Democratic Press, Volume 1, Number 10, Decatur, Adams County, 20 December 1894 — Page 1

THE DEMOCRATIC PRESS.

VOLUME 1.

Alex Bell was sick the first ofthe week. D. E. Studebaker made a business trip to Geneva Tuesday. A daughter ofSheriff Ashbaucher has been sick all week with la grippe but is some better as we go to press. John Baker was a visitor at his rural home Tuesday, where he did help to kill poor defenseless beeves for use later on. Dick Townsend of the Hotel Randall at Wayne, was here Saturday, and took time to have his name added to our list of subscrib ing readers. Isaac Silvervale, at one time a merchant in Portland, is traveling in Spain; something we never done but expect to, that is if you don’t care what you say. A. J. Moon, a clever traveling salesman for a Michigan carriage company with headquarters at Frankfort, Ind., was calling on his trade here yesterday. Lost—A collar and tugs to single harness. The same were lost in the vicinity of the court house. The finder will be rewarded by leaving same at this office. Eli Baumgartner and Lucy Leh man, James Glick and Carrie M. Reber complete the list of marriageables this week. Business is somewhat dull in this line. The list of unclaimed letters in the postoflice in this city includes the names of George Spangler, T. H. Mattocks, C. O. Ebel, so says John Welfly, the postmaster.

Mrs. Herbert Rice and Lucile Locke are at Indianapolis this week visiting the former’s parents and taking in the numerous sights visible about the capital city this time of year. The six years old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. T. J. Merryman has been ! quite sick for some days past, but is much better at this writing. Dr Meyers of Fort Wayne, was in consultation Tuesday with Dr. Boyer over the case. Monroe White, anoil well driller in the Geneva field, fell into a tank of oil Sunday and was drowned. He was a young man, and came to Geneva when the oil craze first began. His parents resides at Greenfield where his remains were sent for interment Monday. It is said that Bluffton is paying interest on a526,000 indebtedness. That looks big but when you come to figure out that they have waterworks and an electric light plant all owned and controller! by the city, that isn’t a very enormous indebtedness. We guess they will pull out of the slums wiih tai! over the dash some day. Agent Jeff Bryson and wife Saturday - evening unbolted their doors to a number of their friends, among whom were A.D. Moffatt and wife, R. K. Allison and wife, Frank Dibble and wife, James Rice and wife, D. E. Studebaker and wife, Herbert Rice and wife, and A, L. Devilbiss and wife. A merry time was had until the near approach of Sabbath morn. Crowded houses have greeted the Graham Earle company since and including Monday night. The manager of this company is well and favorably known to all our people, he having appeared before them so often, each time with something new and original. This year their company is newer and stronger than ever, each and every member a pleasing character. This fact alone tells the tale why our people take so kindly to Graham Earle. Besides this he is a gentleman of whole cloth and docs business right on the square. It has frequently come to our notice but never until now did it cause us to boil over. There is some smart young boys in this town who think it is quite elevating to make themselves as loud as possi ble. They congregate about the churches, talk, laugh, throw stones and otherwise see how contempibly small they can make themselves. Prof. Moffatt also tells us that property about the school buildings is also destroyed, which is a violalation of law and for which there there is a heavy penalty, and our advice to these smart idols is to let up with a big let. Besides that it isn’t showing any intellect ta follow the teachings of “Denver Dan” in this day of intelligence and progression. This is a mild hint and if we have to repeat the dose, it will be in plain English.

John Niblick and wife were Fort • Wayne visitors Monday.

Lafayette Rape of Geneva, was in this city Tuesday attending to some business of interest to him. Miss Rome Turner of Greenville, Ohio, will be a guest during the! holidays of Miss Kitty Meisse in this city. Paul Egley of Berne, sends the glue for the Press and Sentinel both one year, and that means that the news is what he is after and what he will get. Judging from thedisplayof holi. day goods that can be seen sticking around our business rooms just now one can’t help but think that old Kris himself has come town. Jesse King and wife came up from Portland last Saturday and commingled among relatives and friends for several days. The}’ returned home the first of the week. A slight change is on in the insurance ad of Dade E. Studebaker this week, which your critical eye should encircle. He is doing the insurance business to a queen’s finish. We are glad to mention that the lecture of Rev. Gregg at Roanoake last Friday evening was quite well attended. That being true we know also that every one present was highly entertained. Our Sentinel offer seems to be striking the attitude, judging from the number who is taking advantage of it. The two will furnish you more news than all the other papers in the universe. Subscribe now.

