Decatur Democrat, Volume 50, Number 46, Decatur, Adams County, 17 January 1907 — Page 2

SAMUEL RUGG WAS PROGRESSIVE Assisted by Many Whose Names are Still Familiar in This Locality. CHAPTER 11. ■ In looking over the early records, we find names that have been identified with the growth of the county that are still perpetuated by their descendants. Other names have besti handed down to us, as those in whom people had confidence, and those who were public spirited enough to make things move. Prominent among these occurs the name of Samuel Rugg, who was piubabiy the most publt: spirited and talented of al! the early set tiers in tic bounty. He lived in and was identified with the growth of De catur aud the oiganizalion of Alums county. The first public officer, he served the people for many years, and in various ways, from township to county and in the General Assembly, and becoming Superintendent of Public Insirnc. ■ >.i of the State. Associated wi'h him in th» organiza tion of the county seat, was John Reynolds, at whose house the commissioners held their first meeting. Some of his descendants are still living in Decatur —Ezais Dailey who lived in this county until his death. Mr. Dailey raised a full company for the Civil war, and entered the arrfiy with them as captain, when past sixty years of age. J. R. Evans was another one of the first comers. Mr. Evans entered over a thousand acres of land in the county and became quite wealthy. He was the first Associate Judge in the county. Grandchildren of Mr. Evans and Mr. Daily represent some of the leading families in Decatur at the present time. John S. Rhea, Thomas Ruble, David McKnight and Thomas Johnson are also names associated with our early history. John S. Rhea was one of the first commissioners. Thomas Ruble was the first justice of the peace in St. Marys township and married the first couple in the county. Thomas Johnson gave the site for the county seat and donated $3,100 to the county. He also donated four lots in Decatur for churches, specifying the Methodist, Baptist, Catholic and Presbyterian denominations; half an acre for a public square, one acre for a county seminary. Finally he paid the expenses of the locating board and furnished a building for holding court and transacting county business, until the court house was built. John 8. Rhea donated to the county twenty acres and, Samuel . Rugg gave ten acres adjpining Mr. Johnson’s land. Others gathered around the little Village of Monmouth, which is the ojdes town, in the county. Fonner Pillars, LaMasters, Gorseline, Dougherty, Randall, Robinson, Rice and Lewton all came between 1835 and 1840. Ezekiel Hooper, who entered several tracts of land, and opened his house for the first meetings of the Methodist church about three-fourths of a mile from the village. He finally entered and located on a piece of land about three miles from the town of MonInouth towards Fort Wayne, where he lived until his death in 1871. He was also Associate Judge of the county. His youngest son is now a lawyer and Presides in Decatur at the present time. Andrew Wise came to. Root township in 1837 from Pennsylvania, entered several tracts of land and settled about three miles below Monmouth on the Piqua & Fort Wayne Road in 1838, and built probably the first frame house in the county, except, perhaps, the court house and one or two others in Decatur. This house was quite pretentious for that day: two stories with a hall through the center, regulation Colonial style, with large windows and hall door surrounded by glass lights all of which was something remarkable in a country of all .leg cabins, where greased paper figured for windows. Locks were unknown and latches were made of wood with a leather string hanging from a hole in the door on the outside to raise by. The doors, sash, glass and nails for this house, Mr. Wise brought with him from Pennsylvania Embarking at Pittsburg, he came down the Ohio river to Cincinnati by boat From Cincinnati to Piqua, he came on the canal, and at Piqua he loaded his family and goods into one of those old-time immense, covered Pennsylvania wagons or “prairie schooners,” as they were afterwaids called, and starts] for his home in Root township. A daughter of Mr. Wise, Mrs. W. M. Dorwln, is still living in Decatur and was six years old when she came with her father to this county. The house built by Mr. Wise was need for years as a house of entertainment for travellers and was called “The Oakland House.” between Piqua and St. Marys, 0., and Fort Wayne, the call for “Entertainment for man and beast,” was especially urgent, and in those early days nearly every other house Was a

