Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 27, Number 139, Decatur, Adams County, 11 June 1929 — Page 3

Adams County, Way Back WhenBefore 1890 Up The Interesting History Os The County By French Quinn,

First Train In Decatur Put hearts were fine and tender an( | good will wafted itself from home to home and lovers loved and families worshiped and the birds sang and the sun shone. And when the rQilroad was completed and the first train came in, but here is the story: The first train entering into Decatur _ Wonderful incident — Epochal marV el _ Magnificent achievement— Please do not laugh, it is and was no laughing matter. A real train, led hy a real steam engine and a wood cars, each at least twenty feet long burner to boot, by gosh. Seven flat and at their tail a caboose—a red caboose and mark the engine, marvel of marvels, one and a half times larger than a Ford touring car, with a smoke stack bellowing out ballonIcally and with a fire box guaranteed to take in regular cord wood of six feet of a lengthness. A fire box with an insatiatiable appetite, yet with epicurean tastes, preferring walnut, quarter sawed oak and axe handle hickory, disdaining anything less costly. Perched precariously about that engine was a chaffeur of pioneer mien and a mechanician with splinters in his hands. In she came with flats and red caboose following obediently behind albeit all a little wobbly, and with a squeak of grinding brakes applied by sturdy muscled lads, both fore and aft, the behemoth parked according to regulations at the farthest north of the rails, seventy miles from Richmond and with Winchester more than twenty miles away. This all happened one sunny day in the year of Our Lord, 1871. For months and mon tins and months the great day had been looked forward to. Slowly and with everlasting hardship and two shining strips of iron (not steel) had crept their sinuous way across hill and dale, across clay and muck, across the dreaded Limberlost, and now, praise be, had reached Decatur, as far as Madison street, and the populace was shouting. Folks had reason to shout. The Cincinnati, Richmond and Ft. Wayne railroad to run from Richmond to Ft. Wayne “wae somje! undertaking. Money? O boy, money was scarce. Uncle William Parry of Richmond was a wonderful old Quaker gentleman and by the same token was a game old sport. W’as not afraid to boost. Was not afraid to “hitch his wagon to a star.” Not he, and he was the backbone. I reckon you might say, of the whole project, and his enthusiasm) and tremendous energy put the forwarding looking lads all along the line to work and a like crowd of boosters, workers and spenders has been rarely seen in old Indiana. Money? You bet they had. to have money. Uncle Parry knew how to ask for money. He and his compatriots had the everlasting nerve to ask poor little old Adams county of the year 1870 to dig down and put the awful sum (awful is right) of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars into the pot and take therefor a little bunch of steel engraved stock certificates, that now, alas, repoee dustfully in the archives of the county court house at Decatur, with none so poor as to do them reverence. Adams county never got a cent of that money back but she got the first train and many trains thereafter and a bully chance to shout on that lovely day of ’7l. For nearly two weeks word had been passed around that soon or sooner that grand entry would be made. Some excitement? Some anticipation? You better believe there was. Now suppose for instance; you and yours were a family in habitation seven and a quarter miles due east by nor’ east from Decatur. Between you and said town was a clearing called by courtesy a highway, macadamized with mud eleven feet deep. You and the wife and the kids only Rot to town on the 4th of July and at tax paying time and your nearest neighbor lived in the next township. You were perfectly aware of what *as going to happen as regards that railroad and its rolling wonders. Had you not been notified that you had in a highfalutin’ way voted against yourself a yearly tax for said railroad that would take all the cows and shoata you could raise in a generation *o Pay for? So, we say, you would be aware of what was going to happen and feeling that you were interested toth financially and morally, you would just naturally have a fever. All right. Word would come in the "'ay word used to come before they had telephones, that on a certain day after breakfast the too-too would ‘oot for the Madison street crossing. What would you and yours have done? It is to be presumed that you would Ref up before the rooster had batted an eye lid and do the chores and rustle the corn pone and the sowbelly and hitfch up Buck and Berry to 'be chariot and the whole darn famy would be on their way. Well, that