D. F. Quinn was an old maid all of last week, but he couldn’t stand it any longer, so he tore himself over to Bluffton Saturday evening and spent Sunday with his wife who had been a guest of Mrs. N. K. To ld during the week. Herman Center is having his big linger in the sale of the Oberman stock of goods, be being retained as chief cook thereabouts. If there is anybody on earth who can make you believe that pantaloons are pantaloons, a yard wide and all wool, it is Corney. He’s all right. Invitations were printed at this office w’hich annonce the marriage of Miss Lydia Ashbaucher of Vera Cruz to William Fulk of this city, and our present efficient county surveyor. They are both estimable young people, but as we will furnish an eye witness to the nuptial tie, we won’t further discuss them at this time. The report of Adjutant General Rollins to Governor Matthews, shows that the state militia cost the state for the past year just $22,360.71, and to this is added $1,966.14, the governor’s contingent fund. The adjutant general recommends a permanent camp to be established near the center of the state, etc. It is said that the legislature will be asked to increase the appropriation to $65,000 and to also change the name tothe Indiana National Guards. The pleasant home of Mr. and Mrs. Dade E. Studebaker was all ablaze with social fun and their friends last Thursday evening, at which time they done the honors. John D. Hale and wife, Dr. McMillen and wife, Herbert Rice and wife, William Dibble and wife, Dan Berry and wife, Rev. and Mrs. E. T. Greeg, Mrs. Champe and sister Hattie. Miss Minnie Orvis, Prof, i Moffatt and others were present. Luncheon consistingofallthedelicaI cies of the season was served and it lis needless to say that a good time I was the final outcome. Saturday evening alxrnt dark Fremont White, an oil man, met death in one of its most awful and unusual forms. White, who was a green hand, employed as a pumper ; on the Fletcher lease near Geneva, | w-as making his rounds and climbing up one of the tanks descended into it through the man hole, and was overcome by the gases arising from the oil, falling backward in mirky fluid and drowning. It was some time Ire fore his absence was noticed and still longer before his body was discovered in the tank and fished out. The coroner’s inquest showed that he came to his I death by inhaling gas, from the I effects of which he fell into the oil [and was drowned. The remians ! were shipped to the folks of the deceased, at Greenville, Ohio. White was a young, unmarried man, and ha<l been employed there but a short time when his tragic death occurred. —Portland Sun.

DECATUR, INDIANA, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1894.

Dan P. Bolds was a Geneva visitor Tuesday. Miss Ella Sprang is visiting with friends at Columbus, Ohio, where she will remain until afterthe holiday season. Miss Ollie Dettmer of Van Wert, Ohio, will visit in this city next week with Mrs. Irwin Brandyberry. The two were former teachers in the public schools at Willshire. Graham Earl and his fine company are with us this week, playing to moderately filled houses. The head of this company is known all over this country, and has friends growing on every tree. Bluffton has tw’o brass bands who also areat lager headsabout thesupposed ability owned and paid for. They steal each others instruments and otherwise make life pleasant for each other. Such is life in a great big city. Ike Rosenthal, the clothier, is having the room recently vacated by Nachtrieb, the druggist, refitted a. d will move his stock of goods therein. The room is a good one for the business—giving him plenty of room to expand, Charley Freeze and W. W. Mungee of Fort Wayne, came down Monday morning and took Harry Meisse out to kill everything that walks wildly. Their efforts were crowned with glittering success—we say this but we don’t beleive it. Uncle George Pontius was a visitor in our city last week, and we are not going to give the snap away either, that is the object of his presence here. But he called at this office and paid the cash for the Press and Sentinel one year, and I during the next year prosperity and happiness is assured him. J. Frank Mann, trustee, R. S. Peterson and others who were interested in the Oberman stock of merchandise, disposed of same Tuesday according to advertised sale, Amos Foreman being the lucky bidder, carrying away the prize for $2,960. He opened the store for retail trade yesterday morning as a big juicy advertisement elsewhere will tell you.

