Daily Democrat, Volume 1, Number 285, Decatur, Adams County, 11 December 1903 — Page 1

VOLUME 1

A NEW HARDWARE FIRM Brittson Bros, to Retire From Business.

THE DEAL CLOSED Brittson, Myers & Co. the New Firm. The First of the Year Will Witness a Change in the Hardware Business. Some time about January 10th. next, a new hardware firm will make their bow to the public. The store of Brittson Brothers will close January Ist. for invoice and after that is completed in every detail it will be transfored to Brittson, Meyers and Company. The l»ersonal of the new firm is Floyd Brittson, John T. Meyers and Jacob Schafer. The former is a part and parcel of the present firm of Brittson Bros, .and is energetic and chuck full of business enterprise. John

GAS IS LOW. Cause Not Known at Main Office. Manager Christen in the Field Today to Ascertain the Trouble. For some reason not yet known the gas pressure has fallen off during the past twenty four hours and manager Christen left this morning for the field to find out just what the difficulty is. While the weather is quite cold it is no more severe than it has been several times this year, when the gas held up well Another reason that the officials give for thinking something is wrung is that oven last night the pressure was quite weak No doubt I some slight break at the pumping station is the cause and within a day or two will be remedied. The service so far this year has been splendid and Decatur people have felt rather old fashioned on the fuel question. The company are doing their best to furnish gas and our ]«ople Unquestionably appreciate the effort. BALL TONIGHT. School Students to Enjoy Themselves. The Decaturlligh School will give an informal Imll at the Columbian Club rooma tonight and the affair promises to be a very pleasant one Miss Haynes of Fort Wayne lias been secured to furnish music ,which is excellent and the students will forget, their school troubles while dancing the light fantastic. All the High School classes are in tercated in the event.

The Daily Democrat.

■ T. Myers has been a faithful and ' trusted employee at this stere for many years, has a practical knowledge of the intricaices of the business,is a thoroughly honest and has friends to burn. Every one knows ( Jacob Schafer,he havng been a resi- • dent of ths city for many years and a many of large business interests for all that time. He will not engage actively in the business but will spend bis time as he sees fit in looking after the interests of the firm both inside the store as well as , outside. Their future success is assured. Albert Brittson who retires by this change, has been one of the successful business men of this city for many years. He first embarked in the shoe business under the firm name of Kern & Brittson, later purchased the clothing stock of Ehinger & Myers, and for a few weeks was one of the principal owners of the Big Store. The firm of Brittson Bros., has been in busines for several years and with success. His retirement is due to his official duties with Uncle Sam, he being the present postmaster of this city. After the transfer of the hardware 1 stock he will devote his entire time to the office. The Democrat wishes all concerned a continuation of that success, that has so abundantly crowned their efforts in the past.

OPENS TOMORROW. Charles Kitson’s New Barber Shop Ready. Charles Kitson is busy today arranging to open his new barbershop on North Second street in the Beery Holthouse block. He will be all fixed up and ready for business tomorrow and will no doubt do his share of the Saturday business. Charley is there with the goods when it comes to doing work in his line. CLOSE AT SIX. Hardware Merchants Sign Agreement. New Schedule After January Ist. — Other Business Houses Do Likewise. A meeting of the hardware merchants was held last evening and an agreement reached to close their stores at six o'clock p. m., after January first and until April first, excepting on Saturday evenings, when they may lemain open as long as they please. The firms to sign the agreement were Schafre Hardware Company, Brittson Bros., J. 8. Bowers & Co., and Loch & I Linn. The same plan was tested last year and proved very satisfac tory. After six o'clock during the extreme cold season, but little business is transacted anyway and the proprietors and employes,under the new rule, will have some time to their own in which to enjoy life. It is probable that most of the other merchants will soon agree to a similar arrangement and then begins the real winter social season in Decatur.

DECATUR, INDIANA, FRIDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 11, 1903.