is what they did. Others did the very same thing. It Is to be remembered that there were gentlemen then living in the environs of our county seat who had whiskers that had to be braided liefore they could climb a fence, who had never seen a locomotive, let aone a red caboose. It is also to be remembered that there were public officials at that time who also had never seen the monsters — even though they had been to Monroeville, where the Pittsburgh railroad was—because whiskey was 120 proof in Monroeville those days and it was a long time between trains. All right. Picture to yourself the scene. Locomotive snorting and smoking, flat cars wobbling, red caboose bobbing, train men tableuing, populace staring. An old friend of mine, who has lived in Decatur for about forever said to me "Did you ever hear of the time the old gentleman Parry and Judge Studabaker went to New York to see Jay Gould’” “Sure I heard the story” says I, “but got ahead and tell it to me again.” ‘‘Well,’ says he, “you see this is how it was: Mister Parry was a Quaker, only about five feet four and as wide as a tub, always wore a Prince Albert coat and a huge flat topped broad brimmed beaver hat, which was odd enough when attached to him, and he had a voice like a fog horn and a. grip like a stevedore, i Well, he and the Judge had had writings with Jay Gould with the idea in mind of having Jay take a goodly bunch of the railroad’s bonds and it might be said that at that time they had not the slightest intention of making Jay a present of the capital stock of the railroad, they not knowing Jay very well, and so at last they got an appointment to meet Jay in New Y'ork to complete the deal. The Judge liought a new plug hat and the old gentleman Parry wore his beaver and away they went. “In a couple of weeks they got to New York along before supper sometime and the Judge says to Uncle William that now we can get a good rest and be fresh to see Gould bright and early in the morning. ‘Nay, friend David,’ said Uncle Parry, “not ! so, thee and me shall see Jay this very night,’ says he. They voted aye and no, but Uncle Parry had the strongest voice. They registered at the best tavern in town and had a supper of good things to eat of whatever it was they had to eat those days, but both being teetotalers they simply ‘et’ as one might say. "After this duty had been performed, Uncle Parry approached the desk of the host and says he, ‘Can thee tell me where I can find Jay Gould, we have important business with him?’ ‘Cerftiinly.’ says mine host.the landlord. ‘Mr. Gould is on the fourth and top floor attending a ball. Mrs. Gould abetted by her husband are entertaining a couple hundred elite with a considerable sprinkling of prospective railroad stockholders.’ ‘Thank thee, my friend,’ said Uncle j Parry and with a ‘follow thou me, I David’, marched sturdily up the four flights of stairs, Studabaker following hesitatingly. “All was gayiety on the party floor. Fine gentlemen and finer ladies In their gladdest 1870 glad rags were terpsichoring. Still sturdily, this wonderful little old Quaker strode into the almost center of the ball room, the Judge halting at the doorway. All astonished eyes were on that queer old figure, sensing his sterling worth and the naive cimplicity of a child—as he peered from one to another, with his broad brimmed beaver on, mind you - Quakers did not remove their hat within doors, you know and from that great chest came the thundering request for information that shook the candles out of. the chandelers, ‘ls Jay Gould in Here? Quickly from among the throng a little grey beared man stepped forward and with kindly courtesy sa d "That is my name.’ ‘I am glad ° meet thee, friend Jay,’ said Uncle William grabbing Gould’s hand in a mighty clasp that made Gould Triend Studabaker and I have come to' see thee and we have little time to waste, hast thou leisure now? If. the ladies and gentlemen will excuse me I have,’ answered Gould and th y having smilingly assented the great railroad magnate and the gm e °hl Quaker and his friend walked off together for an half hou rconfab that was resumed the next morning to a satisfactory ending". mnn „v Yes. Uncle Parry got the mone and the Pennsylvania railroad company ultimately got the railroad, but that is another story. Well, anyway, that was a great day in Decatur. There was hardly a dry Se in town. For that matter there w’as hardly a dry whisker. A goodly number of kegs of nails were opened „p A good time was had by all. Th own marshal called a moratorium fo> IhZ day. The evening shadows cam ■a last and Pa and Ma and tnei. brood hitched Buc k and Berry into their wooden harness and twas the

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT TUESDAY, JUNE 11, 1929.

end of a perfect day. So progress makes her mighty sweep. The marvel becomes the commonplace. The ambitions of men are never stilled. It seems to me, we can well afford to halt In our mad impetuos rush and tip oiy hut to the memory of Uncle William and our own brave boys of Adams county, who were not afraid to do and vote and pay. BERNENEWS Mr. and Mrs. Martin Lehman and little daughter Willadean, of Toledo, Ohio, spent the week visiting relatives and also attended the funeral of Arch Beerbower, at Geneva, Wednesday. Mr. and Mrs. Alva Llby, of Daytona Beach, Flu., visited with the former’s mother, Mrs. Malena Llby, here Thursday. Rev. and Mrs. Norman Hirschy and family, of Svans City, Pennsylvania, are visiting relatives here since Monday. They expect to return to their home next Wednesday. Mrs. Adam Bixler and Miss Thelma Agler were callers at Fort Wayne Saturday. Miss Pearl Nichols, and her mother, Mrs. Emma Nichols, Mrs. Mary Rich, Miss Salome Yoder, and J. J. Yoder were at Leo, on Wednesday, where they attended the funeral of their cousin, Miss Ruth Miller, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs )Anthon Miller. Miss

