Decatur Democrat, Volume 42, Number 13, Decatur, Adams County, 9 June 1898 — Page 5

Obituary. _ ik Merle Sheets, son of Noah and , Sheets, was born September died May 28 1897 aged ’ J eight months and nine e ' eU The funeral took place from Mt. y 6, ,n M E. church. May 30, 1898. at the Reynolds cemetery, >v Ralph C. Jones officiating. Ar nettie Crowell, was born at Port‘a Jav county. Indiana. March 1, IKaucldied at Decatur, Indiana, 28 1898, aged 22 years, 2 months a'.r j a vs. She was' united in marLtotfewton Crowell at Briant, v county, Indiana, Dec-ember 24, I! After marriage they moved to khigan, soon after returning to this . At the revival service held at 'f B. church in January 1897. 1 with her husband was converted id united with the church the same „ r of which she was a faithful , m 'ber until death. She was also member of the Y. P. C. U. Society ff il] be. missed in the home and urc h and when circumstances perted’she was at church services, e was willing to do what she could ‘rivhig of h«- means and otherwise, !e was a loving companion and other and a good neighbor. She tves a husband, two sons, one three ars old the youngest seven months d. father, four sisters and many ends to mourn. But their loss is r eternal gain. Funeral services ■re conducted at the U. B. church Decatur, Ind., May 30, 1898, by >v. W. H. Shepherd. Interment Portland, The death of Mrs. William Johnson ; Marion last week is causing ponderable excitement in that city. Her isband has been arrested charged ith murder and several of his friends ■e being held as accomplices. Last uesday’s Marion Chronicle gives ie following information: The jecial grand jury which was died to investigate the death of Mrs. iilliam Johnson, was instructed by udge Custer this morning. The inructions of the court were informal id delivered off hand. The grand jury as informed that there are now in ie jail certain persons charged with under. The persons referred to are filliam Johnson, husband of the Oman who died of the Christian cience treatment: James Achor and is wife, Sarah Achor. It would be jveral months, the court said, until ie meeting of the next regular grand irv. and it was deemed advisable to ill a special one in order that the acjsed might be released if there was dt sufficient warrant for holding hern, or in order that the prisoners light have the opportunity to give ail. if the offense was bailable. The part said that the ease is somewhat peculiar, and in the investigation of it be grand jury would have to follow

~n n n n ~ii Join S. B w & Co. OUR CHAMPION binders and mowers are the latest improved --no old stock, and the guarantee on them is such that avoids trouble to purchasers, and guarantees that purchasers of Champion machines can always get repairs for any Champion machine sold here at any time. Studabaker and Millburn wagons—the very Pest on the market, and warranted fully. We carry a line of the finest surrys, canopy and extra tops,buggies, road wagons of the very best makes, all fully warranted, binder twine, hay rakes, tedders and loaders, hay carriers and a full line of bicycles, New Home sewing machines, hardware, sash doors, blinds, machine oil, linseed on, white lead and paints —full and complete line. Our prices on first-class goods are low, and if you contemplate buying, you will miss it if you don t call and see our goods and get prices. John S. Bowers &I.

the statue and be guided bv the advice of the prosecuting attorney. Peter Jackson was born in Ashland county, Ohio, June 8, 1825, died at his home m Decatur, Ind., June 2, 1898 aged seventy-two years, eleven months and twenty-four days. In 1852 the deceased came to Indiana and settled in the neighborhood of where Rivare now is. In 1875 he removed to Decatur where he remained until death. On March 3,1850, ho was united in marriage to Miss Susan Garn. This couple lived most happily together for about forty years, tyhen by the hand of death the wife wasremoved to the blessed life beyond. Her remains sleep in the beautiful cemetery just across the way from the M.E. church. By her side were laid the remains of the husband. Thus sleeping side byside they will await the resurrection morning. Os this union seven children were born. Two of the seven have passed on before, two sons and three daughters remain to mourn the departure of a father. The deceased was one of a family of thirteen children. all of whom have passed away and each of whom lived beyond the allotted time ot three scori years aud ten. This is a very remarkable record, Mr. Jackson had been a member of the Reformed Luthern church in Ohio, but had not transferred his membership to Indiana. He endeavored, however, to mantain his trust in God and serve him in a quiet wav. He was a constant reader of the Rible, and during the last year had read the entire book through three times, This was a task worthy of special mention. The deceased had been in poor health about a year, and for the last two months had been quite sick most of the time. On last Sabbath evening he felt the end was near and expressed the fact that he felt ready to go, In all the relations of life he endeavored to be faithful. As a husband, father, neighbor and citizen he was most highly and worthily esteemed. Not often does the Democrat record the death of one whose demise has created the universal sympathy and caused such a degree of universal sorrow as that of Arkison Baughman, whose death occurred in this city last Friday morning. He left his home in the morning appearing to be in usual health. On arriving in the city he transacted some business at the bank, after which he went to the residence of his father. No. 49 Eighth street. His mother immediatelynoticed that an illness of a serious nature was laying hold of him and requested that a doctor be summoned. Thinking it nothing serious he objected; but he gradually grew worse until it became apparent that medical aid must be had at once. Dr. Boyers was immediately called to hissidebut onlv in time to see him breathe his last. Mr. Baughman has for fifteen

II j

years been engaged in the mercantile business at Steele. He liegan with only a few dollars as a partner with William Jacobs. Through his candor and keen business instinct he soon established a flourishing trade. The partnership was soon dissolved and for twelve years he carried on his prosperous business alone. Little over one year ago he entered into a partnership with G. C. McAlhaney, the firm being known as Baughman & McAlhaney. This partnership was maintained until his untimely death. Mr. Baughman was a man of extraordinary business sagacity. He possessed by nature those qualities so essential in the business world. When he first entered into business at Steele there was neither a grocery, blacksmith shop nor postoffice, and the farmers of that vicinity were compelled to do their trading in some of the more distant neighboring towns. With the increase of his business other industries began to manifest themselves and prosper. It was chilly through his efforts that Steele was favored with a postoffice, and during its infancy it was due to his ingenuity that it was maintained. By his death Steele looses its best financier, and 6113 of its best friends of progress. Arkison Baughman, son of William

and Elizabeth Baughman, was born in Lexington. Richland county, Ohio, March 26, 1855, died June 3. 1898, aged forty-three years, two months and seven days. The first ten years of his life was spent at the place of his birth, after which time he removed with his parents to Noble county, Indiana. After two years residence there the family removed to Decatur, and from thence to Salem where the remainder of his life was spent. He was married to Rachel Porter on September 21, 1881. He leaves a widow, five children, a father, mother, four sisters, one brother and a multitude of friends and relatives to grieve his departure. He was a faithful, worthy and honored member of the Knights of Pythias of Kekionga Lodge No. 63. His whole life was the living exponent of kindness and fraternity. Nothing moved him so great as the miseries and misfortunes of his fellow men. The living motto of his life seemed to be that of bestowing his gifts of love and tenderness upon the living, and not to keep them sealed up within himself until ! they are dead and gone. He was the i good Samaritan to every honest, poor . man who knew him: and charity never ! appealed to him in vain. He has gone ito recieve the just reward of the Supreme Chancellor of the Universe into whose hands we commend his sold. We are compelled to report to our readers this week the death of several of Adams county’s pioneer settlers. Among them is ope who was known to nearly everyone in the county and who was loved and respected by every one who knew him. Sylvanus Benedick Merris was born in Cuyahoga county, Ohio, June 30, 1825, and died at his home at Pleasant Mills, Indiana, June 5, 1898, aged seventy-two years, eleven mouths and five days. He was married to Mrs. Margaretta Stoner. October, 10, 1853, at Bucyrus, Ohio; moved from Crawford county, Ohio, to A’an Wert county, Ohio, in 1855 and from there to Adams county, Indiana, in January, 1859, locating in Pleasant Mills where he resided until the time of his death. He was the father of eight children, four of whom survive him with their mother. They are Lyman Wallace of Bluffton, Indiana, Ellsworth of Lexington, Kentuekey, Arvilla Foreman of Celina, Ohio, and Nancy Bell Fristoe of this city. Mr. Merris was one of the leaders of polictics as well as business in St. Mary’s township for many years, having served as justice of the peace from 1864 to 1872. Funeral services were held at Pleasant Mills under the auspices of the Masonic lodges of this city and Willshire, It was a dying request of Mr. Merris that Rev. Reckard of Delphos, should deliver the funeral sermon. Rev. Reckard had been a close friend of Mr. Merris for more than thirty years and his sermon was beautiful and well spoken. He said: “This community has never had a better citizen than Mr. Merris. He was a man who strictly attended to his own business. If he could not speak well of a person he kept silent. He was one ot those quiet, careful, thoughtful men in the community. He was an excellent neighbor. He seemed to possess none of that grasping, selfish spirit. Unselfish in his nature, he looked to the interests of his neighbors and friends, often to the neglect of himself. Just before his death he had all of his neighbors called in and in talking with them made especial inquiry whether any had aught against him. He seemed especially desirous of leaving this world at petice with his fellow men, and he left it without an enemy. In his dealings with his fellow men, our brother was strictly honest; he would far rather suffer 'loss than to take aught from another. The motto of his life was “do unto others as you would that they should do unto you,” and that motto' was strictly lived out all through his later life. As a citizen of our American government polieally, so far as I know, he always voted the republican ticket, and our government bad no man in it more loyal to his principles than Brother Merris. All through the great rebellion he stood firm for L nion and the abolition of slavery. In the present crisis, between our government and Spain, he was deeplv interested 'till almost the last dav of his life. For years Brother Mernss was a member of the Masonic Order and held to the principles of the Order during his life, expressing himself on his death bed as preferring to be buried bv the order. Speaking of his family relations, their are few men more attached to home

S I | A rich harvest I | for Buyers! | i - ■ I I i ■ A Week of Bargains! I I I I I Special Dress Goods | I and Ribbon Sale. g is All novelty dress goods that were 25 cents per yard, your g || choice this week 20 cents. m 73 A beautiful line colorings, novelties that were 50 and 60 hh g cents per yard, your choice this week for 39 cents per yard. 8 A fine lot of novelty dress goods that were 75 cents, this || || sale only 47 cents per yard. g All fine silk and wool novelties in most beautiful colorings W J that were $1 00 per yard, this sale 75 cents per yard. S This will be a rare chance to secure a good bargain and S g you will be well paid to attend this sale. A A fine lot of fancy ribbons in plaids and stripes, strictly all |n silk, your choice 22 cents per yard. ft Big bargains in all grades ribbons. Now is your chance to 0 buy ribbons cheap. We have all the latest novelties—no m I oldstyles - ■' 1 | fhblio\9 | I; B ' 1 I

and family than he was. And you will find few husbands and wives more attached to each other, and walked life’s journey more pleasantly and happily together than they. His children were, in a manner, his idols, he was very much attached to them. In his later years he made it his business to be in the homes of his children quite often, and we are glad to say those children loved their father, reverenced, respected and honored him, and in all their life never did aught to bring disgrace or a heart ache to either of their parents. Brother Merriss was quite an extensive reader. He was no friend to fiction, but that class of literature that treated on moral, political and religious principles, he read extensively. He had a mind of his own and did his own thinking. In reading he rejected what he believed to be false, and accepted what he thought was true. He formed his own ideas of political, moral and religious principles. Politically, he stood firmly on the foundation of a free and united government; morally, he believed in and lived out the principal of "doing unto others as he would have them do unto him; religiously he believed in the existence of God. He believed in the future existence of man, and also in future reward ami punishment ; that as we sow here we reap hereafter. This was a private confession of his faith to some of his own family. He told them that as he was about to leave them they would be glad to know in what faith he died and he gave them his views as stated. In speaking of bis death there were some things very marked. During all his sickness his mind seemed perfectly clear and rational, not disturbed in the least, no manifestation of impatience, not a murmer, not a complaint escaped his lips, or an expression of it on his features. Seemingly perfectly patient and submissive, even anxious, for the hour to come when he could take his departure from this life. There seemed to be no fear, no dread, no starting back in that solemn hour, but rather a reaching out after it; as before stated his mind was perfectly clear and undisturbed. Shortly before his death he called his family to him, talked to them, advised his children as to how he wanted them to do, and then talked to them about mother and the care they should take of her, giving mother into their hands to be tenderly cared for in her old age; then he made everv provision for his funeral, nothing seemed left undone. History informs us that Paul when on his way to the block was so little concerned that he preached to one of the servants of Nero and he was converted. Brother Merriss with no serious concern regarding the change about to take place, could make every possible preparations for the loved ones he was about to leave. When asked if he dreaded to die, he said, no; when

