Decatur Democrat, Volume 50, Number 10, Decatur, Adams County, 10 May 1906 — Page 1

ALL THE NEWS ALL THE TIME

VOLUME L. b.

HELD LAST EVENING An Immense Crowd in Attendance THREE MEMBERS IN THE CLASS ’ I - • Event Held in Methodist Church — ► The Address of Evening by Prof. Stalker of State Normal. Geneva, Indiana, May 9. 1906. — An occasion long looked forward to Try the members of the class of ’O6 of the Geneva High Schoql—that time when they would pass from the pleasures and play-work of school life into the sterner and more difficult duties of the real life—eame last evening, when the Eighth Annual Commencement exercises of the schools were held in the Methodist church. There were only three members of the class —Miss Leota Burke and Messrs. Worley Rieff and Guy Shoemaker—but the church auditorium was comfortably filled with an audience composed •of their admirers and friends, who heard one of the best commencement programs that has ever been given here. The programme was as follows: Poet and Peasant • • • • Mesdames Merriam and Green Invocation Rev. Wells “Arise, Shine!” Dudley Buck Quartette. “Push Ahead.” Worley Reiff “What Woman Has Done”.Leota Burke “Why I Am Here”....Guy Shoemaker ■Spring Song Pinsuti Quartette. “20th Century Education Prof. Frances Stalker ■“The Skylark” Bamby Quartette. Presentation x>f Diplomas..S. W. Hale “Babette” Vande Water Quartette. > ■Benediction Rev. Mower Each one of the graduates had taken great care, gven much study and time in preparing their essays and it may be said of each one that their work was splendid and appreciated by all. The quartette composed of Mesdames W, W .Brggs and E. F— Walsh and Messrs. Robert Poer and Tom Butler was fine —simply fine, and their several selections added not a little to the enjoyment’of the programme. The address delivered by Prof. Francis M. Stalker, of the State TNonnal at Terre Haute, was one that will be long remembered by all who heard this pleasing speaker. He had . for his subject “20th Century Education,” and the talk was as full of • good things as an egg is full of meat. ' It was brilliant and entertaining as well as instructive. > But perhaps the best part of the evening came after the exercises at the church. This was the Seventh Annual Banquet given by the Geneva High School Alumni Association in the Masonic Banquet hall. The hall was beautifuly decorated with crepe paper in the shades of th? associaton •colors —Nile green and white. Suspended from the strands of papers were numbers of bannerettes, on which were the number “’98 —’06.” The tables -were very pretty, being decorated dainty and tastefully with white carnations and' violets. At •each place a bouquet of volets lay ■on the menu and toast cards and in the center of each table was a bank of violets placed on mirrors surrounded by the green leaves. The table ■of honor, at which sat the graduates and faculty, was decorated with white tea roses. The banquet was prepared and served by the members of the Eastern Star lodge and that is enough said. Their reputation is wide spread. —THE MENU.— Fruit Salad with Rosette Wafers. Roast Chicken —Dressing Giblet Sauce Escalloped Potatoes Asparagus Timbales Creme de Menhe Sherbet Rolls Pidkles Ice Cream In Cones Cakes Coffee Following this feast of good things came another feast, a of good, j hard common sence, dished out in a very witty and pleasing manner. Miss Grace Ellis Burke made an admirable toastmistress and called for the following speakers: Response to Welcome Address, Guy Shoemaker; Ideal Success, Owen Butler, ’00; The VV is■dom of Experience, Rev. David Wells; Pianola, “Loveley,’’ .W. B. Hale; The Greatest Man, Miss Myrtle Pflaumer; The Greatest Woman, Prof. Stalker; Pianola. “Liebes Walzer,” W. B. Hale; Make Believes, Maud Wells, ’9B; A Message to Garcia, ■ Prof. Poer, and Pianola, “Polka de Concert,” W._ B. Hale.

