Jasper County Democrat, Volume 6, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 January 1904 — Page 1

Jasper County Democrat

SI.OO Per Year.

LOCAL AND PERSONAL. Brief Items of Interest to City and Country Readers. V Com 36c; oats, 34c*-} (.Wheat 66 cents; rye, 40 cents. Don’t miss the “rummage sale” on Jan. 15th and 16th. Mrs. Orla Finney of Rose Lawn, was visiting here Thursday. Judge Thompson was in Indianapolis on business Monday and Tuesday. P. Meyerhof Danville, HI., was visiting relatives here this week. The widow of Robert Kepner has been granted a pension of $8 per month. Just received, another carload of Lord’s Best Flour, sl.lO per sack, at John Eger’s. Mrs. F. E. Babcock returned Monday from a few days visit in Remington and Goodland. Professors Sanders and Hiattfattended the State Teachers’ Association at Indianapolis this week. SLMre. J. Q. Alter is visiting her daughter, Mrs. Ernest Frits, and grand-daughter at Dunkirk, Ind. jCMiss Katie Shields spent a part of her holiday vacation with her sister, Mrs. Lucy Malone, in Monticello. <3 . F. Coen, instructor in history in the Rockford (Ill.,) city schools, has been spending his vacation with Rensselaer relatives. The dance at the armory New Year’s eve given by Sbindler & Bowers was well attended and a very pleasant time was had. F. Fendig and Mose Leopold went to Wheatfield Monday to assist in installing the the new officers of the Masonic order at that place. Mrs. Geo. Jenkins of Big Rapids, Mich., and Mr. and Mrs. John Jenkins of Marion, spent Christmas with W. W. Wishard and family. ’s/prof. W. O. Schanlaub of the Morocco schools spent the Christmas holidays with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Schanlaub of this city. Frank Sharp and wife of Chicago, spent Christmas with John Hordeman and wife. Mrs. Sharp is a sister of Mrs. Hordeman’s. > Mr. and Mrs. James Mead returned to Hammond Tuesday after a few days visit with the latter’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Clark, and other friends. New subscribers to The Democrat this week by postoffices: Cincinnati, 0., 1; Rensselaer, 2; Remington, 1; Medaryville, 1; Fair Oaks, R. R. 1, 2. Dr, A. H. Littlefield of lowa, has been spending the holidays with his brother N. Littlefield of this plaq# and his mother and brother at Remington. I - J. A. McCullough of Reefsburg, Wells county, is visiting old friends in Jasper county this week. Mr. McCollough thinks Wells county is all right. T. M. Hibler was here from Joliet, 111., this week, settling up his business affairs. He has leased his big farm in Milroy tp., to John Sommers and sons fpr the coming year. SfeJohn L. Smith has bought of W. B. Austin, residence property in the northwest part of town, and Mrs. Smiths parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Scearcy, have moved into the same. zero weather put “Honest Abe’s” 92,300 court house clock out of business, and, in addition ‘ to refusing to move its hands a ' part of the time, it has refused to strike a stroke for a week. v rMr. Clarence Blankenbaker and Miss Goldie Scbanlanb, a daughter of Sidney Schanlaub, late editor of the Morocco Courier, were united in marriage at the M. E. parsonage by Rev. Kindig Christmas eve. The engagement of Mr. Judson E. Mainea, the furniture dealer, and Miss Lelia Coen, daughter of W. S. Coen, is announced. The date for the wedding is not definitely decided upon at this , writing.