i tavern. But this house, having extra dimensions with real locks on the doors, and a painted sign, was “The ' Tavern,” of all others. Another one of the very earliest in Root township, was Mr. and Mrs. James Robinson, who came to their land 1837 and camped out, sheltered by their wagons, until they built their house, and Mrs. Robinson assisting in putting up their cabin. Mrs. Robinson is still living on the farm which her husband entered, in a comfortable ■ home, close to the village of MonL mouth, and can tell a good many tales L of bears, wolves, Indians, high water and all the ether things which the ’ early settler had to contend with. 1 She has been a member of the BapI r tist church, and her home has been a home for Baptist • ministers for years. She is probably the oldest settler in the county, with the exception of Robert Simison, and has liv- ' ed to see her son treasurer at one time, and her grandson, present audi1 tor of the county. , Daniel Hines was the first white settler in Union township. David Erwin, father of the present Judge Erwin, was the second. Hines came to Adams county in '1835, his family camping out ’ while he and a hired man cut out the road from near Monmouth to his land, built "a house and barn, made some rails and dug a well. This took about two months and then ' he moved Into his house. The first election was held In this house. Benjamin Middleton, first inspector for the township. Seven or eight officers were to be elected, but only six voters put in their appearance. Truly that was the “Golden Age” of politics. When the office sought the man. No election frauds. No disappointed candidates. Every man went home happy and important For, were they not all officers? Preble township was settled almost entirely by German immigrants. Zoost, Gallmeyer, Hendelman, Reppert and Sbllemeyer are a few of families that have transformed that part of the county, from a wilderness Into a land of comfortable houses. Charles Heckman opened a store on the west bank of the St. Marys river, as early as 1847. From this township John Dlrkson served two terms as county treasurer and Henry Dirkson one term in the State Legislature. Kirkland and Hartford though the last township to be organized had settlers as early nearly as Wabash. The Simisons of Hartford are still associated with the growth and business interests of the south part of the county. The first inspector of elections for Wabash township, was Peter Studabaker. The families of Studabaker, Vance, Josiah and John Crawford have been notably identified with the growth and improvements of Adams county. Col. Wm. Vance served three terms in the General Assembly of Indiana. The Crawford brothers were the first importers of blooded cattle into the county. John Crawford afterwards went intd the mercantile business in Decatur, where he lived until his death a few years ago. Josiah Crawford remained in Wabash township and served the county as commissioner for several terms. David Studabaker, lately deceased, came to Wabash township with his father when quite young. He grew up with the county and was its central figure for many years, representing* the county in the Legislature and serving as judge for the 26th Judicial district of Indiana. He later engaged in the banking business and developed the oil lands of this section of Indiana He was at the time of his death about two years ago, the wealthiest man this county ever produced. In Monroe township, Martz and Phillip Bollinger were among the earliest. The first . election was held at the home of Mr. Martz. The family of John Hendricks has also been prominently associated with the development of the township. Many, many more were the pioneers who came to this county when it was a wilderness and made the beginnings of civilization and prosperity. They had their work to do, and they did it well. Who shall, say that they did not really enjoy life with all their privations. What if there were holes by their chimneys big enough for a cat to crawl through, the traditional latch string was always out, and the blazing fire and the warm welcome was always in. If they did have the ague and the milk sickness, the microbe never disturbed their peace of mind, and appendicitis was not yet invented. o- —»- A Connecticut clergyman while visiting friends once tucked his napkin into his collar to protect his clothing from the juice of the grape fruit at breakfast. He laughed as he did it and said it reminded him of a man he once knew who rushed into a restaurant and, seating himself at a table, proceededto tuck his napkin under his chin. He then called a waiter and said: “Can I get luncheon here?” Yes,” responded the waiter, in a dignified manner, “but not a shampoo.”

— , WAS CARRIED IN THIS CITY r But County Precincts Overwhelmed the Majority—Also Carl red at Geneva. Decatur [Yes No Ist ward, A 70 68 Ist ward, B 91 33 i 2nd ward A 102 84 2nd ward B 43 63 3rd ward A 97 71 1 3rd ward B 83 97 East Washington 23 85 i West Washington 12 138 Totals 521 639 Majority 118 Monroe Township Yes No North Monroe 63 114 Middle Monroe 24 82 Berne A 45 107 Berne B 43 156 Totals 175 459 i Majority 284 Wabash Township Yes No North Wabash 6 82 i Ceylon ....» 22 77 Geneva A 56 66 Geneva B 92 77 Totals 176 302 1 Majority Izo Portland, Jan. 9. —Wayne and Bear , Creek townships refused to vote subsidies today in the special election to aid in building an electric line from Decatur to this place. A light vote was polled in every one of the ten precincts, each of which gave a major- , ity against the subsidy. In Wayne township there were 367 votes for and 757 against the proposed tax. In Jefferson township there were 97 for and 276 against the proposition. Very little interest was taken here in the election, people just going to the polls and voting against the plan to tax their property for the proposed road. The subsidy election Wednesday proved a disastrous one for the Fort Wayne & Springfield Interurban railway company. Elections were held in this city, Washington township, Monroe