Joshua M. Lister, well and favorably known to all our people, is dead, as resolutions elsewhere will tell you. He was a gallant soldier in the late war, being a member of Company M. 11th Indiana Cavalry, and rendered valuable service in those days of unpleasantness. He was a member of the G. A. R., a Mason, Odd Fellow and Knight of Pythias with scores of friends every where he was known. He age was fifty-four years. Lawson Lenhart, the aged father of our county clerk, died Monday at eleven o’clock after a short illness. He was seventy-five years old and for many, many years a prominent, influential ami respected citizen of the county, being connected with the many enterprises that today mark the progressof our developed country. The funeral took place from his late residence east of the city, this morning at ten o’clock, the services being conducted by Rev. Smith, with interment in Alpha cemetery. Many from this city attended the funeral. Falk & Erwin the managers of the opera house, offers an especially atttactive program next Wednesday evening, where John L. Sullivan will present his new and original three-act romantic drama, written for him by Edmond E.PriceofN, Y. and entitled “A True American. Mr Sullivan seems to have lost none of his popularity, as everywhere that he has appeared, the people vie with each other to prove their allegiance to the man who was idol for so many years. His tour so far has had somewhat the character of a triumphal procession, thereby! proving how staunch the Americans ! are where they have once set their effeetions on a favorite. At the same time, Mr. Sullivan is doing all that is possible to keep the warm position he held in the regards of the public by winning a place asan actor. Not satisfied with merely ■ relying on his notoriety to attract, he has made a strong bid for the respect and favor of his audiences by having a good play, a strong company and a first-class attraction. Add to this that Mr. Sullivan is j showing marked ability as on actor, surprising even his own friends and it will be easily understood that” A | True American” displays theS. R. O. sign more often than some more pretentious show.

Mrs. George W. Bolds came up from Geneva Monday evening and spent Tuesday with D. P. Bolds and family. Will Bussy hasn’t got time to smile at his friends just now, he being so deeply engrossed in the compounding of Dr. Marshall’s medicine, for which advance orders have so deeply covered him up. W. 11. Niblick went to Toledo yesterday where he will testify in court in regards to a pretty clean case of dead open and shut counterfeiting, and some of the money came into his hands. His wife ac companied him. Mr. and Mrs. Dr. Devilbiss entertained their friends at their Second Street home last evening, which was enjoyed by all who furnished their presence up on the occasion. The Dr. and wife are estimable people with friends on every corner. Henry Slagle faced His Honor, Mayor Quinn, yesterday morning, and paid him $8.30, the charge of one first class “jag” no tariff at tached. At the same time and place James Colchin turned over the same amount, the charge being assault and battery. Verilly, but the wheels of justice will grind. Saloonists at Fort Wayne have got their dander up high, caused by a screen ordinance being passed by the city council, which compells all dealers in liquors to remove their screens after eleven o'clock at night and on Sundays, The topers there will have to carry a bottle or go dry, but the former is the most probable. It is said that fourteen saloons will shut down on account of the reform. Two cases have been set down for the next term of our circuit court. One of them is for a petition for partition, Clark J. Lutz, administrator of the estate of Wil liam H. Lamar vs. Charles A., Hattie and William O. Lamar, Jennie and John Edwards, Mary C. Broome, Emma and John W. Burk and Bernard J. Kohne. The other is to foreclose a mortgage, Reinhart Eger vs. Thomas Dalton, Charles H. Cramer, Frank G. and J. W. Churchill. Demands S9OO.

