Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 12 March 1950 — Page 23

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SUNDAY, MARCH 12, 1950

Te E Indi onsnli Tres

James H. Tyson Gave Huge Fund

By GALVY GORDON Times Staff

ERSAILLES, "Mar. 11— The “patron saint” of Versailles lies today in a grave atop Cliff Hall overlooking the scenes of his happy boyhood in Laughery Valley Twenty years ago, James H. (Uncle Jim) Tyson, wealthy Chicago philanthropist, earned - the undying gratitude of the people of his birthplace when he gave Versaillds nearly $1 million for civic improvements. There have been many changes in Versailles, county seat of Ripley County, since the death of Uncle Jim in Chicago, Nov. 1, 1941, at the age of 85. The neat little southeastern Indiana farm community -has swollen in population from 600 to near 1200 and a new generation has taken over the reins of the town government. Because of Uncle Jim's generous gift to the community, children now attend a modern consolidated elementary - high .township - school. Townspeople enjoy a well-stocked library -and attend an ultra-modern Methodist church, called Tyson ‘Temple, that is one of the archi-

““tectural wonders of the Mid-

west. Versailles also boasts a water filtration and sewage system, unsurpassed by any town of its size in Indiana, as a result of Uncle Jim's philanthropy.

td » o BORN: AND EDUCATED in Versailles, Uncle Jim learned the printing trade in the local newspaper office before leaving his boyhood haunts to see;the world in his early Twenties. After many years as an itinerant printer, he settled in Chicago in 1890 and purchased a printing shop.

chain now stretches from coast to coast. Secretary of the drug firm for many years, Uncle Jim traveled around the world several times. Although he lived in Chicago until his death, his thtughts kept straying back to Versailles and neighboring Laughery Valley. In all his travels, Uncle Jim often said, there was no place «more beautiful or friendlier than his native community. In 1930, Uncle Jim created the Tyson Trust Fund “for promoting religious, educational, liter-

Tyson Temple . . . in memory of Uncle Jim's mother. edie the fund. The Union “Trust Co.

of Indianapolis was named one of the permanent trustees of the fund. "Annual dividends out of the Tyson Fund go into a second fund, the Tyson Versailles

Fund. Each year on Sept. 14, Uncle Jim’s birthday, a mass meeting of townspeople is held and a vote is taken on civ.c improvements to be made out of the dividend fund. Thus far, civic improvements out of the funds have included a $150,000 Methodist Church;

Funds Nave also been applied to road and street improvements, purchase of a 500-galion pumper and a siren for the volunteer fire department, installation of public comfort stations in the main square and other imdrovements. s » o

CONSTRUCTION of a seven-.

classroom and auditorium-gym-nasium addition to the township school is being rushed to completion so that dedicatory exercises may be held Sept. 14, the

birthday of the town’s great-,

Consiruglion is pushed on addition to school.

by a $55,000 bond issue to the town and township and a $20,000 pledge out of the annual dividend fund. Otto Busching and Roy Hunter, both lifelong residents of Versailles, are co:trustees of the Tyson Fund with the Union Trust Co. The fund currently contains stock valued at $450,-

000. ““All stock dividends, which normally amount yearly to some $18,000, have been pledged for the next two or three years,” Mr. Busching, who is also secretary of the Tyson Versailles

Monument To

According to the aaroument. $5000 is set aside annually out of the dividends for the upkeep of the church; $5000 for the maintenance of the library and approximately $1000 to furnish feasts to the inmates of Ripley County Infirmary on six holidays including a special observance of Uncle Jim's birthday. Uncle Jim personally pushed the construction of: the new Methodist Church to "completion. It was dedicated May 16, 1937, “to the glory of God” and in loving memory of his mother.

Water treatment plant ,

Editorials Politics as i iii

vakasvavins seal

glazed ivory brick and glass brick. A 65-foot aluminum spire is mounted by a polished cast aluminum cross, 100 feet from the ground. Gold and silver leaf decorations - inside were imported from central Germany. The severely plain pews are fashioned of Ripley County lumber, » s THE SCHOOL and the Hibrary, dedicated respectively in late 1938 and 1942, are of similar . modern construction and harmonize architecturally. Independence Day, 1940, was

His Boyhoc

. . gift of Uncle Jim.

Uncle Jim’ s monument “ae donated by gravel) Versailles ge

It was on this date Uncle Jim turned on the new water system which meant the end of drought and the assurance of a safe water supply. The sanitary system includes A complete filtration plant, mains stretching throughout the community, a 125-foot was ter tower, pumps and a sewage ° treatment works. Completion of the waters works paved the way for the formation of a volunteer fire department, which affords pros tection not only to “Versailles, but also to surrounding towns,

Shortly thereafter he en- ary and social advancement .--a $225,000 water filtration and est benefactor. Fund, said. Built according to Uncle tered into partnership with the among the residents of Ver- ae system, of which the The project was started early The special school pledge Jim's specifications, Tyson. _ the greatest day in the exist- Versailles, with «ll the ad. ence of Versailles, which was

late Charles R. Walgreen Sr. and together they founded the Walgreen Drug Co., Inc. The multi-million-dollar drugstore

sailles and vicinity.” He contributed 18,000 shares of Walgreen stock, with an estimated value of $1 million to