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And then came the singing of f “Auld Lang Syne,” by all tbe guests at the banquet, the commencement exercises were over, the banquet ended i and the events of the evening of May eighth are but memories now placed between the pages of the book of Time. But these memories, when looked at from time to time wiil recall one of the most delightful evenings imaginable. - ] The schools this year, both high ( school and lower grades, have enjoyed most successful terms under the capable and efficient direction of s Supt. Robert Poer. There has never s been a year when the management of 1 the schools has been more satisfact- 1 ory. The teachers in the lower grades < and faculty of the high school have 1 all done their part in making this < year the banner year. < REV. KLAUSING IS A FAVORITE < 1 Former Berne Minister Well Liked at * Wabash. Concerning a former pastor of Adams county, the Wabash Plaindealer has this to say: There has probably been na pastor in Wabash who has so soon gained a stronghold on his congregation as the Rev. D. B. Koenig of the First Evangelical church.- Mr. and Mrs. Koenig are proving quite popular and since moving to this ctiy have made many warm friends who are working with them for the success of their congregation. The Rev. Mr. Koenig came to Wabash from Berne, Indiana, where he succeeded in building up the Evangelcal church greatly. A man of unassuming blit energetic ways, willing and eager to push the interests of Christianity and of his church forward, added to a rare pulpit ability, he has always proved capable. That the year will prove a successful one is the hope of more than the members of his eon- ■ gregation. I A FIRE ON RURAL ROUTE TEN Homer Faust Has a Loss of About S3OO. r j ! Homer Faust, who resides on rural ; route ten, was visited by a fire Fri- » day afternoon about four o’clock, I just after the electrical storm and ■ suffered a loss amounting to nearly ’ three hundred dollars. The fire origi- . nated in a smoke house, the exact s cause not being known, as they are unable to state whether it was be- ; causq of the building being struck t by lightning, or whether it caught fire •' from the coals they were smoking i meat with. The fire rapidly spread to i the wood house and the two buildings I were completely consumed, together J with meat and a number of tools and i implements. He also lost a pet dog - which could not escape. He regrets s the loss of the dog more than anyi thing else. The buildings were partly ’ covered by insurance, but not enough ; to cover his loss. i ,—..— WAS OPERATED ON FOR TUMOR ■■ i -—- ' Had Been Sick Four Months—Leaves j . Wife and Five Children—--5 Also Many Friends. I Frederick J. Bublitz died at " the i Lutheran hosptal, Fort Wayne, at 5 . o’clock Saturday afternoon after a four months’ illness with tumor. He had been confined to the hospital for eight weeks and had undergone an operation for the,removal of the growth. He was born in Germany 5 fifty years ago and came to the United States' when a young man. Thirtytwo years ago he settled in Allen county, where he has resided since. > For the past seven, years he taught , school in the. Lutheran schol at Birii gen, Adams county. He leaves a wife s and five children, William, Frederick, ! John, Bertha and Julia. The funeral - will be held Wednesday afternoon at 2 o’clock (ijiin time) from St. John’s I Lutheran church at Bingen. Prof. Bubltz was well known here and his ; many friends had hoped for his re- ; eovery. He Was taken to the hospital J only a shott time ago, and it was be- . lieved his life could thus be saved, ' but it was not to be. He was a schol- [ arly, able teacher, a good citizen and , a man whom all his acquaintances ■ loved. Many Decatur people will attend the funeral.

DECATUB, INDIANA, THURSDAY, MAY 16, 1906.

