Decatur Democrat, Volume 41, Number 25, Decatur, Adams County, 2 September 1897 — Page 1

11l the news, all THE T!M£

-(HUME XU.

fT Mi . s Ethel Oppenheim, of Bluff- _ was the guest of Miss May jblick last week. Several of the veterans of this tv are attending the G. A. R. enJpment at Bluffton today. The Shakespeare elub begun eir yearly studies at the home of r 6, John Niblick yesterday after ionHenry Hite fell down the cellar L a few days ago, and as a conQ U ence, moves around with the d of a cane. Father Germain, of Benedictine bbey, St. Vincent, Pennsylvania the guest of his uncle, U. eininger, last week. Four cars of hors's left this city ondav night for Germany. They pre in’ charge of Amos Foreman, ieob Schafer, Bub and John Bur--11. Smith & Callow want to sell you hool supplies, and to that end ire a very flattering announce ient elsewhere. School begins today. The following letters remain unaimed at the postoffice: Adam arker, Percey 8. Ewing, Ella orehead, Mrs. D. I. Aber, Evans, oung & Co. B, J. Terveer, the hardware ealer, has a one column announeeent in this issue, in which he lakes astounding cuts in prices, nd it on page two. Dr. Costello was again called to ,inn Grove this week to look after iphtheria cases. In several cases was found to be tonsilitis and is disease is not as bad as reporti. Clerk Lenhart issued marriage censes the past week to Berten alley and Josephine Buffenberger, braham C. Scbneck and Fanny enenschwander, Henry Gallmeier nd Wilhelmine Kleine. The visitors to the G. A. R. en rmpment at Buffalo have returned ; the city, and all report a pleasnt time. The largest crowd ever i attendance at a national encampient, was present and the people ere well taken care of. Judge Studabaker will soon have ne of the finest stock farms in the tate. He is stocking it with fine attle and hogs, and expects to urn his attention to this particuir branch of the b usiness entirely. Lis farm is just east of the city nd is especially fit’ed for the bus ness to which it is devoted. The last divorce docketed was led by Attorney R. K. Erwin and s entitled Mary Eckrote vs David iekrote. The complaint states hat they were married November 9,1894, and lived together until lay 11, 1897. Cruel and inhulan treatment is alleged. The laintiff prays for a divorce, her ame changed to Mary Frauhizer, ud alimony in the sum of SI,OOO. This office has delivered to the chool board a one hundred and velve paged manuel of the rules rod regulations and course of study, f the Decatur public schools. It sacknowledged to be the neatest to most handsome catalogue ever •rtouced from a Decatur printing It is likewise a very im mrtaut addition to the successful latiagement of our schools, conaining the rules of governing the choo], the duties of teachers, cho'ars and parents, the course of ’toy. list of pnpib, roll of honor, intents of the Decatur public li-[ )rar y, and a thousand and one toer things. Mrs. John Breiner, of Preble, toams county, who is visiting rell'ives at 46 Swinney avenue, was )r,) bably fatally injured yesterday “orning. She was sitting in the [ >tchen, talking with her hostess, ito faded to notice that her chair fa a directly before an open door, e toing to the cellar way. She '•ted her chair too far back, and ’’med over backward, falling with e frific force to the bo’tom of the stairway. She was picked 'P insensible, and was carried to j ‘tod room, and Dr. J. M. Dinnen ras called to attend her. In fallher head had struck a board ' the bottom of the stairs, and er scalp was torn completely off, down the back of her itit k required twenty-six ches to get the scalp back in >aak'2 n ‘ er head was terribly ’ , an d her arm and sides r « aiso painfully injured. Mrs. ind'ah 1 is 63 yearß of age ’ B ne may not recover from her . ties—Fort’ Wayne Journal,

