Daily Democrat, Volume 1, Number 273, Decatur, Adams County, 25 November 1903 — Page 1

VOLUME 1

A DAY OF THANKSGIVING A General Holiday Tomorrow for Everyone.

SCHOOL EXERCISES TODAY How the Day Will be Enjoyed In Decatur. Chorch Services, Family Dinners, Society Functions and Entertainments. Tomorrow is the glad Thanks- , giving Day, when all business • eases, schools close, everyone uniting to give thanks for our many blessings. Exercises for the | occasion were held in public schools today and the event was a jolly one for the children, each of whom was permitted to take a visitor. Nearly every little girl who went to school today held the hand of a httle friend, anixous to hear the exercises that are always special on such occasions. Another part of. STRIKE SETTLED Agreement Ratified This Morning. Settlement is Victory for Companies. - Traffic on Lines is Resumed. Special to The Daily Democrat Chicago, 111., N0v.25 The street *ar men's srike was brought to a close today by the ratification of the compact argeed upon by the loaders and representatives of the 1 companies Traflc began on the lines at once and citizens of Chicago are happy. The basis on which the settlement was reached is a complete victory for the company as far as the original demands of the men are concerned. FOUR LICENSES. Thanksgiving Day Marriages to Occur. As usual at Thanksgiving time several weddings will bo celebrated in Adams county. Licences have l>«on issued to four couple, whose names us shown on the county clerks docket arc Manes Hirschy to Retell B. Gatos, Jacob Kelly to Caroline Saxneon, George Clem to Ual ie Harwactor, H.H. Lamnan to Alida M. Blossom. Democrat ex ♦ends congratulations. Muy they live long and be happy.

The Daily Democrat.

the program and a most commendable one was the taking of gifts for the poor, that hey too may enjoy the day and feel in better spirits to return thanks. These gifts consisted of clothing and food and the children deposited their little parcels gladly. It is a great custom and one that we older people would do well to follow. School closes this evening for the week and the little folks will enjoy the holiday imensley. The stores in Decatur will be closed during most of the day at least and business generally will be suspended. Appropriate services have been arranged for in the various churches, and each will no doubt lx* well attended. A number of social functions are announced for the day and evening including a Thanksgiving ball at the 0. Y. M.S. Clubrooms; Prof. Fred C. LiDelle will be an attraction at the i opera house in the evening and during the afternoon many will attendthe shooing match at Belleview farm. It is easy therefore to itnag- ■ ine that no one will lack amusement. Besides these events will be j an almost innumerable number of family reunions and big turkey feasts, where everyone will be happy, and where the real enjoyment will be found. While you are happy, remember the poor and do your share towards making the day I as happy for them. No issue of the Daily Democrat will bemadetomor- 1 row. SOCIAL SESSION. Bachelor Maids Play Progressive Whist. The Bchelor Maids met last evening in their regular social session at the home of Miss Nettie Smith on Mercer street with a full memI bership as is the usual case with the girls. They proceeded too play progressive whist which game Miss May me Ter veer and Miss Mayme Confer were the lucky members and captured the first prizes while Edith Wemhoff and Bertha Deininger had to console themselves with the boobies. Atfer congratulations had been extended to both the winners and loosers Miss Nettie proceeded to spread before her guest [ a fine 'three course luncheon to which all did—you know the rest. I The club meets one week from next Tuesday at the home of Miss Edith Wemhoff. BANK STATEMENT. The Old Adams County Bank Shows Up Well. Now comes the Old Adams County Bunk which makes a report of their resources and liabilities. The rejxirt finds them snugly secure behind a total of resources and liabilities aggreatging $935,709.94. Their time and demand deposits are 1785,150.78, in all things a mighty clever showing of a Decatur financial institution, whose stolidity is the pride of so many Adams county people. The report appears today and will boar inspection in any financial circle in which it may be found. NEWTON REX MARRIED. The many friends of Newton Rex will undoubtedly be surprised to learn of his marriage. He was married Sunday to Miss Stella Mo Kean at Bowling Grein, ().

DECATUR, INDIANA, WEDNESDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 25, 1903.

No Paper Tomorrow. The Daily Democrat force will celebrate Thanksgiving day, hence no paper will be issued tomorrow evening.

FARMERSINSTITUTE

Time is Next Tuesday and Wednesday. E. H. Collins Will Give a Test of Corn Scoring. Arrangemeats are all perfected for the Farmer’s Institute which begins in this city next Wednesday lasting over Thursday. The program covering same has been printed and circulated, and the farmers will profit by hearing the discussions which will take place. Mr. E. H. Collins, one of the speakers and a goal one too, will give several tests of the scoring of corn, with explanations of the methods involved. He desires that many of those attending bring samples of their own corn with them, all of which will make the test more interesting. As completed the program contains much to interest every fanner in the county and nothing should l>e per mitted to reduce the attendance. Farming is no longer a drudgery of hard and inhuman work but on the other hand it takes brains and a practical knowledge of the general pursuits of agriculture to make such a vocation a success. Much is learned at these institute gatherings, and their influence in this direction has long ago been demonstrated. Morning, afternoon and evening sessions will be held each day. DIED TODAY. John Schaffer, Pioneer of the Locality. Lived Eijht Miles North of City and Had Been 111 Several Months. John Schaffer, aged about eighty five died at his home eight miles north of here and just across the Allen county line, this morning. He has been ill for quite a while, suffering with catarrhal fever and complications usual to one of his age. He was well known here and especially so, in the north part of the county His son-in-law Jay ('line was in the city at noon and brought the sad word. Mr. Schaffer was a member of the Masonic lodge ut Monraivflle. The funeral services will be held Friday morning at nine o'clock at a church, near his home, interment will la) made nt the Masonic cemetery, Monroeville. He was one of the oldest citizens of Allen county and a pioI neer of his township.

GRAVEL ROADS. Two New Ones for Monroe Township. Petition for Extension of Oak Grove and Monroe Macadam Roads. Good roads in Adams county seems to lie rhe motto and an effort to secure them is being made in various townships. The latest movement is repored in the following from the Berne News: J. N. Kerr was busy Friday circulating a petion for an extension of the Oak Grove macadam road, extending from the Jack school house one miles east to the township line. Mr. Kerr met with great success, securing 60 signatures in one day and forwarding the petition to the commissioners which goes to show that an improvement of this road has been longfelt want among the people of that community. N.H. McClain was also circulating a petition Saturday for an extension’of the Monroe macadam road from the No. 8 school house two miles east to the Jack school house, thus connecting the Monroe and Oak Grove roads. Mr. McClain was meeting with splendid success and had secured 35 signatures to his petition with prospects of completing it the same day. This is one of the new rural route roads and the patrons are anxious to have it in the best possible condition. CHICKEN THIEF. Henry Barkley Surprises an In trader. Henry Barkley who lives just south of the city was visited last evening by a genuine chicken thief. The occurance happened about eleven o'clock and Henry and the rest of his family had long before retired and were awakened at this hour by a small dog barking in the house. Henry at once pra:eeded to get down his trusty shot gun and boldly walked in the direction of the coop when he saw a good sized fellow among the chickens. He ordered the fellow to leave and he hastly dissappoared in the darkness. Henry says he would have filled the fellow with shot but he didn't have the heart to do so, but he says hereafter he will not have any sympathy on any one caught in a similar position. No chickens were taken and Henry now has all due respect for his little dog. FINE SHEEP. Mr. Brodbeck Secures Bunch of Good Ones. J. W. Broadbeck, of St. Marys township, was in town today and took home with him a wagon load of full blooded Shropshire sheep ten in all, and as pretty animals as wore ever shown in Decatur. The sheep are all recorded and were purchased from A. W. Dolph, Taa Garden, Indiana. Mr. Broadbeck expects to make a speioalty of raising Shropshire and his success is assured us he is a thorough farmer anti stock raiser.* The Shropshire is a admitted to be the best. sheep known both for the quality and amount of wool and for the mutton. The herd showed here today wore perfect pictures and Mr. Broadbeck will noon have a Shropshire farm of his own.

CHANGE OF JUDGE. ——— Judge Smith of Portland, to Hear Terrel Case. Judge John M. Smith of Portland will hear the famous Terrel murder case at Bluffton, beginning next Monday. Attorneys for the defendant, yesterday filed a motion for change of Judge and Judge Vaughn assigned the cause to the eminent Jay county jurist, who has during his career presided during several trials. Judge Smith was notified and accepted the appointement. Since Terrel committed the awful act of murdering his son-in-law he has received considerable noteriety from the fact that he has advanced about $17,000 towards buildng an opera house at Bluffton. SECOND ATTEMP; Drill Started on Baughman Farm. New Well Located Within Three Feet of Where Former One Was Started. Work began yeserday on the oil well on the William Baughman farm south of town and it is to be hoped that the drillers will have i better luck than when the former attempt was made. It will be remembered a well was started on this farm about a month ago and after a weeks work and reaching a depth of several hundred feet the drill broke and lodged in the well, making it impossible to go deeper. Every scheme known to the trade was used but to no purpose and it finally became necessary to “pull up.” The well started yesterday is within three feet of the former one and the contractor has firm beleif that a good producing oil well will be obtained. All the surrounding territory has been leased and this well shows a sign of oil it is sure thing that many derricks will go up between here and Monroe within the next year. Let's hope they will be lucky. THE BON TONS. Thirteen Young Ladies at Regular Session. The Bon Tons met lust evening at the home of Miss Edna Crawford and the girls certainly had a good time. The evening was passed away by regular business and indulging in pedro and after the smoke had cleared away from the battle field it was found that Miss Bertha Deininger and Miss Maud Christen had won first prizes while Lollio Meibers and Rose Tunnel tier were lucky enough to capture the baibies. During the evening's entertainment a dainty two course luncheon was served and ut a late hour all adjourned to meet next Thursday evening at the home of Miss Bertha Deiniger. EUCHRE CLUB. Social Session Held Last Evening. The Ladies Euchre Club met with Mrs. W. F. Brittson Tuesday ; evening and the usual happy event is reported. Mrs. J. 8. Peterson proved her ability in the game of right and left four and captured high prize after an interesting eon tost. The refreshments wore de lieious and daintily served.

NUMBER 273

HE’S THE BEST. Indiana’s King of Kidders in Decatur. John Robbins, of Auburn, and His Famous Continental Skunk Trust. John Robbins, king of kidders, and Indiana’s greatest joker was in I the city today attending to business for the Auburn Buggy Company, which he represents. He is un questionably the greatest jollier in Christendom and has “Holty and Kornie” backed clear off the track; in fact his reputation is national, even world-wide. No doubt you have read of Indiana’s famous skunk farm,which for several years past has received mention in many newspapers and which is only Mr. Robbin’s latest joke. About four years ago Mr. Robbins had printed 1000 pamphlets in which he stated that he had organized “The Continental Skunk Trust,” a concern duly incorporated under the laws of New Jersey. A number of prominent business men such as Yarnele of Fort Wayne, Eckert of Auburn and others were named as officers and while at first one would think the entire affair a joke, a further glance would always change the smile of incredulity into a serious look. The pamphlet explained fully the heretofore unknown business of raising skunks for the fur trade, claiming that ninety per cent of the supposed martin furs now on the market are nothing more or less than skunk skins skillfully prepared. Another commodity on which the company expected to realize great profits was skunk oil which sells at I a fancy price. It was argued that skunks are rapid breeders and that the company starting business with twenty animals could in four years clear more than fifteen million dollars, thus making the stock even a greater value than Standard oil certificates; in fact a share or two would make a man independently rich within the four years. The. joke was launched and soon Lhs returns freightened even John Robbins the perj)etrator. Letters, telegrams and drafts began to arrive, men came hundred of miles to see John's skunk farm and learn the secrets of the business, many inquiries were received from foreign lands. New York and Paris Journals took up the question and discussal it thoroughly. Big daily papers gave it glaring headlines and the Continental Skunk Company proved a favorite. Letters arrived in such quanities that a dozen sten ographers would have been necessary to answer half of them and the affair kept John squirming for a time. The drafts and money were all returned to avoid a mix up with the government, but he says the awful stories he was forced to tell have blighted his repnation for truth and voracity in his own estimation at least. Letters still arrive but of course not in the quantities they did the first year and for the benefit of people of his vicinity who have inquired about the skunk industry it is only fair to state that John Robbins of Auburn started the syn dioate, caused all the trouble and couldn't tell a skunk from Jim Place’s sky terrier pup if he saw them together. A S3OO COLT. Mr. Shults, who lives east of this city and near the Ohio line, tins morning disposed of a six months old colt to Samuel Roth, of Marion, for the sum of S3OO. This colt is a well bred animal and weighs a trille over 920 pounds. Adams county is certainly coming rapidly to the front when it comes to well bred horses.