Democratic Press, Volume 1, Number 23, Decatur, Adams County, 21 March 1895 — Page 1

THE DEMOCRATIC PRESS.

VOLUME 1.

Dr. Boyer made a professional trip to Geneva yesterday. Mrs. A. P. Beatty went over to Van Wert Saturday, where she visited relatives for several days. Marie Patterson is housed this week nursing thelagrippe, mingled with a slight touch of catarrhal fever. Dan Donovan was at Fort Wayne Sunday, where he wore the green and celebrated St. Patrick's in true Irish style. C. N. Brown of Geneva, was here last Thursday evening and Friday, looking after some business matters of importance. A. K. Grubb, the insurance man who can write anything in the line of insurance, no matter w hat, has an adv’t for you. Shafter Peterson was in Fort Wayne this week selling his law’ citations which are going like hot cakes on a rainy day. Abell & Son is the name of a newmerchant tailoring firm who just emerged into business at the corner of Monroe and First streets. The front of Martin’s bakery is being remoddeled and fixed up, the addition being quite an improvement to the appearance of the place. J. AV. Place spent several days this week looking after his ice cream business at Manfield, Ohio, which is being satisfactorilly manner by Leather Frank France. The county clerk since last week has issued marriage licenses to Orel Gilliom and Elizabeth Kepfer, Wil liam Bunner and Anna M, Ehresman, C. E. Neptune and Adele Spangler. While Tom Merryman was at Ft. Wayne this week he rode the Scottish Rite goat, which is ascending near the top round in the ladder of Masonry. He got away safe for we seen him yesterday. Deputy Clerk Lenhart was at Peterson Sunday, filling up at the expense of his kind hearted relatives who took pity upon his depressed physical condition. Burt only weighs 175 pounds with his boots on.

The music dealers, Erwin & Falk, have dissolved partnership, the former retiring from the firm. The present (stock will be sold out at cost prices, and if you are in the notion of buying anything of the kind, now is jour time. Mrs. Jeff Bryson and her mother are at Indianapolis this week attending the graduating exercises of Edward Bryson, who is graduating from the medical college thereThis medical graduate is a brother of our Jeffrey, the agent of the Grand Rapids lines at this place. To sort o’ duplicate the place of the Berne grist mill, they have an exchange warehouse, where wheat can be exchanged for flour, etc. It is deueedly handy but don’t take the place of the mill by a long shot. It is yet unknown whether or not a new grist mill will be resurrected there. When the frost is ou the counters. and the cobwebs on the shelf, and there’s seldom anybody in the store besides yourself, and your stock is getting shelf-worn, ami the groceries are stale, and bills enough are coming due to make a banker pale; oh, then’s the time a feelin’ kind o’ blue, and is puzzled with the proper thing todo. But in such a situation one sure remedyapplies, if yon want to get the customers you’ve got to advertise. A contemporary puts it thusly: How dear to my heart is the face on the dollar, w heu some kind subscriber presents it to view! It may come today or it may come tomorrow; it may come from others, or it maj’ come from you. The big silver dollar, the round silver dollar; dear, delinquent subscriber, present it to view! A round silver dollar I hail as a treasure, for often expenses o’erwhelm me with woe. I count it the source of an exquisite and yearn for it fondly wherever I go! How ardent I’d seize it—that lovely round dollar, ‘The root of all evil’ ’tis commonly named. Loving money is sinful, some good people A tell us, but the penniless printer can hardly be blamed. The penniless printer, the hard-working printer keeps sending out papers that interest you, so hand in the dollar, the big dandy dollar, dear reader, now will you present it to viewt