Special January invoice sale at Murray’s store. Mrs. John Keiper of Plymouth, is visiting relatives here. )£.MrB. Joe Hallagan has been quite sick but is better at this writing. Mr. and Mrs. C. B. Harrold of Hammond, visited relatives here the latter part of last week. Lizzie Brown and Lizzie Rieddle are the guests of Vivian and Eben Rush at Monon, this week. Wm. Smith of north of town, has moved into the Mrs. Kelley property on South Weston street. Miss Sadie Cody and niece, Miss Edna Laun, and Miss Vera Parker of Zion City, 111., visited relatives here and at Lee during holidays. Uncle John Makeover held a family reunion of the Makeevers at the Makeever house New Year’s day A big dinner was the feature of the occasion. Mr. and Mrs Jerome Harmon attended the funeral of the former’s sister, Mrs. Cowden of Goodland, which took place at Remington, Friday. Viola Glazebrook of Zion City, 111., is visiting her brothers, Lee and I. A. Glazebrook this week. She will not return to Zion City until April. Louis Muster was fined and costed to the amount of SB.IO by Squire Troxell for his assault on John Bicknell, mention of which was made in these columns laßt week. — _ _ • Geo. H. Healey, who came here last week to attend the wedding of his sister, was summoned ho'me by telegram before the wedding by the serious sickness of his little son, George. N/t. W. Shessler of Carthage, Ind., nas been visiting his twin brother, A. F. Shessler, east of town, this week. Both were born on the 29th of February, therefore their birthday anniversaries are few and far bet - , George and Clara Zink of Chicago, who have been visiting Conrad Hildebrand and family, returned to Chicago Monday, accompanied by Miss Christena Hildebrand, who is visiting there this week. Rev. A. H. Zilmer, a former pastor Church cf God here, was a pleasant caller at The Democrat office Monday. Rev. Zilmer is now residing at Plymouth, and his work is principally in Marshall and Warren counties. Mr. and Mrs. Byron Sayler of DeKalb, 111., are visiting friends and relatives here this week. Mr. Sayler will continue another year in the employ of the McCormick Harvester Co., or what is now the McCormick division of the International Harvester Co/ — R. M. Moore, of Bloomington, Ind., is visiting here with his sister, Mrs. Joseph Yeoman, this week. Mr. Moore is engaged in the real estate business in Bloomington and just at present is interested in the organizing of a new stone company to open up a quarry near that city. XLeonidas Ritchey, an old time 'resident of Jasper county, also a half-brother of Mrs. J. F. Watson of this city, and a relative of the Ritcheys and Mrs. James Welsh sooth of town, died at his home in Franklin last Saturday, after an extended illness. He leaves a widow and three grown children. Charles H. Price, whose probably fatal illness has heretofore been mentioned in The Democrat, has been brought back from Webb City, Mo., to his old home in Carpenter tp. . He is reported in a very weakened condition, but stood the trip well. His brother, County Surveyor Price, met the party at Logansport, and accompanied them to the old homestead. The marriage of Mr. Charles Sigman of south of town, and Miss Cordia Ethel Leach, took place at the home of the bride’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Francis Leach in Union tp., on Thursday, Dec. 24, Rev. J. A. Cochran of j this city performing the ceremony. Quite a number of the near rela--1 tives of the contracting parties were in attendance. The groom is aged 29 years and the bride 17.

Rensselaer, Jasper County, Indiana, Saturday, January 2, 1904.

ABOUT THE COURT HOUSE.

iMms of Intereot datborod In the Offices and Corridors of the County Capitol. Commissioners’ court convenes Monday. —o — County Superintendent Hamilton attended the State Teachers Association meeting at Indianapolis this week. > -°~ Txustees Maloney of Kankakee, and Clark of Wheatfield, were down Tuesday, getting their December draw of funds from the county treasurer. —o — James N. Leather man, the new county auditor, took charge of bis office yesterday. Mr. Leatherman will retain E. L. Clark as deputy for a short time, until he gets the run of the office. —o — There were 12 marriage licenses issued last month, against 10 for the month previous and 15 December, 1902. In December, 1901,. there were 20 licenses issued, 7 the day before Christmas. What means this gradual dropping off? —o — Marriage licenses issued: Dec. 25, Edward Francis Mills to Maude Joshua Healey. Dec. 25, Calvin C. Greenfield to' Celia E. McCullough. Dec. 28, Charles G. Weiss to Vesta A. Seelye. —° — W. T. Smith of Milroy tp., will resign his office of township trustee some time next month, preparatory to moving to near Mexico, Mo., where he purchased a 280 acre farm some time ago. His father, A. J. Smith, and brothers Frank and Lewis, have purchased a 330 acre farm just across the road from W. T’s. farm and will leave with the latter about Feb. 1. —o — The various township trustees will make their annual settlement with their advisory boards next Tuesday. Under the act of 1903 their reports must be itemized and published within four weeks after such settlement in the two leading newspapers of the county, representing the two leading political parties. Each specific item of receipts and expenditures must be set out in the publication the same as contained in the report made to the advisory board. (Acts 1903, page 112.) —o —

