Decatur Democrat, Volume 41, Number 3, Decatur, Adams County, 1 April 1897 — Page 1

The Decatur Democrat.

k VOLUME XLI.

The W. C. T. U. will meet Mi th Mrs. Kennedy Saturday, April 3, at 2:30 p. m. A team belonging to Joseph Lower ran away last Friday morning. No damage was done. Mrs. P. Harper of Greenville, Ohio, was in the city Sunday to attend the funeral of Mrs. Elizabeth Meisse. Miss Ada Archbold has accepted a position in a Mendon, Ohio, millinery establishment, and left for that place Monday. Col Dick Townsend will likely take the management of a new hotel at Columbus, 0., now under course of erection in that city. F W. Dibble disposed of one of his Shetland ponies to Davis Bros., ’ of Tokdo, Ohio. The little fellow was sent to his new home by express, last week. * Daniel Durr an old resident of this city died at his home on Indiana Avenue, Monday morning at 9 o’clock. He has long been a sufferer of that dread disease consump | tiou, and his death was expected at any time. M. C. Thomas left Tuesday for I Birmingham, Alabama, where he I will locate. For the past few years I he has been iu the employ of WilI son Merryman, but has decided k to I once more try his fortune in the I sunny south. I Decaturites to the num er of I twenty-four took in the conference I excursio ito Kokomo last Sunday. I They returned boiling over with I. Methodist enthusiasm. The showI ing was not very large for a church I that extended an invitation to that I large body of church workers. I By request of George W. HamI ma of Geneva, we will correct a I mistake io one of the i'ems from I that place last w« ek. It said that I Mr. Hanuna had started a branch I furniture store with Mr. Allen as I manager. The former states that ■ he has nothing whatever to do with ■ it, and that Mr Allen is the owner ■ thereof. ■ An exchange says that every pa- ■ per in the state should publish I that burnt corn is good for hog ■ cholera. It was first discovered by ■ burning a pile of corn that belonged ■ to a distillery. It was thrown to ■ the hogs and eaten by them. Be- ■ fore that a number of them had ■ been dying with hog cholera but B the disease immediately disap ■ peared. It is so simple a remedy B that it can easily be tried. fl It is not hard-Munderstand the fl secret of Rev- Gregg’s popularity fl and success Affable, sweet spiritfl ed, ready and full of religion, he H goe-> from day to day, a perpetual fl fountain of good things, sending fl forth the sunshine and richness of H a Christian experience that attracts J I all who come in contact with him. ■Jfie has succeeded in making some Blsubsubstantial and valuable imB provements at Decatur, and should ■ he not be returned for another year, B great will be the disappointment B of the people there. —Kokomo B Tribune. B Some of the show talent of this ■ city are organizing a minstrel show ■ to be put on the boards in a *hort |fl time. Their first stand' will be |~ I April 13 at Ohio City, 14th at 9 Bockford and 15th in this city. H The following well known artists I I compose the aggreatiou, Art GilII Horn, Harry Bell, Henry Reiter, ■ Ben Bobo, M. P. Miller, Mart ■ Beatty, Jack Burke, John Shack- ■ ley and the “only” Hugh Woods, fl The boys have the talent and FB should put up a good show, but ■ they start on the wrong day, the |fll3th is a hoodoo, but here is hop that old superstitious idea Bflwill prove > myth. ■ Some time in January, Fred Patiflterson, Bert Mangold and Bobbie BflSohrock, then carriers on the ||Bdail.y Democrat, while waiting ■for their evening papers, noticed a (-■paper in our mailing list addressed ■■to Mias Julia Parrott, Toungoo, Bflßurma. The boys being anxious flflto become known in that far off Hfloreign land, wrote their names on flflt slip of paper, and put it inside flflhe wrapper of the paper bound flflor Toungoo. On last Monday the ||fl>oy s eftch receive(l ‘ a note froru MiBB ■flparrott, acknowledging receipt of IH.heir little missive, and enclosing a Kflintnre. probably drawn by some the natives of that country and MBvith whom Miss Parrott is laboring ■n > religiouscapacity. TheDEMOHfliBAT always brings returns, now is flflhe to advertise.