Tyson fund paid 45 per cent; a $140,000 consolidated township school, of which the fund ‘paid half, and a $50,000 library.

this winter after 3000 shares of stock were sold out of the Tyson Fund to raise $101,000. The remainder of its cost was met

Madison County ‘American G

~Biparfisan Unit

Aims at Reds, Too -

hat Noy te By DAVID WATSON -_ “ination of “voting in the dark” Times ay. Wehr, Sadi ik SaiNijate is a major obive ANDERSO ar, 11-—. - lective o e organization. 95 son County is getting a shot in Top officers of the organise . its political arm. FRY 0 No SSS SEE a zation, Mr. Harbaugh, Edwin erb " Striking through the core of C. Fettig, chairman of the ich democratic government, the in- board of directors, and Frank dividual voter, members of the Hughes, Madison County vice Madison County Chapter of the chairman, believe the country's - red American Guard are girding for jwo Th parties will gain ia edgy , rimary stren rough the efforts ef ves battle—in--the—May-p FY 8 the American Guard. elections. Their goal is better ray t.. Tatir weapons are a ee cB eee IEEE a BEE SE ER Because the - members are nad 4 governmen e po . urged to greater party activity | at - voters who think for _them- thivugh Guard membership, a “SEIVEE; i othe greater strength will pres t seizure of either party b The Guard is Srevente by yen: : party by its constitution from indorsing 8 outside element. ! candidates and backing politi- We are attempting to move 3 cal platforms. But its members the educational program across ; have pin-pointed their goal in Ba ea Occupational lines,” : ——a drive to "halt thé government a Ug EX "RAF 18° § trend toward socialism.” Along become a case of the voter ( the way they intend to put the thinking for himself. Political ) skids under communism. masiiines wou i Je this kind organization, but we've Machine politics and power got to ham ‘grabbing also may | take a few Prefudiesn ner down tie - ‘punchies” from the growing Ly ’ est. organization. GUARD LEADERS are proud

Membership of the American Guard, numbering about 3000 since its formation last August, {s a cross section of Madison County and America. Its roster includes doctors, lawyers, business heads, students, laborers, housewives, farmers and teachers. Veterans are strongly represented, but armed service is no requirement for membership. Guardsmen live in eight states and co nce from E. and W, coasts to ‘headquarters here indicate that new units may soon be ‘growing there.

All the members are bound

togther with their concern for ° good government.

This is American Guard Meidguarions at 1h and Delaware Sts. in Anderson. The fast growing organization lists: about 3000 members enrolled since its formiafion last August,

facts and start them thinking. The only way to do that is through both political parties.” From this premise in the

minds of many Madison Coun-

ty residents, the American Guard grew. Working through the Republican and Democrat parties, a voters’ education program was started. That is the professional battle technique of the organization. Defeat of ‘socialism through political education. — carry out the program,

will consume the $7000 usually remaining after commitments of the original trust agreement are met.

Temple combines the appearance of a cathedral with that-

of a modern commercial building. Its exterior walls are of .

uard’ Girds To Fight Socialism

founded in 1818, three years before the founding of Indianapolis.

Charles Horboush, executive vice president of American Guard, makes one of the two broadcasts sponsored each week by the organization. Objective of the Guard is defeat of socialism.

“In an_Anderson schoolroom, Dr. domes Doenges addres & meeting of Madison County voters as part of the American Guard

They have issued a “Voter's Primer” to 26,000 residents. They bfoadcast twice weekly. They have as many as 12 public meetings in session. in a single evening. : ” - »

. MEMBERS ARE URGED to support their party, Republican or Democrat, financially, They are asked to become party workers and if possible, become candidates for. public office. At public meetings’ speakers explain party operation, voting procedure, and discuss bills pending in Congress. = Before

elections, the Guard attempts “to” publish the experiences and

qualifications of candidates.

- Hughes, a

vantages of a larger industrialized city, stands as a growing monument to “the man whe didn’t forget” . . . Uncle Jim,

‘Candidates Get. Fine Screening *

of the declaration given them by one man ‘who refused mems bership in the organization, “I won't join the American Guard because if the Communists ever take over here, American Guard members wilt probably "be the first people executed,” was the reported statement. ” The executive vice president: Mr. Harbaugh, was graduat from Purdue University in 1936, and advanced from Army private to major in the Air Force Intelligence Corps’ during World War II. He resigned chairmanship of the Andersor Chamber of Commerce ww ae cept his present position. Mr. Fettig is a World War I veteran and i currently secrés tary-treasurer of the Fettig Canning Co. in Elwood: Mr,

educational program. As many as 12 similar meetings have been held in a single evening under direction of precinct co-captains of . Social’ and - religious back-

the Guard. 4 © grounds are withheld. oss : This year, “fact sheets” on - seven Democrats and ‘seven Re- phlets. ailvertisemerits and pub- voters of the county. Precinct | {atten Same when need be about 200 candidates are" being 3 publicans. lic ‘meetings the organization co-captains hold meetings. in ugh house-to-house ‘neigh~ Sumplied ab distribution | be- ;

i toe With radio programs, pam- throws its ideals betore the yovate homes, gathering their borneod Sanvaasing.

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