township and Wabash in this county and in Bear Creek township and Portland, in Jay county, for subsidies aggregating $85,000 for the purpose of extending the line south to Portland and the subsidy lost in every township by large majorities. The project carried in this city by seventy votes, but lost in the township by 188, making a net loss of 118. It also carried in the town of Geneva by five, but the country precincts everywhere, were overwhelmingly “No.” In Monroe township every precinct was emphatically against it, the vote in the town of Berne being 88 for to 263 against it and the entire - township gave a net majority of 286. In Jay county the vote was* light, but was decisively against the project, losing in Portland and that township by nearly 400 and in Bear Creek where Bryant is located, by nearly 200. The vote is said to have been light in Jay county, but here it was much larger than was expected. In this town and township a total vote of 1160 was cast, while at the election last fall only 1170 votes were cast for the heads of the tickets. * . The returns were all in at 8:30 last evening and this office was well filled by those interested in the result Many reasons are offered now for the defeat of the subsidy and one edn reconcile himself in any manner he .cares to. This result throws the entire cost of the election upon the railroad company, who filed a bond to cover same when the election was ordered. When interviewed this morning, President Fledderjohann stated that though the subsidy was defeated the company felt very thankful to those who proved faithful and they have only the very friendliest feeling towards everyone. The road will be built south anyway, but the progress i will be delayed to some extent until l some other arrangements can be made. Mr. Fledderjohann has put in several years of hard work on this project and every effort made by him has been an honest one. He is used to defeat, but is one of those men who keep on going even when the clouds look darkest and is deserving of the success that will ultimately come to him. '■q WALLACE SELLS AN INTEREST Retain* Control But Will Quit the Road. Colonel Ben Wallace, the Peru showman, is out of the circus business at last —that is to say he is no longer connected with the business in an active capacity. On Monday the colonel disposed of half the Wallace shows to John Talbott and Jeremiah Mugivan, who will have charge of the outfit the coming season Colonel Wallace retains half the porperty, but will not travel, serving in an advisory capacity to the purchasers, who have long been connected with the circus. The headquarters will remain in Peru. o TO CURB A COLD IN ONE DAY. Take LAXATIVE BROMO Quinine Tablet*. Druggists will refund money if It is on each box. 25c.

' BAYtf HIB WIFE WAS JEALOUB* I In a Scuffle With Her a Revo'ver was D.««harped, ths Bullet Striking and billing Her. Confessions made, o~ supposed to have been made by William E. Hinshaw, have been numerous iu the past. Here is the last one.: The editor of the Newport State, an acquaintance of Hinshaw when the latter was a fervent and eloquent minister of the gospel, has had revealed to him under pledge of secrecy as to the name of the attorney who divulged the account the story of the crime as told by Hinshaw to attorneys who ere discussing the defense which would be offered at the famous trjal. When the attorney* decided upon the line of defense the burglary theory Was decided upon after the consideration of two other theories. The other two theories were suicide and accident. When the neighbors reached the Hinshaw home at Belleville on the night of the tragedy he told them that r his wife and himself had been shot by burglars and that is the theory upon ’ which his defense was made. Hln--1 shaw’s confession, said to be in his 3 words, was as follows! 1 "I was holding a revival meeting ' at one of the churches of my circuit. My wife was attending the meetings r and we had been driving home each 1 night after services. On the fatal ’ night the weather had become much • colder and I advised my wife to stay 1 with some of the congregation, as I 1 would get back home and look after * the house and see that nothing was 1 damaged by freezing. “She was jealous of me and another woman and, attributing to my sugges- . tion some sinister motive, she declar- ; ed she would go home with me. I' . readily consented of her doing so and i she complained of me all the way . home. After we returned home we . continued the quarrel and she became persistent, even keeping it up after i we retired. Then I turned my back 1 to her and went to sleep. “About mdinlght I awakened and f found her standing over me with a revolver in one hand and a razor in the other, declaring that she was going to kill me. I sprang up and grappled with her, but she slashed me ' with the razor and shot me with the revolver. I caught her arm to keep her from shooting me again and in the scuffle that followed the revolver was ■ discharged, the bullet striking and killing her. “With my wife dead, I did not know 1 what to do. So I went outside, dis- ’ charged the revolver two or three ' times and cried ‘Burglars!’ When the 1 neighbors caine I told them the bur- ] glar story.” i The above confessen was kept secret during the years which elapsed ■ since the famous crime was com- 1 mitted. ’ — o- ’ DIED A FEW MOMENTS LATER Believed to be C. Johnson, ’a Race 1 Horse Swipe—Remains Held at ! A ‘ 1 Gienmore, Ohio. 1 1 The members of a freight crew on I the Chicago & Erie railroad, which ' had taken the siding, about one mile 1 west of Gienmore, hear the hour of nine o’clock last night, were attracted ’ by the groans oh a man, who was 1 found prostrated, lying on the ground I between the tracks. The trainmen • 1 endeavored to lend assistance to him, j ‘ [but were driven away by his orders 1 J and the assurance from his own mouth i that “he would soon be all right.” 1 The train received orders to proceed 1 on its way about three-quarters of an i hour afterward, but before leaving the j siding the crew placed the injured 1 man aboard the cars and removed him < to Gienmore, where he died at the sta- i tion house. Dr. R. R. Richison, cor- i oner, was summoned to view he re- i mains and his Investigation brought 1 out the following facts: That the j victim was probably C. Johnson, a 1 race horse swipe, that he had fallen < from a fast running freight train, i which passed the point a few moments ; before the arrival of the train which ’■ took the siding and that he had died < from the effects of internal injuries, 1 the result of the fall, there being no signs of violence, the only mark on < the body being a slight contusion : under one eye. Among the contents 1 of his pockets were badges issued for < admission to the race courses of the < Lima Driving Club and the Crawford < County Fair and a booklet containing j notations of the race events at Bucyrus < and Springfield. The victim is aged t about thirty-five years, six feet tall, i weight about two hundred pounds, t sandy hair and red mustache. The 1 body was removed to the Loe under- 1 taking establishment, where it is being held pending an effort to establish his I identity.-—Van Wert Bulletin. t i ' K

’BY HER BROTHER DICK HILL Terrible Affair Wa« an Accident and Occurred at Hammond—Both Formerly Lived HereMiss Dolly Smith of Hammond, was instantly killed by her half-brother, Dick Hill, New Year’s Eve. Both lived here until a few years ago and have numerous relatives here. The story has been rumored for several days and the following from the Hammond News give sthe details: Dressed in her finery to go to a New Year’s Eve ball, Miss Dolly Smith, aged 18 years, with a joke on her lips and a smile on her face, was ushered into eternity night before last without a moment’s warning through the mishandling of a shot gun by her halfbrother Richard Hill, a young painter. The tragedy took place at Hill’s home 722 Sibley street about half past nine o’clock. It is one of the most distressing accidents that ever happened in Hammond and many tragic circumstances are connected with it. A mystery surrounds it that will never be solved this side of the great Trumpet for though there is no questioning of the sincerity of Hills’ testimony, the circumstances are inexplicable. Hill himself is unnnerved over the sad affair and Mrs. Hill, who has been prostrated on a bed of Illness for three months as the result of a gasoline explosion, is beyond herself and had to be moved away from her home yesterday to keep her from losing her mind. The victim of the übiquitous didn’t-know-it-was-loaded shot gun Miss Dolly Smith, is the eighteen-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Smith, 385 Alice street. Mr. Smith works at the Simplex Railway Appliance company’s plant. Mr. Smith has been twice married. Dolly is the daughter of his present wife and Richard Hill the son of his dead wife. The girl and the young man are halfbrother and half-sister. The family came to Hammond from Decatur, Ind. Richard Hill and his wife have been married about two years. Hill is a (painter by trade and about 25 years of age. Ever since he has been married he says that misfortune has been his lot. To add to his trouble his young wife was badly burned in a gasoline explosion last September and has never been out of bed since. Dolly Smith was an immense favorite with the Hills. She had for the past few months after she had ceased working for a photographer who moved away from here last summer, spent a great deal of time in caring for her halfbrothre’s wife. Monday she informed her mother that she was going to spend the winter with them. She bade her mother an affectionate farewell and took up her abode at the Hills. The three had an unusually jolly supper and after the meal was over Dolly dressed herself to go to the dance at McHie’s hall to which place she was to be accompanied by a girl friend, whom she was to meet near by. Shortly after nine she returned to the house and laughingly remarked that she guessed she wasn’t going to get to go to the dance. She seated herself in the dining room in a chair in a corner of the room diagonally across from where Mrs. HUI lay prone in her bed. Opposite Dolly was a door leading out into the kitchen and from this room came Richard with a gun in each hand. One was his, the other borrowed property. He started to lay them down on the table to clean them in readiness for a rabbit hunt on New Year’s. Dolly expressed petulence that her friends had not met her. At this time Hill had hold of each gun by the lock. He is reported to have said “Well, that’s too bad, you had better kill yourself,” when to his horror and amid the shriek