Decatur Democrat, Volume 52, Number 1, Decatur, Adams County, 7 January 1909 — Page 3

v!vldy exemplified in 'the unexpected, L sorrowful demise of Jesse Butler, one of Decatur’s most highly respected citizens, which occurred at the ScUeiman and'Butler livery barn Wednesday afternoon at four o'clock. Wholly oblivious of the near approach of the death angel, the aged man entered the office of the barn a few moments before four o'clock ( seemingly in thd best of health and Jovial as he was ■ always known to be. He occupied a chair near the stove where for some time he sat in a reclining position as one seeking repose froin the day’s labor. Long and audible respirations iL from the man attracted the attention of “Bub” Burrell, who was sitting in the office, and one look at; the form was sufficient to convince him that the | death knell was being sounded as a signal for the close of a long and useful life. Alarm was glyen and but a few moments elapsed until a throng of curious people had gathered to see Mr. Butler in his dying moments. A physician was hastily summoned but before his arrival the spark of life had become extinct, and the soul of Ip the well known man had been ushered into eternity. The body was removed to the home of Mrs. Mary E. Elzey, daughter of the deceased. The deceB dtot was born near Richmond, Wayne * county,-Indiana, February 16, 1824. In early life he immigrated to Page county, lowa, where he resided until | 1861, when he mov,ed to Adams county and took up his abode on a is farm in Root-township, which he own- ; ed at the time of his death. He was s united in marriage to Miss Mary Day- . enport,and to this happy union were born twelve children, eight of whom survive to mourn the loss of a loving father. The mother died November 13, 1899, after which Mr. Butler removed to Decatur, and engaged in the horse business, which avocation v he has since followed, making his home with his daughter. The demise of “Uncle Jesse” as he was familiarly known, has caused grief among a multitude of friends. The surviving children are Messrs. Samuel, Albert, Mel, Benjamin, William and Harry Butler and Mesdames Mary Elzey and Perry Elzey. The funeral services were morning at ten o’clock, interment be- . ing made at the Decatur cemetery. ' Heart trouble is given as the cause of the sudden death of Mr. Butler,“as toe has been Stricken several times by the dread ailment and has fallen to the ground while the victim of. I sinking spells. • • (J MEETING OF COUNTY ASSESSORS It Will Be Held at the State House on January Twelve. County Assessor George Gentis received a letter Wednesday morning from John E. Reed, secretary of the state board of tax commissioners announcing the date of the annua) 'meeting of the county assessors of Indiana with the state tax board. The meeting will be held In room 12 In the 'state house on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, January ,12th, 13th and 14th. Not only do the county assessors attend these meetings but many of the township assessors are usually' present as they also find It helpful in their duties. Several of the Adams county township assessors are planning to go this year as they can attend the inauguration of Governor .Marshall on the day previous, Monday, January 11th. J- Professor George Lucky, wife and' children left Thursday for their heme at Lincoln, Nebraska, after en- - Joying a week’s visit with many of their friends and relatives in and about Decatur. Professor Lucky is, as stated previously in the Democrat, one of the ablest instructors at the University of Nebraska, and he is returning home to resume duties next 'Week. During their stay here the Lucky family has been entertainP Cd at various homes and their time A has been well taken up in enjoying | the hospitalities of friends and rela.l t ; ves dear to them. During the week I they were honored guests at dinners j given by Mrs. Kern, the Spoilers, Dr. I W. E. Smith and wife- and several I btber families. Before departing they that Adams county still holds i tb e reputation of having within her the most hospitable peotT' ple.on the earth. A business deal that has long been rumored will take effect tomorrow, when the firm of Brown & Spitler, comprised of Elsworth Brown and W. . E. Spitler dissolves, Mr. Brown retiring, and being succeeded by 0. N. Snellen, of Decatur, and S. S. Stein of this town. The new firm Will be comprise<of W. E. Spitler, O. N. Snellen and S. S. Stein, all business men of worth.—Willshire* Herald. ~ Henry Schults and daughter Dorothy went to Fort Wayne Friday to attend the funeral of Mr. Schultz’s niece, Mrs. Fred Railing, of Chicago, • who was brought to Fort Wayne for burial. She was formerly Miss Anna Richards, of Friedheim, Adams county. Her death occurred Wednesday.