STATE DELEGATES ARE NAMED Yesterday was the Biggest Day Ever Enjoyed by This Party in Decatur. The Prohibition Convention held Friday afternoon at the Bosse Opera house went off in a very smooth and harmonious manner. A morning session was held which only lasted a short time, but which was full of enthusiasm. Several short speeches were made were heartily applauded by the crowd present. At two thirty o’clock the convention was called to order by chairman William J. Meyers and by consent, L. T. Brokaw was selected as secretary. The first businss coming before the convention was the selection of a county ticket, and the following men were nominated: For clerk, Sylvester Spangler, Decatur; treasurer, Martin M. Shady, Kirkland township; sheriff, L. T. Brokaw, Decatur; recorder, John Shifferly, Union township; assessor, Elmer Neuenschwander, Berne; commissioner, Ist district, Martin Beery, Decatur; commissioner 2nd district, Jacob P. Habegger, Berne. . No selections were made for the offices of Judge or prosecutor, which will be filled at some later date before the general election. The selection of the delegates to the state convention, which will be held at Indianapolis on May 22 and 23, was the next business in line and the following selections were made: L. T. Brokaw,' Decatur; U. S. Cramer, Decatur; D. S. Whitmer, Berne; Martin M- Shady, Kirkland township; Chris. Reisen, Berne; Chris Grim, Decatur; Jude Hoffer, Monroe; Wm. Drew, Geneva; Mrs. Dr. M. Holloway, Decatur; Mrs. Catharine Davy, Decatur; Joseph Chronister, Bobo; Ed. M. Ray, Berne, and John?- S. Cramer, Decatur. The selection of alternates was left for the delegates to - choose themselves. U. S. Cramer, of this city, was the unanimous choice of the con* vention as county chairman, and he was elected amid a whirlwind of applause, and Mrs. Dr. M .Holloway also of this city, was chosen to act as secretary. This concluding all of the business before the convention, an adjournment was take. A mass meeting was held last evening at the Christian church at which time Professor Lough and wife, of Indianapolis, delivered two stirring addresses on what to do this fall and what this party had done in the past. A large crowd was in attendance and the speeches were well received. A campaign fund of $41.35 was raised during this meeting NOAH MESCHBERGER VICTIM I Hurled Head First Against Side of Barn and Died an Hour I Later. • <• Noah Meschbergev/ the thirtcen-year-old on of Mr. and Mrs Da’id Meschberger, of Lian Grove, was killed in a runaway accident early this morning. The lad was helping his father get the teams ready for the day’s work and twa wagons had been hitched. One stood at either end of the barn yard. The team which Mr. Meschberger had were feeling good and soon became unmanageable, run - ning away. Little Noah saw the unruly horses and walked to the head of his team to control them. While standing there, tbe runaway team dashed into his horses, causing them to lunge and the boy was thrown yio-t lently against the. side Os barn, his head striking sp hard that a hole was torn in one of the side hoards of the barn nearly a foot in length.' The boy fell unconscious and was carried into the where it was found he was just aiive., Dr, Frai.z, of Berne, was summoned, but before he arrived, the boy was dead. The blow had caused concussion df the brain and the barn side for several feet was splattered with blood, which flowed from the ears, mouth and nose of the boy. The accident happened at six o’clock, and the boy’s death occurred at seven. The sad accident east a gloom over Linn Grove and surrounding coommimity, where Noah was very popular. The funetal services will be held at ten o’clock Wednesday morning from the house.

MRS. CARLISLE IS DEAD Mother of Mrs. George Flanders a Victim of Bright’s Disease. George Flanders received word Thursday from Cincinnati announcing the death of his wife’s mother, Mrs. Robeis. Carlisle. The end came last night‘|at eleven fifteen o’clock after an of five months’ duration, the dyect cause of her death being Brighf’s disease. She was, eighty age and was one of the best knower women in Cincinnati. The funeral services will be held Saturday wternoon. Mrs. Flanders was to Cincinnati six weeks ago, it being? thought that her mother dying,: Mrs. Carlisle had visited De-, catur' upon‘several occasions and was quite' well known here. THE LOSS IS ABOUT $1,500 Will Butler Had Building Leased—ls Loser Several Hundred Dollars. Fire broke out last night about ten o’clock at the slaughter hosue owned by James Bain, two and one-half miles north-east of the city and was totally destroyed before assistance arrived. The buildings were situated upon the James Bain farm and when William Butler purchased the Bain meat market, he got a five years’ lease on the buildings. The fire originated from a smoke house which had been used during the day to smoke some meats. Although several saw the burning building, it was impossible to extinguish the flames owing to the lack of water, and they were forced to stand and watch the building burn. Mr. Bain’s loss on the buildings is partially covered by insurance, and his loss is not so severe. The loss of Mr. Butler will reach several hundred dollsfrsf as a lot of meat, hides and lard was destroyed as were all * of itis tools. He has, a small policy on the contents. The buildings will be rebuilt at once by Mr. Bain and will be used for the same purpose. The total loss is about SISOO with insurance for S7OO. WROTE, THREATENING LETTER Accused Arthur Ainsworth of Stealing and Demanded a Brib,e to Keep Still. Clark B. Funk, of Berne, has been boupd over to the Adams Crcut Court . ou a charge of blackmail. The affidavit upon Which he was committed; was filed before ’Squire Foreman, of Berne, by Arthur Ainsworth, and says that said Funk on March 28, wrote 'him the following letter: ! Berne, Ind., March 28, ’O6. » Arthur Ainsworth, Geneva, Ind., Mr. Ainsworth, Sir: I have indictments against you fbr stealing, which I will file and have acted upon the first of next week, unless you come to me and make certain business transactions as they should be, before that time. i Yours respectfully, C. B. FUNK. In his affidavit, Mr. Ainsworth says such threats were wrongful and without cause. The crime of: blackmail is a very serious one, the penalty being a term of from one to four years in prison. His preliminary hearing was before ’Squire Foreman at Berne, a few days ago and Funk gave bond for his appearance here. CROMER AND BIRDSEYE. Cdngresman to Explain Some Things to Department. It has been announced at Washington that there will be no action ou the report filed by Inspector Birdseye regarding posmastei-s in the Eighth .district, until the return of Congressman Cromer. This action was taken at the request of Cromer, who will reach Washington Monday. He wants to take up the matter with the officials of the department and present his side of the case and they have announced that he will be given riie chance to make all the explanation desired. I