Mrs. J. T. Archbold will entertain a few friends this evening. Dick Townsend of the Randall at Fort Wayne, was here last Friday smiling on his old comrades. Mrs. W. E. Keubler has a class in China painting at Geneva, and last Saturday made her weekly visit there. David Hunsicker and wife are rejoicing over the birth of a new girl at their home, which was born last Thursday night. The office of Dr. Keller is being repapered and fixed up in style, and when completed will outshine most any around here. Last Saturday was the last day of school at Monmouth, and the occasion was duly celebrated by the scholars, teacher and parents. C. L. Meibers has a new boy at his house since last Thursday, and this fact is causing an unusual amount of joy around that household. Mayor Quinn, R. K. Erwin, Elijah Mann and Dr. DeVilbiss were at Willshire Tuesday evening looking after the necessary wants of a brother Knight of Pythias there. A member of the salvation army entertained a number of our people on the streets Tuesday, and thereby saved many souls. He was one of those fair haven angels who work entirely for glory. Charley Gass died at his home here Saturday the funeral taking place Monday morning from St. Mary’s Catholic church, with interment in the new cemetery. The deceased was fourteen years old. H. L. Troutman, the genial foreman of the Bluffion Banner, was here last Friday mixing around with the members of the fraternity. He is one of the best printers in this part of creation, besi les he is a teal clever fellow. The home of Dr. Keller has been a regular hospital for two weeks or more. His wife, father-in-law and brother-in-law have been confined to their beds with lagrippe, but are now convalescing much to the satisfaction of the Doctor.

Miss Dille returned home to Fort Wayne Monday, after a pleas- ■ ant visit with Miss Minnie Orvis. Miss Dille is an accomplished artist in oil, some of her productions being on display at Nachtrieb’s drug store, where many admirers | stopped to gaze and compliment > same. Everybody knows Frank Crawford and everybody tool will be glad to know that he is going to take charge of the Holthouse & Co. ’ clothing store at Geneva. His friends here won’t be glad to see i him leave Decatur but they will be I glad to know that he is taking charge of such a prosperous business, and will wish him success in quantities to suit his majestic employer. President Cleveland had a birthday Tuesday 7 and so did President I Niblick of the Old Adams CountyBank. The former was fifty-eight while “Billy” smiled at forty, being just as young as he used to be at “sweet sixteen.” A dinner was given at the Xiblick home to which relatives and friends congregated and twisted chicken wings and indulged in a good social time. None seemed to enjoy these festivities more than did Mr. Niblick, and here’s hoping he may live to be one hundred and forty and not look a day older. A beautiful home wedding occurred at the Fifth street home of Mr. and Mrs. Spangler last Thursday evening, the interested parties being Dr. C. E. Dick Neptune and Miss Adele Spangler, both veryprominent and well known societyyoung people of our city. The nuptial knot was tied and the wedding ceremony performed by- Rev. Gregg at 8:15. The bride looked exquisite in cream silk with long train, and wore white roses and also carried a large boquet of white roses. The bridesmaid, Miss Maggie Lang, was dressed in a light China silk and carried a large boquet of carnations. The groom and groomsman wore the usual conventional black—that means their best clothes. The guests present were J. B. Rice and wife, Dr. Neptune and wife, Mr. Spangler and wife, Rev. Gregg and wife, and J. Q. Neptune and wife of Willshire. At nine o’clock an elegant luncheon was served, and afterwards came music. The bride and groom will reside for the present, at her home. Here’s our congratulations.

DECATUR, INDIANA, THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 1895.

Max Roml>erg attended the the great horse sale at Kokomo this week. The Rathbone Sisters banqueted at their lodge room Monday even ing, and report says that an enjoyable time was the result thereof. Our public schools will celebrate Indiana day next Friday, and we understand that extensive preparations are now brewing for a real entertaining time. Deputy Prosecutor Hooper tells us that the next grand jury will have more business than a stack of tramps. Now, if you have done anything, it’s time toskin’er back. AVerling & Dilling of Preble, this week advertise a drain tile sale for March 27, which we will call the farmer’s attention to, for you may just need something of the kind, don’t you see. John Myers is at Kalamazoo, Michigan, buying a carload of potatoes which he intends bringing here and selling to his potato customers, which by the way are becoming quite numerous. The engine out at Lynch’s factory tried to run away with things last Friday morning; but was luckily averted by the cool collectiveness of theengineer who shut things down before any damage was done. But two or three new cases have been filed since our report last week, and they include DraytonM. Ayers vs. John Blayney et at., note; demands $250. Martha D. Chapman vs. Mary M. Madden et al., note and foreclosure; demands SSOO. Mrs. Herbert Rice is home from Indianapolis where she was during the legislative session of the general assembly, being one of the chief I stenographers in the senate. She is quite experienced in this line of work, having held quite a number of lucrative positions. Following is a list of unclaimed letters remaining in the poetoffice at Decatur: Rev. AV. H. Penhalegan, S. C. Hill, Joseph Meyers, Mrs. Mary Gondaley, Dr. Crouse, Miss Melia Stub, Clate Tjicker, AVilliam Johnson, Hacey Macy, Geo. Hudson. John AVelfley, Postmaster.

