Decatur Democrat, Volume 56, Number 19, Decatur, Adams County, 11 May 1911 — Page 4

Indianapolis, Ind., May 6—The steam railroads gave the tax board a good work-out Wednesday, the entire day being consumed in public hearings. Some of the big boys were on hand to tell of depreciation, the one word that is worked to death in describing both the physical as well as the financial values of these great corporate properties. Among those who were given attention were the New York Central lines, which Is comprised of the Big Four and all its branches, the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern. Fort Wayne ft Jackson, Elkhart & Jackson. Sturgis, Goshen, St. Louis & Lake Erie. The main lines of this great syndicate of jailroad properties stands next to the Pennsylvania as regards to fine equipments, excellent tracks and perfect service. It is a great system and one of the big companies of the country. The Wabash was represented by the Ho. D. W. Sims, and the statements made by him were along the lines made by all the roads who are represented. The Wabash has one hundred and sixty-six miles in the state, besides being the parent company to the Fort Wayne & Detroit, Attica, Covington & Southern, and the Montpelier & Chicago, the latter being the air line from Montpelier, Ohio, to Chicago, and is known as one of the greatest through lines in the country. The Chicago & Erie had their troubles to unload. They have one hundred andj fifty-nine miles of Indiana mileage and | fourteen in Adams county. Their capital account only amounts to one hundred thousand dollars, but they have twelve millions of first mortgage bonds and ten millions of what they are pleased to term as income bonds. In times gone by this company has been loaded with an excess capital which they were compelled to accept or stand to lose what they originally invested. Away back in the early days when this line was known as the Chicago & Atlantic, General Grant was a stockholder, and it was during this time that he as well as the rest of the company were taken advatntage of by some unscrupulous manager whO| turned the road to his own advance- ( ment, causing them to lose several hundred thousand dollars. Other assumed friends pulled their legs and ♦hey really are burdened with a capital that never benentted the company at all. Os course all this ancient history is dug up for the purpose of appealing to the state tax board, and for the purpose of showing them that they should be lenient when it comes to making their assessment. They do this in the face of the cruel business fact that such misfortune has nothing to do with assessing the physical value of a railroad, and this after all is what Is considered in determining an assessment. Capital stock does not enter into any assessment. It is the property they own and their ability to make earnings therefrom that is considered by the taxing authorities the country over. Hence, these hard luck stories do not get very much. The Elwood, Anderson ft Lapelle road is one of the short lines, it being one and one-eleventh miles long, running from the city of Elwood to the tinplate mill there, and has no other business only of this company. The real importance and value of this line will be better understood when it is known that the tinplate company owns the road and by reason of this investment it places them in a very favorable attitude with the railroad world and gives them an inside advantage in the shipping field and there is their graft, if it may be called such. It is not graft, but one advantage in business that every one is looking for. Apparently there is a trick in every trade. Word comes from South Bend that the Hon. John B. Stoll is writing a book on political history. It will doubtless be one of the best productions of its kind, as Mr. Stoll is well fitted from every standpoint to write entertainingly and authoritatively upon this great subject. He is one of the old war horses, both in politics and the newspaper profession, and his history will well be worth the reading by every man, woman and child in the universe. L. G. E. —o ■ The two clever little college comedies, "The Cave,” and "The Womans Masquerade,” written by Miss Nora Del Smith, a member of the Decatur high school faculty, and which will be enacted by the senior class of the high school on the occasion of their class day, May 24th, will also be given to the public in book form, the plays now being in the hands of a New York publisher. The plays will be published in one volume and will probably be off the press in a month or two. They are bright little comedies, centering about college life at Indiana university, and the many friends of Miss Smith are eagerly awaiting the book. The comedies will be presented by the senior class at the Bosse opera house and Miss Faye Smith and Miss Clara Williams are in charge of the training.

FOLLOW PICTURE WORK. . Fred Hess, who for a number of months has been employed as clerk at the Parrish restaurant, has resigned his position and will take up the picture business, and will work under the employ of James Artman, who is now working out of Portland. Mr. Hess is acquainted with this line of work, having followed it for some time, and was quite successful. o_„ Beginning with Monday of next week and continuing for three days the state convention of the Knights of Columbus win open at Richmond, during which time a number of the members of 'the local lodge will be among the many representatives from all parts of the state. It is to be a notable gathering, the highest official of the order being present, as well as others who are sent by the various bouncils in the state as delegates. Those who will represent the local council are Grand Knight Dr. H. F. Costello and C. S. Niblick. A number of others will also attend during the course of the three days, and the Decatur council will take advantage this year owing to the convention city being so near to the home town. Monday will be chiefly dr ed to the receiving of delegates, ~nile on Tuesday the business sessions will take place and addresses from the various appointed office holders will be made. The Elks’ meeting held Friday evening was quite a spirited one, the principal question discussed being the arrangements for the lodge to attend the state convention to be held at Ft. Wayne on the 24th, 25th and 26th of this menth. An entertainment and an arrangement committee were appointed, and they are to see that everything needed or necessary be supplied and obtained. They are to charter a special car which will be run on the last day, and they expect to take at least a hundred members, who with their wife or other lady friends, will run up probably to two hundred in all. The entertainment committee is to see that pennants of the lodge colors and with the Decatur Lodge, No. 993, are supplied for each member, as well as other streamers and banners, and car decorations. All those wishing to attend should notify Exalted Ruler H. J. Yager at their earliest convenience so arrangements can be made to accommodate all, and if two cars be necessary, they can be secured. That the local lodge will make a prominent showing is evident from the fact that when they undertake something it never fails of accomplishment. RECEIVE CHECK FOR SICKNESS. John Lammiman Remunerated For Two Weeks’ Illness by Company. Ed Green, the hustling agent for the North American Accident Insurance company, today received another check in payment of the claim of John D. Lammiman for a two weeks’ illness with erysipelas. The eheck is for >34.28, and is appreciated by a man who has been laid up for two weeks. Mr. Lammican carries a >2,000 policy with Mr. Green, for which he pays five dollars per year. It covers both sickness and accident and is one of the best and cheapest policies on the market. No man can afford to be without it, but many don’t realize that until after they are injured or so sick that they are prevented from working. Mr. Lammiman’s check today would pay his premium for seven years. o — Accurate information has just reached friends and relatives here of the real condition of Thomas Buckmaster, who, it will be remembered, was injured in an automobile accident Tuesday, and was reported as being expected to die from result of the injuries received. A letter from his, daughter to the son, Warren, who is temporarily residing here, states that she reached the bedside of Mr. Buckmaster the night following the accident, and that she found him suffering from several broken ribs and contusions on the head. The skull was not fractured as was first thought, and he is resting easier and improving from day to day, although it will be several days before he can be removed from the hospital and brought to this city. o The seniors of the high school are quite busy preparing for commencement week, which is but two weeks away. Instead of having their marriage Saturday as they deal friends to believe, Erward Miller, son of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Miner, of West Monroe street, this city, and Miss Ina Martin, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Martin of west of Decatur, gave them a surprise by having the ceremony Friday evening. The couple, accompanied by the groom’s sister, Miss Lydia Miller and the Holthouse chauffeur, made the trip by automobile Friday evening to Vera Cruz, where the mar-

riage was solemnized at 6 o’clock at the German Reformed parsonage by the Rev. Oswald Vitz. After the ceremony the party returned to this city and had a wedding supper at the home of the groom’s parents, the newly wedded couple leaving at 9:30 o’clock for Fort Wayne, thence to Toledo. Ohio, where they will spend a part of their honey moon. Upon their return here they will be at home in this city, the groom being an employee of the Ward Fence company. The bride s wedding gown was a handsome tan messaline satin, and her going away dress, a frock of old rose. Both are representatives of two prominent families of the city and county, and highly esteemed for their many good qualities. (>—■ NEW LODGE ROOMS. The Masonic lodge of this city, which has long been contemplating the establishment of new headquarters, has petitioned L. C. Waring to build a third story to the fine newbuilding, whtcti the Waring Glove company wll erect for its plant, the third story to he used by the Masons for their lodge rooms. Mr. Waring is considering the matter, but will not reach a decision until Monday or Tuesday. The Waring building will be forty-four by one hundred feet in dimensions, and this would give fine space for the Masonic suite of rooms. The Elks have also called a meeting at which they will plan to ask that a fourth story be built for them. B. W. Sholty, a member of the state grand jury, who left the first of the month for Indianapolis to begin duty May 2nd, arrived home Friday evening for a visit with his family over Sunday, but will return again to conclude the work, which will take until Monday night or Tuesday morning. The adjournment was taken to await the arrival oi a witness irom Seattle, Wasn., w-no. on account of delays bywrecks in the mountains, could not arrive in Indianapolis before Sunday night. The law provides that the state grand jury shall not include less than sixteen nor more than twentyfour members, and the present jurystrikes a happy medium in having twenty. Os this number, it takes the affirmative vote of twelve to return an indictment. While he did not keep accurate tab, Mr. Sholty stated that in the four days they bad been in session, from fifty to seventy-five indictments had been returned. The official board of the Presbyterian church Saturday- a. m. received a message of acceptance from the Rev. Geisler to whom, as decided at the congregational meeting held last Wednesday evening, a call was extended to serve as pastor of the Decatur church, succeeding the Rev. Richard Spetnagel, who resigned in February to take charge of the South Bend superintendency of the Anti-Saloon League. The Rev. Geisler was graduated a week ago Thursday from the McCormick Seminary at Chicago and is now at his home at Monticello, 111. The notice of his call to this pastorate was not received by him until Friday, and he consequently could not make arrangements to be here to conduct last Sunday s services. The following address was given by Judge James T. Merryman at the funeral services of bis late friend and brother attorney, Jacob Butcher, held at Geneva Thursday, May 4th: Comrades, Friends and Neighbors of our Departed Friend and Brother: This is surely an innovation in my line of work and a wholly unusual thing for me to attempt to do. I feel that the life, character and personal worth of the departed is worthy of a much greater and more extended eulogy than I am able to offer, but however illy I may be fitted for the duty I never had a friend for whom, at his express request I was more disposed or willing to try to say something in honor of his memory and of the personal esteem in which I held him, than he, my friend and brother who here so peacefully sleeps. Just a little further along life’s highway than any of as have yet gone and all too quickly it seems to us he came to the end: with his cares and affliction, his successes and the many fond recollections of happiness that he had brought to others, for his pillow he has laid down in that last earthly rest; in firm, with fond hope and happy anticipations of ever lasting life. I wish here to emphasize his faith in a future life for the reason that in the profession which was his life's work we see so many great questions unsettled and unsolved —nations and people heroicly struggling to reach higher ideals and better conditions in the affairs of human government, and looking out over the widely extended field of human action we see so much Injustice and imperfection in human life that it is a rare thing to find a thoughtful one in our profession who does not believe that sometime, some-

how and somewhere everything will be made right and that before that Bar where our friend has gone justice never miscarries. For nearly forty years his life has been such an active, busy one that It has touched almost every vital interest of this community and that too in a helpful way. More than once you have recorded your confidence tn his honesty ami his personal integrity and to the full measure he was worthy of it. I knew him long and intimately, and I am persuaded that in any an>. every station of life he was called upon to fill, he honestly and conscientiously sought to discharge his duty to the best of his ability. All these years he has gone in and out before this people and you knew him better still. His life has been an open book to be seen, read and commented upon by all w-ho knew him. In this world where no one is perfect and none are free from sin and the Imperfections incident to the life of the best of us, I did not know but possibly there may have been some blurred pages in the book of his life: 1 am not so sure but we would love him lees if there were not. We call to mind that little couplet which reads substantially: "There is so much good in the worst of us and so much bad in the best or us that it illy becomes any of us to say harsh things of the rest of us." A man Is not to be adjudged good by occasional acts of charity or expression of lofty ideals, neither is any man to be judged by an occasionall misstep in life but we should all be judged by those eternal principles of morality, justice and exalted sense of honor to which our thoughts and our hearts naturally and habitually turn in our hours of silent meditation; and measured by this true standard he was a good man and worthy of the honor you today pay to his memory. As a man, a friend and a neighbor no one ever came to him in affliction, distress or need who did not receive out of a full heart that friendly sympathy, helpful advice and hearty good will which so many of us so often need. As a citizen no project was ever entered upon for the advancement of the interests of the community or the betterment oi tne town in which he had his home but what received the full measure of his approval and sunport. As a lawer he was true and faithful to every trust and he endeavored to advance the cause of justice in the way he saw and believed it to be; and to those of us who saw him most and knew him best in this, his life’s work, J;e was uniformly courteous and kind and genial and loveable in a marked degree, and in every professional engagement his word was taken without any allowances and no professional confidence reposed in him was ever betrayed. Three of the best years of his youth he freely gave to the service of his country in that war that tried men’s souls; his bravery, loyalty and patriotism was worthy of the highest emulation and the memory of that contest with its glorious results which he helped to achieve and the respect, the friendship and the love of his comrades he cherished until the very end. His last worldly and fitting honor came to him in the closing days of his busy life when he was chosen as a representative of the whole body of people of this county to serve in the last session of the law-making body of the state. The end of this service fittingly marked the close of an industrious, faithful and busy life, and to this last great trust he gave the full measure of hfs devotion and not the faintest breath of criticism for neglect or unfaithfulness ever fell from the lips of friend or foe and we will carry him hence to his place of rest, covered with a mantle of honor, spotless and undefiled. And now- at the holy threshold of his late happy home we pause, for there he was all and more than any of us have said, and more than al! than any human soul can say or think. Again, we recur to our first as well as last thought, "If a man die shall he live again?” and we bear echoing through the hills and valleys of old Judea and rippling over the waves of Gallilee those memorable words that will never be forgotten so long as tears fall and human hearts beat, “Let not your hearts betroubled, ye believing In God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions, if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you—that where I am ye may be also.” And we today can rest content in the belief that where we write “ended,” angels write "begun.” There is no power than can take away life’s breath and he, whose pain and questionings are done now knows at last this truth, “There is no death. Jual as the sinking of the full-orbed sun cheats mortals into thinking it has gone, so is death a dream and he

has won God’s verities in tne t.v. , dawn.” BAR RESOLUTIONS. To the President and Members of the Adams County Bar Association: Your committee to whom was appointed the duty of preparing and submitting to you a suitable memorla touching the life, character and services of our deceased brother, the Honorable Jacob Butcher, begs leave to submit the following: Jacob Butcher was born in Jay county. Indiana, March 19. 1844. and died in Geneva, Adams county. Indiana. May 2, 1911. He was a son of Jacob Butcher and Rachel Butcher, nee McCullum. His childhood and young manhood were spent on a farm in Jay county. Excepting the time spent in the service of his country as a soldier, he has lived in Jay and Adams counties all his life. For more than thirty-five years he has lived in or near Geneva. He was educated in the common schools of Jay county. He was twice married, his first wife being Jemima Conkel. To this union were born three children, Minnie Burke, Lola Hutchins and Gladys Gettinger. His first wife died many years ago. His second wife was Katharine Williamson. To this marriage were born two children. Roy and Elizabeth. This wife and all his children survive him. Jacob Butcher was a loving husband and a kind and indulgent father. He was ever loyal to his home and family. His home life is reflected in the filial devotion of his surviving children. He was called by the people to serve them in various political capacites. At an early age he was elected a justice of the peace. At various times he was deputy prosecuting attorney of Adams county. He was appointed attorney for the town of Geneva, which office he held for several years. In November, 1909, he was elected representative for Adams county to the general assembly of the state of Indiana, which office he held at the time of his death. In the discharge of all of his official duties he stood firmly for law enforcement and endeavored to give to the people that which appealed to him was their desire. He was faithful to the trust reposed in him. He enlisted as a soldier in the Civil war on August 15, 1862, in Company K, 89th Regiment, Indiana Volunteers, and was mustered out July 19, 1865, at Mobile, Alabama. His regiment participated in many important battles. He was a brave soldier and loyal comrade and always at the post of duty. For more than thirty-five years he has been engaged in the practice of law in Adams county. He was a wise counsellor and his advice was sought by those in his community. In court, he was courteous and fair and ever ready to extend a word of kindness to his opponents. He was an able trial lawyer and an eloquent and fearless advocate. At the time of his death he was an active member of the I. O. 0. F. lodge and the John P. Porter Post, both at Geneva, in which orders his wise counsel and good cheer will be missed by his brethren and comrades. He was a life-long democrat and prominent in the counsels of his party, yet he ever showed a spirit of tolerance to those who were opposed to his political belief. As a citizen he was inflexibly honest and his integrity was beyond reproach; as a friend he was as true as steel; as a man among men, he was fearless in espousing his ideas of right. As a lawyer and co-worker at the Adams County Bar, we mourn his departure. We present the above in token of our esteem for our deceased brother, and recommend that the same be adopted and spread of record in the order book of this court, upon a page set apart and dedicated to his memory, and that a copy of the same be furnished the family. JESSE C. SUTTON. C. L. WALTERS. JOHN C. MORAN. —o—— Dr. C. C. Rayl of Monroe, who was •hosen by the Modern Woodmen to represent the district at the state convention held at Kokomo Wednesday, returned home Wednesday evening and reported one of the best and most profitable meetings he ever attended. These gatherings are held i every three years and it is a time when the progress of the order which has been made during the past three years is gone over and such amendments and changes made as would prove beneficial to the lodge. From the state meeting one notch higher is taken called the head camp, when delegates from all parts of the United States and portions of Canada assemble for a business and social gathering. Buffalo, N. Y., was selected for the head camp this year and the sessions will be held next month. Delegates from the Eighth district were chosen who will represent the district at the national meet, and are E. 8. Parker

. of Anderson and W. M. Baker of Key [stone. Wll. hington, Indiana, w selected for the state meeting, to J field in 1914. Many addresses unJ talks by high officials of the order were delivered Wednesday and >ir Rayl considers himself much favored by his brethren to have had the pfly. ilege of representing the county at such a gathering. STILL BUSY AT~IT. That they are still plugging away t„ I dredge out the St. Mary’s river | 8 ' shown by the mass meeting called f or I May 16th, to be held at St. Mary’s [ Ohio, on the L. E. ft. W. railway ] bridge, spanning the St. Mary's river These people are in earnest and se,the value of the improvement to the farm lands and property values, asifl.. from the increased business which is bound to occur, and they are using every effort to gain their point, if the St. Mary's river is dredged to the Ohio line, it will be necessary to dredge it the rest of the way. Approximately 7,000 people are benefitted in the four counties which are rep. sented in the meeting, and the cost of the improvement is cauculated to be close to half a million dollars, and those versed in the case thoroughly claim that the cost will have to be borne by the taxpayers as the river has never been officially declared navigable, although many of the old settiers have seen flat-boats and keelbarges navigate the river and this may be evidence enough to cause the government to stand the expense Officials approached about the matter are not able to give any idea as to what trend the public mind is taking and are unable to forecast the probable results of the meeting The arrangements for the funeral of the honorable Jacob Butcher of Geneva. whose death occurred on Tuesday, and which were completed Wednesday in the court room, when the Adams County bar met for this purpose, were carried out this morning when nearly every member of the bar attended in a body. The committees, which had been arranged to look after flowers, and other necessaries, completed their arrangements Wednesday afternoon, and a beautiful floral piece was sent as a token of respect and esteem from the bar. The funeral services were held at 10 o’clock from the home and it was one of the largest attended funerals ever held in Geneva. Interment took place at the West Lawl cemetery. Those who went from here included D. D. Heller, C. J. Lutz, James P. Haeflfng. Judson Teeple, D. B. Erwin. Jesse Sutton, C. L. Walters, Ferdinand Bleeke, Henry Heller, J. T. Merryman, A. P. Beatty, C. W. Yager, J. W. Tyndall, Bert Len hart, A. J. Teeple, Henry Voglewede, Orval Harruff, George Gentis and J. C. Moran. Several other members made the trip by automobile and were also in attendance. TRIPPED ON CARPET. Mrs. Coulter Fell Down Steps and Reseived Sprained Wrists. Mrs. Lily Coulter met with quite a painful accident at her home Wednesdas and as a result has two badly sprained wrists. She was leaving the house, when she caught her foot on a piece of carpet, throwing her with much force down three porch steps. In the fall she tried te catch herself by throwing out her hands and received the above injury, and also struck her head on the cement walk, suffering a bad bruise. Although the injuries are not serious, they are quite painful, and it will be several days before she will have the free use of her hands. - - ■ ■- — — The senior class of the Decatur high school held an important busness meeting Wednesday evening at which time the Rev. R. L. Semans. pastor of the Methodist church, was choeen to deliver the baccalaureate sermon, Sunday evening. May 21s' This will be held at the Methodist church. The Rev. Semans will extend an invitation to all the ministers of the city to attend, and the evening will undoubtedly be as usual, in the nature of a union service. The Re'Semans is the new pastor of the Methodist church and those who have heard him in his addresses here during the short while he has served the local congregation are highly please I with him as a speaker, man and minister. v The class made a very worthy selection. o NOTES FROM THE COURT HOUSE- ! Sarah C. Castle, administratrix of the Maria L. Hartman estate, filed in ' ventory, which the court approved. Real estate transfers; John Hornier to Adam J. Smith et al.. '“ ini ' in Jefferson tp„ >1200; George Sinnson et al. to Catnerine E. Slawson. lot 6, Buena Vista, quit claim deed, 11- ——— DEMOCRAT WANT ADS’ PAY BIG