THREE CONTRACTS TO LET Bonds Ordered Sold on Four Macadam Roads, Which Were Sold Monday. The commissioners adjourned their session Tuesday evening after a busy two days with county affairs. The viewers’ reports on extension two of the French Township Central road, L. O. Bears extension one and two, Reynolds number three, Jimtown number one, Decatur & Monroe -number four, West Washington five, Eckrote two, east Washington five, were approved and ordered published. Bids. will be received on Monday, June 4 for the construction of the E. S. Moses, Monroe Township central two and Geneva, Geylon & Wabash Township three. The renting of the old fair grounds went to Frisinger & Co., whose bid $86.50, was the highest and best. Repairs on the range at the jail were ordered made. » A telephone franchise covering certain portions of Monroe, Blue Creek, French, Kirkland, St. Marys and Washington townships was granted to Dr.. M. F. Parrish, of Monroe. Some new ahd additional rules were adopted for the government of the county asylum. The petition for acceptance of a pike road filed by W. H. Teeple was dismissed, as was also a petiton to remit taxes filed by B. S. Colter. The petition of Noah Mangold to remit taxes was ganted. Bonds were ordered sold on the Stegmeyer and Bleeke roads, in Union township, Brushwood College in Hartford township, Pleasant Valley & Oak Grove extension three in Monroe township. Harlo Mann was appointed superintendent ofconstruction of the Pleasant Valiev & Oak Grove road, Charles Kerber, on the Stegmeyer, J. H. ' Blakey, on the Bleeke road, and Cris. Hirschy on the Brushwood College. It is another macadam road day in I commissioners’ cOlirt, farmers and others interested ip roads and bidders who were after the contracts. Forty- ’ five bids were filed on nine contracts for roads. The Pleasant Valley Oak Grove went to the Erie Stone Company for $3,000, the low bidder. The West Pleasant Mills was also bid in by the Erie Stone Company at $2,800, but the board will continue this road. The Erie Stone Company was low bidder on the Ahr $8,987, ! Hart $9,037, Steigmyer $7,748, Bleeke $8,519. Os these roads but the Bleeke and Steigmyer will only be built this year. A. G, King was low on the Schamerloh $12,114, and. Julius Haugk t was low on the Brushwood College road $2,554. L. 0. Bears was low on i the east Jefferson road $12,135, but ; this road also can not be built until , 'next year. ’ The viewers report on the French ( township, central extension oqe, was approved, and the auditor instructed to advertise for bids on construction. Ed. Staley, et al., was heard on a petition for road, a decision not yet , being given by the board, John Herman xvas granted a license to sell liquors, evidence on his ap- ’ plication being heard. Quite a number of Allen county farmers were remonstrating against the building of a macadam road on the county line, running east and west and would be a convenience to many farmers living near .the county line. Bids were not received on the Geneva, Ceylon & Wabash township extension. The road begins at the Grand Rapids railroad, and thus invades a 1 part of the Geneva corporation. Permission for this has to be given by the town trustees, and this not having been done, proceedings were stopped. It will likely come up at the next commissioners ’ court. Julius iHaugk, by his attorney, A. P. Beatty, filed before the board an objection in writing against the board entering into contract with the Erie Stone Company on the grounds that theri bond for the work they contj,-act for, were no signed by free holders of the state of Indiana. The boatd has the nftitter under advisement and as a result, no macadam contracts were awarded today. The Allen county lino road petition died before it reached the remonstrance stage. Fourteen of the original petitioners withdrew from the petition, which brought the number below fifty, making the petition unlaw- : ful. The engineer’s report on the Hardy i Hildebrand ditch was approved and ! the same ordered constructed, > i

