lifedong resident of the community. For six years he served in the army—three years in the regular army, and three years in the civil war. He leaves "ne granddaughter and several step-children. One sister, Mrs. Jacob I Keifer, survives. NELSON STEELE DEATH. Nelson Steele passed away Tuesday ; night at his home on East Central; avenue. His death is ascribed to ’ bronchial pneumonia by the attend ant and that ailment was: complicated and rendered more serf- 1 ons by continuous hemorrhages which he suffered Monday and Tuesday. He . was taken sick last Thursday while j on his way to work and suffered a sc ve*e hemorrhage from the nose and' throat. He recovered and felt very well on Saturday and Sunday. On Monday he took a turn for the worse and sank rapidly until his death. He was unable to lie down because of the danger of suffocation and took his rest tn a chair or lying across a small table. The bleeding continued incessantly Tuesday and ne grew weaker, very rapidly. Mr. Steele had been bothered with nose an<T throat trouble for several years and he and his | wife wore planning to spend the win-' ter in Florida in the hope that the climate might give him relief. He I wag quite ill last winter from the, weakness of the nose and bronchial; •v.-es Millard Nelson Steele was born in Adams county on Februay 13, 1874. the son of David and Mary Steele. The mother is deceased but the father survives and makes his I home at Decatur. Mr. Steele was married October 13, 1898, to Miss Almeda Shim er of Adams county. They moved to Bluffton nine years ago and he has been employed for the past six , years at the Spitler Brothers hard-1 ware store during the successive own-, erships of Cline. Zimmer & Reed. ; Cline & Reed apd Spitler Bros. Mr. : and Mrs. Steele had two children. , The son. Aria, survives. The daugn ter, Ruth, passed away three years; ago. There is also one sister, Miss | Kva titueie, Bremen, Ohio, and three brothers, William Steele. Tuskungen. Ala.; Charles Steele, Decatur, and Walter Steele, Pleasant Mills, Adams j county Mr. Steele was a member of the First M. E. church of this city and the Independent brder of Odd Fellaws. The funeral will be held Friday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the M. E. church In charge of Rev. Jesse B. Young and the Odd Fellows. The in terment will be at Elm Grove cemetery.—Bluffton Banner. • —o — FRED BIMEL DEAD. Fred Himel, aged fifty-three, one of Portland's business men. died Wednesday morning at his home there, from Bright’s disease.

DECATUR DALLY .DEMOCRAT

DAVID BAKER BETTER. David, son of .Mr. and Mrs. John ' Baker, who was badly hurt Sunday, when he was struck by a ball while attending the ball game, is much better. He shows gradual improvement i and his complete recovery is assured. BABE AT KLINK HOME. I A ten-pound girl was born last nignt ! to Mr. and Mrs. William Klink, east of the city. FAMILY REUNION Descendants and Relatives of Daniel Weldy Celebrate 90th Birthday. AT HOME TODAY iOn First Street—WeldyBeery Organization Ef-fected-Memorable Day. The ninetieth birthday anniversary

' of Daniel Weldy was celebrated with I the usual family reunion at the home 'on First street tod?’-. The occasion j will be more memorable, however, be- ' cause of the fact that henceforth both the Weldy and Beery families will . unite, an organization to that effect : having been formed today. Officers were elected as follows: President, Chris Weldy; secretary. Dr. Burt Mangold; treasurer, Dan Beery. Mr. Weldy is one of the oldest pioneers of the county. He was born October 3, 1822, in Fairfield county, Ohio, and came to Kirkland township, Adams county, in 1845. He liver fifty-seven years there, coming to this city in 1900. He served as trustee of Kirkland township fifteen years; justice of the peace, eleven years; county commissioner, six years; and was also I supervisor. At one time he owned 800 acres of land in three townships, and had other large interests. He has been a member of the Odd Fel- ; lows since 1863. Mr. Beery was married to Miss I Elizabeth Beery, and henceforth the ' reunions will include relatives of both : sides of the house. I Os the eleven children born to them i five are living. They are: William ■ and Chris Weldy. Mrs. Noah Mangold, i Mrs. Sarah Fisher of this city; Mrs. ' J. D. Gault, of Peterson. At noon a sumptuous dinner was spread on a long table in the yard, and the afternoon was given over to a program. Rev. and Mrs. G. C. Owen of the Christian church were guests besides the relatives, among them being the following from out of town: Mr. and Mrs. Frank Baker and children, Edna and Harold; Mrs. Pearl Moore and daughter, Mary, of Elkhart; Mrs. P. W. Smith, Richmond; Mr. and Mrs. Ervin Elzey and chil- ' dren, Celina, Ohio; Mr. and Mrs. Os- ■ car Weldy and son, Bryce, Ft. Wayne; i Mr. and Mrs. James Snyder, Bluffton; ' .Joe Grim. Mrs. Marquardt, Miss ; Grimm, Chattanooga, Ohio; Mrs. Jonn ! Grim, Celina, Ohio: Mrs. Fred Bell, i Elwood: Mr. and Mrs. Harry Weldy, Fort Wayne; Mrs. Elmer Weldy, Nappanee; Mr. and Mrs. Elton Rupright and son. James Elton, Ossian. Os Mr. Weldy’s twenty great-grand- * children, the following were present . Elbert and Cathedine Aurand, Mildred and Ward Elzey, Celina, Ohio; Brice Weldy Fort Wayne; Doyle Johnson, , Pearl and Ferd Gault, Peterson: Mary I Moore, Elkhart; Gerald Sheets. after thirty years. Former Adams County People Return for Visit. Mrs W. F. Heckman of Albany, “Oregon, and daughter, Mrs. Stoppenbagen, the latter from Oakland, Cal., have returned to Fort Wayne after I a visit with Charles Heckman, Ferdinand Bleeke and Henry Heckman and their families, and also other relatives. This-Is their first visit here in thirty years. They at that time moved to Illinois and from there to their present homes. Mrs. Heckman is eighty-one years of age and travels with her daughter, her grandson and great-granddaughter, the latter being ten years of age. This week they will go to Michigan, but before leaving for the west, will return here for a final visit. Mrs. Nettie Schrock, who has been j 111 for a week or more, is recovering.

“DECATUR CAN AND WILL”

Decatur, Indiana. Thursday Evening,

TO HAVE TAG DAY Yeung Ladies and Girls Will Sell You Badges Saturday of This Week. FIFTY ARE WANTED Report to Fred Jaebker at Firts National BankHome Week Fund. Next Saturday is to be badge day. How many young ladies and girls will donate that day to the cause? The committees on badges have planned to sell enough badges to patriotic citizens of Decatur to cover the cost of those to ba given to the visitors. They would like to have the services of all the girls and young ladies who will do it. The clerks and the business men of the city have donated cash and services for the various funds to be used for Old Home Week, and now it’s up to the fair sex to prove their loyalty to the good old town. The badges are now in the custody of Fred Jaebker, of the First National bank. Anv young ladies or girls who will assist in selling them should report to him and be ready for work Saturday morning. Won’t you please do it. Let's sell them all that day. It can be done easily if a few of you will get busy. We believe you will, and will aid you all we can. The committee will be disappointed if at least fifty Decatur girls do not accept this opportunity to do something for Old Home Week. Hurry in and give your name to Mr. Jaebker.

HUSBAND S DEATH Occurs by Drovzning While Mrs. Wm. Wietfeldt Visits Near Decatur. AT PARENTS’ HOME Man Well Known Here Drowns on Fishing Trip —Many Relatives Here. Mrs. William Wietfeldt, wife of the prominent Fort Wayne contractor an< builder, who had spent several dcys with her husband's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Wietfeldt, five miles north of this city, on account of the mother's illness, was terribly shocked Wednesday night when she returned home to learn that her husband met death by drowning Wednesday morning at 8 o’clock while on a fishing trip in Steuben county. Christian Hegerfield, a Fort Wayne grocer, who tried to assist Mr. Wietfeld, nearly met a similar fate. Their row boat was overturned in the thannel connecting Laek James and Snow lake, and neither could swim. Mr. Hegedfield was fortunate in obtaining a hold on the stern of the boat, while Mr. Wietfeld was thrown into thirty feet of water. He went down four or five times and finally managed to reach Mr. Hegerfield's side. The latter succeeded in grasping him about the neck and his head above water, but Mr. Wietfeld expired a few minutes later. For more than half an hour Mr. Hegerfeld held the dead man’s head above water, calling for help. A man named Pearson, aged seventy-two years, finally came to the assistance, but was unable to get both men into the boat, and it was necessary for Mr. Hegerfeld to let go the dead body of his friend, which fell to the bottom of the lake and was later recovered with grappling hooks. Mr. Wietfeld was forty-five years of age, and was a son of Henry Wietfeld, who lives in Allen county just across the Adams county, Root township line. He is survived by his wife, who was Miss louise Gallmeyer and five children —Flora, Edna, Theodore, Adelia and Clarence. Ed and Charles Wietfeld and Mrs. Mark Kiefer of this county are his brothers and sister, as are the following: Herman Wietfeldt, 1401 Staphlet street; Mrs. Charles Kanning, 1214 Stophlet street; Mrs. Herman Grote,

Esmond street; Mrs. Mary Grotrain, i South Wayne avenue; Mrs. Henry Lawson, Huron, Ohio. He is also a cousin of Mrs. Bleeke, wife of County Clerk Ferdinand Bleeke, of this city. o WILL SERVE LUNCH. The Concord ladies will serve lunch at noon at the John Evans sale which will be held Thursday, three miles northwest of the city. COURT HOUSE NEWS Guardian Wanted for Mrs.' Susannah Ritter—Jury is Hearing Case. — PROBATE MATTERS Benjamin Smith Qualifies as Administrator of Robert Smith Estate. The case in which John Miller endeavors to have a guardian appointed for his mother-in-law, Mrs. Susannah Ritter, which began trial before Judge Merryman and a jury Wednesday noon, is still in progress. Miller al-1 leges that Mrs. Ritter through old age and infirmity and improvidence, is incapable of managing her own estate, and that he is also of unsound mind. Mrs. Ritter draws a pension of sl2 per month, and is also possess- 1 ed of other means. The jury hearing the case: Julius Kohne, Fred Heckman, Aaron Stevens, David M. Rice, D. F. Fugate, M. Bums, David Stoler, ; William Bleeke, James Brewster, Mar tin Reef, Newton McLain, John D. Stults. Hooper and DeVoss are the plaintiff's attorneys, and Parrish aud i Peterson & Moran the defense’s coun-

sei. In the condemnation case, C. & E. Railroad vs. Rosetta and William Teeple, J. W. Teeple entered appearance for the defendants. Waiver of service of summons. Rule e to answer. E. B. Lenhart commissioner in the quiet title cast of the Decatur First National bank vs. Amy Smith et al., reported deed to court which Special Judge Shafer Peterson approved, and ordered spread of record. Real estate transfers: Ernest Stoppenhagen to John H. Fuelling, 40 acres, Preble tp., SSIOO Ira C. Lybarger et al. to S. W. Hale, 80 acres, Jefferson tp., $8000; Joseph Benz to C. & CONTINUED ON PAGE FOUR ' — —o A BLAZE OF LIGHTS Eight Hundred Feet of Incandescents to be Strung Over Murray Hotel FOR OLD HOME WEEK Special Feature in Decorat ing Also Secured for City Building and Library. Among the business houses in Decatur which will loom up during Old Home Week, adding to the attractiveness of the city, for that occasion, will be the Hotel Murray, which will be a blaze of electric lights. Mr. Murray and City Electrician Mylott went to Fort Wayne Wednesday, where they arranged with the Fort Wayne Electric Works for eight hundred feet of incandescent lights which will bo strung over the hotel building at the corner of Madison and Third streets in such a way’as to make it a most beautiful section of the city. Mr. Mylott also secured a sufficient amount of the lights to properly decorate the city building on Monroe street and the library on Third street. In addition to this a number of extra lights will bo placed over the main portion of the city and this added to the other decorations, will make Decatur a city beautiful for this big week. Seifert Brothers report that they are meeting with splendid success in soliciting and that the town will be well decorated with flags and bunting and streamers.

MR. McLAIN HERE President of the Holland-St. Louis Sugai Co. Visits Plant Here. NOTICE TO FARMERS Begin Pulling Beets Next Week Will be Received at Factory October 10th. Mr. C. M. McLain, president of the Holland-St. Ix>uis Sugar company, with headquarters at Holland, Mich., and factories at Holland and St. Louis 1 and the new on© in Dectltur, was | here Tuesday and Wednesday looking I over the business generally. He was well pleased with the business outlook. The farmers of Adams county are commencing to harvest their beets for the Decatur factory. Next week the laborers will be making the beets fly and they will soon be hauling them to the factory. The sugar company is sending out notices to the farmers that they will commence receiving beets at th© factory on Thursday, October 10th and at the weighing stations on that date or as soon thereafter as the stations can be made ready. Mr. Alois Volter, a sugar expert, from Bohemia, has arrived from his present home in Charlevoix, Mich., and will be employed at the Decatur factory during the campaign. He Is a very interesting gentleman and (Gontmuec. on Page 2) o THE STRAW VOTE

i Cincinnati Enquirer Will Poll Our Readers Before Saturday Evening. • - •• /BLANKS ON FRIDAY i 1 Will be Delivered and Collected by Carriers—You / Should Answer Fairly. — . I For three weeks past a combination of six of tbq largest daily newspapers of the United States nave been con- ' ducting a straw vote campaign with I the idea that they will spend one million dollars to tell the people in advance the result of the November election. The first summary five weeks before election was published last Sunday, showing Wilson and Marshall far in the lead, with Roosevelt second and Taft third. The prediction was that the democratic state ticket in Indiana would be elected and probably all of the thirteen congressmen. They will publish a summary each Sunday, showing any changes. The papers in the league included the Cincinnati Enquirer, Chicago Record-Herald, New York Herald, Boston Globe, and 1 a Denver and San Francisco paper. Under the apportionment, Indiana is i under the Cincinnati Enquirer's juris- | diction, and the poll is being taken by Mr. Tucker, Indiana representative of that paper, who is superintending the Job. He has asked the Daily Democrat to take a poll of the subscribers in this city, and has designated that the same shall be taken by Saturday evening of this week. The blanks have been sent out and the carriers will distribute them Friday evening. The ballots need not be signed, but must be sealed In the envelope which will accompany them and will be collected by the carrier boy on Saturday evening. We hope the readers of the Democrat in Decatur will cast this ballot, that Decatur may show a good ’ vote in the big contest, and that you will be fair, not mis-stating or other- , wise coloring the returns to favor any ' candidate. The result of the vote will be announced in a few days, the bal- ’ lots being sent to Mr. Tucker, who will give out the returns. MISS STONE ILL. Mis Vic Stone was taken ill Wed1 nesday night, necessitating the call I of a physician at 3 o’clock. She is still confined to her bod.

ARE LEARNING. Jim Stoops, a former Adams county sheriff, who is here on a visit and to attend the Old Home Week restivities, has an Interesting exhibit in the form of a newspaper just started at his Sharon, Pa., home, comprising four pages, four columns wide, and about twelve inches long. The copy contained a write-up clipped from The Democrat about Mr. Stoops'” visit here. The name of the sheet is the Sharon News. 0 WAS FOUND DEAD Samuel Railing, a Character About Town, Was Found Dead This Morning. AT HOLTHOUSE BARN Where He Was in the Habit of Staying—Heart Disease the Cause. Sam Railing, a well known character and a veteran of the SpanishAmerican war, who has spent his entire life in this city, was found dead at the Holthouse livery barn by Wash Burrell at 6 o’clock this morning. Railing had been working the last few days at the Enterprise Drug company's store, where the owner of the building was putting some cement work in the cellar, but Wednesday he complained of being sick and his companions at the barn advised him to go to a physician. He failed to go, however, and in the evening the men saw that he was getting worse and they called Night Policeman Melchi with a view of having him taken to the jail and a physician called to attend him. Railing refused to go, however, and remained at the barn. He was given a place to sleep on the second floor and he retired early. At midnight. Dent Spencer, the night bus driver, went upstairs and while there talked with him. About an hour later he called upstairs to Railing, but getting no answer decidel that he was asleep and did not further disturb him. The discovery of his death came this morning at 6 o’clock when Wash Burrell climbed upstairs to perform some of his duties there. He found him lying in a tense rigid attitude, but no evidences of suffering were visible. It is believed he had been dead for several hours. His guardian, Bert Lenhart, was notified, who in turn notified the various relatives and had the body taken to the Gay, Zwick & Myers establishment where it will be prepared for burial. Samuel Railing was born in March of 1862. After growing to manhood he engaged in the general store business in Monmouth, and later married a daughter of Franklin Lord, to which union four children were born. Later, being divorced from the wife, he came to Decatur, where he has since resided. in 1898 he enlisted in the 160th Indiana volunteer infantry and served one year in the Cuban struggle, and was mustered out with the regiment. He has four children: Bertha Herschy, Ft. Jennings, Ohio; Frank Railing of Logansport, and Jesse Railing, who is in the army, and one other. He has a half-sister, Mrs. S. D. Crist, who arrived this morning from Fort Wayne. Coroner Grandstaff was in the city this morning and held an inquest, finding that death was caused from chronic organic heart trouble, with chronic gastritis as a complimentary disease, and that exposure was responsible for some of the causes. No funeral arrangements have as yet been made, although it is believed that burial will 'be made on tbe family lot in the Decatur cemetery. The funeral will be held Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Methodist church. — o— WILSON ARRIVED. (United Press Service) Indianapolis, Ind., Oct. 3—(Special to Daily Democrat)—Governor Wilson arrived here about noon today and proceeded to the National Conservation Congress, and later he, spoke to the large crowd In the Coliseum and at the state fair grounds. Governor Hadley of Missouri will be unable to be here until tomorrow when he will make his first campaign speech.