Trustee Vogelweede has been reI ceiving numerous protests by mail signed by- “a taxpayer,” kicking against the trustee’s acts to the poor. Such anonymous letter writing is wholly beneath anyone’s notice, but those who are indulging in same should persona’ ly see the trustee or sign their name to letters directed to him. Business is busij ness. Bowen Hale closed a deal this week which changes his residence from this city to Willshire, Ohio, to w hich place he will almost immediately move his family. He. will put in a flouring mill and grain \ elevator at that place, and receives a bonus from the people over there of SI,OOO in cash and the ground i for the buildings. He will buy and ship grain, make flour, etc., and in general be a benefactor to the farm- ; ers in that region as well as to the I merchants and business men of Willshire. Bowen has a good territory to work on over there, this I place and Van Wert being the two nearest points of any note, and the only points where grain is bought and sold. If we mistake not he i will there sow- the nest egg of a comfortable income inside of a year | or so. The council met in adjourned ses , sion last Tuesday evening. Mayor Quinn and Councilman Vail absent. The city attorney presented a bond ordinance for Third street improvement. Bonds were ordered Sold to anticipate the collection of all assessments of property owners who had signed waivers on Third street. I Fifth street was taken off of the contractors hands, and the clerk was ordered to give notice of the pendency of the city engineer’s report of assessments thereon. A resolution was passed providing for the extension of the France sew-er west to Line street, provided the consent of certain property owners to cross their lots could be obtained. An ordinance was passed regulating the hauling of loads over the streets of the city, and fixing the width of tires to be used upon w-agons. A copy of a resolution of the board of commissioners notifying the sheriff’ not to receive any prisoners except upon commitment was read and on motion referred to the city attorney, for report upon the legality thereof. On motion the council adjourned for one week. |;

Rev. Horton filled the Presbyterian pulpit Sunday morning and evening. He will move his family here the first of April. Henry Lankenaur, a successful teacher of Preble township and one ,of their energetic workers in the ranks of democracy, was here Saturday shaking hands with his friends. Fred Miller was called to A’in eennes last week by a telegram announcing the serious illness of his father, who is suffering from an abscess or tumor. He is now taking hospital treatment at Indianapolis. A ladies musical club is the latent j club organization in the city, which we may expect some day to burst open with considerable musical talent. They met Saturday evening at the home of Mrs. Dr. Thomas. Ezra Lister pulled through an attack of heart trouble last Thursday that came near proving serious. | Medical aid worked faithfully with him for several hours, and finally pulled him through all right. He is now able to be out again. That jolly, good natured C. A. Neuenschwander of Berne, stampeded our den Tuesday, and after sizing us up about right planked down the lucre for a a year’s Press reading. He reports Berne as being dressed up in her business harness and trotting a very prosperous gait. R. S. Peterson was at Ft. AA’ayne Monday evening attending i board meeting of the Indiana Farmers’ Loan Company, of which our fellow townsman is president. The company is but a little over two years < old and has over $75,000 loaned, which is a showing creditable to ! any institution of the kind. Hon. AV. H. Harkins has just re- j ceived official notification from Coli lector Hon. AV. H. Bracken of Lawrenceburg, of the fact that his district has been cut from twelve to nine counties and now embraces Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Noble, Jay, Lagrange, Steuben. AVells and Whitley, and will be known as district No. 7. The district heretofore was too large for the atten- j tion of one man, a fact that Mr. 1 Bracken recognized and remedied. —Portland Sun. Tuesday we poked our newspaper nose into the cozy and well arranged factory operated by A. A’ancamp, and found everything fairly buzz ing with business. Some twelve employees were busy working in | wood and iron in away that really ' impresse 1 one that things were | prosperous thereabouts. He is put i ting in mill machinery of his own ! origination and make, which are | said to be far ahead of anything in the mill line. He is quite a genius J and from his description of the ma- ■ chinery and its merits, he surely has something that cannot be du-j plicated any where for the money, i It takes considerable time and money to get such an enterprise properly before the public, and especially something of this kind, for it takes in so much territory, but when A’an does, he will be in clover up to his hip pocket. You will notice the resolutions adopted by the Methodists of this place, which prays the bishop in charge of the conference which will: be held in Logansport next week, to return the Rev. Gregg to the pastoral duties at this place for another year. The resolutions not only meet the approval of the members of the church here but they are also heartily approved by a large number of his friends who hold no membership tties to the church whatever. The Rev. is so genial and courteous that he greets all whom he may meet with a friendly feeling and interest, and should he be changed to another field of work regret would flow from many chan nels. He is so energetic in his work and has done much for the upbuilding of the membership of his church here, which is recommendation sufficient for his return. He is brilliant and could preside over a more extended congregation and charm them as he has charmed us, but then we don’t care to lose the brilliance of his magnetism in order to please some one else. AVe are selfish people in this instance. Rev. Gregg fills the bill, the church wants him returned, the people regardless of church, sect or party affiliations want him returned, and the Press gladly sanctions every word of those resolutions and will pull any kind of a string which will return the able pastor to his flock at this place.