This is “All Fools Day” and of course the usual number of traps were set and victims were plenty. Wash Gilpen of the southern part of the county spent Sunday in the city with his daughter Mrs. F. W. Dibble. Miss Anna Hess of Cleveland, Ohio, head trimmer in the New York millinery store, has arrived in the city to aesume her position. But four unclaimed letters are at the postoffice awaiting their call, and they belong to E. Hardebeck, Amos Wakely, J. D. David and John Hamer. Manager Syphers, of the Western Union Telegraph Company, is in receipt of a postal card from his brother, who is at Hamburg, Germany, ing gone there from Decatur with a consignment of horses.—Portland Commercial. Miss Flora Center, chief trimmer in the Deininger millinery estab lishment, is at Fort Wayne this week attending the large millinery opening, with a view of becoming acquainted with metropolitan styles of head gear. The boys who are making life miserable for the inhabitants west of the Q. R. & I. railroad, by pulling door bells, pounding on doors and windows will come to a sudden halt one of these evenings. The officers have been notified and are on the look out for the culprits. Albert Brittson was over through eastern Adams <he first of the week, distributing wholesome lit eratuie to the natives The litera ture referred to told of bargains in ftlothing, gents furnishings, boots and shoes. There is nothing like advertising and this busy firm know its secrets to their own profit and p'easure. At the meeting of the commissioners last Thursday the board ordered Treasurer Bolds to sell bonds in the sum of $34,949, the contract price of the Decatur & Bluffton gravel road. The bonds will be issued in ten equal series and will pay the holders thereof five pet cent., payable annually. Any one having an over supplj 7 of confidence should uncork same and buy bonds, they won’t fluctuate so much Van Wert county farmers are about to try their luck at raising sugar beets. If a fair yield is pro cured, a $200,000 beet sugar refinery will be built at the town of Van Wert. The average crop of the sugar beet is fifteen tons per acre, and the lowest market price $4.00 per ton. It will require no less than 3,000 acres of beets, within easy reach of the factory, planted every season, to keep the refinery in operation. It is said that the soil of Van Wert county is especially adapted to the cultivation of the sugar beet. —Spencerville Jour nal. Last Monday morning, about the time, night and day kissed each other, a heavy thunderstorm arose in the we«t and illuminated the sky by fierce lightning. N. S. Stucky’s barn, four miles west of town, was struck and burned to the ground. The live stock was all saved, but four tons of hay, 300 bushel of oats, 20 bushel of wheat, two mowers, and a hay ladder were destroyed in the fire. Lightning also struck the house of Emil Erhart near Linn Grove, but no damage resulted, while three more barns west of Linn Grove were turned to ashes. According to the Portland Sun, Jay county also had its share of fires, resulting from the same thunder storm. —Berne Witness. The fact should not be overlooked that Decatur has in her immediate vicinity one of the finest, il not the finest parks in the state of Indiana. Willard Steele has spared no time or expense to attain these results. The location is grand and the scenery magnificent. The park contains driveways, plenty of shade an artificial lake and a handsome amphitheatre overlooking one of the best half mile tracks in the state. The citizens of Decatur and vicinity and Mr. Steele should work hand in hand to advance the interests of both park owner and city. To do this it might be well to interest one of the failroads entering our city, in making the park a populaf place for excursionists and pleasure seekers. Much less attractive places are being used for this purpose and a little hustle on the part of our citizens will turn this beautiful place into a popular pleasure resort. AU hands at the wheel.

DECATUR. INDIANA, THURSDAY. APRIL 1. 1897.

Curry Pyle of Geneva, has passed a successful examination with a view of becoming a railway mail clerk at some near future time. William H. Niblick has been appointed administrator of the estate of Elizabeth Miesse deceased, and has filed a bond calling for SBOO as such administrator. Thomas Buckmaster received a patent on a slaw cutting machine that is all right. He wants to sell an interest in it for a little money. You will find it of inter st to see or communicate with him at Decatur, Indiana. C. D. Witte of Fort Wayne, and by the way an old Adams c< unty boy, was here last Friday representing the Wayne Produce and Fruit Company. He reports their business at this point as being up to their high standard of expectation. The familiar face of Lewis C. Miller can again be seen at the courthouse He is assisting Treasurer Bolds in the collection of. the spring installment of taxes. Lew is an old hand at the business having served the county for eight years in the official capacity as auditor. The many friends of Rev. John Walters, formerly of thia city, will be pleased to know that the charges of conduct unbecoming a minister and indiscretion, preferred against him at the last meeting of the Methodist conference held at Ko komo, a>e unfounded. After a thorough investigation by a committee, the charges were dismissed, and Rev. Walters exhonorated. The members of the Methodist congregation here are rejoicing over the return of Rev. E. T. Gregg to this pastoral charge. During his services here the church has prospered and grown as it never did before, all of which has made, the pastor a shining light, as it were, with his flock of church workers. This will be his last year at this place. The church a lows but five years at one place, and that time will have expired by the time of the meeting of the next conference. From the Huntington Herald we note that the amounts paid in salaries to ministers of the Northern Indiana Conference, by districts, was as follows: Fort Wayne district, $22,446; Goshen, $19,551; Kokomo, $22,961; Muncie, $26,028, Richmond, $18,323; Warsaw, $20,475; total, $120,772. The number of members belonging to the Epworth League are: Fort Wayne 2,234; Goshen, 2,391; Kokomo, 2,522; Muncie, 2,340; Richmond, 2,701; Warsaw, 2,741; total num ber of members in the conference, 13,531. Tnere are 48,410 Sunday school scholars in the conference, with 6,918 officers and teachers.

If you asked how many articles could be made from a barrel of flour, you would not even like to guess at an estimate, let alone think of coming within any accuracy of it* Some time ago an Upper Sandusky woman purchased a barrel of flour and just for the fun of the thing dedided to keep an account ofjustwhatit baked. The total figures up to something enormous, but she was very careful in putting down everything it accomplished. The records show she made 150 pies of all kinds, 5 chicken pies, 90 apple dumplings, 86 loaves of bread. 1,000 biscuits, 100 dozen doughnuts, 11 jelly rolls, a couple of gross- of ginger snaps, 400 ies,” 300 pancakes and 6 dozen “gems.” The City Band has in view the idea of holding a Band Reunion in

this city, and are trying to interest our business men iu having a grand industrial parade at the same time, thus giving two attractions that would insure a monster crowd. Os course to do this, there will be some necessary expense which should be raised among the busi ness men, without trouble. The Band Reunion will be held two days, and twenty bands have already expressed their desire to attend. Think of the music that must necessarily be exploded with that number of bands present, and with a blazing, monster business

men’s parade in addition thereto, it would indeed be a gala time for Decatur. The boys are hustlers and will probably succeed in their present undertaking. The band is also developing into one of the finest musical organizations in the state under the leadership of Prof. John Dickerson.

Clerk Lenhart issued marriage license this week to James P. Riley and Sarah E. Durbin, Morris Hendricks and Cora E. Besser and one more. We won’t tell who the last one is. John C. Moran and F. M. Gallogly teachers in French and Hartford townships, respectively, were in town Friday evening and Saturday. Roth reported their school work as progressing very, satisfactorilly. \ Superintendent Snow reports eighty two applicants w; o underwent the arduous task of teacher’* examination last Saturday. This surely shows that Adams county has on her educational harness, and is advancing straight up the ladder of knowledge. Rev. E. T. Gregg is asking the preachers to vote to have the next conference at Decatur. Well, they’ve got a nice new church, a good large town, hospitable people and one of the best fellows on earth for pastor. Why not make it unanimous and go!—Kokomo Tribune. The last will and testament of Elizabeth Miesse, deceased, was probated at the clerk’s office Tuesday. It bears the date of December 16, 1892 and by its provisions Israel Meisse is given the sum of 310, Willie Miesse $5, Belle Phillips all household goods and three fourths of the real and personal property, and Kate Wilmington one-fourth of the real estate. The death of Mrs. Elizabeth Miesse, one of the oldest inhabitants of Adams county, occurred last Thursday afternoon at her residence on First street. She wa« eighty-one years old at the time of her death and for a number of years has been quite feeble. Three children survive her, I. J. Miesse, Mrs. Wilmington of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Mrs. E. A. Philips. The funeral occurred Sunday afternoon at the Presbyterian ch irch, Revs Gregg and Horton officiating. Interment at Maplewood. Foster predicts that April will bring much rain, some storms of dangerous tornadic violence, and very cold waves for so late in the season will follow the storms until after the middle of the month. May will bring some fatal storms — storms that should Ire' provided against and watched—but, for the most part, good seasonable weather for prosecuting all agricultural work. Ample moisture will ex-st for maturing early crops generally over the country, but drouthy tendency will begin to shift from the south and southwest to north and west before the end of the summer.