Underhand Tactics .... | and unfair practices, set in motion by envious interests, crumble to pieces before our records which show that 20,679# I physicians say Luckies are less irritating than other cigarettes. They know that toasting eliminates acrids and other impurities. So physicians not only smoke Luckies to relieve the strain of professional duties—they recommend them to their patients. I /7 I J #Thc figures quoted (SIGNED) / / J »a have been checked j X bls and certified to by Jy ..fl® LYBRAND, ROSS BROS. AND MONTCOMERY, Accoun. *lX7* F Present, tuuU and Auditors* g f The American Tobacco Company, Incorporated © 1929, The American Tobacco Co., Manufacturers “It’s toasted” j No Throat Irritation-Z No Cough. | /I I TAe T.urltv Strike Dnneo I Orrheatra will continue evury ,cSaturday nif{ht in a couat to S A z •**•’* • Coat! radio hook-up over the X.< xX ‘ s *•>•**' 2V. b. C. network. g : $ XXXfZ’Z-'X:-’-:x It WfjBSHj slender figure, no <me can \ w’- ’ deny the truth ZZ of the advice: vA s£* "REACH FOR W'll A LUCKY INSTEAD OF X I A SWEET.” I - ——— — s i'll — s J ■'A I I litl xh fphiti \lhl<li<-

Miller died fnliowlng nn operation for caueer. Mra. Henry Bergatedt, of Fort Wayne, returned to her home Thursday after visiting lit the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Gllllom since lust Sunday. Mr. and Mrs. Franklin Sprunger and children/ motored to Indianapolis Thuisduy. Paul Speicher left for Chicago, Friday, where he will spend a few days ut the home of his couslna. Captain and Mrs. I. A. Hirschy. Miss Pearl Nichols, Mrs. Emmn Nichols Mr, mitt Mrs. Marcus Sprunger and daughters Marcella and Eileen visited over the week-end ut Burr Oak, Michigan, with Mr. and Mrs. Peter Eicher and family. Mr. and Mrs. Clark Smith and son Vernon, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Pittit, Miss Viola Burry and Oscar Burry, all of Fort Wayne, visited with their sister and daughter, Miss Barbara Burry, here Saturday and Sunday. The Intermediate Girl's and Pxiy’s choruses of the Mennonlte church gave a sacred program at the First Evangelical church at Fort Wayne, Sunday evening. Mr. and Mrs. Frank Amstutz and daughters, Lucille, Agnes and Anna Marie attended the Baccalaureate services of the South Side high school graduating class at Fort Wayne, Sunday evening. 4 Ivan Sprunger, student at Indiana University, arrived here Wednesday night to spend his summer vacation at the home of his parents, Mr. and

Mrs. Oswln Sprunger. Clinton H Sprunger and Miss Mild- i red l/*nz, of Fort Wayne, attended the band concert here, given by the NewsSentinel Boy’s Band, Thursday even I Ing, Mr. and Mrs Enos D. Lehman and son Robert and daughter, Rosemary of Fort Wayne vlslte dover the week-end | with their mother, Mrs Ellen Hocker. ( The Women’s Missionary Society of | the Mennonlte church held their an-: nual all day quilting bee nt the church.] Thursday. Mori 1 than fifty quilts and | comforters were finished Misses Flora Egle and Olive Winter egg spent the week-end visiting I friends at Fori Wayne. Mr. and Mrs. Landes. Mrs. Abraham] Amstutz, and Mrs. Dim Zaiercher visit ed relatives nt Fort Wayne Saturday and Sunday. The Misses Rachel, Bertha and Elma Moser, evangelistic singers, visit- i ed at the home gs their parents, Mr. ] and Mrs. Dan Moser, a tew days last • week. They left Friday for Illinois, i where they will assist Rev Gaddis in a series.of meetings. Mr. and Mrs. Herman Schumacher | and Fred Hilty, of Pandora. Ohio, called on friends here Friday. Rev. and Mrs. ,1. H. Arndt and I daughters Jean and Dorothy, of Fort Wayne, visited friends here Friday. I The Crescent Avenue church orches- 1 tra of Fort Wayne airived in the evening and gave a very pleasing concert at the local Evangelical Church. Rev. Arndt is pastor of the Crescent Avenue church of Fort Wayne.

The Misses Martha and Leona Depp and Edith Mettler motored to Fort Wayne, Sunday, where they were joined by Miss Agn>-s Mettler, student at the Lutheran Hspital, on a day’s outing at Long Lake Miss Helen Burkhalter returned'

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Sunday from Pandora, Ohio, where she had vlulted friends several day*. i ■■ H—■O"" The Luckey family reunion will be held ut Berne next Sunday and a splendid program has been arranged. ' Get the Habit—Trade at Home. It Pays