Decatur Democrat, Volume 43, Number 40, Decatur, Adams County, 14 December 1899 — Page 1

aIL THE NEWS all the time.

VOLUME xliii.

Judge Hammond, of LaFayette, Indiana, was a legal visitor in the city Monday. The bad weather of the past few divs has caused a check in business in this city. Th e election of officers of the K. of p is announced to be held next Thursday evening. r. S. Wilson, a young gentleman of Berne, was admitted to the Adams county Bar last Friday morning. Whv not give the Democrat and State Sentinel to you friend for one year? Only one dollar in advance. The old reliable furniture store of L Yager & Sons are with us this week and offer you all kinds of bargains in the furniture line, read their advertisment. R. S. Peterson has been chosen as commander of the G. A. R. Post in this city. S. Fordyce and Michael i Wertzberger were chosen as delegates to the national reunion. Coffee’s Bazaar on Madison street, has a Christmas window this week, which attracts the eye of the small bov and girl. A genuine merry-go-round is one of the drawing cards. The Kern, Beeler & Co. store has a beautiful winow display in their shoe department this week, which probably eclipses anything of its kind ever shown in Decatur. It is trimmed with electric lights, and should be seen at night to be appreciated. Rev. H. C. Duckett pastor of the Presbvterian church, will be absent from the city next Sunday, and Rev. Marion Beal, of Fort Wayne,will have charge of both the morning and evening services. Rev. Beal is well known here and over the country, he having been a resident of the county many years. The home merchant, says an exchange. are the ones to whom you look when vou want a favor. They are the fellows who carry your worthless paper when you get out of work and sickness and misfortune overtake you. They are the fellows who make a town and to whom you owe your patronage. Don’t do a credit business at home and a cash business elsewhere. Henry Schlegel, who has a habit of getting’ beastly intoxicated about twice a week and continuing so about three days and a half per jag, had on his usual “Indian” smile last Sunday. His talk was rather loud, obscene and insulting and Marshall Hart escorted him to the county jail, where he was given an opportunity to sober up. ’Squire Smith listened to his tale of woe, Monday morning, and fined him a dollar and costs, amounting to a ten dollar note, and being unable to pay, he now languisheth. The F. &A. M. lodge 571, of this city, held their annual election of officers Tuesday evening and the following members were chosen to serve during the year 1900: John H. Lenhart, Master: Charles Helm, Senior Warden; P. L. Andrews, Junior Warden; L. C. Miller, Secretary: M. Burns, Treasurer; C. A. Cugan, Trustee. A joint installation of officers with the Eastern Star will be held on the evening of December 27, to which are invited Masons and their immediate families. A supper will be served and a social entertainment given, to make preparations for which a committee of six were appointed. The Decatur Bowling Club were at Fort Wayne Tuesday evening where j they met’the Fort Wayne team in a friendly contest, and were defeated | by a score of 3369 pins to 3248. The Fort Wayne team was composed of Messrs. Jenson, Gilmartin. Berghoff, and Lennox, and the Decatur team of Messrs. DeVoss, Hill. France, Peterson and Holthouse. Five games were played and all were very interesting throughout, the Decatur bowlers winning three out of the five games but losing on the total number of pins made. Ora France made the highest score of the local team-178. The boys speak in the highest terms of their treatment and will endeavor to return same at the next game, announced to be played here next Tuesday evening.

We have heard and read a great deal of late, says an exchange, regarding Congressman Roberts, the sultan of Sulu, Fransworth, James Monroe, and polygamy and bigmay in general, and now it suddenly developes that in the state of New York in the United States of America, it is possible for a man to live with three wives at one time, without being amendable to any law of man. The way it may happen is stated as follows: “If the wife of a married man leaves him and he can find no trace of her for a period of five years he may re-marry. If the second wife follows the example of the first and trace is lost of her for five years, he may marry the third time. If the two missing wives should return there is no law on the statute books that can prevent them from liv - ing with him if they so desire, They are still his wives and remain so until they bring proceedings to have their marriage contracts annulled. Thus you see it is possible fora New Yorker to have three wives inside of eleven years.”