The commissioners met in special session Tuesday and awarded the contracts for stationery, approved the bond of S. R. Nichols, the new county treasurer, and allowed several claims. In the stationery contracts, classes 1,2, 3, were awarded to the Burt-Terry-Wilson Co., of Lafayette. The bid is on each article separately, and is not totaled, therefore the total depends on the amounts ordered during the year. Class 4 was awarded to Leslie Clark for $329.50, and the contract for janitors’ supplies was awarded to A. F. Long at $31.20. The bond of S. R. Nichols, county treasurer, for $160,000, was signed by Henry O. Harris, Joseph C. Harris, Alfred McCoy, Thomas J. McCoy, A. Parkison and Emmet L. Hollingsworth. The state agent for the Burroughs adding machine submitted a bid of $375 for an adding mach£fi,e> and a bid of $692.50 was submitted by a Chicago company for steel vault furniture for clerks and recorder’s offices. —o — New suits filed: No, 6598. Patrick Hallagan vs. Albert D. Courtright; action on note and mortgage. No. 6599. Mary M. Arnold vs. Christian- F. Arnold; action for divorce. The parties reside in Barkley tp., and this is the second application for divorce by plaintiff The first was filed May 26* 1902, but later the differences were patched up and the case was dismissed. The present complaint charges habitual drunkeneas, cruel <and inhuman treatment in beating aud choking plaintiff at divers times, also threatening to throw her in the river on or about July 1, 1901; striking her over the bead with a gun and inflicting a severe scalp wound about August 15, 1902, also making a voileut attack on her Deo. 1,1903, and chok-

ing her until compelled to desist bv bystanders, etc,, etc. The complaint alleges that plaintiff was compelled to leave defendant by reaoon of said inhuman treatment, and did leave him on Dec. 24, 1903. and has since lived apart from him. Plaintiff alleges that defendant has personal and realty valued at 12,500, and she asks for divorce and $6,000 alimony. Plaintiff is now with her people at Peru, and her attorney is Frank D. Butler of that city.

FATAL ACCIDENT AT MONON.

ftf». Matilda Berry U Burned ta Death While Starting a Fire With Coal Oil. .While attempting to start a fire with coal oil early last Saturday morning, at her home in Monon, Mrs. M. J. Berry, mother of Mrs. U. M. Baughman of this city, received bprns from which she died at about 4 o’clock the same day. It seems that Mrs. Berry had gotten up very early in the morning, attired only iu her night clothes, to start a fire in the kitchen stove. She poured coal oil direct on the kindling from a- can, and apparently there was still some fire in the stove from the night before, for the flames burst up and communicated with the can of oil, bnrstiDg the can and scattering burning oil all over the unfortunate woman and covering the floor. After vainly attempting to fight the flames for a moment Mrs. Berry called her daughter, Mrs. Baughman of this city, who with her little daughter was occupying an upstairs room. The latter ran to her mother’s assistance and attempted to wrap her in some portiere and smother the flames. This proved inefective, but the little girl dragged some bed quilts to the room and after some time the fire was smothered from the burning woman. Leaving her little daughter holding the bed spreads about the form, Mrs. Baughman ran nearly a block for a doctor, returning in a few moments with him, but the lady was burned so badly that nothing could be done except afleivate in a measure her sufferings. She was conscious and maintained her strength wonderfully up to a half hour before her death, getting up and sitting in a chair a part of the time. Mrs. Baughman was burned somewhat on one hand and foot in trying to subdue the flames and was greatly prostrated by the shock. She is still in Monon with Mr. Baughman at this writing. Mrs. Berry had often visited her daughter here and was well known to many of our citizens. The funeral was held Monday and was largely attended. Deceased was about 65 years of age and a highly respected lady. The sympathy of a host of friends is extended to the bereaved relatives.