WANT LIGHT. Business Men Will Ask for Day Service. A Petition Will be Presented to the City Council Next Tuesday Evening. A petition was today circulated among the business end of the city, which will be presented to the city council at their meeting next Tuesday evening,and which will ask the city custodians to establish a day electric light service during the winter season. The petition was signed by nearly every business man and is an almost unanimous request for this eonvenience. Such a service is a positive necesity among the business peopl owing to the many dark days in which light is needed. Several independent plants have already been established, and several more are being considered, and will be put into operation in case the city do not accede to the demands now being made. Should these independent plants be permitted to become operative it will eventually be detrimental to muncipal ownership. As it now stands there is a sentiment to stand by the city and make the electric light plant a prosperous part of the city’s assets. This can only lx, done by every one using the city lights, which they will do if given a chance. We sincerely hope the city council will see their way clear and that soon a day electric light current will be in full force and effect.

SOLD BIG ONE. Frisinger & Co. Dispose of 1800 Pound Horse. B. B. Teeple of Van Wert County invests in a Royal Blooded Belgian. Frisinger & Co. sold and delivered today to B. B, Teeple of Van Wert county, Ohio, a tine strawberry roan two year old stallion. He is a Belgian and tipped the beam at 1800 pounds. He is a royal bred one, his father having taken high honors at the Paris Exposition in 1900. His brother won 2nd prize at Chicago at the International last week. Van Wert county is surely coming rapidly’ to the front in the draft hofte industry. Mr. Teeple is a practical stock man and superintends a farm of 1300 acres, near Van Wert. His idea of fine stock can not bo questioned. Mr. Teeple formery lived in Adams county but has for the past few years resided in Van Wert county. Ohio. This is the second Belgian stallion Mr. Teeple has bought from Frisinger A- Co., recently. This firm has placed six Belgian stallions in Van Wert county and seven in Merrier county Ohio within the last two years. Marriage Licenses. Rosy Keller to Alke Wheeler. Mady Breenneman to Aldine Augsburger.

APPEAL FOR PARDON. Thursday an Eventful Day in Life of Hinshaw. C. Parker of Evansville who was attorney for the William Hinshaw, the wife murderer now serving a life sentence at Michigan City and who believes in the innocence of his client, states that an appeal will soon he made for a pardon for Hinshaw, who is now out on parole. “Thursday,"remarked Parker,“has been an important day in the case of Hinshaw. He was born on Thursday, married on Thursday and his wife’s name was Thursday, although contracted afterward to Thursday. Hinshaw was indicted on Thursday, his trial begun on Thursday and he was sentenced on Thursday. He got his parole on Thursday. WANTS A DIVORCE Mrs. Jesse King of Portland, Files Suit. Both Are Well Known Here and Have Numerous Relatives and Friends. Word comes from Portland that Mrs. Jesse King has made application in the Jay circuit court for a I divorce charging in her complaint desertion and cruel and inhuman , treatment. The complaint further alleges that they have been married for ten years and that the fruits of their marriage is a son which she asks the care, custody and education of and also asks for five hundred dollars alimony. The plaintiff is represented by Judge Headington and the defense by Lafolette and Adair and the case promises to be quite a legal battle as the defendant will try and defeat the divorce proposition. Jesse is well ,known here having been horn and raised in Decatur and went to Portland some 12 years ago to work and while thus engaged he woed and won Miss Lizzie Andrews and they lived happily together up to the time of the filing of the above proceedings. It is ho]xxl by his many friends here that they may settle the case without too much notoriety. Jesse is at present engaged in the saloon business and from all reports is doing well, financially. The case is set for trial some time in the month of January. LOOKS BRIGHT. Rural Carriers Will Surely Get a Raise. The prospect for living wages for the rural postal carriers seems to be bright. It is certain that the justice of their claim for increased salaries is recognized by many at Washington, and this is the first important step. Preisdent Roosevelt has indorsed the recommendations made hy Assistant Postmaster General Bristow in his annual report, urging an advance in salary from ♦6OO to |750. A bill has been introduced in the house fixing the salary at fxOO has lieen introduced giving the rural carriers 1200 a year for sub s ‘.‘neo in additoin to the present salary. Out of ;:’l th propositions some measure of relief seems very likely to come. The rural carriers to day are underpaid for the work they do and the expense that is im ]x>sed uisin them. Congress ought to recognize the groat value’of their services by paying them living wages.

LIFE OF LEOPOLD YAGER, SR. Was Decatur’s Oldest Business Man.