That popular singer, dance and comedian, Mr. Bobby Mack, is one of the clever specialty artistsengaged by Mr. John L. Sullivan for his new play “A True American”. Mr. Mack is one of those unpretentious artists who make his way tothe top by merit alone and deserves all the praise and bestowed upon him by the press and public. During John L’s. engagement here, Mr. Mack will introduce several of his compositions; one of them entitled “Norah McShane” is destined to become as popular as almost forgotten “Annie Rooney.” Nearly every democrat, big and little, knew William jun., who has spent sixteen years of his life in the various departments of the state house at Indianapolis. Those who know him, and there are many, will regret to learn that Monday he met death by drowning in a bath tub at the new Visitor’s Hotel, near Terre Haute. The first presumption was suicide, but investigation shows it to have been purely accidental. He quite recently closed a ten year’s term as state statistician, and with his wife was at this hotel, which property they intended to assume control of next Monday. Will had been in poor health, and was taking a bath, and after being in there sometime Mrs. Peele went to assist him in dressing. She could get no answer at the door, so becoming alarmed, the door was forced open and he was found stretched out dead in the bath tub. The belief is that in turning over his head fell to the bottom, and being weak didn’t have strength enough to extricate himself. He was born in 1845, making him forty-nine years old. He was deputy secretary of state for two terms under Hon. Enos Neff who is now deceased, and also under Hon. John G. Shanklin. He was also assistant clerk of the legislature in 1881, afterwards being made chief of the bureau of statistics which office he continued to fill until a few weeks ago, when it was turned over to a republican, the office being an electiveone since 1890. He was a brother of Stanton J. Peele, now judge of the United States court of appeals at Washington. He also has a brother and father, both of whom live in Winchester. He no doubt will be interred in Fountain Park cemetery at Winchester.

Hiram Walters is a new hand at the bellows at Blackburn & Miller's drug and book store, during the holiday rush of business. Arrangements are on tapis for entertainments at all our churches on Christmas eve. Santa Claus trees and all the fun imaginable for the children at this time of the year, will be on the program. Special exercises will be given in each room of the city schools Friday afternoon. All friends of education are most cordially invited to be present. Go and see what j your children are doing. The teacher and pupils will welcome you. The people of Decatur and country surrounding should patro nize Decatur merchants in buying your holiday goods as well as every thing else you may need. This thing of spending your money abroad isn’t right nor is it necessary for you can get as good goods and as low prices in this city as elsewhere. Trade at home.

According to our few lined announcement last week the M. E. I quarterly meeting came off Sunday at the Methodist church in this city. The usual large crowd was present to pay their respects to the presiding elder, who was present and delivered one of his practical and illustrative sermons and afterwards greeting those whom he knew. The meetings were interesting. Sis Hartzell one of Portland’s’ good citizens, was released from our county bastile here Tuesday: after a confinement of two weeks. ■ She was jugged on a grand jury indictment charging assault and battery with intent to kill, but the court omitted the kill part of it and she was able to fix the balance and is now on her pins again, so to speak. She has a reputation and also a pedigree as long as the moral law, but not quite so good, unfortu- j nately. Gas Inspector Jordan now gives : us something new, as will be seen by the following from this great dispenser book of knowledge: “After gas will come oil. The gas belt will never go back to wood and coal. This will be a great oil field some , day. As the gas diminishes oil [ gets stronger. I expect to be burning oil in my residence some day, | and I have had my house piped for , that purpose. I look for this be to ; a greatoildistrictin the near future. I It is developing fast in the north 1 and east portion of the gas field, | and it is but a question of time when the entire gas district will be a solid oil field. The third biennial report of the trustees of the southern Indiana hospital for the insane has been filed with Governor Matthews. The period from the preceding report has been free from any incident of a distressing nature. A cyclone, March 23, 1893, did some damage to the building, causing an extra expenditure of $ 197.18. The I appropriation of $7,600 for a reservoir was returned to the state treasurer. The main avenue in the grounds is 4,370 feet long and in the ground underneath is 2,496 feet of 12-inch sewer pipe. Additional walks to the extent of 3,739 feet have been laid. The total cost of improvement of the grounds was $14,628.58. The total permanent I improvements of all kinds for the year cost $19,978.58. The appropriation for the biennial period was $170,000, and of this amount 87,056.90 was returned to the state. The actual maintenance, deducting the amount paid for permanent improvements, was $142,969.52. The average number of patients cared for was 385 and the cost per capita ’ per year was $185.67. The net proceeds of the farm for two years was $2,075.18. Recommendations are made for the purchase of additional ground for farming purposes. An increase in the capacity of the hospital is urged; green houses and a pavilion at a cost of $3,500 are asked I for. The continuation of the present appropriation of $85,000 is urged. Medical Superintendent Thomas reports patients admitted during the biennial period 236, and remaining over Oct. 31, 1892, a total of 392. The total number treated was 628; discharged as recovered, 130; improved, 8; unimproved, 7; idiotic, 5; not insane, 2; died, 52; total discharged and died, 204; remaining Oct. 31, 1894, 424; average per cent, of deaths, 4.9; average per cent, of recoveries on number treated during the period of the report,l3.2; average on number admitted, 58.5.

