Decatur Democrat, Volume 47, Number 14, Decatur, Adams County, 11 June 1903 — Page 1

ALL THE NEWS ALL THE TIME.

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JOHN HENRY LENHART. I v-ain it becomes our relord the dentil of a fi ie*d. not only I' our s but of every citizen within be county, a man held in high steeni by all who knew him and X-ially by those who Jsnew him \ John H. Lenhart died at [ope hospital. Fort Wayne, at ten •clock Saturday night. His illness jutes back indirectly to fifteen ears ago- when he first became' [flictad with liver trouble and at hat time physicians advised an Deration but from time to time the reacted ordeal was put off until a 8 w days ago. During the past ew years he has been subject to reqnent attacks from which he could recover in a few days sufficntly to again attend to business, tbout a month ago he attended a neeting of the Masonic lodge at Geand while there suffered a jevere collapse. For a few hours it ivas feared the end was at hand bat le recovered slightly and the follown-_' morning was brought to his home n this city. He gained slowly and balized that h® must undergo an iperation. He-was taken to Fort iVayne last Monday morning and ilaced in Hope hospital where an iperation was performed Wedneslay morning by Dr. Miles Porter ud Dr. J. S. Boyers, twenty-six rail Stones being removed. Mr. jenhart recovered from the operaion and it was pronounced sucessful, in fact it was and death va* due to a cause which no operaion could prevent, paralysis of the kidneys. The patient seemed to be Improving and did so until Friday when the house physician at the hospital announced that he was not is well as he should be. Other physihanswere called and worked with him incessantly but to no avail, the kidneys refused to perform their function. Saturday-morning Dr.Port?r pronounced his condition as precarious and the news when received here shocked the entire community vho apparently for the first realized the gravity of Mr. Lenhart's condition. During Saturday he .mproved but slightly’ and a telephone message at seven o'clock in rhe evening from Dr. Porter to Dr. Boyers, gave practically no hojie. A few moments after ten o'clock came the news of the end and a feeing of sadness was noticed on the countenance of nearly every citizen Bunday. Mrs. Lenhart and son Norman, were with the husband and father when the end-came, E. Burt Lenhart, another son, went to Fort ftVavne on the nisht train and the funeral party arrived here at tnree o'clock Sunday afternoon. John Henry Lenhart was a native of this county, having been born in Root township in- 1847. -He was fifty-six years, two months and twenty seven days old. He was reared on the farm and there receiving the training which made him a man among His early education was acquired in the district schools, afterwards attending the public schools h§re for a short time. He taught in the county schools for a number of years and is in all else he undertook was eery successful. In 1869 he wag married to Miss Tillie Stevens who still survives him. To them were born seven children,® four of whom have proceeded the father in death. Those surviving art; E. Burt Lenhart, a member of the law Irni'with his father, Norman Lenhart and Mrs. Millie Rice of Birmingham, Alabama. In 1870® Mr. Lenhart moved to Peterson, Kirkland township, where he engaged in the saw mill business, remaining there until®lß9o when he was elected county glerk, serving <two year terms until 1898. Prior to that ime he served for many years as ustice of peace o>his township. In nil his public life his record has been Clean and not a blot can be found against his name, what more can 3e said of any man, he was honest, straightforward, always accomodatmg and ever willing and ready tohelp t the poor and needy. His friends toJay are numbered by his acquaint-, inces. After concluding his official ife. he entered into partner ship with H. H. Harruff under the hrm name of Harruff & Lenhart. About a year ago Mr. Harruff, ex-

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pecting to move to Michigan with-'l drew from the firm and his son became a member, the firm name up to the present time being Lenhart & Lenhart.® For many years Mr. Lenhart has been a staunch member of .the Odd Fellows fraternity and of the Masonic lodge and in both he attained the highest offices and honor, he being a past noble grand and past master. At the time of his death he was secretary and a trustee of the Odd Fellows and a trustee of the Masonic lodge, showing his high standing among his brothers. In everything he believed he believed and worked with a sincerity and honesty that was bound to win for him high honors. This was true in his church life. Shortly after coming to this city he united with the Methodist church and from that hour until illness prevented him from so doing, he was ever at work. »He hjis served in the various offices, has been Sunday school super - ntende nt and treasurer and always an earnest laborer for the cause. No man can help admiring his traits of character and praises for his long life of usefulness may be heard today on every hand. A meeting of the Adams County Bar association was held Monday morning, and P. G. Hooper, D. D. Heller and P. B. Erwin appointed as a commit; tee on resolutions. A committee to secure a floral emblem was also appointed, being'D. E. Smith, B. W. Sholty and Jesse Sutton A. page of the court docket will be dedicated to the memory of Mr. Lenhart and the bar will attended the funeral services in a body. Mr. Lenhart was also deputy grand instructor of the Odd Fellows lodge and had a diploma showing his proficient knowledge'of his work.

An immense throng of people at ■ tended the funeral services of John H. Lenhart at the Methodist church at ten o’clockTuesday- morning. From that hour until twelve every commercial house in the city, including also all county offices, were closed. The Adams county- bar association, Independent Order of Odd Fellows F. & A. Masons, Daughters of Rebekah, attended in a body. The funeral sermon was delivered byRev. John C. White, pastor of the Methodist church, assisted by Rev. C. G. Hudson and Rev. E. H Pontius. The services were under the auspices of the various orders who performed their ritual work. Impressive and solemn were the sad rites and the great crowd in attendance but dimly- portrays the high c&m in trhiefe. Mn LenJwk held by the citizens of Decatur and Adanjs county. Many- people were present from Berne, Geneva, Peterson, Preble and other towns, while the country districts were also well represented. Tlie beautiful casket was nearly- buried in floral wreaths and emblems, the gifts of lodges, friends and dear relatives. The cortege was the largest seen here for many years. Interment was made at the Maplewood cemetery where the lodges performed the last offices in honor 'of their deceased brother. He is dead but the good he has done will live for many years and his clean record, pure heart and upright principles should be a lesson for us all. He lived a noble life. resolutions of respect. At the meeting of the Adams County Bar® Association Monday, P. Gi HoOper, D. D. Heller and D. B. Erwin were appointed aS a committed to prepare and report resolutions in commemoration of the death of John H . Lenhart, a member. At fine this morning the following resolutions were rmwrted and Whereas it has pleased ti?e Supreme Judge of the Universe to remove from our midst, ombrother, uitll fellow citizen, Ahn H. Lenhart, who departed on the Wh day of June, 1903; Therefore®Be it resolved: Thpj in the death of our Brother, John H. Lenhart, we have sustained a loss which we deeply- deplore. As an officer of this court, for eight years he honest, upright, and ever in his mind the duties and responsibilities of his trust. As an attorney of this bur since the <th|

DECATUR, INDIANA, THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 1903.

day of, October 1898, he was ever | faithful and true tohis’ clientage, discharging the duties of his calling ti/dhe best of his knowledge and ability. As a citizen he was ever kind and courteous, leading a pure and open life, always ready to lend a helping hand to the needy and poor. Be it further resolved, That we the members of the said Ad-ams-County Bar, tender to the family, relatives and friends of our deceased brother, our most heartfelt sympathy in this sad time of their affliction: Be it further Resolved: That out of respect for our deceased Brother, the Adams County Circuit Court, this day adjourn, and that the members of this bur attend his funeral in a body. Be it further Resolved that a copy of these res solutions be furnished the familly of the deceased Brother, and that a copy of the same be furnished each of the newspapers of Adams county, for publication. Be it further Resolved: that a copy of these resolutions be ordered spread <<4 record on the order book of the Adams circuit court, and that a memorial j page Tie dedicated and set apart to j his memory. Respectfully submit ; ted, P. G. Hooper, D. B. Erwin, D. I D. Heller, Committee. The millers of eastern Indiana are About to organize into a real live trust. A big convention has been called for Anderson on the 17 of this month and they will then act one way or another. The promoters of the organization say that the flouring business is the next largest industry in the state and that the millers 'are entited to profits that under the present conditions they do not get.

Appropriate services will be held ht the beautiful Lutheran church at Friedheim on Sunday, June 21, the occasion being the dedication of the 'new church organ. Services will be held both morning and after-, noon and everyone who so desires is cordially- invited to attend. Thecomplete program has not yet been arranged but will be in a few days and will then be published. The musical part of the exercises will be a treat, as especial attention is to be given to that department. “Lost everything, but we are all right. Adda'Barnett.” Such was the wording of a message received by- Mi*. John B. Stoneburner from ),,> r sistey.i;)t eleven o’clockJilonda v raoring. The. telegram was sent from St. Louis and shows that they have arrived there safe. Miss Barnett has been living with her brother Jerry- Barnett at Venice, just across the river from St. Louis. Mr. Barnett left here about four years ago and located at Venice. He has prospered and owned his own property. The floods of that district have threatened them and for several days they have had a %oat securely. tie<bto the house that they might escape with their lives if necessary. The emergency perhaps came this morning, as dispatches from that territory tell of great disaster and great loss of life. The Barnetts will be remembered by many of our citizens. William Doehrman an<l Miss MayErnst, two popular young people of this city, were quietly married Sunday evening at Friedheim. The ceremony- was performed by Rev. Preuss ai the parsonage and only a very few relatives were present. Miss Heva Ernst, a sister of the bride, and Conrad Doehrman, a brother of the groom, s®od up with the couple as and best man. Immediately lifter the services the bridal party returned to this city and were the guests of the bride’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Titus Ernst. Mr. Doehrman is a hustling business man of this place, being the proprietor of the Peoples’ restaturant, and lx>th he and his bride have many- friends who join the Democrat in wishftig them all kinds of happiness. Mr. and Mrs. Doehr-! man will reside in apartments over ' toe restaurant, the rooms being alr«dy cozily arranged for their con- 1 •venience.

The funeral of Mrs. Wililam of Steele was held from the M. E. church® at Steele Friday morning, Rev. Sprague of Monroe officiating. She died Wednesday morning at eight o’clock, after along illness with consumption. She was about forty years of age and very well known in her community. She was an earnest worker and member of the Methodist chrych. Two-sons and a daughter remain, the husband having died several years ago. Interment was made at Ohio City. Mrs. Ernest Wiecking entertained a party of a dozen ladies from Decatur and Fort Wayne Friday in honor of her sister, Mrs. Arthur Klagg, of Hartford, Conn., arid her mother, Mrs. Studebaker, of Lucerne, Mo., The guests of Decatur were Mesdames John Niblick, Lizzie Morrison, Sarah Blackburn,Robert Allison,Catherine Cham per, D. E. Studebaker, Judge j Studebaker and James Boyer and Miss Hattie Studebaker and from Fort Wayne there were Mrs. Judge Vesey and Mrs. Vesey, jr., Mrs. Lida Hendrickson and Miss Catharine Vesey.—Bluffton News. B. J. Terveer was quite bady in-’ jured at two o’clock Monday’ in a fall from a twelve foot step ladder. He was at work trimming the shade trees in front of his home, corner of Fifth and Jefferson streets, and when on the top step lost his balance and fell to the sidewalk below. The shock rendered him unconscious and he was carried into the home of his daughter, Mrs. R. J. Holthouse. Dr. Cotsello was immediately’ sent for and an examination showed that no bones had been broken. His arm and hand were quite badly cut and torn by the ladder and his hip and side severely bruised. No serious outcome is anticipated, but the internal injuries may be of more or less serious nature and keep Mr. Terveer confined to his bed for some time. ' William Crozier, a well known farmer of Union township, had a narrow escape from death Friday and the incident is another freak lightning episocte. He had arranged for a few days fishing at Celina and Friday afternoon jus* after dinner started for the reservoir in a buggy. It was raining slightly and Mr. Crozier had the buggy ' top raised and it was probably lucky he had. As he was driving past the Fred Koldewey farm, eight miles east, a sharp stroke of lightning flashed and the bolt struck the bow vi the boggy tMV jnV-' Crozier’s head. He was hurled to the ground, in some manner clearing the buggy and in a few moments was able to get up. The buggy top was quite badly wrecked and the bow where the bolt struck was rent in two, but the horse and Mr. Crozier were practically’ unhurt. The fishing trip, however, has been postponed.

John Kleinhenz, one of the best known citizens of this place nearly bled to death Friday night and again Saturday morning as the result of an accident which occurred at his bottling works in the north part oftown Friday afternoon about four o’clock. He was bottling beer by a new process when one of the bottles bursted and a piece of the bottle struck him on the left forearm severing the main artery- completely. The blood spurted forth in a stream, and prompt action of men working with him saved his life. The arm was tightly bound, checking the flow as much as possible and he was conveyed to the office of Dr. J. M. Millar, who tied up the arteiy and ligaments and he was taken home. . During the night he became very restless, the arm causing him great pain, and about two o’clock next morning the bandage worked loose and the artery broke again. Dr. Miller and Dr. P. B. Thomas were called and «fter an hour of work succeeded in re-tieing the artery and stopped the awful flow of blood. He is very weak of course and it will require several days for the wound to heal, though his condition is not considered dangerous if he can be kept sufficiently quiet for a time.

Quite a few members of the Bachelor Maids and C. Y. M. S. olubs went to Huntington Thursday’ evening where they attended a dance which was given by the Pastime club of that place. Those composing the party were: Misses Nettie Simth, Edith Wemhoff, Mayme Deinnger, Ada Deininger, Rose Confer, Gret Voglewede and Bort Fullenkamp. Wai Wemhoff, Frank Wemhoff, noma Barthell, Otto Bremerkkamp, Lee Martin, Joe Mason and Dick Alton. John McCutcheon the famous cartoonist of the Record-Herald staff has closed a year’s' contract with the Chicago Tribune to draw one cartoon a day at a salary of $250 per week. This is said to be the largest salary’ ever paid to a newspaper cartoonist. Mr. McCutcheon is an Indiana man being an aluminus of Purdue university. He is a close friend of George Ade, Booth Tarkington and, three well known Indiana literary people. His contract with the Tribune goes into effect July 1. Ed Zeaser, a young man living south of town, rode a hors ? .to town. Saturday’ evening and hitched him in the feed yard at the Fornax mill. Ed came up town did some trading and about nine o'clock returned to the mill, expecting to ride home, but he didn't. The saddle lay’ upon the ground but the horse was gone. Ed of course supposed the animal had been stolen and at once notied Sheriff Butler, who telephoned the police in nearby’ cities to be on the lookout . A search was made about town but no trace could be found of the horse until ten o’ clock Sunday morning, when he was found near the Ra'debusli school house, several miles south of town, quietly grazing along the road. A gypsy camp is located near where the horse was found and it is believed by’ many’ that the horse was stolen-. Howevbr, it is probable that the horse got loose and was simply enjoying a little excursion.

Several of the -witnesses who are here this week in the Gillespie case, now on trial, have just arrived from Kansas City and tell startling stories of the scenes to be witnessed there now. The floods have caused great devastation and thousands have been made homeless. During one night hundred of homes were destroyed and people driven out into the storm. Over 2,000 of these people, mostly- women and children, found shelter in a big public hall and the scene there was indescribable, everyone frantic about some loved one who was bene'veii ’ibSt'. ’"During ' CiiU •■ihgLv’ twelve births occurred in the room, the poor mother and babe dying in nearly every instance. People here have rib idea of the sufferings going on in that storim riden country, where hundreds are dying each day. The witnesses say that the scenes in St. Louis are even worse than at Kansas City- and it required several days for them to get through even before thg floods were as bad as .they- are now. The last week of court began Monday- and business was transacted as follows: Florence DeVilbiss vs Emanuel Woods, dismissed and costs paid. William H. Niblick and C. A. Dugan vs Adda Bolds et al, appraisement of real estate, sale reported and approved. Benjamin Emerine vs Maria Emerine, verdict returned for defendant. Robert M. Hunt vs Walter A. and Amanda Hunt, disinised and costs paid. Alethia L. Gillespie vs Ernest A. Glillespie, depositions ordered published. In probate court Catherine Thompson, admininstratrix of the estate of Howard Thompson, filed her final report. Henry F. Fueling, guardian for Paul Blakey, filed a proved. The only set down for trial this week, other than the (>ase of Gillespie vs Gillespie of today, is John C. Glendenning,©executor of the estate of Eliza Wheeler, deceased, vs David Wheeler, a suit to recover the sum of >1,500. .Jtoveral other cases were to have been tried this week but they- were of such dimensions that they could not be finished and has continued them until the September term.

CIRCULATION 2800 WEEKLY

NUMBER 14

Mis* Lullu CSirist of Bluffton was 1 the guest of Misse* Inez Ernst and Madge Hite over Sunday. Miss Christ is employed in the Daily News office and assists in the operation of the Simplex typesetting machine. Bills have beeivprinted for the big celebration here July 4th and the big bosters are the most attractive by far ever used here. They announce in glarin',, red white "and blue the fact that a real live celebration is to occur here all day on that eventful anniversary of our liberty The exercises.begin with the roaring of the (cannon at day break. At ten o’clock will occur a grand horse show and parade to Steele’s park where at 10:30 occurs a balloon ascension and parachute leap by one of the best aerounauts of the age. From that hour until noon will occur all kinds of games and sports, of the <>l*l fashioned kind, with an oration by a learned statesman. At one o’clock begins the big race program, consisting of a 2:30 pace for a purse of $200; a 23:0 pace, purse $200; a 2:30 trot, purse, $150; a ladies race, purse SSO; and a running race, best two in three, purse >SO. All harness races are best three in five and the events are open to the world. The best bands obtainable are being secured and the day promises to be an eventful one At nght a grand display of fire works is promised, making a day full of pleasures. Arrange to come to Decatur and the Driving Club will see that you are entertained. John B. Stoneburner received a letter from his sister-in-law, Ada Barnett Tuesday which tells a thrilling story of the terrible flood raging at and near St. Louis in which it is safe to say thousands of people have lost thfeir lives. Miss Barnett and brother Jerry and family lived at Venice, just 'across the river from St. Louis. At one o'clock Monday’ morning the Mississippi levy back of the town gave away and within a few hours the town was destroyed. The Barnett family- escaped on an engine which was run into the flooded district by a brave engineer. Miss Barnett was the last to cross the bridge into St. Louis and amost instantly afterwards the big structure fell with a crash dooming the inhabitants left in Venice which means nearly’ the entire population. Among those left were David Oliver, wife and two daughters, former residents of this city who moved to Venice four years ago. There is little doubt but that they were drowned and .the scenes incident to the terriav- '■ : vLvJ asafr-., ful. On all sides persons are found who tell of having seen houses turn over, plunging lone occupants beneath the water to rise no more in the swift underow or of having seen men struggle in the water too far from the land to receive assistance who from exhaustion gave tip and sank or of women being drowned under various circumstances. But these stories are so varied that conformation is impossible. Some persons declare that when the flood shall have subsided and order re stored it will be found that two thousand persons are missing. River thieves are looting the various vacant houses. Men in skiffs have, been seen to enter half submerged houses in Venice, Madison and Granite City and carry away everything of value they find. Throughout the entire flooded district men withguns are patrolling the levee to prevent cutting and anxious to try their markmanship upon possible river thieves in the act of depredation. Miss Barnett says they will come home as sooji as possible but at present it can not be said when they can get through east St. Louis, which is likewise flooded. The Barnett family were lucky to escaj# l uninjured, though the letter states that every thread of clothing except that which they had on was lost together with all their money and property. They are being cared for in St. Louis and if the rains cease will lie able to get home within a week or two. The Oliver familywill be remembered by the many of our citizens as they resided in Cooktown in the southwest part of town for mangy ears.