Contractor Mann of this city, will erect a fine residence in Geneva for Andy G. Briggs, hardware merchant there. The residence in question will be a commodious and fine structure with all the very latest improvements, making it cost, in close proximity of $4,000 when completed. Verily, we can say that Genevaites are becoming quite citified, judging by the number of fine residences that are adorning the town. Nothing seems to be too good for them, for they don’t seem to figure much on the expense. R. B. Allison and John B. Trentman returned Tuesday’ night from their absence in Florida, both looking somewhat colored but otherwise all right. They have l>een absent in that region since the 15th of January, being just about two months as near as any one could calculate without counting it up on your fingers. The letters you already have read from Mr. Allison | has told you the condition of the | crops and how they have suffered ! from the recent freeze. Those letters have also conveyed all the in j formation you may’ care to know, making it unnecessary for us to re hash them now. They reached home somewhat fatigued but will ■be around in a few days shaking hands with friends and telling you all about themselves. A most charming thimble party I was given last Saturday’ afternoon , by Mrs- J. Q. Neptune to a number of her lady friends. AVhila needles and thimbles were industriously plied the scene was enlivened by the rendering of delightful music on the piano by Mesdames Niblick, Bryson and Allison. At five o’clock a dainty luncheon was served at small tables, Mrs. Bryson ami Locke assisting in serving. Mrs. Neptune j is an ideal hostess and all felt it ; good to be there. Among the invited guests were: Mesdames C. P. Ferry, Champer, Beane of Goshen, AV’. M. Myers, Daniel Myers, John Lenhart, Robt. Case, Thos. Arch bold, Edwin T. Gregg, D. M. Heller. AV. AV. P. McMillen, Rufus K. Allison, Jeff Bryson, Dell Locke, David E.Studabaker, Daniel Beery, ; John Niblick, D, M. Hensley, C. E. j Neptune, Jacob Shafter, and Miss Hattie Studabaker. Sheriff Ashbaucher and Deputy | Erwin accompanied by Marshal ; Cowan arrested Samuel Gerbour Friday night last. They found him in the AVilliam Gurkey settlement, some four miles northeast of town, i where he was chopping wood and | “batching” in true western style, i The information upon which the I arrest was made came from Bloomi ington, Nebraska, and charged the | defendant with robbery. He was ' placed in the sheriff’s bastile and a telegram sent the authorities at i Bloomington that their man was in tow. Monday night the sheriff from that western reserve dropped I into town, carrying with him a requisition from Governor Matthews as well as all other authority’ for the man in question. The sheriff was a big seven footer, hale, hearty and pleasant as a box of chips. To a Press reporter he Belated that in August last this defendant, with a pal, called an old man out of his house, knocked him down, tied him I into a twisted knot with a clothes I line, robbed him of $340, and left him in this position where he was found next morning nearly’ dead I with pain aud exposure. The two I I vamoosed to another climate, Gerj bourstrikingthis region some two or three months ago. The pal was: caught, tried in court there and' ' given five years in prison. Sheriff I Smith left with the prisoner on the I J 10:45 Eric train Tuesday, going direct to Chicago and from there' home, where he arrived last night at nine o’clock providing the trains made their schedule time. It lacks but a little of being 1,000 miles from here to Bloomington, which will make it quite a long, tiresome, tedious trip for the one who wore hand-cuffs and shackles. The prisoner is a large, well buuilt fellow, but his face lacks any assemblance of character, and is a dead match for many of those seen in the rogue’s gallery. He has many relatives who, so far as we know, have reputations that are unquestionable, some of whom reside near here. The officials here undoubtedly know their business, for they knew right where to put their hooks on the prisoner just as soon as the word came, and it was but two hours afterwards that they had him behind the jail bars. People who don’t want to put their foot iuto the soup tureen should steer clear of Adams county.