Dbcatilß OBMOCMr.

The I ost-office will be open on' Sundays hereafter, from 9 to 10 o’clock. a. m. and from 2 to 2:30 o’clock p. in. The Chatauque section of the' Ladies Shakespeare Club met with Mrs. D. M. Hensley at her home on Second street yesterday afternoon. Thomas Woodruff, the veteran horseman, was among the “plain drunks” before ’Squire Smith Monday morning, and as a consequence paid an eight dollar fine. Mrs. H. C. Duckett has been quite sick during the past week with bronchitis, but we are happy to state that at present she is greatly improved and on a fairway to recovery. Marriage liscenses have this week been granted to Charles F. Rice and Margaret M. Blood,William Hollingsworth and Della Beeler, Charles Hollingsworth and Julia E. Buches. Jethro Macy a former resident of Monroe township, but now of Farmland, visited relatives and friends at Monroe and this city during the past week. He returned to his home yesterday. Ross Johnson, the attorney, has been quite sick during the past week with symptoms of typhoid fever. He is recovering, however, and was able to be removed from his boarding house in this city to his home near Monroe on Tuesday. His friends hope he may soon entirely recover. Under the auspices of the Ladies’ Aid Society of the Methodist church, Edison’s moving pictures were produced at Bosse’s opera house Tuesday evening. The pictures were interesting and quite a large audience enjoyed the pleasure of witnessing them. The December section ladies are well pleased with the financial results of the event. Will Winnes arrived home Monday evening from Reedley, Cal., where he has bean employed in a large general store, of which his brother Harry is proprietor. Will left here last June, being absent just six months. He was well pleased with the country, but preferred to reside in old Adams and has accepted a position in the Winnes Shoe Store. He left Reedly just one week before his arrival. When F. M. Schirmeyer came down to his office Tuesday morning, he found the wind had played havoc with one of his awnings, one side being broken loose. He attempted to fix it and in doing so slipped and struck his chm upon the window sill. He received a gash about an inch long and a badly bruised chin as a result. However, he believes he was lucky not to ha ve had his head knocked entirely off from the force of the blow. As it is he has had a very tender spot under the chin. The following officers have been selected to take charge of the affairs of the local Catholic Benevolent Legion during the ensuing year: President, Theodore Smith; vice president, John Mason: Orator. D. D. Coffee; Secretary, Charles Voglewede; treasurer, Barnev Wemhoff; collector, Charles S Niblick trustees, H. H. Bremerkamp, E. X. Ehinger and J. W. Bosse; representative at the convention, E. X. Ehinger; alternative to convention, John Kleinhenz; guard, Tise Ulman and marshall, John Baker. All are competent and worthy mem bers and the order will no doubt prosper under their management. Rev. J. E. Stoops has received an I anonymos letter from some one who warns him to desist fighting against I the saloon. Mr. Stoops has taken a very active part in the anti-saloon movement that has been on foot for some time, and that fact fact is assign ed for the motive for writing the letter. The letter advises him that he can find better employment than looking after the man who takes an occasional drink, and suggests that he stop his fio-ht. Rev. Stoops did not desire the letter to be published as it contained some rather mean references. He says, however, that the writer must remember that he is of r ed4iair class and will lie found doing just what he believes to be right regardless of others’ advice or threats.--Portland Daily Review.

As Christmas approaches the business at the post office increases ac. cordingly on account of the sending of packages and letters as remembrances. Postmaster Andrews informs us that the increase has already began and for the benefit of those interested we publish the so lowmgadv.se: DoS mail anv article unless he X i. properly addr««L O'street or box number in large cities. Don’t mail letter or package without the necessary postage thereon. Don t light wrapping log them vent breaking.. without them. This will guarantee address, either,written or printed upon the envelope or wrapper. I

DECATUR, INDIANA, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1*99.