F. & A. M. and O. E. S. INSTALL OFFICERS.

The Masonic and Eastern Star orders held a public installation Monday night, to which about two hundred invited guests were present. A banquet was spread in the armory after the installation ceremonies and a general good time was had. C. G. Spitler was installing officer for the Masons, and Grand Matron Mrs. Charles Goitre of Crawfordsville was installing officer for the' Eastern Star.

The following were the officers installed: C. W. Coen, W. M.; H. L. Brown, S. W.; A. H. Hopkins, J. W.; Ralph Fendig, Treas.; W. J. Imes, Sec.; R. D. Thompson, 8. D.; Joe Jeffries, J. D.; James Nelson, Tyler. Eastern Star —Mrs. John Duvall, W. M.; Miss Helen Wasson, S. W.; Mrs. Ray Mossier, Con.; Mrs. Hettie Reynolds, A. C.; Mrs. C. G. Spitler, W. P.; Miss Lessie Bates, Adah; Mrs. Kate Glazebrook, Ruth; Mrs. E. C. English, Esther; Miss Gertrude Hopkins, Martha; Mre. C. G. Spitler, Electa; Miss Ora Duvall, Organist; Mre. Mary E. Spitler, Chaplain; Mre. Lizzie Duvall, Warder; Mre. Anna Tyler, Sentinel.

NEW M. W. A. OFFICERS.

The following officers for the ensuing year were elected Wednesday night by Rensselaer Camp No. 4412: U. M. Baughman, V. C.; .Jesse Ball, W. A; James Matheson, Banker; Joseph Jeffries, Clerk; P. W. Clarke, Escort; G. A. Jacks, Watchman; Charles Hansen, Sentry; N. Heusen, Manager. Installation Jan. 13. Air armload of old papers for a nickel at The Democrat office.

GREAT HOLOCAUST IN CHICAGO.

600 Lives Lost In Fire In The New Iroquois Theatre. MRS. SADIE LEOPOLD WOLFE AND PAOUNE MOSSLER ARE AMONG THE VICTIMS SELMA LEOPOLD HAS NARROW ESCAPE.

One of the greatest horrors of modern times was witnessed in Chicago Wednesday afternoon at about 3:15 o’clock, when by some as yet unexplained cause the stage settings of the great scenic production of Mr. Blue Beard in the New Iroquois theatre on Randolph street, between Dearborn and State streets, caught fire and of the 2,000 people, most of whom were women and children, packed into the play house, 578 are now dead and many more missing and injured. The cause of the fire was either from the explosion of one of the calcium lights or a crossed electric light wire. The alleged asbestos curtain failed to work and the fire swept out from the stage causing a panic, and all rushed for the exits. To add to the horror the lights went out in the theatre and the exits were nearly all found locked. This forced the frenzied crowd to the main entrance, where hundreds were trampled under foot and suffocated. Others were suffocated in their seats by the smoke and poisonous gases. Only about onehalf the 578 bodies recovered from the building have been identified at this writing. A great many never can be identified owing to the unrecognizable condition of the bodies. Only the inflamable part of the theatre was damaged, and in a brief fifteen or twenty minutes the fire was out, leaving behind one of the most sickening sights ever witnessed by mortal man.

This great horror in which 600 people are now dead and hundreds more of injured fill the hospitals, some of whom will die, leaves a house of mourning in Rensselaer. The day before Christmas Mrs. Ray Mossler’s little daughter Pauline, and Mr. and Mrs. Simon Leopold’s little daughter Selma, aged about 11 and 9 years each, went to Hammond to visit their aunt, Mrs. Sadie (Leopold) Wolfe. On the day of the burning of the ill fated theatre Mrs. Wolfe took the little girls to the city and all attended the afternoon matinee at the New Iroquois. Mrs. Wolfe also had with her the little six or seven-year-old daughter of Mr. Kaufman of Hammond, a partner and brother-in-law of Mr. Wolfe. In taking the bodies from the theatre Mrs. Wolfe was found with the little Kaufman girl clasped in her arms. The latter was dead but Mrs. Wolfe was still alive when found but later died in St. Luke’s hospital. The body of the little Mossier girl was not found by her relatives until about noon Thursday, when it was found in a morgue on State street. The latter body was not disfigured, owing no doubt to its being found underneath several others that had protected it, but Mrs. Wolfe’s body was considerably mangled. A nurse girl from Hammond who was with the party also lost her life. Little Selma Leopold succeeded in escaping and made her way to the home of friends in the city. It is said that the party occupied seats on the first floor, near the door, and the little Mossier girl went back after reaching the door and practial safety to get her wraps, and it is supposed that Mre. Wolfe returned with her.. Mose Leopold, Ben Fendig and Ray Thompson went to Chicago Wednesday night after news of the accident had reached here, and the remains of the Mossier girl were brought back Thursday evening. The time for the funeral has not been decided upon at this writing, owing to the fact that the services will ta conducted by a Jewish lUbbi, but it is thought will take place pet haps Sunday morning from the Leopold resi-