NUMBER 23

The Last of Major. Braidentown, Fla., March 11. Nature seems trying to atone for the damage done >n this part of the sunny south last winter, the weather now being delightfully warm and sunshiny. The mercury ranging from 70 to 80° during the middle of the day, with occasional rains which are bringing on vegetables very rapidly. AVe aie now having all kinds of vegetables, except tomatoes, served at our hotel, with an an occasional dish of strawberries which I assure you are very acceptable to persons who have l>een accustomed to them when in Florida from the latter part of January on. There was a party of us over at Egmont Key ( island) last Thursday looking for shells but found very i few. as it is frequently visited by large excursion parties from Tampa who search the whole island for the same purpose we did. The government maintains a light house on the key, which is eighty-six feet above high tide with a base seventeen feet in diameter. They also have built a good brick building : for the lighthouse keeper, beside which there is only two other buildings. I have known Mr. Chas. Moore, who is in charge, ever since I have been coming here. He is a good talker, full of fun and anecdote. He has been seventeen years in the employ of the government in the position he now occupies. There lis buried on Egn ont Key about forty soldiers and sailors who lost their lives during the rebellion. Their graves are unmarked. Dr. Reasoner of Marion, who is now’ here, is going to have Congressman i Steele ask for an appropriation to have a monument erected on the Key in their memory, and I think it might be granted. In a former letter I spoke of writing up an old abandoned sugar | plantation. AVe were up there and give you what information I could get regarding it. During the time prior to and after the war the place j was owned by Captain Archibald McNeill, who had a force of about 200 negroes who cultivated over 1.400 acres of sugar cane. The ; sugar mill contained all the modern i improvements, the whole outfit be- ■ ing worth several hundred thous- ! and dollars. It was almost entirely I abandoned about 1862, the slaves being sent to Louisiana. During the last year of the war a federal gunboat entered the Manatee river and a boat's crew blew up thesugar house and set fire to the refinery, completely destroying the plant. After Jeff Davis and his cabinet ;abandoned Richmond, Judah P. ■ Benjamin, under the assumed name iof'H ward, came down here and i was hidden away for some little time by Captain McNeill, when he escaped by small boats via Sarasota Bay and Cape Florida to one of the Bahama group and thence to England. AV’e visited Braden Castle, an old building at the junction of the Manatee and Braden rivers. The building is built of a composition of shells and cement, and was once the best and safest on the river. The story goes that during the Creek Indian war, which General Jackson brought to a successful end, it was used by the inhabitants as a place of refuge and safety. The walls now looks as if they had been perforated with holes for the purpose of allowing the defenders to fire upon their foes, but then yon know what imagination can do. I expect this is tiresome, so will close this my’ last letter for this season, as I leave for home on the 18th inst. Trentman will go to Tampa on Friday, 16th, aml meet me aboard the train the day I leave here. With best wishes for the prosperity of yourself ami readers, lam yours very truly, Major. Here is a clever swindle that is being worked very successfully in various portions of Ohio, and you want to keep your weather eye open for him when he reaches this climate: A couple of meu dressed like sign painters drive up to a farm house and ask permission to paint a sign on the fence for some well known firm, and when the sign is painted they remark that they desire no one else to be allow’ed to paint signs on this particular fence, and they give the farmer a dollar, and take a receipt to give to the business man, to show him what was done with his money. The men depart, and in a few weeks the farmer finds his note for a good sum in the bank, and receives notice to come and settle.