Decatur Democrat, Volume 40, Number 24, Decatur, Adams County, 27 August 1896 — Page 1

The Decatur Democrat

VOLUME XL.

Elta Watson of Geneva, was in town yesterday. Willie Phillips is visiting relatives and friends at Wabash, lud. A. P. Beatty was looking after telephone service at Geneva yesterday. The W. "C. T. U. will meet with Mrs. Allegar next Saturday Aug. 29, at 2:30 p. m. » Wm. Reppert of French township was seriously kicked by a horse last Sunday. The Daily Democrat will re-ap-pear Saturday evening. Now is the time to subscribe. The new stock of goods is being put in the Case business room, and will be opened to the public September 1. A picnic one-half mile north ot Preble in Grote’s grove will be the attraction for next Sunday. Everybody invited. One more marriage license issued since last week, and that one was taken by Peter E. Amspaugh and Julia Archbold. Lightging struck the house of Edwin France in St. Marys town snip last Saturday night and damaged it to the extent of SIOO. Robert S. Peterson is a special judge appointed to try the Brown vs Gemmel seduction case, now under headway at the circuit court room. D’French Quinn since his return from the north, has employed all the small boys in the city to dig fishworms. French has taken a contract to supply northern fishermen. The circuit court Monday gave Amanda Ritter a decree of divorce from David Ritter. It was also decreed that the plaintiff recover from the defendant, all cost neces sarily expended. Simon Bowuan of Peterson, came in Monday morning and renewed his allegience to The Democrat ...bya renewal of subscription. He reports typhoid fever raging to some extent in his Reality. Joseph Mcßarnes desires to return his sincere thanks to the friends and neighbors who during the long, lingering illness of his departed wife, were so helpful and kind. May they ever find friends as true. Gideon Brown, an old settler of French township, died last Tuesday morning of typhiod fever. The deceased was about sixty-eight years of age and well known. His remains will be interred in Mt. Zion cemetery. A. 0. Bogarhes gave an exhibi tion of fancy shooting across the river Wednesday afternoon. In the evening he entertained the crowd on Court street with a free silver speech and sold a few receipt books between times. Three classes of the M. E. Sunday school, accompanied by their teachers, Misses Shackley, Hower and Helm, held a picnic in Zimmerman’s grove Wednesday afternoon. They were loaded down with picnic requisites and of course had a good time. Friday evening an alarm of fire was turned in from Sprague’s barber shop on Monroe St. The fire department made a fine run and soon had the fire under control. The contents of the building were saved, and the building itself can easily be repaired—-with a new one. Here is a problem: A farmer and his wife owned a hog and they wanted to weigh it. The man weighed 100 pounds and his wife 135 pounds. They put a board across the fence so that when they sat upon the end it exactly balanced. They then changed places his wife taking the pig in her lap, just balancing the board again. What was the weight of the porker! W. B. Sinclair of Knox, the democratic condidate for state superintendent, was a visitor to our city and county institute Thursday afternoon and Friday forenoon. He says he has visited about twen ty counties and finds the double standard sentiment gaining ground • as reported by local leaders. Mr. Sinclair has been county superintendendent of Starke county for eleven years, was two years a student in the Cook County Normal at Chicago, holds a life license to teach in Indiana, is a graduate and post graduate of the Northern Indiana Normaltand if elected will fill the oilice with dignity and efficiency.