i Indianapolis, December 31.—Teach-' , ets of the public schools of Indiana > at the close of the afternoon session I yesterday voted unanimously for the - appointment of a committee' to work r for a'law providing a disability benefit and ia pension for superannuated j teachers. The vote, looking to the ■ passage of an act by toe Indiana legi isJuture in 1911 creating a school pen--5 slon fund and foY paying teachers a * sick or disablement benefit, was on s motion that the president of the In--3 diuna State Teachers’ Association be • empowered to . appoint a committee 1 of three to act with representatives 1 of the county and the pities and towns 1 Superinendents’ Associations of this s state. On the committee President 1 Bentop immediately named President ’ R. W. Mills of Hanover, State Supert intepdent of Public Instruction-elect 5- Robert J. Aley and Superintendent R * I. Hamilton of the Vincenhes schools. 1 The two others who will complete t the legislative committee are B. Ft ’ Moore of Muncie, representing the f Towns and Cities’ Superintendents’ I; Association, and Richard Park, Sulli--1 van, representing the County Super- > intendents’ Association. The commit-. “ tee will meet on the call of Superln--5 tendent Moore of Muncie. They will 1 probably get together in preliminary ’ arrangement for their work before 1 the close of the teachers’ convention 1 today. No attempt will be made to 1 get the teachers’ pension measure ' before the coming legislature, as the • instructors wish to take plenty of ' time and have no hitches when their ’ bill goes before the state general as--1 sembly. The teachers* pension plan ' Is not a new one, but has never before ' assumed definite shape%efore the ses- ' sion of the state Instructors. In the 1 appointment of the committe the 1 teachers’ associations are following 1 the lead of the superintendents of ’ the state. OHIO WOMAN WAS DRUGGED i * Forced to Marry a Man and Gave Him < >SOO. . r . . Just one week after they were ‘ married Cynthia F. McCarty,a wealthy • widow of Waynesfield, Auglaize coun- ' ty, Ohio, filed suit for divorce, from 1 her supposed husband, John Daily, ol 1 Lima. Claiming that the marriage 1 -was entirely fraudulent she brings ' suit in her former name. Mrs. McCarty, who Is slity-elght years old, alleges that while on the train with 1 Daily, going from Lima to Wapakoneta on* December 21, she whs drug1 ged and forced to go to Cincinnati. While still in a semi-conscious condition and fully under the control of ' the defendant, she believes Ifhey were > married the next day at Covington, 1 Ky., which contract she asks to be 1 declared null and void. She further 1 alleges that Dally by force and threats obtained from her >SOO In cash, which 1 he has invested in a saloon at 214 north Central avdnue, Lima. — ; "''■r-'.. !— — R. BCHUG 18 THE PRESIDENT ■ Os the Berne Traction Line—The Other Officers. The directors of the Bluffton, Berne 1 4 Celina interurban company organized. in' the office of Eichhorn & Vaughn at Bluffton. The members of the company from Berne went in an automobile. .The officers of toe company are: Rudolph Schug, president; ' Andrew Gottschalk, vice president; Joreph Gerber, treasurer- ;Dr. Simpkins, secretary; Pete Neuenschwander, general manager; Chris Stouffer, assistant general manager; Lon Batson, engineer. At the meeting the directors decided to ask for subsidies in three townships in Adams county and one in Wells county. Petitions will be presented at the January meeting of the board of county commissioners in both counties, the meeting being next Monday. The amounts asked are: Harrison, Wells, $10,000; French, Adams county, $4,000; Monroe, Adams county, $16,000; Jefferson, Adams county, $4,000. ——. __-o- — Wisconsin Lumber Co. vs. Cardwell Box Co., suit on dirafts $l,lOO, amended complaint filed making new parties defendants. Summons ordered for now defendants returnable January 11. » • Johnson vs. Pleasant Johnson, submitted, divorce granted. Judgment and decree for absolute divorce oi) payment of costs. E. P, Reed & Co., vs. Fred B. Tague account $250, reply filed to second, third and fifth paragraphs of answer. Answer filed to counter claim. C. C. Burry et al have transferred to John Burry 6% acres In Monroe township for $650.'-' » Isaac M. Dickerson, guardian for Lqlu Johnson and Grwe Chrisman, filed a petition to sell real estate, which was granted and Thomas Drew

» H. 8. Michaud Friday morning bei gen his duties as county auditor. He 1 bad eight or of fifteen cent } cigars on hand, but was so busy he ’ forgot to hand them ont. L c Real estate transfers; G. R. A I. i Ry. C(>. to C. R 4 Ft. W. Co., , a tract in Monro® township, quiet title deed; Fred Amacher et al to John Winans, 20 acres in Monroe township, $2,500. i ,;a., ■ V? A., ‘ i . Dr. Noah Zehr, of Berne, has been . granted a physicians license, the only > one in the past year. He is a graduate of the Western Reserve univer- ' slty, medipal department, Cleveland, ’ Ohio, and obtained toe necessary per ’ cent as required. 5 •• • During the past year licenses have L been issued to the following opticians: David Bixler, Leo Auto and b F G. Gilbert. > - -;; Marriage licenses have been .issued * to Rufus Lehman, 24, a laborer, to ' Aldina Finktauser, 21, of Berne; ■ Samuel S. Rickard, 20 ,a farmer and Daisy M. Delhi, 18, both of Monroe; Jesse A. Brown, 30, a farmer from Whitley county,, and Melissa Barto, ’ 30 of this 1 county. The latter has ' been married once, her husband having died three years ago. oDO YOU NEED A DOLLAR BILL? ’ In some mysterious manner, two copies of the dally file of the Dally ’ ( Democrat, have be® ll lost from the case In which they are kept. It is * most important that we have these and consequently we will pay one 1 dollar to toe first person who brings ’ us copies (In fairly good condition) of the Issues of Friday and Saturday, ' Augdst ,Tth and ,®th, 1908. Here’s ’ a chance to pick up an easy dollar. ; Look over your old papers and you ' may find them. We will pay fifty cents for either one. THE DAILY DEMOCRAT. —; p / - The year 1908 has passed Into oblivion and today we as American people are continuing our business and » social life in a ne.w year, which has r just found its inception. Another ’ milestone has been passed by the i people of the age with prospects ( brighter, environment more encourag- ■ Ing and every condition which has to do with the progress of toe people ’ greatly improved upon. As we start . upon the journey of life in the year . 1909, every individual should strive . to relegate to toe rear all habits and Indulgences of any nature which would tend to retard progressiveness. There >• ' i are few who cannot abolish some pract tice and thus greatly benefit them- * selves and associates. There are few i who are not willing to try, but there i are many who are lacking of toe wiP . power to do so. This is an agpwheu idle indulgences, corrupt habits and dishonesty will meet resentment a the hands of the people. It is an age when honest, clean people will play i the Important part and every person who desires to command recognition o? any sort must dissuade theiwminds ( from greed, arrogance .ams habits derogatory in the least to his character. Now is the time to turn the 1 page in Individual lives, to banish from the leaves of life’s book all records that block the path of success, to right all wrongs and to start anew with a determination to do right at all hazards. The clang of bells, shrill report of whistles signaled the outgoing of the old year and the incoming of toe new, and many watch parties were held over the city. Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Tyndall gave their annual dinner at their Monroe street home Friday and the guests were banquetted to all toe delicacies of toe season. Those present were D. D. Heller and wife, Bertha and Henry Heller, J. H. Heller and family and Miss Elizabeth Corbus. The Ladles’ Aid Society of she Presbyterian "“church was entertained by Rev. and Mrs. Spetnagle Thursday afternoon. The principal business of the meeting being the election of new officers for 1909. After a very exciting contest the following ones were elected: President, Mrs. Bert Lower; vic® president, Mrs. Dore Erwin; secretary, Mrs. Tom Reid; treasurer, Mrs. Dr. Coverdale.' The new officers accepted their duties for this year in a verj graceful manner. A vote of thanks was given the retiring officers, especially to toe president, Mrs. J. N. Fristoe, who has made an excellent officer for toe past eight years. Mrs. Spetnagle, assisted by Mrs. W. Lee, served sherbet, cake, coffee and candy. Every one enjoyed a pleasant time. • 'lifi'i*' Miss Perle Burdg went so Fort Wsyne Friday and from there to Garrett to visit with her sister, Miss Merle Burdg, >ho is working in the circulation and advertising department of toe Garrett Dally Press, -■ - - ■

For the first tlm® in fifteen months j the Adams county jail ( ls bereft of t prisoners. Daniel Straub was toe last j to leave the Institution and breathe the aid of freedom. During the past year many violators of the law have . been confined within the walls of toe , prison, f and on several occasions as t many as fifteen Were locked up at > once. For many weeks there were but , two, Charles LeMay and Barney Everett, who were serving long sentences. It .is indeed unusual that the jail is i empty as there is some one serving a sentence for public intoxication alinost - all the time. Sheriff Meyer states that - It seems quite out of the ordinary that , the iron doors can swing to and fro r without danger of thels guests escaping. It would be a btesplng- if there would-be no joccasion to cause the 5 iron cells to be occupied hereafter, • and now -that this Is ,the first day, of 1 the new i year, those who are inclined .to violate, the law and order should make an_ effort to refor-m and keep I themselves out of the clutches of the > law. • . ' ; 1 1 " I- The latest writer of fiction is a former Adams county lady, Mrs. Cora. 1 C Welty, better krfown as Cora. Gottst bhalk, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. 1 Andrew Gottschalk, •of Berne, The story written is laid in Adams county and that fact, together with the knowledge that the writer, too, is claimed by our people, will make the book all the more Interesting. The title 1 is “The Masquerading of Margaret” and is beautifully bound, well written ’ and published by the C. M. Clark 1 publishing company of Boston. Many ’ of the characters are made of the ’ Amish, and th® story is interesting and 1 on the whole a most creditable production, yid the many friends of Mrs. ’ Welty are profuse in their congratulations upon its success. The Clark ’ Publishing company is one of the best ‘ publishing houses in the country, and this fact denotes not alba® that the book has merit, but it also assures the’ success of the sales. It will at least go well in Adams county, wher®. at an early date most of oiir ’ people will have a copy of “The Masl querading of Margaret” in their 11s braries. The Democrat congratulates Mrs., Welty and hopes that she will not hide her talent as a writer with 1 this her first and successful attempt, i- - o THE BIG BENEFIT SHOW. > ' VTo Be Given by Firemen Will Be Great Affair. , Preliminary arrangements for the ? firemen’s benefit show to be given in 3 toe near future are being rapidly coml pleted and it is their intention to give I to their friends an entirely new novel, and up to date local talent show. ’ The Play will be one of toe new wes- ■ tern plays now the rage In the cities, and will be embellished by a big dour ble chorus of ladies and gentlemen in j a catchy and tuneful musical program i comprising the latest song hits and i beautiful and fanciful chorus group--1 Ings and formations with elaborate costuming and scenic effects. The ( chorus f’ill contain the best musical ■ talent in th® city and the cast will be i made up of old time favorites. The proceeds of the show will be for the [ purposes of securing better equipment . for the local department, and they hope to make it a financial and i they request th® hearty co-operation of the public which they will no doubt receive as their efforts to give toe , city better service is certainly a laudable one and deserves the hearty commendation of all our citizens. ——_®_ D. B. Erwin, of Decatut 1s another new director appointed on the beard of the Winona school, a Presbyterian institution. Charles True fs another - Decatur man on the board. Rev. A. H. Brand of jthia city is a member of the board, while Dr. G. E. Fulton declined a place.—-Bluffton News. David H. Clymer, of Claypool, has been sued for divorce by his wife, Nora E. Clymer,,now of Goshen. Clymer formerly lived in Columbia City. The wife declared that they were married in 1885,, when she was but 13 years old, and that her husband’s peculiar ideas of affinities have made their married a turbulent one. Rev. L. L. Carpenter, of Wabash, hrs just returned from a five weeks' t*ip in Kansas and Nebraska, in the course of which he dedicated five churches and gave six lectures. Although past eighty years of age Rev. Carpenter la still active and travels from °Pe end of the country to the other to follow his life’s work of dedicating churches and giving lectures. John Barkley is another trustee in Adams county who relinquishes his office with the township free from debt, and that, too, for the first time in the memory of man. Mr. Barkley has made an ejceptionaJly good officer and has done much good for those whom he so faithfully served. He will leave Friday for a visit to his wife, who Is In Colorado seeking to regain het health. She has been there for a month and the word comes back that she Is showing many signs of improvement ■ » > .. — — ~n il '

k Tipton, Indiana, Jan. 4;—(Special to Dally Democrat)—The announcement ; nt the death of E. D. Beeler, one of i toe most prominent business men ot : this city at the Palmer hotel In Chis cago Saturday caused a shock in buss inees qircies here and among his • i hundreds of friends. It was known , that he had <J?esn acting queerly for t. about two weeks, the-first Indications • being noticed just before Christmas, . but that he Would take his own life i was never even surmised. It is i general belief here that his conditiori t was brought on by his close attention t to business. He was In splendid fin*-* : ancial aonrtition, but simply had more > to take care of than he could stand. ■ A.: soon as notice of his death’ -was s received here a committee ’of the s Epcs lodge to which he belonged has-' t tsred ’to Chicago, where they took charge of the remains, arriving with 1 the body at two o’clock this mornipg. The funeral services will be held from » the home in this city at. 2:30 o’clock > Tuesday afternoon, •in charge of the Elks and the Knight Templars. Interment will be made in this city. His wife Is nearly distracted with . grief* • Edward Beeler, for a number of years > in business in this city, committed suicide Saturday some time, at the Palmer hotel in Chicago. His lifeless body was found Saturday afternoon, after he had been dead for many hours. He had gone to the city presumable to look after business and geing to his room, stuffed the windows and even the keyhole with cotton and turned on the y gas. That his death was caused by his own intent, there seems to be little doubt, as he left three notes, two of which were addressed to his wife and the other to seme person, whose name has not been made public. It is the general opinion that Mr. Beeler’s mind was effected, as he toad acted rather queerly for some time, and for a few weeks lasi spring it is said he was a patient at a sanitarium. He was a hard worker and the strain of his various large enterprises seem to have been too great. He was about forty years of age, and had developed a wonderi ful ability in a business way. Mr. Beeler was reared near the Van Wert county line and when a young man learned the operator’s business, serving for the Erie at Wren and Rivarre. About ten years ago he came to this city and became a partner i with Kern & Brittson in the shoe business. Later they bought the Ehi it ger & Meyer clothing store and soon . they opened the Big Store in the Studabaker-Allison block, where they i conducted the largest retail store in this’ section of the country. In June of 1903 the building and contents were totally destroyed by fire, and the firm dissolved. A few months later, Mr. Beeler went to Tipton as manager of a similar store and a few months later he purchased the store and It. He has prospered; and recently has engaged in the mitten factory business, owning factories a* Tipton and Alexandria, also continuing to’conduct his big store. A dispatch frbm Chicago published Sunday said: Chicago, Jan. 3. —A man who has been identified as Edward Beeler, fifty-five years old, of Tipton, Ind.,was found dead in a gas-filled room in the Palmer house yesterday afternoon, apparently a suicide. The keyholes and windows had been filled with cotton. The man, who registered last night as “John Smith,” had been dead several hours when the tragedy was discovered by Mrs. M. A. Medberry, the housekeeper. Beeler wrote three letters, two of which were addressed to his wife. One briefly read as follows: “Inclosed please find $45. Good-by. ■Edward.” The police summoned and took charge of the body and personal effects. Telegrams were sent to Mrs. Beeler.. . No motive for the man’s act has been discovered. Among the man’s effects; was a loaded revolver. Mrs. Medberry detected the odor of gas ana notified the management. Beeler registered at 2 o’clock this morning and retired as soon as his. room was 1 assigned and no call was received from 411™ during toe night. Mr. Beeler is survived by his wife, , whe is a daughter of Mr. and Mre. Washington Kern of this county. They hrve no children. His father lives near Wren, Ohio. - —— Miss Frances Dugan left this morn-1 Ing for Lake Forrest, where sae. will' resume her studies at Ferry Hall, '• after enjoying a holiday vacation with her parents, Mr and Mrs. C. A. Dugan, j Brown and Summers, real estate ’ dealers of Monroe, have just closed two deals in which they sold forty acres of land belonging to Art living in Blue Creek township,. the Consideration being $3,000. They also sold eighty acres belonging to E. Burt and Normam Lenhart at $125 per acre. Ir is said that Mr. Lenhart has one of thq, best farms in the county. Browa and Summers are becoming poprflar real estate dealers.

The January session of commissioners’ cdurt began Monday a. ,m. Martin Laughlin, president of toe board, wss not present owlng to toe continuance of the illness which began Vhen here a month ago. The business of the term will be light, owing to toe meny session's held the latter part of last month, at which time the affairs of the county Were prejtty Well settled- up. . • ■ - — Miclrael; Miller and William Gall.mey’er were appointed viewers and C. G. Ernest engineer on the Sprunger and Habegger macadam road petitions, two roads petitioned for in Monroe .township. ’ . ■ • < 4 The Edst Jefferson and the Geneva, Ceylon & Wabash township extension 4 roadS were accepted b? the board, the proper report upon them by the. engineer and superintendent in charge having been made. J. —. > W. R. Wheat, reprejsenting the contracting firm of Wheat & Sisk, appeared before the board and refused to contract for five roads bid off by thein at the December session. Their excuse was that they failed to understand that’they Were to make up any difference between the amount the bonds sell for and par, which amount the board has to realize upon them. The board have the matter under advisement and it is likely the rpads. will be sold again at the February term. The county council are called for a meeting tomorrow at which time all toe remaining surplus will be transferred to the general fund and What is necessary will be used to pay any bills which are remaining unpaid. There will be a surplus after this is dene, but the exact sum is not now known. Months of serious Illness from a complication of diseases in which cancerous affections played the important part, culminated in the demise of Mrs. Elizabeth, wife of Peter Zeser Saturday evening at seven o’clock. The deceased for some time suffered untold pain as a consequence of the dread ailment and during the past iew weeks of her life she underwent a trying ordeal in a battle iagainst the grim Senility contributed to the seriousness of the case, and for some time it was known that death was inevitable. The decedent was born in Ohio, although the greater portion of her life has been spent In Adrms county where her children, five sons and three daughters, have been reared. The death of Mrs. Zeser will be deplored by a multitude of sorrowing friends, who knew her as a kind and loving friend. Tne funeral services were held from the St. Marys church Tuesday morning at 9:30 o’clock, standard time, in-, terment being made at St Joseph, cemetery. The deceased was 57 years of age. - - ; _o . — Washington, D. G-, lan. 4. —(Special to Daily Democrat) —The president sent a special message to congress today concernjpg the appalling calamity in southern Italy in which he says that 1 * it is the immediate duty and a debt of civilization to Italy, the warm and steadfast friendship of that. country to our own to prompt Axa.-1 erica to immediate and generous rjjr ' lief. The president recommends AV approval of the disbursements ofreum plies from the steamships and Celtic as ordered by too/lepartmerit, and now enroute to Messina and for the further appropriation of a half million dollars to be applied to toe relief. Suez battleships Connecj ticut, Vermont, Minn«4ota and Kansas started through toe Suez canal this morning from here to Port Said. Immediately after hearing the president’s message on toe earthquake In Italy the house went him one better and unainwusly appropriated the sum of $809,000 for relief of toe victims. Having pasaoKtoer ninety-third milestone and pHßfetng the distinction of being the oldest woman In Adams county, the spirit of Mrs. Rebecac Mumma was ushered into eternity Saturday evening at five o’clock responsive to the ravages of senility and other complications. Mrs. Mumma lived a long and enjoyable life. She was bom in Maryland and has lived in this county since the time of her marriage. In 1865 her husband ' departed for the great beyond. The ; deceased was a resident of Union ’township . Her acquaintanceship extonds over a goodly portion of the j county and by ail who knew her, she was dearly loved. A wonderfully strong constitution was hers and that she lived to reach such a ripe old age is due to thatfact. Surviving to mourn the loss of a devoted mother are three sons: John H-, R“F. and-W. and Miss Melissa and Mrs. O. P. Harkle?B. The funeral services were held from to® Pleasaet Grove U .B. church Monday morning at 10 o’clock and interment was made at Pleasant Vai’ f cemetery.