Daily Democrat, Volume 2, Number 97, Decatur, Adams County, 4 May 1904 — Page 1
VOLUME II
DEATH OF JUDGE STUOABAKER
Close of Long and Active Public Career End Came at 10:35 Last Night
STORY OF HIS LIFE I Adams County’s Foremost Citizen Illness of Two Weeks Proves FatalFuneral Services to be Held Saturday. Judge Di vid Studabaker is dead. His busy career of more than three score years is ended, and Adams county’s foremost citizen has crossed the river to the great beyond. Peacefully and without a struggle bo gently as to be almost imperceptible ; surounded by the loved ones of his now sorrowing family the end came at 10:35 last night. Though for more than a week it has been known that the spark of life was fading and the end near, the close of so good a life is a great shock to the community and the many grave faces in this city today show the high esteem in which the venerable Judge was held. It has been said that he had not an enemy in the world an we believe it a true statement. Kind hearted, conscientiously honest, true to his friends, public spirited, a noble Christian, his life has been an open book, which should be an inspiring lesson to everyone. His duty to his family. his church, his business and his country have been fulfilled and it would require many pages to recount an accurate story of the nearly seventy seven years of life. His healh has been unusually good until the past winter, when he failed slightly, still when the spring breeze- came it was believed and he did recuperate About two weeks ago he made a visit to one of his farms to look after arrangements for the season work. When he returned home in the evening he complained of a severe cold, which gradually grew worse and the week following the complication of heart and kidney trouble made his condition serious The skilled physicians were summoned and with aid of the family did everything pot sible to prolong life, but the outcome was inevitable. For several days the end has been almost momentarily expected and only the use of the strongest stimulants known to the medioal science kept him alive. Though at times he would rally slighly there has lieen no time within a week when reliable hopes for raoovjry oould bo extended. Ho was conscious during nearly all his ill. nees until four o’clock Tuesday afternoon when be apparently wink to sleep and from which slumber ho failed to awake. It will seem strange indeed to not have Judge Studabaker's counsel in the various public projects and his familiar form ano kind old face will be sadly
The Daily Democrat.
missed, bnt he has well performed his duties, perhaps even more than should have been allotted him and we must hereafter profit by the
splendid advice he has already given. JUDGE STUDABAKER'S CAREER. The name of Studabaker is one that has long been conspicuously identified with tie history of this great state and is one in which each successive generation has produced men of honor and sterling worth, men who have honored and Ijeen honored by the nation which has given them birth. The story of the life of him whose name initiates this paragraph is not one into which enters thrilling episodes and naratives of adventure but is one which tolls of sturdy and honest character, strong native ability and a constant adherence to the line of duty and to the ideals which opportunity and ability rendered accessible. David Studabaker was born near Fort Recovery, Ohio, August 12th, 1827, his parents removing to this county when he was but seven years old, and settling on a farm in Wabash township. His parents were Peter and Mary (Simison) Studabaker, the story of whose pioneer life in this locality is of rare interest. When David was hut thirteen years old his father died and as he was the eldest child the burden of aiding his mother in the maintenance of the family fell upon him, a burden which he assumed with that devotion and willingness which has since been one of his chief characteristics. Ho received his early edu-
DECATUR, INDIANA, WEDNESDAY EVENING, MAY 4, 1904.
cation in the district schools which he was enabled to attend through the winter months, he having been a pupil in the first school ever taught in Wells county. Liter Mr. Studabaker attended high school at Greenville, Ohio and a seminary at Portland. He taught school until 1851 when he'became a law student in the office of James M. Haynes of Portland, who died but a few years ago. In 1852 he was admitted to the bar and opened a law office in Decatur. His energy and ability soon gained him recognition and in due time he retained a clientage of wide extent. He dealt extensively in real estate and his operations in that line have yielded him large returns, until for many years he has been known as the county’s wealthiest citizen owning a vast amount of city and country- property, oil lands, bank stock and other inter-
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esls. He has ever been a stalwart advocate of the principles of the democratic party and as will be remembered at the democratic county convention held only a month ago made a strong and convincing speech. In 1852 he was elected prosecuting attorney for Adams and Allen counties, in 1854 he was chosen as representative in the state legislature from Adams county and Was re-elected two year* later. In 1858 he was elected state senator for the district composed of Adams, Jay and Walls county and in 1868 he was selected as Judge of the court of common pleas of Adams, Alien, Huntington and Wells counties. In each of these public offices he won distinction and high honor by discharging his dutiesjn a most capable manner. In 1869 Judge Studabaker became identified with the building of the Cincinnati, Richmond & Fort Wayne railroad, now known as the Grand Rapids and Indiana, he was elected as a director of the road and has held the position eontinously since. In 1871 he became a stock holder in the Adams county l»mk was made a directot and vice president in 1871 and president in 1883, holding the latter position until 1894 when he retired but was again chosen vice president. Judge* Studabaker was married October 26, 1851 in Fort Wayne to Miss Harriet Evans, a daughter, of Continued on page two. column 3