VOL. VI. No. 39

dence, and the funeral of Mrs. Wolfe will perhaps take place Sunday afternoon at Hammond. Mrs. Sadie Wolfe was 24 years of age, and was the second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. Leopold of this city. She was married to Leo Wolfe of Hammond in June, 1901, and leaves a little girl about eighteen months old. Pauline Mossier was about 12 years of age and was the only daughter of Mrs. Rachel (Leopold) Mossier, widow of Will Mossier, well known here and at Remington and Kentland, where he was engaged in business at one time. The Leopold home is indeed a house of mourning, and the sympathy of the entire community goes out to them in their great sorrow.

Other Rensselaer people were in Chicago and had intended going to this theatre on this fatefnl afternoon, but for various reasons did not. E. L. Hollingsworth, cashier of the First National Bunk, with a Chicago banking friend, had procured tickets. The friend was detained and they did not go. George Strickfaden, John Walker and Louis Harmon also intended to meet at a certain place and go from there to this theatre, but one of the party failed to arrive in time and the trip was abandoned. Mrs‘W. F. Smith was visiting in the city and had made arrangements to attend this particular matinee with her two children, but later gave it up. Messrs. Hollingsworth, Harmon, Walker and Strickfaden saw the dead removed from the building and were witnesses to many of the heart-rendeing sights connected therewith. It was a sight never to be forgotten.

JOSEPH SHARP DIES SUDDENLY.

Passes Away At His Home in This City \y Thursday Morning. ' Sharp, Rensselaer’s veteran photographer, mention of whose illness has been made from time to time in these columns, died at his home on South Weston street quite suddenly Thursday morning at about 3:15 o’clock. ' Mr. Sharp had been in very poor* health for several months from stomach and liver trouble, but it was not thought there was any immediate danger of death. He had done practically no work in his studio for several months, and for the past few weeks had been confined to the house. He complained of feeling bad along toward morning Thursday and on his wife asking him questions replied that he could not hear her. Suddenly he gave a gasp and it was all over. Mrs. Sharp hastilly arose, turned up the light and went back to the bed, only to find that the death angel had already been there. She called her father, who occupied an upstairs room, andLfriends were at once notified. (Joseph A. Sharp was born in Frankfort, Ky., April 26, 1846, and was aged 57 years, 8 months and 4 days at the time of his death. He was married to Mattie A. Stively, who survives him, Oct. 8, 1874. He moved to Rensselaer in November, 1877, and had been a resident of this city for more than twenty-six years. He was of a joval, happy nature and liked by all. He was a great fisherman and spent much of his leisure time in pursuing the finney tribe on the placid Kankakee and other streams. Probably no more successful or ardent follower of this sport ever resided in Rensselaer, and to mention Joe Sharp, as he was famihlarly called, even in an obituary, and not mention his fishing exploits, would make the story incomplete. He was also a great lover of flowers and the lawn in front of his gallery was filled with the choicest flowers. As a citizen and neighbor he was all that could be desired and hundreds will mourn his loss. He leaves a widow and one sister, who resides at Mari in, Ohio, and who with her daughter will attend the funeral. The funeral will be held at 10 a. m. f to-day (Saturday) from Trinity M- E. church, and interment will be in Weston cemetery,]

Every careful / bayer should trade at M array’s. Great reduotion on all winter goods, /The Democrat for county newt