Ara you reading the new serial in the Democrat, “In His Steps?” It is without a doubt the greatest story of the age. The case of State vs Ben Middleton, provoke, was dismissed last Friday. The case was appealed from the Squire’s court at Monroe. John Dubois, a resident of this city died on Tuesday of last week of heart disease and was buried at the Reynolds cemetery Thursday morning. Funeral services were conducted from the United Brethern church by Rev. Kline.

Miss Ada Johnson, daughter of R. B. Johnson of Peterson, and a sister of E. Burt Lenhart of this city, is very low with consumption, and death is momentarily expected. The young lady is eighteen years old old and has been very popular with her young friends. The December section of the Ladies Mite Society of the Methodist church will give a “baby show” at the lecture room of the Methodist church tomorrow evening, which promises to be very unique and quite the novel event of the season. About fifty infants will take part in the affair and an interesting program will be given. Mr. Charles Rice of Warren, and Miss Margaret Blood of Geneva, were united in marriage by Rev. W. H. Daniels, at the Methodist parsonage in this Tuesday evening. They will make their future home hear Warren, where the groom owns a well improved farm. Both are young people, popular in their hometowns and have many friends who wish them well. A number of Decatur people attended the Elk’s circus at Fort WayneTuesday and Wednesday nights. The entertainment was given for the benefit of the poor and was held at the Masonic Temple. It was unique in every respect and the large audiences present were well pleased and expressed the “show” as a genuine and up-to-date cure for the blues or any other ailment. There v ill be an eclipse of the moon Saturday evening the 16th, visible in all, or a large part of its duration, throughout the continents of the world, it will be. strictly speaking, a partial eclipse, although barely one edge will be left outside of the total shadow of the earth at the middle of ) the eclipse. The moon will rise a few minutes before the sun sets, and enters the earth’s shadow at 5:45. The middle of the eclipse will be reached at 7:26, and the moon will leave the shadow at 9:07. This eclipse will be so nearly total that it may be utilized largely as such for purpose of observation. Ambrose H. Wells, representing the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States, was in the city last Friday and paid to the estate of the late John T. France, the sum of fifteen hundred dollars, that being the amount due on a twenty payment life policy carried by Mr. France. He also appointed as his agent, Mr. John S. Peterson, who will hereafter represent that company in thiscounty. The Equitable is one of the largest and best insurance societies in the world and he who holds a policy with them is indeed lucky. The promptness in this case shows them to be aggressive and prompt and great praise is due them. A small child of Mr. and Mrs. j Joseph Heffner who reside on First street came near dying Friday eveni ing from a dose of laudanum, given Iby mistake. The child had been ailI ing for sometime and after supper i the mother gave him a spoonful of what she supposed was the medicine i which had been left by the family ■ physician. Shortly after taking the medicine, however,the boy became very sick and an investigation showed that Mrs. Heffner had unthoughtedly gotten hold of the wrong bottle. Dr. Clark was summoned at once and after several hours the little fellow was revived and his life saved although the escape from an agonizing I death was a narrow one and the terrible fright to the mother and father was one which they have no desire to pass through again. Burglars have again visited the town of Monroe six miles south of here, and from reports have laid in a good supply of winter goods. The stores of John Hendricks and John Hocker were visited Sunday night and several dollars worth of most all kinds of merchandise was taken. The entrance to both stores was made from the rear and the stocks overturned in the search by the thieves for plunder. Mr. Hendricks is the proprietor of a general store and handles all kinds of goods generally sold at a country store, consisting of groceries, dry goods, clothing, shoes, tobacco, etc. His loss is the largest and will reach near SIOO. Mr. Hocker s stock consists of guns, bicycle supplies and ammunition and quite a quantity of goods, including two shot guns is missing. Residents of Monroe do not doubt for a moment that the work was that of home talent and every effort is being made ascertain a clue, from which to locate the guilty parties and if found they will very probably receive the extreme limit of the law.