MBCATIfR

The W. C. T. U. will meet with I Mrs. John King next Saturday, i September 4, at 2:30 p. m. Misses Nellie and Hattie BlackI burn leturned, Saturday, from an extended visit with relatives at Streator, 111. M ss Allie Peterson has resumed her position in the Decatur National Bank after a pleasant visit at Crawfordsville, Indiana. William Lewis, the night watch who was seriously injured in the boiler explosion a few days ago, is recovering, and will soon be around j again. At Decatur the eleciric deal has been made and the city now owns a plant (built on paper) i for which they paid $14,875. — I Portland Sun. Rev. E. T. Gregg will return home this week from an extended [ vacation in lowa cities, and regu- [ lar services will be held at the M. [ E. church next Sunday. Charles N. Spencer has received | the contract lor putting vp the poles for the new electric light plant, and work will be begun as soon as the poles arrive. Henry Uhl, of Toledo, is visiting relatives in the city. Mr. Uhl is a first-class musician, and is under engagement to the Barnum & [ Bailey shows for a two years tour [ of Europe. Mart Gwinner wife and daughter iof Dodge City, Kansas, ate visitj ing relatives in this city. Mr. Gwinner was in business in this i city several years and will be remembered by many of the old residents. R. K. Allison has had plans and specifications made for a new residence. The cashier of the Old I Adams County Bank always does things just right, and when his residence is completed it will be one of the finest in the city. Several cases of whooping cough are reported in this city. In one ; instance it is known to bave been brought to the city by outside parties, and these people should | have known enough to have reI mained at home, when children 1 are suffering from contagious disI eases. Wash Steele has furnished us with a comparative statement of [ the temperature during the months lof July and August, in 1896-7. The average temperature for July, ’96, was 82° and for July ’97, 87°. In August, ’96 the average temperature was 81° and for August, ’97, 179°. Thus it will be seen that the month of July this year was eon siderably warmer than the same month in ’96, and August of ’96 was warmer than the correspondI ing month this year. Burglars are still plying their vocation in the residence portion of ihe city. Friday night thieves broke into the house of C. F. Alle- \ gar and stole a watch and a few other small articles. No trace has lieen found of the burglars, and no doubt never will be. More petty thieving has been going on since the lights were turned out, than ! ever before in the history of the city, and yet our city dads will leave the city in total darkness un til the new plant is built. Before that time thieves can steal the entire city and then we will have no use for an electric light plant Turn on the lights. The public schools of this city 1 open next Monday. The instructors as selected by the school trustees consists of W. F Brittson superintendent, Miss Lell Segur principal and instructor in mathematics, Miss Mary A. Johnson teacher of English and German, Miss Grace Manning teacher of Latin, A. W. Gulick teacher of science and history, and the following grade teachers: Dora L. Peterson, John R- Parrish, C. D. Kunkle, Dora Steele, G. H. Laughrey, Rose Christen, Nellie Krick, Bessie Congleton, John S. Falk, Loretta Snow, Nellie Winnes, Eva J. Acker, D. B. Erwin, Olive Dailey, Maud Foster and Tessa Barkley, with Fay L. Edwards as supply teacher. The list of teachers throughout are thoroughly competent and will fill their allotted positions with credit to themselves and our schools. Everybody has a pride in our public schools and should lend this aid in crowning them with success. Prof Brittson has been busy for a week or two in shaping the policy and details necessary for the opening Monday.

DECATUR, INDIANA, THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER 2, 1897.

Many statements have been sent out and many have responded. But every subscriber owing a year’s subscription or more, must settle the account, so make arrangements to pay up.

Decatur has brick streets, sewers, electric lights, water works, $115,000 bonded indebted ness and other evidences of prosperity.—Portland Sun. A barn belonging to Jonathan Burkhead of Monroe township, burned to the ground Tuesday night and together with the con tents is a total lass. No insurance. The old settlers are in annual *ession today in Kern’s grove. The org inization of old settlers is permanent and the annual meetings are looked for with a great deal of pleasure. The little friends of Agnes Holthouse surpr sed the little lady last Friday afternoon, on the occasion of her twelfth birthday. The surprise was complete and the little folks enjoyed a nice time. H. J. Wood, the Main street barber, is lying very low with typhoid fever, and at this writing no hopes are entertained for his recovery. His parents arrived from Van Wert to care for him, and are now at his bedside. Bishop Hott, of the United Brethren church, conducted union services at the M. E. church last Sunday. The address was one of the finest ever delivered in the city, and a large audience was present to listen to the distinguished divine. Last Friday afternoon, Hensley’s “Unknowns” defeated the Regular ball team in a hotly contested game, by the score of 12 to 11, and they are now known as the best team in the city. The second nine as the Regulars will hert after be known, have been relegated to the rear. The jury commissioners were complying with their sworn duty Monday, the petit jury as selected being Z. O. Lewellen of Monroe township, Davis Dailey of St. Mary’s, Joseph Glendenning of Hartford, A. M. Fuller of St. Mary’s, Henry Ellenberger of Monroe, Amos W. Wages of Blue Creek, Jonathan Burkhead of Monroe, Samuel Egley, John Pontius, Martin L. Kizer and Smith Shoen aker of Hartford, and William B. R- ynolds of Decatur. Persons who have never seen cotton in a growing state, will probably be interested to know that John T. France, of this city, has cotton growing in his garden that he raised from seed. The plants are now in blossom, and if I the frost remains away long enough, he will probably have the satisfaction of seeing the cotton mature. The blossoms on a cotton plant change color each day, when they drop off and the cotton bulb ] forms. These changes are daily taking place on the plants now growing in Mr. France’s garden, i Capital is now wanted to start a gin mill, and a few colored people | will also be given employment in picking the cotton. Since our last issue the following persons have contributed to our happiness in a financial way:| I. Rosenthal, John Meyer, W. H. Nachtrieb, James M. Fuhrman, j Cnas. S. Mumma. Peter Frank, D. | F. Fugate, Wash Steele, Fred Fuhrman, Mrs. Martha Dutcher, C. Augspurger & Co., Reisen Bros., C. C. Yoder, Stuckey & Schindler, Eli Meyers, Fred Neaderhouser, D. i Bixler, A. Gottschalk, Huffman & Gottschalk. Will Sheets, Ernest Franz, Mont Rose, J. W. Stone burner, Jacob Brennemann, Asa Haughton, Ed Nevensch wander, G. W. Gentis, James Rohn, Crist Meshberger, H. Linderman, Henry R. Peters, Frank Heiman, J. D. Winans, J. B. Coison, Levi A. Sprunger, Rev. B. Ruff, Mrs. Wilson, C. Ashbaucher, Henry Bluhm. F. W. Fuelling, Jacob i Cook, Dan Pontius, John Schrank, Andrew Barkley, Ann O. Amspaugh, Henry Kohne, Arthur Fisher, David 'Studabaker, Louis First, O. N. Tyndall, H. Worthman, Ferdinand Droege, Wm. Drummond, Jacob Koose, J. H. Smith, Ed Lynch, Elisha Merryman, Geo. Archbold, Joseph L. Smith and Wm. Baughman.

John Cook of Cardwell, Missouri, returned for his family Thursday evening. They will move to that place, where Mr. Cook holds a lucrative position with John W. Vail. A small child of Dal Hower’s badly scalded itself Monday morn ing, by upsetting a pan of starch upon its legs. Nothing serious is expected from the accident, altho the burns are painful. Miss Anna Terveer will begin a course of music at the Sacred Heart Academy of Music. She will remain until she has completed her musical education. She leaves this city next week. The diphtheria scare at Linn Grove has abated, no new cases having been reported for some time. The county health officer made a wild goose chase there last Friday in answer to a false alarm over a new reported case. Comprny “F” of the 130th I. V. I. will hold their annual reunion at Bluffton, 0., October 7th J. G. Grandstaff is secretary of the or ganization and is now busily engaged notifying the boys to be present. The usual good time will be on tap for the veterans. Invitations are out for the marriage of Rev. B. B. Uhl, of North Baltimore, Ohio, and Miss Minnie, the accomplished daughter of John Christen, Jr ,of Monmouth. The wedding takes place September 9th at the home of the bride’s parents, I and the happy couple will be at ■ home to their friends on North Tar street, North Baltimore, Ohio. Rey. Earle Wilfiey, of Wabash, Ind., will give an illustrated lecture at the Presbyterian church this evening, at 8:00 p. m. Subjject, “Ben Hur.” An accurate, [ graphic and popular treatment of the political, social and religious conditions of the most momentous period of the world’s history. Mr. Wilfley has arranged four of the most important and thrilling events of Gen. Wallace’s book in the form of recitations, which he gives with this lecture. They are: The Chariot Race, The Sea Fight, The Combat in the Palace and The Crucifixion. Horse thieves were numerous in this locality last week. While no horses were stolen here, yet two stolen rigs were recovered and one thief ciptured. Friday night [Sheriff Ashbaucher captured a j thief and recovered a horse and buggy that had been stolen at Coldwater, Michigan. On Sunday Marshal Cowan recovered a horse and buggy that had been stolen from Andrew Schunck near Celina, Ohio. The thief drove to this . neighborhood and sold the horse | to Al R >Bs for $35, traded the bug gy to Cash Andrews for an old I buggy and sl2, then sold the old buggy in the same neighborhood for $5. All of the property was recovered but the thief had flown. Below will be found a small boy’s essay on street commissioners: Street commissioners are funny fellows. Some of them never work, and when they do, they don’t do anything. Some street commissioners never work on the streets, but always stay in the alleys close to home. I think they should be called alley commissioners. Some street commissioners would not know what to do if they held office until they got their third set of teeth. Pa says Decatur has one of them, and he could make a better one with a jack knife. I looked through a big catalogue this week to find out how much a street commissioner would cost, like the one Decatur has, but they was not listed so I guess they must be awful scarce. Decatur ought to take good care of him so he don’t get lost, ’cause he is the only one of that kind around here. Pa says he gets *SOO a year for doing what he don’t do. Gee! what a snap. I should think farmers would raise street commissioners, for they could make money at that price, but then I don’t expect they could BeU any of them to Decatur for I heard some people say this town knows when she has enough.

Mrs. Ed. Johnson, a daughter of Wm. Rinehart of this city, died at her home at Forest, Onio, last Monday, of typhoid fever. The remains were brought to this city for interment. She leaves a husband and two children to mourn their loss. Fisher & Frisinger of this city have begun suit against the C. & E. railroad for $2,000 damages for failure to provide cars for shipping horses. The firm above mentioned had a contract with the Erie, whereby the railroad was to furnish cars as needed, and in this they failed. The firm now belieye that they have been damaged to the amount of $2,000, owing to their inability to furnish horses as needed in ihe foreign market. The case will excite a great deal of interest and will be hotly contested. Arrangements have been made to have one day’s racing in this city. Tomorrow afternoon is the time set for the sport, and the as ternoon will be devoted to trotting and pacing races. The track at Steele’s park has been put in firstclass condition, and the entries have all been made, and some good racing is promised. Small purses will be given to the winners, and a good crowd should go out and see the flyers. The persons who have been invited and who are expected to speak at the Studabaker family reunion on September 10, 1897, are Hon. John Studabaker, Bluffton; Judge David Studabaker, Decatur, Hon. Clem Studabaker, South Bend; George W. Studabaker, Greenville, Ohio; Hon. Peter Studabaker, Chicago; Abram T. Studabaker, Vera Cruz; Col. Geo. M. Studabaker, South Bend, and Ben Studabaker, of Poneto. The indications are that the event will be an interesting one and notable. —Bluffton News. The appointment of United Brethren ministers for the Fort Wayne district as announced, consists of W. Z. Roberts, presiding elder; A. W. Ballinger, Fort Wayne; W. H. Shepherd, Decatur; C. T. Beats, Decatur circuit; S. M. Leidy, Ossian; J. A. Hoffman, Tocsin; Mrs. A. Sipe, St. Mary’s; Jacob Miller, Geneva; J. D. Lusk, Portland; H. D. Meads, Nottingham; E. Baldue, Dunkirk; J. I. Kline, Red Key; E. Councellor, Saratoga; J. T. Miller, Pleasant Grove; A. Kissell, Rose Hill; L, C. Reed, Mt. Zuma; W. J. Spray, Latty. Henry Houck, one of the early settlers of Kirkland township, died August 13, after a short illness. He was born in Ohio, September 26, 1819, and at the time of his death was seventy-seven years, nine months and twenty-six days old. He moved to this county in 1844, and since has been a resident and citizen. He was instrumental in many public improvements, being a man of high stand ingand personal worth. Thefuneral services were held from the Mt. Zion church, conducted by Rev Carder, followed by interment in the Pine eemetery. Three children survive the deceased, they being G. M. T. Houck, Alice Sovine and Effie Stotenberry. Monday morning Sheriff Ashbaucher received word from the authorities at Carthage, Missouri, asking if a man by the name of Sam Marley was wanted in this county for a murder committed several years ago. For a time no murder could be called to mind, but upon investigation it was found that other parties, besides those tried and convicted had a hand in the murder of Amos Backesfo which took place in Blue Creek township about fourteen years ago. It was contended at the time of the trial that other persons than those sent to the penitentiary, were implicated in this crime. Fred Richards is now confined at the prison north, with a life sentence hanging over his head, while Charles Werst an accomplice, was paroled a short time ago by Governor Mount. Werst was in the last stages of consumption and was paroled for six months, and friends claim that he cannot live even that long. No positive information was given by the Carthage authorities, and Sheriff Ashbaucher has written for particulars regarding Marley, and it may be possible that after years of silence, further facts will be obtained about the murder that at one time startled the citizens of Adams county from center to circumference.

