Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 192, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 August 1916 — HAS VALUABLE VIOLIN IN HIS POSSESSION [ARTICLE]

HAS VALUABLE VIOLIN IN HIS POSSESSION

John Ward, Well Driller, Has Violin ' 170 Years Old In Possession —Is Offered SB,OOO For It.

John Ward, a well driller and resident of Rensselaer, has in his possession a violin said to be over one hundred and seventy years old. Mr. Ward has had possesion of this old musical instrument for a number of years and realizing the value of it had never disposed of it. The Taylor Musical Company, of Muncie, hearing of the instrument that Mr. Ward had in his possession, about six years ago, made an offer through the First National Bank of this city of $7,000 in cash for' the violin, but Mr. Ward declined the offer at that time. Another offer was made through the same channel to the owner the first of the present week, raising their former offer to SB,OOO. 'Mr. Ward has not as yet made up his mind as to whether or not he will dispose of it at this figure. Following the last offer Mr. Ward deemed it advisable to place the violin in a safer place, so took it to the First National Bank and had it put into the vault, where it now remains. In talking to a Republican reporter this morning Mr. Ward stated that the violin was over 170 years old and had been a family relic during this period. The violin originally came from an old Pennsylvania German, who made it himself. The. old German presented it to one of the ancestors of the present owner with the request that it be kept in the family, and it is probable that this is the reason Mr. Ward has not as yet accepted the offer from the musical firm. The tones from this ancient instrument are the sweetest imaginable, and the beauty of its music is said vo increase with age. A member of the Lincoln chautauqua company, which is piaying here this week, played on it Thursday and stated that he had never heard a violin anywhere that could approach it for musical tones. Mr. Ward stated that he would give The Republican more information about it later on for the readers.

There was a mistake about the shooting of the Thayer oil well on Thursday. Mr. Condon, the contractor, informed the Reporter that they still had 500 feet of lime rock to drill through. He gave us a cordial invitation to come up aftid witness the event and said he would notify us when it occurred. —Brook Reporter.