A masquerade surprise upon Miss Mary Gilliom was the order of events Tuesday evening. A general good time with refreshments, games and other amusements to assist them was enjoyed. Barney Myers sold an enormous hog to Dyonis Schmidt last Friday and many people were attracted by the work of unloading the animal, which weighed nearly 900 pounds. He was not only a “porker” but a “corker” as well, and a few such animals a year would furnish pin money for most any lady of the county. Earl, the thirteen-years old son of Mr. and Mrs. Horace Batthoff, residing at Pleasant Mills, died Monday morning from inflamation of the bowels. He was a bright and agreeable little fellow and has been sick but a few days. Funeral services were held yesterday afternoon. The sympathy of many friends are with the bereaved family. The twentieth century will commence on January 1, 1901. It will open on Tuesday and close on Sunday. It will have the greatest number of leap years possible—twenty-four. The year 1904 will be the first one, then every fourth year after that, to and including the year 2000. February will have in each of three years five Sundays- in 1920, 1948 and 1976. A writer in the Review of Reviews gives this advice: If you have a farm keep it; if not, get one, for the time may come when the population of this country may be largely divided into monopolists, dependents and farmers, and the farmer will be the most independent of all men, and will be the saving power of our institutions. We will venture to say that it will not depend so much upon the farm as upon the farmer. School house, No 6 in Monroe township was totally destroyed by fire Thursday night. It was a well built brick structure and was built in 1890. The fire originated from a defective flue, the fire having been left burning in order to keep the room warm for the following day. All the books, furniture and other contents and the frame work was entirely destroyed and the walls ruined. Walter Johnson was serving as teacher and will probably resume work after the holidays if a suitable room can be obtained in which to hold school during the rest of the winter. Yesterday's Bluffton Chronicle said. D. F. Morris and family are moving to Pleasant Mills, in Adams county. Their household goods have been shipped there and Mrs. Morris and the baby went today. Mr. Morris has moved his stone crusher to Pleasant Mills and will be employed next summer in getting out crushed rock for the improvement of Adams county roads. He has at present a contract for 15,(MX) yard of rock. He has a ten years' lease on ground near Pleasant Mills, and as Adams county has few good roads at present, he will doubtless have lots of stone to get out for that purpose. He will put in saw-mill machinery and get out timber until time to opeu’ up the quarry in the spring. The “Public Sale Party” given by Mrs. Paul G. Hooper last Thursday evening, was all that could possibly have been anticipated by the guests. The event of the evening was the dinner which had been expressed “just lovelv,” by one of the ladies who attended and partook thereof. The menu was unique and contained everything in season, expressed in well selected synonyms, the lady guessing the naming of the majority of which was to receive a beautiful cake as a prize. Strange to say four of the guests were equally successful and the cake was according! divided among them. Those who thus shared their superiority at the “guessing business” were Mesdames Townsend, Daniels. Ellingham and Miss Hattie Studabaker. The great sale was certainly a "bloomin” success, judging from the manner in which the various articles disappeared.

In speaking of the production of the “Cheerful Liar” by the Spencerville Dramatic Company, the News of that city said: “They found the people of Decatur agreeable and entertaining and the liberal patronage and attentiveness certainly attests that they enjoy an evening of amusement. Mr. Bosse, the opera house manager, was very profuse in complimentary terms of" the evening’s performance and a greater part of the success in coming out financially whole was due to his untiring efforts, for which the members of the club feel doubly grateful. After the play the company repaired to the home of Leo Kintz, where they were treated to a grand supper and delightfully entertained until train time. Decatur is strictly up-to-date, which may be surely ascertained by a glance at their breezv newspapers, to which thanks are returned for courtesies extended, the sociability of the citizens and the inviting and "welcome appearance of the town in general. The members of the club and visitors were all very favorably impressed with the place, and are anxious to again partake of the city’s hospitality.

Adam Brown, who was so badly injured in a runaway about two weeks ago, is much improved and able to sit up. His many friends are glad to | know that he will recover and hope ' his bad luck is at an end. Communion services were conducted at the Methodist church Sunday morning by Presiding Elder Simpson, of Fort Wayne, who delivered an eloquent and interesting sermon. The meeting was largely attended. Miss lanthe Gregory is at home after an extended visit to friends and relatives in the east. During her absence she has seen nearly all the large cities and places of interest, including New York, Washington, Boston, Baltimore and others. She witnessed the famous celebration of the arrival of Admiral Dewey at New York, and the gala days which followed.

