Decatur Democrat, Volume 40, Number 52, Decatur, Adams County, 11 March 1897 — Page 1

s 7 / The Decatur’ Democrat. * ' MU' 'W' ■ ‘ I

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yfiditor JrfJ'an, of Geneva /erald, yas in town yesterday 1 ifternoory t p Treasurer Bolds was wrestling prith a Wd case of lagrippe the first ] L<jf the/reek { Viewers W H. Shepherd, John and Henry Morrow were I hen) the first of the week making < their final report upon the Malinda i Shoemaker ditch. M. V. B. Archbold ent south to Portland, Winchester and Piqna I on business of interest to the book firm of Arqhbohl & Haugh. The < firm aie still doing/ a mighty fine business. Unclaimed left is are reported by the postmaster p belonging to .Anna Hutcher, Sylvester Peas. J. D. Davids, H. DiJjs, .Mary Willes, Charles Willhit J and Walter Hutchin. I Born to Mr. /nd Mrs. Nelson Tyndall of Blue Creek township, on M -nday mdrn/ng, a seven and a half pound gi i. Mother and child are doing well Nelson says McKinley is no place. J i Lookup the large page advertisement of Ili Franklin, who will open the new, department store next Thursday, It is located in the Stone building, whee you will find most anything yon want. The liquor license cases that were remonstrated in commissioner’s week, were decided and disposed of Monday License was granled to C D. MnrIray and refused Jo. Bremerkamp. I Several members of the Ladies’ ICecilian Club accompauie I by their Ihusband' were entertained at the Ihome of Mr. and Mrs. L. G. lEllingham, Tuesday evening Mrs 18. 8. Hunt of Winchester, was an lout of town guest. I Trustee Brown ofKirklandtownIship, reports his schools in a very ■flourishing and satisfactory condiItion. Mr. Brown takes great inIterest in the school work and is ■willing to stand the Kirkland (schools against any 7 other town” (ship in this world—or the next.

Dr. Arthur Elmer, the long mired cure all fakir, who held brth in Decatur a few days several nouths ago, has been arrested at Union City upon charges that iden:ify him with the fraternity of lead beats who haven’t conscience ibout “doing” any person profesjionally or otherwise. The Evening Musical met with [fiiss June Merryman Monday evenng. Miss Lincoln gave an intertalk on the lif» of Schuman, vhich was follow- d by comparaive study of Mendellshon, Chopin Ind Schuman, the three great rep esentatives of the early romantic khool. The program was short »ut the num >ers were interesting representatives of Schuman’s style. I The office of street commissioner L the citv of Decatur is by’ no means an ornimental position. He redrawing his salary out of the lub'ic fund for services that shall |e performed. How well he perl»rms. that duty iday readily be len by looking at sulewalks and Erect crossings during the muddy Eason. The crossiijg at thePreslyterian church is almost impassille, and it would be impossible for Edies to come down street without Lining shoes and dr/sses. Numer Ls other places in tlie city are in Lesame condition, >ut they reEive no attention. The present recumbent probably con pares him Elf with the Arkansas Tiaveler, then the weather is dry the cross Egs need no attention, ;md when I rains he can’t work. ■lt will tothe citiEns of Decatur in genera) and the liends of Miss Dollie Schiffer in Lrticular, to know that she, a ■rung girl born and raised Un our Ity and graduated from on| public Ihools, has taken first hoiprs for Eished work in the ScHiol of Eatory at Philadelphia, Pennsyl Enia. Whenever a pupil from le college is called upon, which is Et infrequent, to go out in th? city EPhila lelphia to give an etiter■nment, Miss Dollie will be the ■e selected. Her success certainly Leeds the fondest hopes cherished L* her by those who beleiyed most ■ her talents. Her future promiL great things and when she pthLns in June a graduate of one of L first schools in the country she 111 be welcomed by many warm Id happy friends, glad to praise L for the laurels she has so de ■vedly won.