asked if he was prepared, he said, yes, when his family came weeping about him, he told them not to weep, and to do nothing to keep him here; he desired to take his departure. Thus passed out of our midst another fellow being; one of our best citizens, an excellent neighbor, a true American, a friend to every principle that looked to the political and moral good of the nation and community. He has gone; we will all go the same road, and we will go as he went; one of his sons expressed it, "he died as he lived;” calm and quiet he departed this life, with his family all about him, not a struggle in those last moments. Just as he was leaving and was beyond the power of speaking, his wife stooped down and bringing her face close to his and he tried to reach up and press that face close to his for the last time in this life. Thus he crossed the stream that divides time from eternity and there we will leave him in the hands of our Loving Father.” Don't forget us when looking for a buggy. Ashbaucher & Bell. 6tf Mr. and Mrs. John Niblick were Bluffton visitors last Tuesday. Now is the time for bargains in bug gies at Ashbaucher & Bell’s. 6tf Larence Hughes is studying medicine with Dr. Beavers this summer. Follow the crowd at meal time. They all go to Coffee & Baker’s ts Mrs. J. Q. Neptune and children are visiting her parents at Willshire, Ohio. Mrs. A. W. Peterson is now closing out her entire stock of millinery at cost. , 12t2 The W. C. T. U. will meet with Mrs. M. Gilson next Saturday June II at 2:30 P. M. Look here. We cannot be downed on a buggy deal. Ashbaucher & Bell. 6tf Attorney J. T. Merryman was at Berne Tuesday attending to legal business.

Have you seen our cheap road wagons. Ride as easy as a buggy and look better. Ashbaucher & Bell. 6tf

For Sale Jersey Bull, full blood age 15 months. Enquire of N. Case. 11-3

Read What Your Neighbors Say. MRS. WINNES. corner Fifth and Jefferson streets, Decatur, Ind., writes: Having faithfully tested your Dr. Barer's Cough Syrup and Penetrating Oil, I must say that I am highly pleased with them and shall use no other in the future. XAVIER M. MILLER, North Fifth street, Decatur, lnd„ savs: It gives me great pleasure to state that I can not praise your Dr. Bayer's Cough Syrup too highly. It cured mine and my neighbor s bad cold very promptly, MRS. A. C. WAGONER. Decatur. Ind., says: I admit tnat your Dr. Bayer's Cough Syrun. Penetrating Oil and Spanish Cross Tea are the best remedies I have ever used. They do all they are recommended to do. ray-Ask for pamphlets and samples at B. J. Smith's drug store.

You can get solid oysters and XXXX crackers at Coffee & Baker's. 44-ts We take good paper in payment for buggies. Come and see us. Ashbaucher & Bell. 6tf Buy one of those Electric Bug Exterminators for destroying all kinds of insects. Holthouse, Callow & Co. Holthouse, Callow & Co. are headquarters for everything in the line of paints and oils. Rock bottom prices and goods guaranteed. Dr. Chas. E. Miller will again be at Dr. Boyers’ office Saturday. June 18. Those who have had difficulty in being properly fitted with glasses are specially invited to call. For Sale I have vacant lots desirable for building purposes and improved farms on long time with low rate of interest. Improved city property to trade for farm property, will pay difference. Call and see me before investing. 12tf R. K. Erwin. Rome City For the season May 15 to Oct. 31, 1898. the G. R. & I. will sell excursion tickets as follows: to parties of 1 to 9, $2.35, return limit Oct. 31; to parties of 10 to 49, $2.00, return limit three days from sale; to parties of 50 or more. $1.65, return limit three days from sale. Dan VanCleef, the proprietor of the New Fair Store has a decoration in his store in this city worth coming miles to see. It is a mammoth Japanese umbrella, nine feet in diameter and is the largest on earth. Go in and see it. It is not generally known that over a century ago the Spaniards took Indiana. At least they marched up through this state, past South Bend and across St. Joseph county, over the border into Michigan and captured Fort St. Joseph, near Niles. It was in January 1718. Spain then possessed a vast amount of territory in what is now the United States, extending along the Gulf of Mexico from Florida around to Texas and up the Pacific coast to British America. She was gradually making her way northward and acquiring territory all through the Mississippi valley. Her northmost post at this time east of the Rocky Mountains was St. Louis, Mo., where a small garrison was maintained.