Place your ad in the Daily Democrat. it will pay. David Werling the Preble manufacturer, was iu town Tuesday on business. Ike Rosenthal has added a stock of boots and shoes to his already large stock of clothing. Miss Overmeyer of Muncie, who had been visiting the Misses Mangold returned home Monday. Mrs. Joshua Bright, wife of extrustee Bright, of Kirkland township, is seriously ill with typhoid fever. J. W. Place was looking after business interests at Mansfield and other Ohio points, the fore part of the week. John T. Kelley was here from Geneva the first of the week, looking after an estate in which he is interested. Miss Edith P. Fulk, of South Bend, who has been spending the past five weeks in Decatur and vicinity returned home today. Quite a number of telephones were burned out during the electrical storm Saturday night. Outside of this no damage was done. The storm of Saturday night started the St. Marys on a rampage, and a few more hours of rain would have given us a Hood as is a Hood. Contractors have begun laying brick in the alleys between First and Third streets and they will be hurriedly pushed to completion, weather permitting, of course. Regular preaching services at the Christianchurch Sunday morning. In the evening the C. E. society of the church will hold a rally at which a program will be rendered by the members. Miss Minnie Christen and pupils will give a musicale at the Concord church, one mile west of Monmouth on Friday evening, September 4th. An admission of five and ten cents will be charged. Everybody cordially invited. Samuel W. Evans, under a two years sentence to the prison north for forgery, was officially notified today. He will in all probability not issue a letter of acceptance, as the sentence was forced upon him and he was obliged to accept. Bogardus accomplished the diffi ■ cult feat last Wednesday, of shoot ing at an object 25 times in 8J seconds and striking the object each time. Don’t “sass” him or he will make you think you have run up against a regiment of soldiers. E. S. Christen has resigned his position as a teacher in the high school in this city, and accepted the principalship of the Geneva schools. He is a good teacher and a fine scholar, and the schools . there will be greatly benefitted by his connection therewith. S. O. Irvin of Winchester, came up Tuesday bringing with him a a handsome Star piano which he very graciously presented to his grand-children, Fred and Maria Patterson. The instrument is a fine one and the gift one that will be cherished by the recipients. Dining the terrific storm last Saturday morning lightning struck the residence and home of Jacob Scheer of Geneva. One end of the house was almost entirely obliterated, and the entire house badly damaged. The and ceilings were all badly wrecked. No one was hurt. Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Bailey left for the east last Monday night to buy their fall and winter stock of millinery, which they claim will be the most complete ever brought to the city. Before returning they will rusticate at Chautauque Lake a few days, and take in the Cleveland Centennial on their way back. Watch for their ad. Surveyor Fulk and viewers Shepherd and Miller have submitted their gravel road report, and, it is a knock-out to all kickers of improvement. The proposed improvement is 59,680 feet in length, i same to be a fourteen foot grade of gravel to a depth of fourteen inches in the center and seven inches at the edges. Said improvement to cost $40,037 wheij completed and ten years to pay for it. The above estimates are made from gravel pits already in operation as they have been booked before making their report. With a valuation of $3,063,917 which makes a rate of $1.30 for every SI,OOO of a taxpayers valuation for one year.

DECATUR, INDIANA, THURSDAY, AUGUST 27. 1896.