Mrs. F. A. Dibble was a Grand Rapids passenger to Monroe yes- t terday afternoon. i Dr. H. E. Keller was called to Richmond last Monday to perform 1 a surgical operation. I An old fashioned “rat killing” time was had on Main street Tues- 1 day morning and a number of the i rodents were disposed of. “Topsy I Hensley was the executioner. I The funeral of Mrs. John Shirey ' took place last Friday afternoon on Winchester street. A large con course of sympathizing friends fol- i lowed the remains to their last resting place. Coflfee & Baker’s Union bakery is a mighty fine looking place light now. All the furniture, counters. &c., have been newly painted, the ceiling and walls papered and their place looks as handsome as can be. Judge Heller looked after cotfrt business at Portland last Monday. He will have to close up considerable legal bus uess in Jay county, before entering upon his duties of judge.of Adams coumy. Rev. J. W. Hawk of Decatur, preached at the First Piesbyterian church in this city Sunday forenoo i and evening, delivering two very able sermons. Rev. Axtell the regular pastor preached at Decatur.—Portland Sun. The terms of court so fixed by the court bill passed by the last legislature, begins on the first ’Monday in February, the second Monday in April, first Monday in September and third Monday in November, and continues whi’e the business of the couit requires. Cashier Allison and D’Frencq Quinn of the Old Adams County Bank, returned from Washington Friday night Os course they were filled up with nice things to say of the inauguration and President McKinley. Things would have been different had B but he wasn’t. On tom arrow evening, March 12, at the residence of Mr. and Mrs D M. Hensley at 6 o’clock the ladio of the M. E Mite society wi<l ’ entertain at a social. The pub . lie is most cordially invited. A . number of short and interesting J talks will be a feature of the evening. Supper 20c. Children 15c. ’ Single list subscribers must re- ■ member that on and after April 1 their Democrat will discontinue its weekly visits to them unless tame is paid for in advance, or arrangements made to that effect. Our former notice has been the means of many advance renewals, many of whom testified by personal letter that our new system of business was right and suited them exactly. John Falk a teacher in the public schools, came near losing his life Monday night by eating a piece of cheese that had been doped with arsenic, and laid away for the rats by Mrs. Dan Erwin. Mr. Falk who is a brother of Mrs Erwin, went to the house in the evening and being hungry went to the cup board for a lunch. After Mrs. Erwin returned she noticed that some of the cheese was missing, and spoke to her brother about it, who said he had eaten it, She then informed him of what the cheese contained, and he was hustled down to see a physician. Drs. Boyers and C'Stello were called and emetics administered and they soon had the patient on the road to recovery. Cheese will hereafter have a far away taste for Mr. Falk. w * The waste of natural gas since its discovery Hen years ago is simply appalling. Gas Inspector Leach says: The production during the first three years, according to the best estimates, was four billion feet daily. Os this more than half was permitted to burn at the wells The loss at five cents per thousand feet was SIOO,OOO per day or $36,500 per annum, making the loss the first three years $109,500,000. The waste during the remaining seven years, estimated at 25 per cent, of the output, aggregates $127,250,000; total waste in ten years $236,750,000 „ Mr. Leach is of the Opinion that the loss by leaking mains, faulty mixers and other crude and inefficient appliances will reach more than 25 per cent, of the pro duction. There are at present about 2,300 gas wells flowing in the Indiana field with an average production of two million cubic feet per day each.

DECATUR, INDIANA, THURSDAY. MARCH II 18!)