CIRCULATION WEEKLY

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DEMURRER TO DRAIj TITJON Judge Vaughn Assumes Juruction in Elm Street Cases—Other Items. Attorney Emil Franz, of Berne, filed a new suit entitled Gottlieb Christener vs. Anthony Zurcher, in which the sum of S2OO is demanded from the defendant for damages sustained by his allowing his land to overflow and injure the crops of said Chrstener. The case was appealed from ’Squire Foreman’s court at Berne, where the plaintiff was given judgment for sls. The Indiana Pipe Line Company, a corporation, filed a demurrer to the petition for a drain filed by Henry Scherry, Jr., and others. Judge Ed C. Vaughn, of Bluffton, was here yesterday afternoon and assumed jurisdiction in the Bowers Elm Street Sewer line cases, the same having been assigned to him for trial. The plaintiff filed a demurrer to the cross complaint. The court overruled the demurrer in the case of Gustav A. Brandt, et. al., vs. Rosa E. Smitley, et al. answer were filed by Rosa and Frank Smitley. Case set for trial Thursday, May 24. Jessie L. Smitley, surviving partner of John N. Smitley and son, filed his bond, which was approved. Evidence and arguments were heard on she objection to the bond furnished by the Erie Stone Company. The board decided in favor of the Erie Stone Company and immediately entered into contract with them for the Pleasant Valley & Oak Grove, Stegmeyer and Bleeke macadam roads. The board gave permission of the Civic Improvement Society to place flower beds and flowers on the court house grounds, the same to be done without expense to the county. Proof of publication of viewers’ reports for the Ed S. Moses road and it was ordered that bids be received for its construction on June 4. A petitjon for extenson three of the Eckrote macada road in Hartford township, was filed. ' The viewers’ reports on the Piqua & Fort Wayne, Pleasant Mills, Irwin Carter, Decatur & Willshire, Grant Strickler, E. W. Dailey and John W. Broadbeck roads were aproved- and ordered published. Viewers were appointed on the Ed Staley road, they being W. V. Buckmaster, Dan Hoffman and Henry Zwick. v -The petition of Charles Ewell macadam road was approved and David Steele and Louis Goldner appointed viewers and L. L. Baumgartner engineer. Petition for macadam road extensions in Union township were filed, they being filed in the name of Godfrey Lehrman, Fred Kreekeberg, Henry Kreekeberg, Adam Bienz, Frederick Thieme and George Bauserman. In Hartford township the David Meschberger and David Habegger petitions were filed. In Washington township, the petition of Harvey Harruff was continued. The board set Friday, June 1 for the St. Marys township macadam road election. At that time they will vote on seven road extensions, which when completed, will give them complete macadam roads. A junk dealer’s license has been issued to John, J. B. and Julius Johnloz, for Monroe. FRANK BENZ’ NARROW ESCAPE Struck by Handle of a Falling Sledge Hammer; I > Frank Benz had a very narrow escape from serious injury and probably death, Tuesday, at the farm of Peter Lengrich, south of this city. A barn raising was in progress, and Mr. Benz was working at the derrick used to raise the different parts of the frame of the building. A large sledge hammer, which had been used near the top of the building, shipped from its place, and fell to the ground, striking the wheel of the derrick, and the handle swinging around, struck Mr. Benz on the head. He was stunned for a few moments, but soon recovered none the worse for the blow, and is thanking his lucky star it was the handle, and not the hammer which struck him. * V: