Democratic Press, Volume 1, Number 41, Decatur, Adams County, 25 July 1895 — Page 1

VOLUME 1.

WM. H. H. FRANCE. — The many triends of Auditor illiaiu H. H. France were shocked this morning at the announcement of his death, which occurred at 6:50. Thirteen days ago the deceased was suddenly taken sick with a bilious attack, at that time not supposed to be the least serious. !• or a few days he gave evidence of , recovering, but at this stage he was taken with symptoms of typhoid and later with inflammation of the bowels, from which he suffered agonies untold, and which became worse until death relieved him this morning. M illiam Henry Harrison France was born in Vermont July 29, 1841, being a son of Frederick and Alice France, both natives of Vermont. In 1847 his parents emigrated to! Licking county, Ohio, where they I lived until 1853, and then came to Adams county. Both parents are I now deceased, the mother living until about a year ago, being nearly ninety years old at the time of her death. Had the deceased lived four more days he would have been fifty-four years old. Mr. France had always been en-! gaged in farming until a few years . ago. For six years he was super- 1 iutendent of the county infirmary, being appointed in 1883, and in 1899 he was successful in being elected auditor of Adams county, which office he has since filled. Last year he was successful in re- ! ceiving the second nomination and | election, and in three months more would have begun upon his second term in office. This fact shows' the popularity of the deceased among the people of Decatur and Adams county. He was married August 26, 1860, to Miss Phebe Matthewson, a na-I tive of this county and a daughter : of John and Almira Matthewson, who were natives of New E> gland, | and were early settlers of Adams county. Mr. and Mrs. France have four children, Edwin W., Alice A wife of Jeremiah Aicher, Charles \ and Osa, who aie now mourning the death of the one who is and always has been so near and dear to them all. The funeral services w ill be held at the Methodist church Saturday at ten o’clock. Rev. Gregg, pastor of the church, will conduct the services, while the Odd Fellows, of which the deceased was a member, will have charge of the remains. Interment at Maplewood cemetery. The June distribution as perfected by Treasurer Bolds finds the various amounts below paid to the township trustees- and school board treasurers: William Erwin, | trustee of Union township, 82,048.60; Isaac Brown, Root. 82,640.63; Henry Dirkson, Preble, 81,928.95; Joshua Bright, Kirkland, 82,749,65; Henry Vogelweed, Washington, 84,155,90; Joseph Smith, St. Marys, 81,908.19; Jacob Wechter, Blue Creek, $1,879.39; Andrew Gottschalk, Monroe, 83,296.24; Jonas Ncuenschwandvr, French, i 82,392.65; Fred Huffman, Hartford, 82,782.28; Elias Reisen, Wabash, 84,301.85; Martin Laughlin, Jefferson, 81,950.71; Harry Miesse, Decatur, treasurer school board, 86,469.46; Charles F. True, city treasurer, 87,825.63; PetcrSoldner, Berne, treasurer school board, 81,- • . 914.06: David Bixler town treasurer, 81,157.54; A. J. Briggs, Geneva, school trustee, 81,593.92; L. L. Mattox, town treasurer, 81,002.21; total 852,507.70. The Journal of this city is now being presided over by a new’ proprietor in the name of Frank A. Everts, of Bellville, Ohio. Mr. Everts is an old hand at the business being engaged in the business for several years in South Da kota, and later an employee of the government printing office at Washington. He is a real clever appearing fellow, and here's hop ing he will make the paper and business a success.

THE DEMOCRATIC PRESS.

John Mason is seriously sick. Miss Rose Meibers is seriously sick. j J. Frank Mann was at Portland to-day on business. Ed Howard, of Curryville, was in the city Wednesday, on business. Mrs. E. C. Goodrich, of Winchester, is visiting in the city with Mrs. H. L. Confer. The furniture stock of Auten & Gay is simply immense. Go see the many pretty new designs. Mrs. F. E. Potts, who has been a guest of Mrs. J. F. Maun in this city, returned to Ft. Wayne last Tuesday. Judge Heller will assemble court in its August term the 12th of next month. It will continue in regular session for five weeks. H. T. Diehl has changed the address of the Press from this city to Peterson, and squared himself for a year’s subscription. Miss Roma Turner returned home to Greenville, 0., the first of the week, after a month’s visit in this city with Miss Kathereen Miesse.