Jo Sell of Pennville, wants to be the prosecuting attorney for the new Jay circuit. Chester Buhler and family of Ridgeville, Sundayed in the cty the guest of relatives. The river is on a rampage aryl has almost reached the high water mark Considerable damage has been done in the lowlands, and if the present rains continue serious damage may result. Hon J. J. Todd and Cyrene Warner of Bluffton, were in the city Tuesday afternoon looking at the only real flourishing city of this age of “confidence,” and incidentally shaking hands with their many friends Those applying for aid for them selves or others, please communicate with one of the following relief committee: Mesdames Z. J. Malott, Sarah Decker, Lou Kennedy, Sarah Trim, Eli Merriman, Harriet Coverdale, Eliza Peterson. C. L. Stengel of the firm of Stengel & Craig the Berne druggists, was here Tuesday. The firm is strictly in it with a horse and cattle powder preparation tfrflt is said to be better than the best. They are going to push it upon the wholesale markets. The boys have a good thing. Cashier Allison of the Old Adams County Bank, brought a fine Ang ra cat from Washington, D. C., on his recent trip to that city. His catship is a fine speci men of that branch of felines, and is prized very highly by the owner. The cat is on exhibition at the Allison homestead on Adams street. The murderer of Brakeman - Schlagle who was killed at Gallion, Ohio, last December has at last ' been captured. He made a full confession, but e aims that the ’ shot fired was accidental. This ' part of the story will be taken for _ v hat it is worth, and the full pen 5 alty of the law will no doubt be given. ' J. W. placs fixediip a dummy yesterday afternoon and then ! started it down the river in a box. As soo i as this was accomplished he alarmed the town and informed “ the people that a dead man was ’ floating down the river. Soon an excited crowd started for the ’ bridge, and in a few minutes sev . eiat hundred people were on their i way to see the lemains. Os course > they were bad'y bitt°u. This was j another of Jim’s practical jokes, . and the people are laying for him, promising to get even. ! Several young men in Root town - ship took occasion on St. Valenl tine's day io send some of their lady f friends a few valentines very much 1 on the “vile” order. The young ladies discovered the names of the • senders and they were returned. . The boys then added some indecent ’ language to the picturesand posted them in some out-buildings near i the young ladies’ home. This is the boys made the mistake of their lives. , The father of the girls was informed of what had occurred and he sought out the guilty parties and told them they must apologize to the i-iris ami right the wrong as near as possible or suffer the consequences; The boys apolo ogized and the matter was sealed, but it is safe to say that hereafter St, Valentine’s day will have no attractions for them. The sad news of the death of Mrs. John C. Grandstaff reached the relatives and friends in this city Tuesday morning. She. died very suddenly in Cincinnati Mon day evening after a sickness of only a few months duration. Six weeks previous to her death a very handsome little baby was borp. She recovered from the illness that accompanied ihe birth of this welcome infant, only to be again overtaken with a sickness that proved fatal. Her husband was attending me Heal college at Cincinnati. Their marriage dates back to something over a year ago, at which time bright prospects and a life of happiness seemed assured to both of them. The bereaved husband is prostrated beyond expression at this seemingly cruel ending of a happy married life. The deceased was twenty four years old and a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Fleming. The remains arrived here Tuesday aftertoon and were conveyed to her home. The funeral services were conducted yester day afternoon at 2:30 by Rev. E. T. Gregg, pastor of the Methodist church. Interment in Maplewood followed.

Max Romberg is in the esst looking up matters pertaining to the estate of Chas. L. Weber. Miss Grace Miller went up to Fort Wayne yesterday afternom, to attend the conservatory of music. The Rathbone Sisters gave an < 'ld fashioned spell ng school at their’ odge room last Monday evening, j A prize was awarded to the person j who succeeded in spaHiogdown the j entire class, and James N. Fris.oe was the happy man 7 After spelling school came light refreshments and then the journey homeward. M E. church services at eoirt house next Sunday: S. S. at 9:15 a. in. This will be the the last quarterly meeting for the year. Rev. F. T. Simpson, presiding eldefr, will preach both morning and evening. Cbmmuni >n at close of morning services. Love feast at 6p. m. All are cordially invited to attend these services. Mrs. Fred Schafer and Mr-. J. B. Mei tiers entertained several of their lady friends to a five o’clock luncheon Tuesday evening of last week. Those present were: Mrs. Frank Farrell Mrs John Colchin, Mrs. Ed Ehinger, Mrs. Barney Meibers, Mrs. James Niblick, Mrs. Frank (’rawford, Mrs John Meib ers, Mrs. T. Coffee, Mrs Charles NibVck, Mrs. Charles Ehinger, xMrs, Henry Shulte, Mrs. Wm Niblick, Mrs. J. H Bremerkamp, Mrs. U. Deininger, Mrs. Will Kuebler, Mrs. Elizabeth Ehinger. The Ladies’ Shake: peare club was pleasantly entertained at the home of Mrs. E. T Gregg last Thursday evening. Unique invitations were issued, bearing the National and club colors, calling for a quotation from each member, sentiment “Our Country.” The

exercises of the evening were o' ened with the u«ual preliminaiies, current events, and followed by a very interesting discussion of Shakespeare’s Coriolanus. Dainty refreshments were served by the fair hostess and her Lttle daughter , HaOmrf after which nationaJ songs were sting, national quotations rendered and an entertaining and original paper was read bj* Dr. M. L. Hol'oway, “The McKinley inauguration acc >rdi ng to Jefferson ian simplicity.” The guest of honor was Miss Sarah Segur. Late yesterday afternoon the commissioners gave the contract for building the Decatur and Bluffton macadamized road, to Calvin Miller & Co., the Marion bidders. The contract price for the twelve miles of road was $34,949. This bid was $49 higher than T. Spriggs & Sons, the Wabash, Ohio, contractors, but the successful bidders agreed to purchase all home ma terial and nome labor, and agreed to finish the work by October 10. The names of the company who; will build the road are John Williams, Calvin M Her, Jarefri Co volt of Marion, and William Eckrote of this county. The list I of bids include Fi.-her, Kiefer & Baily, stone .$39,141.13; Hoffman,; Liddy & Eckrote, stone $43,034 45; Emanuel Woods, stone, $35,677; E. H. Peters & Co., stone, $30,900, gravel $33,400; Calvi i Mi'ler & Co., stone, $34,949, gravel $32,449; j T. Spriggs & Co., stone, $34,900;: A. E Betts, stone, $39,900, gravel, ; $31,000; C. M. Kirkpatrick, stone, ; $37,000, gravel $31,000; N. Black -1 bunta& Co., gravel. $27,128.72; J. ' W. wfill, stone, $38,581.13, gravel, ■ $33,035. The slight difference in the bids on stone and gravel soon confirmed the commissioners as to which was the cheapest The dis Lrence in the bids of Miller & Co was but $2,500, between their bid on stone and the bid of Blackburn it Co. on gravel, $7,820.28. This amount in repairs 1 will soon be saved - the county. The commissioners surely acted wisely in selecting crushed stone. The successful bidders will file a bond calling for $69,898, before entering upon the work. While the board was in session they or dered a set of call telephone bells for the audit >r, treasurer, recorder and sheriff’s office at a total cost of sl6. They also appointed C. E. Albaugh as a justice of the peace in Monroe township, to fill the vacancy .caused by the d ath of M. V. B. Simeoke They agreed to give Auditor Mangold S2OO for making assessor’s books for 1897, making the commissioner’s annual report, school fund report and for services as clerk of the board of turnpike directors. L. C. Devoss was allowed S9O for professional services in the case of state ex rel Mangold vs Bolds.

Miss Margaret Eicher, who is pursuing a course in vocal music at the European school of music at Fort Wayne, spent Sunday with her mother, Mrs. M. Gilsbn. From the number of plans being drawn for new residences, it is very likely that Decatur will experience a building boom this summer, such as she has never seen. All of the residences under contemplation, will be marvels of beauty and comfort and of which their owners may feel justly proud. Keep your eye on Decatur and watch her improve. Last Thursday evening at the home of the bride’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Cramer, occurred the marriage of their daughter Nellie, to Oliver Walters both of Ihiscounty. The bride was beautifully attired in cream serge while the groom wore conventional black. G W. Cramer, bro 1 her of the bride, was best man and Katie Mau Iler, cousin of the bride, served as bridesmaid After the ceremony was performed all partook of a bounteous supper. The evening was spent in social c mversation and wishing the new couple a pleasant journey through life. Rev. S. C. Cramer of Defiance, Ohio, solemnized the marriage. For some time word has gone around that the Clover Leaf shops would be moved from Delphos to this city, and it is not an idle rumor but is founded on facts. The citizens of De phos are waging war against the Clover Leaf and the company threatens to get even by taking from them the repaii shops now located in that city The idea of moving the shops te this city is rot a new one with the railroad, as they haye long had this project under consideration

It might now be well for the board of trade to come to life again and lend assistance to the cause. . The bringing of the Cl >ver Leaf shops to this city will mean the employ raent of d. large number of men, and our ines 4 men wiU reap the benefit. They should see To tl.eir interests are promoted, and go to work\at once to secure thig industry; The following is the anti quart shop bill as passed by the legislature: “That section lof the above entitled act, the same being section 5312 in the revised statutes of 1881, be, and the same is, hereby amendel to read as follows: ‘lt shall be unlawful for any person directly or indirectly, to sell, barter or give away, for any purpose of gain, any spirituous, vinous or malt liquors without first procuring from the board of commissioners of the conn ty in which such liquor is to be sold, a license as hereinafter provided, nor shall any person, with out having first procured such

license, sell or barter any intoxicating liquor to be drunk, or suffer j to bedrunk, in his h use, outhouse, I yard,garden or the appurtenances I thereto belonging.’ Section 2. Sedioi sos said act, being 5316 of the revised statutes 'of 1881, shall be, and.the same is. j hereby amended to read as follows: ! ‘lf said applicant desire to sell spirituous, vinous and malt liquors ihe shall pay the treasurer of said [ county §IOO as a license fee for one I year before license shall issue to ■ him. Such fees shall be paid into I the school fund of the County in ’ which such licenses are obtained.’ Sec. 3 —Section 7 of said act, be ing section 5318 of the revised statutes . f 1881, shall be, and the same is, hereby amended to read as follows: 'Upon the execution of the b nd required in section 4 of this act, being 5315 of the revised statutes of 1881. the presentation of