Bob Gregory went to Springfield, Ohio, Saturday. Miss Julia Michoof Fort Wayne, is visiting in the city with Miss Minnie Rolver. A. Holthouse, the boot andshoer, has a few remarks in this issue which he invites you to inspect. Jacob C. Miller and wife left yesterday for an extended visit at Rochester, New York, where relatives reside. D’French Quinn after an absence of three weeks at Bay View, Mich., is again at his post of duty in the Old Adams County Bank. Fisher & Frisinger shipped forty head of horses to the “fatherland” Tuesday morning. John Frisinger and son accompanied them across the pond. Theodore Gist, John T. Brush of the “When,” and attornies Hawkins & Smith all of Indianapolis, were here Monday looking after matters of interest in court. Regular service at the M. E, church next Sunday. Preaching morning and evening by Rev. J. W. Osborn, a student of De Pauw University, at Greencastle, Ind. All are cordially invited. Marshal Barnes brought Elmer Burkett here from Geneva Saturday and turned him over to the safe ke. ping of Sheriff Ashbaucher. A charge of general cussedness and plain drunk is registered against him. John C. Frank of Blue Creek, was in town Monday and took time to look at our combination of offices, and wish us glittering success. He also informed us of the serious illness of James Furguson a native of that township. W. A. Kuebler returned from New York last Sunday where he had been laying iu a stock of dry goods for the Boston Store. Will is quite a base ballist too, and says he saw some good games while away. He will spend his spare moments telling ho w’t was. The Wells Fargo Express Co., have added a much needed im provment to their agency in this city. A new delivery wagon was sent here yesterday to make things convenient. Hereafter they will call for and deliver all packages from a Mexican dollar to a white elephant. Agent Moses is the driver. Bert Lichtenwaiter, thetonsorial artist, formerly located in this city, has formed a partnership with a Mr. Rice, of Fort Wayne, and after September Ist will be at home to his many friends at the corner of Wayne and Calhoun Sts. His many friends in this city are glad to hear that he is succeeding successfully. Jubilee and opening day will take place at the United Brethern church August 29th and 30th. The opening services begin Saturday afternoon at half past two, continuing that night and Sunday. Sunday-Schoo l in the morning and old people’s meeting in the afternoon. Revs. Couselor, W. Z. Roberts of Ossian, D. J. Schenk of Pleasant Mills, and L. T. Johnson of Tocsin, will be present. Monroe was well represented at the Bobo parsonage last Tuesday evening. Z. O’. Lewellen and wife, James Hendricks and wife, Wm. Graham .-and wife, Henry Langhof and wife, John Hendricks and wife, Mrs, Rosa Hendricks and Miss Maggie Johnson concluded the party. They brought provisions for a bountiful supper. As ter supper ice cream and cake were served. A very enjoyable evening was spent. The pastor and wife were delighted with the visit. Dr. Joseph W. Stoneburner through his attornies Jesse LaFollette and Mann & Beatty, seeks a divorce from his wife Abbie E. Stoneburner. The complaint as filed shows them to have been married April 22,1888, and lived together as husband and wife until June 8, this year. One week after their marriage the defendant is ac cased of becoming very angry at plaintiff, and refused to speak to or converse with him. That same fall she again became angry and refused to converse with the plaintiff for a week. These same instances occurred at divers times after this date. The defendant is also accused of being uncleanly, and offensive to plaintiff, causing him unhappiness and anguish of mind.

The Boston’s are with you with J a change of advertisement. Post up on bargains. Mbs Effie Bottenberg went to Angola, Ind., Monday afternoon to take charge of her work in the college at that place. The postoffice reports unclaimed letters belonging to A. W. Bailey, E. F. Hellworth, Fred Hilpert, Mrs. Lucy Miller and F. S. Miller. Rev. Engleman of Auburn, Ind., occupied the pulpit at the German Reform church in this city last Sunday, during the absence of Rev. Vitz. Lover Miller and wife are moving to Bluffton, which will make it more convenient for the former, who is holding down a Chicago & Erie position at Kingsland. Dr. Grandstaff of Monmouth, is entitled to the belt. He favored this office with a cluster of apples that nearly filled a bushel basket, and there was only three of them at that. They are surelf beauties. The southbound flier on the G. R. & I. collided with a cow near Hoagland last Sunday morning. The only damage done was to the cow. She has not been able to give her usual supply of milk since that time. The residence of Joseph Albersou of Hartford township, was struck by lightning Saturday night, and almost entirely demoralized, the plastering wrecked, besides being otherwise damaged. It will take a S2OO saw buck to settle the damage. Joseph Wilson, the well known manager of the City Dairy, desires us to thank his many friends for their kind patronage in the past. He will quit the dairy business for the present. On September 5, a sale of stock and other personal property will be held at his home, just east of the city. Real estate mortgages recorded since October 5 last, aggregates $243,785, school fund mortgages "$971H1, chattelmbrtgagess236,99r, mechanic’s liens $2,191, making a total of $492,148. This is somewhat large for the short space of time involved, and sfipws to an extent the condition our people are in today. • We have just received a copy of “The life and speeches of Bryan and Sewall,” from the publishers, J. S. Ogilvie Publishing Co., 57 Rise street, New York. It is an interesting book and should be in the possession of all who should like to know of these two candi dates. The price of the book iff twenty-five cents for paper cover, and $1 for cloth binding.

Viewers Miller and Shepherd were in the city the first of the week finishing their final estimate of the proposed Decatur and Bluffton gravel road. The total valuation of the property included amounts to $3,064,915. The view ers at a high estimate figure the road at $4,672 a mile or $56,064 for the entire road. This will make the taxation for the road SI.BO on the SIOO valuation. It is our earnest and humble opinion that if each and every taxpayer would rely upon his own brain and pencil and seek knowl edge from a valuable source there wmild be far less objections to making of good roads. Our sister county in 1892 had thirteen gravel roads iu process of construction and yet she is not banksnpt, and we dare say that the worst kicker then if now made known of the fact that the improvement would be removed would immediately appear upon the scene with the same blood in his eye. The Knights of Pythias and their ladies of this city who went to Markle last Thursday, to attend the picnic which whs to have been held by the lodges of Huntington, Markle and Bluffton, were gloriously imposed upon. The entire arrangement was made by the Bluffton Knights who first proposed the picnic and then, when the date was set wrote to this city that they would be there. Thursday not a Blufftonite showed up at the picnic, and when a telephone message was sent to Bluffton to learn the reason for this failure to attend, the Bluffton fellows had the nerve to say that they had never heard anything about the picnic. The Huntington and Markle people enjoyed themselves just as well without the others. —Huntington News.

Frank M. Schirmeyer was a visitor at the state capitol yesterday. 1 Peter Holthouse visited at Gene-1 vathis week, combining bussiness j with pleasure. Anson Vancamp was at Fort Wayne yesterday, looking after the finishing touches which he is putting on a flouring mill. The Christian Endeavor Societies of the Christian church will have | a rally at the church next Sunday evening at half past seven. Everybody invited. • Th« heavy rain storm on Saturday morning greatly reduced the attendance at Rome City of Decatur excursionists. General Gordon was in attendance all the some. We are promised an early opportunity to hear him in our locality again. A picnic in Fred Blakej’s grove in Union township, last Sunday, was the means of collecting together a large assemblage of people there. Revs. Lankenaur of New Orleans, and Price of Friedhain, preached two excellent sermons.' The day was a thoroughly enjoyable one. Forty-nine tickets were sold at the Grand Rapids station inflhis city for the Rome City excursion last Saturday. The number who attended is perhaps less than anticipated, but those who failed to go, misled a good thing. Gordon’s lecture there was one of the noblest and most able efforts of his life. A birthday surprise was perpetrated on Frank Davis of St. Marys township last Monday evening. Himself and wife came to town in the afternoon and when they returned their home was in the hands of the enemy. From fifty to seventy-five of their friends gathered in and enjoyed the hospitality of Mr. and Mrs. Davis. John F. LaFollette, of Portland, has received his commission giving him the authority to exercise the right to command over the Third Regiment, Patriarchs Militaint, L O. O.Jf. of the state of Indiana. The Third is made up of the cantons at Anderson, Hartford City, Montpelier, Winchester and Muncie and is one of the fine regiments of the state. Mr. LaFollette is a hard and enthusiastic worker in the lodge.—Montpelier Herald. Decatur continues to improve despite the fact that silver dollars are only worth fifty cents —according to republican theory. The new houses being built by Jno. S. Bowers, W. A. Kuebler and Fred Shaffer are almost ready for occupancy-. The annex to the M. E church is getting up in the world, the First Ward school building is “gettiu’ that” and the finishing touches are being put on the new business block built by Judge Studabaker on South Main St. The old settlers of Adams county will hold their annual picnic in Washington Kern’s grove, three j and a half miles east of this city on Thursday, September 10. Th is is a grand event for the old gray haired pioneers who came here when the county was a naked infant, nursed it through all those trying times and made it the“capital prize of beatuy u comfort and happiness that it now enjoys, Next to the old soldier who risked his life and health for the preservation of this banded union, comes the aged pioneer, who stood the trials and tribulations of the early day. It has come to our notice that a great many taxpayers have been lulled to sleep by the calamity howlers and prophets of bankruptcy. If only our taxpayers would inquire into the real truth of the value of improved roads and get a copy of the late enactment of our State Legislature which can be had for the asking, at the auditor or surveyors office and post themselves as to real facts and not. lend an ear to every current report in circulation, there would not be the hesitation and unsteady effort as has been in the past. Taxpayers do not need to pay their assessments in cash as many suppose. The statute provides for the special interests of the immediate taxpayer. It requires the contractor to employ those interested in the im provement in preference to foreign labor. A taxpayer worth $5,000 in valuation pays then $65.00 in ten years or $6.50 per year. How long will it take him to haul it out ? Some say how can the poor pay out ? If a man is poor he pays little*or nothing according to his valuation as any other taxpayer.

The already handsome home of I Dr. Devilbiss is being beautified I with an addition and several other noticeable improvements. Tim Corbett has opened a cigar factory in the room over Nachtrieb’s drug store. Tim will manufacture first-class goods, and will undoubtedly do a nice business. If our city had an opera house her people could *hear General Gordon in Decatur within the next winter. Portland gets the plum, as she will continue to do, so long as theie is no more interest manifested in the public welfare of Decatur, Dusty Rhodes, the tramp charged with shooting Dan Haley during the outbreak of “knights of the road,” near the C. & E. bridge last spring, was acquitted by a jury last Friday. Immediately upon his release he left to join his side partners Weary Wraggles and Hungry Hawkins. — Attorneys Taylor, LaFollette, Williamson, Headington of Portland, Hindman of Hartford City, and Templar of Muncie, together with France & Merryman and R. K. Erwin of this city, are some of the legal lights engaged in contesting the Brown vs Gemmell seduction case. Looks very much like a fight to the the finish. Mary E. Gross by her attorney Lew Devoss, files an application for divorce from Jacob J. Gross. The filed complaint states that their marriage took place on January 31, 1895, and lived together until March 6, 1896, a period of some twelve and a half months. The defendant is accused of cruel and inhuman treatment. All she wants is a divorce. Geneva, Adams county and Deerfield. Randolph county, can • each lay claim to having for a resident one of the oldest twins in the laud. Their names are John and Richard McGriff—the former 1 living at Geneva and the latter at Deerfield. They were born iu Darke Ohio, August 31, 1804, and if they live- until the last day of the present month will be ninetyi two years of age. Their parents died at the age of seventy-five and 5 these aged twins are yet hale and ’ hearty—both physically and men--1 tally.—Portland Sun. The circuit court has been busy ; since our last issue. Dusty Roads, 1 true name unknown, wa j acquitted of trying to kill Dan Haley. The case against John Colchin was continued, the defendant giving bond in the sum of SSO. Rosa Brown is given a decree of divorce from John Brown, with t. e custody of their one child. The case of Hattie McAfee against the city of Bluffton was continued. Amanda Ritter given a divorce from David Ritter. D. M. Osborne & Co. given a judgment for sl§s against Charles M. King. For the past few days the dirty Brown vs Gemmell seduction suit has been ou tapis. The viewers and engineer ou the proposed Decatur and Bluffton gravel road, have given us a few ■h go res, showing the cost of the -- road. The hauling of thefirst four and one-fourth miles from Maplewood to Peterson is estimated at sixty-six and tw .-thirds cents a ■ yard or $1,600 a mile, gravel at fifteen cents a yard or 8360 a mile, stripping and spreading of gravel $260 a mile, bridges and grading S3OO a mile, which totalizes $3,520 a mile or $10,710 for the four and one-fourth—miles. The four miles from Peterson to J. D. Hoffman’s sc 00l house is estimated at eighty cents per yard for hauling, or $1,920 a mile, gravel $360, loading stripping and sprtading gravel $260, bridges and grading S3OO, making a total of $2,840 a mile or $11,360 for the four miles. The three miles from J. D. Hoffman’s to the Wells county line is figured at $1 per yard for hauling the gravel, or $2,400 for the mile, gravel $360, loading, spreading and stripping $260, bridges and grading S3OO, making a total of $3,320 per mile or $9,960 for the three miles. Th : s will make the total cost of the road including interest ou bonds, $40,037.50’ The total valuation of property to be - assessed in Kirkland township is $511,745, Washington $1,066,345, Decatur $1,485,825, making a total of $3,063,915. The per cent, of valuation is $1.30 on the SIOO, ’ or thirteen cents per year valua- '' tion. For instancy if your valua- • Hon is SI,OOO, you would pay for < i the rpad sl3 or $1.30 a year. Who can do without it?

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