Price, Two Cents.

K. OF P. REPORTS Show Gains of the Lodge in Indiana During Year Just Passed. TALKS ON DUE PAYING And the Election of the Officers for Coming Year Was Completed. Indianapolis, Ind., Oct. 3—Reports of officers were submitted and routine business transacted at the opening session Tuesday in the Indiana Pythian building of the annual convention of the Indiana Grand Lodge, Knights of Pythias. The report of the grand chancellor, W. P. Hart, said that for the last thirty-four years, the grand domain of Indiana has never failed in any years to increase its membership. The net gain for the year ending June 30, 1912, was 483, and the total membership was 65,387. This, it was explained, was the first time the membership has passed the 65,000 mark. Mr. Hart said also that financially the domain is in splendid condition and is the wealthiest grand domain in the supreme domain. Talks on Due Paying. In touching upon the number of suspensions for non payment of dues, he suggested that when resident members fall behind in their dues they should be persuaded to pay up their dues. He said they should not be permitted to get more than a quarter behind without being urged to pay. Various features of the work of the organization were touched upon by Mr. Hart in his report. The report of the grand master of exchequer on the grand lodge receipts and disbursements for the year ending June 30, 1912, showed total receipts of $40,637.98; disbursements of $37,396.82 and cash in his hands June 30, of $3,251.15. There are two candidates for the position of grand outer guard, the first stepping stone to the highest of fice of the grand lodge, and two candidates for the position of grand lodge trustee. The candidate for grand outer guard are Chas. L. Pulliam of Terre Haute and F. J. Heller of Columbia City and the candidates for the position of grand lodge trustee are the incumbent, H. U. Grant, and Lee Barnett of Danville. Following the usual custom of advancement, other officers will be pro moted as follows: John W. Gaither, New Albany, to grand chancellor; John M. Lewis, Seymour, to grand vice chancellor; Robert A. Brown, Franklin, to grand prelate; Charles F. Remy, Indianapolis, to grand mas-ter-at-arms, and F. A. Priest, Marion, to grand inner guard. o NEW BROTHERHOOD MEMBERS. Ai the first after-vacation meeting of the Methodist Brotherhood held Tuesday evening, the following sixtythree new members were received into the order: Floyd Acker, Russell Acker, Ed Macy, Silas Schroll, William Rm liman, George Handers, John Peterson, E. W. Franck, Dan Myers, Robert Patterson, Charles Brock, Edwin Fledtierjohann, Sol Billman, George B. Cline, Walter Johnson, Sherman Beery, Tom Vail, Rev. Karl Thompson, Morton Stults. Alva Nichols, I). M. Hower, J. M. Rice, Will Butler, Edward Auk, M. F. Hay, J. Wade, E. A. Beavers, O. C. Fink, John C. Houk, Chester V. Imler, I. V. Stoneburner, Arthur Ford, Thomas W. Andrews, Will D. Drummond. Ervin H. Case, Silas Whitman, H. C. Merry, Herman H. Baker, Frank Krick, Robert Case, L. A. Graham, Frank Parrish, Miles Roop, Dan Vail, Hershel Reynolds, Burt Hunsicker, Virgil Krick, John Stewart, Harve Elzey, Earl Robison, Ferdinand Nichols, Harry Jeffries, Forrest Elzey, Frank Chronister, Forest Vail, Fred Blosser, Dan Tyndall. David Hunclcker, W. B. Teeple, John Brothers, George Teeple. ■ — 1 " O" ■ A CHICKEN DINNER. At the called meeting of th© Women's Relief Corps, it was decided not to have a pastry sale, but to serve a chicken dinner Thursday of Old Home Week. This will be given at the G A R. hall and the public is cordially invited. Price, 25c.