the order of the board of commissioners granting him license and the county treasurer’s receipt for §IOO, if the application be for the sale of spirituous, vinous and malt liquors, as aforesaid, the county auditor shlßl issue a license to the applicant for the sale of such liquors as he applied for, with the privilege of permitting the same to be drunk on the premises as stated in the aforesaid notice, which li- ’ cense shall specify the name of the applicant, the place of sale and the period of titne for which such license is granted. Provided, that none of the pr -visions of this act shall apply to alny person engaged in business as wholesale dealer, wfio does not sell in less quantities than five gallons at a time.’ “Section 4. —/Whereas an emergency exists fbf the immediate taking effect of this act, the same shall be in force from and after its pas sage.”.

NUMBER 52

MARTIN VAN BUREN SIWCOKE. The subject of this not'ee was one of th- pioneer settlers of Adams county, having lived here for half a cm tury, ami been instrumental in its progess, from the period of log cabins to the present time of stately mansions, ami the long list of other improvements that are so marked in this progressiveand enlightened age. The deceased was born at Livingston, Tennessee, April 11, 1836, being sixty years ten month* and twen-ty-seven days old at the time of death. When thirteen years old he entered the printing office of the Decatur Gazette, Joshua R. Randall publisher, and began to learn the printing trade. He remained in the office for s me time, the father of the Hon. R. S. Peterson being owner of the paper during a part of his apprentieship. H's father afterwards bought the paper and its name was changed to rhe “Adams County Democrat.” Van then left the printing office and attended school at Liber College, then located south of Portland. The following winter he taught his firs', ►ehool in Wabash township, a three months term, pul received as pay S4O in gold. In a short history Van had written ot himself, he says “the fun and xperience that winter was worth SSO more.” After this he studied law under Hon. David Studabaker for two years. In 1860 he was married to Mary A. Pierce, who twelve years afterward died of consumption. Ab ut 1870 he was elected recorder of Adams county, which office he held for four years. In 1874 he was manied to Ida Hendricks. Four children were born under this marriage, a l of whom are living. He was the first commissioned notary pub ic for the ounty, receiving his commission ia 1858. In 1878 himself and family moved to Monroe which has been their home ever since. The deceased was somewhat eccentrje . in uiany,things, but withal ft very accommodating apd Uh telligeut' gentleu-RR. Hfs death i Tr ttS sudden and unexpected. On Thursday of last week he was taken with sciatic? rheumatism horn the effictSbf Wlik-h he died , Sunday at noon. The funeral took place Tuesday being attended by his old friends and neighbors in large numbers. Interment took , place a 7 , the Monroe cemetery. Geneva had at least one representative at the inauguration of President McKinley yesterday as John Watson left Monday for Washington to see that the thing was done accord ng to Hoyle. Jonn took a small satchel wi h him in which he will put the ebrnmis--sion for the Geneva postoffice, if/ the Major insists on handing it ouf before his return, andt he ing 27 candidates for .the office are waiting with sad and sleeplees eyes until John’s return. While 4t Washington he will visit pis brother George, who is employed in the pension office.—Geneva Herald. f /

The most intensely inters ting people of. the world at his moment are the • Tnllions of amiife and plague stricken India BUt little is known of this regio by the people of the United S atos. Such reports as come to i are things seen through Bi ush glasses. What has been the etfect of British i tile in India Why these terrible famines’ Why ng-s) Julian Hawthorne has been sent by the Cosmopolitan Magazine to India to obtain answers to these questions at first and depict the situation as it appear to n American. The March C s’lm-p flitau contains the ffrst of w ini js probably the most impqrta 7 hnies of articles ever presen ' d in 'his magazine. Nothin" has I t n published that gives an a< nite idea of the larger operatic sjh' Inisine^; —at least nothing bv class of men fitted for such work nv taoroi’gh familiarity with ■the *ub '- ts of which they write, q p cie in* the March Cosmop/iian on “The Methods of Bank-, rig," by the president of one of the 1 • rest banks of New York—;l nv of widest business experience lormer Post master-General Jam —is one which every person, ho\ • ver humbly his clerkship hih his place in the financial w... K will find interesting and insi - ctive. This series will constit ii'o a very complete course of busiu ss training, and every young man just entering business life apd every old man will alike find it of immense value.