THE ELECTION Democrats Redeem the the City • They Elect the Mayor, Clerk, Treasurer, Marshal and Four Out of Six Councilmen. / The election passed off quietly and peaceably as most elections do in this city, and the result is accepted by most every one in that philanthropic way, in which our people, as a whole, accept the sacred results of elections. There was thorough and efficient work done by both sides. We hardly know of an election when so many
people “got busj” on election day, and they lab >red zealously for their favorites. While close, the result favored the democrats, and they caiiie out of the battle with flying colors, e’ecting the mayor, clerk, marshal, treasurer, and four of the six councilmen thus giving the republicans hut two oounoilmen for their pains in making the election interesting. The result means that Mayor Coffee will succeed himself, that Jack McFi*eley will succeed D. Hower as city clerk, that Edward Green will succeed Harry Cordua as marshal, and that W. J. Archbold will succeed himself as city treasurer In the first ward Albert Buhler will take the place 8. W. Peterson, while Charles Teeple will continue as a councilman. In the second ward Horace Porter steps into the shoes of Henry Stoller, while Simeon Fordyce will hold oa for another two years. In the third ward, Peter Kirsch and Peter Gaffer are favored. In all those elected have every qualification and we think will prove eminently satisfactory to every interest they are expected to represent as a city official. The members of the council take their offices at once, while those of mayor, clerk, treasurer and marshal will not be vacated until September. One thousand and five votes were cast for mayor, a larger vote than was over polled at a city election. As usual the Democrat received returns the office being crowded with
DROWNED IN A CISTERN Little Robert Meyers Meets Shocking Death
interesting speotutors, the result being known at an early hour. The new council meets tomorrow evening for organizatirnj Elsewhere will be found a tabulated statement of the vote cast. A PROPOSITION. A Toledo Industry Would Come Here. — The Toledo Stamping Company Make a Proposition
A R. Miller, of the Toledo stamp, ing company, met several members of the Commercial Club this morning and|to them he stated his proposition covering the removal of the plant from Toledo to this city. They either want to sell their plant to a company, they taking stoek to the amount of <50,000 and <50,000 to be placed in this city which amount of capital will enable them to employ 150 men and increase the output from one hundred and fifty dozen shovels to two hundred fifify dozen per day. In the event that no one cares to in vest at this end of the line, they will furnish all capital and put in the same kind of a plant employing the same number of people for a bonus of <15,000. The proposition will be thoroughly discussed by the club and an answer given Mr. Miller in a few days, as to whether an effort will tie made to locate them. The nature of the business of the Toledo Samping Company has previously been given in these columns. BUYS INTEREST Hugh Hite Takes Share in Grocery Deal Closed Last Evening, and Well 1 Known Young Man Takes Possession. A deal was consumated last evening wherein Hugh Hite the popular young business man who has been working at Ft. Wayne for the past year was sold a one third interest in the grocery store of Everett & Hite, the transfer and deal to take effect at once. Hugh is thoroughly competent to take care of his business having had lots of actual experience and well knowing how to handle and wait upon a customer the art of keeping a set of books having graduated from the International Business College at Ft. Wayne and in all respect will be able to handle his end of the business. The new firm will lie known as Everett, Hite & Son. Wo certainly wish Hugh much success in this new enterprise. ■ • «“ * ~ _
NUMBER 97
PARENTS ARE DISTRACTED Child Was Playing at Home of R. D. Patterson Had Been in Water an Hour When Found and Efforts to Revive Him Proved Futile. Robert Meyers, two and one half year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Meyers, living on North Second street, met death about noon today
by drowning in a cistern at the rear of the residence of Robert D. Patterson. The child was in the Pattreson home at eleven o’clcok and played about a few moments, then ran out into the yard. This was the 1 last the boy was seen alive. His 1 mother supposed he was at Patter--1 sons and it was about twelve o’clock when she began looking for him. He was no where to be found and finally after inquiry had been ■ made at all the neighbors the cis--1 tern was thought of. The cover a light wooden one had been removed 1 but the water appeared so calm 1 that it seemed impossible! the child 1 had fallen in and the search was ■ continued about the premises. In the meantime Ray Patterson had secured a long handled rake and was dragging the bottom of the cis--1 tern. In a moment the rake caught ’ in little Roberts dress and he was ■ lifted out. Drs. Boyers, Beavers, Clark and Miller were hastily summoned and every means to resusitate life known to science was used but to no avail. It is believed the child must have been in the cistern at least an hour and *he spark of life was gone. The mother and father are distracted and their grief is shared by hundreds of sincere Mends who knew and loved I the bright and happy little boy. ; Mr. Meyers was absent from home at work several miles in the country, when the accident occured and did not reach home for an hour after the body was found. The cistern was an open one with only a loose cover on, which was easily removed by little Robert who possibly reached to catch his shadow in the water and loosing his balance fell in. THE ENUMERATION. Prof. Brandyberry's Report of School Children In County. County Superintendent Brandyberry has prepared his report showing the enumeration of school teachers in the county to be 7707 divided as folllows: Blue Creek 385 Frenoch, 404; Hartford, 443; Kirkland, 424.; Monroe, 831; Preble, 404; Root, 384; St. Marys, 381: Union, 423; Washington, 401; Wa- . bash, 703; Jefferson, 454; Berne, 885; Geneva, 381 and Decatur 1234 > The largest numeration from any ' one family was that of Carl Byer . of Union township who has eleven i children between the ago of six • and twenty one. Not. n colored child was enumerated in the county. __