A novel train, consisting of engine and 20 frieght cars loaded with broom corn passed through our city this morning enroute from Sterling, Kansas, to. the Onondaga Whisk Broom Works of Syracuse, New York. The cars were all handsomely decorated with banners, pictures,cartoonsand mottoes, and the “special broom corn train” was arranged for the purpose of enlightening the eastern people on the magnitude of one the principal resources of Kansas. We are under obligations to E. G. Wickersham formerly of Geneva, for a copy of the Sterling Bulletin and Gazette, containing a full account together with portraits of the promoters of the scheme, and the train as it appeared when ready to start on its journey of 1,600 miles. The Knights of Pythias of this city have under consideration the building of a uew lodge room, on their lots on south Main street. Plans have been submitted to them

by an Indianapolis architect, and should they conclude to build, the structure will be the handsomest in the city. The plans call for three stories, and the top floor will be used for lodge purposes exclusively. The second floor will be arranged for offices with the exception of the rear in which will be located a club room 40 by 60 feet. The ground floor will be used for one or two business rooms, according to the needs of the tenant. The building will cover the entire lot, 43x132 feet. Further and complete arrangements will be made this week, a committee having been appointed to complete de tails. The plans and specifications are in the hands of F. M. Schir meyer. Parties desiring to see them will find them on exhibition at his office. It is expected that the building will cost about $15,000 when completed.

Mr. and Mrs. J. T. France are visiting relatives at .Little Rock and Hot ripnugs, Arkansas. The former goes to se urea much needed rest ana the lattei to visit relatives. While in Little Kock they will be the guests of I U. King, formerly a resident of Decatur, but now holding a lucrative position iu that city. Secretary Kern of the school board, has employed a private secretary to look after his large and exhaus ive mail. Applications lor the superinteudeucy of our public schools come iu on every mail with an urgent hope that they may be favored by the board. If tne list keeps increasing the members of the board will have to lock themselves up in the garret and draw cuts for a week. The Democrat has made arrangements with the publishers of the New York World, whereby it is able to furnish to its subscribers the Thrice-a-Week World and the Democrat for only $2.25 per year in advance, The World reaches you three times each week and the Democrat once giving you 208 papers a year, or four papers a week for less than the price of two Now is the time to subscribe. The Journal announces their serious intention of beginning the publication of a dady newspaper. They have purchased the last sad rites of J. Emmett Cully’s offspring here and will launch it to the public with all due pomp. It is a mighty hard job to tackle, from a money point of view, but if the people come down right they will have what they want and ought to have—a daily newspaper. Here is wishing the new venture all the necessary encouragement to insure its success. The Portland Bar Association will blow themselves with their first annual banquet, the same to be due next Monday evening at eight o’clock at the Hotel Ham kins The many able and distinguished jurists who are named in the invj’at ion as guests of honor, are Hons, Daniel D- Heller, John*' inuton, James R. Bobo, Jacob ML Haynes, Gen. J. P. U. Shanks, Join R. Perden and James B. Jaqua. Many and perhaps all the members of the Adams County Bar Association have been favored with an invitation, and will attend The occasion will be one of dignity, such as only a lawyer possesses.

The tramp nuisance is growing in this city, and some steps should be taken to compel them to respect the law and decency. A few evenings ago while a party of them weae passing the residence of Dr. D. G. M. Trout on Mercer street, they demolish* d a large window with a lump of coal, and had it not been for the fact that the doctor and his family were safely ensconced in the arms of Mori hens, and did not hear the racket, there would in all probability have been a sad tale to tell, and one or more hobos would have been obliged to pick several pounds of shot out of their carcass. The C. & E. water tank seems to be the favorite resort for these rightly named Weary Wraggles, and the authorities should furnish some sort of amusement for them, either the stone p le or labor on our streets (and they need it.) The Northern Indiana Conference completed its labors Tuesday, and the following appointments were made for the Fort Wayne District for the ensuing year: Angola, F. M. Kemper; Auburn, T. M Guild; Avilla, C E. Davis; Bluffton, 8. Light; Bobo, N. P. Barton; Ceylon, to be supplied, Churubusco, D. G. Murray; Coesse, W. A. Gries ; Decatur, E. T. Gregg; Fremont, A A. Stockdall; Garrett, J. M. Haines; Geneva, J. B. Cook; Harland, A. L. Brandenberg; Hoagland, G. Cocking; Huntertown, M.E. Murray; Hunting ton, F. M. Stone; Leo, R. C. Jones; Markle, O.S. Hanison; Monroeville. C. Linkham; New Haven, G. Leeters; Ossian, 8. C. Norris; Poneto, E. J. Magor; Roanoke, C. M. Hollopeter; Spencerville, E. M. Foster; Uniondale, L. C. Zimmerman; Wolf Lake, to be supplied; Woodburn, to be supplied. Hartford City was chosen for the next meeting of the conference. While Decatur made a good showing, yet the fact that Hartford City made a spirited fight for the place a year ago, aided their cause wonderfully. In all likelhood Decatur will be successful next year, leastwise our people should remain in the field and keep up an active campaign.