NUMBER 10

Wm. Earl was gratified last week on receiving notice from the pension department that his pension, which has been pending, for years, has been granted. He will receive 812 per month with back pay for five months amounting to S6O. Mr. Earl is one of the old veterans who honestly deserved a pension and the Journal is glad to note that justicehas at last l>een accorded him. —Markle Journal. , The government is now’ furnishing headstones for the graves of all ■ deceased comrades who have thus far been neglected in this regard. The post here found fifteen graves i without this mark of respect, so j the stones w ere ordered and are now at the Democrat office. The list comprises M. L. Vincent, John Redling, William Smith, Thomas , W. Andrews, James Erwin, David King, John P. Teeple, George Place, Winfield Conkling, John Mertyman, Moses Loutham, Richard Murray, James Whipple, Absolom McCurdy and Isaac N. McMillen.

School closes tomorrow for a ten days vacation during holidays and i until the second day of next year. The object of beginning on Wednesday is to make up lor time lost. The teachers from abroad will spend this vacation at home, Miss Graham going to some point in lowa, Miss Lincoln to Fort Wayne, Miss Malotte to Vincennes, Miss Rogers to Bloomington, Miss Robiui nette to Evanston. Our schools have been very progressive this ; year, for which much credit is due ' the excellent corps of instructors as well as the official management of i Superintendent Moffatt. Knowing that they deserve it, we hope their I vacations will be filled with pleasure of all kinds, and that they will return refreshed for the work before them the remainder of the school year. A week or two ago the Fort j Wayne Journal saw lit to publish a communication from one “Doc.” at ! that place, who severely criticised the management of the Eastern In- ! sane Hospital because this managej meat failed to take in every insane ■ person reported from Allen county. i The reason they were not taken and j cared for was on account of the in- ■ sufficiency of room to accommodate i the number of insane for w hom ap--1 plication had already been filed at ! the hospital. The Journal was sent ; another communication denying j the allegations made as well as ex- . plaining the methods by which the I hospital was managed together with I other information on the subject, j This the Journal saw fit to feed to the office eat, and no mention was ever made of it, w hich demonstrates that their mode of journalism is de[cidedly on the peanut plan. All j this being true we feel it our bonded duty to explain a little. Through the kindness of S. W. Hale of Geneva, who is also one of three trus- : tees of the eastern hospital, w’e have ' been favored with a printed report of this hospital for the biennial period ending October 31, 1894. The eastern district for the insane comprises the counties of Adams, Allen, Blackford, Delaware, Grant, Henry, Jay, Madison, Randolph, Rush, Union, Wayne and Wells. The capacity of the home is quite insufficient for the demands, by 200 or more, hence demands, from I every quarter of the distict, for ad mission, are oft-times refused. Admissions are granted according to populations of counties, and in this way favor is shown no one. According to this established rule there havf been sent there during the fiscal year 93—4 from Adams county Allen 8, Blackford 1, Decatur 5, Delaware 3, Fayette 2, 1 Franklin 2, Grant 6, Henry 5, Jay 15, Madison 6, Randolph 5, Wayne 11, and Wells 3, making a total of i 65. The capaciity of the home is but 438, while according to approx - ■ imations of one insane to every 600 |of population, there would be 677 insane people in the counties com- ’ prising this district, a deficiency in room at the hospital of 239. In order to meet the demands for existing conditions, Mr. Thistlewaite. the steward, will submit the question to the legislature at its next session, and recommend that the capacity of the hospital be increased fifty per centum by an appropriation of SIOO,OOO for additional con- ■ struction,and the legislature should accede to the demands. The report j further shows the expenditures, etc., for the past year, and it also shows that the board of trustees have done well their work. The Fort Wayne Journal should I post up on their report.