Letters unclaimed remain in the postoffice belonging to Thomas! Mirtet. A. R. Miller, L. V. Rock-I burn, Hattie Shrank, and P. G. I ; Underwood. Will E. Keubler went toChicago Saturday where he spent Sunday I and Monday with his wife and| ■ brother; the formeris visiting there. ■ He came home Monday night. Sam Rice and Ed French, print ! ers on the Fort Wayne Journal, i came down last Thursday to see' their oldtime friend J. Bart Shirey, ‘ , who still remains a little worse for! ■ wear. I Miss Blanche Dicks, of Lebanon, and Miss Miller, of Vincennes, who I I have been guests of Fred Miller I and wife, returned to their homes j on Tuesday evening, after a pleasant visit of several months. An elocution, oratory and physieial culture entertainment is the program at thePresbyterianchurch tonight. B. Brown, jr. is the di--1 rector, and he promises a program i that will be pleasing as well as entertaining. News this week is somewhat few and far between, an unusual I flow of job work being the direct jeause thereof. The difficulty will ' soon be overcome, then we will | proceed to give you the news, all the news that is brewing. Now is the time to subscribe. Herman Yager has been walking with the aid of a cane for several days, navigation being somewhat difficult. While cutting the cord • which was wrapped round some .{furniture his knife slipped, the . blade penetrating the muscles of his left leg. It is healing nicely. D. N. Erwin goes to Chicago today to spend Sunday among the i many attractions of the windy city. From there he goes to Michigan City, returning on Tuesday, nc- ; companied by the prisoner Wells, who has finished a time sentence, I being sent up from this county one year ago. Last Friday afternoon and even{ing Miss Maggie Mann entertained a number of her associates in honor lof Miss Irene Potts, of Oakland, I Cal. Those present were: Irene Bell, Mcrl Burdge, Midge Smith, Fannie Hite, Ruby Miller, Jessie ; Winnes, Ethel Grubb, VeraSegur, Lnoile P.rvson and Bertha Heller. I A man in Kentucky dropped dead the other day when getting out of bed to light a fire. This should serve as a warning to all wives who wish to see their bus j bands live to a ripe old age, that, unless they wanted to see them shuffle off their mortal coil, they had better get up and light the ; fire themselves. New circuit court cases this Ceek include Cora Cook vs. Elmer I wook, divorce. The Old Adams i County Bank vs. Isaac Robinson, I et al., petition to have receiver appointed. John C. Peoples vs. Joseph W. Roop, et al., on note; deI mands 8300. Perry Robisonj vsl Amos 8. Gillig and Dan W. Myers, complaint for an accounting; demand 87,000. H. Herman Lussky et al. vs. Allan F. Lynch, note and account; demand 8110. Eli ; W. Steele vs. Isaac Robinson, et j al., foreclosure chattel mortgage; demands 8200. Sarah Jacobs vs. Daniel Urick, et al, on note; deI mands 8200.

DECATUR, INDIANA, THURSDAY, JULY 25. 1895.

Miss Hattie Gilliom is visiting at Toledo. E. Burt Lenhart, deputy clerk, i was at Bluffton Tuesday. Jeff Bryson of the G. R. & I. depot, spent Sunday in Oden, Mich. The W. C. T. U. will meet next Saturday at the home of Mrs. John Steele at 2:30 p. m. Miss Helen Kintz left on Monday for a two weeks’ visit at Lima: as the guest of Mrs. P. Stem. County* Superintendent Snow in- j forms us that teachers’ institute is dated to commence August 12. Clark J. Lutz and Charles F. True with their families and Rev. I Horton are rusticating at Colen,; Michigan. Tom Fisher and wife are rejoic-i I ing very muchly over the birth of lan eleven-pound boy, which was : born Tuesday' morning. Dick Townsend and Dix Cox of { Fort Wayne were here yesterday, looking over the city with a view I of establishing a plumbing shop. C. D. Carr is home from a two weeks’ absence in northwestern Indiana, visiting Rochester, Wina-! s mac, Argus and several other towns. Fred Whitty very suddenly died last Friday at noon. The funeral | took place Sunday at Preble, where j he lived. The deceased was sixtyeight years old. W. Wig Briggs of Geneva, was in town last Thursday, coming to help invoice the Case drug stock. | His new brick hardware building : is now under construction. Marriage licenses have been issued this week to John C. SchuelI er and Caroline Fuelling, Christian 1 Longaclier and Belle Grim, Milo J. McCollum and Mary A. Bricker. Elmer Dewitt Brothers, a former member of the Adams county bar, but now practicing the profession lin Chicago, was greeting old-time ■ acquaintances in this city this ■ week. A card from J. Fred France Saturday conveyed the intelligence . that a seven-pound girl was born to them at five o’clock that morning. Their many friends will note this late arrival with pleasure. P. W. Smith cards us to forward the Press to his address at Bay View, Mich., where himself and family are cozily located for a residence during the heated months that are now upon ns in all their glory. J. M. Fricinger and Ed Ehinger landed in New York on their homeward trip to day, and will reach this place Saturday. It is neatly two months since they’ left here for Germany with two car loads of horses, which were disposed of across the waters. The county’ commissioners will meet Saturday afternoon to fill the ! vacancy in the auditor’s office, caused by the death of Auditor France. The appointment will last until the next general election, when his successor will be elected to serve four years.

Two local base ball teams —the Martins and the box factory boys—played a game of ball last Sunday, the Martins winning by a score of 30 to IS. The Martins’ battery was Myers and McCampbell, while Burkhead and Leßrun acted in the same capacities for the box factory team. A. burglar went out burgling one night. By mistake fee broke into the room where an editor slept and robbed him of *1.4-3. Thus was this worthy man despoiled in a moment of the accumulations of a life time. But when the burglar learned who it was he had robbed he repented him of his deed and returned the 45 cents. Mrs. J. H. Lenhart and daughter Millie, assisted by Miss Olive King and Mesdames Arthur Fisher and John Colchin, entertained the following ladies last Thursday P. M.: Mesdames Albert Locke, Jeff Bryson, Dan Bolds, John Vail, Alger, Al Steele, Mark McConnell, Henry Hart, A. T. Lynch, Tom Archbold, Howe, Rose McLaughlin, E. T. Gregg, J. F. Snow, Win. Myers, Dick Neptune, Ves Spangler, John Niblick, Doc Thomas, Phillips, Scott Hughes, Champcr, Al Wagner, M. L. Holloway, Jas. Rice, Tom Merryman and the Misses Cora Shackley, Grace Gregg and Minnie Orvis. Refreshments were served and a pleasant time is reported by all.

Herman Yager was at Ft. Wayne yesterday. John Eiting, of Minster, 0., is visiting his daughter, Mrs. Chas. Ehinger. Mrs. John Wisehaupt goes to Bluffton Saturday on a short visit among relatives. Mrs. J. N. Fristoe returned on Wednesday from Eagle Lake, after a stay of several weeks. Harry Miesse, of Ft. Wayne, attended the Masonic blow out on Tuesday afternoon and evening. Mrs. S. O. Irvin, of Winchester, is visiting with her daughters, Mesdames J. C. Patterson and J. A. Duncan. Mr. Huffman and family returned to their home in Marion on Monday, after a few days visit with friends and relatives here. Dr. Vizard, the gentlemanly young physician of Pleasant Mills was in the city Saturday. He reports nothing of unusual interest in that locality. Earl Adams and Ora France were mixed up in a runaway’ yesI terday morning, but no serious damage was done. The horse they were driving takes regular spells i of this kind.

J. D. Cook, water woiks engineer, and L. M. Howe, water works contractor, were in the city yesterpay. A second estimate and payment were made to the contractor, amounting to about 84,000. Peter Fahlor, living four miles east of Bluffton had a horse stolen Tuesday night, the stolen property being afterwards tracked to this city by the owner. The officials chased him north of town through Monroeville,but there lost the trail. Barnum & Bailey’s greatest show’ on earth is due at Bluffton August 9, which event is being looked forward to by the average citizen of Bluffton with great expectancy.l They feel bigger over this coming event than Jay Gould does over his millions. Esq. Shepherd of Hartford township gave Sam Clark a fine and costs of 812.10 for assault and bat- i tery. He failed to produce the required ducats in payment of the i assessed fine, so boards with Sher iff Pete at the county' bastile. The ! assault was committed on John Biberstine. Harry Miesse has been proniot ed in Grand Rapids circles, and is now connected with the legal department, having charge of the taxes and claims. This makes Grand Rapids his headquarters, to which place he goes this week. The position is decidedly a good one, and Harry is entitled to con gratillation for his perseverance and energy. Martin & Eichhorn won a verygratifying victory in the Bliss will ease at Hartford City last week. The trial lasted about four weeks, able counsel being employed on both sides. The amount involved in the case is about 818,000. Should the decision of the Blackford court stand the estate will be divided among seven children, instead of two as provided for in the will.— Bluffton Banner. The music class of Miss Harriet Wilmington will give a concert at the M. E. Church Monday evening July 29. This will be an unusually interesting entertainment. Miss Davis, a pianist of Ft. Wayne, will be present and render some selections. Miss Leo Long, who recentIly secured a prize at Columbus, i Ohio, for fine soprano singing, will j siug, also Miss Margaret Doan of ! Ft. Wayne. All are cordially' invited. Admission 40 cents. The Masonic brethren were hav- [ ing a feast Tuesday afternoon and | evening, so they called in a number of their out of town brothers to I join them, and the invitation was | answered in person by’ about one hundred members. From Bluffton jwe noticed J. P., Harry and Herbert Deam, James Bennett, Rev. Wade, Joseph Delong, Sam Roush, i Lon Batson, N. K. Todd, Lon DeHaven, C. M. Miller, W. A. Marsh, and H. L. Wisner. Besides these Fort Wayne, Hoagland, Willshire, Van Wert, Rockford, and several other towns were rep | resented. The occasion was the , conferring of the third degree upon some three or four candidates, I R. K. Erwin being one of them. Judging by the happy countenances of the many present, things I musthave passed off very smoothly.

D. M. Byers spent Tuesday in Fort Wayne. John Webber shipped a car load of horses to the Philadelphia markets today. E. Emerson McGriff of Portland, was here last Thursday taking dep ositions in some law case. John J. Kelley of Jefferson town ship, made this office in his rounds of social mingling last Thursday. Ed Martin, accompanied by Art Gilliom, left Tuesday night for Cincinnati, to purchase several cars of fruits and melons. Auten & Gay’s furniture stock is now open for business. You will find all the latest patterns in plain and fancy furniture. Saturday’ County Clerk Lenhart issued a marriage license to Milo J. McCollum and Mary A. Bricker, residents of Wabash township. Rolla Calderwood’s father, of Blue Creek township, was visiting I in the city yesterday. Mr. Cal I derwood is eighty years old and still quite active. E. A. Goldner of Wilders, Ind., forwards the glue for a conttnu j ation of his Press subscription, with the further instructions that he couldn’t live without it. That’s the way they all talk. Judge Heller has appointed David Eley as receiver of the firm of Robison, Gillig &Co , who will adjust the business of said firm. The receiver was asked for by Perry Robison. Herman L. Confer will assist Mr. Eley in straightening out the business. A notice elsewhere will more definitely inform you of the appointment of John Urick as administrator of the estate of Henry Urick, deceased. Bond in the sum of 8500 was furnished, the same being amply' secured by' the signatures of Jacob Scheerer and Daniel Urick. Sam Billman, the jolly* shoe- | maker at A. Holthouse’s shoe I store, is quite a farmer—raising I corn that has developed eleven ears jon one sta’k, and the end may not |be yet. This is claimed to be only I a moderate crop for Sam, however. , His potato crop, too, is of stun- | ning magnitude. William T. Peckham, of Fort i Wayne, is here this week, repre- | senting the firm of Stuart & Ames | Bros., aho make a very neat business guide—it being their purpose to fix up Decatur with something of the kind. A very' good map of the state of Indiana is included, showing all the advantages of the state, together with the new con gressional apportionment. This guide is very essential. Tuesday, August 13, a person ally conducted tour will leave Toledo for the Thousand Islands, Alexandria Bay, Au Sable Chasm, Lake Champlain, White Mountains. Green Mountains, Fabyans at the foot of Mt. Washington, Portland. Maine, Old Orchard, Isle of Shoals, Boston, Saratoga, and other water ing places. The rate for the entire trip of nearly three weeks will be 893, which will include all expenses, first class hotels, travel in palace cars, meals in diners, car riage rides, etc. It will include a week at the seashore, and a coaching trip down the New England coast, At the council meeting, last Tues day evening, all members were present except Councilman Teeple and the city clerk. J. F. Mann was chosen clerk pro tem. The following claims were allowed: W. R. Dorwin, 819,50; Chas. Smith, 81.50; the gas company, 81.76; J. D. Cook, 8150. The report of the city engineer on the completion of west Monroe street was tiled, showing the total cost of the stoning of the street to be about >' 81,400, and a warrant was drawn on the west Monroe street improve- ■ ment fund for the amount, in favor i of Robinson, Gillig & Co., the contractors. The street commissioner was ordered to put in a crossing on the south side of Oak street, at its i junction with Cleveland street. . { A petition from D. Studebaker and thirty-two other property owners , along the bricked part of Second , street was filed, asking the council to cause the water mains to be > | placed in the alleys east and west • of Second street, instead of in the , street. The petition was signed . by all the property’ owners on that - part of Second street, except three 3 {or four. It was referred to the . committee on streets and alleys.

NUMBER 41

Assessment “Figgers.” By the kindness of Deputy Auditor Brandyberry, we present this week a combination of facts and figures, showing the true value of lands, improvements, personal property, average assessment and uumber of legal voters in every township in the county. There is any quantity of information connected with it, consequently we know onr readers will appreciate the effort. UNION TOWNSHIP. True value of lands 00 rrue value of improvements 52.00 U 00 True value of personal property.... 76,955 00 Average assessment of lands and improvements per acre 18 55 Voters. 183. ROOT. r»*ue value of 1and5>399.260 00 True value of improvements 408,205 00 True value of personal property... 103,980 00 Average assessment or lands and improvements per acre 2110 Voters. 220. PREBLE. True value of lands 212.545 00 True value of improvements 57,530 00 True value of personal property.... 128,365 00 Average assessment of lands and improvements per acre 19 84 Voters, 163. KIRKLAND. True value of 1and55295,905 00 True uaiue of improvements 64.603 00 True value of personal property.... 67,525 00 Average assessment of lands and improvements 23 29 Voters. 148. WASHINGTON. True value of 1and51423.515 00 True value of improvements 85.940 uo True value of personal property.... 99,855 00 Average assessment of lands and improvements 22 28 Voters, 238. ST. MARYS. True value of 1and55044,725 00 True value of improvements 70.220 00 True value of personal property.... 64,980 00 Average assessment of lands and improvements 20 70 Voters, 194. BLUE CREEK. True value of lands ~ .$229,250 00 True value of improvements 301,135 00 True value of personal property.... 45,615 00 Average assessment of lands and improvements 19 75 Voters, 154. MONROE. True value of landss3Bß,93o 00 True value of improvements 121.355 oo True value of personal property.... 145, s BO 00 Average assessment of lands and improvements 22 65 Voters, 338. FRENCH, True value of landss24o,lso 00 True value of improvements 76,305 uo True value of personal property.... 102,865 U 0 Average assessment of lands and improvements 20 77 Voters, l»>0. HARTFORD. True value of landss24*l6o 00 True value of improvements 69,160 00 True value of personal property . 20* 155 ou Average assessment oi lands and improvements 21 15 Voters, 2«i5. WABASH. True value of 1and5>376.200 (X) True value of improvements True value of personal property.... 136,805 00 Average assessment ot lands and improvements 20 36 Voters. 289. JEFFERSON. True value of landss2l9,Boo 00 True value of improvements 56.2*5 ou I’rue value of personal property.... 51,650 00 Average assessment of lands and improvements 18 03 Voters. 175. DECATUR. Value of lotss 2*3.795 00 \ aiue of improvements 9.180 00 Value of personal property 571.735 00 Average assessment of lots and improvements 127 85 Voters. 621. X'alue of lots $4,365 oo Value of improvements 4.680 oo Value of pei sonal property 90,855 00 Average assessment of lots and improvements 77 95 The assessments in Geneva were reduced ronsidera<>|y ttn account of the recent confiugratio'i. which destroyed a ureatcr portion of the business property. BERNE. Value of lots $21,175 00 Value of improvements.... 6.330 (X) Value of personal property T. l."-5 00 Average assessment ot lots and imnrovements 80 88 Voters. 161. The total number of voters in the county is 3,597, total value of ands 53,693,515. total valueof improvements £803,465, total value ■>f personal property 82,087,105, and the total average assessment of lands, lots an.l improvements 8-1.-19. ' The supreme court of Indiana, in passing upon the question involving the validity of marriages in the ease of Teter vs. Teter, 101 Indiana 129 (decided November term 4894), upon a second hearing of the case says; ‘‘The intention to assume the relation of husband and wife, attended by pure and just motives and accompanied by an open acknowledgment of that relation is sufficient to constitute a marriage ceremony, and we now say that no formal ceremony is necessary and if the motive is good, the intentions to effect an immediate marriage is present and the purpose to unite as husband and wife exists in the minds of both parties, mutual consent is all that is required.”—Bluffton Banner. There was nothing small about the crowd in town last Saturday, the balloon ascension being part of the attraction. It was near four o’clock when the ascension took place with Madam Craig on the horizontal bar in the parachute attachment. She sailed upward a distance of .some 1,500 feet, conservatively estimated. The descent was very pretty, she landing in Ed. Copeland's yard on First street, by the Fornax mill. She touched land safely and everything passed off smothly and just right.