KX.IZXWKTH B. MIBSSB.

Elizabeth Beery was born ia Lancaster, Ohio, July 3, 1816, and died at. Decatur, Indiana, March 25, 1897, aged 80 years, 8 months and 22 days. Upon the I.Bth of May 1836, she was married to Wm. Mi sse, who died in January 1852. They were blest with six children, three of whom have joined the choir invisible, the remaining three in tender loving sorrow followed thia precious clay to its interment. Al the age of sixteen Mother Miesse joined the Evangelical church. In 1842 they came to Deca'ur —fiftyfive years ago. She has lived thal entire time upon one street and for the past twennty five years ia th* home from which she was borne today. She was a devout, Godfearing, faithful woman. She and her devoted husband, whose memory she has so tenderly cherished in the half century since he departed from her, would ride on horseback seven miles to church, In 1853 there being no church of her special choice iu Decatur, she joined the M. E. church, of which she has been a true and honored member ever since. She was a rare woman— so intellectual, so beautiful, so faithful, so patient. Few events have transpired in her long life in which she has not taken a keen and comprehensive interest. She read the Bible from the view point of a thoughtful individual—it was to her the lexicon of the language of life. No sorrowing soul ever lard its burden at the door of her heart without that door flying open wide and the tenderest and truest sympathy coming forth. She loved the church of God, but more to live the life of Christ. When the emblems of His broken body and shed blood were handed to her she truly communed with Him. The songs of Zion filled and thrilled her soul. She has for years been a great sufferer,.yet an inspiration to all who have come near her. She has helped me many times by her patient devotion. She had not been out of the house f>r two years and not at church for six years. In its influence her life has been a constant benediction—the spirit saith “h?r works do follow her.” A man giving his name as N. T. B iwers aud claiming to be a revenue < ollector went to the office of John Brown, agent for the Moerlein brewing company, of Cinciu-, nati, and placed him under arrest, claiming that he was selling beer without a license. Brown became suspicious however and came up street to get legal advice. Ou the way the supposed revenue collector became very anxious and offered to settle with Brown for $25, the offer was refused and ha was turned over to Sheriff Ashbancher, when he confessed to being an impostor. No warrant was sworn out for his arrest however and he was ordered out of the city, and took I the shortest route, probably pleased ihat he w allowed to go so easy. County Asses-or Crist was at Muncie Monday attending a meeting of the con ty assessors of ths several counties in the Indiana gas and oil belt. The object of ths meeting was for fixing and determining a rate of taxation for gas and oil well pipes in Madison, Del aware, Jay Blackford, Grant, Huntington, Wells, Adams and Randolph counties. The following scale as to valuation, was adopted: One half-inch gas line, 1 4 10 cents per foot; oil pipe, 1 510. Threequarter inch gas line, 1 6-10 cents per foot; oil pipe, 18-10. Ona inch gas line, 2 4-10 cents per foot; oil pipe, 2 6-10. One aud a quar-ter-inch gas line, 3 cents per foot; oil pipe, 3 3 10. One and a halfinch gas line, 4 6-10 cents per foot; . oil pipe, 5. Two inch gas line, 5 4 10 cents per foot; oil pipe, 5 9-10 Three inch gas line, 10 cents per foot; oil pipe, 11. Fourinch gas line, 13 cents per foot; oil pipe, 14. Six inch gas line, 25 cents per foot; oil pipe, 27 5 10. Eight inch gas line, 36 5 10 cents per foot; oil pipe, 40. Ten inch gas line, 56 cents per foot; oil pipe, 61 5-10. Twelve inch gas line, 72 cents per foot; oil pipe, 79. The value of gas and oil wells being operated was p'aced at the same, $350 each. It was reported thal the 200-barrel per day wells ia the Indiana field live but a few days and then drop down to about 4 barrels, which is the average production. For the product tha owner receives 52 cents per barrel, and usually gives the laud' owner one-sixth of ths profits.

NUMBER 3