of frozen amazement from his wife the weapon exploded. Dolly wasn’t eight feet away. The charge from the weapon, a single barreled affair, entered the right side of her face, blowing that part of her head clean off. The girl never winced, never breathed after she started to reply to Hill’s remark. If Hill had set about to kill the lass "with deliberation and murder in his heart, he could not have made a better job of it. When the police arrived Dolly sat in the chair with her hands folded as she always sat, but blood poured from the gaping hole in the side of her head. That the shooting was so palpably accidental was convincing to the police. Hill w«:» no: arrested Neither Hill nor his wt f e could speak coherently of the affair yesterday to a News reporter. Fearing that Mrs. Hill would lose her mind, her doctor ordered her to be moved away to another lout Over at the Smith resident tne News representative found a heart broken mother who could with difficulty be Induced to speak of the ' terribis affair. Rela.ives. friends, neighbf’s and author, tics says that the shooting was accidental and speak . highlv ,f Hill and his relationship to ' his wife and the de - *..! girl. Office Elsner, who reached the < house by ’he front doui as Mrs. Smith, 1 the gm s mother, re.tcnel it by the (

— back do.': say* that th* spectacle wag the most horrifying he ever witnessed in his €xrerlence. B’>o<t streamed all over the floor from the girl's mutilated face and the shouts ot the women made il»«? sight one ttr.t was almost too much lor the offici- to stand. The inquest was fr>!j at Stewart’s morgue tai- morning by Dr. Hlsklns of Whiting ; nd the ver lUt was accidental shooting. o — A LONG TERM AS PROSECUTOR John C. Moran Quit* Public Service After a Career Worthy of the Name. John C. Moran, whose term of of\flcb as prosecutor of Adams county expired December 31, 1906, was prosecutor for six years and it is interesting to note that this is the longest period that any one man has acted as prosecutor of the county, in its history. During his term he strongly exemplified his efficiency in many ways as occasslons presented and as a result many Important cases were tried and won for the state. Chief among the points to be commended in Mr. Moran’s official career may be mentioned these features: From an economical standpoint he has saved the county several hundreds of dollars, by reason of the manner in which the grand jury investigations have been conducted, no session of the grand jury exceeding six or eight days, thus curtaling expenses of from three to six weeks grand jury, and a demonstration that the same amount of work and more too, can be done in one week when judiciously managed. In very few Instances were there any person appointed to assist Prosecutor Moran for he was always able to take care •of the State’s case. He has been a vigorous prosecutor, and discharged his duty well, knowing no party creed or faction, prosecuting alike his friend or enemy, holding out no favors. He retires from office with a reputation for honesty and with the best of wishes to his many friends in this section of the county. Mr. Moran halls from Jefferson township, Geneva being his home town and we point to that fact with pride, since he has performed the trust given him in so capable a manner. He will continue the practice of law at Decatur, being the junior member of the firm of Peterson & Moran.- i -Geneva Herald. o—AT THE COST OF THE PLAINTIFF Some Probate Business Transacted— Mr*. Gregory File* Final Report a* Guardian. Joseph Schroll vs. Mary A. Schroll, divorce case set for trial today, was again continued by agreemnt of parties and at the cost of the plaintiff. Charles D. Porter vs. Arlle Carpenter et al., rental and contract, demurrer to amended complaint overruled. In probate court James O. Wyatt, guardian for Emily, J. A. Wyatt, filed a report of sale of real estate and full payment of purchase money, sale confirmed and deed approved. Lucy J. Gregory, guardian for Augustus C. Gregory, filed final report and was discharged. Frank H. Meyer, administrator of the B. H. Ostermeyer estate, filed his final report, which was allowed and he was discharged. o- — — THE K. OF. P. DISTRICT MEETING At the meeting of the K. of P. lodge last night, officers for the ensuing year were formally installed and are now in charge of the work. No especial ceremony was observed aside from the regular work of installation. An invitation was given to the Ossian lodge to visit this city on the next regular meeting night, Wednesday, January 16th, to give degree work and a good sized crowd is expected. The Ossian lodge has quite a reputation in this line. When the question of entertaining the district meeting to be held on February 15th was brought up, the majority of the members of this lodge decided that they favored letting the meeting go to some of the neighboring lodges. Bluffton has entertained the meeting a large number of times in recent years and by their vote, recommended that the honor be conferred this year upon Decatur. From three to four hundred visitors are usually found at these meetings.— Bluffton Banner. — Children who are delicate, feverish ®et immediate relief from Motner Gray’s Sweet Powders fnr act on the liver, making a stekiv strong and healthy. A certain cure for worms. Sold by all druggists, 25 cents.