Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 25 December 1949 — Page 2

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m Withers ) manager,

the bank,

~ Auctioneers

And ‘G

Farm Community

Raises Thousands

By CLIFFORD THURMAN Times Staff Writer

MILLERSBURG, Ind., Dec. | 24—The Star of Bethlehem =

night will be shining over this a

Indiana farm community to-

night. A true Christmas story of unselfish Christian giving and brotherly love has been unfolded here Within ‘the past two days. It Is, indeed, a story of Peace on Earth, good will towards men. ; In this Northern Indiana fa: community less than 1000 peopl have raised thousands of dollars at public auction for a brother, a friend in need. It is as simple as that to Hoosiers. . In the words of a bearded Amish farmer who stood in the freezing rain on the public square] during the auction: “He is my friend... and I am

his. I know of no greater tribute| Elkhart County farmer and auctioneer for 40 years, was master

to pay to any man.” Laden to the Hilt Auctioneers stood on a flatbed|

truck in the center of the town cattle barns. He stated the case square. Surrounding them, in a block-wide radius, were trucks, | carts and Amish buggies. All

were laden to the hilt with goods and merchandise. There was livestock—an up-

right plano and bathrom. fixtures! —canned goods and homemade

cake. RE It was ‘the “Help Jake Hartsough” auction 2 Millersburg. Jacob Hartsough is a farmer. A 27-year-old World War II Marine Corps veteran' with medals for gallantry~in the South Pacific, he returned to his native Elkhart County a few years ago to take up life where he left off, He married the pretty Hoosier girl with whom he had gone to school. They have two bright-eyed boys. ° Severely Injured

Seven weeks ago Jake was moving a grain elevator on his father's farm-—he tills an adjoining 40 acres-—when it broke loose from its under-carriage and fell upon him. He was pinned beneath it until found by neighbors. Internally injured ‘he was taken to a Goshen hospital where he

had undergone three major opera-|

tions for punctured intestines and

" d ‘ % N Foy & it VE

John Hartsough, the little shaver.

were busy and the money rolled in. Harley E. Longcor, prominent

of ceremonies. He introduced a dozen helpers: before starting the {familiar chant of the tobacco and

in simple words, like this: “Folks, we are doing this for Jake Hartsough. We have no bar{gains here today. We ask you to {pay what you can honestly afford to pay. Don’t buy if you can't afford it, Everything we are selling is donated. There is no profit to be made here. It is for [the Jake Hartsough get wall.

und.’ | The people bought. | Assisting Mr. Longcor were | Auctioneers Windred Lewis, Law{rence Rockenbaugh, Argel Mec-

{Dowell and Charlie Sherman. All |day long and into the night their continued chanting filled the chill lair in the Millersburg town (square. | Leave the Change. . | “Here's a ham, here's a ham, {here's a ham . .. what am I bid (for it,” Mr. Longcor chanted. | “Yes, yes, yes,” his assistants !shouted as farmers in the crowd {held up fingers for dollars. { Inside the 'general store two {score women were busy. They {were selling lunches, hot coffee and delicious home-made pies to the hungry hundreds attending the auction.

subsequent = complications. Cur All the pies, the coffee, the pork

rently he is still battling for his

life but surgeons say he will re-|

cover. Jake Hartsough was not insolvent when the accident occurred.

tenderloin and hamburger was {donated. All the money taken in {went to.the Jake Hartsough “get |well” fund. Every dime that |tinkled into the till was Jake

* Neither was his family. They did|Hartsough money. Few people

not ask for help but friends of the Millersburg community watched his hospital bills mount.

|bothered to pick up their change.

|. The women workers had baked [the pies and prepared the food in

Today they are more than $4000! g4yance. Those helping ncluded:

and it will be weeks, even months, before he can expect to leave the hospital. ' Hundreds of Friends In Millersburg, like many another Indiana community, Jake Hartsough's friends started worrying about him. They knew about the mounting hospital bills and the {increasing obligations

brought about by his accident. Mrs. Keith Kein and Mrs. Leon- could pay $1 or

People in small communities know these - things. They talk. The problems of their fellowmen are theirs. They do something about it. There are several hundred farm families in the Millersburg com-

munity where - Jake "Hartsough participating, in the Jake Hart- the auctioneers. was Christmas

grew up. Jake Hartsough has several hundred friends.