Mrs. Laura Jeleff left Monday evening for Denver, Colorado, where, so it is rumored, she will meet her affianced husband, and they will immediately be united in marriage. The event will probably occur this evening. and the happy couple will reside in Denver, where the groom is engaged in the merchant-tailoring business. The bride-to-be has many friends here who join with the Democrat in offering congratulations. New and old subscribers to the Democrat who have paid subscriptions during the last week are: R. E. Smith, A. J. Myer, T. Ernst, L. B. Akely, J. W. Todd, Godfrey Christen, J. F. Young, Slone Meyers, Louis T. Kintz, W. R. Smith, levi Barkley, C. D. Lewton, William Koldeway, Charles Morrison, Fred Koldeway, Joe Sawyer, Charles Gueiner, J. H. Mosser. John W. Cook, Jacob Cook, and James Patterson. Nearly all of this list, as have likewise hundreds of other citizens of the county, have taken advantage of our present lowrates, the Democrat and State Sentinel, a year in advance, for one dollar. Subscribe now and start with the new year. The handsome new front in the J. S. Bowers building on Monroe street has been completed, and is beyond description. It is by all odds the finest in the city, and is a credit to the builders, owners and city. The handsome supports and the large plate glass give the block an entirely different appearance, and it can scarcely be equalled in cities several times the size of Decatur. The improvement was constructed under the supervision of Charles N. Christen and it is a monument of skill and workmanship, which will stand to that gentleman’s credit for many years. The building is occupied by J. S. Bowers & Co’s, large hardware store, and their mammoth stock shows up well behind such a front. Another pioneer citizen of Adams county has been called from his labors to answer the reward he has so justly earned. Ernest Heckman died at the home of his son, Henry Heckman, in Root township at eight o’clock Tuesday night. He was born in Germany in 1820, and imigrated to the United States in 1835. He has resided in Adams county more than half a century and has ever been an enterprising and substantial citizen. His death was due to the old age, he having reached the four score year mark. His family of six children are among the very best citizens of the county and are evidence of his good and splendid influences. They are Mrs. Henry Dirksou, Mrs. Henry Sakmyer, Mrs. Herman Gerke, Mrs. Wm. Droege, Mrs. Wm. Zwiek and Henry Heckman. Rev Hugi will conduct the funeral services this afternoon from the St. John’s Lutheran church, and the body will be interred in the St. John’s cemetery. The Adams circuit court record reveals the following business as trans acted during the past week: Daniel Railing vs Mary Brown et al., motion filed to quash. State vs J. C. F. Manley, trial by jury who returned a verdict of guilty of assault and battery, and assessed a fine of $5 and the costs of the trial. State vs Charles H. Butcher et al., continued by agree ment until the third Monday of the next term. State vs Ben Middleton, dismissed. State vs D. F. Ault, dismissed. Hazy Newcomer vs Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad, demurrer filed by defendant to plaintiff’s amend ed crosss complaint. Richard S. Wilson admitted to the Adams county bar, being examined by R. K. Erwin. C. J. Lutz and John C. Moran. Chris- | tena Drake vs Thomas D. Drake, divorce granted, judgment vs plaintiff; for costs. Solomon Moser vs William Anderson et al., judgment vs plaintiff for costs. State vs James Coverdale, j fined $lO. State vs Frank Boyer, motion filed to quash indictment. State ex rel Noah Mangold vs D. P. Bolds, two eases, defendant ruled to answer. State vs Nathan Musser, continued. Grand jury returned three indictments, made an inspection and report of the condition of the county infirmary and jail, and were discharged. Isabella Williams vs J. C. F. Manlev. motion made by plaintiff for a new trial. W. S. Hughes vs Susannah Archer, summons issued. State vs Nolan Woodward et al., trial bv jurv, who returned a verdict of not guilty.

CIRCULATION 2800 WEEKLY

NUMBER 40

The city council met in extra session Wednesday evening of last week i and appointed M. J. Mylott general ' superintendent of the Citizens Electrical plant. This gives him entire control over the enployes and the machinery and also includes a slight raise in salary. Martin has heretofore acted as city electrician and is well fitted for his position, and the council has no doubt acted wisely in promoting him. J. D. Holman, proprietor of the new shoe store'in this city, received a telegram last Friday evening telling of the sudden death of his aged father, who resides at his native town in Kansas. Mr. Holman left at once for that destination and while attending the funeral Sunday afternoon he received a message from Lis wife in this city informing him of the serious illness of his son, Harry. He arrived home Tuesday evening and was indeed made happy by learning that the boy was much improved and considered out of danger. Miss lanthe Gregory, who recently returned from a trip to New York, tells of a visit with Ed Work, a former Decatur boy, now a member of the United States Navy. At present he is on the receiving ship Vermont, now permanently stationed at New York City. He is in good health and spirits but is heartily tired of the service,and expects to retire for good at the expiration of his present enlistment, which expires next March. He will visit Decatur soon after that time, and his friends here will greet him with pleasure. A letter has been received at this office from Fred J. Hale, who by this time has landed at the Phillipine Islands, as a member of Company A, 45th U. S. V. The letter was written from Honolulu, Hawaii, under date of November 26. John is in good health and asks to be remembered to his friends in Decatur. A copy of the Hawaian Star a prosperous looking paper has also been received from him. It will be remembered that John left here under the suspic- | ion of having stolen a pocketbook containing ten dollar, while in the employ of Enos People’s. He refers to the occurrence and says he has lost no sleep over the report. His address will bo at Manilla, where he hopes to hear from his old friends often. William Roop, aged thirty-five years, died at the home of his brother, ; Nathan Roop, in the south part of the I city at seven o'clock Monday evening, i He had been a sufferer from consumpI tion for several years and his life slowly ebbed from his once strong I body. He was always an industrious | hard working man and was for a number of years employed as section boss on the Clover Leaf railway. During the past six years, however, he lias been unable to work and has been gradually growing weaker until death finally came to end his sufferings. He was a good citizen and had many friends who are sad to know that it was the will of the Great Creator to call him home when in the very prime of life. He was a member of the Knights of Pythian lodge of Willshire, Ohio, and under the auspicies of that and the Decatur order the funeral services were conducted from the Methodist church at Willshire yesterday afternoon. An interesting history connected with the introduction of leap year states that in 1288, when Queen Margaret reigned over Scotland, this gracious lady decreed that during her reign every maiden in her realm, whether of high or low degree, should propose to the man she loved, and if the man were not betrothed already he must either wed the maid or pay a heavy fine. On the death of Queen Margaret the women were urgent in their demands that their new privileges should be continued. To appease them an act of parliament was passed which made it lawful for maidens to do the proposing every leap year. Not all of the romatic ideas of our ancestors have been thus perpetuated and comparatively few were transferred by our pilgrim fathers across the Atlantic. For example, in days gone by it was the custom in many towns and even villiages in England to have a house where poor couples, after they had been wedded in church, could entertain their friends at small cost, the only outlay indeed being entailed by the purchase of such provisions as they choose to bring with them. In Hertfordshire there was such a house which had a large kitchen with a caldron, large spits and a dripping pan, also a large room for merriment, and a furnished Iwudoir. Dishes, table linen and bed linen were among the possessions. In Essex there was a house very much like this, which was used by the poorer folks for dining after they had returned from church. In some of the old English histories record is made of one Roger Thornton, who granted in 1456 to the mayor and community of Newcastle-uvon Tyne the use of the hall and kitchen belonging to Thornton’s Hospital, for the “use of young couples when they were married to make their wedding dinner in and receive their friends.” At Hamelin then' still exists a large building which is known as the wedding house. It was erected during the second decade of the seventeenth century.