HIS YEARS OF USEFULNESS — A Citizen Here for Nearly 40 Years. The Successful Career of a Well Known Man. -The Funeral Arrangements. Leopold Yager, Sr., was born in Bladen, Germany, October Ist, 1834, died December 10th, 1903 at his home in this city, his age being sixty nine years, two months and ten days. When still but a boy, his father died and a few days after arriving in New York City in 1854, he received the sad news of the death of his mother. He was an only childfand to his own efforts are due his success in life. After landing in this country Mr. Yager went to Tiffin, Ohio where he located in business and remained until 1865 when he came to Decatur. In 1860 he was married to Miss Christena j Walls, who died in 1875. To them | were born five children, John H., I Anna M., Leo, Jr.,’ Herman, and Louis, all of whom survive and were at home during the last hours of their beloved father, doing all in their power to lessen the pain and cheer him. Mr. Yager began the furniture business here in 1865, in a frame building, located where

FREE EXPRESS. For Relief of People at Butler, Pa. Drs. Clark and Miller Are Held to Testify in Murder Murder Case. $. G. Benedict, general superintendent of the United Stt.tos Express Company has sent the following order to agents: "Please make public that fact that the United States Express Co. will carry free, remittances of money and ordinary express pack ages consigned to relelf commits es and other designated authorities at Butler, Pa., for assistance of the people in that town, who are suffer ing from a severe epidemic of ty phoid fever. Newspapers may wish to publish this as a matter ofjnews. If shipments are offered, bill free nothing on ‘Order C. 11. C The condition at Butler is still very serious. Drs. Clark and Miller have not been suinmond yet und could not leave for a wet k at any rate as they have been subpoened as witnesses to testify in the O'borne inorder case, and their pres enuc here is very important.

NUMBER 285

now stands the large brick block and where for nearly forty years he has continuously greeted his friends in a business way. He was the oldest active business man in the city. From 1865 to 1873 he was associated with Albert Barthel under the firm name of Yager & Barthel,they having bought out tlw Numbers store. Afterwards Mr. Yager purchased his partners interest and was sole owner of the business until 1898 when the firm name changed to L. Yager & Sons, Johc H. and Hermon who have been con nectod with the store since boyhood becoming members of th* firm. In 1877 the furniture stor* was destroyed by fire, the loss being almost total and Mr. Yager was forced to begin over. Hi* honesty and straightforward meth ods brought success and for years he has been known as one of the substantial citizens of Decatur. While conservative, he was public spirited and good hearted, never failing to support a worthy cause, no matter what the cost. As stat ed two of his sons, John and Herman were members of the firm, th* only daughter, Miss Anna lives at home, Leo Jr., is a member of th* Smith, Yager & Falk Drug Company and for several years has traveled for a wholesale drug firm, as has Louis, the youngest son. Against the character of Leopold | Yager, no one who knew him can say aught. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and of the St. Joseph church Society. H* was a faithful member of the St. Marys Catholic church, from where the funeral services will be held j Monday morning at 8:30 o’clock. standard time. Rev. 11. Theo. Wilkens. officiating. Interment at th* St. Joseph cemetery.

COURT NEWS. But Lillie Business.—One New Case. But little business was transacted in court today the record show ing the following: Adamson R. Wolf vs Sylvester Wolf, petition to have guaridian appointed, cause dismissed and costs paid. Attorney Schafer Peterson filed a new case entilted Joseph W. Moser vs Mary E. Waller, to foreclose mechanics lein, demand |l3O. The summons was made returnable December 28. NO STREET LIGHTS. One of the Boilers Refuses to Work. The street lights were oft last night and City Electrician Mylott informs us that it is probable they will not be turned on this week any more. Since the big boiler became disabled some weeks ago it has been necessary to run the plant with small boilers and last night one of these gave out. The big boiler will be reauy to work und then only can the street lights bo furnished. ELECT OFFICERS. The order of Pocohontas met at their hall lust evening and conducted their annual elections tho ( result l>eing as follows: Pocahontas—< )rpha Barnett Winona—Mrs. Jacob Eady. Prophetess—Mrs. Al Gerard, Powhattan, Mrs. C. J. Weaver. Keeper of records—Miss Letta' < 'loud, Keeper of Wampum—Mrs.t 'orduu. Collector of Wampum—Mrs.Smith