One day last week a group of]

‘farmérs ‘and Millersburg Hiérchants congregated in a town square store, They got to talking about Jake Hartsough and his family. All of them knew Jake, knew his father and had watched him

grow to manhood in Millersburg.| ©

They remember when he went away to war, when he returned and when he got married. They had congratulated him when his

sons were born. Jake Hartsough| !

was a friend and neighbor . . and Jake Hartsough was" in trouble. A Sale, Maybe? “Well, we'd better do something about it,” a bearded friend said. “We can't just give Jake money, he wouldn't like that. We've got

| “Mrs. Stanford Lentz, Mrs. Harry Roach, Mrs. Cletus Schrock, rs 0. L. Musselman, Mrs. Jess Bate

Mrs. E. A. Musselman, Mrs. Grace >

Leer, Mrs. Harold Lockwood, Mrs. J. E. Ganger, Mrs. J. T. Miller. | Mrs, Edna Juday, Mrs. Louis |Grove, Miss Loave Klingaman, Mrs. Arville Stiver, Mrs. W. D. Stoner, Mrs. Laurence Lebold,

{ard Greer, { He Is My Friend

{ There were a host of others, in-|mercury plunged down move than and women had assembled to help

Chant: ‘I et Well’ Dollars Roll In

Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Hartsough . . . they were married in '46.

Puppies weren't pedigreed. They came by the basketful. You: '$20—if you wanted a’ dog. Here is Dan Larimer,

{cluding many Amish women with|30 degrees in one day's time, It'a fellowman.

[their quaint bonnets and capes, irained a little and then turned

The Amishman expressed the

(scurrying in an out throughout sleet. Many an Amish beard wasdyentiment of the crowd, the whole ithe day. All were helping, all were icy as upturned faces watched of Elkhart County.

sough get well fund day. fo

40 raise it some other wdy. Maybe we could have a sale; ...” | Millersburg is a thriving com-| munity and the center.of a lively, farm market, Cattle, hog and] general auctions are not new to the community. Some of the best auctioneers in the state were born and bred near Millersburg. Next day a mimeographed circular went out. The rural mail carrier put Sne in every box. Townspeople carried them around from store to store and left a pile in the Post Office. It was headed simply, “Public Announcement” and underneath it said: “Millersburg Community to hold big auction for seriously Injured. young man.” Street Blocked Off Auction day was set for last Thursday. noon on. the town square. Things to be auctioned were to be donated. Every penny received was to go to Jake| Hartsough, | Auction day came. There are 1100 residents of Millersburg. There were three times that] many in town. The main street was blocked off as trucks, cars and Amish buggies converged upon the town. Eve y brought something and everybody bought something.

produce, canned goods, farm ma-| chinery and furniture were placed| on the auction block. There were!

twice their value, Heifers brought double the ‘market price,

For Jake

Nigh as $5 and cookies went for| 8 dollar a dozen. Country hams sold for $20, shoulder picnic hams brought $8 and $10. Quilts sold for $15 and up and baled hay was knocked down at twice its normal value. The: auction tellers

Pe oe / i

4 red

| “*Hes my friend and I am his.

Millersburg turned out en masse to help Jake Hartsough. Here is a part of the crowd in the town square Thursday, The man in the checkered vest, upper left, is Charlie Longcor, auctioneer.

In Indianapolis—Vital Statistic

INDIANA WEATHER

state today as a deep area of low préssure approaches Indiana. The low pressure center yester-

day at noon was over eastefn Russell ‘Nella. 21, 1004 Union; Grace Green, Colorado. It was expected to reach Prank DeDsolo; 30 southwestern Iowa before dawn coy “Winikedd today and be over northwestern | Ruth Fox Illinois In its rapid eastward|

movement. this afternoon.

. D Increasingly. cloudy ‘weather pred | 2D. and southerly windy averaging 25 John Freeman, 20, Livestock, pet dogs and cats, {miles an hour, will be followed by|,\%. 24 soonrs

rain throughout the state tonight. | Maximum afternoon tempera-|

- | tures will range from 40 In the| J oy 10 no bargaffis. These items #614 for! extreme ‘north to 50 degrees in | Chyuries Miller, 20, southern Indiana counties. {La Ir Harte Bes Woatner Map on Page 9 |g Wooley, 25. 552 N. Shefrfeld.

» Paiticia Plummer, 20,1 Home-made ‘cakes 861d for as|conrsd Swatls, 23. Beech Grove: Harriet|Ern ates, 27,

MARRIAGE LICENSES Sebree, 19. 2536 8. Meridian,

George Russ, 19. 1311 JE. 13th : Strong southerly winds will veriin McCarty. 24 bring. mild temperatures to the

Doris Var ohavis, 18, 2869 Stuart ( . . ew Rosella v0 Biddle, 29) 320‘ Virginia,

Hughes, 23, Plainfield, William Gfll, 24,. 1620

Minnle "ertson,. 31, 1136 N st, Otis ra'mer, 25, 424 N Caroline; Joan Els, 23. -4232 N. Capito) 2050 Hillside: Lois Luts,| 'j

York: Juan-

non sauburh,

148° 8. Collier; 327:

Shannon a, J 5 Margaret Mildred Howell, 14, RA Box Velma Sr

0 363 Bhelden; Norma Wagner, 17, 2020 Alyard. ° Donald Pettingill, 31, 1420 E. 11th.; Bessie

enneth Anthony,

i Marjorie “gmith, 33, 1215 KE. Michi

3, AD, David Black, 19. 1130 Park: Irens Lepley, 1442 N. N ¥

ew Jersey Omer William. 8)5 Darnell; Ella

son, Mary“ 'McMahearon, 31, 836 Dar 1, Box 803;

. y , 20, 3 n ; hancy Whicker. 1. 912 E. Michigan; Bes-, ThGkle Gale, Ab Lemp Campbell, Ky. . . Xe

, Aarne; John Culley, 31, $21 8. State; Anna Smith, 23, 2335 Broadwa t

or Treet Norman chides Kelley, 24. R.RE. 1. Box' 766; Edna

27h.; Jeanette 0 Tau i Betty Per1524, Lee; Lois Halpen, sehibach, 25, 434 3 Oakland; 8 Jones,

enn Lewis Paylgen, 22 1530 Broadway; Mary mary" tong” Wayne Selby, 28, 320 E. 10th; Bdna Vills, amuel Jarboe, 26, 300 BE. st. Clk; Lilie 34. 300 t, Clair. Jimmie Davis, 23, 404 E Ath ; Ruth RobCapitol; Anna rank Turner. 20, 2240 Hovey; Geneva elle, 4

001 Cornell, wi! 26, 111: EB. 16th. “Oreta

Norman {kes 820 Villa: Murie San-| McNew, 20, 925 N. Riley 7. New York | ”

Bett DIVORCE SUITS FILED Buchanan;| Florence M. va, Willard D. McKinmey,

bella| ELLIOTT ROOSEVELT FINED

Orville Yarbrough, 43, RR. 4, Box 385 Juck Roland. 23, Pi. Harrison} Janie Plors,| POUGHKEEPSIE, N. Y. Deel.

poss & ooks, 30; 301s. Doe tn. Lila [James Dodson, 19. 431 W. 11th; Barbars| 24 (UP)-—Elliott Rooseveit plead1

nson, 328, ., Pran Prankenbach, 84, 804 E. 38th.; Rhea)’ aney, 46, Springfield, Ohio

! son bis i HF yur.

Tae, ' Wermont:| Kenneth’ Simmons, 140 Dawson; Paul Everlener Willih ms, 7. 00h Wer. ,Ine Michael, 19, a El fined $20. It was erie ar ; Earnest Brown, 23, 538 Douglas; Ida Rog- ak 1, : ha . ete, 38, 838K. Hiacktord: Bul White, 19, 2414 N. Dearborn; Romallose his license. vy i! a i “ .

to a 3008. Talbott; Corrine ed guilty in absentia to a speed-

ing charge’ here tonight and was second oon “|vietion for He

ag A

|____ THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

t's For Jake, Crime Seqen With a B

Ba ’

Ei,

Jerry Hartsough, the oldest.

Sure, Christmag«is rough on a guy's pocketbook, but you wouldn't have liked the way they: rai “ft in the old days. Why, it was nothing but a handout for a ‘|bunch of kings. A The ancient Romans started it with the feast of Saturnalia, which took place between Dec. 17 and 24 and again for a few days in January" for the late-comers. Every day- during the feast the emperor ‘would get up early and stand on a high platform to re-

~ |celve gifts from his subjects.

[VIII couldn't’ have gone six

of bolts of calico.

spoil the booze by putting hot

‘who'd been giving her the brush-

over this handy. custom, Henry.

months without mortgaging his Yerown if it hadn't been for all the gold and jéwelry he got for “|Christmas, and Queen Elizabeth got all her clothes thé same way. Even the royal dustmen had to kick in every year with a couple

The British managed to have some fun, too. -For one thing, they're the ones who made the

lonial times. But they used

baked apples in the bowl. .- The first wassall bowl was the one Rowena, an old-time Viking deb, used to woo Prince Vortigen,

off. Rowena asked him up to her place one day ‘and handed him a bowl gf-spiced wine, saying “Lot King, wass-hell,” which means. “here's ~ how." Vortigen took a Yew good slugs of ; the stuff and e up the next morning a bride m. 5% Luther Took Tree Home Most people give in Luther credit for having . invented the Christmas tree. He was shopping one cold night in the sixteenth century and just for a he brought home an evergreen

colored cloth for his kids. They liked it so well that pop had to get ‘em one every year thereafter, England didn’t get In on the act until Prince Albert, another German, fixed one up for his wife, Queen Victoria. :

wassall bowl famous and brought

tree and decorated it with bits of| Dec. 25.

- Queen Vic also was in on the

int know qf no greater tribute to Qutside it was getting cold. The Millersburg and Christian -men pay to any man." : :

Strauss aps:

lo | I Jt. |

Church of St. Nikola in Oberndor, Salzburg, Austria —where the famous carol “Silent Night, Holy Night" was first played and sung on Christmas Eve, 1818, The words

were written by Vicar Josef Mohr of the church—and the music was composed by his friend, Franz Xaver Gruber,

”

We have had many—a great many—inquiries about the CATHEDRAL on our First Floor, It was carved with a pen knife bythe late Alexander Tschaegle, ao native of France but a resident of Indianapolis for decades— _.until his passing a few yeors ago. It isa replica of the world famed Cathedral at Strasbourg, France.

Prayer ~ (e thank Thee for this place in

Which we dwell,

unites us, far the peace accorded to us this dap, for the hope With which

for the lobe that

we expect the tomorrotw, for the

health, the work, the food, and the

bright skies that make our life de-

lightful; =+ Spare to us our friends,

~~ soften to us our

enemies. Bless us

if it map be in all our innocent endeavors. 3f it may not, give us strength to encounter that Which

is to come, that Wwe may be brave in

“peril, constant in tribulation, tem

~~ perate in wreath and in all changes of

~ fortune, and doton to the gates of

death, lopal and loving one another. + . —TRobert "Louis Stevenson

tL Dass & Co., ane, 4

i - Ey ina