CIRCULATION 2400 WEEKLY.

NUMBER 25

| New circtit court cases filed the [ past week are Gilbert E. Bursley [et al vs George W. Bolds et al, on account and to set aside conveyance; demand sßoo. Lewis B. Root et al vs Ike Rose, account; demand $125. Mary Eckrote vs David Eckrote, divorce and ali mony; demand SI,OOO. Decatur Investment Co. vs Edna J. Pickett et al, note; demand $125 J. M. Frysinger et al vs Chicago & E r ie railroad, damage*; demand $2,000. Mary A. Raver vs Isaac Raver, suit for support; demand SI,OOO. Marie Stetson vs P. P. Ashbaucher, replevin. Last Wednesday night a cornfield prize fight took place near Willshire, Ohio, on the Indiana side of the line. Two or three hundred Decatur sports together with a few Willshire citizens made up the crowd. Willshire furnished the fight, Decatur furnished the money. It is reported that Emmett Culley, former editor of the Willshire Herald, managed the affair, and this is sufficient proof that an editor is a good all round man. The fight lasted five rounds, when pharles Mitchell, a colored gentleman, cried,“Hold! Enough!” and the fight was over. A surprise was given by Mrs. Bright on her husbmd, Joshua Bright, of Kirkland township, last Saturday, it being his fifty-seventh birthday. Invitations were given out to the neighbors and friends to which one hundred and nine adults and many children responded. Adams and Wells counties were both represented. One of the representatives of Wells county was Dr. Davenport, who enjoyed a good time and a hearty meal. Mr. Davis, the great Poland China hog man of Wells county was also present and done himself justice The good ladies brought forth plenty and to spare All left, wishing Mr. Bright many more such occasions. His sons and daughters presented him a large arm chair which was just his fit, and brought a large smile to his face. Ye editor had the pleasure of a ride and trip of inspection over the new macadamized road now being built by Calvin Miller & Co. We accompanied Surveyor Fulk, Com missioner Mann and Sol Carter the bridge contractor. The road extends from the western corporation limiss through Peterson to the Wells county line The grade the entire distance is nearly completed, and by this time nearly two miles of road is finished. At'er being properly graded, crushed stone to the depth of nine and one half inches and twelve feet in width is placed thereon, and two and one half inches of fine screenings is put on top of this, and afterwards rolled with Cutting’s city roller. It is surprising how firmly packed and s lid the road bed at once becomes, and in a very few months it will be as smooth and level as a floor and as solid as the Rock of Agee. It is the only kind of a road for this county, it having the durability and lasting qualities and will cost less for repairs than any other kind of a road. When completed it will be worth more to the farmers along its route than any improve ment they ever before contemplated. The road will be nearly twelve miles in length, and an effort will be made to complete it this fall. Some ten or twelve bridges and culverts were also constructed, the abuttments and masonry being contracted by Hoffman & Liddy of Linn Groye, while Sol Carter the genial Marion bridge contractor, put up the bridges. The bridges are up to the letter of the specifications in every particular and contain everything that pertains to durability and practical use In every culvert, no matter how small, seven eye beams help support and bear the burden of traffic that passes over them. The “cull lumber” mentioned by the Journal a week or two ago, lay along the road side, having been ejected and refused by the engineer before being placed on the bridges. In its place the best grades of planks purchaseable were substituted, leaving no flies whatever upon the work. The prices paid for them is the cheapest ever put in the county. The masonry is also well done and fulfills their contract. The new road though, is a beauty and will be a joy forever. The commissioners did the the right thing in substituting crushed stone for gravel, thereby making one of the best roads that lays out of doors.